Kites endangers flights: Haryanto

Kites endangers flights: Haryanto

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said yesterday that kites flown in the Greater Jakarta area threaten flights, especially helicopters, because some kites fly above tolerable limits.

"Many pilots complain about the kites. Some kites have a strong thread and can fly over 1,000 feet. If the thread enters a jet engine or twists around propellers, it could wreak havoc with the aircraft," Haryanto was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

"I faced a similar experience myself. One time a helicopter I was on had to take another route to avoid kites," he said.

The minister said some kites, especially those in Jakarta and surrounding areas, fly above 1,000 feet, the same area where many helicopters operate.

Ideally, kites should be flown below 500 feet, he said. "Moreover, many kites being flown are large in size," he said.

Haryanto said he would ask the Jakarta administration to help control citizens who fly kites above tolerable limits. He would also ask for help from the Association of Kite Flyers.

He said there has never been a plane accident because of kites, but action was needed before an accident occurred.

A similar appeal was made by the management of Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar because kites flown by local people there endangered plane traffic into and out of Bali. (hhr)