Volcanic ash cloud - UK shutdown begins

[imropes]

Just seen FIE and Z at 360 Iceland bound going through the ash. Does not seem to worry them.

[tommyg]

BA9271 was checking the ash cloud. It was sent up with measuring equipment, hence the orbitting over Scotland.
For info, the ash is measured from surface to FL200, FL200 upto FL350, and from FL350 up to FL550, depending on the the amount/size of ash at those levels, governs whether aircraft can fly, so thats why you may see flights above FL350 and not below.

[Roland28]

I'm in Leeds and I have just picked up test flight BAW9271 which seems to be enroute from Newcastle to Heathrow.