Originally Posted by
kecked
ok lets take a toll. How many of you have fired a laser into the air without a permit? I include using a pointer for a guide on a telescope. So if some kid takes his meade telescope out and accidentally hits a plane his life is ruined? There has to be a happy medium here.
How many of you have tried to use your scanner to write on a cloud or on the side of a blimp.....
Dude -
The article you posted might be missing a LOT of detail, but it did say the couple were prosecuted for repeatedly lasing multiple aircraft ~
Hardly the same thing as "accidentally" hitting a plane just because you happened to be shining a laser pointer into the sky...
BTW, it's called intentionally interfering with the flight of an aircraft, which has been a federal offense for MANY years.
Before lasers, the main culprits were high-power spotlights, with the occasional dumbasses that would think it was funny to actually shoot at aircraft.
High-power handheld lasers are just the latest tool being misused by another tool on the ground acting stupid.
(notice I did NOT say anything about "bringing down" an aircraft, just intentionally interfering with flight)
BTW -
Unless it's pre-coordinated & approved, intentionally scanning a blimp could result in similar actions ~
A blimp is still an aircraft, and still protected by federal law.
Last edited by Stuka; 04-07-2014 at 11:46.
RR
Metrologic HeNe 3.3mw Modulated laser, 2 Radio Shack motors, and a broken mirror.
1979.
Sweet.....