Grimsvotn eruption shuts down Iceland’s airspace

Keflavik International Airport was closed to all air traffic on Sunday following the eruption of the Grimsvotn volcano on Saturday, and a 120-mile radius no-fly zone was imposed.
 

The eruption resulted in a plume of ash that reached a height of 12 km.

Eurocontrol does not expect any significant impact on European or transatlantic flights today.

However, according to the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre (VAAC) in London, depending on the continuing eruption of the volcano and the meteorological conditions, there is a risk that some ash cloud may reach parts of northern Europe in the next 48 hours.

The European Aviation Crisis Coordination Cell (EACCC), comprising representatives from EUROCONTROL, the European Commission, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), States and air transport stakeholders, has been activated in order to coordinate a response that can mitigate any potential impact while maintaining established safety levels.

Dr Colin Brown, director of Engineering at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, pointed out that the Grimsvotn eruption typically has produced molten lava, rather than the fine ash that disrupted Europe’s air industry when Eyjafjallajokull erupted last year. This, combined with the fact that winds aren’t currently pushing any of the ash produced towards the UK, means that it is very unlikely that UK airspace will have to be closed.

Quelle: eyefortransport
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