News Archive
AOPA calls on FAA to stop a potentially hazardous laser show one mile from Atlantic City’s Bader Field
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has called on the Federal Aviation Administration to stop a potentially hazardous laser light show just one mile east of Atlantic City, New Jersey’s Bader Field airport.
“The FAA’s own criteria dictate a ‘laser-free zone’ within five miles of any airport, yet the FAA’s Eastern Region has already said it will issue a ‘not objectionable’ ruling on this laser show,” said Melissa K. Bailey, AOPA director of airspace and system standards.
“For the safety of general aviation pilots, the FAA should follow its own Order 7400.2D and stop this threat to pilots’ eyesight.”
The Atlantic City laser show is already operating under a temporary permit and is scheduled to play seven days a week from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. The laser source is located directly on the Runway 29 centerline, less than one mile from the approach threshold.
“Laser light hitting the cockpit is potentially hazardous, particularly to single-pilot general aviation operations,” said Bailey. “Any laser-caused blindness—no matter how momentary—could lead to catastrophic consequences, especially during landing or takeoff.”
In addition to endangering Bader Field traffic, AOPA said the lasers could also affect area helicopter operations and general aviation traffic navigating along the New Jersey shoreline.
While the FAA has suggested a list of “mitigating” requirements to the laser show operator, AOPA expressed doubt those requirements would be effective.
For example, the FAA wants a spotter to monitor the area and terminate the show should an aircraft enter the projection area. But there is no requirement that the spotter have any aviation experience or be accountable to anyone with aviation expertise.
“The spotter would be a laser show employee,” said Bailey.
“It’s predictable that the spotter would be motivated to act in the interests of his employer and not on behalf of aviation safety.”
In a letter to the FAA’s Eastern Region, AOPA called on the agency to follow NTSB recommendations and the FAA’s own guidelines, and to issue an “objectionable” determination to the Atlantic City laser show.
A copy of the FAA Non-Rule Case 97-AEA-0061-NR is available on AOPA Online.
The 340,000-member Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association is the world’s largest civil aviation organization. More than one half of the nation’s pilots are AOPA members.
97-4-044
November 13, 1997
