Political sessions ground model airplanes

Model planes have been banned in Beijing during the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference sessions this month.

The ban, which took effect Monday, will bring a considerable economic loss to George Qiao, manager of the Beijing Heaven Bird Aeromodeling Shop.

"Of course the ban will inflict a big loss - probably about 15,000 yuan - for us and we have been forced to close for about half a month," said Qiao. "And the government has not provided any compensation in any form. We have nothing to do other than sit and wait."