I didn't think for one minute that they could damage the aircraft. It's the temporary disorientation potential for pilots that I was getting at, and was wondering if anyone has personally experienced it while flying.
The stronger lasers carried by hobbyists - which are freely available from Asia on the internet - interest me. Even the expert chap from a London University who was dismissing the dangers of 'regular' pocket lasers on the radio the other week conceded that the stronger keyring lasers can cause damage, even from very brief exposure.
Most of the ones we saw the other night were green and some were eminating from a long way off across the city. I'm no expert, but they seemed more powerful than regular pocket lasers. And no - they weren't from light installations on the roofs of bars, etc. They were definitely pocket-type lasers.