Publication Date:
Wed, 2011-08-17 23:24
The lasers are marketed as tools to point out stars at night, but some people misuse them, even though they can force a pilot to relinquish control of an airplane or helicopter to a co-pilot because of vision loss.
Officials say there were 1,494 reported cases in Britain last year, compared to three in 2004 and 29 in 2007. Germany saw an eight-fold increase last year compared to 2009.
Peter Swoboda, director of the International Federation of Airline Pilots’ Associations, said Wednesday that some effected pilots have to abort landings, and EU parliamentarian Joerg Leichtfried said EU-wide penalties are needed for such actions.
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