Jets back to work after ash alert

Flight training on RAF Typhoon jets is due to resume after an ash alert
12 April 2012

The RAF hopes to resume Typhoon training flights after deposits of volcanic ash in engines sparked a fresh scare over British air safety.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the RAF's "precautionary measure" to temporarily suspend use of the Eurofighters would not ground passenger flights.

The discovery of ash in engines during post-flight inspections led to checks of all the £69 million jets based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

It came just two days after UK skies were reopened following an Icelandic volcanic ash cloud which halted all flights over the UK for almost a week.

But the CAA stressed that military plane engines were very different from those of civilian aircraft and the Typhoon incident would not have an impact on passenger plane movements.

Revised airspace guidance for civilian aircraft was drawn up earlier this week by the CAA in a move which enabled UK airspace to reopen.

The guidance requires airlines to make damage inspections before and after flights and to report any ash-related incidents to the CAA.

The CAA said that so far there had been "only a very few reports from airlines and, of these, all related to visual sightings".

A spokeswoman added: "There have been no reports of damage to aircraft."

The Ministry of Defence said training flights were suspended until technicians could ensure the ash had not caused any engine damage.

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