Karthik
member
Reged: 11/07/08
Posts: 36
|
|
Saw this in the news today ... I live close to an airport, that is used by lot of small planes , should i avoid using a laser pointer ?
http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/03/two-years-in-jail-for-pointing-a-laser-at-a-plane/
|
RonBurgundy
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 271
Loc: Philadelphia
|
|
Gee wiz... Truth be told, if the airport has a control tower, I would advise asking them about the typical nighttime approach to the airport. If the tower is closed at night, or it is a non-towered airport, I'm not sure. I would hold off on that laser for now. But, like I said, I'm sure one of the air traffic controllers would be more than happy to address your issue.
The laser pointer is by no means illegal. However, from the article, it's clear that there are some serious implications for pranksters who think it's fun to blind pilots. With that being said, I still think that the chances of getting a plane with your laser are pretty small. Can you hear the engines before the airplane flies overhead? Perhaps you can just turn your laser off until the airplane passes safely... Keep us updated on this one, and good luck!
--------------------
Kipp Ginsburg
8" LX200-ACF
Orion 120mm F/5.0 Piggybacked Refractor
Meade UWA Set [4.7mm-30mm]
DSI-II
|
JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 948
Loc: Utah
|
|
Contact your local FFA office and ask if you can use it. My school where I teach is in the flight plan for approaching and landing jets for Salt Lake International. I checked with the FFA and was informed that I am not to use a laser at the school as a building behind the school that was part of the 2002 Olympic games is a landmark for approach and I could interfere with the pilot. I suspected this but wanted to confirm it prior to using a laser to point out constellations to my students.
Out at the dark sites there is no concern about using them there per the FFA agent I talked to, but it is best to always check as to ensure your not pointing out a constellation in the direct flight plan of a plane. It is my understanding that most commercial airlines use pre-arrange flight plans that the FFA keeps them on. So give em a call, they were informative and actually grateful that I called.
--------------------
Jay in Utah
---------------------------
Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
Edited by JayinUT (11/04/09 03:40 PM)
|
Achernar
Postmaster
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 5025
Loc: Mobile, Alabama, USA
|
|
Yes, if there's any chance you'll interfere with a passing aircraft. Lasing a pilot will result in years of time behind bars if you're caught.
Taras
--------------------
15-inch F/4.5 Dob under construction
10-inch F/4.5 Discovery Dob
6-inch F/8 Homebuilt Dob
4 1/4-inch F/4 Homebuilt reflector
A whole bunch of eyepieces, filters and other accessories....
Two curious cats
|
Feidb
super member
Reged: 10/09/09
Posts: 127
Loc: Nevada
|
|
I usually observe within the Eastern approach pattern for McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. I use a green laser pointer. However, I am always careful where I aim it and not only do I watch out for planes, but I am also mindful of anyone nearby trying to image. I've never had a problem with it. A little common sense and courtesy goes a long way to keep one out of the pokie.
--------------------
Present gear:
16" Meade LightBridge
Meade 50mm straight through-finder
Lumicon green laser pointer
Orion Q-70 26mm, 32mm, and 38mm
Parks 2X 2" Barlow
Hyperion 17mm, 8mm
1 1/4" 18mm Russell Optics Bertele
1 1/4" 12.5mm and 6mm Coulter Optical Orthoscopics
1 1/4" X 2" 32mm Edmund Scientific war surplus Erfle
Tirion star atlas (white stars, black background) hand-laminated
Megastar
And a partridge in a pear tree
To nudge or not to nudge, that is the question
|
SteveG
sage
Reged: 09/27/06
Posts: 238
Loc: Seattle, WA
|
|
Folks, you have to try really hard to put a laser in the cockpit of a landing plane. I don't know where this is, but I am assuming this person was purposely pointing the laser at the side of landing/departing aircraft. Go ahead and use your laser - just don't point it at a low altitude aircraft.
BTW, I'm a pilot and someone once purposely followed my plane with a laser. It was surprisingly bright but did not blind me.
--------------------
WO Megrez 110 ED on SP Mount
10" Meade LightBridge
Orion ED 100 on Polaris Mount
6" f8 Edmonds reflector on GP Mount
4.5" F8 Orion EQ Reflector
Astroscan
Meade 226 2.4" f11.7
|
star drop
Guilty as Charged
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 16312
Loc: Snow Plop, WNY
|
|
The Buffalo, NY airport had a laser incident this year. The guys with the laser also shined it at a sheriffs helicopter that came to investigate. The oldest of the trouble makers was 42 years old.
--------------------
Ted
|
sang33ta
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/08/08
Posts: 767
Loc: UK
|
|
If they arrest you your best defence would be this...
How many planes have been downed buy a laser run on 2x 1.5v batteries?
I would guess none! 
--------------------
Hioptic 152mm f12.5 Maksutov, CG5-AGT, Meade Super Plossl Set, Casio QV-2900UX
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25198
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
Quote:
If they arrest you your best defence would be this...
How many planes have been downed buy a laser run on 2x 1.5v batteries?
You know, I've heard the "I wasn't hurting anybody" defense attempted by lots of pro se defendants in various courtrooms over the years. I've never observed it to work, though.
--------------------
John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
|
sang33ta
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/08/08
Posts: 767
Loc: UK
|
|
Seriously though if you are going to put someone in jail for a crime you better make sure there was a crime.
64 million takeoffs and landings per year in the US alone, how many crashed because of a toy laser? I bet you can't find a single one even in the entire world.
--------------------
Hioptic 152mm f12.5 Maksutov, CG5-AGT, Meade Super Plossl Set, Casio QV-2900UX
|
Tombstone Sky
One-Eyed Jack
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 1708
Loc: Tombstone Arizona
|
|
Are they against the law? Depends. There are some federal regulations. There are some state laws. There are some local ordinances. You have to look them up.
More important than "legal" is "safe". Be SURE you read the safety warnings for these things.
--------------------
MJ "Morg" Staley
--------------------
M5 Dark-Site Observatory
Meade 12" f/10 LX90GPS "River"
WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Meade SP 5000 full set, 24mm Meade 5000 UWA,
BO/TMB Planetary 8, 9mm, Nagler 13mmT6
Meade 505/USB/ASU/SNP6
|
Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3469
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
|
|
Quote:
64 million takeoffs and landings per year in the US alone, how many crashed because of a toy laser? I bet you can't find a single one even in the entire world.
No doubt. Airplanes have multiple levels of safety backups; one temporarily blinded pilot isn't likely to crash a plane. But that doesn't mean that it's not a real hazard, a serious offense, and an incredibly stupid and arrogant thing to do.
Think a little laser that runs on AAA cells is a harmless toy? Try shining it into your dark-adapted eyes and report back to us. But I'm warning you right now that it's dangerous, so don't sue me for damages.
--------------------
Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
|
GUNER
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/19/04
Posts: 1615
Loc: Bedminster,NJ USA
|
|
Quote:
Seriously though if you are going to put someone in jail for a crime you better make sure there was a crime...
Well it's a crime in the US to point a laser at a plane so he got whatever the punishment is. Hopefully others will learn from this moron before they outright ban ownership.
--------------------
Thomas
17mm ETHOS NEAF Door Prize
THANK-YOU TELEVUE!!!!
12" SuperCharged LX-200 GPS
TAK SKY 90 on a Vixen Skypod
Stacked GOLD!PST/EXT-70AT/DSX-125
Infinity 2-1 CCD Camera with Lucam Recorder
Custom Scientific 1.25" LRGB filters
|
starcam
sage
Reged: 09/24/07
Posts: 316
Loc: MD
|
|
I have a couple of green lasers, there are too many planes traveling overhead. I'm just not taking a chance of one crossing the lasers path. I'm not really near an airport, 20 miles.
Those guys were blatantly pointing at the planes it seems.
Don't know if the feds would differentiate the occurance.
--------------------
Celestron 9.25 SCT f/10 fl/2350
Stellarvue SV102ED2 F/7 fl/710
William Optics Megrez 72mm F/6 fl/432mm
Coronado PST
CG-5
UWAN 28mm
Panoptic 22mm
Televue 7T6,13T6,15wf,11
Pentax XW 7,10,20,40 / XO 5 / Zoom 8-24
RKE 8,12,15,21,28
Hyperion 5,8,17/13
TMB 2.5,4,6II,7,9
Brandon 6,8,12,16
UO HD 7mm
Oberwerk bino 15x70
Burgess 8x42 bino
WO binoviewer
|
Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3469
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
|
|
Quote:
I have a couple of green lasers, there are too many planes going overhead. I'm just not taking a chance of one crossing the lasers path.
I don't think there's any real hazard. Airplanes are very easy to see at night; just make sure you don't point anywhere near them. And if you use a green laser as a finder for your scope, make sure that you turn it off when it's not in active use.
I think there's a widespread misunderstanding of lasers. The reason that they're dangerous is precisely the same as the reason they're safe. If that beam shines directly into your eyes, even from several miles away, it's going to be painfully bright. The reason that's true, despite the very small amount of power involved, is that all the energy is packed into an unbelievably tight bundle. Looking at a laser from 1000 feet is like holding a flashlight one inch from your eyeball.
By the same token, if you stand 1000 feet from someone with a laser, and he shines it a few degrees away from you, you'll barely see a thing. It's like a bullet -- either it hits you or it doesn't.
Those incidents with aircraft happen only when people are intentionally trying to tag the plane. The chances of doing it by accident are extremely small.
--------------------
Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
|
Tombstone Sky
One-Eyed Jack
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 1708
Loc: Tombstone Arizona
|
|
Tony, in my opinion your response is totally irresponsible. It's like saying it's ok to fire a gun into the air because the chances of the bullet falling and injuring someone is minor.
A tuned 5mW GLP can reach to 25000'. They can distract, or temporarily blind, aircraft pilots, which is not only not good, but is specifically prosecutable. If that pilot is in a landing pattern, the consequences can be horrific. I will also add, in this day and age, the very sight of a laser in the air will distract a pilot.
They can also cause temporary blindness in automobile drivers, which can clearly cause accidents (read: kill people).
Irresponsible use of these things is why laws are popping up prohibiting them. Insensitive opinions like yours are part of the reason why. And I would also remind those who think these GLPs are "cute" that reckless endangerment, the catch-all for irresponsible people and on the books just about everywhere, can carry felony weight and don't exempt amateur astronomers.
|
Tony Flanders
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 3469
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
|
|
Quote:
Tony, in my opinion your response is totally irresponsible.
Sorry, are you responding to my post or someone else's? It almost sounds as though you didn't read what I wrote.
Yes, of course shining a laser at an airplane or a car is irresponsible and illegal. As I specifically said in my post, the danger from doing that is far greater than most people realize.
What I said is that the chances of shining a laser into an airplane's cockpit by accident are vanishingly small. And you can eliminate even that minuscule risk simply by looking where you're aiming the laser and avoiding any moving light.
--------------------
Tony Flanders
First and foremost observing love: naked eye.
Second, binoculars.
Last but not least, telescopes.
And I sometimes dabble with cameras.
|
94bamf
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/15/08
Posts: 716
Loc: Kansas City,Mo
|
|
The better question is, how would they find you? Unless you were using the thing non-stop, how would they determine your location? It seems to me if you pay attention(watch for planes) to what you are doing, you shouldn't have a problem.
Ken
--------------------
Telescopes:
Celestron C6 SCT on CG4 mount
Skywatcher 8 inch F/5 Newt on a GEM
Celestron 8 inch Starhopper Dob
Celestron Oynx 80ED
Celestron C130 Mak
Celestron C102HD
Binoculars:
Nikon 7x35 Action
Nikon 7x50 Action
Zen Ray Summit 10x42
Celestron 10x42 Noble
Orion 10x50 Scenix
Celestron 10x50 Noble
Pentax 12x50 PCF WP II
Celestron 15x70 Skymaster
Oberwerk 20x60
Zhumell 20x80
|
alpal
sage
Reged: 06/15/09
Posts: 204
|
|
In Australia they are illegal to use without permission
except for the tiny ones under 1mW.
Even then it's illegal to point it into the sky at a plane.
The powerful green lasers are dangerous & a pilot was
temporarily blinded by one last year when coming in
to land at Sydney.
Be careful guys - you can do serious jail time!
--------------------
Location: Melbourne Australia.
8" f6 custom built Newtonian with
EQ6 Pro mount.
Takahashi LE 5mm eyepiece & 2 x Tak. Barlow.
Williams Optics Eyepieces - 2" 40mm & 25mm, 1.25" 15mm & 9mm.
Saxon 11 x 70 binos.
Set of 11 Hirsh Optics 1.25" filters.
Set of 4 Orion 2" filters.
Antares 1.25" ALP filter.
+ One cheap 4.5" Newt. complete with eyepieces.
|
Arcadio
member
Reged: 09/16/09
Posts: 24
|
|
And now for the newbie question: why do you need a laser pointer while using a telescope?
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 