Kite-flying near airport - let's be safe rather than sorry

Straits Times Forum 3 Nov 09;

I THANK Mr Sim Peng Shin for his Forum Online letter, 'Review kite-flying ban east of Bedok Jetty' (Oct 21).

As the safety of aircraft operations should not be compromised, the potential hazard posed by a kite to an aircraft if it is ingested by the aircraft engine cannot be taken lightly.

Therefore, consistent with best practices around the world, flying of kites is not allowed within 5km of an airport as a matter of policy.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore will conduct a detailed safety study and explore specific safeguards that can be effectively implemented for the varied range of kites.

We thank Mr Sim for his feedback.

Ng Tee Chiou
Director
Air Traffic Services Division
Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore

Review kite-flying ban east of Bedok Jetty
Straits Times Forum 21 Oct 09;

I WAS flying a kite with my son at East Coast Park on Sunday at about 6.30pm, about 200m east of Bedok Jetty, when I was told by a National Parks Board (NParks) officer that it was illegal to fly kites there.

He said kite flying was allowed to the west of Bedok Jetty. Being in the aviation business, I told the officer that there was no risk of my $5 kite detaching and entering the engine intakes of an airliner. Planes from Changi Airport were also taking off towards the south, which meant that they would be much higher.

The kite-flying policy should be reviewed. How does a kite flying at less than 30m off the ground just east of Bedok Jetty affect airline operations out of Changi Airport? The nearest horizontal distance between the kite and an airliner on approach is about 1.8km. The nearest vertical separation is about 245m.

Sim Peng Shin