6 Cockpit Laser Exposures in 4 days

[Cardinal]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/29/laser.plane/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Six commercial airliners in the past four days have had their cockpits illuminated by laser beams while attempting to land, a government official told CNN Wednesday.
The incidents have happened "all over the place" and in "kind of odd places," the official said without elaborating.

None of the flights was affected.

The government official, who spoke to CNN on condition of anonymity, said it was unclear whether this week's incidents were the result of "kids who got a laser light for Christmas" or whether there is "some deliberate attempt to target aircraft."

The cockpit of a Continental Airlines 737 was illuminated by a laser Monday as it approached Cleveland, authorities said.

FBI spokesman Bob Hawk said the light, which shined into the cockpit at around 8 p.m., came from a suburb about 15 miles from the airport.

The FBI said no harm was done and the light did not affect the plane's landing.

6 in 4 days? That strikes me as improbable.

And on a heartwarming note, meet the Chinese-made ZM-87 Laser Blinder that has been shown off at military exhibitions in Manila and Abu Dhabi: http://www.asianpacificpost.com/news/file/503.jpg

 

[Styles]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/12/29/laser.plane/index.html
6 in 4 days? That strikes me as improbable.

And on a heartwarming note, meet the Chinese-made ZM-87 Laser Blinder that has been shown off at military exhibitions in Manila and Abu Dhabi: http://www.asianpacificpost.com/news/file/503.jpg

see my post here http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=45281

last one

 

[EagleRJ]

The fact that several incidents were nearly simultaneous, plus the fact that they were green lasers- is suspicious.

The aircraft were illuminated for several seconds, indicating that someone was purposely tracking them. The lasers were probably larger commercial models, instead of laser pointers, too. Green laser pointers are just now becoming available, but their beams spread out too much over a large distance, and they're not very powerful.

Combine this with the gov warning about lasers in early December, and with the holiday season, and I'd say we have a failed attack here. Hopefully we were able to bust some jihadis through their sales receipts!

 

[Styles]

.... and they're not very powerful.

Ummmmmm I can pick up a 7W (not 7mw) for less than $3K in other words you go blind quicker than I can snap my fingers. green laser wave length is 532nm BTW the color the human eye sees the best!

P.S. Blue is th color that is not power full enough it is up to 3mw now.

.

 

[FN FAL]

Ummmmmm I can pick up a 7W (not 7mw) for less than $3K in other words you go blind quicker than I can snap my fingers. green laser wave length is 532nm BTW the color the human eye sees the best!

P.S. Blue is th color that is not power full enough on up to 3mw

.

Maybe this situation requires that automation should be in place in case the pilots become incapacitated?

 

[Styles]

Ummmmmm I can pick up a 7W (not 7mw) for less than $3K in other words you go blind quicker than I can snap my fingers. green laser wave length is 532nm BTW the color the human eye sees the best!

P.S. Blue is th color that is not power full enough it is up to 3mw now.

.

I did forget to mention that anything above 100mw (brite as helI) is considered a calss IIIb laser and not legal to operate in public.

and autoland systems scare the $%&*@# out of me even though they are cool....

 

[I.P. Freley]

6 in 4 days? That strikes me as improbable.

........or so the Germans would have us believe....

 

[GravityHater]

Lets predict the FAA reaction if this continues...
"...investigating the possibility of adding a 'laser barrier' to windscreens..."
"All pt 121 ops will, at all times during an approach, have one pilot wearing hooded eyewear and this pilot will focus his scan inside the cockpit only until arriving at minimums...."

If you're talking about targetting for a missile using a laser, well forget it.

 

[EagleRJ]

Ummmmmm I can pick up a 7W (not 7mw) for less than $3K in other words you go blind quicker than I can snap my fingers. green laser wave length is 532nm BTW the color the human eye sees the best!

P.S. Blue is th color that is not power full enough it is up to 3mw now.

I was talking about green laser pointers- the ones the size of pens.


Laser technology is sure growing by leaps and bounds! I've read from several sources that the military hopes to have energy weapons on fighter-sized aircraft by 2015- not for blinding enemy pilots- for destroying enemy aircraft!

 

[labbats]

I was talking about green laser pointers- the ones the size of pens.


Laser technology is sure growing by leaps and bounds! I've read from several sources that the military hopes to have energy weapons on fighter-sized aircraft by 2015- not for blinding enemy pilots- for destroying DEATHSTARS!

Fixed

 

[FarginDooshbahg]

Fixed

Which is what most of the posters to this and similar threads need to be in order that their "kind" do not procreate.

 

[Swede]

A CO2 laser, used to cut metal and wood, is on the IR side of the spectrum, not visible to the human eye. Commercial models are all over the place in industry. High-powered models cut plate steel at high speeds in automated processes. Just because you can't see the laser doesn't mean you aren't exposed. If the back of your eyeballs feel like they are frying, turn on the AP, protect your eyes, and hit the TOGA button!

 

[paulsalem]

Oakley makes special lenses to protect soldiers from lasers on the battlefield. Maybe we should get some of those.

 

[njcapt]

Oakley makes special lenses to protect soldiers from lasers on the battlefield. Maybe we should get some of those.

Yeah, but then I'd have to wear Oakleys. I'd rather close one eye when the laser hits, get long term disability, and still be able to thread black pipe in the plumbing department at Home Depot for insurance bennies. Gotta plan ahead, you know.

 

[paulsalem]

What do you dislike about Oakleys?

 

[njcapt]

Two words - The Terminator!

... oh yeah, and David Hasselhoff.

 

[cforst513]

Two words - The Terminator!

... oh yeah, and David Hasselhoff.

Hey man, don't @&*%$ with Knight Rider, ok?! Him and KITT will mess up ANY plane out there!! I should know. I've watched the show...

 

[Counselair]

FBI: Laser Beams Aimed Into Cockpits 6 Times Recently

Laser Beams Could Temporarily Blind Pilots



UPDATED: 2:51 PM EST December 30, 2004


WASHINGTON -- An FBI official said there have been six recent incidents involving laser beams being aimed into cockpits of commercial airliners.

Video

​

Lasers Can Startle, Blind Pilots
Plane Targeted

A federal law enforcement official said the bureau is investigating one such report in Cleveland and two in Colorado Springs, Colo., as well as three others.

The first three took place on Monday, and all planes involved landed safely. There's no word on when or where the other three incidents occurred, although the official indicated they all happened over the last four days.

In the Cleveland incident, authorities say a laser beam was directed into the cockpit of a commercial jet traveling 300 mph at more than 8,500 feet. The plane arriving from Washington, D.C., was about 15 miles from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport when the beam appeared. An FBI agent said it remained for several seconds, like the plane was being tracked.

The FBI is investigating whether it was a prank or whether there was another motive. Authorities said the laser had to have been fairly sophisticated to track a plane traveling at that altitude.

The FBI believes the laser beam prankster used a laser beam that is common to the construction industry, according to Cleveland TV station WEWS. It is relatively powerful, and is generally used to mark or level job sites before construction begins.

A recent memo sent to law enforcement agencies said there's evidence that terrorists have explored using lasers as weapons. But authorities said there is no specific intelligence showing al-Qaida or other groups might use such weapons in the United States.

Interfering with flight crews is a federal felony. Laser beams can distract or temporarily blind a pilot. A person who is convicted of the crime could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations mandate that laser light shows must register their locations and the lights cannot be directed above 3,000 feet.

Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
​

 

[421Driver]

I agree that Oakleys are lame, but Arnold was wearing Gargoyles.