FBI Investigating Laser Beams Pointed at Aircraft

sakshale writes "In an earlier discussion about Laser Pistols, many people argued about the concept of using them to target pilots of airliners. Apparently the FBI is investigating incidents in Cleveland and Colorado Springs. They issued a warning on December 14th."

nothing for you to see here

[networkBoy]

So fitting. I was blinded by the laser
-nB

Coast Guard checks out lasers aimed at boats...

[PornMaster]

By sharks with frickin' laser beams on their heads...

Freakin laser beams

[bfizzle]

Well if people would put tops to their shark tanks we wouldn't be having this problem, now would we?

More info

[johnnyb]

Some [freerepublic.com] good [freerepublic.com] links [freerepublic.com] from FreeRepublic [freerepublic.com].

Seems like Dr. Evil and his "laser beam" are finally starting to do their evil deeds!

Re:Green with envy

[WormholeFiend]

damn, how am I supposed to burn holes in stuff now?

Re:Green with envy

[djtripp]

Magnifying glass, or sulfuric acid.

Regulation

[Thunderstruck]

Perhaps public misperception can eventually make lasers easier to obtain and more widely produced rather than regulated to the point of inaccessability.

1. People think the lasers are weapons.
2. Other people start selling lasers as weapons.
3. Weapons are constitutionally protected for civilian ownership in all civilized nations.
4. Ergo - the Lasers can be purchased at your local sporting-goods store after a background check and some paperwork.

(Author's note, Point #3 is intended to be a bit of a joke. But I expect at least one reader will not read all the way to this disclaimer, instead flaming me good and hard.)

Re:More info

[Anonymous Coward]

yeah if it is mentioned in freerepublic.com it must be true.

When green lasers are outlawed, only outlaws will&

[jspoon]

You'll take my green lasers when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

Re:Green with envy

[kirun]

The site says if you write an essay on laser safety, they'll sell you one. So write down the first 100 things you were going to try, with an introductory paragraph saying "The following actions are just the sort of irresponsible use of lasers that cause accidents. They should not be attempted".

FBI used to investigate UFO sightings as well

[Nine Tenths of The W]

I have no doubt this will prove about as fruitful as their investigation into Bonsai Kitten

Re:tracking moving plane?

[Anonymous Coward]

Although in that situation you might have a problem when you blind the pilot and he crashes on you.

But what about the punks in the movie theatres?

[ScentCone]

This is serious, but not nearly as serious as what I'd like to do to the pointer-equipped, arrested development imbeciles that always seem to show up in the theater where I've just spent $9.50 to see a film. No doubt they think they're really onto something novel as they draw circles around Gollum's head, or perhaps improve Michael Moore's insufferable visage by doodling on it.

These punks, with their cheesy dime-store pointers, are eroding our cinemaplex entertainment economy. As they taint our $40 movie dates, though, they're driving me closer and closer to actually buying a big screen at home. Which is good for China, or whoever makes it that week.

Re:Friggin' ...

[D'Sphitz]

you're correct. the whole internet should be taken down and replaced with tsunami news and discussion and donation soliciting for the next month at least. i also find it really offensive that anyone has the gall to think about anything but tsunamis. the nerve of some people.

WARNING:

[Zork the Almighty]

WARNING: Do not point laser into remaining good eye.

You forgot something....

[TimeTraveler1884]

5. Profit!

Re:Regulation

[511pf]

You can take my laser from my cold dead...blah blah blah...

It's people. Soylent Green is made out of people.

Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape.

Re:Complementary article

[harlows_monkeys]

this is nothing but a bunch of people freaking out about isolated incidents

Well, that's a relief. When a blinded pilot crashes on top of me, it will be quite comforting to know that it was an isolated incident, so I needn't worry about it happening too often.

Re:Green with envy

[Guppy06]

"This laser DOES NOT pose a threat to airplanes or pilots"

Remember: lasers don't kill people, guided weapons that follow laser beams kill people.

Re:Real Homeland Security

[myowntrueself]

"Totally seal the borders"

This is the part that I totally agree with; as a non-American I think that the USA *should* immediately seal all of its borders.

Anyone currently in the USA should not be allowed to leave, and noone should be permitted to enter.

Al internet connections, phone lines and satellite communications with the USA should be shut down.

A wall should be built, as high as humanly possible.

Best for everyone involved.

Re:tracking moving plane?

[falken0905]

Who said the beams came from the ground? And who said the operators were human? If 'The Day The Earth Stood Still' had been in color, you would have clearly seen that Klaatu and Gort's laser beams were green .

Re:Friggin' ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, the tsunami... I thought this was another Iraq reference.

Re:Green with envy

[Zeinfeld]

Well lets see, the guy is selling high powered green lasers to responsible members of the public at $700 a time

Exactly how does someone have $700 worth of fun with a laser in a responsible fashion? Its not like the thing is powerful enough to do really cool things like cut James bond in half or something.

Incidentally, if Goldfinger had really known what he was up to he would have had Bond upside down on the slab of gold. This was the general practice in the middle ages when sawing a man in half was a means of execution. If the victim was upside down then the blood loss was less and they could be kept alive until the saw got down to the heart.

Easy Solution

[sunderland56]

Fact: pilots of commercial airliners do NOT look out the window.

First, the windows are too bloody high to see the ground anyway. On the crucial part of the journey - the landing - you're nose up, so all you can see out the window is sky and clouds. You can't legally land any Boeing/Airbus/etc. on VFR except in a (very dire) emergency.

So, simple solution? Paint the cockpit windows flat black. Over 90% of the crew wouldn't even notice. Unless the laser is strong enough to burn a hole in the 8" thick glass, it's no longer a problem.

Re:Green with envy

[Cpt_Kirks]

Exactly how does someone have $700 worth of fun with a laser in a responsible fashion?

Use it to "key" cars in public, without being noticed (in day time).

Write your name in the snow.

Light a chicks cigarette from across the room.

Use it to heat your coffee.

Modify billboards.

Just don't hurt people with it. Unless they really, really need it. Could you toast a cell phone with it, I wonder?

Re:Green with envy

[Lectrik]

If the victim was upside down then the blood loss was less and they could be kept alive until the saw got down to the heart.

I think Goldfinger was expecting the laser to cauterize the wound as it went. Then again i don't have my Evil Master(mind)s degree in psychology.

Re:Green with envy

[chaoaretasty]

It's not gargoyles, it's friggin sharks with frickin lasers attatched to their heads.

Re:Green with envy

[Mycroft_VIII]

possible small glitch with your scenario.
"even though the plane may be going at an very high speed, it will be virtually still since it's coming right at me."
Personaly I wouldn't want a 747 with a blind pilot comming right at me.

Mycroft