Illegal lasers in Pa. distract medical helicopter pilots

Two incidents were reported of green laser light being pointed into the cockpit of the medical helicopter en route to the Children’s Hospital

August 30, 2010 03:15 AM

By Bill Vidonic
Pittsburgh Tribune Review

PITTSBURGH — Authorities are trying to determine who shined lasers into the cockpits of two separate STAT MedEvac helicopters Saturday night, according to a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman.

No injuries were reported in either incident.

Spokesman Jim Peters said the first incident occurred at 9:10 p.m., as someone directed a green laser light into the cockpit of the the medical helicopter, which was about 11 1/2 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, at an altitude of 1,800 feet.

Allegheny County emergency dispatchers said the helicopter was landing at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. It wasn’t clear if medical crews were transporting a patient.

In the second incident, Peters said, another MedEvac helicopter was about 7 1/2 miles north of Pittsburgh, at an altitude of 2,400 feet, when someone illuminated the cockpit with a laser.

Peters did not know where that helicopter was going, or if any patients were on board.

It is a federal offense to interfere in the operation of an aircraft with the use of a laser, according to the FAA’s website. The lasers have the potential to harm the vision of the flight crew.

A STAT MedEvac spokesman could not be reached for comment Saturday night.