Laser Strikes On Aircraft Becoming Epidemic

First time accepted submitter AlphaWolf_HK writes "Ars Technica has a story about a 52 year old man who was arrested and sentenced to three years in jail for shining a high powered green laser at a helicopter along with an interesting video showing how he was tracked down. The FBI says that laser strikes are becoming epidemic, saying that they expect to see reports of 3,700 of them this year."

Comments

Re:Good.

[bloodhawk]

We used to have the same problem in Australia. They took the outright ban approach here, it has massively reduced the incidents, not sure if I am in favour of that approach or not, but can't deny it has worked.

What now?

[Petersko]

"One of the most natural things in the world a kid with a lazer pointer will do is shine it straight up into the sky."

Good lord.

First of all, the odds that a kid would shine a laser into the sky and accidentally hit an aircraft are... well, stupendously low. The laser point is incredibly tiny, and the sky is incredibly large. And the slightest movement of the hand holding the laser has huge implications at the distance where an aircraft would intersect it. If it's not trained and held on the target, it would never be noticed.

So, "no" to whatever point you're making.

Re:What now?

[AlphaWolf_HK]

Actually there are some links in TFA where they mention that after 500 feet, the light will have spread to a six foot radius. Further, when it hits the plexi glass of the cockpit, it scatters which illuminates the entire cockpit with a rather blinding light.

Re:Yes, this is a problem

[YrWrstNtmr]

Duh? You mean the navy aircraft fly directly over civilian dwellings during final approach. I think that is the problem here.

When that base was built 50 years ago, it was only farmland around it. Money corrupts, land gets sold, and the Navy has been bitching about it for years.

Re:Parental Guidance is a must.

[petermgreen]

There are two similar but slightly different classificaion systems, the old system (still used in the US) uses roman numerals for the classes while the new system uses arabic numerals. Basically class 1 is no risk of damage, class 2 is very little risk of damage. Class 3R (roughly equivilent to IIIA) is a bit more hazardous, class 3b worse still and class IV you don't even want to look at difuse reflections of it.

Most laser pointers are class II but some of the powerful ones are class 3B.

Note that if a laser beam is totally enclosed with interlocks to prevent accidental release the class of the laser system can be lower than the class of the laser contained within. This is the case with things like CD/DVD burners and laser printers. The laser is class 3B but the system as a whole is class 1.