Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 33; Flight Crew Total 3201; Flight Crew Type 33
Confusion; Distraction; Situational Awareness
Inflight Event / Encounter Laser
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Executed Go Around / Missed Approach; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
First Officer's Qualification Line Check which concluded First Officer's IOE (Initial Operating Experience). First Officer was Pilot Flying. Check Airman was Pilot Monitoring. Normal arrival via SILCN5.KLIDE for ILS 30L at SJC. Shortly after KLIDE; both pilots became aware of flashes of intense blue laser light illuminating the windscreens for 1 to 2 seconds. Pilot Flying continued the approach referencing the instruments rather than scanning outside. Pilot Monitoring reported the threat to NORCAL Approach. After the handoff to SJC Tower; another burst of the same blue laser light appeared; this time from the right side of the aircraft. The flight leveled off at 3;300 feet and the Pilot Monitoring reported the latest burst to the Tower Controller.The distraction of both the laser events themselves and the reporting of the events to NCT (NorCal TRACON) and SJC Tower caused the Pilot Flying to lose track of the briefed stabilized approach plan. The delay in configuration caused the aircraft to be well above the glide path past the final approach fix. There was no way to continue the approach and remain within stabilized approach criteria; so the crew executed a missed approach. SJC Tower Controller instructed crew to climb to 3;000 feet and to contact NCT. NCT issued vectors for an ILS 30L. The second approach was unremarkable; as no further laser activity was noted. The Pilot Flying drew the sunshades on the right side of the aircraft to mitigate the threat of subsequent laser bursts. The remainder of the flight was normal. Following the termination of the flight; the crew [was] informed that the source of the laser activity was some sort of club establishment. They determined that the lasing appeared to be random and not intentionally targeted at aircraft.
Flight was final leg of First Officer's (Initial Operating Experience) with the Captain as Line Captain. Line Captain was Pilot Monitoring while First Officer was Pilot Flying. This was the First Officer's Qualification Line Check. Flight was descending normally via the SILCN 5 arrival for transition via KLIDE for the ILS 30L approach to SJC. Past KLIDE; the Pilot Monitoring noted a brief (2-3 second) series of flashes of bright blue light. The Pilot Monitoring continued to scan for additional evidence of directed laser illumination and landmarks for reference; but did not mention the initial burst to the Pilot Flying. Several seconds later; a subsequent burst of flashes of light appeared to illuminate the windscreens; at which time the Pilot Flying also saw the light.Pilot Flying reported the incident to the NCT Approach Controller; and passed along generalized street locations of the position of the light. Within a minute; at the time of handover to SJC Tower; the flight was subjected to a third illumination burst viewed peripherally by the Pilot Flying; with the Pilot Monitoring noting the dazzle effect of the light on the flight deck windows. At this point; the flight leveled off at approximately 3;300 feet and the Pilot Monitoring contacted the Tower Controller; reporting the continued laser illumination from the same vicinity.At this time; the Pilot Flying noted that the flight was well above the vertical path and was not yet configured according to the briefed Stabilized Approach Plan. The crew immediately began speed reductions and configuration for approach; but soon determined that the flight was 'well above' the glide path and well past the final approach fix. The crew discontinued the approach at approximately 2;700 feet and climbed to maintain 3;000 feet per Tower instruction; and soon switched back to NORCAL for vectors back to final.Subsequent vectors to final and final approach and landing via the ILS to 30L were uneventful. The Pilot Flying drew the flight deck sun shades as a precaution from possible further laser illumination. There were no further illuminations observed during this second approach.It appeared that the source was from a club establishment that was using a laser light source with some reflective device that was reflecting the light upwards. The illumination appeared to be random and unintentional. The atmospheric conditions were clear with very little particulate in the air; which did not refract the laser light when it was directed away from our aircraft; neither crew noted any laser light being directed anywhere other than at our aircraft.
Air carrier flight crew reported laser events while on approach to SJC which distracted the pilot flying resulting in an unstable approach and a go-around.