Laser light aimed at plane over Hamilton

File photo / Herald on Sunday

Police investigating the aiming of a laser light at a small aircraft as it flew over Hamilton last night are appealing for information on those responsible before tragedy strikes.

Senior Sergeant Kevin Anderson said a 111 call was made about 8.35pm by the pilot of an aircraft attempting to land the plane at the city's airport.

"The pilot said the green laser appeared to come from the south end of either Victoria or Anglesea Sts and the aircraft had been painted by the laser a number of times on its approach," he said.

"Obviously the stakes these offenders are playing with are extremely high. Given that distracting a pilot can have very tragic circumstances, we need to find who was responsible before they offend again.

"Last December a pilot reported being distracted by a green laser as she flew over the city's eastern suburbs. Earlier in the same week motorists had reported a similar laser being directed at drivers in the vicinity of Mill St and the city's stadium."

Mr Anderson said green lasers have a maximum power rating of five milliwatt and are deemed to be more hazardous that red laser pointers commonly encountered in classrooms and conferences.

These devices emit light at a wavelength of 532 nanometres and are perceived by the human eye as green.

The eye's maximum sensitivity to visible light is around this wavelength and the eye will interpret a green laser light as being up to 30 times brighter than a red laser of the same power.

"Direct eye exposure to one of these laser beams can result in momentary 'flash blindness', causing distraction to aircrews or drivers of motor vehicles on the ground," Mr Anderson said.

Anyone discovered interfering with an aircraft in flight by using a laser faces stiff penalties, with a person found guilty of an offence under Section 44 of the Civil Aviation Act facing a maximum of 12 months imprisonment or a fine up to $10,000.

- NZ Herald staff