
There has been a lot in the press recently about the danger of lasers, with aircraft often being the target. However, we would also like to highlight that it’s not just lasers that can be of danger to aircraft, after one of ours was targeted this week by a car, aggressively flashing its headlights.
Rob Mackie, Safety Manager for Devon Air Ambulance, explains “At approximately 7.30pm on Thursday we undertook a training flight from our Exeter airbase to our North Devon airbase at Eaglescott using night vision goggles (NVGs).”
He added “Whilst landing at Eaglescott, the crew saw a vehicle pull up at the airbase car park. As they lifted into the hover position to fly back to Exeter, the crew observed the car reposition itself and it began aggressively flashing its headlights directly at the aircraft.”
Just as if a laser was shone at a pilot wearing NVGs, it causes them to flare, which effectively blinds the person wearing them. The only safe option for the crew was to go off their NVGs and land, which they were thankfully able to do safely.
Having left the aircraft, a crew member headed towards the car but it made off at speed, without any identification being able to be made.
Rob concluded “Laser attacks are still too common a thing with aircraft, with our colleagues at Wiltshire Air Ambulance having been targeted just a few weeks ago. However, this incident is deeply concerning for us as our airbase in North Devon is extremely remote, but also these people were watching and waiting for us, apparently with the intention of causing our crew and aircraft harm.”
DAA would urge anyone who knows anything about this incident to get in contact with us by ringing 01392 466666 (office hours) or email us at [email protected]
Related Posts
- HAI names Flight Instructor of the Year
- HSC-25 Squadron Conducts Change of Command Ceremony
- Leonardo and Falcon Aviation Services start building Dubai AW609 terminal
- Air Methods targets new Wisconsin base at Hartford
- PLDT’s aviation unit announces rebranding
- Sikorsky awarded $53M contract for four UH-60Ms
- New USHST Report Lays Down a Path for Automatic Flight Control Systems in Light Helicopters
- Bell V-280 Valor short-listed for Collier Trophy
- FRASCA Expands Capacity for Level D FFS Contract
- NY National Guard Honors Fallen Aircrew
- HAI names winner of 2021 Salute to Excellence award for Communications
- Police Aviation News – March 2021 Edition
- Bell awarded $16M contract for engineering AH-Z and UH-1
- EHang Supports Chinese National Transportation Network Plan
- Le Havre marine pilots lose AS365N3 cruise altitude to just 60 feet
- Israel selects CH-53K from Sikorsky over CH-F47 from Boeing
- UK man jailed for shining torch into police helicopter cockpit
- Dropsafe launches Helideck Perimeter Safety Net
- EHang explores coastal Urban Air Mobility with first over-water EH216 flights
- Archer commits Urban Air Mobility Network In Los Angeles by 2024