A comprehensive resource for safe and responsible laser use

US: FAA urges pilots, public to report incidents on new webpage

The Federal Aviation Administration announced a new web page that consolidates information about laser incidents and reporting. As of October 27 2011, the page has the following five sections:
  • Reporting Laser Incidents: How to report an incident, for pilots, air traffic control officials, and the general public
  • U.S. Laser Incidents by Year: A simple table listing incidents each year since 2005
  • Laser Events and Civil Penalties: Press releases about the number of incidents in 2010 and about the June 2011 decision to impose civil fines of up to $11,000. Also, the legal interpretation justifying imposition of the fines.
  • Hazards of Laser Illumination: Links to background information for pilots, and two studies of the issue by FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
  • Planning Light Shows and Other Outdoor Laser Operations: Information and forms for persons planning to use lasers outdoors

Below is the FAA press release announcing the web page:


Press Release – FAA Creates New Laser Web Page to Help Make Reporting Easier


For Immediate Release
October 27, 2011
Contact: FAA Press Office
Phone: 202-267-3883

Number of laser events around the country continues to rise

Washington, D.C. – In a continuing effort to combat the growing problem of lasers directed at aircraft, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has created a new website to make it easier for pilots and the public to report laser incidents and obtain information on the subject, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt announced today.

The website, which can be found at
http://www.faa.gov/go/laserinfo, collects a wide array of laser information into one location. It includes links for reporting laser incidents, laser statistics, FAA press releases, and FAA research on the dangers lasers can pose to pilots, as well as downloadable videos. [Note: No videos were listed or linked on the site as of November 8 2011.]

“Safety of the traveling public is our absolute number-one priority. We will do everything we can to get the word out about how dangerous it is to point a laser at an aircraft. These incidents must stop,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood.

“As a former commercial airline pilot, I can tell you that shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is a serious safety risk,” Administrator Babbitt said today at a conference on the dangers of laser events sponsored by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). “Lasers can distract or temporarily blind pilots who are trying to fly safely to their destinations and could compromise the safety of hundreds of passengers.”

Laser event reports have increased steadily since the FAA created a formal reporting system in 2005 to collect information from pilots. Reports rose from nearly 300 in 2005 to 1,527 in 2009 and 2,836 in 2010.

This year, pilots reported 2,795 laser events through Oct. 20. Pilots have reported the most laser events in 2011 in Phoenix (96), Philadelphia (95) and Chicago (83).

The FAA began addressing the problem in 2005 by encouraging pilots to report laser events to the nearest air traffic control facility and requiring facilities to immediately relay that information to local law enforcement agencies. In June 2011, the FAA announced it would start imposing civil penalties of up to $11,000 against people who interfere with a flight crew by pointing a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft. The agency is currently working on 18 civil penalty cases.

The FAA also provided technical expertise to help Myrtle Beach, S.C. develop a law making it illegal to point lasers at aircraft. Myrtle Beach adopted its measure in September 2011, joining a number of other cities and states that now have laws in place making it illegal to shine lasers at aircraft.

Over the past few years, people have been charged under local, state and federal criminal statues for pointing lasers at aircraft, and legislation is pending that would make it a specific federal crime. The FAA is prepared to work with all law enforcement agencies to assist with criminal prosecutions.

The increase in annual laser reports is likely due to a number of factors, including the availability of inexpensive laser devices on the Internet; increased power levels that enable lasers to reach aircraft at higher altitudes; more pilot reporting of laser strikes; and the introduction of green and blue lasers, which are more easily seen than red lasers. [Note: This is incorrect; in general green is much more visible than red or blue lasers.]

Broadcast-quality video and audio from Administrator Babbitt discussing the dangers of shining lasers into aircraft cockpits are available for download via the following links:

Administrator Babbitt Audio:
https://dotmediacenter.onehub.com/d/emfr/
https://dotmediacenter.onehub.com/d/2yzs/
https://dotmediacenter.onehub.com/d/ab46/

Administrator Babbitt Video:
https://dotmediacenter.onehub.com/d/kaum/
https://dotmediacenter.onehub.com/d/to8m/
https://dotmediacenter.onehub.com/d/ftjv/