Well, any other information?
Something like this happened to some helicopter pilots many years ago. Somebody shot a laser at a military chopper from thier backyard. I believe a college professer.
Fox: Commercial Pilots 'attacked' with laser
Fox News | Greta Van Susteren
Posted on 09/28/2004 8:12:49 PM PDT by ableChair
"Greta Van Susteren reported that a Delta pilot enroute to Salt Lake City was lazed in the cockpit this last Wednesday. Only country I know that has that hardware (for lazing bomber pilots) was the Soviet Union. Pilot reportedly required medical treatment and this was not a minor injury (weak laser) wound. More will come out to tomorrow as this story hits the print press."
It's been years since there was a bash Mormans thread on FR. I don't recall anyone saying they were developing laser weapons to use against airlines, but just about everything else.
This is sick...who ever did this needs to be dropped off a tall building in to a dumpster.
Maybe it was the glare of the sun shining off of John Kerry's orange face?
This is an actual plot device used by Tom Clancy in one of his novels.
Current laser technology renders all pilots in the cockpit of an aircraft totally blind on final approach.
No, the scary thought is this: Imagine someone using this laser weapon against a busy rush-hour freeway. Lasers aren't big bolts of light like you see in Star Wars; the attacker could blind a dozen drivers, cause a major pileup and be on his way before anyone had a chance of spotting him.
It took a long time for Drudge to pick this up. This is a duplicate with no new info.
Origianl thread:
Fox: Commercial Pilots 'attacked' with laser
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1229929/posts
I would like to know a lot more details about this. Most airline pilots have very limited vision out of the cockpit, especially toward the ground. I am not doubting the report, but I am hesitant to take it on face value. The angle that a laser beam would have to enter the eye to damage it is pretty narrow. It will be interesting to see what comes up on this.
how high up was the plane at the time? seems kinda hard to get the right angle into the cockpit?
This has been happening off and on to some of our pilots off our coasts as various governments play with these things from the usual "fishing vessels".
Its always been a military pilot though.
Perhaps someone is playing with one from another plan or, shock gasp, from a sattelite.
Thats the bit about SDI I don't think we've thought thru yet. Its billed as a defensive weapon but in reality it should be able to pick off pretty small targets on the ground as well. At least thats my thought, physicists feel free to disagree. I still think its a good idea but like all weapons it depends on who's at the helm.
Just a thought but...
Is it possible to "laser rangefind" a jetliner at altitude?
Someone scouting a potential attack?