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12 Jan 10
13:41
Joined:
Date Joined:
27 Apr 07
what is wrong with people?
The number of incidents of people shining lasers at planes has increased more than twenty-five fold over the last two years.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that there were 29 incidents in 2007, which had increased to 737 by 2009.
Dazzling a pilot could be a safety risk, the CAA said, particularly during take-off and landing.
A new law was brought in on 1 January, which together with new detection equipment, could increase convictions.
Laser pens are normally used as pointers in presentations.
But a quick look on the internet shows how easy it is to purchase one much more powerful than needed for that purpose. About £20 to £30 will buy a pen capable of shining a light 6000ft.
New offence
Previously anyone caught shining a laser at an aircraft could have been charged with recklessly endangering an aircraft.
The new offence allows offenders to be charged with shining a light at an aircraft so as to dazzle the pilot. The CAA expects this to increase the conviction rate as it is easier to prove.
And incidents of this type are rising rapidly. At London Heathrow airport there were just two incidents in 2007, but two years later that had risen to 29.
In Manchester, incidents over that time rose from three to 51, whilst in Glasgow they went from zero to 42.
As well as the new law, police are also trialling equipment which allows them to record details of the laser beam.
The CAA said that this is unique to each device, similar to a fingerprint, so will make it easier to prove who was responsible for the attack.
"I advise individuals who may think shining a laser at an aircraft is a bit of fun, to think again," said Bob Jones, the CAA's head of flight operations. "The chances of getting caught are increasing rapidly and, once caught, criminal charges are now inevitable."
So far, it is not thought that any serious incidents have been caused by laser attacks.
But just over a year ago a pilot coming in to land at Plymouth was dazzled by a laser and forced to abort his landing to fly around for another attempt.
The worry is if an attack comes when the pilot is dealing with other difficult circumstances - a strong wind, for example - it could lead to a potential disaster.
The number of incidents of people shining lasers at planes has increased more than twenty-five fold over the last two years.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that there were 29 incidents in 2007, which had increased to 737 by 2009.
Dazzling a pilot could be a safety risk, the CAA said, particularly during take-off and landing.
A new law was brought in on 1 January, which together with new detection equipment, could increase convictions.
Laser pens are normally used as pointers in presentations.
But a quick look on the internet shows how easy it is to purchase one much more powerful than needed for that purpose. About £20 to £30 will buy a pen capable of shining a light 6000ft.
New offence
Previously anyone caught shining a laser at an aircraft could have been charged with recklessly endangering an aircraft.
The new offence allows offenders to be charged with shining a light at an aircraft so as to dazzle the pilot. The CAA expects this to increase the conviction rate as it is easier to prove.
And incidents of this type are rising rapidly. At London Heathrow airport there were just two incidents in 2007, but two years later that had risen to 29.
In Manchester, incidents over that time rose from three to 51, whilst in Glasgow they went from zero to 42.
As well as the new law, police are also trialling equipment which allows them to record details of the laser beam.
The CAA said that this is unique to each device, similar to a fingerprint, so will make it easier to prove who was responsible for the attack.
"I advise individuals who may think shining a laser at an aircraft is a bit of fun, to think again," said Bob Jones, the CAA's head of flight operations. "The chances of getting caught are increasing rapidly and, once caught, criminal charges are now inevitable."
So far, it is not thought that any serious incidents have been caused by laser attacks.
But just over a year ago a pilot coming in to land at Plymouth was dazzled by a laser and forced to abort his landing to fly around for another attempt.
The worry is if an attack comes when the pilot is dealing with other difficult circumstances - a strong wind, for example - it could lead to a potential disaster.
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Not read it.....is this the mobile laser-eye treatment...?
The Magic Flea 12 Jan 14:41
what is wrong with people?
The number of incidents of people shining lasers at planes has increased more than twenty-five fold over the last two years.
Unfortunately the more publicity it receives the worse it becomes. So by that reckoning you are partly to blame.
what is wrong with people?
The number of incidents of people shining lasers at planes has increased more than twenty-five fold over the last two years.
Unfortunately the more publicity it receives the worse it becomes. So by that reckoning you are partly to blame.
Probably more chance of distracting a pilot by throwing knickers at the windscreen while the planes on the fkg ground !!!
The other night in vancouver, someone kept firing one at the Calgary goalie
Wait till drogba gets hit. He'll crumble like a gunshot victim covering his eyes ;)
was just thinking it's surprising it doesn't happen at sports events moreoften.
ffs. Can just imagine next man utd v liverpool match. It will be like star wars all over again now.
wonder if a horse could be nobbled in running?
Storm in a tea cup,imo.When planes are that low,they're landing by computer.
mind you the jocks are good enough at that not to have to bother with the extra risk
naydam,yes,they all fly-by-wire now.Pilots probably stuffing a stewardess while it lands.
I didn'ty realise that all aircraft have the ability to land/take off by computer control. Makes you wonder how they manage to crash at all. Especially when computers are infallible. I didn'teven know that all aircraft have stewardesses (or should that be hostesses), I thought they only inhabited airliners and private hire Lear jets.
Fly-by-wire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCwYAzqvcrQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCwYAzqvcrQ
What happens is the autopilot flies the plane at the correct headings until it intercepts the glidescope (which is the correct approach pattern as set by the on ground instrument landing system). When the glidescope is intercepted, the pilot switches on the APPR switch to initiate the approach. The plane then follows the glidescope down while the pilot sets the correct throttle and flap settings.
Once the plane reaches 300ft, the autopilot is disengaged and the pilot flares the nose up slightly manually to ensure a smooth landing. The plane lands, reverse thrust and brakes are applied and the plane is brought to a halt.
There you go!
Once the plane reaches 300ft, the autopilot is disengaged and the pilot flares the nose up slightly manually to ensure a smooth landing. The plane lands, reverse thrust and brakes are applied and the plane is brought to a halt.
There you go!
You can still land safely with a blocked pitot tube. It only registers airspeed, it does'nt control it. I am sure that nowadays planes dont just rely on pitot tubes for airspeed indication.
It also registers altitude. The computer doesn't have the abilty to ignre conflicting signals. Sometimes it requires the pilot to ignore the computer and just fly the aircraft. The computer can't ignore itsself.
So how does the pilot know the correct speed and altitude if the readings are incorrect?
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