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 illuminations pose a significant threat to flight safety, prompting Air Traffic Control (ATC) to follow strict protocols including warning other aircraft, gathering incident details, and reporting to law enforcement and the Domestic Events Network for investigation and potential prosecution.
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS or drones) are a growing aviation hazard, frequently operated unsafely near airports or at altitudes that endanger manned aircraft, requiring ATC to collect pilot reports and relay information to authorities for enforcement.
- ATC acts as a crucial "middle man," relying on pilot reports to identify and disseminate warnings for non-standard hazards like laser and drone incidents, initiating official investigations to ensure flight safety, even if they don't see the final outcomes.
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