Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department has issued to the aviation industry on ensuring the safety of pilots by their avoiding the illegal use of lasers from the ground.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published a Safety Notice which provides guidance on laser attacks, including the action that aircraft crew and controllers should take during and immediately after a laser attack. It also includes a self-assessment tool to help those exposed to lasers to make an immediate assessment of their vision and determine whether or not they need to consult an eye specialist.

The CAA is also co-ordinating an industry-wide initiative to decide what further measures might be needed to reduce the risk of an accident arising from the misuse of lasers. As part of this process, the CAA is working with a wide range of key stakeholders including relevant Government Departments, emergency services, air traffic control, airports, and airlines.