Chinese Lanterns.

[Bookworm9]

My wonderful Dad died a month ago leaving behind a very distraught wife of over 63 years, myself and my husband.
As he can't be with us this Christmas time I want to send some Chinese Lanterns to him.
What I want to know is does anyone have any ideas what the rules or law says about sending these off in the night sky.
I don't want to break any laws and I know he wouldn't want me to.

Many thanks.

[boxtops]

Bookworm, I am so sorry to hear of your loss, but what a lovely idea.
where do you live? Round here (Dover) we have to notify the Coastguard if we intend to set them off, since they float out to see and can easily be mistaken for distress flares - the lifeboat has gone out a few times thinking a ship is signalling that it's in distress. I guess you would have to be careful if you live anywhere near an airport too. Not sure about official regulations, though.

[boxtops]

^ float out to sea

[ethandron]

i can't help with the law i'm afraid but i do know that there have been problems with the metal frame bits on some types of these lanterns causing environmental problems and people are being encouraged to use ones using a wooden/bamboo frame with no metal so that they'll rot down when they eventially fall from the sky.
what a nice idea though.

[snags]

After a quick look on the www:

''Legal, however you must pick them up when they land or you will be done for littering and if they set fire to somone's house/property you will be held responsible''.

[ethandron]

google 'chinese lantern regulations' and you can read all about it.

[4getmenot]

so sorry to hear about your dad. I'm afraid although lanterns are very pretty I have heard of stories where they have landed on a thatched roof and destroyed houses. In my eyes very dangerous if they land in fields aswell

[gen2]

Just don't put your postcode on them before launch.

[squarebear]

Be wary if you are near a farm. Fire raining down frmo the sky onto hay doesn't go down too well.

[Bookworm9]

Many thanks for all your answers and help.
I will certainly take on board all you have said and will make sure that they are constructed of wood or bamboo. The closest airport to me is about 3 miles away but will phone them and check up if it is OK. We have no fields or farms aound us so that should be alright also no thatched cottages.
boxtops, I wish we so lucky to live close to the sea but we are very much land locked in the Midlands. I think if we were so lucky to live near the sea I would float flowers and lighted candles out to him.
I miss my Dad so very much.
Thank you all for kindness.

[redcrx]

A lovely thought.
But please consider any alternatives. A family near here lost their home and most of their possessions but luckily no lives, after their home burned down. When the fire service were doing their best to remove the burning thatch frommthe roof they discovered the frame of a lantern.
Honestly I wish these things were banned in the uk.

[redcrx]

http://www.google.co....=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=