Being a commercial airline pilot is not an easy job. Up until a few weeks ago, it seemed half their day was spent making announcements informing passengers that if their facemask dropped a centimeter below their nose, they would be facing a $250K fine and some time in the slammer. Multiple hours were also spent apologizing for faulty Wifi service, the fact there was no alcohol being served on flights, and breaking up brawlers sitting in coach.
In all seriousness, they have faced a spiraling problem that the FAA put the spotlight on recently; laser beams being pointed at pilots.
The Federal Aviation Administration said that in 2021, they received their largest number of complaints ever; over 9,700 reports were taken, which was an increase of 41% over the previous year.
Laser beams now have the ability to project several miles, making the situation more complex and harder to stop. Plus, lasers are easy to buy online and inexpensive, making it reasonably easy for nut jobs who want to temporarily blind a pilot with the beam and put an entire airplane of passengers at risk.
Pointing a laser at an airplane is a federal crime.
The FAA reminded the public that there is an $11,000 fine if they can find a violator, and the penalties increase to over $30,000 for multiple incidents. Plus, a prison sentence of five years, but catching perpetrators is difficult. But some people are caught. A 52-year-old man in Mississippi was caught layering planes near Memphis airport. A man in Philadelphia recently received one year sentence in jail, and a 19-year-old woman in Miami was arrested for attacking a police helicopter.
The post Pilots Under Attack. FAA Says Over 9,700 Laser Beam Incidents Were Reported Last Year. appeared first on VTPost.com.
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