Sky Lanterns

[ambientskies]

I've seen a distant red lantern hanging in the sky, for quite a few nights now?

[Pyro Pete]

Whilst I really like lanterns... I've seen a spent lantern in a hedge on the edge of a farmer's field, the paper was degrading but the metal ring was hanging down. It could certainly be eaten or caught up around something's neck. When I saw that I did understand the farmers point of view. Not to mention the litter aspect. The industry really must work hard to make these animal friendly and 100% biodegradable.

[»Firework Crazy]

You seem to be forgetting that when they come down, the flame has gone out!

[Shockwave Pyrotechnics]

The flames don't always go out, and have seen many come down burning in the past, perfect for touching down in a dry crop field ready for harvest or on top of a thatched roof. We as a company have never used them nor ever will, I've turned down business when people have contacted us to let a load of these off at weddings and have just finished typing an e-mail to a client who wanted them incorporated into their show, to say I wouldn't do it. This discussion has been had many times on here, some companies use them, some don't.

[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Signum

........I like em, but the not knowing where they land ain't great, do you reckon a ban could be placed on them, purely from the fact, not of the content, but there not controllable are they, just what are your thoughts??

Originally Posted by PureParty

it's this aspect that I feel will be a deciding factor, having outlawed fireworks of erratic flight I can see lanterns going down the same route, rightly or wrongly

I was on a Scouting forum earlier and came across a post about Chinese New Year. People were suggesting that it would be good to launch some lanterns as part of the evening's activities.

One guy posted the following

"Please note that as of Jan this year the Air Navagation Order 2010 specifically introduced a clause that now prohibits these! It is now against the law to fly them!! [But not sell them!!]"

I've had a quick google and couldn't see any specific mention to this within said order but then I didn't read it fully.

Anyone else heard anything of this nature confirming this?

[Signum]

Impossiable to police such a prohibition. Unless you are aware of a party in the area, once these are in the air - the floating and someone see's them, reports them, authorities take a look, there gonna be a long long way from the source, so how could you possibly know and prosecute who let them off??

[Andy_P]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Anyone else heard anything of this nature confirming this?

Nope!
Wading through the Air Navigation Order 2009 now. (There doesn't seem to be a 2010 one)

http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP393.pdf

[Andy_P]

OK I found the reference in the above regs....

(8) A person must not cause or permit—
(a) a group of small balloons of more than 1000 in number to be simultaneously released at a
single site wholly or partly within the aerodrome traffic zone of a notified aerodrome
during the notified operating hours of that aerodrome unless that person has given to the
CAA at least 28 days previous notice in writing of the release;
(b) a group of small balloons of more than 2000 but not more than 10,000 in number to be
simultaneously released at a single site—
(i) within airspace notified for the purposes of this sub-paragraph; or
(ii) within the aerodrome traffic zone of a notified aerodrome during the notified
operating hours of that aerodrome,
except with the permission of the CAA; and
(c) a group of small balloons greater than 10,000 in number to be simultaneously released at
a single site except with the permission of the CAA.

(Part of Section 163)

So it's a LONG way from a ban!

[»PureParty]

is that referring to lanterns, or balloons?

[RocketRev]

The Air Navigation Order 2009 does not make any reference to lanterns. But the current version of CAP736 does. We had quite a discussion about it a while ago and, because of my proximity to City Airport Manchester (the Barton Aerodrome as was), I've had to get to grips with it and work in line with it. In chapter 2 a distinction is made between fireworks displays and (helium) balloon releases. There's a footnote on page 3 of chapter 2 (on the pdf version) that makes it clear that "Sky Lanterns" are treated as fireworks rather than as balloons. It says this:

For the purposes of this CAP, ‘Fireworks’ and ‘Firework Displays’ includes ‘Sky Lanterns’ and ‘Sky Lantern Displays’; both involve the launching of one, or more solid combustible object into the air with the risk of either impacting against an aircraft, or causing a distraction to aircrew.

So I assume that the use of lanterns is currently governed by CAP736. That can be found here:-
http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP736.PDF


PS.... by the way, the Air Navigation order was "made" and laid before Parliament in November 2009 and scheduled to come into force on 1st January 2010..... so that's probably what the scouting forum member was on about.