Hold the Mayo

December 30, 2004

Laser Problem Continues to Grow

Here is a little background for the the post below. Investigations are currently underway in seven reported incidents of lasers being directed at aircraft in the last five days.

Aviation authorities are investigating the latest in a string of incidents in which laser beams have been directed into the cockpits of commercial jets while in flight. There have been seven such incidents since Christmas, ABC News has learned, but the origin of the beams remains unclear.

According to the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, there is “no specific or credible intelligence indicating terrorists intend to use lasers against civilian targets in the homeland.” This satement was part of a bulletin to law enforcement agencies warning that “terrorist groups overseas have expressed an interest in using these devices.”

Terrorists have expressed interest in using lasers as weapons. Terrorists have clearly expressed their desire to attack civilian targets in the homeland. But the FBI and the DHS don't think terrorism is involved in the recent laser incidents such as this one.

...at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, the FBI says, a green laser light beam was directed into the cockpit of a Continental 737 that was 15 miles from the runway.
“This plane was targeted,” said FBI special agent Bob Hawk. “It just didn't flash for a moment inside the cockpit. The plane was traveling at about 300 miles an hour, at about 8,500 to 10,000 feet. It followed the plane inside the cockpit for two to four seconds.”

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at 04:37 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment

1 I'll have to look into this further, but the ad for that laser doesn't make sense to me.

I do laser surgery, using a 532 nm green laser, using far more power than that Lasershoppe.com laser supposedly generates, and it's done at very close range. And, it doesn't do anything close to the damage that advertised laser does (like burning a hole through a plastic cup from across the room). If it did, it would destroy your eye.

It makes me think that this advertised laser is generating significantly more power than the shop thinks it is, but I can't figure out how it could generate that much power using 2 C batteries.

It makes me wonder if this laser, and/or the claims being made about it, is/are bogus. I'll have to discuss this with some people, and maybe Lasershoppe as well.

Posted by: Eye Doc at December 31, 2004 09:49 AM (YlVBM)

2 IF THIS REPORT IS CORRECT AND THE LASER IS ACTUALLY TRACKING THE PLANE,IT SUGGESTS TO ME THAT IT COULD BE A "PAINTING" LASER FOR TARGET AQUISITION FOR SOME SORT OF PORTABLE GROUND TO GROUND OR AIR TO GROUND ROCKET WEAPON SUCH AS AN
AT-4 OR "KORNET" ANTI TANK SYSTEM.

THE KORNET SYTEM MADE IN RUSSIA AND POSSIBLY BEING USED IN IRAQ IS EFFECTIVE THROUGH ARMOR AT
DESTOYING ANABRAMSTANK IF SHOT FROM 3.5 MILES.

ALL THE DISCUSSION REGARDING THIS WEAPON IN IRAQ ASSUMES THEY CAN ONLY BE MADE IN RUSSIA. MY RESEARCH INDICATES THIS AND SIMILAR WEAPONS ARE BEING MADE ALL AROUND THE WORLD BY VARIOUS GOVERNMENTS AND COULD EASILYBE SMUGGLEDINTO THE US--IF SO MUCH COCAINE GETS IN.

I HOPE I'MWRONGON THIS ONE!
U,

Posted by: MIKE at January 02, 2005 10:40 AM (EPkr9)

3 Using lasers doesn't make sense in this case. They're fairly delicate and finicky, which makes them less than ideal weapons, and portability is a problem when you get to the power needed to do adaquate damage. Considering the availability of surplus military portable SAMs, I don't see the point in playing with a laser.

Posted by: Ted at January 03, 2005 02:05 AM (blNMI)

4 Ted,

Your right in terms of direct damage to the aircraft, however pilots seem to be concerned about the damage to vision - even temporary.

Posted by: Stephen Macklin at January 03, 2005 02:10 AM (U3CvV)

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