NZALPA Supports Outcome in Laser Strike Court Case

The New Zealand Air Line Pilots’ Association (NZALPA) supports the outcome of today’s court case involving two youths who shone a laser at the police helicopter in May 2011. “The handheld laser threat is an on-going public safety concern and today’s result should strengthen the safety message and make people think twice before they shine a laser at an aircraft” says NZALPA President Glen Kenny.

“Four convictions of laser offenders in the past 12 months have reinforced our position that laser strikes are not viewed as acceptable behaviour and pose significant danger to aircraft” said Mr Kenny. We would like the public to know we have been combating this threat for some time and will continue to highlight the dangers until a significant reduction of laser occurrences is achieved.

Mr Kenny says “there were 23 reported laser strikes in 2007, and 100 reported in 2011. It is increasing at an alarming rate and although there have been convictions for pointing lasers at aircraft and endangering transport, there is still a lot of work to be done to mitigate the threat.”

We look forward to the outcomes of the Ministry of Health’s consultation document addressing the importation of handheld lasers and Dr Cam Calder’s member’s bill addressing possession. We applaud the Government for taking these actions and look forward to their introduction in a prompt and robust manner.

“The removal of access to Class 3 lasers by way of regulation is a first step to addressing the handheld laser threat and we believe a combination of these two legislative actions provides a solution” says Mr Kenny.

NZALPA is committed to working with the aviation industry, Police, the Government and the Civil Aviation Authority to develop solutions to mitigate this threat.

ENDS

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