Posted on 11/25/2008 9:40:21 AM PST by Yo-Yo
US authorities are investigating an apparent laser incident on an American Airlines Boeing MD-82 preparing to land in Austin, Texas, Sunday evening.
According to the preliminary incident report issued by FAA yesterday, American flight 479 with 111 passengers and five crew was descending into Austin after a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth at approximately 1830 central time when pilots reported "an intense green laser light flash into the cockpit" about 10mi from the airport.
FAA says one crew member was transported to the hospital with an eye injury. American Airlines confirmed that the first officer was treated at a local hospital and released.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is handling the investigation, did not have further details as of this morning.
I believe the green lasers go way beyond the “toy” category. That’s some serious power behind those things.
If it is an actual eye injury, I would expect it would be from a special-type laser, not a standard laser pointer. A split-second exposure to a standard laser pointer would not cause an eye injury.
It’d have to be a fairly powerful laser to cause an injury like that. 10 miles out you’re looking at being at least 1,000 feet up, perhaps more.
Excuse my ignorance, but what would this type of laser be normally used for?
And even lasers diffuse over distance and through a windshield.
Green laser pointers in the US aren’t supposed to have enough power to cause such a problem, especially at such distances and fleeting moments.
However, some pointers from outside the country would be stronger, but high-powered green lasers would be specialized items meant for terrorism or special research.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_pointer
How does one aim a fast moving target ten miles away? I suspect this takes a sophisticated piece of equipment. This is not a consummer device.
One of my dogs LOVES to chase her laser pointer toy. I’m always careful not to point at her eyes.
see private email
The unique thing about a green laser (at night) is that you can see the beam. This makes it very useful for stargazing, pointing out constelations to others.
You can use lasers as target designators. They mount to rifles. You aim the laser by aiming the rifle.
Ping for later.
They make great tools to designate things out at long range. For example, many astronomy clubs use similar pointers to teach by pointing to constellations. I have heard of the military using them for fire control of ground troops (NCOs and officers directing fire on to specific targets). But I believe the most common use is for a pointer during a presentation to a large audience.
The green laser is visible in transition where the red laser is only visible at the reflection point. This can provide advantages in helping to point.
The cockpit was breached by the laser 10 miles from Bergstrom IAP. That doesn’t mean that the laser was 10 miles from the aircraft. I suspect that the aircraft was on a straight in final approach from DFW to runway 17L and at a relatively low altitude when it was lazed (probably head on, making it easier to track at a short and closing distance).
Oh, that makes perfect sense. Thank you!
Possible terrorist attack?
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