More common sense reactions from the Professional Pilots Forum:
“It’s clearly scandalous for unaccountable authorities to impose airspace restrictions on what seems to be limited data from computer images rather than actual scientific measuring flights.”
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“I find this event has caught airlines flying to the UK and EU countries with their collective pants down and I am very surprised there are not alternative contingencies being sought out. With thousands of passengers being kept in sandwiches and marginal accommodations around the world, how is it that an actionable plan is not worked out among our transit partners?
For example, for those seeking to return home to the EU and UK, why have flights not begun departing for the still remaining open airports in Southern Italy and Spain and then motor coach and rail could carry passengers home from there? The same could be accomplished for the reverse – that is those wishing to leave the UK and European continent.
Finally one other point: Here in the states there are hundreds of passengers stranded at JFK with a few of the lucky ones finding rooms in nearby Manhattan and Brooklyn. How is it that society has become so jaded and disconnected that local residents and civic organizations haven’t opened their hearts and doors to these unlucky travelers? There would seem to be a threshold of misfortune that must be crossed before people start thinking beyond their own perimeters and comfort zones.”
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“Its not rocket science, you just need to realise that the world is not a risk-free place – and aviation is not a risk-free industry. But the modern politician/civil servant is so frightened of his/her own shadow, they can no longer make rational decisions.”
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“Why on Earth doesn’t UK (at least) get organised, collect enough data and then start to solve problems? Maybe it’s because of political correctness and Creationism? Brain activity seems to have stopped completely in some areas.”
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“I suppose that it is too simple to ask why aircraft wishing, say, to cross the North Atlantic departing from the south of England can’t remain at medium level until west of Ireland and then climb to normal cruising levels?”
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“For modern European bureaucracy it is always easier to ban things then to find a solution and monitor the situation as it unveils.
It is always easier to err on a safe side then to find a reasonable solution to the problem.”