Aerothai prepared for Bang Fai rockets

BANGKOK, May 28 (TNA) -- The state-run Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Co, Ltd (AEROTHAI) is closely monitoring the country’s Bun Bang Fai or rocket festival activities as high-flying rockets launched during the traditional festival are a threat to aircraft safety, said the company’s president Sarinee Sangprasit. People living in remote areas, especially in the northeastern region, fire Bang Fai before the rainy season starts every year on belief that the god would hear and bless them with plentiful rain for rice cultivation. This year, Bang Fai festival starts between May and June and because of fear that the firing of Bung Fai might interrupt airline traffic, the company has laid out a special monitoring some five nautical miles around airports plus increasing personnel to ensure that no air traffic accidents could occur, said Ms Sarinee. Several pieces of equipment have been installed to display on a real time basis where Bang Fai or heated balloons have been released in to the air and keep the pilot informed. More than 6,000 of rockets were fired since January this year up till now. About 70,000 Bung Fais were fired in 2015. To ensure that no air traffic accidents occurred from the Thai-style home made rockets, the Transport Ministry has also signed agreements with 10 state and private agencies for an assistance and to make sure that the traditional festival runs smoothly. (TNA)