Laser Strike Suspect Arrested

[Tylerjohnston]

http://www.news-journalonline.com/artic ... r-pointing

I understand that this is an American article, but I still believe it holds some significance to all pilots. I completed my training at Daytona Beach International Airport where this incident happened, and have been struck by a green laser on the exact same approach this American Airlines Jet was on. To top this off... It was a god damn student pilot that was the one arrested at the seen, he was training at the ATP flight school adjacent to the terminal building.. Absolutely brutal, and VERY irresponsible.

If you got a few minutes check out the link that I attached.

Cheers

[HiLo]

GOOD! Let's hope they make an example out of him.

I've been struck by laser a few times and I'm sure glad it wasn't on short final. Anyone evil enough to point a laser at an aircraft during any stage of flight should be (proverbially) lynched. If enough of those dangerous criminals get put in jail, I'm sure others will think twice about doing it.

[DanWEC]

This bag of hammers is a student pilot? Talk about being a few fries short of a happy meal.
I will pray to the baby jebus that he never gets to be the decision maker in the cockpit of anything.

[Tylerjohnston]

I really do hope that they make an example out of him, and I actually think they may. It happens so frequently at this airport it is crazy. It'd be nice if no one posted bail, and he eventually got a few years in the slammer. Might as well save your 50-60 grand on flight training, because you'll never be paid to fly an airplane EVER.


Update: Just checked it out online, and the felony is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and $250,000.

[Broken Slinky]

Thinking a blanket party would do this ass monkey some good.

[moocow]

Zip tie him to the airport fence naked for a month. This is as bad as doctors that re-use needles.

[oldtimer]

Never been struck with a laser but I can imagine the consequences.
What is needed is good old western justice. In a cattle corral with suckling calves, hands tied behind his back and drop his pants.

[oldtimer]

I was going to cut and paste an artical in todays Calgary news but the piece is a bit long.
But a UofC eye specialist, a Doctor Fielden, assistant professor at the Cumming School of Medicine in Calgary has studied the cases of 58 male and 3 female pilots shortly after a laser strike and the conclusion is that the lasers can cause temporary blindness and confusion but there is no proof that it will cause permanent eye damage.
Now on a totally different story I read. There were reported incidents where people wearing contact lenses were exposed to the bright flashes from an arc welder without any eye protection and when the contact lenses were removed, the surface of the eye ball was torn away causing permanent blindness. The bright flashes dried out the surface between the eye and the contact lens. This information was from a poster that Workers Compensation put out and was posted anywhere welding was being conducted.
Another point brought out is that a laser strike will temporarily ground a flight util a new flight crew can be brought in, causing great delays and expense for the airline and it does not take a shithouse lawyer to surmise that if the culprut is caught, the airline will attempt to recover the costs. Could get ugly because it would be all legal. I imagine even the cost of a real lawyer to defend yourself in a law suit could get expensive.

[teacher]

I've been hit by a laser and yes, no permanent damage but sure is uncomfortable. Eye hurt for a couple hours. Felt like I got a camera flash in the eye from close range in a dark room.

[digits_]

The main issue is that people don't get that a small laserpointer becomes a bright light at long distances. They are not aware that it is really bad in the cockpit.

[Broken Slinky]

Now on a totally different story I read. There were reported incidents where people wearing contact lenses were exposed to the bright flashes from an arc welder without any eye protection and when the contact lenses were removed, the surface of the eye ball was torn away causing permanent blindness. The bright flashes dried out the surface between the eye and the contact lens. This information was from a poster that Workers Compensation put out and was posted anywhere welding was being conducted.

It's actually been proven incorrect that lenses can be fused or "welded" to your cornea. CCOHS has some pretty good material on the subject.
Some provinces still do prohibit wearing contacts while welding though. The main reason is they do not protect against the heat and UV energy produced by the arc flash.

[lhalliday]

I've been on the receiving end of a laser strike as a passenger. It wouldn't be any fun if I was actually flying the plane.

It was a couple of years ago on final approach in to Juan Santamaria airport, San Jose, Costa Rica. I could see somebody in the hills north of the airport (maybe 10 km away) was playing with a green laser pointer. They waved it past us a couple of times, then tracked us with it. Ouch!

...laura

[Cessna 180]

There's some idiot near YKF that points lasers at planes on approach to Rwy 08 every once and a while. I got hit once. CADORS filed by tower. Made the newspaper as it happens (sort of) often. Probably not the same person, but sometime there is a person with a green laser in Breslau on the approach to 14 as well (not as often).

[JasonE]

Here's my laser strike....Caught it on the GoPro. Camera was outside.

[HiLo]

In the great Robert de Niro's words, "I hope they hang him by the bolls." -- if that scumbag even has any.

[HiLo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-_uAC2dawI

Definitely don't want to shoot one at YRP aircraft. Or any police aircraft. Of course, anyone who lacks the brains to figure out that its a terrible idea to laser any aircraft can't be expected that a helicopter hovering late at night in an urban area is likely a police aircraft.

[Meecka]

Here's my laser strike....Caught it on the GoPro. Camera was outside.

Jesus! Even the picture hurts my eyes!

[JasonE]

Jesus! Even the picture hurts my eyes!

It's worse after it hits the Plexiglas windshield and scatters EVERYWHERE. Not as intense but everywhere.

[Dushan]

I was hit with green laser from the ground while in the 20th floor apartment. The entire living room lit up in green glow. You wouldn't want that if sitting in a dark place like a flight deck at night.

[GyvAir]

Pilots call for laser ban after flight forced to turn back to London

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pi ... er-7377077

[Tylerjohnston]

Pilots call for laser ban after flight forced to turn back to London

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/pi ... er-7377077

Crazy Article! I am 100% in favour of banning green lasers, personally I don't think it will ever happen. Even if they do ban them, people will still find ways to get them (China will ship you anything you want from eBay lol ). Its really a shame that people feel the need to put hundreds of peoples lives in jeopardy, in my case it was just myself and my instructor aboard the DA42. Thanks for the reply!

Cheers, Tyler

[NunavutPA-12]

It occurs to me that green lasers, being so bright, could be an effective piece of signalling equipment in a SAR situation.

I wonder if there's a way to mitigate the temporary effects on a pilot's vision while keeping the effectiveness of the laser. I carry a green laser in my emergency pack for just this kind of scenario, but I wouldn't want to piss off my rescuers!

[Tylerjohnston]

It occurs to me that green lasers, being so bright, could be an effective piece of signalling equipment in a SAR situation.

I wonder if there's a way to mitigate the temporary effects on a pilot's vision while keeping the effectiveness of the laser. I carry a green laser in my emergency pack for just this kind of scenario, but I wouldn't want to piss off my rescuers!

Wow, you make a phenomenal point. I have never saw the "Good" (and I mean a very small good) in lasering an aircraft. Im curious to hear the effect that green lasers have on night vision headsets? If anyone knows please do share!