California City’s Use of Laser Pointers Gets FAA's Attention

The city of Sunnyvale uses the tools to clear a downtown shopping and restaurant area of crows, but the FAA cautions the town about the effects on aircraft and pilots.

Meg Godlewski

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 at 09:45 AM ET

Verified

Trying to tag an aircraft with a hand-held laser is a federal crime. [Photo: AOPA]

Key Takeaways:

Sunnyvale, CA, is using a controlled, short-term pilot program with a hand-held laser pointer (operated by a trained city employee) to deter a nuisance crow population in its downtown area.
The FAA intervened with a warning to Sunnyvale, prompted by incorrect media reports about widespread laser distribution, citing significant aviation safety hazards lasers pose to pilots near the city's four busy airports.
Sunnyvale clarified that only one trained staff member uses the laser, with strict protocols to avoid aircraft and people, but the FAA will closely monitor the area for laser strikes.
While the laser program has been effective in dispersing crows, the city acknowledges the intelligent birds are likely to return once the deterrent is removed.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The challenge of removing one nuisance is that sometimes you can inadvertently create another.

In Sunnyvale, California, city officials have been employing the use of lasers to dissipate a crow population. Not surprisingly to those who follow aviation, this got the attention of the FAA, which has seen a rash of incidents in which laser pointers have caused havoc for pilots in recent years.