MONTREAL - Transport Canada is trying to find out who has been pointing laser pointers at airplane pilots over the last few days.
There have been at least six instances recently where pilots landing at Montreal's Trudeau airport have been distracted by a green laser pointer.
The device, which can be purchased for $100 and has a range of three kilometres, can blind airline pilots, so Transport Canada considers it a serious safety risk.
Air Canada pilots are reportedly using the instruments on their planes to pinpoint the location from where the device is being used.
Montreal isn't alone. There are other reports of the devices being used in Calgary and Winnipeg, and in many U.S. cities.
It's illegal to distract pilots, and penalties are severe - up to $10,000 in fines.
This year a man pleaded guilty and was fined $1,000 for using a laser on a plane landing at Calgary's airport.
A dollar store laser pointer. Someone has been pointing the lasers at planes at the Montreal airport, an offence which can earn $10,000 in fines.
CNS
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=ddfaa308-eac8-46bc-8c6d-5af49cc2484f
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