Volcanic Fall out?

[Wolfman]

Apparently the ash is similar to a component of glass and melts when sucked into a jet engine - looks like better safe than sorry.

Gents,

I believe they've flown sampling flights and determined the ash density prior to calling for the closures. However, in cases where the governments are not prohibiting air traffic, the airlines are probably erring on the side of caution and, with margins paper thin already, avoiding massive maintenance accelerations is probably a key factor.

Man, I would have loved to see St. Helens. If we ever have another major eruption in the US, I'm there. Of course, those plans might change if it was a Yellowstone super-eruption or the like. :-)

LR

EDIT: I see the Belgians already had a F-16 sustain serious engine damage and NATO has moved AWACS aircraft from Germany to Italy to operate outside the ash cloud. Interesting; and consistent. Wonder what the particulate density is where the Falcon was damaged.