Monday, February 16, 2015

National Operations Center Advisory: Illegal Use of Laser Light on Landing Aircraft

At approximately 0340 hrs on February 16, 2015 Caribbean Airlines flight 460 was hit in the cockpit of the aircraft with the beam of a laser light, about 2.5 miles on short final to land at Piarco International airport. Five minutes later Caribbean Airlines flight 423 was also affected by laser light. The pilots of both aircraft reports the light source emanated from the Kelly Village area which is on the approach path to Piarco.

The National Operations Center in its role for air coordination intergrates its operation with CAA.

Constant surveillance has revealed the citizens of Kelly Village, St. Helena and Bamboo Village are breaking the law.

Internationally this irresponsible behavior and wanton disregard for the law has been deemed and borders on terrorist activity, as the perpetrators are affecting the landing procedures of an aircraft and placing the passengers, other aircraft and the members of the public on the ground in very grave danger.

The Executive Director National Operations Center went further to question if one of these aircraft affected by the stupid act of these personnel on the ground goes down in one of our energy sectors or oil and gas installations the phathom of the catastrophe cannot be imagined.

The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service with the support of the National Operations Center would be adopting a zero tolerance of such actions and strongly advise that anyone found conducting this illegal act will receive the full brunt of the law.

The NOC will continue to monitor this situation and with all agencies in a combined effort to bring it to an immediate stop.

The public is hereby advised that such acts are contrary to “THE CIVIL AVIATION [(NO. 8) AVIATION SECURITY](AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS, 2011” which clearly states at paragraph:

 3A. (1) Notwithstanding the requirements of regulation 3, a person shall not recklessly or negligently perform any act, whether on board an aircraft or outside an aircraft, that is likely to endanger or endangers an aircraft or a person on board an aircraft.

(2) An act under sub regulation (1) that is likely to endanger or endangers an aircraft or a person on board an aircraft, includes but is not limited to the
following:

(a) a radio transmission that affects a communication, navigation or automatic flight guidance systems of an aircraft; and

(b) a laser light source, fireworks, flares or other light sources directed at an aircraft that may affect a flight crew member in the performance of his duties.

(3) A person who contravenes sub-regulation (2) commits an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars and to imprisonment of one year.”


- The National Operations Center (NOC)

Source: http://www.ctntworld.com

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