Lasers hitting cockpits on rise in Canada

TORONTO, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- The number of incidents of laser beams being aimed at aircraft pilots in Canada has soared this year, the federal Transport Canada agency said.

Between 2005 and the beginning of 2008, the agency received 27 complaints from across the country from pilots who reported being targeted by the blinding beams of light, the Toronto Star reported.

This year there have been 46 such reports, the most recent being Oct. 10 and 13 at Toronto's Island and Pearson International airports, the report said.

Laser pens used are widely available and are common in conference rooms. Despite their small size, their beams can travel miles and can blind a pilot, the report said.

Under the Aeronautic Act, anyone beaming a laser at an aircraft can be fined $100,000 and be sentence to five years in prison.

Only one charge in Canada has been laid, which was last year in Calgary. A man beamed an aircraft and, when a police helicopter approached his apartment, he flashed a beam at the officers. The man said he was "just having some fun," and was fined $1,000, the Star said.