Last
year, the number of reports about lasers pointed at aircraft nearly doubled. "This
is a serious safety issue," warns U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Lasers
can distract and harm pilots who are working to get passengers safely to their
destinations". Nationwide, laser event reports have risen steadily
since the FAA established a formal reporting system in 2005. The 300 incidents in
2005 rose to 1,527 in 2009, and climbed to 2,836 in 2010.
The
FAA attributes this trend to several factors, beginning with the proliferation of
inexpensive laser devices available on-line. Higher power levels allow these same
lasers to affect aircraft at higher altitudes, too. There's also the growing
popularity of green lasers, which are easier for pilots to see. This leads to increased
pilot reporting – and attempts to curb potentially-dangerous behavior. Shining
a laser at an airplane is against the law in some cities and states, and may
even result in federal charges.
Los
Angeles International Airport (LAX) led the nation with 102 laser events in
2010, but Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) came in a close second at
98. Phoenix/Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and San Jose International Airport
(SJC) tied for third place at 80, while Nevada's McCarran International Airport
(LAS) came in fourth. With the exception of O'Hare, laser events may seem like
a Sun Belt phenomenon – but they're not. Several of the cities in the Top 20
list are located in cloudier and colder parts of the country.
What more can be done to protect pilots from lasers?
Source: FAA
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