Laser injures Delta pilot's eye
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tosh.
About five years back the media went wild about people pointing lasers at aircraft, kids, cats et al in the UK. Everyone was at risk of going blind.
Soon as there was something more worthwhile to report, we heard nothing more about it. Must confess I have not come across any pilots, kids or cats that have been blinded by lasers.
About five years back the media went wild about people pointing lasers at aircraft, kids, cats et al in the UK. Everyone was at risk of going blind.
Soon as there was something more worthwhile to report, we heard nothing more about it. Must confess I have not come across any pilots, kids or cats that have been blinded by lasers.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
An assertive response to nonsense does not alter the fact it is nonsense. Give it thirty days and see where this story is then. Binned along with Jonny Wilkinson's near miss?
You really have to take with a pinch of salt what our American friends come out with.
Sorry to hear about the "spotting" incident you experienced at Manchester. Let's not confuse this with blinding pilots and interfering with the avionics.
As for giving road directions to ATC from 160. I salute you.
You really have to take with a pinch of salt what our American friends come out with.
Sorry to hear about the "spotting" incident you experienced at Manchester. Let's not confuse this with blinding pilots and interfering with the avionics.
As for giving road directions to ATC from 160. I salute you.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Sir, an over-reaction you may say, but last year, inbound to LHR and descending to intercept the localiser for 09L, we were scanned on the starboard side from a point NW of Bracknell.
Both of my eyes were momentarily blinded and irritable for a few seconds thereafter. Had this occurred on short finals the outcome could most definitely have been somewhat different.
I hope they catch the imbecile (s) and throw the key (s) away.
ImageGear
(Edited sans beer goggles)
Both of my eyes were momentarily blinded and irritable for a few seconds thereafter. Had this occurred on short finals the outcome could most definitely have been somewhat different.
I hope they catch the imbecile (s) and throw the key (s) away.
ImageGear
(Edited sans beer goggles)
Last edited by ImageGear; 14th Jan 2005 at 07:50.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It seems 20mW lasers are available...
http://www.megalaser.com/20.htm
or you can have yours "tuned up" ....
http://www.backdeckstudio.com/lasermods/
http://www.megalaser.com/20.htm
or you can have yours "tuned up" ....
http://www.backdeckstudio.com/lasermods/
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Folks, you can't make this stuff up...
_________________________________________________
Military Tests Lasers To Warn Off Aircraft
By Sara Kehaulani Goo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 14, 2005; Page A06
A day after the Department of Transportation urged pilots to report hazardous laser beams aimed at aircraft, the U.S. military said it is testing a system to beam red and green lasers at aircraft in the Washington area as a warning when they enter restricted airspace.
The plan has prompted confusion among some area pilots who said they were unsure whether they would be able to tell the difference between a commercial laser used by someone playing at home and one operated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta on Wednesday urged pilots to report laser sightings to the Federal Aviation Administration and local law enforcement. A commercially available laser beamed into a cockpit can distract a pilot and in rare cases cause permanent eye damage.
NORAD said yesterday that its lasers are less intense than a typical laser pointer and that they will not harm or distract pilots. "During the tests, citizens in the [Washington] area may occasionally see beams of red and green lights in the sky during the hours of darkness," NORAD said in a statement. "The lights are so designed that illumination levels are eye-safe and non-hazardous at all ranges."
NORAD spokesman Michael D. Kucharek said a document posted on the Federal Aviation Administration's Web site for the presidential inauguration mistakenly suggested that any unauthorized aircraft flying into the restricted areaknown as the Air Defense Identification Zone around the nation's capital would be signaled with a laser beam. He said the posting was premature because the FAA has not granted its approval.
NORAD would like to use its Visual Warning System soon for all aircraft deviating into restricted airspace because it is a safer way tosignal pilots than the current method of dropping flares near unauthorized planes. Until it gets approval, NORAD will test lasers only on military aircraft in the Washington area. The test period began Dec. 28 and ends next Thursday.
Commercial airliners and private aircraft pilots "won't experience our laser" for now, Kucharek said. "We're only using the Visual Warning System against pre-designated aircraft and pilots."
Unlike the thin, focused beams of lasers that have reportedly been pointed at 31 planes since the Christmas holiday, Kucharek said the military's beams are in a red, red, green sequence and appear as wide beams that pose no harm and won't distract pilots from flight duties. "We want to have another way of letting [pilots] know, 'Hey, you need to vacate the area,' " he said.
Even so, local pilot Scott Faught said NORAD's announcement about its limited testing left the impression his plane might be beamed. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which represents many private pilots, said it didn't know enough about the program to comment. It advised pilots to continue to report all laser incidents.
"If they plan on hitting me with lasers, it still raises the issue: Are you trying to distract me? How in the world do we know the good ones from the bad ones?" Faught said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2005Jan13.html
_________________________________________________
Military Tests Lasers To Warn Off Aircraft
By Sara Kehaulani Goo
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 14, 2005; Page A06
A day after the Department of Transportation urged pilots to report hazardous laser beams aimed at aircraft, the U.S. military said it is testing a system to beam red and green lasers at aircraft in the Washington area as a warning when they enter restricted airspace.
The plan has prompted confusion among some area pilots who said they were unsure whether they would be able to tell the difference between a commercial laser used by someone playing at home and one operated by the North American Aerospace Defense Command. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta on Wednesday urged pilots to report laser sightings to the Federal Aviation Administration and local law enforcement. A commercially available laser beamed into a cockpit can distract a pilot and in rare cases cause permanent eye damage.
NORAD said yesterday that its lasers are less intense than a typical laser pointer and that they will not harm or distract pilots. "During the tests, citizens in the [Washington] area may occasionally see beams of red and green lights in the sky during the hours of darkness," NORAD said in a statement. "The lights are so designed that illumination levels are eye-safe and non-hazardous at all ranges."
NORAD spokesman Michael D. Kucharek said a document posted on the Federal Aviation Administration's Web site for the presidential inauguration mistakenly suggested that any unauthorized aircraft flying into the restricted areaknown as the Air Defense Identification Zone around the nation's capital would be signaled with a laser beam. He said the posting was premature because the FAA has not granted its approval.
NORAD would like to use its Visual Warning System soon for all aircraft deviating into restricted airspace because it is a safer way tosignal pilots than the current method of dropping flares near unauthorized planes. Until it gets approval, NORAD will test lasers only on military aircraft in the Washington area. The test period began Dec. 28 and ends next Thursday.
Commercial airliners and private aircraft pilots "won't experience our laser" for now, Kucharek said. "We're only using the Visual Warning System against pre-designated aircraft and pilots."
Unlike the thin, focused beams of lasers that have reportedly been pointed at 31 planes since the Christmas holiday, Kucharek said the military's beams are in a red, red, green sequence and appear as wide beams that pose no harm and won't distract pilots from flight duties. "We want to have another way of letting [pilots] know, 'Hey, you need to vacate the area,' " he said.
Even so, local pilot Scott Faught said NORAD's announcement about its limited testing left the impression his plane might be beamed. The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, which represents many private pilots, said it didn't know enough about the program to comment. It advised pilots to continue to report all laser incidents.
"If they plan on hitting me with lasers, it still raises the issue: Are you trying to distract me? How in the world do we know the good ones from the bad ones?" Faught said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2005Jan13.html
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Very wrong!
I was removed from these forums for unknown reasons!
I have legit questions some may have been offended by..
I am a wealth of information for you about the hazzards of lasers
and the positive use of the same..
cockpits are getting flashed for sure that is obvious,,
A simple coat of 532nm blocking film or dichroic material CAN be added to the windscreen ..along with the MORE dangerous wavelengths 1064nm-808nm these you cannot see but can do
EXTREME damage to optical devices and retina damage...
simple tool too have is a pair of laser goggles even if you think you saw a green sparkle throw those pups on!
Retina damage is very rare anywhere,,laser show,military,lab..
It does happen though so just be safeguarded..
now mod. throw me off again!!
edited to add,
I am C.D.R.H. U.S F.D.A. F.A.A.
Varianced and Licensed for providing to the public Lasers upto 60 watts of laser energy!
U.S. ARMY 6yrs Mosquito mechanic,Gen(APU) Mechanic.
Also with some of the new coatings you can hear an audible "snap" thats when to duck and take covor!
If anybody has any concerns or questions please let`s hear them!
I have friends from the laser show industry to NASA brains.
I have legit questions some may have been offended by..
I am a wealth of information for you about the hazzards of lasers
and the positive use of the same..
cockpits are getting flashed for sure that is obvious,,
A simple coat of 532nm blocking film or dichroic material CAN be added to the windscreen ..along with the MORE dangerous wavelengths 1064nm-808nm these you cannot see but can do
EXTREME damage to optical devices and retina damage...
simple tool too have is a pair of laser goggles even if you think you saw a green sparkle throw those pups on!
Retina damage is very rare anywhere,,laser show,military,lab..
It does happen though so just be safeguarded..
now mod. throw me off again!!
edited to add,
I am C.D.R.H. U.S F.D.A. F.A.A.
Varianced and Licensed for providing to the public Lasers upto 60 watts of laser energy!
U.S. ARMY 6yrs Mosquito mechanic,Gen(APU) Mechanic.
Also with some of the new coatings you can hear an audible "snap" thats when to duck and take covor!
If anybody has any concerns or questions please let`s hear them!
I have friends from the laser show industry to NASA brains.
Last edited by KES-rayman; 17th Jan 2005 at 19:05.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,898
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
>>I am C.D.R.H. U.S F.D.A. F.A.A.
Varianced and Licensed for providing to the public Lasers upto 60 watts of laser energy!
U.S. ARMY 6yrs Mosquito mechanic,Gen(APU) Mechanic.<<
Yet another "expert" graces the PPRuNe forum with his expertise...
Varianced and Licensed for providing to the public Lasers upto 60 watts of laser energy!
U.S. ARMY 6yrs Mosquito mechanic,Gen(APU) Mechanic.<<
Yet another "expert" graces the PPRuNe forum with his expertise...
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: England
Posts: 1,389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's worth remembering that the laser may just be the targeting device for something else...
http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/missiles.htm
Starstreak
Shorts shoulder launched SAM.
Launches a trio of guided armour piercing darts at the target. Laser guided. Replaced Starburst. Entered service.
L = 4.6ft (1.4m) Ø = 5in (12.7cm) W = 35.3lb (16Kg) R = 3.8miles (7Km)
http://www.skomer.u-net.com/projects/missiles.htm
Starstreak
Shorts shoulder launched SAM.
Launches a trio of guided armour piercing darts at the target. Laser guided. Replaced Starburst. Entered service.
L = 4.6ft (1.4m) Ø = 5in (12.7cm) W = 35.3lb (16Kg) R = 3.8miles (7Km)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These units should be installed!
Laser detection units for aircraft.
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/disp...story_id=16244
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/disp...story_id=16244
Kes: Somebody asked some questions which suggested that pilots need to make sure that they do not 'drink' before a duty period begins, maybe just for sake of comparison, instead of worrying about high-energy beams which can cause pilot incapacitation and/or blindness (loss of career etc).
Last edited by Ignition Override; 22nd Jan 2005 at 03:42.
Kes: It's only because somebody mentioned that other topic which the media loves, like a vampire near a young virgin.
I'm looking forward to reading about personal lasers and especially whether there is anything that pilots can do about them, and whether there are any new regulations which seriously limit the sales to individuals. Why did people need these in the first place, if they are not in the business?
I'm looking forward to reading about personal lasers and especially whether there is anything that pilots can do about them, and whether there are any new regulations which seriously limit the sales to individuals. Why did people need these in the first place, if they are not in the business?
Last edited by Ignition Override; 22nd Jan 2005 at 04:11.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would hope by now with all the media focusing on bozo`s putting spots on planes will stop the ignorant few..
Has anybody ever demonstrated a laser to you?
Home scientists will always be~ you can homebrew quit a powerfull unit with skills.
I.O. those posts were removed by the moderators..
Has anybody ever demonstrated a laser to you?
Home scientists will always be~ you can homebrew quit a powerfull unit with skills.
I.O. those posts were removed by the moderators..
Hi Kes: Can't remember seeing any demos, except maybe at a concert years ago. Those things are fascinating and I would enjoy seeing them at another show of some type. Might even drive to a casino in world-famous Tunica! Took my son there to sit in front of Buzz Aldrin-what an outstanding speaker and gentleman.
Are the 'private' versions just bigger versions of what we used in "laser tag", which I played a few times when my son was younger? Whatever they are, that game is really a blast in a dark room with many obstacles to hide behind, with such a tiny red beam to activate your opponent's dectectors across a large space.
Pardon my sarcasm earlier (that's all it was), but maybe many of us at Pprune have only focused on the negative aspects of this industry (which most don't understand), and we pilots can't afford any serious injuries to eyes, ears, fingers, feet etc, on or off the job-we all know about passenger/crew safety being paramount. And our careers do not transfer to other jobs. Although such possibilities of permanent injury are rare, any random factors which can end a career is something which pilots jump on with both feet-maybe people overreact a bit. I enjoyed your info on previous pages and if all of this is somehow kept in context maybe we can all become better informed (open-minded) and learn some things.
Are the 'private' versions just bigger versions of what we used in "laser tag", which I played a few times when my son was younger? Whatever they are, that game is really a blast in a dark room with many obstacles to hide behind, with such a tiny red beam to activate your opponent's dectectors across a large space.
Pardon my sarcasm earlier (that's all it was), but maybe many of us at Pprune have only focused on the negative aspects of this industry (which most don't understand), and we pilots can't afford any serious injuries to eyes, ears, fingers, feet etc, on or off the job-we all know about passenger/crew safety being paramount. And our careers do not transfer to other jobs. Although such possibilities of permanent injury are rare, any random factors which can end a career is something which pilots jump on with both feet-maybe people overreact a bit. I enjoyed your info on previous pages and if all of this is somehow kept in context maybe we can all become better informed (open-minded) and learn some things.
Last edited by Ignition Override; 22nd Jan 2005 at 04:16.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
One word of caution,,,
If you are ever flashed by a laser DO NOT LOOK AT THE SOURCE or look for the source !
Look away quick,very quick!
goggles frequency range should be 532nm-1064nm blocking
If you are ever flashed by a laser DO NOT LOOK AT THE SOURCE or look for the source !
Look away quick,very quick!
goggles frequency range should be 532nm-1064nm blocking
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: NW
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Laser tag
The laser used in those devices emit 630-685nm(Red) at aprox.
5 mw the same as a laser pen,,these can cause ZERO eye injurys..
Now from the info I have gathered pilots are getting flashed with
532nm (Green) lasers,,a 5mw green vs. 5mw Red,they have the same output power but the Green is centered right in the middle of our visual spectrum thats why we perceive it as brighter.
Now if your cockpit is flashed with a Green laser and you see an afterglow of Red in your vision take ALL precautions to avoid
that is more power than a simple 5mw green laser pen!
5 mw the same as a laser pen,,these can cause ZERO eye injurys..
Now from the info I have gathered pilots are getting flashed with
532nm (Green) lasers,,a 5mw green vs. 5mw Red,they have the same output power but the Green is centered right in the middle of our visual spectrum thats why we perceive it as brighter.
Now if your cockpit is flashed with a Green laser and you see an afterglow of Red in your vision take ALL precautions to avoid
that is more power than a simple 5mw green laser pen!
