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Helicopter on medical flight on Dec. 31 reported incident north of Elk Lake Steven Heywood News staff
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Sidney master runner Lucy Smith gets a big hug at the finish line after placing second in her women’s 40-49 division in Sunday’s Pioneer 8K race in Central Saanich. For the race results, see page 14.
There have been an increasing amount of laser pointers interfering with aircraft operations in B.C. and Canada since 2009, including one aimed into the cockpit of a Helijet helicopter north of Elk Lake recently. On Dec. 31, Helijet reported a laser strike during a medical flight between Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and Victoria’s Jubilee Hospital. The incident involving a green laser light took place at around 4:45 a.m. nearly two nautical miles north Elk Lake in Saanich. The “Basically, you’re of pilot reported the incident endangering an to NAV Canada, which in turn was listed with the aircraft.” Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System – Cpl. Erin Fraser (CADORS). Helijet experienced another laser strike Jan. 7 when a flight from Victoria Harbour reported an incident four nautical miles southeast of Vancouver International Airport en route to Vancouver Harbour. The second incident was reported to the RCMP but the first was not reported to local RCMP, the Central Saanich Police or Saanich Police departments. According to Transport Canada statistics, laser pointer incidents went from 108 across Canada in 2009, to 443 in 2013. The official numbers for 2014 were not available but a search of the CADORS site indicated 512 files related to laser interference. In B.C. alone, there were 65 incidents in 2013, compared with only 23 in 2009. Corporal Erin Fraser with the Sidney North Saanich RCMP says it’s a matter taken very seriously by police. “Basically, you’re endangering an aircraft,” she said. Fraser noted the local detachment hasn’t received a report of a laser strike near Victoria International Airport for approximately three years. PlEAsE sEE: Arrests can mean big fine, jail time, page 4