Guess Who's Planning to Shine Lasers on Pilots

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 14:51:49 GMT, "Blueskies"
wrote in
::


"Larry Dighera" wrote in message ...


Just as the U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta
Announces New Laser Warning and Reporting System for Pilots*, the USAF
finds aiming lasers at pilots may not be such a bad idea after all:


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AOPA ePilot Volume 7, Issue 7 February 18, 2005
-------------------------------------------------------------

AIR FORCE PROPOSES LASER WARNING SYSTEM
The Air Force has begun aiming what it terms "safe" lasers at a test
aircraft operating out of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to
develop an alternating red-red-green laser light system to warn pilots
who stray into the Washington-Baltimore airspace without permission.
"USA Today" reports that operational testing could begin in the spring
followed by what the Air Force promises will be "intense" briefings
for pilots operating in the Washington, D.C., area. AOPA officials
will be among those briefed and the association already is working
with the Department of Defense and the FAA to learn more about the
system and how it will be used. AOPA has requested a preview and
demonstration.


*
http://sev.prnewswire.com/transporta...2012005-1.html


A whole new meaning to the term "Light Gun" eh?


Given Mineta's statements:

"Shining these lasers at an airplane is not a harmless prank. It
is stupid and dangerous," said Secretary of Transportation Norman
Y. Mineta. "You are putting other people at risk, and law
enforcement authorities are going to seek you out, and if they
catch you, they are going to prosecute you."

"We are treating lasers in the cockpit as a serious aviation
safety matter," the Secretary said. "We must act now before
someone's reckless actions lead to a terrible and tragic
incident."

It certainly seems contradictory at best.

I think the Air Force probably has a good idea for the use of lasers
in alerting pilots. I think the Secretary of Transportation's
statement stems more from a hysterical siege-mentality than rational
thought.

Has anyone got a link to more information about the technicalities of
what the USAF is planning?

"Larry Dighera" wrote

I think the Air Force probably has a good idea for the use of lasers
in alerting pilots. I think the Secretary of Transportation's
statement stems more from a hysterical siege-mentality than rational
thought.

I gotta agree. The point of safety , IMHO, comes more with the fast few
blinks of laser, vs extended blinding by Joe Q. public.
--
Jim in NC

On Sun, 20 Feb 2005 15:19:20 -0500, "Morgans"
wrote in ::


"Larry Dighera" wrote

I think the Air Force probably has a good idea for the use of lasers
in alerting pilots. I think the Secretary of Transportation's
statement stems more from a hysterical siege-mentality than rational
thought.

I gotta agree. The point of safety , IMHO, comes more with the fast few
blinks of laser, vs extended blinding by Joe Q. public.


It looks like the AOPA is attempting to assist the USAF with this:


-------------------------------------------------------------
AOPA ePilot Volume 7, Issue 11 March 18, 2005
-------------------------------------------------------------
AIR FORCE URGED TO WORK WITH AOPA ON LASER WARNING SYSTEM
When the House aviation subcommittee met Tuesday to discuss the
hazards posed by civilian ground-based lasers aimed at pilots, talk
quickly turned to an Air Force plan to use lasers to signal aircraft
that stray too close to the no-fly zone around Washington, D.C. While
the Air Force claims its laser system is safe, not everyone is so
sure. Rep. Robin Hayes (R-N.C.), an AOPA member, expressed concern
that tests of the lasers had only been conducted on pressurized
aircraft--not smaller GA aircraft with thinner windscreens. He urged
the Air Force to work with AOPA to develop and test the system on more
typical GA aircraft. Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Iowa), also an AOPA
member, was the first to raise the issue of how lasers could affect GA
pilots. He said that he had been thinking about how distracting it
would be to try to land his own aircraft with a laser in his eyes. See
AOPA Online
(http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsite...0315laser.html ).