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Was Flight Ban Over Ash an Overreaction?
HaymarketRiot writes "Richard Branson has claimed that the flight ban, due to the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull, was an overreaction on the part of the authorities. Britain's government has even called for the airlines to be compensated. This does look like a perfect excuse for already greedy airlines to try and get more money ... any experts care to comment on the effect of volcanic ash on planes?"
You do know what site you're on, right? It's not Planedot.wing.
I was in Fairbanks at the time, and many people I know where stranded, trying to get home for Christmas vacation.
That's "were," you fucking moron.
Jesus, I hate people who can't spell.
Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
closing down European airspace for a brief period was justified, keeping it closed for days was certainly an overreaction by burrowcrats who were too scared to take the risk of letting planes fly
Yeah. If only they'd come out of their burrows into the sunlight once in a while, maybe they wouldn't be so scared.
This ain't rocket surgery.
The Google translation clearly shows that Koneiden tultua laskuun koneet tarkastettiin ja moottoreiden imuaukoissa havaittiin perunajauhomaista vulkaanista tuhkapölyä means Machines after the decline in machinery and engines are inspected inlet was observed from potato flour, volcanic ash and dust. They should try it again without the potato flour. ;)
Village idiot in some extremely smart villages.
That old British hippie is getting way too greedy.
They should offer him some compensation, but he has to fly there in one of his passenger jets through the ash to collect on it.
So the engines are a good detector for ash clouds you say
While the press appear to have focused on the problem of aircraft jet engines failing in flight, there is an even more important issue which has been completely ignored.
All commercial jets apart from the latest Boeing aircraft all take new cabin air from around an aircraft's engine (using the heat from around the engine to warm so they do not have to use a dedicated heater). The problem with volcanic ash is that if it is inhaled enters your lungs, remaining there causing Asthma or worse depending on quantity. As I understand the particulate filters on aircraft are not capable of preventing the ingress of ash, and so an aircraft could fly though volcanic ash which is of a low density without stopping the engines but which will introduce warm volcanic ash in to the cabin air, which are passengers you inhale. Initially you would find you have a cough, as the ash causes more irritation your breathing becomes more difficult. By the time you realise there is a problem your home or at your destination and your health is permanently effected.
Kill me once, shame on you. Kill me twice... can't get killed again.
10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
It's the American way!
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Richard Branson is all 3. He also designs space ships, among other crazy activities.
Yes, Richard Branson, the guy who originally made his fortunes by running a record label, is also a world-class aerospace engineer who personally designs the space ships that Virgin flies. *rolls eyes*