LASER ATTACCKS ON AIRCRAFT

POSITION PAPER

21POS16

7 December 2021

Laser Attacks on Aircraft

NOTE

This paper supersedes 17POS04, of the same name.

BACKGROUND

The hazard posed by laser attacks against civil aircraft, specifically the deliberate targeting of flight crew with laser illumination to disrupt the safe operation of the aircraft, is a matter of increasing worldwide concern. Available data indicate that the frequency of laser attacks on civil aircraft continues to rise significantly.

In the US alone, thousands of laser strikes are officially reported by pilots every year. These strikes can result in distraction, disruption, disorientation and, in extreme cases, blindness and incapacitation.

Although most attacks happen when the aircraft is near the ground, events are now being recorded at altitudes in excess of 8,000 feet. So far, when a pilot has been attacked on final approach, they have been able to hand control to the other pilot to complete the landing safely.

IFALPA is extremely concerned that as the power, range, and divergence of the beams increase, there will be occurrences where both pilots are effectively incapacitated close to the ground, with likely catastrophic consequences. Laser attacks represent a critical security and safety issue and should be considered as acts of unlawful interference.

Some technological means to defend against the dangers posed by laser attacks are already being developed but, rather than having to deal with them inflight, the Federation strongly believes that the best line of defense is effective ground security preventing them in the first place. IFALPA therefore supports further research to find solutions which would assist law enforcement authorities in stopping these attacks and in locating the perpetrators so they can be dealt with in an appropriate manner.

The lack of proper legislation is of concern. Even when airport security patrols or the local police manage to locate and catch the perpetrator(s) of a laser attack, prosecutions are very rare. IFALPA believes that States should establish and implement regulations, practices, and procedures (including reporting standards) to safeguard civil aviation against laser attacks on aircraft.

Following the concerns officially raised by the Federation at the 2014 Aviation Security Panel meeting, ICAO sent out a Letter in December 2014 urging States to identify laser attacks as a hazard to civil aviation, and to ensure that the general public is fully aware of the seriousness and possible consequences of these attacks. In the same Letter, States were encouraged to enforce all relevant laws and to apply penalties against perpetrators in accordance with applicable legislation.

POSITION

Current legislation in many, if not most, States is still insufficient to provide an effective deterrence to laser attacks, as shown by their ongoing increase.

IFALPA therefore calls for States to establish and implement regulations, practices, and procedures to safeguard civil aviation against such attacks.

Public awareness campaigns should be organized with the aim of educating the public at large as to the danger of laser illuminations on a civil aircraft.

The Federation also believes that a laser attack leading to any injury to a pilot’s eyes or jeopardizing the safety of the aircraft in any other way should be classified as both an "act of unlawful interference" and a "serious incident" (as per the ICAO definitions of these terms) and be subjected to a thorough investigation by the relevant Accident Investigation Authority.

©2021 The International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations. This publication is provided for information purposes only, in all cases pilots should follow their company’s guidance and procedures. In the interest of flight safety, reproduction of this publication in whole or in part is encouraged. It may not be offered for sale or used commercially. All reprints must credit IFALPA.