L@ser attacks on Aircraft
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The existing legislation is more than adequate for prosecution. Air Navigation Order Part 19 Para 137 Endangering Safety of an Aircraft, and Part 28 Para 222 Lights which Dazzle or Distract are the relevant sections.
I take it back, you can get life for it, the law is more than good enough, would be nice to see a judge give someone five years off the bat to send a real message.
Last edited by biocybertronics; 3rd Oct 2012 at 23:43.
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FWIW, I think the ACTUAL DANGER posed by these things (and the clots who wield them) is close to zero.
I've allso worked in a tower where a 412SP got hit with green laser while doing circuits on NVG, causing them to go off goggles.
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This needs to be made public....People need to be educated on the dangers posed by these laser lights.....Also maybe the airline can come up with shades to counter the lights.
The FBI Just Created a National Anti-Laser Attack Task Force
The FBI Just Created a National Anti-Laser Attack Task Force:
FBI — Laser Pointer Attacks Taking Off: Pose Serious Threat to Aviation Security
FBI — Laser Pointer Attacks Taking Off: Pose Serious Threat to Aviation Security
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Helicopter video of attack and arrest
This video embedded in this article is worth watching. The attacker is located and arrested.
Laser strikes against airplanes now an “epidemic,” says FBI | Ars Technica
Laser strikes against airplanes now an “epidemic,” says FBI | Ars Technica
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I found this on the Western Mail / South Wales Echo website this morning - Laser pens are "putting lives at risk" warns aviation group
The current laws are not tough enough to deter those idiots that put lives at risk
The current laws are not tough enough to deter those idiots that put lives at risk
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We can all say the laws need to be tougher, believe me, having seen both sides of this argument as a police officer previously and now flying I agree there needs to be tougher penalties.
The problems lie in the logistics, the force concerned, the officer, their attitude and the resourcing.
To give you an example - I cannot obviously divulge too much info with breaking various laws I still pertain to as an ex cop but if we were pushed for resources (i.e. the less than a dozen officers on shift on a friday night covering almost a quarter of a county within 15 minutes of LHR dealing with domestics which are complete nonsense (like my sister broke my door down is considered a domestic,if anyone cares to look up the amount of domestic reports police go to in the u.k you'll be amazed at how much time is wasted, I do not agree with the way domestics are dealt with in the u.k)) we are just not able to respond to a job like this. We physically didnt have the resources, it sounds bad but thats the way it is. The police forces in the U.K are pushed to there limits with resourcing (im sure some of you have dealt with the police and had good or bad experiences).
Its not unheard of for a 999 call to go un-resourced or have a traffic officer or AFO turn up to a domestic because of the lack of resourcing available.
Central London (METPOL) has a massive budget in comparison to the 2nd biggest U.K force for example.
If your then able to respond to the job or have the time, how do you find them?
I always had an interest in aviation, so I made a point to go looking for them and find these little fiends (usually they are little) to make sure they knew what they had done.
I knew the section of the law that they could be charged under, that sort of specific law is not in police basic training. That would need a referral from a specialist unit and sometimes the time and effort sadly this requires deems an arrest void because the time can be better spent dealing with other things.
I apologise if this sounds like i'm beating a dead horse. But its really a hard thing to tackle.
What would I do? I'd increase the policing amounts on the ground, I'd get the communications from ATC to police officers in cases like this more of a direct link as opposed to 2 or 3 intermediaries.
Give F/D crew a way of actually having the ability to pinpoint the area and location at a quick glance then gps co-ordinates which take time to pass on and then mirror into an actual address.
Police go on street addresses not IRS systems.
At biocyber - in your instance, if god forbid something like that happened it would be a tough push but you might be able to get Involuntary Manslaughter to stick, but i'm not a lawyer and dont confess to be one so thats really something that the CPS would decide. I feel they have a lot to answer for.
The problems lie in the logistics, the force concerned, the officer, their attitude and the resourcing.
To give you an example - I cannot obviously divulge too much info with breaking various laws I still pertain to as an ex cop but if we were pushed for resources (i.e. the less than a dozen officers on shift on a friday night covering almost a quarter of a county within 15 minutes of LHR dealing with domestics which are complete nonsense (like my sister broke my door down is considered a domestic,if anyone cares to look up the amount of domestic reports police go to in the u.k you'll be amazed at how much time is wasted, I do not agree with the way domestics are dealt with in the u.k)) we are just not able to respond to a job like this. We physically didnt have the resources, it sounds bad but thats the way it is. The police forces in the U.K are pushed to there limits with resourcing (im sure some of you have dealt with the police and had good or bad experiences).
Its not unheard of for a 999 call to go un-resourced or have a traffic officer or AFO turn up to a domestic because of the lack of resourcing available.
Central London (METPOL) has a massive budget in comparison to the 2nd biggest U.K force for example.
If your then able to respond to the job or have the time, how do you find them?
I always had an interest in aviation, so I made a point to go looking for them and find these little fiends (usually they are little) to make sure they knew what they had done.
I knew the section of the law that they could be charged under, that sort of specific law is not in police basic training. That would need a referral from a specialist unit and sometimes the time and effort sadly this requires deems an arrest void because the time can be better spent dealing with other things.
I apologise if this sounds like i'm beating a dead horse. But its really a hard thing to tackle.
What would I do? I'd increase the policing amounts on the ground, I'd get the communications from ATC to police officers in cases like this more of a direct link as opposed to 2 or 3 intermediaries.
Give F/D crew a way of actually having the ability to pinpoint the area and location at a quick glance then gps co-ordinates which take time to pass on and then mirror into an actual address.
Police go on street addresses not IRS systems.
At biocyber - in your instance, if god forbid something like that happened it would be a tough push but you might be able to get Involuntary Manslaughter to stick, but i'm not a lawyer and dont confess to be one so thats really something that the CPS would decide. I feel they have a lot to answer for.
Last edited by michaeljpotter; 10th Oct 2012 at 03:49. Reason: Added text
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BBC report on laser attacks
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BBC News - Jail term warning for shining laser pens at aircraft
Another prosecution. This time its a suspended sentence...
Another prosecution. This time its a suspended sentence...
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This one took place just around the corner from my house. You can sort of imagine young children/teenagers thinking it's funny but a 44 year old man is just ridiculous.
Man cautioned after shining high-powered laser pen at police helicopter over Dukinfield | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk
Man cautioned after shining high-powered laser pen at police helicopter over Dukinfield | Manchester Evening News - menmedia.co.uk
Police Helicopter Laser Attack
Man charged after laser beamed at aircraft
Police have charged a 37-year-old man after a laser beam was aimed at a commercial airliner and a police helicopter last night.
The suspect was found in the backyard of a house in the northern Gold Coast suburb of Ormeau.
Police allege he aimed a hand-held laser at the aircrafts just before 9pm (AEST).
The man has been charged with threatening the safety of people on board an aircraft.
He is due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court next month.
From ABC News
Man charged after laser beamed at aircraft - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Police have charged a 37-year-old man after a laser beam was aimed at a commercial airliner and a police helicopter last night.
The suspect was found in the backyard of a house in the northern Gold Coast suburb of Ormeau.
Police allege he aimed a hand-held laser at the aircrafts just before 9pm (AEST).
The man has been charged with threatening the safety of people on board an aircraft.
He is due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court next month.
From ABC News
Man charged after laser beamed at aircraft - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
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I'd be interested in the supply side of this. From my last two years summer hols in Turkey, it's apparent that you can basically get as powerful a laser as you like and give to your kids (or let them buy it).
When I remonstrated with a kid who shone a laser in my eyes, his Dad and a mate came looking for me and threatened me with violence.
I'm not going back to Turkey, but these things must be coming back in the thousands, in the hands of kids with parents like that.
When I remonstrated with a kid who shone a laser in my eyes, his Dad and a mate came looking for me and threatened me with violence.
I'm not going back to Turkey, but these things must be coming back in the thousands, in the hands of kids with parents like that.
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Laser pens 'threaten Gatwick passenger safety'
BBC News - Laser pens 'threaten Gatwick passenger safety'
Laser pens are sold as office equipment used to point out details on presentations
Home Office minister James Brokenshire said there were no plans to reclassify lasers as offensive weapons.
Laser pens are sold as office equipment used to point out details on presentations
Home Office minister James Brokenshire said there were no plans to reclassify lasers as offensive weapons.
Psychophysiological entity
Ad you were worried about kids. Even a bit of reflective stray would be a tad worrying.
BBC News - Rheinmetall demos laser that can shoot down drones
The system, which uses two laser weapons, was also used to cut through a steel girder a kilometre away.
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The typical red laser office pointer isn't the problem here; these are much more powerful green lasers which can transmit a visible beam several thousand feet. They're typically used by amateur astronomers and hunters for pointing and aiming.
Thanks to unregulated offshore web vendors, you can import cheaply made green laser of ridiculous powers - way more than would be necessary for legitimate purposes.
Thanks to unregulated offshore web vendors, you can import cheaply made green laser of ridiculous powers - way more than would be necessary for legitimate purposes.
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Highlighted in BBC news today:
BBC News - Rise in laser pen attacks on airline pilots over London
252 reported incidents over London in 2012.
BBC News - Rise in laser pen attacks on airline pilots over London
252 reported incidents over London in 2012.