Why is it that laser pointers being aimed at aircraft are regarded as such a severe risk in the UK, US, Australia and Canada, but elsewhere in the world, nothing at all seems to be done?In fact it seems to be an accepted hobby at some, particularly third world, airports.
Surely the risks to aviation are the same everywhere that idiots point these devices at aircraft?
Suffering flash blindness from a laser strike is not trivial at a critical stage in flight or at any other time for that matter. However, the risks are overstated somewhat in the popular press. Most effects are temporary and total recovery from even a high power laser flash/dazzle can be expected within a few days. Prolonged exposure can result in permanent injury. In truth, a lightning strike on an aircraft nose can generate a far more intense flash of light in the cockpit than any laser aimed from the ground.
The distraction caused by laser pointers aimed at aircraft from the ground presents increased risk during a critical stage of flight and perpetrators should be prosecuted wherever and whenever they are apprehended and subject to severe, deterrent penalties. But the reality is that injury and particularly permanent injury to the eye(s) is exceptionally rare given the number of instances reported. If we include the non reported instances, the risk of permanent injury becomes vanishingly small. That is not say it can't happen, or any attempt to trivialise this hazard, but in all the years these pointers have been pointed at aircraft, not a single one has crashed as a result. A credit to the professionalism of pilots everywhere.