It'll be interesting to see how it pans out.

I've read a couple of NG posts from pilots who have been intercepted by
F16s - needless to say that they got the pilots attention! (not to mention
total, complete, 100% co-operation!)



"Ogden Johnson III" wrote in message
...
"Cockpit Colin" wrote:

I hear what you're saying - in the end, it becomes a matter of chance.
I've
no doubt that under any circumstances a laser in the cockpit is something
we
really don't need - if it happens to be during the likes of a SE approach
(especially in the event of it triggering a single-engine go-around) then
yes, it could most definately be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

I just hope it never happens to me, although I have to say I'd prefer it
to
someone taking pot-shots with a rifle.

Serendipity strikes with a vengeance. This article just appeared
in this morning's Washington Post, "Lasers To Signal Airspace
Breaches - Sky in Region to Be Constantly Scanned"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2005Apr15.html

"The U.S. military will begin using an elaborate network of
cameras and lasers next month to scan the sky over Washington and
flash colored warning beams at aircraft that enter the nation's
most restricted metropolitan airspace."

It goes on to explain how a system of camera/laser units will
cover most of the restricted area covering a roughly 50 mi radius
centered on Washington, extending to North of Baltimore, South of
Quantico, and including all three major airports, National,
Dulles, and BWI, in the region. [Derived from a chart
accompanying the print article, but not available online. The
article itself says the camera/lasers will cover a roughly 30 mi
radius. Given my skepticism of average media reporter/editor
understanding in military/tech things, I'll buy into the 30 miles
after seeing feedback from pilots. ;-]

The article does address the ideas raised in this thread; saying:

"Unlike pointers and other eye-damaging lasers that have raised
safety concerns among pilots, the military's beams are
low-intensity and safe enough for the eyes yet distinctive enough
to alert pilots that something's wrong, officials say. From
government building rooftops, the lasers will pinpoint an
aircraft from 20 miles away and flash a quick red-red-green
sequence repeatedly. The cameras will be overseen by NORAD
officials from multiple locations, including Colorado Springs;
Cheyenne, Wyo.; and the Washington area. NORAD operators will
activate the laser beams if a pilot does not respond to radio
contact or an aircraft intercept.

"Researchers who developed the technology say the laser beam is
so narrowly targeted that other nearby aircraft will not be able
to see it. Curtis Davis, a researcher at MIT Lincoln Laboratory
who helped develop the system, said the beam is stronger than a
laser pointer, but more diffuse. "We've taken the size of the
beam and made it 15,000 times bigger," Davis said. "It's a foot
in diameter."

Hmm. 12"/15,000 = 0.0008"? That's an awfully tight beam from a
laser pointer. Wonder if/how much a laser pointer diffuses going
up to flight altitudes? [I know, I know, coherent beams, but I'm
old enough to have been so canalized by Boy Scout flashlights
that by the time lasers rolled around ...]
--
OJ III
[Email to Yahoo address may be burned before reading.
Lower and crunch the sig and you'll net me at comcast.]