Lasers interrupt police and STARS air ambulance in Saskatoon

Watch above: The Saskatoon Police Service and STARS air ambulance are partnering to raise awareness about a growing safety concern. As Wendy Winiewski reports, both organizations are dealing with aircraft personnel being targeted, while in flight, by laser pointers.

SASKATOON – In 2015, there have been seven reported incidents of pilots in Saskatchewan being struck by lasers. Six of those happened in Saskatoon air space, the other was in Regina. The act is becoming very concerning for the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) and STARS air ambulance.

The light of a laser bounces off reflective surfaces. The glare is distracting and can cause temporary blindness.

“It is certainly terrifying flying an aircraft, in the middle of the night with your eyes closed,” explained Sgt. Wade Bourassa.

Bourassa is a pilot with the SPS Air Support Unit. He had no choice but to fly with his eyes closed and switch to auto pilot when he was beamed with a high power green laser in a recent incident. At the time he was pursuing a suspect from the air.

“We found the people who were doing that in a backyard, there seemed to be a fire pit type party and it seemed to be innocent enough,” as it usually is according to Bourassa, who said the act is seldom vindictive.

Unfortunately though, the seemingly innocent act is becoming all too common and is also causing problems for STARS air ambulance, and not just for the pilot. It also affects staff and patients according to Barry Tolmie, the aviation base manager.

“You think about what we do in the back of that helicopter. Our medical staff is working on critically ill patients and that laser coming in … the distraction in the back for them, is crucial,” Tolmie said.

READ MORE: Porter flight from Toronto among 11 planes targeted by powerful lasers in New Jersey

A laser strike recently caused STARS to temporarily call off a search and rescue response along the riverbank near downtown.

Aside from grounding air craft, strikes can cause irreparable damage to the retina of the eye.

People caught directing bright light sources into navigable airspace with intentions of creating aviation hazards or causing damage to an aircraft or injury to people on board, violate section 601.21 of Canadian aviation regulations.

The consequences are Criminal Code charges of including assault causing bodily harm, assaulting a police officer and/or mischief.

In Canada, penalties range from $3,000 fines to criminal records including conditional sentences and probation orders.

In the U.S., the act could result in jail time, often in excess of 10 years behind bars.