I've got a question about this "laser in the cockpit" business....

[kuozzman]

How the hell can somebody standing in their backyard shine a handheld laser into the cockpit of an airplane traveling over 300 MPH at 8,000-10,000 ft. long enough to distract them?

This doesn't seem like an easy task.

In terms of physics, is that even possible? How could you even have the angle to hit the window? Let alone the ability to know if you were hitting it b/c you likely can't see the laser hitting the plane, but I could be wrong about that?

[CornField]

1. Honestly, I've been wondering the same things.

Maybe if the plane was banking? I seem to remember an FAA or some other "official" saying this wasn't just random, that the lasers were tracking the planes for several seconds. At the time, I remember there being discussions of computers because of the accuracy required.

???

[AlCzervik]

2. My Dad is a pilot and i plan on calling him tomorrow

morning to find out if this could be true. If he knows i'll post it back on this thread.

[kuozzman]

16. Thanks chimprsmarter!

[DrWeird]

3. You can't.

You can't just swing a razor around like a sword and hope to slice through somebody's retinas.

I'm guessing that laser detection equipment picked up somebody pointing a laser in the general direction of an airplane and people were worried about SAMs. Not pilots.

[aeolian]

7. self delete

never mind

[mcscajun]

4. Read "Ask the Pilot" on this...

http://fairuse.1accesshost.com/news2/ask-pilot1.html

[NMDemDist2]

5. IIRC the plane was low and slow

3000 foot and slow (final descent I think)

[aeolian]

8. even then...

...it would be extremely difficult to hit the pilot's eyes through the curved glass. Remember, his eyes are moving 200+ mph, and the aircraft is moving around from air currents and control inputs.

Think of how hard it is to keep binoculars fixed on a bird.

[NMDemDist2]

12. the man was an amatur astronomer

he was used to following moving targets is what I heard

I doubt he was "aiming" for the pilot's eyes though

[DrWeird]

13. the guy who made the laser was questioned

or I guess I should say harrassed by Homeland Security recently. It was in the local paper. He makes lasers for amateur astronomers. They're on a pivot so they can be controlled easily, more easily than pocket laser, but still I think the governments case in this is bullshit.

[kuozzman]

17. Are you sure?

John Stewart showed a clip of an FBI agent saying 300 mph at 8,000 to 10,000 ft.

?

[aeolian]

6. Can't. Period.

Not "standing in your back yard" anyway. You could probably hit the plane for a second here and there, but no human could track a point on the surface of the plane, much less a point inside the plane behind a curved surface.

It can be done with laboratory equipment, but even then it'd be hard.

[RoyGBiv]

9. A couple details ...

The plane, a Cessna charter jet, was on landing approach and traveling well below 300mph, although I'm not sure of the exact speed. It was at about 3,000 feet altitude, nose pointed at a slight downward angle. According to the pilots, the green laser hit the windshield, diffused somewhat, and temporarily blinded them, i.e. it did not hit their retinas and burn them. Shine a red pointer laser at a piece of curved glass, and you'll see a minor version of the effect they were describing.

The second aircraft was a helicopter.

The guy who was arrested for this says he was using the laser to point at stars and accidentally hit the aircraft.

[Maclilly]

10. I heard last night

that some guy was arrested for this. He used his laser on a poice helicopter and claims his 7 year old daughter used it in the airplace incident.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi Maclilly!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[jonnyo]

11. Salon Asked Some Pilots the Same Thing

they basically said the terrorist laser beam thing was bunch of BS.

http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2005/01/04/askthepilot118/print.html

[ashmanonar]

15. Breaking News:

'This is Chump Hadley, with your evening news...the government has recently released a report warning of terrorists using the online phenomena of "websites" or more accurately, "blogs" to incite fear and terror in our homeland...Instead of looking at legitimate terrorist actions, such as leaving plastique bombs in cafes or in a broader view, tracking down funders of terrorism, the government has decided to waste its time and the taxpayer money on this new form of terrorism...and now to Idiota with the weather...'


jesus..."oh no, lasers...they must be terrorists attacking these airliners!"

fucking idiots.