This is an excellent link to an April, 2001 FAA report regarding the use of laser pointers. I saw this link on the thread regarding the TN incident. I'll put the abstract and some snipets here to give you an idea of what's in the report. The link for the full report follows but you'll need Adobe to read it.
Abstract:
INTRODUCTION. Laser pointers have been used for years to highlight key areas on charts and screens during visual presentations. When used in a responsible manner, laser pointers are not considered hazardous. While momentary ocular exposure to the light emitted by these devices can be startling to the observer and may result in temporary visual impairments, such exposures are too brief to cause any permanent ocular injury. However, as the availability of laser pointers has increased, so have reports of their misuse by some children and adults. In recent years, both the Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Ophthalmology have issued warnings concerning the possibility of eye injury from handheld laser pointers and recommended keeping these devices away from children. The purpose of this report was to investigate the illumination of aircraft by laser pointers in the National Airspace System. CASE REPORTS. From January 1996 to July 1999, the FAA's Western-Pacific region identified more than 150 incidents in which low-flying aircraft were illuminated by lasers. Laser pointers were used in the majority of these incidents, and there were several occurrences of visual impairment to the pilot. Representative examples of documented reports are presented that involved the illumination of civilian flight crew members by these hand-held devices.
CONCLUSIONS. Laser pointers have caused ocular injury and may compromise aviation safety when used to illuminate aircraft in critical phases of flight. The physiological effects of exposure to laser light and the regulation and classification of commercial laser products are discussed. The proper selection and use of these devices can minimize the threat of temporary incapacitation and eye injury.
Snipets:
1. (For the period January 1996 to July 1999) - Many of the reported incidents involved laser pointer illuminations of civilian transport, medical evacuation, law-enforcement, military, and private aircraft. Several incidents resulted in visual impairment (glare, flashblindness) of illuminated crew members. The survey suggests that helicopters are the most vulnerable to threat of laser pointer illumination, due to their relatively slow movement and low-altitude flight.
2. In August 1996, a police helicopter in Seminole County, FL, was illuminated by a red spot of light the size of a basketball, leading the pilot to believe a laser-sighted weapon was aimed at the aircraft. It was determined that the perpetrators were two local individuals shining a laser pointer into the trees, not realizing the light beam could reach the helicopter.
3. In June, 2000, a 15-year-old boy was booked into the Youth Service Center, Seattle, WA, for first-degree unlawful discharge of a laser, a felony, after reportedly flashing a laser beam at the King County Sheriff's helicopter, Guardian One. Shortly after 11 p.m., Guardian One was about 1,200 feet AGL just east of Renton when the laser illuminated the helicopter...
4. Green laser pointers are relatively new devices that emit a 532-nm beam of light. This wavelength is near the eye's peak sensitivity, resulting in exceptional visibility and brilliance...
5. The most serious recorded aviation incident occurred on October 29, 1997, when an Airworld Airbus carrying passengers enroute from Crete, was illuminated by laser light about two miles from Manchester Airport (England) at an altitude of 600 feet AGL. While the plane was in approach, the captain was forced to look away as a laser pointer illuminated the cockpit...
6. In the United States, there have been numerous reports of laser pointers illuminating aircraft in flight. The City of Los Angeles Department of Airports has reported several laser illuminations around their airports... Reports of laser incidents from the Sacramento, CA, and Tucson, AZ, areas have also been documented...
7. The danger from laser pointer illumination is the visible beam hitting an aircraft's windshield, which can scatter light and completely obliterate a pilot's forward vision. In low-level flight, such as that of emergency medical or police helicopters, this type of exposure can substantially increase the risk of accidents due to temporary visual incapacitation, startle effects, spatial disorientation, or the loss of situational awareness...
http://www.hf.faa.gov/docs/508/docs/cami/0107.pdf
Thank you Teri.
That was interesting.
My apologies if this has already been posted...
Web video teaches terrorists to make bomb vest
Chilling video offers
step-by-step suicide vest instructions
By Lisa Myers & the NBC investigative unit
Posted in a militant Islamic chat room three days ago, a stunningly detailed 26-minute video on how to make a sophisticated suicide bomb vest, along with a demonstration of its kill range, using a mannequin.
Titled "The Explosive Belt for Martyrdom Operations," the video obtained by NBC News demonstrates how to make an explosive vest that would be tough to detect, mostly from common off-the-shelf materials.
"The most disturbing thing about this video is that it exists," says NBC analyst and retired military intelligence officer Lt. Col. Rick Francona.
He says the video would be extremely valuable to any terrorist.
"Every military commander in Iraq and Afghanistan should be aware of this," says Francona. "This video shows someone how to more effectively attack American troops."
Experts believe the video was made by a Palestinian group.
"The video was accompanied by a note that explained it was there for the purposes of aiding the brothers, the fighting brothers, in cities in central Iraq," says NBC terror analyst Evan Kohlmann.
Specifically, the note mentioned wanting to help fighters in Fallujah, Ramadi and Mosul, though there's nothing to tie this to Tuesday's attack. The person who posted the note and video on the Internet called himself "terrorist007."
NBC News will not reveal most details, but the video demonstrates each step of bomb making:
select a fabric and sew the vest;
mix explosives;
arrange shrapnel to kill victims in a large radius;
attach a detonator.
In one demonstration, a would-be bomber is told where to stand in a bus for maximum carnage. "Notice that the shrapnel has greatly penetrated all of the seats," says an Arabic voice on the video, translated by NBC News.
Another demo shows a vest that causes lethal wounds 30 yards away.
"I was startled by the amount of damage that such a small amount of explosives with the ball bearings could do," says Francona.
It's a chilling reminder of the sophistication and cold-blooded determination of terrorists.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6746756/