Ministry slows down Kirtag fireworks – salzburg.ORF.at
politics
The traditional Rupertikirtag in the old town of Salzburg between September 21st and 25th will also take place today without a final fireworks display: the Ministry of Transport announced an exception to the airport operating hours. Fireworks are not allowed to be fired.
Last year, the fireworks at the folk festival in Salzburg’s old town caused a stir – at that time it was canceled at short notice because no aviation permit had been obtained. More on this in salzburg.ORF.at (September 27, 2021).
No exception for airport operating hours
Therefore, in August, both Christian Czech’s fireworks company Pyrovision and Salzburg Airport submitted applications to the Supreme Civil Aviation Authority in the Ministry of Transport. Because the fireworks are shot down from the fortress hill. And since the firecrackers rise a few hundred meters, they disrupt the safety zone of Salzburg Airport.
But this security zone is taboo for fireworks during the airport’s operating hours between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. – and there are no short-term exceptions. The ministry informed the airport on Thursday. The airport wanted to ensure that the operating obligation was suspended for a quarter of an hour during the fireworks. But that is not possible due to the aviation law, the ministry emphasized. The application from pyrotechnics entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic had already been rejected in August.
Regret at the mayor and old town marketing
This decision is “regrettable” for Salzburg’s old town marketing as the organizer of the fair. Mayor Harald Preuner (ÖVP) also sees it similarly, but emphasizes: “In fact, our hands are tied. Under civil law, the city would have given permission for the traditional Ruperti fireworks weeks ago. But official approval from Vienna is currently required for legally compliant implementation and this was not granted.” Both Preuner and Governor Wilfried Haslauer (ÖVP) had campaigned for the fireworks at the ministry – but without success.
Altstadtmarketing Managing Director Sandra Woglar-Meyer was still optimistic on Thursday: “The cancellation of the fireworks will certainly not detract from the Salzburg Rupertikirtag. The Kirtag is and will remain a popular meeting place for young and old, even without the fireworks at the end.”