"After *AVweb* carried a story<http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/laser_incidents_increase_danger_pilots_203991-1.html>on the topic in January, amateur astronomers wrote to let us know they use lasers to aim their telescopes.However it's probably safe to assume that most of the laser incidents are pranks or malicious and that's what the law is aimed at. The practice is particularly worrisome to law enforcement agencies because if their aircraft are illuminated by a laser the pilots have to assume they're being sighted in by a rifle on the ground and break off from whatever they're doing." Say what they will, I don't think law enforcement is going to care if it was an accident or not and I expect to hear in not so distant future that some amateur is arrested. The responsibility will still lie with the amateur to find out if using a GLP in a certain area is safe. A couple of years ago I contacted the FFA out of Seattle about using mine at my school or the general area and was told that it was a no go for approval. Basically the FFA chief up there said that if your in a flight plan for Salt Lake International don't use it so I never have. I had also inquired about several spots that I observe from and was informed that due to military fly overs and approaching aircraft to Salt Lake International it was in my best interest to avoid those areas also with the GLP. Spending 5 years in a Federal Prison with Bubba is not my idea of fun. I've read though never seen that some clubs have made a pointer out of a strong red flashlight and guess I'll to research that. A laser is handy for pointing out the constellations and visual objects but I guess there are other options. I've read something about pencil beam flashlights being converted to this purpose. Guess I need to do some research. On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 1:55 AM, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com>wrote:
Laser Pointing Might Be Federal Crime
http://www.avweb.com/eletter/archives/bizav/1846-full.html#204196
patrick
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