Laser pointer incident sparks Civil Aviation warning

Solomon Airlines Airbus A320 at the Honiara International Airport. Photo credit: SIBC.

Civil Aviation of Solomon Islands has issued a strong warning to any offender convicted of committing the use of high powered laser pointers against any operating aircraft in the country.

In a statement the Acting Director of Civil Aviation Brian Halisanau said according to the Solomon Islands Civil Aviation Act 2008 Section 213, offender convicted of committing the use of high powered laser pointers against any operating aircraft would be liable to pay a penalty of $ 300,000 SBD or serve a 14-year term imprisonment.

Mr Halisanau said the warning came as pilots recently reported cases of high powered laser green strike incidents on aircraft arriving and departing Honiara International Airport at night.

He said some of these incidents took place immediately after take-off, and probably before the pilots had fully transitioned onto instrument flight or when the aircraft was established on approach to the runway.

Mr Halisanau  added that this was dangerous, as direct eye exposure to one of these laser beams could result in momentary “flash blindness'” for the pilots at a critical stage of the aircraft approach or departure.

 

 

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