jord wrote:
So like, can planes not like fly a bit lower or around it?
Even if they got some ash in their engines don't jets glide? I'm sure a few new jet engines are cheaper than the millions they're losing from having to refund everyone
The planes' weather radar is based on detecting the humidity of the clouds, basically, the water particles. So it can't detect ashes and avoid them, sure it's a freaking big cloud you can't miss, but there's ash still floating in the air that will clog up jet engines, and it immediately melts, making the engine a giant piece of concrete attached to a brick.
A lucky plane in the 80s was able to restart one engine (1 of 4) on it's 747 and fly to safety after it went through volcanic ash it didn't pick up on it's weather radar. Since the incident they haven't taken any risks.
So it's not a matter of "A few jet engines" but "A few planes", and last I checked 747 and Airbuses aren't that cheap.
Until this volcano stops erupting (it still is) Northern Europe is screwed, I can't imagine how inconvenient this is for some people, not to mention the millions that companies are losing, this will affect the economy.
And above your tomb, the stars will belong to us.