Sky limited for lanterns

BANGKOK  Thailand’s Ministry of Transport signed a memorandum of understanding, late last week, with a number of organisations to help to protect aircraft from sky lanterns (Khome Loy) and Bang Fai rockets.
The agreement was signed by the Ministry of Transport with the ministries of interior, defence, tourism and sports, education and culture, the Royal Thai Police Office, the Public Relations Department, the National Office of Buddhism and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.
The MoU takes immediate effect and will be valid until 2018.
The organisations will form a joint committee to implement measures to control the use of sky lanterns and rockets and the Ministry of Transport’s Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning will coordinate with the committee to implement measures.
inside no 3Transport Minister, Prajin Juntong, said the MoU was the first of its kind as launching sky lanterns and rockets is considered highly dangerous for aviation.
Launching paper lanterns is a custom in North Thailand often linked to celebrations such as New Year, Loi Krathong, but they are also popular at birthday parties and even conferences.
“The MoU will create understanding to preserve beautiful traditions, while introducing safety measures… sky lanterns and Bang Fai rockets must be regulated and comply with the law to prevent impacts on aviation.”
The lanterns can also be a fire hazard if they are not launched correctly. Sometimes the paper shell ignites shortly after take off and can set fire to residences and even rice fields, forests and plantations.
He added: “There are signs that the traditions floating sky lanterns and firing rockets is getting more popular and this has posed a threat to aviaition… therefore prompt action is needed to resolve the threat.”
Bans were introduced in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai over the New Year near airports as the custom became immensely popular. Hundreds of the lanterns were retrieved from around airports.
Airlines had to change their flight schedules, or even cancel some flights during the Loi Krathong festival in November while the situation was critical during the New Year in Chiang Mai.
He said 12,704 sky lanterns werre floated in the North during the recent Loi Krathong festival, an estimate based on lanterns that were permitted by authorities, but it excluded a large number of lanterns that were illegally launched.
It forced airlines to cancel flights to Chiang Mai after 1800.
In the Northeast, 47,923 “Bang Fai” rockets were fired between May and June last year. On several occasions, these rockets were propelled to a much higher altitude than the law permits, he said.
The transport ministry intends to call for amendments to the law to cover sky lanterns and Bang Fai rockets in the future.
“This is a matter of the country’s image and safety for aircraft as an untoward incident could take place that would destroy the country’s reputation.”
The Ministry of Tourism and Sports will launch campaign to educate tourists and business operators about the danger of floating sky lantern, and launching of rockets.
However, both the Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have to bear some of the responsibility as they have promoted the traditions of floating lanterns on a much wider scale. In the past they limited their promotions to Loi Krathong (floating the krathong on rivers or lakes) and largely ignored the Khome Loy.
However, the latter was seen as a quaint and even romantic tradition that was introduced at special events, meetings and conventions as an added value feature in recent years.
For example, during the Mekong Tourism Forum hosted by Chiang Rai in June 2012, all delegates were encouraged to launch sky lanterns from the main pavilion of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation.
Many of the lanterns ditched in nearby communities and host committee members warned delegates of the fire risk as strong winds made it more hazardous in an area crowded with wooden and thatched roof buildings.
Throughout the North, hotels, tour companies and event organisers were quick to adopt the practice and the popularity of sky lanterns literally took flight so that today entire villages are renowned for their lantern production. Three lanterns sell for THB100. They come with a small burner filled with paraffin that when ignited heats the air at the open base of the paper lantern creating lift similar to the what occurs with hot air balloons.
Popularity will ultimately cause the demise of what was a village tradition, but the growth of tourism has turned into an industry that literally turns out thousands of the lanterns that in turn creates a menace for aircraft when approaching airports.

sourced:ttrweekly.com