L@ser attacks on Aircraft
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Check this 'super laser' out, reported in the Mail
Never mind pilots, this green laser is so powerful it can dazzle satellites - and it's freely on sale | Mail Online
Never mind pilots, this green laser is so powerful it can dazzle satellites - and it's freely on sale | Mail Online
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1W is serious
Pointers are usually 1-5mW, maybe 10mW at the extreme.
1W is serious, especially at green where the eye's response is most sensitive.
I've no idea what a legitimate use of such a device would be: lamping rabbits in the next county?
For $300 the frequency stability will surely be all over the place, leaving plenty of fingerprints for the police helicopters' fancy new forensic laser spectrograph thingy, (BBC NEWS | UK | New weapon targets laser attackers). (Unless it gets burned out by the laser pointer.) Hopefully, the focus will be rotten too, getting less energy per eye in the sky.
1W is serious, especially at green where the eye's response is most sensitive.
I've no idea what a legitimate use of such a device would be: lamping rabbits in the next county?
For $300 the frequency stability will surely be all over the place, leaving plenty of fingerprints for the police helicopters' fancy new forensic laser spectrograph thingy, (BBC NEWS | UK | New weapon targets laser attackers). (Unless it gets burned out by the laser pointer.) Hopefully, the focus will be rotten too, getting less energy per eye in the sky.
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So, very recently I was at a wedding the reception of hich was adjacent to a major international airport. As the celebrations turned to evening and the DJ started up, on came the laser machine. Now this particular venue has roof windows..
just some cursory research shows that a 30MW green laser, such as would be used can be purchased of 144.00 and an 80MW for 240.00
now this set me to wonder, as how many inadvertent events actually occur and how many people and venues that operate such equipment have any inkling of the inhenerent dangers.
just some cursory research shows that a 30MW green laser, such as would be used can be purchased of 144.00 and an 80MW for 240.00
now this set me to wonder, as how many inadvertent events actually occur and how many people and venues that operate such equipment have any inkling of the inhenerent dangers.
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One a bit close to (my) home! (SOU)
Just noticed this on BBC South
“29 August 2011Last updated at 14:11
Lasers shone at plane coming into Southampton airport
A Flybe pilot reported laser pens being shone into the cockpit of his aircraft as he was coming into land at Southampton airport on Saturday.
The crew of a police helicopter was also targeted as they investigated the incident at about 21:30 BST.Thermal imaging cameras were used to locate suspects at two addresses in Bitterne. Three people were arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.
Police said three laser pens were recovered.
Two youths, both aged 17, and a man, aged 20, were held in custody overnight.
Police said the 20-year-old received a caution and the youths were referred to the Youth Offending Team.”
Why bother to catch them when there is such a pathetic “punishment”?
“29 August 2011Last updated at 14:11
Lasers shone at plane coming into Southampton airport
A Flybe pilot reported laser pens being shone into the cockpit of his aircraft as he was coming into land at Southampton airport on Saturday.
The crew of a police helicopter was also targeted as they investigated the incident at about 21:30 BST.Thermal imaging cameras were used to locate suspects at two addresses in Bitterne. Three people were arrested on suspicion of endangering an aircraft.
Police said three laser pens were recovered.
Two youths, both aged 17, and a man, aged 20, were held in custody overnight.
Police said the 20-year-old received a caution and the youths were referred to the Youth Offending Team.”
Why bother to catch them when there is such a pathetic “punishment”?
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Perhaps more serious punishment will be considered should these 
be caught.
Man dies after yobs stop air ambulance landing in Calne (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
be caught.Man dies after yobs stop air ambulance landing in Calne (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)
OLD RED DAMASK
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For $300 the frequency stability will surely be all over the place
Beam divergence 1.5mRad, beam diameter 2mm, NOHD 149 Meters and Beam distance @ 0.25 Lux 6856 Meters.
This is a seriously dangerous laser and how the manufacturer can say they can sell it legally is beyond comprehension.
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Yet another one! And in rural Somerset. When will these people learn?
Laser 'attack' on police helicopter in Chard (From Chard & Ilminster News)
I have had several attacks myself from the dreaded green laser- in Amsterdam, the Hague, Cardiff, Bristol and Thirsk in Yorkshire. Several of them have been particularly bright and directed directly at the flight deck. Luckily, it did not affect the vision of myself or the first officer- we were able to look away in time.
I do hope that the magistrates in the case above read this forum and can realise just how dangerous it is when these idiots shine lasers at aircraft. A prison sentence should be mandatory to send out a signal to the other numpties out there who wish to prove to their numpty friends how funny it is to shine a laser at an aircraft.
What happens when such an episode causes an accident (as is likely one day)?
Laser 'attack' on police helicopter in Chard (From Chard & Ilminster News)
I have had several attacks myself from the dreaded green laser- in Amsterdam, the Hague, Cardiff, Bristol and Thirsk in Yorkshire. Several of them have been particularly bright and directed directly at the flight deck. Luckily, it did not affect the vision of myself or the first officer- we were able to look away in time.
I do hope that the magistrates in the case above read this forum and can realise just how dangerous it is when these idiots shine lasers at aircraft. A prison sentence should be mandatory to send out a signal to the other numpties out there who wish to prove to their numpty friends how funny it is to shine a laser at an aircraft.
What happens when such an episode causes an accident (as is likely one day)?
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We were hit twice on the same approach to BHX in the beginning of october this year, once on base and once on final.
By the time we landed, they had already arrested the first one...
By the time we landed, they had already arrested the first one...
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Landing from the south in Jeddah now, you are nearly guaranteed to be nailed by lasers. They are installed on top of buildings now, and actually pointing toward the glide path on rwy 34. I have reported it to tower before and they say yes, they know about it. Pretty damn stupid.
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Teenager charged for laser attack
A teenager in France is getting 3 months suspended jail sentence for aiming laser at aircraft on approach in Paris CDG airport.
Article here (french): Condamné pour avoir ébloui des pilotes d'avions au laser - Yahoo!
The subject has probably been dealt with in other threads, but I won't search the whole site for this one.
I read recently the US is moving in this direction too, i.e. making it an offence to aim laser beams at aircraft, and actually starting to enforce it.
The article mentions 2800 laser attacks in France for 2010, but I suspect it is much more, considering the number of times (in other countries) I have reported to ATC on finals and they don't seem to give a damn, just the usual ""ah...OK".
I used to get lasers at least once or twice a month in Europe, flying short haul for about 80 hours per month. Am I seeing things or is this what other pilots experience too?
Opinions welcome!
Article here (french): Condamné pour avoir ébloui des pilotes d'avions au laser - Yahoo!
The subject has probably been dealt with in other threads, but I won't search the whole site for this one.
I read recently the US is moving in this direction too, i.e. making it an offence to aim laser beams at aircraft, and actually starting to enforce it.
The article mentions 2800 laser attacks in France for 2010, but I suspect it is much more, considering the number of times (in other countries) I have reported to ATC on finals and they don't seem to give a damn, just the usual ""ah...OK".
I used to get lasers at least once or twice a month in Europe, flying short haul for about 80 hours per month. Am I seeing things or is this what other pilots experience too?
Opinions welcome!
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Interesting you should mention that. I just read an article describing the situation in the US and specifically California. There were over 2,000 instances of lasers pointed at aircraft in the US last year, and LAX is considered one of the worst airports.
Rising trend of laser-pointing at planes, helicopters | abc7.com
The Feds recently passed a law making the act a felony (roughly equivalent to an indictable offense in the UK) with penalty up to $11,000 per event. We'll see if it has any effect.
Rising trend of laser-pointing at planes, helicopters | abc7.com
The Feds recently passed a law making the act a felony (roughly equivalent to an indictable offense in the UK) with penalty up to $11,000 per event. We'll see if it has any effect.
The Feds recently passed a law making the act a felony (roughly equivalent to an indictable offense in the UK) with penalty up to $11,000 per event. We'll see if it has any effect.
I doubt that "up-to $$$" would mean anything to a teen ager who isn't going to pay it anyhow
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Question asked with all due respect -
As a menial GA pilot, back when those war surplus anti-aircraft spotlights were popularly used in the US for advertising events, I flew through one, low altitude night VFR of course, and at least virtually soiled myself, but after a moment I realized what the intense flash was about, and went back to aviating. Despite the intensity, my vision wasn't affected at all.
Those green lasers are being sold in abusive intensities, but it seems to me that if shone from below they need to bounce off something high in the cockpit and will be somewhat diffused and unlikely to reach an eye with any significant energy.
What am I missing? (And fire away, of course - I realize it's a hot topic.)
As a menial GA pilot, back when those war surplus anti-aircraft spotlights were popularly used in the US for advertising events, I flew through one, low altitude night VFR of course, and at least virtually soiled myself, but after a moment I realized what the intense flash was about, and went back to aviating. Despite the intensity, my vision wasn't affected at all.
Those green lasers are being sold in abusive intensities, but it seems to me that if shone from below they need to bounce off something high in the cockpit and will be somewhat diffused and unlikely to reach an eye with any significant energy.
What am I missing? (And fire away, of course - I realize it's a hot topic.)
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They're not only shone from directly below.
How much ground can you see while sat in the cockpit? A laser in that area will hit your eyes directly. I've been hit, and it's not my idea of fun. I definitely didn't want to look for anything in that direction, which could pose a problem.
Owning those lasers should be equalised with owning a weapon, and as there are no permits it'd be owning an illegal weapon. Couple of months free food and lodging should be the minimum for pointing one at aircraft.
Right now, they're getting a slap on the wrist in my neck of the woods. Probable effect: Nil. As usual, it will take accidents before someone decides to actually do something about it.
How much ground can you see while sat in the cockpit? A laser in that area will hit your eyes directly. I've been hit, and it's not my idea of fun. I definitely didn't want to look for anything in that direction, which could pose a problem.
Owning those lasers should be equalised with owning a weapon, and as there are no permits it'd be owning an illegal weapon. Couple of months free food and lodging should be the minimum for pointing one at aircraft.
Right now, they're getting a slap on the wrist in my neck of the woods. Probable effect: Nil. As usual, it will take accidents before someone decides to actually do something about it.
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Teenagers are pretty stupid so they won't know how dangerous it is to pilots until they are put in jail. So put them in jail, maybe they will get smarter, I don't think so but it is worth a try.