Laser Pointer Problem Persists...

Laser light strikes at airplanes in flight were an occasional and somewhat rare occurrence many years ago, but the trend has been increasing in recent times.

As far back as 2016, there were approximately just over 7000 reported laser strikes, and that number seems to decline by 2018 to a low of 5,600 or so.  However, since that time, the number of reported laser strikes have continued to climb, first by 11%, and now triple that to a current high of 9,700 reported strikes for 2021 (see attached graphic).

That number is likely much higher, as some pilots may not go to the trouble of reporting the incident, but instead chalk it up to an annoyance. Hand-held laser pointers are freely available on the market, and while COVID-19 is no excuse, boredom was surely at the forefront of this rising menace. A pilot based at the Long Island/Mac Arthur Airport (ISP) stated that being targeted with a laser from the ground is “disorienting” and shocking because it catches you off-guard. A flight instructor explained it as being like “old styled flash bulbs from a camera going off so there’s a temporary blindness.“

Earlier this month, the local county police in Long Island, New York scrambled to get a chopper in the air around 3am, following an in-flight report from a helicopter pilot who was preparing to land. On a separate occasion, the pilot of a private jet also reported a laser strike. Thus far, no accidents have resulted, but in both cases, Air traffic Control tried to enlist the pilot’s assistance in pinpointing the general direction of the source so law enforcement can get an initial fix. Then police have been able to track down the perpetrators using laser-protective glasses, GPS, and infrared cameras.

Too often, many other expeditions turn out to be a wild goose chase when the perpetrators disappear without a trace, but with prompt reporting and better tech, the battle is winnable.

FMI: https://laserincidents.com/datasources.html, https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/lasers