Police, STARS raise alarm on laser strikes

Saskatoon police and STARS Air Ambulance say aiming a laser pointer at a plane is no laughing matter.

There have been six reported laser strikes in Saskatoon so far this year. Many of them involve STARS helicopters and Saskatoon Police's Air Support Unit.

"There have been incidences where we had to send our crew to the hospital to send them to the eye doctor to ensure that there hasn't been permanent damage," said Sgt. Wade Bourassa, a pilot with the Air Support Unit. "There's been temporary damage to two of our crew members over the last couple of years, but nothing permanent so far.

Shooting laser pointers at aircraft can distract a pilot, and even cause temporary blindness.

Bourassahad a run-in with the lights recently.

"I was able to engage auto pilot,"he said. "I was able to do all the things that we're trained to do to protect myself and our crew. In that instance, nobody was injured, but it certainly is terrifying flying an aircraft in the middle of the nightwithyour eyes closed."

Across the country last year, there were 502 laser strikes on aircraft reported across the country, an increase of 43 per cent. 14 of those were in Saskatoon.

There are serious penalties for anyone caught aiming a laser at an aircraft. Penalties are as high as a $100,000 fine, a five year prison sentence or both.

Anyone with information about laser strikes are asked to call police.