Pilot Out of Work From Retinal Damage Due to Laser Pointed at Aircraft Cockpit

Canadian Pilot Still Out of Work After Laser Incident

The issue of pilots being blinded by laser pointers remains under the microscope as an air ambulance pilot who suffered retinal damage in such an attack is still off work nearly two months later. AS reported in the Canadian OH&S News, in early September, the pilot — who could remain off work for another three months — was moving a patient to an Ottawa hospital when the incident occurred.

That attack was just one of 52 such reported incidents across the country as of October 19, 2009, according to a Transport Canada spokeswoman. She said 32 of the occurrences took place in Ontario out of 56 cases in all of last year; 21 in 2007 and three each in 2006 and 2005.

“It’s a relatively new occurrence and while it is infrequent, it’s something that we are very concerned about,” remarked Rob Blakely, vice president of EMS operations with Canadian Helicopters Ltd, a transportation services company. “Air medical transport is a demanding and challenging service and the safety of the patients, the paramedics we carry on board and the pilots is paramount. Having a pilot temporarily blinded by a laser. . . could result in us (sic) having to pull an active aircraft from service, which could be detrimental to a patient we are transporting.”

Baxter added the “safety risk of a laser directed at an aircraft cockpit is at its height when the exposure comes during a time of high workload such as take-off, a critical or emergency maneuver, and landing.” (workersxzcompxzkit)

To date, a Calgary man is the only person convicted under the Aeronautics Act after he shined a green laser pointer at both a landing Air Canada plane and the Calgary Police Service helicopter dispatched to investigate.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.

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