Police in the air to crack down on laser pointers below

MIDDLE RIVER, Md. - When pilots, like Dino Kalush of the Maryland State Police, climb aboard their four and a half ton helicopters with 1600 horsepower whirling above their heads, they know time is of the essence.

"If someone is involved in a very bad accident seconds are critical,” said Kalush, “So if the pilot has to wait to readjust his eyes, especially when he's committed to making a landing, the seconds are critical."

That’s why pilots are now taking aim at the people who would target them in the air with laser pointers.

"To quote a famous quote, 'Houston, we have a problem,'” said Maryland State Police Lieutenant Walter A. Kerr, “Baltimore, we have a problem."

Six times in the last six weeks here in the Baltimore area, pilots have become the targets of the lasers.

Baltimore County Police Sergeant Ron Wines describes its affect as he hovered over a western portion of the county recently pursuing an armed robber below.

"I can tell you firsthand very disconcerting, very disorienting," said Sgt. Wines.

Pilots at Martin State Airport decided to give us a firsthand look with a training simulator chopper inside a darkened hanger.

With the helicopter submerged in darkness, you could see the brilliant green light from the laser pointer bouncing on the pilot and reflecting off of shiny objects inside the cockpit.

There’s no mistaking its blinding effect when directed into the eyes.

The fluorescent beam can blind pilots up to 30 seconds making it difficult to guide their aircraft.

"You still have to watch all the instruments across the flight station and then have to land and then, on top of all that, you're providing critical care to the patient and the medic that are in the back trying to save this person's life," said Kalush.

In the recent incident in western Baltimore County, police not only captured the armed robber, but also directed officers on the ground to arrest the person aiming the laser pointer.