AIRPORT experts have joined in the campaign to discourage people from launching Chinese sky lanterns, warning that anyone who releases lanterns within ten miles of Ronaldsway airport is breaking the law.

After a week when coastguards and firefighters warned the public about the dangers of the lanterns, the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Authority is the latest to get involved.

Hartley Elder, chief surveyor and director of civil aviation on the Island, said the lanterns could prove hazardous to air navigation, perhaps causing a pilot to make unplanned manoeuvres.

“This would be breaking Isle of Man law,” he warned in a statement.

Mr Elder said that lanterns which reached the flightpath of an aircraft could potentially enter an aircraft engine and cause damage. 

“Anyone planning to release a Chinese sky lantern within 10 miles of the airport at Ronaldsway or planning an event at which 10 or more lanterns are going to be released anywhere on the Island must inform the Air Traffic Unit.”

Forms need to be filled in and guidance sought on the safest way to release the lanterns.

Similar warnings were issued earlier this week by Isle of Man Coastguard and the Fire Service.

The form is available at http://www.gov.im/ded/caainformationleaflets.xml and forward it to the fax/email detailed on the form.

Guidance on releasing sky lanterns and other activity which could be seen as hazardous to air navigation can be found in a UK CAA publication, CAP 736 which is available at http://www.caa.co.uk

Hartley Elder can be contacted at the Isle of Man Civil Aviation Administration on 01624 682358 or aircraft@gov.im