New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association

For Immediate Release

21 September 2012

NZALPA Supports Conviction and Sentence in Police Helicopter Laser Case

The New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association (NZALPA) supports the conviction and the sentence handed down today to a teenager who shone a laser at three aircraft and then the police eagle helicopter in January this year. NZALPA President Glen Kenny says “the sentence handed down today has sent a clear message; pointing lasers at aircraft is not acceptable.”

“Laser strikes are not just an attack on the pilots; they are an attack on the travelling public and can at best be described as reckless and dangerous.” This defendant’s actions in January could have had serious consequences for the passengers on the affected flights. The sentencing today highlights the seriousness of pointing a laser at an aircraft and the danger in the actions of this teenager.

At best laser strikes are a distraction and at worst they can cause temporary blindness, or even permanent eye damage, and at a critical phase of flight for an aircraft, on approach and close to landing; this is extremely dangerous.

Laser strikes are a trend that has increased over the past couple of years, and it is now high time the Government addressed the issue and introduced regulations on the sale of these devices and a public education campaign. “It has reached a stage where any member of the public can purchase a commercial grade laser and do what they please with it” states Mr Kenny. Removing access to Class 3 lasers by way of regulation is a first step to addressing the laser issue.

Australia introduced changes in 2008 that banned the importation of lasers that emit a beam stronger 1mW. Mr Kenny said “the Australian Government’s changes reclassified the laser as a weapon; NZALPA would like this introduced in New Zealand to mitigate the threat of Class 3 lasers.”

NZAPA is committed to working with the aviation industry, Police, the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority to develop solutions to mitigate this threat. Mr Kenny says “This is about protecting the general public from a senseless act that could one day have fatal consequences whether that is an aircraft, or another form of public transport.”
About NZALPA - Established in 1945, NZALPA is an internationally affiliated professional trade union for New Zealand pilots and air traffic controllers. Our diverse membership includes General Aviation and commercial pilots, flight instructors and approximately 400 of New Zealand’s air traffic controllers in the employ of Airways NZ.

NZALPA was one of the 13 founding states of IFALPA - the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations, an organisation founded to represent the interests of over 100,000 pilots worldwide. IFALPA membership is dispersed through 101 Member Associations who work together as the ‘global voice of pilots’.

In 1965, air traffic controllers joined the International Federation of Air Traffic Controllers' Associations (IFATCA), which represents 50,000 air traffic controllers worldwide. NZALPA is one of 130 Member Associations affiliated to IFATCA, and has remained an active member in all aspects since joining. all aspects since joining.

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