Airport issues new SOP to tackle laser interference
At least 13 such incidents were reported between Jan and April, prompting urgent coordination between law enforcement and local administrative units.
Under the revised protocol, Bidhannagar cops have been directed to act immediately upon any laser interference report filed by the airport operator. "In case of a laser interference reported by us to NSCBI airport police station, they should immediately inform the police station or district administration concerned to identify the source of the light and take appropriate action under relevant laws.
Once the violators are identified and the laser activity is stopped, a report has to be forwarded to the airport director," said an airport official.
Cops patrolling around the airport have also been advised to keep a vigil on the use of lasers in the vicinity. If there is any request for a laser show or laser illumination, the cops shall not approve it. A laser light — often originating from nearby ceremonial events, like weddings, festivals, and circuses — can momentarily blind a pilot, leaving him incapacitated until vision is restored after a while.
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This is hazardous during the landing procedure when a plane descends 1,500 ft-2,000 ft per minute.
"The problem is more acute when the pilot concentrates on the runway and then the laser lights cause distraction, causing temporary blindness," said an airline official. Municipal bodies of NKDA, Bidhannagar, Dum Dum, Madhyamgram, Barasat, and Barrackpore have been tasked with increasing public awareness through regular campaigns and advertisements, emphasizing the legal and safety ramifications of unauthorised laser use.
According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)'s mandate, laser lights are banned within an 18.5-km radius of an airport. Bidhannagar cops have repeatedly stressed that laser shows are banned within its jurisdiction and a large part of Barrackpore Commissionerate's territory. "There is a complete ban. We have also asked officers in charge of all police stations in our area to hold meetings with banquet operators and remind them that their licence will be cancelled if they continue to use such lights," said an officer.
The SOP also directs prominent signage banning laser usage be mandatorily displayed at puja pandals, banquet halls, hotels, and circus tents.
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