Sun-Times Media

Sun-Times Media

O'Hare International Airport had the second-highest number of laser pointer incidents of any airport in the country in 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Wednesday.

The incidents, of people pointing lasers at aircraft, are "a serious safety issue," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said. "Lasers can distract and harm pilots who are working to get passengers safely to their destinations."

Overall, nationwide reports of lasers pointed at aircraft almost doubled from the previous year to more than 2,800, according to a release from the FAA. This is the highest number of laser events recorded since the FAA began keeping track in 2005.

Los Angeles International recorded the highest number of events in the country for an individual airport in 2010, with 102 reports, and the greater Los Angeles area tallied nearly twice that number, with 201 reports.

O'Hare had 98 reports. San Jose International and Phoenix each had 80.

Nationwide, laser event reports have steadily increased since the FAA created a formal reporting system in 2005 to collect information from pilots.

Reports rose from 300 in 2005 to 1,527 in 2009 and 2,836 in 2010."The FAA is actively warning people not to point high-powered lasers at aircraft because they can damage a pilot's eyes or cause temporary blindness," FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt said.

Some cities and states have laws making it illegal to shine lasers at aircraft and, in many cases, people can face federal charges.

The increase in reports is likely due to a number of factors, including the availability of inexpensive laser devices on the Internet; higher power levels that enable lasers to hit aircraft at higher altitudes; increased pilot reporting of laser strikes; and the introduction of green lasers, which are more easily seen than red lasers.

Airport laser points present concerns, O'Hare officials say

Thursday