Why don't planes just fly around the ash clouds?
I know this is very simple thinking on my part but how come planes just don't fly around the ash clouds. Im expecting my friend from France tommorow but its not looking very hopeful. But why cant the planes from Paris just fly south until they are clear of the ashes and then cross the ocean and climb up again.
I know that they have the jet streamm and all that plays a big part but its probably better for air companies t do what I said than refund all those tickets. no?
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Some flights are flying around the ash clouds, but it's a very big detour, and thus very expensive in terms of time, fuel, and money.
Additionally, if the departure or destination airport is itself beneath the ashes, flying around the ash cloud won't help, since it would still be necessary to climb or descend through it in order to leave or arrive at the airport.
Paris is within the ash cloud from the surface to flight level 350 right now, so it isn't possible for flights to land or take off at its airports. The forecast is that this will remain true all day today at least (which doesn't mean that it is expected to be clear tomorrow, it just means that nobody quite knows yet).
The ash is over the airports. Therefore the planes have to go through it when leaving from or arriving at the airport. If the ash was over Iceland or over the middle of the ocean, then the planes could avoid it.
Its possible to do that. In fact, i remember that most flights usually fly above the clouds.
The issue is getting to that level, taking off and landing. Ash clouds can make visibility difficult during those times.
Well, you can't see the ash...
And its hard to fly over ashes, when you in the air..
It's a several-ton jet plane, not a dodgem!
And land where?