TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda) of Yogyakarta (Forkopimda DIY) has appealed to the people in the province to refrain from flying drone cameras to capture the much-anticipated New Year celebrations for security reasons. Drone operation in the aviation routes are likely to disrupt airport communication signals.

“During New Year celebrations, we ask the people not to fly a drone in the Adisutjipto Airport area without prior permissions from the flight authority,” said the head of Air Platform Operation Agency of Adisutjipto Yogya, Col. Andi Wijanarko, during a Forkopimda DIY meeting on Thursday, December 27.

The prohibited areas comprise those along the train railway passing Yogya to other stations, such as Tugu and Lempuyangan Yogya.

Read: Jakarta to Hold Car Free Night on New Year's Eve

In the 2018 New Year celebrations, a number of residents operated their drones near the railway up to the airport's final runway, forcing three airplanes to delay their landings at the airport.

"Three airplaines that were about to land had to wait until those drones landed," he said.

Thousands of people are expected to flock to New Year celebrations in several parts of Yogyakarta, including the Malioboro area, which is adjacent to a drone-prohibited area of Tugu Yogya Station.

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (Yogyakarta)