3 Jailed for using Laser pen at EMA
grounded27
Problem is these prats are all over 20, as such they aren't youths, just irresponsible adult scum who think that trying to bring down aircraft is fun.
I'm not from the "lock 'em up, and throw away the key" wing, but so called adults do really need to be treated harshly, and in perhaps other ways than (just) a prison sentence.
As said in another posting here, it's a shame that this story didn't get national media coverage - you can bet your bottom dollar that had it happened anywhere near a London airport it would have been all over the national media.
Don't think youthful idiotic acts
I'm not from the "lock 'em up, and throw away the key" wing, but so called adults do really need to be treated harshly, and in perhaps other ways than (just) a prison sentence.
As said in another posting here, it's a shame that this story didn't get national media coverage - you can bet your bottom dollar that had it happened anywhere near a London airport it would have been all over the national media.
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The problem isn't really the cheap and nasty £5 laser pointers - I doubt if they've got the range or power beyond 10ft or so.
It's this sort of stuff: High power laser pointers. Green laser pointers with 50 mile range. Easily available, multiple online sources.
Who on earth needs an 800mW laser with a 50 mile range - I can't see any valid, non-trouble-causing reason. It would melt a hole in your average Powerpoint screen.
Last time I flew from Jo'burg (a couple of years ago, granted, so things might have changed) - the damn things were actually on sale at the airport.
It's this sort of stuff: High power laser pointers. Green laser pointers with 50 mile range. Easily available, multiple online sources.
Who on earth needs an 800mW laser with a 50 mile range - I can't see any valid, non-trouble-causing reason. It would melt a hole in your average Powerpoint screen.
Last time I flew from Jo'burg (a couple of years ago, granted, so things might have changed) - the damn things were actually on sale at the airport.
I was 'hit' in the eye momentarily by one of these from a distance of 150m approx and it caused me to have disturbed vision for a while afterwards. The user was a teenager who had scarpered by the time I'd got to where he had been. To be properly flashed by someone using such a laser whilst in control of a complex piece of machinery in a critical phase of flight is so dangerous as to be almost premeditating murder. It should be considered as a serious crime and not as a prank gone wrong.
SHJ
SHJ
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SpringHeeledJack,
I wouldn't go so far as to say premeditating murder or premeditated murder since there were no fatalities or serious incidents resulting from the l@ser attack. But in any country, multiple counts of attempted murder and a multiple charges of interfering with flights will result in a very stiff sentence. I definitely think that knowing the dangers and implications of shining l@sers at aircraft, a court of law will not hesitate to convict on the the above charges if the perpetrators are found guilty. That is what I think they should do, and widely publicise it.
I wouldn't go so far as to say premeditating murder or premeditated murder since there were no fatalities or serious incidents resulting from the l@ser attack. But in any country, multiple counts of attempted murder and a multiple charges of interfering with flights will result in a very stiff sentence. I definitely think that knowing the dangers and implications of shining l@sers at aircraft, a court of law will not hesitate to convict on the the above charges if the perpetrators are found guilty. That is what I think they should do, and widely publicise it.
