Ever wondered what the clowns pointing looser pointers at aircraft look like?

[Vidal Wolf]

Im doing my homework and reading up on what it takes to be able to do outdoor beam shows. Im reading article after article on safety and learning what the rules and regulations are here in the U.S.
Im also learning that any outdoor laser event that is planned and legal will result in a NOTAM (aviation alert for the region around the laser event) and can cause disruption of aircraft routes and schedules.
In digging I came across a site that lists the clowns pointing laser pointers at aircraft.

http://www.laserpointersafety.com/ne...3a-suspect.php


Could this and does it cause problems to legal varianced operators? Has anyone done an outdoor beam show and been questioned by the FAA or other air authority and been blamed for a laser hitting an aircraft? what was the result?

[mixedgas]

Yes, it happened to me once. I got questioned because I was the local variance holder. I had a good answer, I was out of town at the time of the events and could prove it. On a plane no less.

Real source of the problem: Local dance club near the end of the runway was handing out green pointers.
At least that is what was in the local newspaper.

As for hitting a plane, I dont think anyone has EVER discussed it. That sounds like a ILDA List question.

TALK TO PAT MUPRHY at ILDA if you have specific questions on the new "Illegal Lasers in Airspace Law".

Here is how it seems to work:

If its not life threatning or malicious conduct on your part, or its just the annual inspection:

This happened to me exactly once, for a inspection, which really was the questioning for the above airport stuff.

The guy with the badge usually calls ahead, after all, government travel needs authorization. You sign a form notifying you that the Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services/FDA has reason to believe that you may have adulterated product and has demanded a visit to your facility. It reads like a warrent, demands access, but really is not one. Not allowing the inspection gets you in serious hot water, later on. You get handed a carbon copy. You get shown a badge and are handed a business card. Every time you deal with a Fed, you get a business card, and see a badge, no matter what agency. Its SOP. Federal investigators get sent to school in Georgia or DC so they are all on the same page. They are usually nice about it, unless your doing something VERY wrong.

You get grilled/questioned a bit. They ask about your knowledge of procedures and the rules. They may ask to see your gear. Your not getting hauled off to jail, this is adminstrative/civil law, not criminal. They write a short report on site on a standard form and hand you a copy. If you can make corrections on site, you may be back up right then and now. If things are really bad, you get told to cease operations immediately and shut down. Expect more paperwork in the mail later. Said paperwork can be praise, not just punishment.

If something is wrong:

You get a warning letter informing you of the issues found, and informing you you may/may not be fined for X dollars and or where to send the money. You reply with a letter how your going to correct the situation. They agree/disagree and more letters flow back and forth. If things go well, you stay in business after a second inspection and additional paperwork requirements. When the Feds fine you on admin stuff, you get a letter saying how much and where to send the money, no court date unless you protest. Even then, it WILL be an administrative judge who works for the agency who is fining you.

You can find lots of those to read on the FDA web site, and not just for laser shows. Same for FAA, FCC, Customs, other FED agency web sites. Its administrative, you can possibly get fined without going to court. You can get a lawyer etc. But you do not have all the nice constitutional criminal proceedures/checks and balances you learned in high school. The procedures are different.

If you get a visit, be kind and offer a cup of coffee, just state that it's a professional courtesy, not a gift when you do so.

OK, other route, one I have NOT experienced but have heard/read about:

Fed shows up un-announced with local LEO or US Marshal, Local/State Health Department, State Cops, whatever is available. Probably has a warrent.
Gear gets seized, etc You later meet the local Federal district attorney, the hard way. Usually reserved for immediate hazards or people who do not respond
to warning letters. Fines fly and jail gets discussed. Usually no one gets arrested on site. RARE from what I can tell.

From what I have seen in the news, for un-authorized incidents, FAA etc calls the local LEO, ie sheriff, police, first and formost. Simply because they can roll.
You then get a LEO who can't enforce Fed law, but can usually find something to use.

Remember, if your doing your show correctly, they have a phone line to reach you DURING operations, perferably two lines.

If your outdoors,

Good Communication in advance prevents these sorts of nightmares.

Do check the phones and talk with the local facility well in advance.
The controller will treat you like a pilot/serious professional customer when you call. Expect the communications to be short and to the point.
You may have to do some education, and have the NOTAM handy.

--------------------I dont handle outdoors anymore, because its a PITA, but I have friends who still do. I did do some aircraft spotting for a BIG NYC show a year ago. I let my variance lapse, I'd rather work for other laserists then to try and keep a company + a day job.------------------------

PS, SPOTTER 101: The red (Port) light is on the left wing. The green (Starboard) light is on the right wing. If you only see one wing light, they are crossing your path. If you can see both lights, they are heading toward you. If you cannot see either, and see only the other blinking red or steady white lights, they are heading away from you. The landing light is the exception to that.


Steve