Shining the light on public attitudes toward laser attacks on aircraft

With increasing incidents being reported, laser attacks present a significant threat to aircraft safety. Although no aircraft accidents have yet been directly attributed to laser attacks to date, experts agree that it is a legitimate threat to safety. To better understand this phenomenon, and ways in which it can be addressed, an important area to understand is the public perception of the severity of such incidents. This would include examining the attitudes the general public hold toward laser attacks, and what views they may hold towards regulation and punishment for these offences. Members of the general public (N=208) completed an online survey that examined their views towards the perceived occurrences and severity of laser attacks, whilst also examining their expectation of criminality and punishment of using a laser against an aircraft. Responses were analysed and presented, with discussion around the nature of public perception and expectation to laser attacks. Mitigations and interventions are explored, focussing on targeted educational/awareness programs that can be used to increase the awareness amongst the general public on the consequences of laser attacks on aircraft

Australian Transport Safety Bureau

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).At 1814 Central Standard Time on 2 April 2007, an Israel Aircraft Industries 1124, Westwind aircraft, registered VH-AJP, with a crew of two, departed Darwin Airport, NT on a scheduled cargo service to Alice Springs, NT. At 1844, during climb, at 34,000 ft, the crew heard a series of loud bangs followed by a loss in cabin pressure. The crew donned oxygen masks, closed the aircraft outflow valves and conducted an emergency descent to 10,000 ft. The aircraft was returned to Darwin. An inspection of the aircraft revealed a hole in a top rear fuselage skin panel. The examination revealed that approximately 60% of the panel had been damaged by exfoliation corrosion. The damage was most severe at the primary site of rupture, in the centre of the panel. The panel was clad with a corrosion resistant pure aluminium alloy sheet; however, the aluminium cladding was removed on the chemical milled areas. Over time, the coating protecting of the chemical milled areas had deteriorated, leading to the corrosion on the panel. The panel was located in an area that was not considered susceptible to corrosion, so there were no detailed inspections required for the area. As a result of this occurrence, the manufacturer has issued a notice to all 1124 Westwind aircraft operators informing them of the event and the corrosion that was found. The operator has carried out an inspection of the area on their entire fleet of 1124 Westwind aircraft. Where corrosion was present, the operator replaced the panel. The operator has also included an inspection of the area in their Corrosion Control Program

Uncontained Engine Starter Failure General Electric CF6-80E1-A3 Darwin Aerodrome 24 October 2007 VH-QPE Airbus A330-300

Made available by the Northern Territory Library via the Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004 (NT).Date:200