WATCH OUT FOR THE BALLOONS

Residents living close to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport have been suffering from increased noise since it opened almost one year ago. Over the weekend a group of them issued a demand that unless something was done to resolve their problem, they would start releasing balloons under the fligh paths close to the airport. In particular they want a halt on flights departing before 6am and after 9pm - which is actually quite a busy time for flight to Europe, the Middle East and North America.
I think these actions, if they happen, are incredibly reckless and I hope authorities take the necessary action to stop this from happening. I know from my time in the UK that even a charity launch of a few hundred balloons had to be approved and sanctioned by Air Traffic Control - such is the danger that balloons pose to aircraft.
I do not dispute that noise is probably a problem for these residents, but can you image the carnage if one of their protest balloons brings down a passenger plane? And although the loss of life would be terrible, the reputation to Thailand's image for allowing this to happen would be irreparable.