NationStates Jolt Archive

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2005/01/04/807601-ap.html

Damn, at least they weren't mind-control beams. What a dufus.

Well ... at least he wasn't Muslim.

How does a laser on the ground get in the cockpit, and a object moving that fast get hit that accuratelly by a point so small? Why can't I make any of this work in my head?

How does a laser on the ground get in the cockpit, and a object moving that fast get hit that accuratelly by a point so small? Why can't I make any of this work in my head?

The article failed to mention that the laser was enormous ... think Marvin the Martian style gargantuan ... and the plane was only 50 feet off the ground ... and the pilot saw the "do not point at eye" warning label and couldn't resist trying it anyway ...

Incidentally, love the last line in yer sig. The Day the Earth Stood Still is one of my all time favorite movies.

I have to agree. This whole laser thing sounds like garbage.

I have to agree. This whole laser thing sounds like garbage.

Yeah, it sounds just a tiny bit off...

Most of the laser incidents have involved passenger jets at major airfields. the ones in the article were a heli, and a cessna. Not the same thing.

Most of the laser incidents have involved passenger jets at major airfields. the ones in the article were a heli, and a cessna. Not the same thing.
Unless they where flying upside down I still can't figure out how they did that.

I'm not saying it didn't happen, I just don't know how.

I'm puzzled. Sounds like another nail in an orwellian coffin to me.

Believe it or not the laser attack failed becasue the beam bounced off the pilot's tinfoil hat.

I have to agree. This whole laser thing sounds like garbage.

Yup, this does seem awfully dumb. Very little adds up when trying to think of just how this would make an effective means to take down an airplane. If Al-Queda were behind this, I'm thinking they must have put their "special" forces on it.

I really can't take this story seriously. F-ck you, media.

Well.

Rifle mounted laser blinding weapons are a reality in the military in some countries and larger systems are on certain classes of military vessels worldwide as a ship to air defence system, used as a nonlethal warning shot on a low setting to other air/sea traffic that strays too close and ignores radio, but easily capable of messing up incoming pilots at great range by removing his ability to see, hence removing him from effective battle. But..

The geneva convention frowns on actual military applications during wartime.

But then again..

Lasers have legitimate applications at airports for runway safety lighting.
(The following link is informational and no connection at all between use of this manufacturer's products and recent 'events' is intended. Ok.) :)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2004-04-12-laser-entrepreneur_x.htm

Those are relatively low powered devices used as ground lighting beams and will certainly help pilots and ground crew in fog/snow situations and have obvious application in marking out temporary landing strips in wartime or future disaster relief efforts. All well and good.

There have been 6 or more events at major american airports in different states in the last month where commercial traffic was shone at by lasers from the ground. An event at Salt Lake City last year had the pilot reporting some retinal damage. The person responsible has commited both a federal criminal offence by lasering the plane and an offence of injury against the pilot. However the FBI hints that events over christmastime were probably copycats and not a terrorist plot. A terrorist cell would, one imagines, use a much more powerful beam and completely fry the pilot's retina not just piss them off for a few seconds with fancy lightshow pointers.

However, fancy lightshow lasers are for sale and are in public hands. The devices are indeed capable of hindering a pilots ability to land a plane because the FAA ran tests and concluded this several years ago. Also, logically, it wouldnt be a federal offense if it didn't matter.

I personally think these happenings are in fact just your usual IDIOTS doing idiotic things and some more idiots copied it.

I don't believe a terrorist cell would waste effort testing with piffling little lasers before they crank an actual superzapper to max power and go for a blinding shot. Its too fancy. Any shoulder launched missile system would be far more effective to strike the target for maximum damage. Obviously. Or a large nailbomb in a crowded area would have just as much effect.

Personally im not worried even though i will be flying in two airliners pretty soon totalling ~6,000 miles, im far far more likely to be killed by traditional mechanical failure or pilot error than the plane catching a stinger missile up the wazoo or a laserbeam up front making us crash and burn.

I also think the media made rather more out of this whole laser story and its implications than was sensible journalism. They tend to do that.

He could recieve up to 25 years in prison and a fine of $500,000... just for mucking about with a laser? I mean it's only like formal warning stuff... I guess 'yay' for terrorist hype then.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2005/01/04/807601-ap.html

Damn, at least they weren't mind-control beams. What a dufus.

This is getting out of hand. On both ends.

*sigh*

bump

have you heard about the child suspended from school because he pointed a piece of chicken at a teacher and went

bang

Now, you see, I always thought that the lasers were designed to be guides for missiles launched from the ground, a way to keep track of the plane and prevent a miss.

if this is a laserpen then they cant reach more than 150 metres before the beam is weak, even at night, so in the day it wouldnt have much an effect and also they bounce off glass and also toilet bowls when you flush them

Terrorist with lasers. Fantastic.

Whats next? Firing nuclear armaments at airplanes?

all this is reminisent of the austin powers 2 with his big "laser" on the moon

You all are missing it. Its another coverup, not only did this guy use his laser to take down an airplane, but he is also......an alien from the N.O.A.H. projects. They are trying to get us so mixed up amongst ourselves that we stop looking up. We need to build nuke style SAM sites now. We must become united in stopping this alien force and save mankind from its wrath.

all in favour , make an unaudible noise

Bump

Most of the laser incidents have involved passenger jets at major airfields. the ones in the article were a heli, and a cessna. Not the same thing.
no, its mostly helicopters hit because they are slow enough to be targetted by the laser pointer

all this is reminisent of the austin powers 2 with his big "laser" on the moon

What next? Frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their frickin' heads?

What next? Frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their frickin' heads?
Don't give the terrorists any ideas. What's the matter with you? Do you hate our freedom or something?

What next? Frickin' sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their frickin' heads?

ORANGE ALERT

PLEASE LEAVE THE BEACH in a CALM, ORDERLY PROCESSION

NO PUSHING, N-

AAAAUUUUUGGHHH! My LEG!

ORANGE ALERT

PLEASE LEAVE THE BEACH in a CALM, ORDERLY PROCESSION

NO PUSHING, N-

AAAAUUUUUGGHHH! My LEG!
So that's what the duct tape was for.

Well, the terrorists could use ill tempered sea bass instead of sharks.