Volcanic ash! How do pilots deal with it?

Sponsor: brilliant.org/mentourpilot/
In todays episode I will tell you about one of the most dangerous natural phenomena that can affect aviation; Volcanic ash.
I will tell you WHY it is dangerous, HOW it affects the different aircraft systems and WHAT we are trained to do it we ever encounter volcanic ash while flying.
Please join me in the Mentour Aviation app and tell me what you think after the episode, just tag @mentour and it will send me a message.
If you don't already have the FREE app, use the links below:
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If you want to be part of me Patreon Crew, and preview my videos to make sure they are up to scratch, use the link below:
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Please also check out the great channels and videos I have borrowed some material from to make todays video. Links below:
Bancroft TV:
/ @truly-channel
• Volcanic Lightning - W...
Smithsonian Channel:
/ @smithsonianchannel
• Was This Plane Engulfe...
Alaska”s Energy desk
• What is volcanic ash m...
/ @alaskasenergydesk5299

[@thekeytoairpower]

The story of speedbird 9 is my favorite aviation tale. The announcements by the pilots were the most stereotypically English you can imagine. Made me proud to be British.

[@MentourPilot]

“I trust you are not in to much distress” 😂

[@FlyingRagilein]

That thumbnail was prophetic.

[@alumpy-acho112]

Now we have planes actually painted with face masks 😂

[@emhankinson]

This has to be the most informative and educational channel on KZbin. I am fascinated by aviation but will never become an aviator, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like learning about aviation. I have learned a lot here. Keep up the excellent job!

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you! I will do my best!

[@sergiuc7684]

Thanks. Now I know how they filmed the hyperspace scene in Star Wars

[@sillycatgirlnya]

lol

[@Jmixup]

I hope you know how much these videos help someone like me who dislikes (with a passion) flying. The more I know, the better I feel. Thanks so much for these vids, just grabbed the app x

[@petematthews9346]

Delightfully informative discussion. I’m a geologist by training and have studied volcanoes in the past. On May 18th, 1980, I was en route from Chicago-O’Hare to Seattle-Tacoma an a United DC10. Over about Livingston, Montana, the captain came on the PA to announce that our flight plan had changed. We were expecting the normal route over Mullan Pass (MLP) and Spokane (GEG) into Seattle-Tacoma. But he announced that we were diverting south over Pocatello, Idaho (PIH) and Portland, Oregon (PDX), “to avoid the ashcloud of Mount St. Helens which is at 65,000 feet in front of us.” Funny thing is that I wanted to be on the left side of the aircraft so I could possibly see the mountain as we approached Seattle. Now we were going to pass south of the mountain and it would be on our right side! Fortunately, several passengers took pity on me and let me use their window to take some pictures (still have them). That filled one of my bucket-list items, to see a stratovolcano in eruption. To the point of your talk, as I recall, an earlier flight, an MD80 if I remember correctly, also had both engines flame out, but was able to restart them and landed at Portland.

[@petematthews9346]

Volcanic ash can come in several ranges of sizes. The Icelandic eruption of 2010 (Eyjafjallajökull) caused extensive disruption of air service over Europe. But the Grimsvotn eruption in 2014 didn’t have near the effect. Part of this was the prevailing winds at the time, but more importantly, the ash produced by Grimsvotn was sub-millimeter in average size while Eyja’s ash was nearly sub-micron. As a result, the Grimsvotn ash fell from the sky more easily and quickly. Eyja’s ash circled the globe between 40-70° north more than three times.

[@petematthews9346]

Oops, Grimsvotn's eruption was in 2011.

[@BryanDorr]

Wow. That must have been a view from the aircraft and experience. I watched Mt. St. Helens erupt from Vancouver, Washington on that day. Quite amazing.

[@johnkelley9877]

I knew volcanic ash could shut down the engines and scour the airframe but I was unaware it could contaminate the fuel tanks too! Thanks for the information.

[@MentourPilot]

Yes, it’s bad from all angles

[@johnkubik8559]

John Kelley it could in the 90's as air was replacing fuel, in current airplanes CO2 generator are replacing fuel by CO2 to avoid a possible fuel tank explosion as in TWA 800.

[@hart-of-gold]

During the Icelandic eruption years ago, There were articles about how the levels of ash that disallowed flight was too low, because the engines would survive and function at those levels. (written by engineers, but not aviation engineers). Those levels make much more sense now, knowing the ash can build up in the air con systems and even the fuel systems and remain there until it causes problems.

[@karlp8484]

We flew to Perth in 1982 the next day after BA 9 . Same sector same airline. Coincidence. I was 17 years old. One of the bad things about vulcanism is gaining altitude is usually bad news because the ash can go up to crazy altitudes, way beyond max alt for an airliner. As you say turning and going down is the safest option.

[@Repented008]

Very informative! I actually read about that BA 747 encountering volcanic ash in a very intriguing article in Reader's Digest when I was in school. At the time I was flabbergasted that something like ash could cripple a Jumbo mid flight, haha! Ahhh, how I miss those days...I used to go to the airport on Saturdays to spot our local airlines' Tristars....thanks for the memories Mentour!

[@skytrainii8933]

Now I know the rest of the story ---. We (in a Navy C-9B 159113) flew through the Mt St. Helens ash cloud on the way to McChord AFB early in 1980 a month before the major eruption. Up to that point, no one had done that before in a jet at those speeds. It etched the front wind screens to the point of blocking the pilots' fwd vision. They had to lean way over to see out the side windows to land. All the leading edges were etched from a shinny aluminum to a dull gray. We had to replace the windscreens at McChord AFB, away from home. We replaced the engines at home to be on the safe side. The aircraft flew it's entire life with those surface etched. I thought the industry learned its lesson from our encounter. Now I learn they didn't know they were entering the ash. We did. We could see it and didn't think it was dangerous.

[@MentourPilot]

Interesting!

[@Repented008]

Wow.

[@skytrainii8933]

Quack Quark yes. The engines were looked at (visual and ran on the ground). All looked good. During the special clearance Maintenance check flight, the numbers looked good on the engines ( per the charts) so we took the aircraft home to Alameda. But the engines were still replaced as a caution since we were in unknown territory. P& W wanted to look at the engines. I never heard the results.

[@MarkSmith-js2pu]

I washed my after Mount St Helens when the ash fell onto it in Kansas City. I scratched the clear coat on my new car. It was just just a light, yellow dusting, I thought !

[@cesteres]

Dust in your home is organic material.

[@henryszumigala3479]

Hi Mentour, could you do a video on different engine types. Thanks, Henry.

[@Lunaskyuwu]

We can see your name you dont need to sign a comment

[@pauldietrich8994]

Great vid Captain. Fly safe.

[@artiechoke7974]

Was an aircraft mechanic back when MT. St. Helens exploded and though we were way over in Ohio, we would get airplanes in for maintenance that had a ton of ash back in the tail sections when we opened them up for inspections...

[@Xlastsuspectx]

Nice vid as always Petter. God helg!

[@mikegallegos7]

Very dangerous especially at night if near a volcanic eruption which has not been active long enough to be reported to pilots so they can avoid. There is currently a concern for air traffic in the Hawaiian Island areas. The ash will shut you down as systems which rely on outside uncontaminated air to operate: engines and pitot tubes and ultimately the atmosphere inside the aircraft where passengers and crew are located. Good video Mentour Pilot. Thank you. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate.

[@jahiaorozcodiaz4626]

Brilliant stuff Mentour. Thank you for sharing the knowledge. Godspeed; Jay.

[@jamesries5534]

I'll never forget the documentary about BA 009 and all 4 engines going out, went back on and landing with 3. Hats off to crew members!!

[@JDManring]

Your intro is always so professional and laid out in the perfect format. I am not interested in getting a license, but I really enjoy learning things from you in this format. Thank you for doing all of this. I look forward to seeing what you start teaching us when you run out of the simple aviation concepts and features to cover. I think you would be a great physics teacher.

[@yourfuneraldirector6432]

I remember the 747 being called the largest glider during that incident.

[@FlyingInlines]

Lovely video as always :)

[@simflier8298]

Excellent! Love your passion to share your experiences and knowledge of what you love to do

[@mooniejohnson]

Amazing video, as always. The physics behind it are really interesting.

[@alex14xp]

Great work. This video is in a whole new level.

[@williamthethespian]

Holy Mackerel. Knew it was bad; didn't know it was THAT bad. Thank you!

[@jamesries5534]

"What's our vector Victor?

[@jamesries5534]

I did not mean to make this reply here. SORRY, uncalled for on my part.

[@tabaks]

"Sanding the...xxx item".

[@johnpekkala6941]

Basically it is just like shooting with a huge sandblaster into the engines wich will immediately start grinding down the fan, all compressor stages and the turbines plus sand like volcanic ash also melts at the temperatures inside a jet engine. The engine will most likley be destroyed in seconds since this is high speed and high precision machinery. Even if they are built to withstand things like hail abrasives are a different story.

[@jamesries5534]

Weird that they came back on. You gotta say to yourself that the engines weren't as destroyed as you think.

[@Grovreicraynth]

Another great one captain. Clear skies!

[@19carrot84]

Hey this is a video on a question I had asked. Thank you Petter.

[@williamtakacs7466]

Hey dude. You should reach out to the guy from youtube channel "smarter every day" for an explanation of st. elmos fire. I think both of you are top notch guys that could do some cool things together.

[@marcomanna8257]

very interesting and very well explained, as you normally do. Thank you

[@gabrielgracioveloso8375]

Your videos are awesome! Congrats! I'm a aeronautic engineer and I realy like the way you go trough the subjects.

[@xxvavyguy4457]

Excellent explanation as usual, Capt. Cheers

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@iRxyanDestinygtaandmoreL]

THANK YOU MENTOUR!

[@msanchez1210]

Great Explanation!!! Thank you

[@glennthompson1971]

I was part of teams in Alaska and Montserrat (Caribbean) monitoring volcanic eruptions based on seismic and infrasound data. Had to phone the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres dozens of times to warn local and regional aviation. A fast warning was key since planes can travel at 10 miles a minute. Good to hear the perspective from a pilot. This was already my favourite KZbin channel but this one is right in my area of interest.

[@GonzaloAlvarezWoodCat]

Excellent video! Thanks!

[@spiros7376]

Excellent explanation Cpt as always. Have a nice weekend.

[@MentourPilot]

You to!

[@kathy13volpe]

This was an awesome podcast on volcanic Ash & avaiation! How are the airlines dealing with the constant Mount Kilawea eruptions on the Big Island of Hawaii here in the US & how r the the Pacific ocean routes & areas affected?

[@markevans2157]

Thanks for the response

[@andrewst12]

Thanks Petter, very informative video!

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you for watching!

[@AhmedKhaled-sw3bl]

New info thank you captain,and wish you good luck👍

[@BinodPower-ix8bt]

Hello Captain. You nailed the video. Explained everything so well. Really liked it. Thank you👍😀👌

[@WeeRosieOurFrenchie]

Another fantastic video,

[@MentourPilot]

I’m happy you liked it.

[@KYHONKOMA]

Love the energy, great videos!!!

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you! I do what I can

[@davidconnolly7693]

Love when you talk about all the aircraft systems! Never realized the tanks were pressurized by bleed air.

[@sethwikle7840]

Love your videos my guy.

[@handyvickers]

Such an interesting talk. Love it!

[@ellywest1216]

This was so informative; it's way worse than I could have guessed. Thanks for teaching something new!

[@PopCultureJunkie78]

Very timely and fascinating. 👍

[@zippy3711]

Great teacher, speaker. Thank you professor.

[@PlataxJazz]

I spent a good many years in the glass industry, and one of the most frequently used and efficient abrasives is pumice. This is essentially the same thing that volcanic ash is made of. If you want to get an idea of what it is like, Lava soap and most toothpastes have pumice in them as the abrasive. I had a project to put an anti-glare finish onto glass without using a coating. Pumice was used to softly abrade the surface leaving it a little "smokey" to disperse light. It would not take much for pumice to go from an anti-glare finish to fully clouded, which is what happens to an aircraft windshield. To use pumice for glass grinding, fine particles are suspended in water making a slurry which is pumped over the glass and machining tool. It took special pumps and plumbing to keep the pumice slurry from quickly damaging the system. I can fully imagine what "pumping" a pumice and air slurry through a turbofan engine would do. I found this webcast most interesting, and was pleased that my thoughts about what to do in a situation like this were spot on.

[@MentourPilot]

Thanks! Great input!

[@jamesries5534]

I also remember in the documentary that all 4 engines came back on. THAT is amazing.

[@memofrf]

My day's. Thank you for the knowledge.

[@krinord]

I just realized I find airplanes very interesting due to your channel, thanks! subbed.

[@BoB4jjjjs]

Excellent video.

[@FranciscoGarcia-kr5gt]

Absolubtly fantastic

[@densealloy]

I was in the Philippines and can say ash from Mount Pinatubo was like nothing I had seen. It was so fine it got everywhere and it was sharp and jagged. The analogy of extremely course sand paper is so true. But I will add that it was like the paper used for metal because it was so sharp and hard it felt like aluminum oxide. That was the hard sp but there was also a light type that would float on water. And there was so much of it that the weight caused roofs to collapse.

[@MentourPilot]

Yep, nature can be awesome at times.

[@Shadowfax-1980]

Good timing!

[@airfoxtrot2006]

Very interesting video Mentour i enjoyed it. Have a good weekend my friend.

[@shanti016]

Very detail information

[@jasoncentore1830]

Hi Mentour, I saw that episode on aircraft investigations, I was surprised how far a 747 can glide with no thrust. I remember seeing a picture of the 74 on the ground, it was stripped clean, paint and all, atleast the paint shop won't have to strip it first before painting. I thought for sure that was going to be a wet ditch. Great video as usual!!

[@theviking2755]

love ya vids man actually very helpful. so young or upcoming pilots :)

[@Gatshenii]

very informative... Thank you...

[@srdjanmi]

I'll just say... Masterpiece! 😀✈

[@TMCNJ]

Hi Mentour, I have a question about when pilot flying calls out “positive rate. Gear up” and then pilot monitoring confirms the climb rate and retracts the gear. Why do you have to wait for confirmation that you are climbing for gear up when you’re already airborne? I did think it could be in case you have to abort but then I realised you’re already on your way to V2 so you can’t abort and that thought is what lead to the question. Keep making these videos man, I’m learning so much about aviation it’s inspiring 👍🏼

[@MentourPilot]

It’s because if something unexpected happen, like a down draft etc the gear must not be retracted. It’s a safety mechanism.

[@ArnoldWinters]

I am not a pilot and enjoy your KZbin channel immensely. Thanks for everything you do. I know your airline prohibits videoing during an actual flight, however, I would like to see you some day doing an entire flight from takeoff to landing a la "air clips".

[@Lukapinto]

Awesome tuto!

[@MikePlaysYeet]

Good timing when Ima have a presentation about Ash

[@brucel.6078]

Great video as always! You would make an outstanding flight instructor!! Id sure be happy to ne passenger on any flight of yours, Captain! Great job! 👍

[@davidpnewton]

Erm he is a flight instructor.

[@brucel.6078]

David Newton woah!!!!! I had no idea!! I thought he just a Captain! Thanks! He is damn good!

[@EleanorPeterson]

It's great that we've been able to amass so much real data about the phenomenon without major loss of life (my apologies if I've got that wrong; no disrespect to any victims or their families intended). Having professional meteorological crews and even military aircraft gathering info by risking their lives in thunder storms and extreme weather is tremendously valuable, but we'd always have been wondering just how an actual airliner would cope. The analysis of Flight 009 must have given investigators an incredible amount of precious feedback. And just like buying insurance - you hope that you never need it...

[@Jason-pi7qe]

Been enjoying these videos. Can you do a video about the differences between wide and narrow bodied planes?

[@alex.mcn.1404]

Interesting topic

[@alessandrosmartins]

I really like your ability to make such intricate concepts understandable. Even if it has nothing to do with my reality, I can't stop watching the videos. Congrats! They would be even better if there were less oks and "tongue clicks".

[@user-cb5uz9zh1f]

Good information sank you ))

[@dylanbutcher355]

Thank you so much for the information it was very ironic thank you for the motivational videos please make more

[@ruthnoronha8206]

When the sharp volcanic particles ‘Making a mark on the glass ‘ is called etching the glass of the windows.

[@adibmouhanna6823]

YOUR a great pilot

[@dieselwalter]

Very timely and definitely from the Things I'm Glad They Figured Out Before It Might Ever Matter to Me (as a passenger) department. I cannot imagine the mood in a cockpit during a time when a heretofore undefined mysterious static charge phenomenon is playing out that flamed-out 4/4 747 (or 2/2 737 engines). That those engines were able to be re-lit is yet another testimony to the "complex simplicity" of the trusty gas turbine. That there were any crew still capable of processing all that while flying blind and keeping a tube full of humanoids alive and getting the aircraft and passengers back on the ground is a testimony to those of you men and women who fly these things. I know damned well that I'd be kidding myself to think this "right stuff" could ever be trained into me.

[@ahmadz251]

Great Video... Loving the thumbnail 😂😂😍😍

[@shamsreza7671]

If I recall correctly, the tail number of the Speedbird was G-BOXH

[@phunkingoodtimes3847]

Thank you

[@Lloyd2605]

Another great video. Also love the technical information. I know you are catering to a wide audience, but can you include more technical and procedural information? Thanks again. :)

[@RahmanSajid]

I remember flying to Larnaca and getting my flight canceled for 2 weeks due to volcanic ash. Very informative video Petter. Catch you in the app and on the Sunday live stream. The app?, yes the awesome app available for free in your local store on your device. See you in there

[@aqeelahmad1226]

Love you mentour

[@bernarrcoletta7419]

If you’re forced to do an emergency landing at an airport not normally serviced by your company, and you find extensive damage to your aircraft, like what happened to the BA flight, how do you get the plane back to a service facility?

[@isaaclao2380]

Bernarr Coletta Uh they just send a cargo plane to carry 3 engines to RR's factory and replace them with new engine and continue to flight?

[@jaroslavsevcik3421]

Well you still can rent tha local hangar and do the repair jobs there. Later you will pay for it and everybody is happy.

[@pyrioncelendil]

Makes sense that you'd be getting training on this, even if just as a refresher, given the eruptions going on in Hawaii and Guatemala. For Europe, it's probably Icelandic eruptions that cause the most havoc locally. A few other effects: the fuel in the tanks would be considered contaminated, so would have to be disposed of. The livery would probably have to be stripped and repainted. Worst-case, the engines would have to be replaced, so I imagine aircraft approaching the end of their expected lifespans would likely just get retired early rather than accrue that kind of expense.

[@Arthion]

Volcanic eruptions are very frequent around the Pacific ocean, the area is generally refered to as the Pacific Ring of Fire due to the sheer amount of volcanic activity around nearly all sides of the ocean due to the high amount of tectonic activity around its edges. Shield volcanoes like those on Hawaii generally do not produce all that much ash compared to Stratovolcanoes like those you'd typically find around the borders of tectonic plates in volcanic arcs like those of Mt. St.Helens, Vesuvius, Pinatubo etc.

[@AlessioSangalli]

Etna I believe is quite active

[@telly64]

Great job by the BA-crew.

[@MentourPilot]

Indeed!

[@dizzyology7514]

And also remarkable work by the cabin crew, who managed to limit panic on the part of passengers by displaying calm professionalism and even occasionally making jokes. The PA system did not work, so they had to use portable bullhorns to communicate with the passengers. All the while they were themselves unsure of what was actually happening, just as the flight crew were. This episode is very well documented in the book "Air Disaster vol. 2" by Macarthur Job, which also has excellent chapters on some other famous air emergencies. Secondhand copies can be found on Amazon.

[@notoverlyacerbic9574]

it is interesting to note that it isn't ash on the windshield that made it impossible to see through but rather a damaged windshield from ash striking it at high speed.. The windshield was essentially frosted by the ash..

[@goaaquatics9363]

I'm not a pilot but I absolutely love this channel

[@stecar9122003]

I have never flown through an ash cloud but I was in the Philippines in Silang, Cavite about 19km (approx 12 miles) from an active volcano when on January 12, 2020 the Taal Volcano erupted and I could see how high that the ash cloud was going and how far it was heading. I must say that it was an amazing sight seeing an erupting volcano. Thankfully it is the world's smallest active volcano in the world from what I have read. Thank God that the pilots were able to land safely and everyone survived.

[@murtuzakhan1113]

Thanks sir

[@cwoj100]

fascinating, sounds like a good time

[@ericsbuds]

amazing that the engines were able to restart eventually! i can only imagine what the insides of the engines looked like after flying through the volcanic ash.

[@agentbertram4769]

Excellent video. Very interesting. Thanks. (If I were flying a plane in volcanic ash I'd know exactly when to crap myself).

[@emaildenis]

Nice!

[@phillyphil1513]

yes Flight 9, i remember seeing that episode.

[@Zizzily]

Avoid it if possible? Otherwise try turning it off and on again. Also, I like how you tag your video "Best Aviation KZbinr." 😉

[@MentourPilot]

Thank you!

[@donfelipe7510]

I once heard of an Air New Zealand plane that encountered such ash, when it landed safely most of the plane's paintwork had quite literally been sandblasted off down to bare metal. Presumably with damage to the engines and all the other negative effects you name too.

[@travcollier]

Timely topic given the volcano going off about 45km away from me at the moment (Hawaii).

[@a.3160]

Hi mentour. Please could you consider doing a video about ATC communication?

[@AviatorAS777]

There is a volacano erupting in Hawaii, so I guess that the airlines flying above the region are undergoing some trouble. Great video, thanks!!!

[@otroroman]

Hi Mentour, can you explain what is "yaw dumper"? (just a topic suggestion) I enjoy your channel, thanks for your videos

[@carterjames6696]

otroroman you mean yaw damper I believe it in a way ties the yoke aileron controls to the rudder to turn a bit better

[@hbarudi]

The contaminated fuel from such flights that had to suffer from volcanic ash situations, send that fuel back to the refinery. The refinery will be able to clean up the fuel by sending it back through the partial distillation chamber where all the volcanic ash will become part of the asphalt at the bottom of the partial distillation column and new fresh fuel that was previously contaminated will come out from the kerosene output of the column. This will restore that fuel for another flight.