Lasers pointed at aircraft
I'm not saying they're going to cause eye damage, but the powerful green ones are a definite problem in that you have to turn your head away or turn the aircraft away. If you're in a night hover [as I seem to spend most of my airborne time] that constitutes a definite hazard regardless of the fact that it might [unwittingly] help suspects get away.
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Sorry to disagree Nick, but I was hit by a green laser a couple of years ago. It refracted around the cockpit, thousands of tiny green lines everywhere. More than just a distraction. I was in the hover at the time (police op) moved forward a little and turned my back on the laser. It happened at the most critical time in the police operation and if we had found the source of the laser he/she would have got the book thrown at them!
While non of us in the crew suffered any eye pain (the policemen closed their eyes as soon as it happened), it is easy to see (no pun intended) how this could have led to loss of control and an "unexplained" accident
While non of us in the crew suffered any eye pain (the policemen closed their eyes as soon as it happened), it is easy to see (no pun intended) how this could have led to loss of control and an "unexplained" accident
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Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
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I have incident reported laser and high powered torch experiences. Recently we had a lad arrested, caught with the industrial lamp in his hand, and the CPS refused to prosecute. Seems like someone has to crash first.....
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I was lasered once by some pesky kids whilst dropping a patrol, one dark night in NI. We were on black light and NVG and didnt notice any adverse effects at the time. We did report it and were sent to the eye hospital for check ups as there was some initial worry about the "enhancing" effects of the goggs but all was fine.
I think the lasers used were the hand held "pointer" type not sure if a more powerful type would have had a different outcome.
Cheers
L'
I think the lasers used were the hand held "pointer" type not sure if a more powerful type would have had a different outcome.
Cheers
L'
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Nick,
We were hit with a green Class IIIB laser (illegal but easily purchased on the internet from the US for about USD$50) and had it confiscated. It was a 20mW and it caused the crewman a severe headache after 5 mins. While I agree that they little ones are a mere annoyance, these bigger ones that hit you without notice do sting and could cause the pilot to flinch at the wrong time.
I believe the State of California has introduced laws to make illuminating aircraft with both lasers and handheld spotlights illegal.
This is a growing problem for helo drivers.
We were hit with a green Class IIIB laser (illegal but easily purchased on the internet from the US for about USD$50) and had it confiscated. It was a 20mW and it caused the crewman a severe headache after 5 mins. While I agree that they little ones are a mere annoyance, these bigger ones that hit you without notice do sting and could cause the pilot to flinch at the wrong time.
I believe the State of California has introduced laws to make illuminating aircraft with both lasers and handheld spotlights illegal.
This is a growing problem for helo drivers.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
As it happens, only last night were we lased by a green one!
(see date/time stamp)
click on pic to see video
Initially, as semirigid rotor said above "It refracted around the cockpit, thousands of tiny green lines everywhere. More than just a distraction."
Then he seemed to concentrate on the body of the aircraft as you can see.
Now....what mr laser didn't want to do was to get into his car, drive suspiciously, have us PNC the reg no, only to find out he wasn't insured!!
Now, as a twist to this thread, how about in these days, that laser beam is attached to one of these!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBS-70
(see date/time stamp)
click on pic to see video
Initially, as semirigid rotor said above "It refracted around the cockpit, thousands of tiny green lines everywhere. More than just a distraction."
Then he seemed to concentrate on the body of the aircraft as you can see.
Now....what mr laser didn't want to do was to get into his car, drive suspiciously, have us PNC the reg no, only to find out he wasn't insured!!
Now, as a twist to this thread, how about in these days, that laser beam is attached to one of these!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RBS-70
RBS 70 is a short-range man-portable (MANPADS), laser-guided missile system...
...If the operator is confident that he has a good track he fires. The missile then flies in the beam of the laser from the sight, adjusting its position constantly to stay within the beam. This puts a lot of pressure on the operator who needs to have a very steady aim. If the missile is guided to within 30 meters of the target a kill is 95% assured.
...If the operator is confident that he has a good track he fires. The missile then flies in the beam of the laser from the sight, adjusting its position constantly to stay within the beam. This puts a lot of pressure on the operator who needs to have a very steady aim. If the missile is guided to within 30 meters of the target a kill is 95% assured.
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Frankly, I am not sure there is any effective answer to the problem. Chasing down every one of the 6 billion yahoos who think the deep thought of flashing the helo will simply not work, those lasers are too cheap and available, and that small percentage of the population too foolish to think beforehand. The social problem is similar to the way boys toss rocks onto cars passing below on the motorway. On Comanche we studied how to somehow protect the crew by making windows that block the frequency of the beams, at some cost to the night visuals thru the windshield due tio general darkening. That might work, but the dollar cost would also be high.
BTW, L'WAAPAM, the goggles will assure that the laser does no harm, since the goggle is a very good filter. There is no direct path for light of any kind to pass thru the goggles. The light is stopped at the front plate, converted to goggle phosphorescent light, amplified and passed to the rear. The only effect (not a small one, but not a physical harm to the eyes) is that the goggles will pump to their max brightness.
BTW, L'WAAPAM, the goggles will assure that the laser does no harm, since the goggle is a very good filter. There is no direct path for light of any kind to pass thru the goggles. The light is stopped at the front plate, converted to goggle phosphorescent light, amplified and passed to the rear. The only effect (not a small one, but not a physical harm to the eyes) is that the goggles will pump to their max brightness.
Sid,
Happy memories of the boy racers not a million miles from the Wheels Project, and just on the boundary of 2 or more OCUs - ie more than one duty inspector deciding it's "not my problem"...
Happy memories of the boy racers not a million miles from the Wheels Project, and just on the boundary of 2 or more OCUs - ie more than one duty inspector deciding it's "not my problem"...
Avoid imitations
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We used to give 'em a dose of the Nitesun. They often got the message as it warmed them up and ruined their night vision, too.
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There was an incident last year on approach to the Vanguaard Pad in London, the pilot had a lasor shone in his eyes....
And what happened to the lasor shining individual?
Response:
'Police kicked down his front door and nicked him!'
Marvellous
And what happened to the lasor shining individual?
Response:
'Police kicked down his front door and nicked him!'
Marvellous
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Here's a recent incident for you that comes under this subject,
I was routing around the Thames yesterday (in daylight) for finals to Vanguard from the East. When I saw a green line crossing the river. I elected to climb and (not sure why but I always get a little twitchy around what I think maybe wires that I don't expect to be there) on climbing I traced the wire/light back to what I think was the Greenwich observator. It looks like a laser light has been set up to point at somewhere near the dome.
I'm not sure how long it has been there but in daytime it did suprise me, maybe my eye sight isnt as bad as I thought it was!
I informed London city twr but got the feeling the did'nt understand the relevance in there fixed wing world.
Not sure if this any conection with the message before this but this laser was too stable to be hand held.
I was routing around the Thames yesterday (in daylight) for finals to Vanguard from the East. When I saw a green line crossing the river. I elected to climb and (not sure why but I always get a little twitchy around what I think maybe wires that I don't expect to be there) on climbing I traced the wire/light back to what I think was the Greenwich observator. It looks like a laser light has been set up to point at somewhere near the dome.
I'm not sure how long it has been there but in daytime it did suprise me, maybe my eye sight isnt as bad as I thought it was!
I informed London city twr but got the feeling the did'nt understand the relevance in there fixed wing world.
Not sure if this any conection with the message before this but this laser was too stable to be hand held.
Last edited by Basher577; 21st Feb 2007 at 11:00.
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That laser has been there years and eminates from Greenwich Observatory marking the E/W Meridian line. It's not always on and rarely during the day but in the right conditions at night you can see the green line stretching north past the M25.
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the greenwich laser
Bright green laser to illuminate Meridian Line from Royal Observatory Greenwich
On 16 December 1999, a spectacular bright green Meridian Line Laser was turned on at the Home of Time, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, illuminating the path of the Prime Meridian Line across the London sky. The Millennia Vs laser, manufactured by Spectra Physics Lasers Ltd, represents the state-of-the-art in high power diode pumped lasers. It will be illuminated every evening and will be visible for ten miles on a clear night.
On 16 December 1999, a spectacular bright green Meridian Line Laser was turned on at the Home of Time, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, illuminating the path of the Prime Meridian Line across the London sky. The Millennia Vs laser, manufactured by Spectra Physics Lasers Ltd, represents the state-of-the-art in high power diode pumped lasers. It will be illuminated every evening and will be visible for ten miles on a clear night.
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Got this on a yahoo group earlier
Idiots
1928
Just noted on approach freq, aircraft are being deliberately targeted by a green laser just south of the MAN ILS at about 8 miles out. How mad can some prople get.
Just noted on approach freq, aircraft are being deliberately targeted by a green laser just south of the MAN ILS at about 8 miles out. How mad can some prople get.
