Aircraft
Growing Laser Threat Accelerates U.S. Response
The threat posed to airline and general aviation pilots by laser pointing devices is growing exponentially, a trend that is accelerating efforts to deal wi
ExpressJet Airlines pilots Henry Cisneros, left, and Drew Wilkens describe a laser incident they experienced in January 2010 on approach to Houston Intercontinental Airport. (Photo: Bill Carey)
ExpressJet Airlines pilots Henry Cisneros, left, and Drew Wilkens describe a laser incident they experienced in January 2010 on approach to Houston Intercontinental Airport. (Photo: Bill Carey)

The growing threat posed to airline and general aviation pilots by laser pointing devices has accelerated efforts to address the problem through regulation and criminal prosecution. U.S. government officials described those efforts during a conference on the issue sponsored by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) and Air Transport Association in Washington, D.C., on October 27.

Lasers can distract or temporarily blind pilots during critical takeoff and landing maneuvers, and at least two incidents last year resulted in significant eye injuries to pilots, ALPA said.