More reports of lasers being shot into airplane cockpits

WASHINGTON (AP) — At least a dozen cases of lasers being beamed into aircraft cockpits since Christmas in Cleveland and other cities are being investigated by the FBI.

The lasers can temporarily blind pilots. A cluster of incidents received wide attention between Christmas and New Year's Day, and the FBI says at least four more have occurred in the past week. Authorities have continued to rule out terrorism.

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta was briefing reporters Wednesday about the issue at the Federal Aviation Administration's aeronautical research center in Oklahoma City.

Mineta was expected to announce new measures for alerting pilots and preparing them to react when lasers are shined at their aircraft. He was also expected to outline ways to notify law enforcement investigators more quickly.

Last week, a pilot told law enforcement officials that a green light appeared on the nose of his aircraft as it was taking off from the Burbank, Calif., airport.

Is this a fad? Maybe. Or is it someone at aiming practice? Or is it a disgruntled airline worker trying to damage the commercial flight industry?

Perhaps we should not be dismissing this "fad" so lightly.

Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight

"The tactical advantage for precision sighting in any light. Initially designed for the M16 family, every feature of the ACOGs mechanical and optical design was chosen for a single purpose - to provide increased hit potential in all lighting conditions. The exterior of the ACOG is a forged aluminum body (aircraft strength 7075 alloy) which is precision machined to exacting tolerances then hard-anodized. ACOG's are internally-adjustable, compact telescopic sights that use tritium illuminated reticles for target acquisition in all light conditions - even total darkness. Manufactured and tested to exceed military standards, The ACOG 4x32 model was chosen by U.S. Special Operations Command for all Special Forces Units including Navy SEALs, Rangers, and Green Beret. The ACOG is also in service with many federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies. ACOG gives you the edge in any light to keep your focus sharp.
Both full size ACOG models (4x32 & 3.5x35) are available with the popular Bindon Aiming Concept which is achieved using a unique combination of advanced fiber optics and self-luminous tritium. Using dual-illumination technology, originally developed for the military and proven in combat, the fiber optic light collector illuminates the aiming point automatically balancing the brightness with the shooting conditions. The tritium illuminates the aiming point even in total darkness. The result: lightening-fast precision aiming in any light without failure-prone batteries - for maximum shooting success."

AN/PEQ-1A SOFLAM (Special Operations Forces Laser Marker)

"The SOFLAM is a lightweight, day/ night compact, man portable laser target designator and rangefinder. It is capable of designating out to 5 kilometers, and ranging out to 10 km. It has a lox optic, and can mount the ANIPVS- 13 Laser Marker Night Vision Sight.

" The unit itself weighs 12 pounds. With batteries, tripod and ANIPVS- 13 it is about 34 pounds.

" The PVS-13 is a companion, image intensified night sight for the SOFLAM. Using it assures that the designator is operating and pointing exactly at the target. It has 6X magnification, weighs 4.2 pounds, and operates for 40 hours on 2 "AA" batteries.

" The SOFLAM is an interim item, purchased in limited numbers to replace the AN/PAQ-3 MULE (Modular Universal Laser Equipment). The MULE itself was a quick acquisition to place a laser designator in the hands of the troops right then (1983-88). Although advertised as two-man portable, the system weighed 108 pounds making it difficult to move.

" The Company initially used an LPL30 Laser Target Designator for hand held use. It was replaced by the more capable Commanders Ground Pointer and the AN/PEQ-4 Handheld Laser Designator/ Illuminator.

" Powered by 2 "AA" batteries, the PEQ-4 can designate out to 6.2 nautical miles."

There are so many, many more, with several aiming point colors available, including green.

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