Incidents of pilots being blinded by lasers while attempting to land in the GTA are on the rise.

Back in March, Transport Canada had got five complaints since 2005 from pilots attempting to land at Toronto area airports about someone shining a laser at their plane and trying to target their eyes from the ground.

Since then, 15 pilots have filed local complaints about laser pointers aimed at incoming or outgoing aircraft. The most recent reports were from Oct. 10 and 13, by pilots flying into Toronto Island and Pearson International airports respectively.

"We can no longer say that it's rare," said Robert Palmer, spokesperson for WestJet Airlines.

In total, Transport Canada has received 73 reports of lasers aimed into cockpits across the country, including 46 so far in 2008.

The aviation industry is labelling these incidents "security concerns," a category reserved for bomb threats, sabotage and hijackings in Transport Canada's civilian aviation reporting system.

The types of high-powered lasers able to reach a cockpit from several kilometres away can be found in most boardrooms.

Earlier this month, a WestJet first officer was hit in the eyes during takeoff from Calgary when someone shone a green light into the cockpit of the 130-seat aircraft.

Upon landing in Kelowna, he was taken to hospital and released without injury.

"I wonder if the people doing this truly appreciate how dangerous it is," said WestJet's Palmer.

"I think in their minds it's a prank, (but) it's far more serious."

While the level of industry concern may be high, police tend to find the practice a random one that they're at pains to prevent.

Pilots have reported a green laser coming from near Canada's Wonderland and white lasers from the area of Yonge St. and Eglinton Ave. A Porter Airline pilot reported a green laser aimed from two kilometres north of Bluffers Park.

No laser-related arrests have been made in the GTA.

Under the Aeronautic Act, someone caught attempting to blind a pilot with a laser risks a $100,000 fine and five years in prison.

Only one conviction has occurred in Canada. A Calgary man, David Mackow, was caught beaming a green laser from his downtown apartment at an Air Canada Jazz flight a year ago. The pilot alerted police, who dispatched a helicopter.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

When Mackow aimed the laser at the helicopter, police isolated his position and arrested him. He told police he was "just having some fun." He was fined $1,000.

Air Canada pilot Stephen Guetta says the threat to a cockpit is probably greatest when the plane is about 10 seconds from landing.





Read more about: