Idiots who shine lasers at aircraft

[Capetonian]

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/po ... 69371.html

An ongoing problem, unfortunately.

However, what I don't understand is how a laser shone from below the level of the aircraft can shine though the cockpit windows which are on the upper surface of the fuselage and often face slightly upwards. I am obviously not suggesting that this practice is anything other than stupid and dangerous, but perhaps someone who's been a victim of such an attack can explain. As far as I know, the laser beam is just a small concentrated spot of light.

I am not sure what the law is in UK about buying laser pointers, I have a couple of low power pen-sized ones that I have used for classroom type presentations, but a couple of years ago when I ran an outward bound course and wanted a higher powered one to use at night, I was quite unable to get one over the counter anywhere and found that they can be ordered (so I didn't) from rather dodgy sounding mail order companies in Eastern Europe.

[rgbrock1]

This is a huge problem here in the States as well. Especially around JFK, LAX and EWR.

As far as the shining of the laser. From my limited understanding, most incidents have happened as the aircraft is on finals. Usually right before they touchdown. The bearer of said laser is thought as being higher in elevation than the descending aircraft. Or at least at the same elevation.

Those idiots who shine lasers at aircraft and are caught? Summarily shot. Right there, on the spot.

[Capetonian]

Thanks RGB, but another thing that occurred to me is that on finals most a/c are in a nose-up attitude, making shining a pointer directly into the cockpit even more difficult.

[rgbrock1]

Thanks RGB, but another thing that occurred to me is that on finals most a/c are in a nose-up attitude, making shining a pointer directly into the cockpit even more difficult.

If the laser-shiner is above the elevation of the landing aircraft, when you think about it the nose-up attitude facilitates the laser pointing even more so, no?

[Capetonian]

Yes, but there are often incidences where, according to what I've read, the idiot doing the pointing is below the level of the a/c, and as most airfields are built on flat terrain and tend not to be surrounded by hills, I've always found this whole thing a bit odd.

[rgbrock1]

Yes, but there are often incidences where, according to what I've read, the idiot doing the pointing is below the level of the a/c, and as most airfields are built on flat terrain and tend not to be surrounded by hills, I've always found this whole thing a bit odd.

Understood and I agree: it is a bit odd. However, in the case of LAX and EWR both those airfields are surrounded by rather high apartment and commercial buildings. JFK, not so much.

[Fenland787]

...and another one......

Laser induced turn-back

There are always more idiots out there than you will catch/deter even by hanging a couple in the market square unfortunately. So is it time to carry laser safety glasses on all flight decks to be worn routinely when at flight phase where there is a risk? Not my area of expertise but even if it didn't solve the 'dazzle' problem it would at least prevent damage? Even at a hundred quid a pop it's got to be worth it.

[MoreAviation]

British Airline Pilots Association says lasers should be classified as offensive weapon after beam forced jet’s return to Heathrow

A pilots’ union has called for more to be done to tackle the growing use of lasers against aircraft after a New York-bound plane had to turn back to Heathrow.

The Virgin Atlantic flight returned to the west London airport as a precaution after the co-pilot reported feeling unwell following the incident on Sunday.

A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman said the safety of the crew and customers on board Flight VS025 was a top priority. She added: “All customers will be offered overnight accommodation and we will get them on their journey as soon as possible. We are working with the authorities to identify the source of the laser that caused the return of the aircraft to Heathrow.”

Police said they were trying to find the source of the beam. In 2010, a law was passed in the UK proscribing “shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot”. If the distraction or dazzle is serious, a person may be found guilty of “reckless endangerment” and jailed.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/201 ... r-incident

[Capetonian]

"The perfect gift for the supervillain"
Wicked Lasers on Wall Street Journal

"A seriously baddass laser device"
Wicked Lasers on Wired

It seems these things are easily available. Apart from small pocket pointer used for presentations, what legitimate use is there for members of the public for these high powered one which are being used to attack aircraft?

[A Lutra Continua]

I use them to point out constellations and stars to the terminally slack jawed at braais and such.

[500N]

"The perfect gift for the supervillain"
Wicked Lasers on Wall Street Journal

"A seriously baddass laser device"
Wicked Lasers on Wired

It seems these things are easily available. Apart from small pocket pointer used for presentations, what legitimate use is there for members of the public for these high powered one which are being used to attack aircraft?

Rifle scopes or Rifle / Shotgun attachments, although we have the same problem here in Aus when they brought in the limit on power of them, not sure if they are still available in more powerful one's.

[Ex-Ascot]

I agree Cape. Difficult to hit the flight deck. Virgin were on the climb out, very odd.

Some time back in the UK a police chopper was targeted which is of course easy. They got the guy but he didn't even go to jail. What chance do we stand.

ALC I use mine to point out passing aircraft to friends.

[stuart]

12744668_336131389844214_2747864660954743628_n.jpg (94.32 KiB) Viewed 1164 times

[Capetonian]

Good news, but they're hardly likely to be able to pay £540, let alone £540,000, so they should be sentenced to hard labour for life in a Spanish prison.

British father, 41, and son, 15, blamed for 'shining LASER pens at passenger jets landing at Malaga airport' face huge £540,000 fine

The pair, aged 41 and 15, were identified as suspects when an off-duty officer staying at the same Costa del Sol hotel saw them using the devices from their room.

Three planes allegedly targeted by the holidaymakers were all normal commercial flights and carrying tourists to the popular holiday destination.

It is not known if any were coming from the UK or Ireland, but one was known to be arriving from Oslo in Norway. Although three pilots reported being targeted, police have not ruled out the possibility others were affected.

Police later released images of lasers being pointed out of a hotel room

The pair, aged 41 and 15, were identified as suspects when an off-duty officer staying at the same Costa del Sol hotel saw them using the devices from their room. A police officer displays one of the confiscated pointers

Police said they tracked down the Britons, who had been staying in a hotel in Bajondillo, and confiscated two green laser pointers.

They are now facing a fine for breaching Spain's 2015 Citizen Safety Law. 'Serious breaches' of the law, which police say they have committed, are punishable with fines of up to 600,000 euros (£540,000).

It is not yet known where the father and son live in the UK and the hotel where the they were staying has not been named.

A spokesman for Spain's National Police confirmed: 'National Police have identified two people staying at a hotel in Torremolinos as the alleged authors of laser attacks suffered by pilots who were landing at Malaga airport. They are both British, a man aged 41 and his son aged 15.

Three planes allegedly targeted by the holidaymakers were all normal commercial flights and carrying tourists to the popular holiday destination. Pictured: Malaga Airport

'They have been told they may be fined between 30,000 euros and 600,000 euros.

'An off-duty officer raised the alarm. He was staying at the same hotel as the British nationals and saw two men shining lasers from a room terrace about 11pm on Tuesday at planes preparing to land at Malaga airport.

'Several pilots complained to the control tower about having lasers shone at them at the same time, saying they had been blinded with a green laser light from the Bajondillo area of Torremolinos.

'The off-duty officer dialled 999 and alerted the emergency services. Inquiries led to the British father and his under-age son.

'Two green laser pointers found on them were confiscated and the fine proposal passed onto the relevant authorities after a police interview.'

Police said they tracked down the Britons, who had been staying in a hotel in Bajondillo (pictured), and confiscated two green laser pointers

Police sources said neither Briton was formally arrested but confirmed they were on holiday at the time.

No-one from the Spanish government's sub-delegation in Malaga, which is believed to be the authority which must now determine the level of the fine, was immediately available for comment today.

The whereabouts of the British pair, who have not been named, was not known.

Air traffic controllers made mention of the incidents on Tuesday night, tweeting just before midnight: 'Third plane arriving at Malaga which has complained tonight of having laser lights shone at it as they prepare to land. The airport has been notified.'

Laser pens of the sort allegedly used by the British father and son were used to target some 1,500 planes in the UK alone in the 12 months to April last year, according to experts.

The British Journal of Ophthalmology said there were an average of four a day, with eye specialists warning of 'devastating consequences' if a laser is pointed at the cockpit of a plane or helicopter and the pilots are blinded.

[Cacophonix]

I use them to point out constellations and stars to the terminally slack jawed at braais and such.

I assume they are slack jawed and drool a lot, not because of the prospect of boerewors, but because you had already used the laser to lobotomise them earlier in the evening?

Caco

[A Lutra Continua]

Ice pick is cheaper and quicker.

Or one's chili sauce.

[4mastacker]

Picked this up on the regional news.

Laser pen attack on aircraft at 29,000 ft.

I've read about idiots shining lasers at aircraft which are in the landing or taking off phases of their flight. But shining the laser into the cockpit of an aircraft flying at 29,000ft? Is it feasible that the knucklehead on the ground can be that accurate with a laser pen?

[G-CPTN]

I have no experience using laser pens, but I have seen them used by spectators at a fireworks display.
The beam can be seen as it appears through the 'clouds' from the fireworks as the 'operator' scans the surroundings.
It will certainly project an incredible distance - though I doubt that it could accurately follow a moving aircraft - but it would no doubt 'wash over it, illuminating the interior as it passed.

[CharlieOneSix]

[Cacophonix]

Pity they can't fire a hellfire missile into the centre of the table. Idiots! Did they think they weren't going to be collared by the rozzers?

Caco