Still wrong, NK. Aside from the numerous reports from both approved and unapproved sources that say it was based on computer models, your BBC link led to this:

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The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has sent up a reconnaissance flight to investigate how the ash is distributed in the cloud, something that is impossible to assess from satellite imagery

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Originally Posted by speechlesstx

Still wrong, NK. Aside from the numerous reports from both approved and unapproved sources that say it was based on computer models, your BBC link led to this:

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That's right, the cloud is huge and they aren't certain where the highest concentration of ash is. You still think it's OK for aircraft to fly through the cloud? Seriously?

It doesn't take all that much ash to wreck an engine. At 100K+ rpms that otherwise insignificant particle will nip a tiny fleck of metal out of the blade... multiply that by millions or hundreds of millions you very effectively sandblast the blades and those rough surfaces create weak points that the blades will fail under the high stresses at those speeds.


If you don't understand that concept... have you seen glass cut? You create a weak point for it to break at... you don't literally CUT it. Metal will break the same way. It just not as brittle as glass. Its not JUST about clogging it up with dust, even though that is a factor as well.

Nope... I'm not a Turbine mechanic... but the principles are the same with Turbochargers and do understand those.


I can't comment on how bad it really was vs. what they feared it was. I haven't spoken with any pilots that I know on the subject.

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

That's right, the cloud is huge and they aren't certain where the highest concentration of ash is. You still think it's ok for aircraft to fly through the cloud? Seriously?

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Can you find where I've ever said or implied I "still think it's ok for aircraft to fly through the cloud?"

I didn't think so. Stay classy, NK.