A comprehensive resource for safe and responsible laser use

South Africa: Laser aiming at aircraft is on the rise

The Citizen newspaper has a general description of how laser/aircraft incidents are increasing at King Shaka and Virginia airports in Durban, South Africa.

A police representative quoted in the May 24 2014 story indicated that there have been several incidents in the past few years. He said “These green lasers which are readily available, inexpensive and extremely powerful have huge potential for damage. In my opinion there is no commercial application for them and people shouldn’t have them. It’s an offence under the Civil Aviation Act and if prosecuted individuals can face a fine and/or imprisonment up to 10 years.”

Police are “clamping down on culprits” according to an airport spokesperson.

From The Citizen

South Africa: Three arrested in airport, Air Force base incidents

Three persons were arrested around January 5-6 2012, for aiming green laser beams at helicopters using Bloemfontein Airport and the adjacent Air Force Base Bloemspruit. A 54-year-old man, his 14-year-old son, and a 22-year-old friend were charged with violating Section 133 of the Civil Aviation Act 13 of 2009. Specifically, “Section (j) (i) of the said Act states that any person who wilfully performs any act which jeopardises or may jeopardise the operation of an air carrier is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment not exceeding 30 years or to both such fine and imprisonment” said a spokesperson

The three will be arraigned in court on January 9.

There had been concern over local airspace due to a January 8 political event at Free State Stadium with over 100,000 persons in attendance. The laser incident appears to be unrelated to a temporary Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) requiring general aviation and recreation pilots to file flight plans in advance.

From The New Age. According to a separate story in The New Age, this was only the second time that arrests have been made in South Africa for aiming lasers at aircraft. The first was in May 2010 during a World Cup event.
.

South Africa: Man arrested for aiming at helicopter during World Cup

A 35-year-old man was arrested for aiming a laser at a police helicopter in Durban, at a World Cup event. Yusuf Ebrahim was arrested June 26 2010. A pilot had complained a few days earlier of light from a beachfront fan park affecting his vision. When it happened again on June 26, Ebrahim was identified and arrested.

The case was first brought before a special World Cup court. However, the prosecutor decided it was not a World Cup case and referred it to the Durban Magistrate’s Court. Ebrahim was charged with “performing an act which jeopardizes or may jeopardize the safety of an aircraft.” A court appearance is scheduled for July.

From IOL News

Update, January 11 2012: An Internet search has not turned up any news stories about the outcome of Ebrahim’s case. A story in The New Age indicates that there have only been two South African laser incidents that resulted in arrests -- the Ebrahim case, and a January 2012 arrest of three persons.