East Midlands Air Support Unit
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Latest News
New powers to tackle aircraft laser crime introduced
A new law that makes shining a light or laser at an aircraft a specific criminal
offence has been introduced. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which initiated
the new law, said it was in response to the growing number of incidents involving
laser devices being shone at airliners and helicopters near British airports (see
below for a table of hotspots).
Previously, anyone caught shining a laser at an aircraft
may have been charged with ‘recklessly endangering an aircraft’. Offenders may now
be charged with ‘shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle the pilot’,
which it is expected will increase the conviction rate.
The CAA said that distracting
or dazzling a pilot with a light or laser represented a serious safety risk, particularly
during critical phases of flight such as take-
The numbers of reported incidents of this type have increased
25 times in only two years. In 2009 there were a total of 737 attacks with lasers
on commercial airliners, air ambulances and police helicopters across the UK, a considerable
increase on the 29 incidents in 2007. Although there have been around a dozen successful
prosecutions so far, many more arrests are expected as police air support units roll
out new technology to catch offenders.
Bob Jones, Head of Flight Operations at the
CAA, said: “This new criminal charge will strengthen the hand of law enforcement
agencies in their efforts to tackle this problem. I advise individuals who may think
shining a laser at an aircraft is a bit of fun, to think again. The chances of getting
caught are increasing rapidly and, once caught, criminal charges are now inevitable.
Anyone who witnesses a laser being shone at an aircraft should contact the police
immediately -
The malicious
use of lasers against aircraft has become a global problem in recent years with large
numbers of incidents reported in the USA, Australia and Canada. Airports reporting
high numbers of laser incidents in the UK in 2009 included Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham,
Heathrow and Leeds Bradford. The CAA said that it was encouraging the aviation industry
to unite around the problem by reporting incidents to police air support units as
soon as they happen. Concerted action could see culprits detected within minutes.
Article Courtesy of CAA.