Idiots who shine lasers at aircraft

[AtomKraft]

Well, I've been lasered at around 3,000'.
If you can see the ground, the laser can see your eye. I had quite a flash, reported it on landing, and cops were dispatched. ASR filed, but heard nothing.
Recently, while quenching my thirst on a Thai beach, I was asked if I'd like to buy a really quite powerful green one for 300 Baht.
Well, I bought it, and it's plenty fun. Need to be extremely careful where you point the thing though, but it's quite a toy for a fiver or so.

[ricardian]

Six months jail for shining laser at police helicopter

[ribrash]

Six months jail for shining laser at police helicopter

6 months is not enough. 6 years would be better.

[Capetonian]

endangering the aircraft

Attempted murder would be a better call.

[ian16th]

'Voyslav Dimitrov', why does that not sound very Anglo Saxon to me?

[Flintstone]

I've been subjected to these attacks half a dozen times and they are at the very least distracting. On those occasions where the operator was able to 'hit' us the light coming entering the cockpit refracted and scattered so looking away was no guarantee of preserving one's eyesight.

In the OP Capetonian asked how these can do what I've just described and yes, if the aimer is deliberately beneath the aircraft it's impossible however they rarely are and the aircraft moves and banks so there's a good chance that the light will affect the crew.

My own technique, and I brief for this, is to close all cabin blinds (the posh, electronic cabin systems on bizjets achieve this at the tap of a screen) and to extinguish all external lights. I know that's controversial or even illegal but every time I've done this the idiot with the laser has lost us almost immediately. The last time was while we were on the ILS, the Tower noticed before we could tell them what we'd done and why and sounded most concerned. Police were notified but of course nobody was found.

Anyone who can design a small missile to track in a similar way to laser designated targets will have me as their first customer.

[Capetonian]

I would guess that the Israelis would already have something to do that. They are at the forefront of defensive technology.

[Cacophonix]

I would guess that the Israelis would already have something to do that. They are at the forefront of defensive technology.

I find that comment very offensive!

Caco

[Cacophonix]

Well, I've been lasered at around 3,000'.
If you can see the ground, the laser can see your eye. I had quite a flash, reported it on landing, and cops were dispatched. ASR filed, but heard nothing.
Recently, while quenching my thirst on a Thai beach, I was asked if I'd like to buy a really quite powerful green one for 300 Baht.
Well, I bought it, and it's plenty fun. Need to be extremely careful where you point the thing though, but it's quite a toy for a fiver or so.

Yes, tell us more?

"If thine eye causeth thee to sin, pluck it out"...

Caco

[Cacophonix]

I would guess that the Israelis would already have something to do that. They are at the forefront of defensive technology.

Or offensive!

Caco

[AtomKraft]

Hey Cackers
We live in an imperfect world. Sure I got lasered, and more so, I got that flash when it hits yer peeper.

Could I give a F?

Not really.

Check your pms please. I sent you one about my daughter.

[reddo]

I've been hit by a green laser more than once. Around Farnborough, Liverpool and Ciampino. The tower guys at Ciampino were sympathetic, they said that even they get lasered.

I have zero time for folks who shine them at aircraft.

[ricardian]

Texas - four years in prison!

An idiot who directed a laser at a police helicopter, temporarily blinding the pilot while he was searching for a shooting suspect, has been sent down for four-and-a-quarter years.

[ricardian]

Texas - four years in prison!

An idiot who directed a laser at a police helicopter, temporarily blinding the pilot while he was searching for a shooting suspect, has been sent down for four-and-a-quarter years.

And now another one collared by the FBI