It’s a good thing airplanes can fly through most clouds with no problem at all. If even a tenth of the sky were filled with volcanic ash, flying would be much more dangerous and much less common.
Right now the volcano under Iceland’s glacier is erupting, and it’s creating havoc over Europe’s skies. The problem could last just a few days, but it could linger. Planes just can’t fly through ash, which is pulverized rock and glass.
Today alone, about 17,000 flights over Europe were canceled.
Engines out. There isn’t much choice. Back in 1989, a KLM Boeing 747 lost all four of its engines when it flew into an ash cloud from the Redoubt volcano in Alaska. The plane plummeted from 25,000 feet to 12,000 feet before the pilot restarted two engines.
For fast trips, we really count on clear air.
Frank Warner
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