Chinese Lanterns

iamthemanwork

I apologise if I have this query in wrong section. Is permission needed to let fly Chinese Lanterns. I am associated with an organisation who once a month give a day out to people with intellectual disabilities. We are hoping at our next meet to let go 7 lanterns ..at approx. 9 pm later this month. I think this would be lovely thing for our service users but we do not want to cause any danger etc. Our venue is in no way near to any airport . Any advice would be appreciated.

phonypony

iamthemanwork wrote: »

I apologise if I have this query in wrong section. Is permission needed to let fly Chinese Lanterns. I am associated with an organisation who once a month give a day out to people with intellectual disabilities. We are hoping at our next meet to let go 7 lanterns ..at approx. 9 pm later this month. I think this would be lovely thing for our service users but we do not want to cause any danger etc. Our venue is in no way near to any airport . Any advice would be appreciated.

The IAA have a safety leaflet on this- https://www.iaa.ie/library_download.jsp?libraryID=922

lintdrummer

Very interesting, I wasn't aware of this:

IAA wrote:

Members of the public who wish to use such devices
must be aware that it is a requirement to obtain
permission, in writing, from the Irish Aviation Authority
prior to their use. Any permission issued will be restricted
to a launch of not more than 50 lanterns in total.

Is this requirement in law somewhere? If so it's being broken all the time I'd say. No restriction on buying them, they sell them in the 2 euro shops now.

IAA wrote:

Before Launching:
To ensure your launch is not confused as a sighting of a distress signal you must contact the following Agencies
just prior to launch:

1) Nearest Air Traffic Control Unit
Dublin ATC: 01 844 5962
Shannon ATC: 061 366148
Cork ATC: 021 432 9623

2) Irish Coastguard
Dublin: 01 6620922

3) Nearest Garda Station

I wonder would the local Garda station have any clue why you're calling them, particularly if you're nowhere near an airport.

Anyhow OP, I'd say you'll have no bother, best of luck with the event.

iamthemanwork

A big thank you to those of you who replied to my enquiry on flying some Chinese Lanterns. Our event will be going ahead but because there might be some legal issues surrounding the letting loose of the lanterns we might abandon that idea altogether.

tigershould

Call the IAA and let them know. They'll grant permission. They just need to know.

2 stroke

Id say that informing the Gardai is more to do with tracking you down if your lanterns start a fire. I have once seen the burning fuel falling from a lantern after it was launched. I also had the sh1t frightened out of me by the ghostly estinguished lantern floating across the road in front of my car.
My advice, launch these where they will blow out to sea, after notifying the coastguard. Or at least don't launch them in dry weather.

Tabnabs

2 stroke wrote: »

Id say that informing the Gardai is more to do with tracking you down if your lanterns start a fire. I have once seen the burning fuel falling from a lantern after it was launched. I also had the sh1t frightened out of me by the ghostly estinguished lantern floating across the road in front of my car.
My advice, launch these where they will blow out to sea, after notifying the coastguard. Or at least don't launch them in dry weather.

Terrible advice, do you think they just disappear into thin air? The pollution these lanterns cause us equally damaging to the environment.

http://www.mcsuk.org/what_we_do/Clean+seas+and+beaches/Campaigns+and+policy/Don%27t+let+go+-+balloons+and+sky+lanterns

KnotABother

I may stand corrected but was one of the biggest fires in recent history started by one of these at a recycling plant in the UK?

I'd inform the IAA of when and where you intend to release them. If it's outside controlled airspace they will not deny you permission they will just want to have it for possible traffic info. I saw a few of these being let off atop howth head once...

Chris_5339762

A whole load of them were drifting west over Dublin last night (9th).

iamthemanwork

Thank you to all who replied to my question about letting fly Chinese lanterns as part of an event later this month. Permission was sought from the IAA and was granted.