Flybe is first airline allowed to fly under new CAA regulations

24/05/2010

By Nick Jones

Low-cost carrier Flybe, which offers flights from UK airports such as Humberside, Edinburgh and Bristol, has confirmed it is the first airline in the UK to be able to operate flights under new Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) volcanic ash guidelines.

According to the airline, it collaborated with engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney and aircraft company Bombardier, as well as the Met Office, in order to present a safety case to the CAA.

As of Friday (May 21st), it is permitted to fly in airspace with up to 0.004 grams of ash per cubic metre, compared to the previous safety limit of 0.002.

The carrier notes that if the new rules had been applied 48 hours earlier, it would only have had to cancel 21 flights, rather than 380.

Flybe chief executive Jim French said: "The CAA called upon the industry to bring forward thoroughly researched proposals to safely improve the ability to fly in the vicinity of low-level volcanic ash concentrations."

He went on to thank the CAA and the Met Office, adding that he hopes the safety procedures will restore public confidence in air travel.

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