FAA launches website in ongoing fight to end laser strikes on aircraft

In the past 11 months, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and I have worked to raise public awareness about the dangers of shining a laser at an airplane or helicopter. Unfortunately, however, these dangerous incidents are still on the rise. Today, as part of our ongoing effort to stop these threats to pilot, crew, and passenger safety, the Federal Aviation Administration has launched a new website, www.faa.gov/go/laserinfo.

The new site includes statistics, research on the dangers lasers pose, and links for reporting laser incidents. It also features downloadable videos.

Look, quite simply, pointing a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft threatens lives. As FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said, “As a former commercial airline pilot, I can tell you that shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is a serious safety risk. Lasers can distract or temporarily blind pilots who are trying to fly safely to their destinations and could compromise the safety of hundreds of passengers.”

The FAA takes this seriously; the aviation community takes this seriously; and law enforcement agencies take this seriously.

Yet, through October 20, pilots have already reported 2,795 laser events for 2011. Reports for this year are likely to top 2010's record of 2,836 incidents. In fact, laser event reports have increased steadily since 2005, when the FAA created a formal reporting system to collect information from pilots.

Part of the early increase--from 300 in 2005 to 1,527 in 2009--can be attributed to pilots, air traffic controllers, and the public becoming more aware of the dangers and calling local authorities. But the dramatic rise cannot be explained away that easily. Portable laser pointing devices are less expensive, more powerful, and more readily available than ever. And people seem unable to resist the very dangerous temptation to shine them at aircraft.

But the FAA has also been more active than ever in trying to protect the safety of pilots, crews, and passengers. In June, the FAA announced it would start imposing civil penalties of up to $11,000 against people pointing a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft, and the agency is currently working on 18 civil penalty cases. The FAA also worked with Myrtle Beach, SC, to develop a law making it illegal to point a laser at an aircraft. In September, Myrtle Beach passed its law, joining a number of other states and communities who have recognized the dangers lasers pose.

The website FAA Administrator Babbitt launched today at the Air Line Pilots Association "Laser Illumination Conference" is another step in this ongoing pursuit of safety. And I urge you to visit the new site and share it with your friends.

Safety is our absolute number one priority, and we will do everything we can to get the word out about how dangerous it is to point a laser at an aircraft. These incidents must stop.

Comments

[Long Island Personal Trainer]

Why are people stupid? I can't believe that people would put over 100 lives at risk just to shine a laser into a cockpit. I’m Glad to see that the Government is increasing the fines for this stupid act. Another staggering fact is that over 2,795 cases of this have already happened this year.
I checked out the website that was created, I hope it gets the results that they are hoping for.

Thank You for a great post . Keep them coming!