Balloon launches from São João will only be allowed from 21:45 on June 23 to 1:00 on June 24, the Chamber of Porto said on Wednesday, adding that the airspace will be closed during this period.
In a note published on its official page, Porto City Council clarifies that, as in previous years, the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) will “close Porto’s airspace during an expected period of increased launch intensity” of St. John’s balloons.
The control zone in Porto will be closed from 21:45 on June 23 until 01:00 on June 24, so “balloons should only be launched during this period of time.”
The municipality indicates that the launch of the São João balloons may “create dangerous situations for air navigation”, namely the risk of collision and interference with aircraft.
According to the ANAC, balloons can “fly a significant horizontal distance” from their starting point and “reach unpredictable heights depending on the prevailing winds,” which “increases the likelihood of being sucked into aircraft engines, which can lead to serious incidents or accidents.” .
In addition to the risk to aircraft, balloons can lead to “false rescue missions” if mistaken for a distress signal, and also pose a “danger” to wildlife and domestic animals that “swallow debris falling to or on the ground”. “. sea”.
The Porto City Council also highlights the possibility that these balloons will cause a fire, a situation that “needs to be taken care of as well”, so balloon launches will be banned in municipalities where there is a very high or maximum level of risk to the countryside. fire. .
The São João celebration program includes concerts by Emanuel, Claudia Martins and Minhotos Marotos from 22:00 in Largo do Amor de Perdisao Square, while Miguel Araujo and the Fogo Fogo band will perform in the gardens of the Palacio de Cristal.
David Bruno and Moullinex, for their part, will perform at the Praça da Casa da Música, Catarina Araujo, Councilor of the Chamber of Porto, announced at the presentation.
The fireworks, which marks the night of the biggest party in Porto, will last 16 minutes and will be launched from the banks of the Douro River and from barges.
In his speech, the mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira, announced that “the party’s global budget in 2023 is 615,000 euros.”
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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