A Qantas pilot has been forced to take leave after having a laser beam shone in his eyes as he was coming in to land at Sydney airport.
The incident follows reports last week of a Qantas pilot hit by a laser beam while landing at Darwin airport. Both pilots were forced to travel as passengers on their return flights.
In a separate incident, a third pilot was also hit by a laser beam while landing at Sydney on Friday night. There have been 80 reported cases this year of lasers being directed at aircraft.
This activity was as stupid as throwing rocks at cars from overpasses.
“There is a risk there of blinding the pilot and certainly of distracting the pilot while landing
Two or three incidents of laser beams directed at aircraft were reported each week. But it was hard to know whether the problem was increasing, as data had been collected for the past two years only.
Laser beams can reach aircraft from up to 5km away, making it difficult for police to catch offenders
It is hoped new legislation will deter people from targeting planes. Under proposed changes to the Civil Aviation Act, individuals who direct lasers at aircraft may be jailed for up to two years.
By: Homer09001 - 19th August 2007 at 19:30
is there a minimum legal age to buy laser products such as laser pens, rifle scopes etc?
if so it should be raised or you should have to provide some sort of license to purchase such products all it takes is one incident where it does blind both pilot and cause a disaster then the government etc will start kicking up a fuss
By: steve rowell - 15th August 2007 at 06:15
It’s obviously irresponsible kids who don’t realise the seriousness of their actions…the courts will only slap them on their wrists and send them off with a warning because of their tender age
By: carben - 14th August 2007 at 19:20
Two problems
“There is a risk there of blinding the pilot and certainly of distracting the pilot while landing
Laser beams can reach aircraft from up to 5km away, making it difficult for police to catch offenders
You don’t need changes to the Civial Aviation Act, you need to catch the offender, then charge them with assault with intent to cause GBH. Still, a nice headline for the government (anyone’s government) and a new law is always better than enforcing a boring old statute that someone else introduced.
By: J Boyle - 14th August 2007 at 18:48
Back in the Cold War, USSR ships fired lasers at the cockpits of US Navy patrol aircraft. One incident caused some real eye damage to a pilot.
I don’t know if military pilots have laser proof visors, but such a system would probably be less practical for civilian pilots.
One solution would be to tint or treat the canopies. I’ve read where they are working on auto sunroofs that darken via electonic currents in the glass. Maybe something like that would be effective.
By: fightingirish - 14th August 2007 at 10:29
Whilst not a real example this happened on NCIS on TV a while back. King Air pilot turning over built up area had green laser shone into his eyes and as a result he crashed killing all onboard and a few bystanders.
I remember seeing the same on a episode of “CSI:Miami”.
Do military pilots wear glasses or have canopies, which are laser-proof?
By: steve rowell - 14th August 2007 at 05:20
People who point lasers at aircraft will face fines of up to $5500 and jail terms up to two years under moves to make the dangerous practice a federal offence.
Legislation containing the provisions passed through the Senate yesterday and is expected to be passed by the House of Representatives by the end of the week.
It comes after a recent surge in reports of lasers being aimed at aircraft, with 49 incidents between April and June making up almost 30per cent of the 170 reports received since the beginning of last year.
The bill amends the Aviation Transport Security Act to make it a jailable offence to threaten the safety of an aircraft or its passengers, even if the person committing the act is not on board the aircraft.
In addition, off-airport acts that disrupt the operation of a security controlled airport attract a fine of up to $5500.
By: CWBalmer - 13th August 2007 at 22:11
This has been a problem for a few years at SYD if my memory is correct….idiots!
By: Phixer - 13th August 2007 at 16:45
Not only is that crazy, its also very very sad :confused:
Or could it be more sinister, after all a laser device could be less conspicuous than a shoulder launched SAM.:eek:
Me paranoid, nah!:o
By: andrewm - 13th August 2007 at 11:02
Whilst not a real example this happened on NCIS on TV a while back. King Air pilot turning over built up area had green lazer shone into his eyes and as a result he crashed killing all onboard and a few bystanders.
By: cal900 - 13th August 2007 at 03:02
Not only is that crazy, its also very very sad :confused:
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August 13, 2007 at 2:36 am