Watsonville pilots report uptick in laser strikes against aircraft

WATSONVILLE, Calif. (KION) Pilots in Watsonville getting flashed by powerful lasers during night flights in the last few weeks, raising concerns that repeated incidents could lead to an emergency including a crash.

The Watsonville Municipal Airport, along with other private flight instruction and tour groups, say there has been at least 18 laser strike incidents in the last month.

"We've had pilots who for ten minutes couldn't see out of one of his eyes. We usually have two pilots on board at that time, but if that had happened and the other pilot couldn't take control, it could've been a problem," said Chris Gularte, the director of operations at Specialized Helicopters in Watsonville.

Gularte says during their flight training events at nightfall, they have seen an uptick in laser strikes on their aircraft. Gularte says these lasers are not your teacher's classroom variety. They have been seeing high-powered red, green and blueish ones, and they are blinding.

"Our cockpit lights up. As you can see by this aircraft, it's kind of a curved cockpit," said Gularte. "So when a laser or bright light hits it at nighttime, it reflects it back at the pilot's eyes. It's significantly brighter than even you might imagine."

It is not only a local problem, however. Nationwide, there are about 6,000 laser strike reports every year. Recently police arrested a California man in the Vacaville area after he allegedly pointed a blue laser at a CHP patrol plane. In that case, cameras on the plane quickly zeroed in on the beam and the pilot reported the location to officers on the ground.

"People, we think, just don't know what they're dealing with there, it is a huge hazard to air traffic," said Gularte. "You can disorient a pilot and you could create an accident from that."

The penalties are stiff if you are caught: you will be arrested, get sentenced up to five years in prison if convicted and you will see a civil penalty from the FAA of $25,000. The best way to avoid these penalties is simple.

"Cut it out, grow up. Don't shoot a laser at an aircraft, it's stupid," said Gularte. "You wouldn't do it at a car, you wouldn't do it to your friend, you know you shouldn't do it to aircraft."