Since Microsoft Flight Simulator will be using live weather data to simulate real world weather I am wondering if they will simulate volcanic eruptions? I think having to take volcanic eruptions into consideration when making flight plans in order to avoid large concentrations of volcanic ash would be a nice addition to other dynamic weather considerations we will have to make in the sim. It would also make certain places in the world much more immersive (Hawaii, Indonesia, and many more I'm sure). Since other extreme weather phenomena are hypothetically already being simulated such as hurricanes I don't think it is unethical to include other severe environmental factors that affect aviation. Interested to hear what others think about this since I don't think it has been discussed in regards to the new sim.

The weather data comes from Meteoblue.  I would be very surprised if there's a major volcanic eruption and they didn't have the ash cloud.  Whether we'll have volcanic eruption animations at the actual source or if the data will be granular enough to pinpoint that source is anyone's guess.

Hook

I guess if the AI is based on real data streamed realtime, and we have an incident like the one a few years back (2010 eruption of that volcano in Iceland which I'm not even going to attempt to spell the name of lol) where European Airspace basically ended up being shut down for IFR flights for three days, then it would kind of automatically simulate it at least as AI flights go.

That would at least shut people up who have complained that Traffic Global isn't showing traffic - even a busted clock is right twice a day after all.

Be even more interesting if it could simulate the effect of it on aeroplanes, especially that BA 747 which flew through volcanic ash and basically got sandblasted to the point where they had to open a side window and sideslip to be able to see the runway on approach, not to mention having to restart all four engines after they got clogged up with ash. Still it did prove that a 747 can glide pretty well.

Edited August 2, 20205 yr by Chock

40 minutes ago, Chock said:

I guess if the AI is based on real data streamed realtime, and we have an incident like the one a few years back (2010 eruption of that volcano in Iceland which I'm not even going to attempt to spell the name of lol) where European Airspace basically ended up being shut down for IFR flights for three days, then it would kind of automatically simulate it at least as AI flights go.

That would at least shut people up who have complained that Traffic Global isn't showing traffic - even a busted clock is right twice a day after all.

Be even more interesting if it could simulate the effect of it on aeroplanes, especially that BA 747 which flew through volcanic ash and basically got sandblasted to the point where they had to open a side window and sideslip to be able to see the runway on approach, not to mention having to restart all four engines after they got clogged up with ash. Still it did prove that a 747 can glide pretty well.

It would indeed be very interesting if it had an effect on the "damage model" of the aeroplanes in the sim (causing engine damage/failure, loss of visibility, reduction in wing efficiency, etc...)  Tangentially I hope we will also see other forms of dangerous weather like sand storms and hail modelled in their respective environments.

2 hours ago, Chock said:

flew through volcanic ash and basically got sandblasted to the point where they had to open a side window and sideslip to be able to see the runway on approach,

I have a small vial of volcanic ash from Mount Saint Helens and it is unbelievably gritty. I can well believe it would do that to a windshield.

Meteoblue doesn't do aviation weather, they do *weather*, so you should get all sorts of effects.

Hook

13 hours ago, High_Alpha said:

Since Microsoft Flight Simulator will be using live weather data to simulate real world weather I am wondering if they will simulate volcanic eruptions? I think having to take volcanic eruptions into consideration when making flight plans in order to avoid large concentrations of volcanic ash would be a nice addition to other dynamic weather considerations we will have to make in the sim. It would also make certain places in the world much more immersive (Hawaii, Indonesia, and many more I'm sure). Since other extreme weather phenomena are hypothetically already being simulated such as hurricanes I don't think it is unethical to include other severe environmental factors that affect aviation. Interested to hear what others think about this since I don't think it has been discussed in regards to the new sim.

A remark first, as you say, I do not see in which way it would be unethical to include severe environmental factors as ash clouds, sand storms, floods or wildfires among others. The only severe environmental hazard that should be at all cost avoided is snowflakes.

The issue is more on how to realistically simulate them on the ground imagery (floods, wildfires), in the air and the effects on aircraft and civil aviation facilities. From the start Asobo has said they wanted to replicate the world as it is. I expect to have good surprises (If I may so when speaking of disasters)  in this department.