Christmas laser lights could endanger air travel – buying unsafe products also poses a serious risk to consumers

According to the experience of the domestic air navigation service provider, HungaroControl, laser interference increases during the Christmas season. Pilots regularly report that they were disturbed by a laser beam coming from the ground while flying. To the naked eye, it may seem that the laser lights directed towards the sky go out after a few meters, but in fact they can reach extremely long distances.

“Most people would not even think that a laser beam used to illuminate a house can be detected by pilots even at an altitude of several kilometers. Even a single poorly placed laser beam can impair the visibility of the aircraft’s crew, thus creating a risk.”

– warns Ákos Bárány, HungaroControl’s communications and marketing director.

The company’s employee reminds us that disturbing pilots with laser light is considered a threat to air traffic, and is therefore a crime, and the perpetrators can even be punished with imprisonment.

“Aircraft crews regularly report these cases, and we forward the complaints to the competent authorities ex officio”

– emphasized Ákos Bárány.

Experts from the National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority (NKFH) draw attention to the fact that it is particularly important to check the instructions for use and warnings for Christmas light decorations, especially laser projectors. Buyers should avoid products of unknown origin, unmarked or suspiciously cheap products both online and in traditional stores. Such laser projectors can also be dangerous, e.g. they can carry a risk of electric shock and/or fire.

Dr. Lilla Német-Weingartner, President of the NKFH, emphasized:

“safe shopping starts with a conscious decision, so it is always worth comparing the offerings of stores and online stores and checking the seller’s information. It is also worth checking the dangerous product database available on the NKFH website to prevent buying unsafe products!”

Responsible decoration keeps everyone safe and in the festive mood

Awareness is the most important factor when using Christmas decorations. HungaroControl asks the public to direct laser projectors only at the walls of houses, and never towards the sky! It is worth checking the direction of the light in the evenings. “A responsible attitude can prevent incidents and maintain the safety of air transport. In cooperation with the authorities, we will do everything we can to ensure that pilots can do their work without disruption, but we also need the cooperation of the public in this matter,” emphasized the director of communications and marketing at HungaroControl. The company is preparing for the holidays with reinforced capacities this year as well. In the period of December last year, the company’s specialists handled a total of 80,405 aircraft, and this year they expect a 10 percent increase.

The National Trade and Consumer Protection Authority recommends that we always find out about the seller before making a purchase, compare the offers of individual stores, and, if possible, order products from a Hungarian registered company.