Eyjafjallajoekull

No, my keyboard hasn't broken!

That's the name of the volcano in Iceland that's stranding people across the world and is reputedly costing airlines $200m a day. We have friends who are stranded in the US and I have heard of so many tales of woe as people are stranded across the globe by this.

The airline operators are desperate to fly because they're losing money and over the past few days Lufthansa and KLM have sent up a few test flights. Some people are already warning the public that we will soon have food shortages if we can't fly and the operators are claiming that this situation is a great European farce in that it took them five days to organise a conference call between the transport ministers of the affected countries. Not only that but they're claiming the whole thing is but a kneejerk in that there was no risk assessment!

To counter these comments the governments says that they have been advised that the cloud is dangerous and they are not willing to see aircraft go down because of the ash. Safety first (always a good policy when you can't stop the vehicle and walk home!).

The airline industry claim that the governments should be using test flights. Of course some have done this and claim all is well whilst scientists are (even today) claiming that there is potential danger in flying through the stuff.

One commentator (from the airline industry) said today that, "Airline operators would not put passengers at risk on the basis of monetary considerations!" I have to say that I would hope not but don't have a great confidence - the bottom line is that some airlines will fold if they don't fly and therefore it's a risk some would (I am certain) be willing to take.

So how do we view this and pray intelligently?

1. We need to be praying for those who live to service aircraft and airports. The people who make the food for the flights, the people who work for companies who service airports and those who rely upon the travelling population to pay their bills (i.e. taxi drivers).

2. We need to be praying for those scientists who are trying to do the right thing and must surely be under great pressure to open the skies again. In situations like this the general rule is that we should err on the side of safety but there are many voices who are sowing enough doubt to make this a really pressurised part in the unfolding aviation scene.

3. We need to be praying for the governments that they make the right decision rather. It would be easy to open the skies and find themselves prosecuted and vilified should even one aircraft go down. If 99% of the aircraft that usually operate are safe, what does this mean for those whose loved one might be on that 1% remaining? Wisdom and facts are needed.

4. Pray for COBRA (Cabinet Office Briefing Room A) - that body of scientists and other experts who advise the government over this issue.

PAx