OFF TOPIC: Ash Cloud?

[Pat Chewning]

Have you actually got ash on the ground messing things up?

In 1980, when Mt St Helens blew its top we got about 3" (100 mm?) of ash on the ground. We had to install special shoe cleaners at the electronics factory to keep the ash out of the machinery.

The "ash" is not like ashes from your fireplace or a cigarette, it is heavy, and it is made of fine rock particulates. It ruins car engines. The police and fire departments added special exterior air filters on "snorkels" to filter the ash out before their engines got destroyed.

There are still entire hillsides of ash and debris in areas, although by now they are covered with trees, grass, and bushes.

I hope for your sake that the ash does not last long and it does not disrupt your life too much.

[Jani Soderhall]

Jani - travel safe and next time you are in the US, let us know. I'm a short train ride from NYC or Boston.

Thanks! I'm working on getting some more business here in the US and if I'm successful I may visit more often.

/Jani

[Jani Soderhall]

I'm going to get stuck here in Phoenix for another day that's for sure. The Paris airports are not going to be open at the time my return flight is supposed to start flying, so no way they are going to let off a plane that doesn't have an open airport at the destination.

But it could be worse! It's nice and warm down here, there's a beautiful pool just outside my window, the food is good and I have some good company - all of them prevented from returning home because of airports being closed in Europe. I'm heading over to the restaurant to join them right now!

/Jani

[Joe Iacovelli]

My wife and daughter are supposed to vacation in Paris this week. They just landed in Dublin for their connection to CDG, and the flight is cancelled. Their 1 hour layover just turned not two days (minimum).

I'm with Jani. Lets see some wind and rain. Maybe they can get 5 out of 7 days in Paris.

Jani - travel safe and next time you are in the US, let us know. I'm a short train ride from NYC or Boston.

[Jani Soderhall]

I had some fun resulting from that ashcloud. I was heading to the airport in Paris when a colleague of mine called from Copenhagen saying that our mutual flight from London was cancelled and that I should do what I could to just get another ticket NOT going through London. Apparently ALL flights out of London were already cancelled. I went to the ticket counter and got myself a business class ticket with Delta airlines leaving two hours later. All fine that far. Once I got to the check in counter they told me my flight was late - due to late incoming aircraft. Back to the ticket counter and try to get another ticket. None available. Back to the checkin counter and check in despite the delay. Hmm, the later it got the more worried I was that I wasn't going to make it. My flight eventually left 4 hours later. Luckily no sight of the cloud from up there. 21 hours later, after a missed connection in Atlanta I eventually got to Phoenix, picked up my bag and sat down in the taxi to the hotel. Phew. 21 hours Paris - Phoenix, that's way too long.

Now, my only concern is, when should I aim at going home again? Will my flight booked for Sunday actually happen? Do I even want to travel if it's on?

I'll be busy working here in Phoenix Saturday. Let's hope it rains all across the Atlantic and all the way to Paris so that the ash is grounded.

I'll keep you posted if I get stranded here. Anyway, seems like a nice place to be stranded if it's only a day or so.

/Jani

[Ramón Königshausen]

Yeah actually just got back from ash boarding today. 230nm of fresh ash...awesome conditions! It was more than mind blowing, almost earth blowing I'd say.


Got a brand new board made by Airflow. I guess we're pretty much the market leader in making ash boards.


You guys should get onto that!


rmn

[Sj Kalliokoski]

I think that main pain is how long this will continue, some scientist predicted that it COULD take even some months. And that would have serious affects to whole economy in very wide area due all transports would happen on ground or see only.

[Robert Gaisek]

Not much in Sweden.....so far, except for the grounded planes.
My boss is stuck in Madrid........so very sad (not).

There is a risk that Katla (the really big vulcano next to the active one) will be trigged by this and if so we will have some serious problems......one of them will be to give Iceland two names because it can split the whole thingy.

[Wesley Tucker]

I'm just wondering if any of y'all are seeing any real affects from the volcano? We're hearing about planes getting grounded. Any colorful sunsets or the smell of sulfur in the air?

The most recent report is trying to get a train out of Paris is booked up until 4/22 because no planes are flying.

So, what's it like?

(I might delete this later. Just curious about any response from those of you actually there as opposed to what our news outlets are telling us.)