Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the danger of shining a laser beam into someone's eyes is not news. What is news is the ever-increasing number of incidents of laser pointers being directed at the pilots of commercial and law enforcement aircraft.

In 2005, when a similar measure was passed by this body, this emerging threat was estimated at 400 reported incidents over the previous 15 years. By contrast, in 2009, there were almost 1,600 episodes reported. In 2010, there were over 2,800 incidents reported.

As the Airline Pilots Association has stated in its letter of support for this legislation, ``The inappropriate use of widely available laser pointers against airborne flight crews represents a genuine and growing safety and security concern. At a minimum, the laser illumination of a cockpit creates a flight crew distraction, and in more serious cases, can result in eye damage and temporary incapacitation.''

Mr. Speaker, the danger from shining a laser into the cockpit of any aircraft is truly a tragedy waiting to happen. The ominous prospect of a catastrophe is particularly high during the takeoff and landing stages. Emergency maneuvers to prevent the misperception of midair collisions have also occurred. In one instance, the pilot thought he was about to strike the warning light on a tower. In another case, the laser beam was thought to be the lights of an approaching aircraft.

Law enforcement pilots, unfortunately, are frequently targeted and have to consider the possibility that they are being illuminated by a laser scope attached to a rifle. Law enforcement pilots have, on occasion, been required to discontinue a response to a crime in progress due to being hit by a laser.

At the same time, it is an unfortunate fact that some Federal prosecutors have declined to pursue cases, believing that the current Destruction of Aircraft statute does not fit the facts of their particular laser cases. Some States have statutes that have been successfully used to address this problem, but many more do not. H.R. 386 specifically addresses shining a laser pointer into an aircraft cockpit and will make aircraft travel safer for pilots and the public.

It is not only the number of laser pointers being aimed at aircraft cockpits that has dramatically increased during the past several years. The power of the current generation of laser-pointer devices has also significantly increased. Their cost, on the other hand, has gone down, making them much more widely available.

The problem of lasers being shown into cockpits is so prevalent that in my area, the Sacramento area, the FBI, the FAA, and the Federal Air Marshal Service have joined with State and local law enforcement in establishing a Laser Strike Working Group. These working groups have also expanded into other areas of the country.

H.R. 386 provides an important tool in our efforts to enhance the safety of air travel. This body passed identical language by a voice vote at the close of the 111th Congress. It is my hope that all Members will join me in supporting this important legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this is a timely matter. There was a press report just this week that police are trying to find the person who, on Friday morning, pointed a green laser beam both at an airplane and at a news helicopter in the Phoenix area. There have been incidents all around the country. This is not just something that is peculiar to my area; it is something that is increasing in terms of severity and in the number of incidents, so we need to pass this legislation as soon as possible.

I urge my fellow Members to support this bill.

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