On Fri, 28 Jan 2005 11:53:03 +0000, 10Squared
wrote in ::

Laser device in question has a rated power of 5 mW.

Actually, some are available with over 10 times that power:
http://www.wickedlasers.com/products.php

However, as you assert, they are probably still incapable of
inflicting retinal damage at the distances involved when aimed at an
aircraft in flight.