Planes at YLW impacted by lasers

Mar 10, 2023 | 2:25 PM Pete McIntyre

Someone appears to putting people’s lives at risk by aiming lasers at planes using Kelowna International Airport.

“Recently, airlines flying in and out of YLW in Kelowna have reported someone pointing a laser at the aircraft causing unnecessary delays or issues for pilots, crews and passengers,” RCMP Const. Mike Della-Paolera stated. “As a matter of fact, last week a flight had to be cancelled after the pilot was unable to continue flying due to the effects of a laser strike.”

The media relations officer said laser incidents continue to threaten aviation safety in Canada. There were 1,965 laser attacks reported to Transport Canada and published in the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System between 2015 and 2019.

“These are disturbing statistics and it means the safety of pilots, crew and passengers have been put at risk during each laser attack,” Della-Paolera said.

RCMP say hand-held lasers, available to the public, are incredibly powerful. The new generation of the devices can generate power of up to five-watts, or 5,000 times the power of keychain laser pointers which were popular in the 1990s. These dangers include distracting the pilot, creating glare that affects the pilot’s vision and possibly temporarily blinding the pilot.

“Pointing a laser at an aircraft is a criminal offence,” Della-Paolera noted. “Under the Aeronautics Act, people convicted of pointing a laser at an aircraft could face up to $100,000 in fines and/or five years in prison. Actions like this could possibly cause a catastrophic event or unnecessary harm to someone.”

Kelowna RCMP are also reminding the public that flying a drone within five kilometres of an airport is illegal and extremely dangerous.

Anyone with information about someone participating in these activities is asked to report it to the Kelowna RCMP by calling 911 or the non emergency number at (250) 762-3300.

You can also report anonymously by contacting the Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leave a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net.