Pilots complain of "laser" attacks

Reuters News Service ^ | Friday, March 7, 2008 | Reuters

[SatinDoll]

At least 33 pilots in Canada, including some flying large commercial airliners, have complained about being flashed in the eyes by bright lights that could be lasers, officials said on Thursday.

Canada's transport ministry said it is probing the complaints, which started in 2005, and had handed most of them over to the police.

"All we know is that a bright light was shone into the cockpit. We don't know if it is in fact a laser and that's why when these reports happen, an investigation is started," said ministry spokeswoman Kirsten Goodnough.

[SatinDoll]

This has happened in the Puget Sound area in the past. Russian vessels were the souce those times. The article doesn't say at what point in the flight - takeoff or landing - the attacks occurred. Wonder if terrorists are practicing on Canadian commercial aircraft before trying to take out planes here in the U.S.

[1rudeboy]

Of course. Terrorists would practice in Canada when it’s equally simple to practice here.

[SatinDoll]

Oh no! Sorry for the double post. Been having trouble with posting for FR. Kept receiving proxy server errors.

[txhurl]

If you get a proxy server error, it means your post took :)

No, really!

[SatinDoll]

That’s kind of an oxymoron, isn’t it?

[Bender2]

Gadzooks! The Canadian Amish... have lasers?

We're... doomed!

[modican]

Pilots complain of "laser" attacks

That is a misunderstanding. The lasers are mounted inside the cabin and it was meant to prevent them from falling asleep, sorry the contractor didn't tell them.
Statistics show, with the "fly by wire" Technology, most pilots are obsolete, have no purpose and so they take naps.

[mamelukesabre]

Kids with laser pointers?

[ichabod1]

Prolly just yutes screwing around.

[ichabod1]

Time to ban laser pointers?

[mamelukesabre]

I thought they already did ban them from kids. Don’t you have to be 18 or 21 to buy one? I seem to remember cops getting really tired of running from red dots on their chests in fear that it was a gun with a laser sight, so they had a law made to keep the things out of kids’ hands.

[Ditto]

Kids with laser pointers?

I got lased with then many times while flying the balcony of my hotel room in Ocean City, MD.

I wanted to go on the boardwalk the next day and smash every damn souvenir shop that sold the things.

[mamelukesabre]

Nah. It’s an arm’s race. Just get a bigger, more powerful laser and blind the little brats that lase ya.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

At least 33 pilots in Canada, including some flying large commercial airliners, have complained about being flashed in the eyes by bright lights that could be lasers, officials said on Thursday.

This strains the credibility of the pilots. Planes fly high and fast. Aiming a beam for such distances just does not seem possible. I know the limits of construction lasers. In daylight they are hard to see 50 feet, let alone track a jet aiming at the pilots seat. I would think one would need electronic targeting and a laser much more powerful than readily available retail lasers.

[Last Dakotan]

I got lased with then many times while flying the balcony of my hotel room...

Were you drunk and standing on the railing?

[Ditto]

Were you drunk and standing on the railing?

Yes ... and No.

Safely strapped in the chase lounge.

[Last Dakotan]

How do you shine a laser into a cockpit from the ground?

[Solitar]

The Puget sound incident resulted in permanent eye damage for both the American taking photos of the Russians and for his Canadian pilot.

[CarrotAndStick]

Green and blue lasers are pretty powerful. Far more powerful, in fact, than the ordinary red ones.

[MediaMole]

There are industrial and laboratory lasers that can cause significant eye damage at very long distances. All it takes is some money.

If you position yourself at the end of a runway, it would be easy enough to shine a laser into a cockpit of an aircraft coming in for a landing.