http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-431802/The-story-BA-flight-009-words-passenger-dreads-.htmlThe story of BA flight 009 and the words every passenger dreads ...by ZOE BRENNAN
Last updated at 16:23 29 January 2007
With unbelievable restraint, Captain Eric Moody addressed British Airways flight 009 as his Boeing 747 drifted inexorably down towards the Indian Ocean.
Displaying the stiff-upper-lip spirit that built an empire, he uttered the words that are every air passenger's worst nightmare: 'Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get it under control. I trust you are not in too much distress.'
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http://www.suntimes.com/news/world/2165934,CST-NWS-volcano16.articleVOLCANIC ASH Q&A
Q. How does the ash affect airliners, and what are the dangers it poses?
A. The very fine but extremely abrasive particles present a hazard to the aircraft's airframe and power plants. They easily scratch and erode paint, aluminum and glass. This damages the wings' leading edges and has a sandblasting effect on cockpit windscreens and landing lights. Inside the engines, the particles stick to the engine's hot parts, forming a glasslike coating, and grind up turbines, bearings and other moving parts, restricting air flow through the turbine. This might lead to the immediate loss of thrust and eventually engine failure.
They also can clog air filters, such as the ones through which air flows to the passenger cabin.
Q. When was flying through ash clouds recognized as a safety threat?
A. In the early 1980s, two Boeing 747s were severely damaged by the ash clouds spewing from Galunggung Volcano on Indonesia's Java island. One of these lost power on all four engines. While the pilots managed to restart the engines at a lower altitude, the resulting glide still ranks as one of the longest ever performed by an aircraft not specifically designed as a glider.