Any person who intentionally points a laser pointer at or in the route of an aircraft subject to the special aviation jurisdiction of the United States shall be liable to a fine under this Chapter, up to 5 years` imprisonment, or both. Although the laser appears to eject a small dot at close range, this point can measure several centimeters wide at greater distances. As someone else pointed out (Tony?), if the exit is typical (weak), it won`t even be visible unless you`re there and certainly don`t do it in the atmosphere thousands of feet away. The only real risk is to look closely at the eyes. It turns out that the laser glow in the sky can do a lot of damage, which is why it was made illegal. Although it seems harmless to point a laser at a helicopter or plane, it is very dangerous. It is illegal and harmful to people on the ground and in the air. I use them with kids and they are excellent, funny, safe, legal and we just don`t show them on planes or eyeballs. Pointing the laser pointer at a moving aircraft in the sky can lead to a serious accident. For all laser users, ANSI Z136.6 provides instructions for the safe use of outdoor lasers.
[14] Although this document is protected by ANSI copyright and relatively expensive, a taste of its recommendations can be seen in NASA`s outdoor laser policy. [15] Obviously, seeing laser beams and lightning distracts pilots. This is one of the reasons why you should never aim or near an airplane. (Also note that the green beam points two photos at the top directly at the laser position. This allows a police helicopter to easily direct officers on the ground for an arrest, as described later on this page.) Laws? What laws? I don`t see any legislation. We don`t need smelly laser laws! Many people were arrested and/or fined simply because they believed the laser beam could not reach the aircraft. Is it illegal to point a laser at an airplane? Yes, it is a crime in Arizona and the United States. In fact, in 2014, the FBI launched a program that offers rewards to those who provided information about people who pointed a laser at an airplane. I always use my laser for astronomy at every observation session.
„It`s very risky to point lasers at planes,“ Hill said. „Whether it`s a helicopter or a big airliner, it`s very dangerous. It is particularly dangerous during take-off and landing, which are critical moments of flight. The FAA reported 9,723 laser incidents in 2021, up from 6,852 in 2020. This is the highest number of incidents ever reported. So, yes, it`s illegal, and for a very good reason. To make matters worse, a targeted pilot may also be concerned about eye and eye damage, and the possibility that the laser is a target device on a firearm. A worried pilot is a distracted pilot – which is not a good thing in critical phases of flight such as landings, takeoffs and emergency maneuvers. For all these reasons – and especially because of the effects of distraction, glare and instant blindness – you should NEVER point a laser at an airplane. (It`s not even wise to aim directly at the stars, as a slow, distant plane could look like a star. If you show stars to others at night, circle the star instead, as described on the Outdoor Tips page.) If you still don`t believe that laser light poses a danger to pilots, please read the FAQ page for skeptics. I live near an airport and I use lasers without any problems.
I check my usage by pointing it out: if you are responsible and avoid such things, everything will be fine. Using a laser for a star party or to show someone the night sky is perfectly acceptable if you take proper precautions and use common sense. I am an airline pilot and I have been lazy in Colombia and I often use a laser pointer. Even a weak beam can prove to be a distraction for the pilot, which is the main reason why it is illegal to point a laser pointer at the sky. The laser pointer beam can become much larger at a greater distance. Aviation safety is still seriously threatened by laser attacks on aircraft. Federal legislation is violated when lasers are intentionally pointed at aircraft and endanger the safety of pilots. In addition, regulations against luminous lasers on pilots or aircraft have been promulgated in the following states and cities: Laser attacks on aircraft continue to pose a serious threat to aviation safety.