The Anonymous Widower

The Volcanic Dust Farce

Farce is not too strong a word.

I was listening to Simon Calder last night on BBC Radio 5.  He was very critical of government and government agencies locking down UK airspace, when if we’d used the US rules, flying would just have been a little more difficult.

Now under EU rules, airlines and tour companies are liable for a lot of the costs of the delays suffered by passengers. But if these delays were caused by bad government science then who pays?

I would not be happy with a bill for several thousand pounds, so I would want someone to pay me.  If the airlines felt the government were at fault, then it would end up being a bean feast for lawyers.

This one will run and run!

I think though that this farce, shows Nulabor in all their stupidity.  They did nothing but hide behind the rules, then they sent a couple of gunboats and then they had to cave in when they were the only European government that was banning flying.

What would I have done in Prudence’s place?

I would have made sure that as soon as possible we tested all of the science and engineering.  If this was being done, we didn’t know about it, which shows how this government feels that nanny-knows-best secrecy is the best policy.

I would have brought in expert advice from countries like the United States, where they have a lot of experience and different rules about flying in volcanic ash. 

In the end they imposed American rules and the airports opened. 

If they had worked quickly, instead of hoping the problem just went away, the airports would have been opened a lot early.

Let’s hope the people of the UK realise who’s to blame for much of this farce.

April 21, 2010 - Posted by | News, Transport/Travel | , , ,

2 Comments »

  1. |I would expect nothing more from a Tory like you. What would have happened if a Jet had fallen from the sky? I supose that would have been the governments fault as well. All of this nonsence is about the south east corner of this country complaining that they did not have enough money otr insurance to cover this and are looking for someone to blame. If you cannot afford to go out of the country and have enough money to cover Act’s of God then do not go and stop trying to get government money for your failings.

    Comment by George | April 21, 2010 | Reply

  2. I may be a Tory some of the time, but not all of the time. As I’m all for metrication, the euro and Shengen, I disagree with Cameron fundamentally in some areas.

    All I was saying was that there was too much dithering and not enough research and proper decision making. The Americans learned a lot over Mount St. Helens and no-one is saying their air safety has a poor record.

    I’d be interested to know how many people have been injured or even killed because they drove all the way from Spain, Italy or further.

    Comment by AnonW | April 21, 2010 | Reply


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