I saw some interviews by pilots that had been struck by laser pointers. It causes blindness for several minutes, really dangerous for helicopter pilots as temporary loss of horizon can cause crashes. I talked to a helicopter pilot that flew out of a cloud bank thinking he was flying level, he was actually flying on his side.

For fixed wing planes seems many incidents happen when they getting ready to land, not a good time to go blind. It is not an innocent prank. "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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Ditto!! I'm very responsible with my laser pointers and I have no qualms about using them since I am so careful. Now if I could get my hands on a 100mW I might not be so responsible ;-) --- On Wed, 3/2/11, Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Chuck Hards <chuck.hards@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Laser Pointing Might Be Federal Crime To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 11:38 AM Any federal laws aside, in the state of Utah it is illegal to point a laser (any color) at a vehicle, person, or animal.  Seems pretty clear to me.

Years ago we used those big 5 D-cell flashlights as a star pointer. You slip a cardboard tube over the end so no white light leaks out. They work just as well as a laser, albeit not nearly as cool.

I'm going to continue to use my laser for astronomy.  It would be up to any arresting officer to prove illegal use in court, and I'd certainly be willing to take a polygraph test if it ever came to that.

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YIKES! --- On Wed, 3/2/11, Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski@hawaii.rr.com> wrote:

From: Rob Ratkowski Photography <ratkwski@hawaii.rr.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Laser Pointing Might Be Federal Crime To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 12:23 PM Aloha from Maui

One of the things I do here is work for UH IfA which has a contract w/ NASA to operate the TLRS-4 Ranging Laser  ( http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=720 ).  We ping satellites and get timings for NASA. I work as a Laser Range Safety Officer and my job is to spot aircraft that may be near the beam path as well as during calibrations to make sure that people and/or vehicles are not near the calibration retro-reflectors.

It was calculated that w/ the laser output and the narrow pulse width at full power output, the beam leaves the station w/ 1.1 gigawatts of output.  When operating at this output, no aircraft out to 75 miles cannot come w/in 20º of the beam.  The beam is not visible during the day, at night, a great laser light show!!  We watch for aircraft visually and w/ a synthetic radar on the laptop and it was calculated that even w/o observers that a possible hit (according to NASA) would happen once in 50 years.  Lighting up an aircraft at 50 miles out would cause permanent eye damage immediately, so far we have been 100% safe.

Aloha Rob

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Remember what I said at last months board meeting. "When lasers are outlawed only outlaws will have lasers". Steve ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patrick Wiggins" <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 2, 2011 3:36:38 PM Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Laser Pointing Might Be Federal Crime My concern is that it'll get so bad with jerks lighting up airplanes that the government will do like in Australia and require laser licenses. patrick   On 02 Mar 2011, at 11:38, Chuck Hards wrote:

Any federal laws aside, in the state of Utah it is illegal to point a laser (any color) at a vehicle, person, or animal.  Seems pretty clear to me.

Years ago we used those big 5 D-cell flashlights as a star pointer. You slip a cardboard tube over the end so no white light leaks out. They work just as well as a laser, albeit not nearly as cool.

I'm going to continue to use my laser for astronomy.  It would be up to any arresting officer to prove illegal use in court, and I'd certainly be willing to take a polygraph test if it ever came to that.

_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

Now there's a business idea. A GLP leather holder for the belt with the message on the side that says "Only out of my Cold, Dead Hands." Then sell them online for a profit and see what happens. Might buy some extra astro-equipment . . . or not. On Wed, Mar 2, 2011 at 5:35 PM, Joe Bauman <josephmbauman@yahoo.com> wrote:

Since this is Utah, you laser-packin' fellas won't have to bother with a concealed laser permit ....

--- On Wed, 3/2/11, Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> wrote:

...

From: Patrick Wiggins <paw@wirelessbeehive.com> Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Laser Pointing Might Be Federal Crime To: "Utah Astronomy" <utah-astronomy@mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 3:36 PM My concern is that it'll get so bad with jerks lighting up airplanes that the government will do like in Australia and require laser licenses.

patrick

On 02 Mar 2011, at 11:38, Chuck Hards wrote:

...

Any federal laws aside, in the state of Utah it is illegal to point a laser (any color) at a vehicle, person, or animal. Seems pretty clear to me.

Years ago we used those big 5 D-cell flashlights as a star pointer. You slip a cardboard tube over the end so no white light leaks out. They work just as well as a laser, albeit not nearly as cool.

I'm going to continue to use my laser for astronomy. It would be up to any arresting officer to prove illegal use in court, and I'd certainly be willing to take a polygraph test if it ever came to that.

_______________________________________________ Utah-Astronomy mailing list Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy Visit the Photo Gallery: http://www.slas.us/gallery2/main.php Visit the Wiki: http://www.utahastronomy.com

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-- Jay Eads

Hi all, Here's an excerpt on laser attacks on aircraft from the current March/April issue of "FAA Safety Briefing" that just came out today. patrick A Blinding Flash You are enjoying the beauty and peace of a night flight. Suddenly, something catches your eye—literally. You are briefly aware of a blinding green light. Then, it seems as if you were punched in the eye. You instinctively close your eyes and try to avoid moving the flight controls in any way. The light subsides and, shaken, you land at the closest airport. Ideally, you have not experienced this kind of close encounter with a ground-based laser pointer, but you need to be aware of this growing hazard. In 2010, the FAA received reports of more than 2,200 laser illumination incidents, up from around 300 just five years ago. California, Florida, and Texas recorded the most, but no place is immune with the widespread availability of cheap and powerful handheld laser pointers. An FAA research team at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) found that while the chances of permanent laser damage are remote, the immediate effects of laser exposure are especially debilitating when the eyes are adapted to low-level cockpit lighting. Physiological effects include glare, flash blindness, and afterimage. Glare—when an object in the field of vision appears obscured by a bright light source located near the same line of sight. Flash blindness—a temporary loss of vision that gradually fades after the light source has been removed. Afterimage—a temporary image in the visual field after exposure to a bright light, like the spot of light you see after a camera flash. The CAMI researchers noted that the distraction created by a laser illumination incident is significant and developed a list of recommended actions: • Anticipate—When operating in a known or suspected laser environment, the non-flying pilot (if present) should be prepared to take control of the aircraft. Consider showing non-pilot passengers how to maintain the established flight path. Laser attacks are most frequently reported near airports, occur between 7:00 and 11:00 p.m., and between 2,000 and 10,000 feet AGL. • Aviate—Check aircraft configuration and consider engaging the autopilot (if installed) or keep the aircraft trimmed for “hands-off” control of heading and altitude. • Navigate—While avoiding abrupt maneuvers, consider using the aircraft fuselage to block the laser beam by carefully climbing or turning away from the laser source. • Communicate—Inform ATC with as much detail as possible, including location/direction of the beam and your location and altitude. • Illuminate—Turn up cockpit lights to minimize further illumination effects. For more information, see “Blinded by the Light” in the July/Aug. 2009 issue of FAA Safety Briefing. • Delegate—If another crewmember has avoided exposure, consider handing over control to that person. • Attenuate—Shield your eyes. Do not look directly at the laser beam and avoid drawing others’ attention to the beam. • Do Not Exacerbate—Avoid rubbing your eyes. • Evaluate—If visual symptoms persist after landing, see an ophthalmologist. Please report any in-flight laser encounters: see page 4 of AC 70-2 (www.faa.gov/regulations_ policies/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/ document.information/documentID/23081), call (202) 267-5289, or e-mail LaserReports@faa.gov).