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Laser Warnings Planned for Out-of-Bounds Pilots

Posted by timothy on from the this-certainly-won't-be-spoofed dept.

akadruid writes "No, it's not a new 'Star Wars' system: The US Pentagon and NORAD are using lasers to warn off pilots flying into restricted airspace, according to Wired magazine. I wonder if they got the idea from the FBI, who charged a New Jersey man under anti-terror laws for doing this?" The system is not yet in operation (but could be as soon as next month), and according to NORAD, their system has been found safe for pilots' eyes.

2 of 258 comments (clear)

  1. Why note encode data in the signal by theDunedan · · Score: 5, Interesting

    By that I mean, why just flash red-red-green. They could also indicate the best direction to turn to get out of the airspace as quickly as possible:

    Red-red-green means turn right. Red-green means turn left. Red-red means stay straight. Green-green (for a few seconds) means you are now clear of the airspace.

    the Dunedan

  2. Many Laser Sightings Last Year Were Govt Tests by Ron+Bennett · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I'm surprised no one mentioned it here yet ...

    Many of the laser sightings last year appear to have been part of U.S. government tests of the system...

    And anyone who doubts that, just search news archives of late last year - the U.S. govt publically acknowledged doing tests around the same time/areas of the "mysterious" laser sightings.

    Ron Bennett