AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2020 - 106

NEWS & NOTES
LEGALLY SPEAKING

MEMBER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

Laser focus

Reporting laser strikes
B Y C H A D M AY E R

THOUSANDS OF LASER STRIKES against
aircraft are reported every year, including more than 6,000 in 2019. It is a federal
crime to aim the beam of a laser pointer at
an aircraft, and the penalty can range from
fines up to $25,000 to a prison term of up
to five years. The FAA's Office of the Chief
Counsel has published a legal interpretation, "Interference with a Crewmember
via Laser." The FAA's interpretation states
that it considers a "laser beam aimed by
someone not on board an aircraft, to be
interference with a crewmember's performance and a violation of [14 CFR§] 91.11."
The FAA is not a law enforcement
agency, so it collects reports to "assist law
enforcement and provide support for recommended mitigation actions to be taken
to ensure continued safe and orderly flight
operations." As part of this effort, the FAA
recently updated Advisory Circular (AC)
70-2B, "Reporting Laser Illumination
of Aircraft." The AC requests that pilots
report laser strike events and provides procedures for reporting in the air as well as
on the ground after the flight. Airborne
reports should be made either to ATC when
in controlled airspace, or on an appropriate
frequency such as unicom or guard when in

uncontrolled airspace. Such reports are not mandatory; they allow ATC to broadcast warnings to
other aircraft in the area, and to work with agencies including the FBI and local law enforcement to
stop the threat and bring the perpetrator to justice.
Pilots and crewmembers affected by an unauthorized laser illumination should report the event
via the FAA Laser Beam Exposure questionnaire.
The questionnaire (faa.gov/aircraft/safety/report/
laserinfo) can be completed from a mobile device.
If the laser strike results in crewmember incapacitation or aircraft damage serious enough to be
classified as an accident, this may trigger a reporting requirement to the NTSB.
Filing a NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System
(ASRS) report may also be needed. Many pilots
only think of filing a NASA report when they may
have committed an inadvertent violation. A laser
strike has potential impact on safety in the National
Airspace System and is, therefore, within the scope
of the ASRS.
aopa.org/pps

CHAD MAYER is an in-house attorney for the AOPA

Pilot Protection Services legal team.

AOPA FINANCE

ADAM ANSWERS
B Y A DA M M E R E D I T H
P R E S I D E N T, A O PA F I N A N C E
Q: I'd like options for an equity
loan against my Pitts for
improvements to the aircraft,
and for additional cash flow.
A: Upgrade and improvement
loans are treated like a refinance. Lenders will ask for
shop estimates of the work
in order to determine the
final value and available loan
amount. Generally, lenders will
finance up to 85 percent of
the upgraded value or the cost
of the upgrades. Most aircraft
lenders do not offer additional
equity financing if the funds
are not going into the aircraft.
Maximum financing would be
limited to 50 percent loan to
value.
aopafinance.com
800-62-PLANE (75263)

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The annual meeting of the members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at the headquarters of AOPA,
421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, located on Frederick Municipal
Airport (FDK), for the purpose of receiving reports and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting, specifically including the election of
trustees. If you are not able to attend, but would like to appoint your voting proxy,
please visit www.aopa.org/myaccount or call 800-872-2672.

-Justine A. Harrison, Secretary

CONTACT AOPA
ADDRESS CHANGE?

Send your new address and AOPA
membership number to AOPA:
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798
Fax: 301-695-2375
aopa.org
TOLL-FREE PILOT
INFORMATION CENTER

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
pilotassist@aopa.org

AOPA FOUNDATION

AOPA AIRCRAFT FINANCING

AOPA AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE

AOPA PERSONAL INSURANCE

AOPA CREDIT CARD PROGRAM

AOPA PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES

800-955-9115
aopafoundation.org
800-638-3101
airsafetyinstitute.org

Top off your airplane and wallet
with the best card for pilots.
877-787-3171
aopa.org/creditcard

800-627-5263
aopafinance.com

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/membership/personal
800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
aopa.org/pps
AOPA TRAVEL DISCOUNTS

aopa.org/cars | aopa.org/hotels

AOPA PILOT INFORMATION CENTER HOURS

Do you have questions or need information about an aviation topic? Access the team of aviation experts in our Pilot Information Center
during our convenient weekday hours. Call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time, with
your questions and our staff will be happy to assist you.
Visit the website (aopa.org/membership) to learn about upgrading to our higher levels of membership with Pilot Protection Services
coverage included.
106 | AOPA PILOT August 2020

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/report/laserinfo http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/report/laserinfo http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopafinance.com http://www.aopa.org/myaccount http://www.aopafoundation.org http://www.aopafinance.com http://www.airsafetyinstitute.org http://www.aopa.org/membership/personal http://www.aopa.org http://www.aopa.org/pps http://www.aopa.org/creditcard http://www.aopa.org/cars http://www.aopa.org/hotels http://www.aopa.org/membership

AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - August 2020