Irfan Bozan, who served with United Nations forces in Iraq, was "stupid and reckless" when shining the laser at the Qantas plane, South Australian District Court Judge Paul Rice said on Wednesday.

Bozan pleaded guilty to prejudicing the safe operation of an aircraft and received a 14-month jail term, which was suspended on him entering into a two-year good behaviour bond.

The 26-year-old shone a green laser at the cockpit of a Qantas plane on descent to Adelaide in August last year.

The Melbourne to Adelaide plane was travelling at 7000 feet when the pilot was distracted by the laser, which was trailed on the cockpit for about 40 seconds.

Bozan, who received training with laser sighted rifles when in the Turkish army, was a passenger in a car at Mt Compass, south of Adelaide, when offending.

Judge Rice said Bozan's actions "could easily have had much more serious consequences".

"The consequences could have been disastrous," Judge Rice said.

Bozan maintained he was curious to see whether the laser would reach the plane, Judge Rice said.

"I accept you played with the laser out of boredom and curiosity," he said.

"You didn't intend to bring the aircraft down.

"(But) it was a deliberate act intended to distract the pilot."

Bozan moved to Australia in November 2008 but his conviction and sentence could impact on his desire to apply for permanent Australian residency. His visa expires in three weeks.

"This conviction will sit upon your record both here in Australia and be available for Turkish authorities as well," Judge Rice said.

"This may affect your visa status when it comes up but that is a matter for the Department of Immigration, that is a matter over which I have no control."