Laser light ‘blinding’ – trainee pilot

A pilot flying a fixed-wing plane over Timaru on Wednesday night described a ‘‘blinding light’’ as he flew over Otipua Rd.

Paora Maher, a South Canterbury Aero Club member, was one of two pilots undertaking night training when a green laser light was shone at his plane, at 7.45pm.

Police are investigating following reports laser lights were pointed at the light aircraft from Otipua Rd and Mowbray St.

‘‘If a light shines when you’re coming into land, it can be deadly,’’ Maher said. ‘‘It takes away your night vision very quickly.’’

He said another light was also shone from the direction of the wharf, near Sanford Limited, and police were also notified of that.

South Canterbury Aero Club chief flying instructor Aaron Pearce was in the plane with Maher and said lasers being shone at planes in the region was not uncommon. He was shone at three times last year.

‘‘Every pilot that flies at night has been hit with a laser. It’s concerning.’’

All pilots flying at night stay away from lights for half an hour before take off, so their eyes adapt to the dark, Pearce said.

‘‘So if you hit us with a laser, we potentially can’t see what is going on.’’

The planes are fitted with two GPS navigation units and those on board are also allowed to use their phones to report incidents, Pearce said.

‘‘If you shine a laser [at a plane], we are just going to fly over and tell the police exactly where you are.’’

He said what pilots did day-today is ‘‘very safe’’ but it was ‘‘idiots with laser pointers who endanger us and anyone below’’.

Sergeant Warwick Worth said police wanted to hear from anyone with information on the matter.

Worth wanted members of the public to know the offence, known as endangering transport, had a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment.

Possessing a high-power laser over 1 milliwatts also risked a maximum fine of $2000 and three months in prison, he said.