Posted on 01/02/2005 7:16:29 PM PST by Blood of Tyrants
Just reported: An airline on approach to the Nashville airport has had it's cockpit targeted by a green laser. The plane was about 6 miles out and at 3000 feet when the incident occurred. The plane landed safely and no one was injured.
This makes SEVERAL reports of green lasers being targeted at commercial airlines in the past several days. Something really weird is going on and it is a concerted effort by several individual groups acting in concert or one very mobile unit.
How easy or difficult is it to buy a green laser? If it's not difficult, could very well be copycats.
Could terrorists be testing a homing device of some sort? Could they be testing our ability to identify the source of the beam and the speed with which we respond?
No. Could it be kids playing with a laser...yes.
Obviously these lasers aren't doing what those aiming are hoping for - crashing planes.
bttt
Alternatively, it could be evidence of widespread suggestibility, especially given that the only evidence is the aircrews' recollections.
Terrorists don't play pranks.
If they have a targetting device that can track airplanes, they have the weaponry to go with it.
Copycats? Some of these I would think are.
These lasers are as common as your local office supply store.
I have a red laser that is used to align the mirrors on a large telescope. When I first got it we tried to see how far out it would send a beam of light.
We used the telescope to look at a hillside that was a mile away. You could clearly see the red dot on a rock or flat surface at that distance.
The lasers you (or a pilot) has to worry about are the more powerful variety. The worst ones send a beam of light that is of a wavelength not visible to the human eye.
I think we are seeing a wave of idiots who got a laser pointer for Christmas doing the classic "Hold my beer, watch this" routine.
It would take a very powerful laser to cause serious vision problems for the pilots. While it might be annoying or even cause a little discomfort, it really won't imperial the airliner's safety. These sounds like the type of lasers that are used in "laser light shows" or as pointers for telescopes and such. If it is terrorists (and I personally don't think it is) then they're not very smart as they should realize that they aren't going to accomplish anything with what they're using.
one more time
This is series and all, but I still can't help but think of Dr. Evil.
Drudge reports that the guy in NJ who hit the NY helicopter was "playing" in his backyard with a laser he bought on the internet. http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/articles/news2-laser.htm
I've got to admit that if I were about 12 or so and had a laser, I'd be tempted to see if I could do what I keep reading about in the papers. I mean, how hard could it be to keep a little laser pointed at an airplane? Let's see, you just point the little green light....
Another one!?
Hardly. 6 miles out and 3000 feet is not the kind of laser you could pick up just anywhere.
These new green lasers of a more powerful variety than the typical office pointer have become very common on the market over the past few months. My guess is that we're seeing bonehead kids in action here.
MM
About the 8th such incident reported in the last week or so.
The problem is how do you know the laser is hitting the plane. Seeing a tiny green dot on a plane two miles away is not going to be easy.
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