Silkair Flight To Chiang Mai Diverted

[p1p]

Story from The Electric News Paper - Singapore

SilkAir flight to Chiang Mai DIVERTED

THE haze was so bad that the pilots could not land.

The SilkAir flight from Singapore circled Chiang Mai airport for several minutes before the pilots decided to divert flight MI702 to Yangon, Myanmar, on Tuesday morning.

Several other flights were diverted as well, reported the Bangkok daily, The Nation.

The haze is believed to be caused by forest fires in the northern provinces and nearby Myanmar towns. It is also worsened by low rainfall and low humidity level. (See report on facing page.)

A SilkAir spokesman said the plane was carrying 87 passengers and seven crew members.

'As the conditions showed no signs of improvement, the decision was then made to divert the flight to Yangon.'

This was because Yangon, about 450km from Chiang Mai, was the closest airport where SilkAir operates an office.

The plane reached Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, at around 12.30pm and the passengers were flown to Singapore at around 4.20pm as the haze situation in Chiang Mai wasn't improving.

The flight arrived in Singapore - around 1,900km from Yangon - at 6pm.

It was SilkAir's first diversion since the Thai haze problem worsened.

The spokesman said hotel accommodation and meals were arranged for transit passengers and those who missed their connecting flights.

The affected passengers were put on yesterday morning's flight to Chiang Mai - northern Thailand's tourism capital - about 700km from Bangkok as the situation had improved.

The spokesman said: 'Such flight disruptions and diversions are as costly for airlines as they are inconvenient for our customers.

'But we know they share our view that safety standards should never be compromised.'

Yesterday morning, the Thai Pollution Control Department website reported that air quality levels had reached a high of 382.7 on the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the mountainous Chiang Mai province while visibility was reduced to 800 metres.

The 'normal' PSI reading is less than 50 and the 'acceptable' level goes up to 100. In comparison, the haze level here reached a high of 150 last October.

But health and safety concerns posed by the haze haven't deterred some Singaporeans, such as Mr Felix Tan, a lecturer in the School of Film and Media Studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, who arrived in Chiang Mai yesterday morning.

He is spending three days there to prepare for a 10-day study trip for 14 students starting next Friday.

Click to see larger image

Mr Tan, 33, said neither his students nor their parents have not asked him about the trip, which is going on as planned. But he had health concerns when he first learnt about the haze situation.

He said: 'I have asthma so I made sure that I brought along my inhaler. Also, I'm trying to stay indoors.'

To him, the bigger disappointment is not being able to see Doi Suthep, Thailand's second highest peak, which is located next to the city.

He said: 'The mountain is the most important part of this city but now you can't even see it because the air is so thick with smog and dust.'

Another unfazed Singaporean is Mr C K Dong, a teacher in Chiang Mai city.

The 33-year-old said there is no need to wear face masks yet.

'I even went jogging on Monday. Singaporeans can be too spoilt.'

But Mr Lothar Till, a German national and Singapore PR living here since 1992, said the Chiang Mai haze is worse than the haze situation here.

Mr Till, 45, president of the Rotary Club of Queenstown, was there last Tuesday to Sunday with several members to visit 10 Thai students whom the club is supporting.

He said: 'It was particularly bad on Sunday. I was out in the city and I could feel my eyes burning.'

Chiang Mai resident Waraporn Silamai, 36, said she has become more cautious when driving in the city.

The project director in an events management company said: 'Visibility is so poor that you can't even read the signboards on the road.

'My car is always covered with a layer of white dust at the end of the day. There's no point washing it.'

Mr Robert Khoo, chief executive officer of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore, said he has not heard of a jump in cancellations to northern Thailand.

He believes the haze won't have a big impact on Singaporeans' travel plans there.

Mr Khoo said: 'It's the schools' one-week break now. Singaporeans who want to go there should have been there by now.

'But we'll alert the travel agents if the Singapore authorities decide to issue a travel advisory on going there.'

Ms Ivy Tan, director of marketing communications for Chan Brothers Travel, said it has received enquiries from customers about the haze situation.

But there have been no cancellations.

[chanchao]

So.. instead of diverting to Phitsanulok or Udon or something and arranging a bunch of buses, they divert to Yangon, and then back to Singers.. Interesting.

Heck, going to Bangkok and putting passengers on a TG /Nok flight to CNX would have made more sense?

[Ta22]

Well i guess is a Cost factor choice ,

Burma is 450km away and bangkok is 700-800km away - the fuel might not enbale it to fly so far -

and changrai airport or maesot airport might be too small or the smog as bad -

PLus since silkair have operation in burma - the landing may or parking lot might be cheaper or in the package - plus return flight will cost them little or non since there already have on going flight back to Sg .

and so on .. fuel and distance is also a importance consideration -

450 km may be another 25-30 min flight i assume maybe less

[Mid]

gotta be glad they don't fly at night ...............................