EU to resume limited air traffic

[ZeitgeistObserver]

EU to resume limited air traffic

Jill Lawless and Raf Casert

Brussels — The Associated Press
Published on Monday, Apr. 19, 2010 11:25AM EDT

Last updated on Monday, Apr. 19, 2010 1:41PM EDT


.European officials carved up the sky Monday, creating three zones to more quickly break the flight deadlock caused by volcanic ash flowing from Iceland over Europe. Many more flights will be able to take off on Tuesday, the bloc said.

European countries can resume airline traffic in designated “caution zones” where the threat of ash is considered less dangerous, French officials said after a meeting of the bloc's 27 transport ministers.

Under the accord, one area — defined by the European air traffic control agency Eurocontrol — will remain entirely off limits to flights. Another area will be open to all flights and a third area will be a caution zone in which some flights will be allowed.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/eu-to-resume-limited-air-traffic/article1539259/

[TexasObserver]

1. ahem are you sure you're authorized to speak to this crisis?

oh and you'd better clear it with your DU Crisis Posting Team Leader

[ZeitgeistObserver]

4. Arggggh!

:rofl:

[TexasObserver]

9. Good news is only good if you want to see good news.

ahem

[ZeitgeistObserver]

11. True. And any news is bad news

if you have that kind of mindset.

[JVS]

2. Now we sit and wait to see how many planes make it.

[JuniperLea]

5. That's my first thought too...

They got their arms twisted... and caved... so when planes start going down, who gets sued?

[harkadog]

7. And when that doesn't happen are you going to post that you were wrong?

[JuniperLea]

10. When I'm wrong, I say so...

I voiced an opinion here... is that wrong? Is it so far out of the realm of possibility that corporations push the envelope in favor of making money without regard to safety?

Sorta makes your little statement here seem silly to me when I look at the big picture. Did I piss in your Wheaties at some point? I'm not the only one saying this, but you feel the need to single me out. I don't see how mistrusting a corporation is so far fetched that it's worthy of this attitude.

I have a very good friend awaiting a plane for Amsterdam... I'm genuinely concerned here.

[harkadog]

13. Many of DUers seem to think pilots are robots.

That they have no concern about their personal safety or that of their passengers and crew. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn when you talk about corporations making money. Of course corporations want to make money but corporations don't fly the planes. Pilots do. They aren't going to commit suicide just to get a paycheck the following week.

[JuniperLea]

14. Would they disobey direct orders?

Would the corporations lie to the pilots?

Who here is blaming the pilots for anything?

[harkadog]

15. If they thought there was a serious hazard of course they would disobey.

What good is a paycheck if you are dead? You speak of the corporation as if it is a human speaking entity. It is made up of people at every step. The CEO is not out there taking air measurements. Professionals do that. These can't be covered up because that information is immediately on internet sites all over the world and is reviewed by airline regulators working for governments. There would need to be a conspiracy of tens of thousands of people to cover up something like that. BTW since you think this would all be money motivated you are aware aren't you that an air crash is the costliest thing that can possibly happen to an airline's balance sheet. It can affect it for years to come. The "corporation" does not want to lose any plane if they think there is a serious hazard. It makes no economic sense whatsoever.

[JuniperLea]

16. Only time will tell... eom

[CTyankee]

3. Relieved to see Scotland's airports to open tomorrow. My friend is in Edinburgh.

She was there for her brother's wedding. Thank god her ailing mother stayed home in Baltimore...it would have been terrible for her...

I sent my friend an email asking her to get in touch when she could "see her way clear" which was my idea of a little joke...knowing her she probably loved it!

[XOKCowboy]

12. My friend is trying to go back home in Scotland.

Her father's birthday is coming up and her family is all going to be there. Last night she got the call her flight was a go for this morning but they canceled on the way to the airport. Hopefully she'll be able to get out soon.

[celtics23]

6. Finally!

I know countless people with trips ruined because of this...

[ZeitgeistObserver]

8. I wish they could have saved that toddler.

And the woman needing a transplant.