SAN ANTONIO – A Schertz man is facing up to five years in prison for allegedly shining a laser pointer at a San Antonio Police Department helicopter.
- Man accused of shining laser at police helicopter
- Dangerous distraction for pilots
- Lasers pointed in the sky refract
It might be a tiny light, but it can be a huge distraction for pilots posing a serious threat. Even a seemingly harmless laser cat toy has the potential to jeopardize a plane's safety.
When flashed up into the sky, the laser beam can refract, magnify or spread - depending on the surface. For pilots, it can be a dangerous distraction.
According to an ophthalmologist, most pilots should not have permanent eye damage from seeing a low-level laser while flying and these low-light lasers aren’t dangerous when used correctly.
However, when pointed at airplanes or helicopters, there is a risk of obstructing a pilot’s view, particularly while taking off or landing.
“If a pilot were landing a plane and someone put a camera flash right in front of their face, right at the time that they were aiming to get the wheels on the ground, that could be very concerning,” said Dr. Daniel Johnson, UT Health San Antonio ophthalmology department chair.
Johnson also emphasized that people shouldn’t be afraid of lasers in general. High-powered lasers can be extremely helpful in situations such as corrective eye surgery.