Why are laser pointers dangerous to aircraft?

The light often is spread so much that the pilot cannot avoid it: Laser light in the pilot’s eyes causes glare (inability to see past the light). To make things even worse, a pilot being targeted may also be worried about eye damage and eye injuries, and the possibility of the laser being an aiming device on a weapon.

What happens if you point a laser at an aircraft?

“These laser strikes can imperil the aircraft, because it can disorient the pilot on takeoff or landing. They can be temporarily blinded. It’s like being in a dark car and then having a flash bulb go off,” she says. “It’s extremely dangerous, it’s a federal crime, and we take it seriously.”

Can a laser pointer crash a plane?

While no plane crashes have been attributed to a laser pointer attack, no one wants a temporarily incapacitated pilot flying a commercial plane over a dense residential area. Pointing a laser at an airplane is a felony and carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Is it a felony to point a laser at an airplane?

Penal Code 247.5 PC is the California statute that makes it a crime maliciously to discharge a laser (such as a handheld laser pointer) at an occupied aircraft. This offense is a wobbler, meaning prosecutors could charge it as either a misdemeanor or a felony.

Why is it illegal to shine a laser at an airplane?

The most likely scenario is when a bright visible laser light causes distraction or temporary flash blindness to a pilot, during a critical phase of flight such as landing or takeoff. Pointing a laser at an aircraft can be hazardous to pilots, and has resulted in arrests, trials and jail sentences.

Why is it illegal to shine a laser at an aircraft?

While it may seem extreme to criminalize pointing a laser at an aircraft, the reason for these laws is to deter extremely dangerous behavior. Studies have shown that these lasers cause severe glare in the cockpits, essentially temporarily blinding airplane pilots for periods at a time.

Are powerful lasers illegal?

In the U.S., it is legal under federal law to own a laser of any power. This is somewhat confusing shorthand meaning that the manufacturer or seller illegally called a laser above 5 milliwatts a “pointer”, or illegally promoted it for pointing purposes.