It was a pleasant evening. Four miles from my tower cab, an air-ambulance helicopter was speeding back to his hospital with a critical patient on board. I saw his nav lights in the distance.
ATC to the Rescue
As a pilot you most certainly know that just about everything in aviation has a checklist. We controllers have our own checklists for a multitude of hazardous situations, unauthorized laser illumination included. I pulled up the appropriate checklist while the helo maneuvered.
Key Takeaways:
- Laser illumination of aircraft is a serious federal offense that endangers flight safety, prompting Air Traffic Control (ATC) to immediately warn other pilots and report incidents to law enforcement and the Domestic Events Network for investigation.
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) pose a growing aviation safety threat, with operators frequently violating regulations, leading to near-misses and requiring pilots to report sightings to ATC for further action and investigation.
- ATC acts as a vital "middle man," relying on pilot reports of hazards like lasers and drones to disseminate warnings to other aircraft, inform authorities, and initiate investigations to ensure aviation safety.
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