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Alaska Airlines diverts 4 flights because of eruption

By Typh Tucker
The Associated Press

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"Our pilots are instructed and trained not to fly through those plumes and they will not do that," said airline spokesman Sam Sperry.

Federal officials contacted airline pilots heading toward Portland to let them know Mount St. Helens was belching steam and ash, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

It's up to pilots and the airlines they fly for to decide whether to reroute, said Mike Fergus, a Seattle-based spokesman for the FAA.

"There are no two ways about it, you don't want to be going through an ash plume," Fergus said.

The National Weather Service said it appears there was little ash in the plumes emitted by Mount St. Helens.

Steve Johnson, spokesman for the Port of Portland, which manages the airport, said he knew of no other airlines that diverted or canceled flights.

"The airport is open and fully operational," Johnson said. "We have given consideration over the past few days to operations in the event of a major eruption. But at this time there are no changes in operation."

The Portland airport is about 50 miles away from Mount St. Helens.

State health authorities said any volcanic ash that may settle over Oregon after a potential eruption of Mount St. Helens poses a very low health risk to residents.

Public Health Officer Grant Higginson said that wearing a paper dust mask or using a cloth over the mouth when outdoors and avoiding dust where possible will provide adequate protection for most people.

Higginson also said people with chronic respiratory diseases should make a special effort to avoid ash and dust coming from the mountain.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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