Protesters asked not to disrupt air traffic control



BANGKOK: -- Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai) has appealed to the anti-government protesters not to shut down or disrupt its operations saying that it will cause extensive damages to air travel and the country.

The appeal was made Monday by Prachak Sajjasophon, president of Aerothai, in response to a threat to shutdown the company’s operations on Wednesday made by the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform advisor Nitithorn Lamlua in order to put more pressure on the government.

He disclosed that currently there are about 2,000 domestic and international in-bound and out-bound flights a day at Suvarnabhumi airport and an additional 1,400 domestic and international flights arriving and leaving Don Meuang airport each day.

If there is any problem with air traffic control operated by Aerothai, he said that a lot of people would be affected and Thailand’s image as well as tourism industry would be hard hit.

Even if disrupting air traffic control is against the law, Mr Prachak said he would prefer safety for the passengers as paramount importance and would like to appeal to the protesters not to shut down Aerothai’s operations as threatened.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/protesters-asked-disrupt-air-traffic-control/


-- Thai PBS 2014-01-13

This is where military protection is required. The lives of many thousands of air passengers depend on an uncompromised ATC.

Absolutely no way the protesters should be able to interfere with air travel at the 2 local airports or anywhere else for that matter. Suthep promised that. Let's hope he stands by that.

edited to add:

made by the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform advisor Nitithorn Lamlua in order to put more pressure on the government.

If this is an off shoot of PCAD, they need to be seriously warned that any attempt to disrupt air travel or communications will be met with the full force of the law. (Yes, I am aware of just how hollow that sounds under the circumstances)

If the stalemate continues, it is almost a sure thing that airports, TV stations and Telcos will be next.

That would be deliberately endangering thousands of lives. A stupid, stupid threat to make.

Once again Suthep can not control his protesters. They lie to the people and endanger the lives of thousands of passengers in the air. A stupid move but one you can expect from them. They don't care about others.

One again Suthep can not control his protesters. They lie to the people and endanger the lives of thousands of passengers in the air. A stupid move but one you can expect from them. They don't care about others.

Whoa there!

In 2010 there were rogue elements of the Red Shirts doing things that endangered lives. I still agree that any attempt to interfere with air travel is totally wrong and extremely serious.

Absolutely no way the protesters should be able to interfere with air travel at the 2 local airports or anywhere else for that matter. Suthep promised that. Let's hope he stands by that.

edited to add:

made by the Network of Students and People for Thailand’s Reform advisor Nitithorn Lamlua in order to put more pressure on the government.

If this is an off shoot of PCAD, they need to be seriously warned that any attempt to disrupt air travel or communications will be met with the full force of the law. (Yes, I am aware of just how hollow that sounds under the circumstances)

This is what happened last time and it took the reds by surprise. Extreme factionalists form from within the main group and break away resulting in untold damage, not just to lives and property but to the particular groups cause.

now that they have been asked not to do it, they probably will do it

Once again Suthep can not control his protesters. They lie to the people and endanger the lives of thousands of passengers in the air. A stupid move but one you can expect from them. They don't care about others.

And the RED one does ???

How many of the yellows so far has been shot by the red counter-demonstrators.

Do you not read the news ??

Bet the government are gagging for Suthep to make a mistake like this, gives them a major excuse to go in all guns blazing!

And just to add.... A few blocked roads won't remove Yingluck! I expect if Suthep etc are serious, then something major has to happen!

The protest is not going as planned with poor turnout and they will be grasping at straws and the airport and traffic control will be a way for them to put pressure on the government.

Lets hope the Military steps in and stops that (I dont mean a coup) just make sure that dont happen

This also will play a roll to planes that fly over Thailands airspace. They don't have to land or fly out of Thailand to be effected.

...and Thailands image as well as tourism industry would be hard hit.

Nope, definitely can't let that happen, gotta keep the Thailan numbah one thing intact.

The powers behind the latest coup will do whatever it takes to restore the status quo ante ThaksiN - public safety is of very little concern to them. And they are very parochial nationalist people who believe in ancient powers and given authority and couldn't care less about international opprobrium. And the uniformed forces are beholden. They will do nothing.

The powers behind the latest coup will do whatever it takes to restore the status quo ante ThaksiN - public safety is of very little concern to them. And they are very parochial nationalist people who believe in ancient powers and given authority and couldn't care less about international opprobrium. And the uniformed forces are beholden. They will do nothing.

".....the latest coup...."

Did we miss something...........?

Once again Suthep can not control his protesters. They lie to the people and endanger the lives of thousands of passengers in the air. A stupid move but one you can expect from them. They don't care about others.

And the RED one does ???

How many of the yellows so far has been shot by the red counter-demonstrators.

Do you not read the news ??

No one has proved they were Red Shirts. Do you not read the news

Perhaps they will clamp down

A hub for hi-so hi-flyers

Parochial patriots neither know nor care that professional pilots,airlines nor their insurers will allow risk ,probably why this threat was made.

TAT claim Slyam a new hub for shooting one'self in the 30cm

The protestors shouldn't be asked, they should be told quite sternly that any attempt to disrupt the airport will be dealt with swiftly.

The protestors shouldn't be asked, they should be told quite sternly that any attempt to disrupt the airport will be dealt with swiftly.

Swiftly LOS OxyMORON

If you are a non English speaker it is not an assault on your IQ rather those who would imagine impeding the tide of reversing history coup reset19

Bet the government are gagging for Suthep to make a mistake like this, gives them a major excuse to go in all guns blazing!

They will not go in all guns blazing ... the YS will have to be charged with murder same same suthep and abisit

The protestors shouldn't be asked, they should be told quite sternly that any attempt to disrupt the airport will be dealt with swiftly.

exactly

anyone trying to interfere with planes or atc towers should be shot

protect the airport with army tanks like any normal country would do

if terrorists were contemplating disrupting air traffic control signals

lwt them know that they can protest in public places like victory monuent

as long as they like but crashing civilian planes is strictly off limits

and any attempt will be treated as an act of war and met with real bullets

It the airport here in Chiang Mai Utapo might get really busy.

If there is any trouble during this shut down, my money is on the student faction to be at the center of it. The longer PTP / YS continue to play caretaker and insist on Feb 2nd election go ahead the more likely they are to get antsy and the more likely they will want to do something major to force the issue more

This sounds like a mission for Bruce Willis and Die Hard 2.

Here we go again maybe time to pack for a border overland trip

The protestors shouldn't be asked, they should be told quite sternly that any attempt to disrupt the airport will be dealt with swiftly.

Swiftly LOS OxyMORON

If you are a non English speaker it is not an assault on your IQ rather those who would imagine impeding the tide of reversing history coup reset19

I am a native speaker and well aware of what swiftly means. In any other country this is what would be said to any protesters contemplating threatening the lives of passengers and employees on international flights. The fact that Thailand seems incapable of doing this doesn't make my assertion wrong. It means that Thailand is failing to take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of passengers and flight crews.

What would your high IQ tell the protestors if you were issuing an ultimatum? Back off but not too swiftly? Take your time and drop on by? Perhaps you could replace swiftly with harshly but swiftly is a bit less threatening and more diplomatic. As a native speaker you should know the subtle implications of what swiftly can mean.

Once again Suthep can not control his protesters. They lie to the people and endanger the lives of thousands of passengers in the air. A stupid move but one you can expect from them. They don't care about others.

And the RED one does ???

How many of the yellows so far has been shot by the red counter-demonstrators.

Do you not read the news ??

No one has proved they were Red Shirts. Do you not read the news

And actually if you want to taking head counts since 1932 when this all started there has been way more red shirts slaughtered than the yellows, in 1992 over 1500, maybe you need a history lesson! And that is not justifying todays or past violence, may they all rest in peace!

Once again Suthep can not control his protesters. They lie to the people and endanger the lives of thousands of passengers in the air. A stupid move but one you can expect from them. They don't care about others.

In another forum it was suggested that the threat to take over air traffic control was not at Swampy or Dom Muang, but at Aerothai's head office in Bangkok. All air traffic control, both civilian and military, other than traffic approaching airports is controlled from there for all of Thai airspace, parts of the Gulf of Thailand and parts of the South China Sea. Such actions would disrupt international flights passing through Thai controlled airspace.

If this is indeed the threat, it is a move calculated to quickly force the military's hand. Suthep's supporters, no doubt, are hoping for a coup. Ejecting his mob and restoring proper air traffic control and safety in the skies over Thailand would be the better option.