FBI Investigates Laser Beam Directed At Plane Near Cleveland

newsnet5.com ^

[esryle]

CLEVELAND -- The FBI is investigating a laser light beam that was directed into the cockpit of a commercial airliner landing in Cleveland.

The FBI says the airplane arriving from Washington, D.C. on Monday was about 15 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport when a green laser shined inside the cockpit.

The plane was traveling 300 mph at 8,500 to 10,000 feet.

The light came from a residential area in suburban Warrensville Heights. The FBI is investigating whether it was a prank or whether there was another motive.

There have been several incidents throughout the United States in the past year of laser lights directed at commercial flights. The lights can distract or temporarily blind a pilot.

None of the lights has affected the flight of any aircraft or injured the pilots.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations mandate that laser light shows must register their locations and the lights cannot be directed above 3,000 feet.

It is against federal regulations to intentionally shine a laser beam at a commercial flight.

Anyone who has information which could help identify the person or people responsible for shining the laser on Monday should call the FBI at (216) 522-1400.

[The Teen Conservative]

This is just weird.

[not2worry]

Don't want to jump to conclusions, but Cleveland, Ohio is one of the hot-beds for Muslim fanatics.

I am sure the FBI isn't posting this APB without having some serious concerns about the more technical aspect found in their investigation to date.

[blau993]

I don't think a laser pointer has the range or the intensity to interfere with a pilot's vision.

[GSlob]

I believe there are specialty materials with very strong optical absorption in the narrow spectral bands, used for eye protection goggles in work with lasers. They are specialized for the laser type, IIRC, so one protecting against a green laser light might be ineffective against a red laser beam, but there might exist advanced multi-band materials. Such laser protection goggles are something like $300 apiece, and it would seem that spending 10-20mil and equipping all commercial pilots with them would be money well spent.

[Magnum44]

;^)

[Conspiracy Guy]

I have a laser bore sighting device for the scopes on my rifles. Has about a half mile range and saves a ton of rounds sighting in a rifle.

[Gamecock]

OK, that illustration helps a lot. Thanks

[NeoCaveman]

More strange stuff in Cleveland, ping.

[DainBramage]

"I want to shine my green light on Uranus flyboy"

[RadioAstronomer]

So what kind of lazer makes a green beam? That would seem less than ordinary.

I have a green laser pointer.

[GSlob]

"How does one shine a laser light into an airplane traveling 300-500 mph while its in the air??????"
At 1 millirad beam divergence the beam would be about 18 yards wide at 10 miles. If one couples the laser with a serious aiming rifle scope (say, 36-50x) and mounts the contraption onto a heavy tripod, then aiming at a moving target and "leading" it should not be too much of a problem. One could perform a similar exercise on a paper target with a scoped rifle and regular laser diode bore-sighter.

[Magnum44]

I wondered about gun sighting systems. I have been a hunter since I was about 8, but I have only dabbled with any types of special optics, never felt the need to own anything beyond a good optical scope (outside of military service anyway).

So maybe there are some high power laser sights out there, or maybe a smart astronomer could create one with a simple telescope, but you still need to track, and depending on how far away and what aspect you are tracking from, staying focused on a cockpit window seems to me small challenge at least.

I am still curious how the beam was detected. Do commercial planes have detectors in the cockpit now, or did someone get blinded?

[OSHA]

I have a green laser pointer.

I have a lazy English Setter.

[GGpaX4DumpedTea]

"It could revolutionize my board room presentations..."

I bet you could use it to wake up the sleepy and the day dreamers too! One with enough "kick" could kick-start some lively board room conversations...or end them.

[thegreatbeast]

There have been several incidents throughout the United States in the past year of laser lights directed at commercial flights. The lights can distract or temporarily blind a pilot.

Yes, permanent eye damage can result from being lased. That fellow had to give up flying and was being jerked around by the VA (who were probably working under orders of State & the Pentagon who didn't want to start an international incident).

[Jonx6]

"Federal Aviation Administration regulations mandate that laser light shows must register their locations and the lights cannot be directed above 3,000 feet.

How do you get this to work? I guess you have to point it at something and not let it point at the sky unless it's a light saber.

[brooklin]

"Isn't there a 180 mph speed limit within controlled airspace around a major airport?"

What about near a school?

[jigsaw]

Koranimals

That's a new one! Clever.

[brooklin]

Soon to be at Walmart.

[Rockitz]

The copper vapor Laser also produces a green pulsed beam.

See http://www.oxfordlasers.com/