FAA: Laser incidents soar, threaten planes

FAA: Laser incidents soar, threaten planes - Travel - News - msnbc.com

It seems that incidents involving lasers being shined at airplanes are on the rise with the proliferation of more powerful lasers. Increased regulations are sure to follow. Thanks to all the idiots that are messing it up for the rest of us. :yabbmad:

Well... if it actually were that dangerous, i'd expect it to be raining jetliners by now

Honestly tho don't you guys think if this doesn't stop we will see the Government crack down on us?

I think with every sale that we do we need to stress not only eye safety but how dumb and stupid it is to point at aircraft. It may not really cause them to crash or get flash blinded but it will be gone after by the Law (and this is the kinda crap that will get people attention) only because you want to see if you can hit the aircraft with the beam?

it's not our fault that the government can't even catch some 12yr old punk shining dinky lasers at large aircraft. Perhaps if we came up with a solution to punish the offenders instead of the bright kids who, despite the government's best efforts, are trying to learn hands-on style?

The FAA had a record # of reported incidents last year. They will crack down on it because of the 12 year old idiots and we will suffer for it

Think about beam divergence and how high up the airplanes are. While the laser may seem like a small dot at short distances, I'm sure you don't have to point the laser directly at the cockpit to affect the pilot's vision. I'm sure most 12 year old punks don't have the funds to buy the higher powered lasers that cause the problems.

High powered lasers were used against an American Helicopter pilot that caused laser burns to his right eye as well as other vision problems. This might seem like a joke to some, but if the issues keep up, you can expect the government to really crack down. Enjoy your high powered lasers while you can!!!

Suspected Use of the ZM-87 Russian Portable Laser Used Against US troops

Stephen, the ZM-87 Russian Portable Laser that the ship used against the Us isn't want we are talking about, I appreciate your effort tho :beer:

Anyone flashing any Laser pointer even if it can't hurt them or not will get bad attention on this hobby. We have to inform people as much as possible how stupid it is to point a laser at anything with or can have a person in it.

Those are high powered pulse lasers. You would need something much more powerful then even the arctic to cause that damage to someone's eye from a distance and there's no way in hell a civilian would get one unless they get the exact specs and make one.

The problem is that there will always be that 1 punk who says "Hey lets hit that plane with this here laser beam" We won't get caught anyway.

The growing number of reported incidents is self realizing statistic and goes something like this:

There was a real rise in laser illumination incidents after green laser were introduced, not all incidents are reported ... the FAA sends out a request for all incidents to be reported ... the number of reported incidents goes up(I wonder why) ... they now tout this increase of reported incidents as evidence that laser illumination is a growing problem ... media takes the half truth and turns it into an issue ... FAA wants to look like they are doing "something" about the problem and advises pilots to report anything remotely looking like it might be a laser illumination ... number of reported incidents go even higher ... media makes bigger deal by reporting about every punk out there that does it ... perception is the problem is growing exponentially ... and the cycle continues.

jib77 said:

The growing number of reported incidents is self realizing statistic and goes something like this:

There was a real rise in laser illumination incidents after green laser were introduced, not all incidents are reported ... the FAA sends out a request for all incidents to be reported ... the number of reported incidents goes up(I wonder why) ... they now tout this increase of reported incidents as evidence that laser illumination is a growing problem ... media takes the half truth and turns it into an issue ... FAA wants to look like they are doing "something" about the problem and advises pilots to report anything remotely looking like it might be a laser illumination ... number of reported incidents go even higher ... media makes bigger deal by reporting about every punk out there that does it ... perception is the problem is growing exponentially ... and the cycle continues.

Click to expand...

We have a obligation to our hobby to inform and help stop the ones doing it. We can't get all the idiots like Coherent Light pointed out. But anyone selling a laser should really pound why not to point it at anything that would catch bad attention to the person buying it.

We should inform people in videos posted by replying and explaining what is the right and wrong procedure for laser safety and also what not to do that would gather negative attention. Other wise this hobby will be very regulated.

This is something that's bothered me, before I joined this forum even. I don't doubt that there are a rising number of 'incidents' around US airports or along air-lanes, but I have been wondering if these stories might be just another example of 'security theater' or a straw-man argument to further political agendas.

-edit: I was unaware of the details before this thread, but now having looked into it, I'm deleting the more ignorant portion of my statements. I'm not very well acquainted with flying and was suffering from the common mistake of thinking that the windows are too high up, when it stands to reason that a pilot needs to see as much of the ground as possible, so conversely anyone on the ground holding a laser is almost always in a direct line-of-sight.

ps - just remembered that where I live, during the summer months I always have these cessna-sized planes playing laser-tag right overhead. When one gets 'hit' it lets off a smoke trail that I can see from the ground. I bet these guys would be real pissed if it really became illegal to shoot each other with lasers!

I hate to say it, bit I think we as a responsible group should start suggesting how we would "regulate" us. Someone else posted a thread on forming a PAC of sorts and starting to get our interests documented and heard.

If we do not so something, we will be regulated out of existence.

It'd be great if we could find a few laser-enthusiast lawyers, so we could form the "Laser Legal Defense" fund/group. Other groups (Homeschoolers for example) have similar organizations that both provide legal council for members, and provide visibility to legislators.

If a $300 laser is able to cause harm to an aircraft, we need to know. If it's just some spun-up BS, then everyone needs to understand.
----------------------End Quote---------------------------
Its not BS.

The tests have been done, independently By FAA, ILDA, DOD, universities, a TV show, and others world wide. Reviewed by the Society of Automobile Engineers, which advised FAA on the US Regs. Its not a conspiracy.

You can go to airline pilot forums and read their reports. The Pilots are angry and worried, and with good reason.

The data is out there and published, and is scientifically valid.

I've posted the link to the FAA simulator study until I'm blue in the face.


Steve

This is in response to both of

LSRFAQ & Shadetree Engineer

I think your correct it is restarted honestly and can't "Really Hurt them"

But honestly why do it? If it's getting bad attention and could effect how we get to use our Hobby and well spent $$ then I think it's worth it to just have people stop doing it and to promote to not do it to others.

As pointed out we will never stop the flood of morons out there who need to do this or think it's fun and not harmful. But it is harmful to our hobby, and the less doing it the less they can call foul

LSRFAQ said:

If a $300 laser is able to cause harm to an aircraft, we need to know. If it's just some spun-up BS, then everyone needs to understand.
----------------------End Quote---------------------------
Its not BS.

The tests have been done, independently By FAA, ILDA, DOD, universities, a TV show, and others world wide. Reviewed by the Society of Automobile Engineers, which advised FAA on the US Regs. Its not a conspiracy.

You can go to airline pilot forums and read their reports. The Pilots are angry and worried, and with good reason.

The data is out there and published, and is scientifically valid.

I've posted the link to the FAA simulator study until I'm blue in the face.


Steve

Click to expand...

Thanks for your patience, I'm entirely new to the scene and was unaware of the testing that had been conducted already. You can be sure I will be reading all of those links. The news stories I have been hearing from did not mention actual tests to verify the dangers.