SWA pilot reports seeing laser

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[ Here we go again. -Ed. ]

Southwest pilot reports seeing green light on California flight

The Associated Press
Published 6:10 am PST Thursday, January 13, 2005

BURBANK, Calif. (AP) - A Southwest Airlines pilot flying from Bob Hope
Airport to San Jose last week reported seeing a flash of green light
and the FBI is trying to determine whether a laser was pointed at the
plane, authorities said.

The light did not enter the cockpit and the pilot did not have to
alter his flight path in the Jan. 5 incident, FBI spokeswoman Laura
Eimeller said. She said there was no indication of terrorism.

"It absolutely could have been a child, perhaps, that got a laser for
Christmas," Eimeller said. "Certainly could have been something more
nefarious than that. Could have been accidental."

The bright lasers - usually green - can temporarily blind pilots.

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said Wednesday the government
will now require pilots to immediately report lasers - a response to a
rash of such incidents in recent weeks.

Mineta said 31 such incidents have been reported since Dec. 31, and
the new Federal Aviation Administration guidelines are meant to speed
word to air traffic controllers, who could then notify law
enforcement.

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Information from: (Los Angeles) Daily News, http://www.dailynews.com

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"A Guy Called Tyketto" wrote in message
m...
The light did not enter the cockpit and the pilot did not have to
alter his flight path in the Jan. 5 incident, FBI spokeswoman Laura
Eimeller said. She said there was no indication of terrorism.

If the pilot saw it, then light entered the cockpit, unless the pilot
is in the habit of flying with his head out the window.

"It absolutely could have been a child, perhaps, that got a laser for
Christmas," Eimeller said. "Certainly could have been something more
nefarious than that. Could have been accidental."

The bright lasers - usually green - can temporarily blind pilots.

Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said Wednesday the government
will now require pilots to immediately report lasers - a response to a
rash of such incidents in recent weeks.

Question: how many people think that the majority of what will be
reported under this requirement will actually be lasers, as opposed to
just green (or red) lights on the ground?

Bob M.

"Bob Myers" wrote in message
...

"A Guy Called Tyketto" wrote in message
m...
The light did not enter the cockpit and the pilot did not have to
alter his flight path in the Jan. 5 incident, FBI spokeswoman Laura
Eimeller said. She said there was no indication of terrorism.

If the pilot saw it, then light entered the cockpit, unless the pilot
is in the habit of flying with his head out the window.


Well - that's obvious. If no light entered the cockpit and the pilot didn't
have his head outside of it then the thing would have been invisible for
him/her.

However one thing is if the beam entered the cockpit or if some light
reflected from the beam did.

The interesting thing about this scare - which others in this NG have
convincingly argued represents no risk - is that it can be seen as how the
security nonsense going on in the industry is influencing the sound
judgement of the people in the industry. Mind you it is not only us
travelers who are being constantly harassed by security. Pilots and the rest
is being harassed as well - and at some point it is going to get on peoples
nerves.

It does not help that low educated people wearing caps with emblems on being
allowed to fly about in helicopters seem now to help pilots getting even
more scared so that they are now seeing lasers everywhere allowing the cap
wearing people to take to the skies even more frequently. Hence helping to
put the pressure in the pressure cooker even higher! Add to this explosive
mixture of security nonsense, uneducated police officers and stressed out
pilots a press that reports with their thinking mind turned off!

Nik.

"Bob Myers" wrote in message
...

"A Guy Called Tyketto" wrote in message
m...
The light did not enter the cockpit and the pilot did not have to
alter his flight path in the Jan. 5 incident, FBI spokeswoman Laura
Eimeller said. She said there was no indication of terrorism.

If the pilot saw it, then light entered the cockpit, unless the pilot
is in the habit of flying with his head out the window.


Well - that's obvious. If no light entered the cockpit and the pilot didn't
have his head outside of it then the thing would have been invisible for
him/her.

However one thing is if the beam entered the cockpit or if some light
reflected from the beam did.

The interesting thing about this scare - which others in this NG have
convincingly argued represents no risk - is that it can be seen as how the
security nonsense going on in the industry is influencing the sound
judgement of the people in the industry. Mind you it is not only us
travelers who are being constantly harassed by security. Pilots and the rest
is being harassed as well - and at some point it is going to get on peoples
nerves.

It does not help that low educated people wearing caps with emblems on being
allowed to fly about in helicopters seem now to help pilots getting even
more scared so that they are now seeing lasers everywhere allowing the cap
wearing people to take to the skies even more frequently. Hence helping to
put the pressure in the pressure cooker even higher! Add to this explosive
mixture of security nonsense, uneducated police officers and stressed out
pilots a press that reports with their thinking mind turned off!

Nik.

If the pilot saw it, then light entered the cockpit, unless the pilot
is in the habit of flying with his head out the window.

Ever heard of something called light scattering and diffusion? He saw
the laser allright but it wasn't aimed at him. But why the hell did he
have to make that so public?

I somehow have a pre-judgement on pilots and usually think highly of
them, with all the education and training those people go through. So I
would think that in the ongoing circumstances they would predict the
consequences of them reporting being "shot at" with a "laser" (diode)
and investigations by dumbos being triggered. Is it therefore likely
that a laser beam seen from the side *is* a threat to them?

../3

If the pilot saw it, then light entered the cockpit, unless the pilot
is in the habit of flying with his head out the window.

Ever heard of something called light scattering and diffusion? He saw
the laser allright but it wasn't aimed at him. But why the hell did he
have to make that so public?

I somehow have a pre-judgement on pilots and usually think highly of
them, with all the education and training those people go through. So I
would think that in the ongoing circumstances they would predict the
consequences of them reporting being "shot at" with a "laser" (diode)
and investigations by dumbos being triggered. Is it therefore likely
that a laser beam seen from the side *is* a threat to them?

../3

A Guy Called Tyketto wrote:
Southwest pilot reports seeing green light on California flight


This just in:

A car driver near an airport reports a large jet shining its bright
lights onto his windshield, causing temporary blindness to traffic which
would have led to an accident.

Bob Myers wrote:
Question: how many people think that the majority of what will be
reported under this requirement will actually be lasers, as opposed to
just green (or red) lights on the ground?

This just in:

The new homeland security secretary has promised to ban all outdoor
christmas lights within 20 miles of major airports since christmas
lights are often red of gree, colours used by lasers.