FBI warns pilots to look away from unexpected light

[question everything]

FBI warns pilots to look away from unexpected light

Dec 9, 2004

As airlines gear up for a heavy travel holiday season, a new FBI threat assessment suggests terrorists may use military-grade laser blinding systems to down planes

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is warning airline pilots to look immediately away from unexpected sources of light in a new alert that suggests terrorists may use military-grade laser blinding systems to down planes.

(snip)

The bulletin, obtained by The Asian Pacific Post, is dated Nov. 22, 2004 and titled ‘Potential Laser Threat‘.

It is understood that the FBI is investigating at least three recent lasing incidents in the United States. It, however, does not believe that the incidents are terrorist-related.

The first was on Sept 22, 2004 where a beam of green light hit an aircraft approaching the Salt Lake City airport in Utah. The incident caused retina burns on a first officer who has been temporarily removed from flight status.

The second occurred on November 7, 2004 at the San Diego Airport where three commercial airliners reported observing green lights coming from a direction northeast of the runway after departure.

The third occurred two days later near Houston International Airport where flight crews on four aircraft observed a green laser light shining into the air near the Conroe, Texas area, about 25 miles northwest of the airport.


More..
http://www.asianpacificpost.com/news/article/287.html

[havocmom]

1. Makes ya wonder what new toys the DOD has to play with too.

They seem preoccupied with methods to take out machines. Energy pulses and satellites to disrupt communication... why not light shows to zap retinas. Perhaps it is just some side effect of other things?

Where, oh where is my tin foil bonnet? And goggles, I need my goggles.

[Jurgis]

2. Don't forget...

to line the soles of your shoes with foil. Prevents laser hot-foot when flying.

[GreenPartyVoter]

4. Huh, so THAT's where all the DOD $$$ has gone. Bet our kids

in Iraq feel extra safe now!

------------------------------------------------------
Join the NEW Boston Tea Party!
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[signmike]

3. Police use 'Night Sun' lights

on their helicopters to catch the bad guys at night. They love to show it on "Cops", but they don't ever tell you what happens if you look at the light. A few years ago a couple kids bought one of those lights at an Army surplus store and shined it up at a police helicopter -- blinding the cops in it. Hahahaha - I say turn about is fair play. They had a tough time landing that night, and of course the kids caught Hell for the prank, the little 'insurgents'!
With all the cop chases they do here in L.A., they never warn the public not to look up at the lights - they shine that damned thing on thousands of freeway drivers every night.

[htuttle]

5. "Military grade laser blinding systems"

We have those? If we do, it's yet another war crime. You can't use a laser system for the explicit purpose of blinding human beings.

Article 1 of the Geneva Convention's Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons
"It is prohibited to employ laser weapons specifically designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced vision."

Of course, Article 3 says that if it only happens 'accidentally' or as a 'side effect', then it's okay. But if it's called a 'military grade laser blinding sysetm', it's not a side effect.

I know 'the terrorists' will use them anyway, but are WE terrorists? (ya, ya, I already know the answer to that one...)

[cheezus]

6. but what if they crash and die?

they're just supposed to go to hell?

[crispini]

7. I KNEW IT!

I kept hearing about these weird incidents on the news and I thought to myself, "hmmm, new terrorist tactic."

:grr:

[soothsayer]

9. yeah, those reports are strange. I've heard a few and thought

wtf?

[haele]

8. Hmmm...

MCRD San Diego and Miramar MCAS are northeast of the runway. There's an Air Force base servicing Globemasters near Conroe TX, and the UANG has a base near the Salt Lake City airport.

Wonder if there's might be military air ops practice involving green lasers for pointers.

:tinfoilhat:

Of course, it could just be the usual kids playing amature astonomer and using a high power KTP laser to point out meteor shower sources or constellations. Some of these lasers can cause slight tissue burning up to a quarter mile off or so.

http://www.shorelaser.com/AboutLasersGen.html


Haele

[Zinfandel]

10. American intelligence has long had technology to bring down any plane

at any time without a trace as to what caused the engine failure.