Photo: contributed
UPDATE 2:24 p.m.
A Transport Canada spokesman tells Castanet that they are aware of the blue laser incident at YLW on May 28, when a laser was aimed at the cockpit of a Cessna plane as it took off from the International Airport of Yess. Kelowna.
“Aiming a laser at an aircraft is dangerous and detrimental to the pilot, the passengers on the plane and the people on the ground. When a laser is aimed at the cockpit of an aircraft, it can distract the pilot, creating a glare that it affects the driver’s vision and causes temporary blindness, “said Sau Sau Liu, a spokesman for Transport Canada.
It is illegal to point a laser at the cockpit of an aircraft and Transport Canada states that “Transport Canada has delegated authority to certain law enforcement agencies to issue fines for intentionally interfering with an aircraft through the use of “A laser. A criminal could face fines of up to $ 100,000, five years in prison or both. Citizens should call their local police immediately if they see someone pointing a laser at a plane.”
ORIGINAL 11:57 h
The Transport Safety Board and the Kelowna RCMP have been informed of another case of a pilot who was hit with a laser taking off from Kelowna International Airport.
According to Transport Canada’s civil aviation daily incident reporting system, a Cessna 172S from the Southern Interior Flight Center, departing from Kelowna, reported a blue laser strike from a group of houses in the southwest corner of Wood Lake, which caused temporary blindness.
The incident happened at 9:45 a.m. on May 28, 2022 and was reported at the head of the shift.
“YLW takes laser blows very seriously, as they could cause a critical security issue,” said Shayne Dyrdal, Kelowna Airport’s Corporate Finance and Services Manager.
“Lasers can cause the pilot to become disoriented and impair their vision by preventing them from reading instruments and indicators correctly during crucial parts of the flight. In addition, lasers can also cause permanent damage to the pilot’s vision.”
The blue laser incident was also reported to the RCMP and the TSB.
Anyone convicted of intentionally interfering with an aircraft using a laser may face one or both of the following:
- up to $ 100,000 in fines
- up to 5 years in prison
“We encourage anyone who sees someone to point a laser at an aircraft, to immediately report it to the local police,” says Dyrdal.
This is not the first incident that a laser pointer has been used to distract pilots in YLW.
A Vernon man was caught in flagrante delicto in September 2021 using a laser to harass planes approaching Kelowna International Airport and faces charges.