Pointing lasers at aircraft. WHY?

[Sillyoldman]

It seems to be a common occurrence around here as of late. Who is doing it and why? What is the goal? A news blurp in their honor or bragging rights? I really don't think even the dumbest outlaw would want the credit of downing a plane. Passengers & Pilots are even starting to video the origin of the beams location. Are these lasers anything more than a retail pen sized device? Is this happening every where else or is it just attributed to high mercury & arsenic levels in our water? Seems to me having the FBI looking for me would not be too comforting.

[GOPAPA]

Do you mean at Seatac ? I havn't heard to much down my way down here around Portland . Are there bad thngs happening from it that you know of ,like in the news or papers ? I would think it would blind a pilot and really be bad when landing ..

[Sillyoldman]

Lasers aimed at Sea-Tac jets

08:32 AM PST on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

By KING Staff

SEATAC, Wash. - The FBI and TSA are investigating reports that someone pointed green lasers at 12 airliners as they were landing at Sea-Tac International Airport Sunday night.

Authorities say between 7-7:30 p.m. someone aimed the lasers at the planes as they were coming in for their final approach. They believe the lasers came from a park north of the airport.

It's a dangerous idea, because pilots can be blinded by the lights.

No pilots reported being affected Sunday night and all of the planes landed safely.

The FAA says there have been sporadic reports of this happening in other areas, but Sunday's incidents at Sea-Tac have been the largest by far.

"Unfortunately, this is getting to be a routine thing across the county," said Mike Fergus, Federal Aviation Administration. "This laser stuff in the last five years or so, thank goodness there hasn't been any disruption to the service."

Video taken from a Washington State Patrol airplane on Jan. 29 shows somebody shining a laser into a cockpit near Fife.

But you don't have to point a laser at a pilot to get in trouble. Even under state law, pointing a laser at a bus driver, police officer, or firefighter constitutes a Class C Felony.

State charges from the Fife case are pending.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------

More lasers pointed at Sea-Tac planes

06:53 AM PST on Thursday, March 5, 2009

KING5.com Staff and Associated Press

SEATAC, Wash. – A Seattle-Tacoma International Airport spokesman says at least four more planes have been targeted by a laser beam as they approached the airport to land.

Spokesman Perry Cooper says that four aircraft reported lasers were pointed at them as they were landing at Sea-Tac around 9:10 p.m. Wednesday.

The aircraft were heading south toward the airport when the pilots saw the laser. All landed safely.

King County sheriff's deputies have searched an area near the north end of the airport. The FBI and Transportation Security Administration have also been notified.

On Sunday night, someone aimed a laser at a jet arriving at Sea-Tac, and there were more than a dozen laser incidents the previous Sunday.

Police say lasers can temporarily blind pilots.

Authorities say such activity is criminal and potentially dangerous for the pilots.

[GOPAPA]

Man thats is getting bad,, First thing I think of is kids ,,you know ,,they sometimes have no idea of what they can cause that would be deadly to a lot of people .. hope they quit who ever they are as it's a good chance they will neve catch them .

[sjarrett71]

It's like driving around smashing mailboxes, what is the thrill in it?

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by sjarrett71

It's like driving around smashing mailboxes, what is the thrill in it?

its alot more of a thrill blowing them up with M80's

[Longhorn Man]

First, let me say i have NEVER aimed one at a plane... in the air or on the ground.
With that disclaimer.. My mom is an astrominer. They use those high powered ones to point things out to each other. You aim it up to point to a star or planet, and the dust/fog/smog/whatever particles in the air reflect the light, so you can actually point up VERY high with them.
ANY time someone has one of those things at night, some one will say look how far you can point with it, and shoot it at something a mile away, and you can see it.
I think SOME of it can be atributed to "hey look at this neat lazer".
The FBI will be knocking on my door here in a sec.

[BillGent]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

The FBI will be knocking on my door here in a sec.

Nah, I emailed the link to them... they weren't interested... but they did kinda chuckle at the photoshops...

[67ChevyRedneck]

Doesn't the military use lasers to "paint" or "mark" targets? Maybe their fear is a possible terrorist strike?

[Shane]

Different spectrum of light the military uses to "paint" targets ... not visible to the naked eye.

[Longhorn Man]

the funny thing is... 10 seconds after I posted that, my phone rang, and it was "caller unknown"
turned out to be my son.
and no... I am NOT kidding.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Shane

Different spectrum of light the military uses to "paint" targets ... not visible to the naked eye.

Damn you Transformers! The one in the movie showed up red!

[El Jay]

Mr. Shane knows a ton more about this stuff than I, admittedly.

Having said that, I wouldn't have any problem at all if the "wrong" target got lit up & they, the target, rolled in, "guns hot" & obliterated the source of the laser.

I have absolutely no use for people that endanger others for their own personal pleasures, or what they think is "fun, or funny"

I'm done; soap box is back in the truck.

[Sillyoldman]

Originally Posted by Longhorn Man

the funny thing is... 10 seconds after I posted that, my phone rang, and it was "caller unknown"
turned out to be my son.
and no... I am NOT kidding.

It was just me but I hung up. It's not mathematically possible. "Longhornman you are not my father". I'll keep looking.

[Longhorn Man]

trust me, he made honor roll the first 2 grading periods of highschool so far, and lost over 60 pounds and kept the weight off... trust me, I have my doubts myself.

[rod86]

its quite a big problem here, there have been reports of it happening on a daily basis in many australian citys, in perth there was a guy that got busted and charged for pointing one at the police chopper. the footage from in the chopper showed everything going green and reflecting off the windows.. you really have to be an idiot to point at a police chopper especialy with the surveilance equipment onboard...

[msgross]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Doesn't the military use lasers to "paint" or "mark" targets? Maybe their fear is a possible terrorist strike?

Yes, but these are different laser than then pen size one's..

Originally Posted by Shane

Different spectrum of light the military uses to "paint" targets ... not visible to the naked eye.

Not visible, but our military lasers will really "blind" someone for life due to the power and freq.. I don't think the pen laser are more than a "distraction" which is a hazard in itself. Some aircraft have laser reflective windshields while the rest of us have eye shields when needed.

Washington DC actually has a laser that will warn you if you enter the area "unannounced" so to speak. They can get your attention from a long ways a ways.. I've seen a video of it..