This is getting serious - this is the forth "lasering" incident I've heard of in the last two weeks...
win Autographed Copy of Hugh Hewitt's Best Seller
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?
Obviously these lasers aren't doing what those aiming are hoping for - crashing planes.
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.
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.
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
Another one!?
About the 8th such incident reported in the last week or so.
No Way
Way
Prove it
This link goes to a site that says:
"Can be used for skypointing, projection on low clouds, signalling, detecting explosives."
http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/lights/5a47/
Green lasers are very common in various kid's games, levels,
et al. Likely dangerous, childish pranks methinks, tho the
chance of scouting out targeting for shoulder fired missles should be considered too.
Probably a laser pointer. Although noticable from the cockpit, would not cause any harm to the pilot (although, a high-power argon/YAG laser certainly could). Nonethess, look for laser pointers to be outlawed soon.
Yikes--I'm about 6 miles from BNA as the crow flies, and planes fly over my neighborhood constantly. I promise I've been in the house watching football and surfing the net all day. It would be very hard to find an unpopulated area 6 miles out from BNA. Lots of suburbia!
Prior to that, in the same book, US CIA operatives bring down Japanese commercial flights in the process of landing from hotel rooms near airports in Japan.
Found this on FAA site,
http://www.hf.faa.gov/docs/508/docs/cami/0107.pdf
Has a pic near the end that shows the winshield splash effect of a low level laser.
I just heard a brief report about this on News Channel 5.
They said this happened right after take-off. At only 3,000 ft. the plane was still climbing. I don't see any way the beam could have been aimed into the cockpit - - - - or how the pilots would have been able to see the beam being aimed - - - - from the ground.
I believe a few of the other incidents happened during take-off, too, and have wondered what's above them that these beams could be sent from.
One pilot had eye-damage a couple of months ago from a beam that hit him directly.
I honestly don't think this is kids playing around.
Ok, tin foil hat at the ready, just in case.