Description

This article is based on the results of a dedicated survey carried out by EUROCONTROL in 2019. The purpose of the survey was to identify the current practices of laser attack notification procedures in use by European ANSPs.

Naturally, most laser-related events happen in the vicinity of the aerodromes. However, there are cases of aircraft being targeted in the en-route phase. For example, one big European ANSP advised that about 5 % of the reported events ocurred during the cruise phase of the flight (which equals 10 to 40 occurrences per year). Another big European ANSP also states that ACC controllers submit laser event reports.

Laser attacks are often considered as being in the same "threat class" as RPAS activities. Despite seeming different, they both share some common features - relatively new technology, wide availability, emerging (but not yet mature) regulation and the potential to cause harm from a distance (either unintentionally or deliberately). Some ANSPs consider drones a greater threat to aviation safety than lasers.