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On average, pilots report laser incidents more than once a day. Transport Canada Photo
The number of incidents of lasers pointed at aircraft in Canada is on the rise.
According to Transport Canada, there were 502 reported incidents in 2014, a 43 per cent increase since 2012.
On average, pilots report laser incidents more than once a day, the federal regulator said in a posting on its website.
Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal offence that can carry penalties of up to $100,000 in fines, five years in prison, or both.
Transport Canada is also warning of the dangers of laser pointing, saying it could cause a major accident, distract the pilot, create glare and cause temporary blindness.
The regulator is asking anyone who sees another person point a laser at an aircraft to report it immediately to local police.
Pilots can also report laser incidents to Transport Canada by completing an incident reporting form.
