The Ministry Of Transportation Hopes That The Air Balloon Festival In Wonosobo Will Not Disturb Airplane Flights

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - Director General of Civil Aviation (Dirjen Hubud) of the Ministry of Transportation M. Kristi Endah Murni hopes that the peak of the air balloon festival which will be held in Wonosobo Square, Central Java on Sunday, April 21, will comply with the rules set so as not to interfere with aircraft flights.

"One of the rules that must be obeyed is that the maximum height is 150 meters from the ground and the air balloon has a minimum of three mooring ropes," said Kirsti in a statement in Wonosobo, Central Java, quoted from Antara, Saturday, April 20.

Kristi explained that the regulation was contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Transportation Number PM 40 of 2018 concerning the Use of Air Balloons at Community Cultural Activities and had applied for a permit for the implementation of activities.

He explained that the Ministerial Regulation regulates several provisions that must be adhered to, such as a maximum balloon diameter of 4 meters; a maximum balloon height of 7 meters; not equipped with materials containing fire, easy to explode / blow; including a maximum height of 150 meters from the ground surface; and having a minimum of three mooring ropes.

"In this PM, it is also regulated for the location of the festival, which is in the form of land without obstacles to trees, settlements, power lines, or refueling stations and is quite far from the airport," explained Kristi.

Kristi continued, said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through the Surabaya Regional Airport Authority Office III in collaboration with AirNav Indonesia, local governments and the police had socialized PM 40 of 2018 and appealed to the public to carry out these traditions based on applicable regulations.

According to Kristi, the community's annual tradition of flying hot air balloons when welcoming Eid al-Fitr needs to be brought under control because wild balloons are very dangerous for flight activities, especially safety issues.

"We hope that public awareness will grow and there will be no more findings of air balloons flying freely and wildly. Take advantage of the festival in Wonosobo, let's together preserve tradition without endangering flight safety," added Kristi.

Kristi added that people need to imagine and know that air balloons that fly freely to the cruising altitude of the plane are very dangerous. The air balloon can enter the aircraft engine or close the windshield/front window of the plane so that it blocks the pilot's view.

"Don't play games, there are many lives at stake, of course we don't want anything bad to happen," he explained.

He said that Article 411 of Law Number 1 of 2009 concerning Aviation, for anyone who endangers the safety of aircraft, passengers and goods, and/or residents or harms other people's property, will be sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of two years and a maximum fine of IDR 500 million.