Laser attacks on the rise! Be afraid!

Ive had this happen to me twice, once in Glasgow and once in Bristol, both this year. We just put our sleeping eye masks back on until after we'd landed so no problem. ;)

Seriously though, in both cases when the laser does actually hit the windows, it does create a large flash of light inside. The 2nd time in Bristol the captain actually ducked as a natural reaction to what he thought was an explosion. It happened to use when we were 2-3miles from landing, so wasnt a massive problem, but if we'd been jsut seconds from landing, it could've been slightly more of a problem.
 
Guest2 said:
I thought autopilot lands planes now a days anyway?
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Usually they will have the autopilot get the aircraft stabilise in the approach then disconnect a/p and fly the landing manually. They only use full autoland if weather dictates it and also they have to do an autoland every x number of landings as far as I am aware. Some of the real world crew on here will clarify.
 
Auraomega said:
Back at college my physics teacher told us of a case where a bus driver was left blinded in 1 eye due to having a red laser shone at him, I'm going to see if I can find anything to back this up, however having a laser shone at me in the past I can quite easily say the effects are startling.

EDIT:
Random link I found, not the greatest, but meh -> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/laser-attack-1292168.html
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No, the laser was a distraction which caused an accident and it was the accident that injured him.

Extremely difficult to cause permanent damage to someones eye with a handheld laser not least of which is your own reflexes protecting you.

Temporary blinding is the most likely worst case from having a laser shone at you.

Laser values in the UK are very feeble but still, you can get hold of 5mw greens with little effort which are vastly more visible than reds for 300 foot light sabre effects at night.
 
Hotwired said:
No, the laser was a distraction which caused an accident and it was the accident that injured him.

Extremely difficult to cause permanent damage to someones eye with a handheld laser not least of which is your own reflexes protecting you.

Temporary blinding is the most likely worst case from having a laser shone at you.

Laser values in the UK are very feeble but still, you can get hold of 5mw greens with little effort which are vastly more visible than reds for 300 foot light sabre effects at night.
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Thanks to the internet and youtube there's a whole load of idiots with laser pens made from old dvd burner diodes.

(for lighting matches/poping balloons) and the lovely effect of blinding you before you can blink
 
Nikumba said:
tbh just fit the antiflash coating the nuclear bombers use to have, should fix the issue

Kimbie
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I thought the bomber only had anti-flash paint and a special visor on the pilots helmet as the Cockpit was pointing away from the blast so didn't really need it.
 
Tefal said:
I thought the bomber only had anti-flash paint and a special visor on the pilots helmet as the Cockpit was pointing away from the blast so didn't really need it.
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Hmm maybe that is what I am thinking off, but I belived the cockpit windows had some form of anti-flash coating back in the day, probally costs to much now.

Of course the other solution, would be to let the planes land themselves, I belive most of the budget airlines with Airbus aircraft do this anyhow, as Airbus is all fly-by-wire its easier than most of the boeing fleet, however I belive some of their AC are now a hybrid of both systems

Kimbie
 
Nikumba said:
Of course the other solution, would be to let the planes land themselves, I belive most of the budget airlines with Airbus aircraft do this anyhow, as Airbus is all fly-by-wire its easier than most of the boeing fleet, however I belive some of their AC are now a hybrid of both systems

Kimbie
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Thats all ok for airports which have ILS approach equipment!
 
Lol Ross, reminds me of the jet story that got captured by the speed gun, and nearly sent a missile at it :/

I luv my green laser, but i have enough brain cells not to go pointing it at copper choppers and planes.
 
I have a green laser pointer for use with my Astronomy hobby. Its essential for showing people around the sky. Never to be used when there is any sort of aircraft etc about. I would never take the risk. With things the way they are, if they so much as see where it comes from, no doubt they will assume you did everything and arrest you for it.
 
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