Kites flown for money: Authority

JAKARTA (JP): An executive from airport management firm PT Angkasa Pura has accused Cengkareng residents in Tangerang of intentionally flying kites in the Soekarno-Hatta Airport vicinity in the hope of seeking financial assistance from the company.

"We've suspected that a money motive is behind the ploy," the firm's operational director Moelyono D. S. was quoted by Antara as saying on Wednesday.

He said the firm had identified some 120 residents who regularly flew kites within the airport vicinity and suspected some of them as acting as provocateurs.

He said the firm had on several occasions organized bazaars to provide cheap basic commodities for neighborhood residents. He said residents had nevertheless continued with their kite flying activities.

"The kites have disturbed the airplanes approaching and leaving the airport. We have warned the residents of the danger, but they ignore (our warnings)," Moelyono said.

Moelyono said 10 airlines, including Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines and KLM, had filed protests with the firm about the kite interference.

"The kites may stop a plane's engine if they get caught in its propellers," he said.

Chief of the Airport Police Subprecinct Capt. Titik Valentina warned residents of the dangers of kite flying in the vicinity.

"Flying kites around the airport is against an international flights rule," she said on Thursday.

The International Civil Aviation Association Regulation stipulates that kites are only permitted to be flown at least one kilometer away from the runway and at a maximum height of 20 meters.

Relations between the airport management firm and residents have been strained for some time. (asa)