Laser beamed into the cockpit of jets on short final

By: Old Git - 22nd October 2005 at 10:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

They're very stupid and irresponsible kids or some very deranged adult hell bent on causing a major disaster
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16984303%255E23349,00.html

Thats quite worrying - I don't think it has happened in the U.K. yet, but of course reading articles like this will give people ideas. I remember during the Cold War Russian ships use to direct laser rangefinders at the cockpits of NATO Maritime Recon. aircraft.

By: andrewm - 22nd October 2005 at 13:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Im thinking this must be on very short final as otherwise the plane would be too high and the lazer would not be able to reach the pilots eyes given the angles. Would be more likely to hit the overhead.

There cant be THAT many high powered visible lazers around can there? I doubt we are talking about one of those pen sized lazers... Usually the bigger the more bulky from what i learnt in Physics A Level!

By: Deano - 22nd October 2005 at 13:58 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Im thinking this must be on very short final as otherwise the plane would be too high and the lazer would not be able to reach the pilots eyes given the angles. Would be more likely to hit the overhead.

There cant be THAT many high powered visible lazers around can there? I doubt we are talking about one of those pen sized lazers... Usually the bigger the more bulky from what i learnt in Physics A Level!

I think all that is irrelevant, the bigger picture is that it's just very very irresponsible and a pathetically stupid thing to do, the point remains that lazers are readily available in the public domain no matter what type it is, I'd bang these people up for a long time

By: tmurphy - 22nd October 2005 at 17:44 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

You can get these green lasers, which will shoot a visible beam upto 5 miles - cost around the £100 mark. Don't know how the gadjet type shops ever get away with selling them as I can't see a legitamate use for one!

By: wannabe pilot - 22nd October 2005 at 17:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

There is a house a mile or so from mine, which every year insists on doing something original for their outdoor x-mas decorations. Last year, they bought a huge light-beam-thing (not actually a laser, but a very strong strobe), which went up in a narrow column into the sky, lighting up the clouds at night. The stupid thing is, their house is directly under the STN RWY05 approach about 2 miles from touchdown! Needless to say it didn't last there long...