http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/citys-worst-laser-attacks-on-aircraft/2008/03/29/1206207485440.html

City's worst laser attacks on aircraft

SIX aircraft flying into Sydney Airport have been hit in a co-ordinated attack by blinding green lights in what safety officials say is the city's worst laser attack.

Air traffic controllers closed the approach flight path and diverted incoming aircraft to a different runway on Friday night, forcing some flights to land up to half an hour late.

Air Services Australia said it was the first recorded "cluster attack" in which three or four people used lasers to make a co-ordinated attack on aircraft coming into the airport over heavily populated suburbs.

Last night airport sources said the aircraft belonged to Qantas, QantasLink and Eastern Australian Airlines. One of the pilots reported the laser beams appeared to be coming from the vicinity of a McDonald's restaurant near Bexley, about five kilometres south-west of the airport. Staff at the restaurant said they had not seen anything.

NSW Police Minister David Campbell vowed yesterday to change the law to classify powerful laser beams as illegal weapons.

"These gutless and cowardly attacks have to be stopped," he said. "I am preparing a proposal to cabinet to consider making these items a prohibited weapon."

Federal Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said the Government would look at banning imports of laser lights, with exemptions for legitimate use.

"The fact there were six [attacks] in one night is a serious concern and I'll be asking customs to provide a report this week as it's now become urgent," he said.

Federal Police and Joint Airport Intelligence Groups were developing special mapping techniques to try to identify the source of laser lights.

The Government was looking at stiffer penalties for shining a laser light at an aircraft than the existing two years' jail, he said.

The laser attacks began about 10.15pm in the Bexley area, in Sydney's south-west, and continued until 10.30pm. The pilots notified air traffic control, which diverted incoming flights. When police reached the area at 10.45pm they could see no sign of the perpetrators. Yesterday, police canvassed the Bexley area.

Air Services Australia spokesman Bryan Nicholson said: "This was the worst attack in our experience. It was described by the pilots as a 'cluster attack', which implies some sort of co-ordination or organisation. This is extremely serious and dangerous."

Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said the attacks were increasing in frequency. "There are five to six reports every week around Australia. It is extremely dangerous as it can temporarily blind a pilot or distract them as they are coming in to land. These laser beams are now so powerful they can shine up to five kilometres."

Police around Australia have stepped up efforts to catch laser operators because they fear the practice could cause a crash.

In January, Sydney police arrested a man who had a powerful 125milliwatt laser pointer in his possession after two planes flying over Merrylands were attacked by laser beams.

In September, a helicopter carrying a critically ill brain-surgery patient had to delay landing when the pilot was distracted by a laser beam.

Last year, penalties under the Civil Aviation Act for shining laser beams at aircraft were increased to two years' jail and fines of up to $30,000.

Australian and International Pilots Association general manager Peter Somerville said pilots wanted authorities to crack down on the lasers.

"These devices should be banned. There is no need for them. It is beyond stupid to point these at planes," he said. "We need to better co-ordinate with police so they can catch them in the act."

It is hard to ban the lasers as they are sold over the internet and customs finds it difficult to pick them up on their X-ray machines.

fwalker@sunherald.com.au