Chile volcano: Qantas cancels Melbourne flights

[GeoTommy]

BBC News - Chile volcano: Qantas cancels Melbourne flights

Qantas has cancelled all its flights in and out of Melbourne, Australia, because of ash drifting over the Pacific Ocean from a volcano in Chile.

...Qantas said about 8,000 passengers would be affected by its cancellations.

Anyone here affected by this?

[MovingIn07]

If the ash cloud starts moving north, as they predict it will, then I may be affected leaving Perth in a couple of days.

[virago]

Just fly low and they will be fine.

[dumbdonkey]

If the ash cloud starts moving north, as they predict it will, then I may be affected leaving Perth in a couple of days.

why do you think this is about you?

[hullexile]

why do you think this is about you?

Now that wins a weird post award

[Football16]

why do you think this is about you?

You need a Geography refresher.

I think NZ flights are even worse than just part of Australia.

[Football16]

CNN shows that ash is on its way to circling the globe and is high up where the jets fly. Interesting take. What I saw in their full story today looked like it was nearly coming full circle.

Q&A: Assessing the hazard of Chilean volcanic ash cloud - CNN.com

"The ash cloud is in the upper atmosphere at 20,000 to 35,000 feet. Jets tend to fly above 29,000 feet -- the most fuel-efficient cruising altitude. Flying below the cloud is not considered to be economical."

I doubt though that WA would be affected as it would be pretty thin and is apparently locked in and not going north.

[virago]

Flights have resumed as of around 3pm Australian EST time.

[MovingIn07]

I doubt though that WA would be affected as it would be pretty thin and is apparently locked in and not going north.

The local news this morning was reporting strong northerly winds that might have pushed the cloud north - looking at the map (as I did this morning) I thought it would have to be a strong wind for a LONG time to make much difference, so am not too worried... but just a little!

[100LL]

Northerly winds usually push stuff south...