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Laser pointers put flight safety at risk: AirNav Indonesia
The state-owned Indonesian Flight Navigation Service (PPNP), known as AirNav Indonesia, has urged people not to use laser pointers around airports as doing so could violate the law and compromise flight safety. The message comes after reports from pilots of disruptions caused by lasers.
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An airport official prepares for the takeoff of a Garuda Indonesia aircraft at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday. (Antara/Muhammad Adimaja)
T
he state-owned Indonesian Flight Navigation Service (PPNP), known as AirNav Indonesia, has urged people not to use laser pointers around airports as doing so could violate the law and compromise flight safety. The message comes after reports from pilots of disruptions caused by lasers.
Laser pointers directed at aircraft that are taking off and landing are considered dangerous to flight safety, corporate secretary of AirNav Indonesia Ari Suryadharma said on Monday.
"Laser lights shot into the cockpit will disturb a pilot's eyesight," he said as quoted by kompas.com.
The 2009 law on flights bans the creation of obstacles that may harm flight safety. The law stipulates that anyone disrupting flights can be charged and handed a maximum penalty of three years in prison and/or a maximum fine of Rp 1 billion (US$76,000).
"Banned actions include operating lasers, kites, drones, hot-air balloons and anything else that could disrupt flights," Ari added.
AirNav Indonesia has received reports from various airline pilots that their work has been interrupted by laser lights. The reports came from cities including Jakarta, Batam in Riau Islands, Denpasar in Bali and Yogyakarta.
AirNav followed up on the reports by coordinating with local airport authorities that then forwarded the reports to local police, Ari said.
AirNav itself will focus on promoting flight safety to the public.
"We will keep educating the public on how to participate in flight safety so that there will be no one doing anything that could disrupt flights," he said, adding that other countries had also reported similar problems.
There have been a growing number of green laser pointers sold in big cities like Jakarta, capable of shooting laser lights for up to 1,500 meters, and 3,000 meters in the dark. The laser pointers cost as little as Rp 75,000 at several online shops. (rin)
