Lasers hitting light aircraft?
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There is only one way to deal with this and its to make these things illegal.
They are dangerous not just to aircraft but as you point out passing motorists where a slightly delayed reaction could cause death to other motorists or pedestrians
Pace
They are dangerous not just to aircraft but as you point out passing motorists where a slightly delayed reaction could cause death to other motorists or pedestrians
Pace
Small or handheld visible wavelength lasers are used for all sorts of things - surveying, school experiments, teaching. I have a 5mW one in my desk (purple as it happens) which is hellishly useful when I'm talking through stuff on aircraft from the floor of the hangar.
People are killed or injured daily by kitchen knives and craft knives - but we don't ban them because they have reasonable and legitimate uses.
Detection and punishment matter and need to be done as aggressively as possible. Possibly, not unlike knives we need a "reasonable excuse" rule where above a certain power people need to justify why they have one. But an outright ban is neither in these days of internet shopping going to be effective, nor appropriate given the huge number of legitimate reasons to have a visual frequency laser.
G
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G
But I guarantee if you go out into the streets carrying a kitchen knife you will be arrested!
Finding a guy who has targeted a fast moving jet is almost impossible! Proving it is even worse especially if the culprit denies it
Hence why a ban Is the only way your knifes are a good example they should be limited to school or business use and not taken out into the street.
Pace
But I guarantee if you go out into the streets carrying a kitchen knife you will be arrested!
Finding a guy who has targeted a fast moving jet is almost impossible! Proving it is even worse especially if the culprit denies it
Hence why a ban Is the only way your knifes are a good example they should be limited to school or business use and not taken out into the street.
Pace
Which means to have one in public without good reason (e.g. a chef taking knives to/from work) is an offence.
It also means police have greater powers to stop and search, which will lead to more prosecutions for lasers targeting aircraft.
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I don't know much about them other than being blinded on approach to Leeds
Surely the other option is to limit their power to the minimum for purpose which maybe lower than current ones sold over the counter ?
I read there are some very powerful units sold on the net ?
Pace
Surely the other option is to limit their power to the minimum for purpose which maybe lower than current ones sold over the counter ?
I read there are some very powerful units sold on the net ?
Pace
I think we're arguing semantics here.
Used in the wrong way - either a knife or a laser pointer is an offensive weapon, and the person doing so is a criminal.
Neither need an absolute ban - which is what you appeared to be advocating Pace, just control and appropriate investigation and punishment for misuse.
G
Used in the wrong way - either a knife or a laser pointer is an offensive weapon, and the person doing so is a criminal.
Neither need an absolute ban - which is what you appeared to be advocating Pace, just control and appropriate investigation and punishment for misuse.
G
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There is a place for the 5mw pointer...but I can't imagine why anyone needs something like: 6000mw-450nm-beam-light-blue-superhigh-power-laser-pointer-pen-kit-golden-p-1819.html
The advert includes:
OC619
The advert includes:
- Emit 6000mW high power laser beam full of energy
- You can use it to light a cigarette or paper by adjusting its focusing
OC619
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Can someone explain why anyone would want to spend £260 for such a powerful laser where they advertise its so powerful that you can start a fire with it and then say Hurry buy yours now.
what sensible use could there be for such a devise to be sold openly to any 14 year old with the cash or for that matter to anyone without malicious intent?
I am far from an expert on these devices and their practical use so maybe someone can explain what the above advertised device would need to be so powerful for ?
Pace
what sensible use could there be for such a devise to be sold openly to any 14 year old with the cash or for that matter to anyone without malicious intent?
I am far from an expert on these devices and their practical use so maybe someone can explain what the above advertised device would need to be so powerful for ?
Pace
I haven't any use for a 1W laser pointer at present, but I'm sure there are legitimate hobby/industrial/home inventor uses and as a general observation, it's sad that it's becoming increasingly difficult to access cool stuff. My generation was probably the last where every self-respecting nerd made explosions at home, most of which we survived. No wonder STEM skills are in shortage when nobody will send sell you fun stuff and they won't demonstrate the thermite reaction at school because it's too dangerous.
I'd agree with Genghis: perhaps wielding a 1W laser pointer in the town centre should be made to be a crime, and perhaps you could ban battery powered ones limiting miscreants to those with the ability to solder.
In practical terms, I wonder how small and light you could make a standalone device to triangulate back to locate the source of laser attacks? GPS and a CMOS sensor; no need for certification (because standalone). It could be done, though I suspect it won't be.
I'd agree with Genghis: perhaps wielding a 1W laser pointer in the town centre should be made to be a crime, and perhaps you could ban battery powered ones limiting miscreants to those with the ability to solder.
In practical terms, I wonder how small and light you could make a standalone device to triangulate back to locate the source of laser attacks? GPS and a CMOS sensor; no need for certification (because standalone). It could be done, though I suspect it won't be.
Last edited by abgd; 18th Feb 2016 at 06:29.
I have a Logitech 'presenter' which is a combined 'mouse' and <1mW laser pointer. Perfect for giving PowerPoint presentations to large audiences....
Although it was, back when most venues used projection screens. But with the advent of massive flat screens, the light spot from the 'presenter' often cannot be seen. A colleague in Germany reckons that he has to use a more powerful green laser for such purposes - 5mW?.
But selling very high power devices without any restriction is plain daft - and clearly dangerous, given the likely end-user... At least when President Obama signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, he made it a federal crime to shine a laser beam at or in the flight path of aircraft — punishable by up to $250,000 in fines and five years imprisonment enjoying being Bubba's new bitch....
By all means have legislation in place for devices over a certain power limit, including restrictions on sale and use, carriage without good reason etc. But the humble <1mW laser presenter shouldn't be subject to the same restriction.
(And yes, cats have been known to chase low-powered laser light spots....
)
Although it was, back when most venues used projection screens. But with the advent of massive flat screens, the light spot from the 'presenter' often cannot be seen. A colleague in Germany reckons that he has to use a more powerful green laser for such purposes - 5mW?.
But selling very high power devices without any restriction is plain daft - and clearly dangerous, given the likely end-user... At least when President Obama signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, he made it a federal crime to shine a laser beam at or in the flight path of aircraft — punishable by up to $250,000 in fines and five years imprisonment enjoying being Bubba's new bitch....
By all means have legislation in place for devices over a certain power limit, including restrictions on sale and use, carriage without good reason etc. But the humble <1mW laser presenter shouldn't be subject to the same restriction.
(And yes, cats have been known to chase low-powered laser light spots....
)
It's been thus for years.
The logic is that if the "L word" never appears on PPrune, it should also never see any magnetically attracted Google / etc. adverts for these devices. Thus at no point can some scrote's solicitor say in court "But m'lord, my client bought this through an advert on a well known pilot's website, so had every reason to believe that it was a perfectly safe aviation accessory".
G
The logic is that if the "L word" never appears on PPrune, it should also never see any magnetically attracted Google / etc. adverts for these devices. Thus at no point can some scrote's solicitor say in court "But m'lord, my client bought this through an advert on a well known pilot's website, so had every reason to believe that it was a perfectly safe aviation accessory".
G
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It's a pity there isn't some kind of miniature la$er guided weapons available for commercial aircraft to fire straight down the la$er beam to eradicate the moronic cretins who are perpetrating these acts.
After all, la$er designators are used by the military. I wouldn't think it would matter which way the beam was actually going, i.e. down, in the military sense, or up, in the cretin's sense.
That would solve the problem.
After all, la$er designators are used by the military. I wouldn't think it would matter which way the beam was actually going, i.e. down, in the military sense, or up, in the cretin's sense.
That would solve the problem.
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See today a report on attacks on police Helicopters with a a night picture of four thugs on a housing block pointing the laser. They don't look intelligent enough to even know what a blackboard is
The article is claiming that attacks on night surveillance police helicopters is becoming a regular occurrence.
At least with the equipment they carry there is more chance of pinpointing the culprits than an attack on a high speed jet but still think the chances of bringing successful prosecutions are very small unless the vandals are standing outside their own flat!
Even then the pictures are not that clear to make an individual identification hence why a legal restriction on their sale might be the only way
NB cannot get the word Laser without the @
Pace
The article is claiming that attacks on night surveillance police helicopters is becoming a regular occurrence.
At least with the equipment they carry there is more chance of pinpointing the culprits than an attack on a high speed jet but still think the chances of bringing successful prosecutions are very small unless the vandals are standing outside their own flat!
Even then the pictures are not that clear to make an individual identification hence why a legal restriction on their sale might be the only way
NB cannot get the word Laser without the @
Pace
Last edited by Pace; 18th Feb 2016 at 10:41.
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I agree with comments questioning the need for a market for higher-powered devices. Surely these require some sort of regulation/restriction, like other potentially dangerous things such as airguns.
The only way to solve the problem is rigorous restriction on supply on these devices and severe punishments for those who misuse them.
The only way to solve the problem is rigorous restriction on supply on these devices and severe punishments for those who misuse them.