Laser Pointers

**retailer** · 2012/07/18, 07:39 AM

Hi all on this section, I need your help to raise awareness. We as pilots are experiencing a huge problem and danger in aviation. It occurs frequently that people point green laser pointers at aircraft at night. This actually blinds the pilots as the laser beam chages from a beam to a flash as it hits the cockpit windows. Some people were arrested in Bloemfontein for pointing these lasers at helicopters. I know I am talking to sensible people here and want to ask you to please make others aware of this problem and of the dangers of pointing these devices at aircraft at night. We might get a situation where authorities might ban these pointers and that would be sad for those who use them for what they are intended for. http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89016

A topic from "Avcom" about these incidents. There is also a couple of clips on Youtube where you can see the affect it has in the cockpit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iI7Qq1mYQlI

**Henris** · 2012/07/18, 07:42 AM

I don't have a laser light, but I must admit. I never even gave it a 2nd thought.

I take note....

**retailer** · 2012/07/18, 07:55 AM

Thanks Henri, and when in Potties again, at least pop in and say Hi. First shop on your left as you enter Potties from Polokwane :-)

**Henris** · 2012/07/18, 08:05 AM

Fruit and veg? Was in there on Saturday morning. Got some biltong. Very nice I might add.

**mfuwefarmer** · 2012/07/18, 08:08 AM

I do have a lazer pointer but cant believe that people can be so daft to point at aircraft.

**SteveB** · 2012/07/18, 08:09 AM

Pointing lasers at planes is just plain stupid, but what I find more concerning in that story is that a private organisation seems to have the authority to close airspace over a city for their own private purposes.

The arrest of the three comes after acting national police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said on Thursday a no-fly zone had been declared above Bloemfontein and that the airspace in the area will be monitored during the ANC centenary celebrations over the weekend.

I wonder if they'd ban planes from flying over my neighbourhood while we hold my dad's 70th birthday party next weekend, or would they only consider it if he was turning 100?

Another case of TIA, I guess.

**retailer** · 2012/07/18, 08:09 AM

Originally Posted by Henris

Fruit and veg? Was in there on Saturday morning. Got some biltong. Very nice I might add.

Dankie, jy bars as jy nie volgende keer kom groet nie, hiers altyd koffie!

**retailer** · 2012/07/18, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by SteveB

Pointing lasers at planes is just plain stupid, but what I find more concerning in that story is that a private organisation seems to have the authority to close airspace over a city for their own private purposes.

I wonder if they'd ban planes from flying over my neighbourhood while we hold my dad's 70th birthday party next weekend, or would they only consider it if he was turning 100?

Another case of TIA, I guess.

We had a lot of airspace closures and limitations during the world cup. Africa is not to blame, it's the clowns who pilotted the airliners into the World Trade Centre!

**cockroach** · 2012/07/18, 08:37 AM

someone gave my 9 year old one for his birthday, and I cannot believe how powerful they are! However, they know full well that they don't get shone at eyes, or ANY vehicles, be it on the road or in the air! Outside, never without supervision, just in case.

**lchetty** · 2012/07/18, 08:57 AM

We discovered another use for these green laser lights! During the month of April, we had some family over one evening. Most of the guests had parked on the road and everytime one of them left with their vehicle, a green laser light was pointed at the people and cars. We did not think much about it, until the last one left and the we got hijacked in our driveway. This laser pointer seems to be used as a marker for the hijackers, so beaware. Lawrence

**jab2** · 2012/07/18, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by cockroach

someone gave my 9 year old one for his birthday, and I cannot believe how powerful they are! However, they know full well that they don't get shone at eyes, or ANY vehicles, be it on the road or in the air! Outside, never without supervision, just in case.

cockroach, do you know why the person choose a laser as a birthday present for a 9 year old over a million other cool toys I can think of?

Outside military use we started using lasers as pointers in meetings and lectures. Then the astronomers discovered that more powerful green lasers was pretty useful in pointing out stars during stargazing outings. Suddenly every cool cat and his mate have to have one and the output power is steadily increasing. The fact that there are a power limit by law does not seems to make a difference as it is virtually impossible to regulate.

I just cannot understand what is the need for 99.9% of the people having one. I have an emergency flashlight with a strobe and a red laser pointer in. Apart from annoying a dog or cat from time to time I have never found a USEFUL use for the laser part.

I would be glad if someone (not only cockroach) can tell me what the attraction of these devises are.

**cockroach** · 2012/07/18, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by jab2

cockroach, do you know why the person choose a laser as a birthday present for a 9 year old over a million other cool toys I can think of?

Sheer insanity? It's the only reason I can think of. However, it was from another 9 year old.

To be fair, it is actually one which has a pattern filter on it, so I think the idea is more for it to create a dikskou in your room. Unfortunately, the filter is the first thing that falls off.

The uses I can think of:
1. A laser pointer is incredibly useful for presentations.
2. With adult supervision - education. Amazing to teach the kids about light, reflection, refraction, etc. with it. Also at night it shows clearly how much rubbish is in the air we breathe all the time.
3. In the cape winter, it exercises our dumb mutt. She doesn't go insane chasing it if you move it around slightly, but she will run up and down the passage after it, avoiding the need for tracking loads of mud in the house.

I assume there are a bunch of other scientific uses, but for the average Joe Citizen, nothing much.

**Sawdust** · 2012/07/18, 09:24 AM

I have a green one and played around with it at the 1st camping trip. Pretty impressive, even on an overcast day. Haven't touched it since but was thinking of mounting it on my pellet gun, just for fun.

I also think it is not ideal for a 9 year old.

**cockroach** · 2012/07/18, 10:20 AM

Originally Posted by Dawid

I also think it is not ideal for a 9 year old.

I agree with you on this one. I wouldn't have done it myself, but you never know some people

Hence the adult supervision requirement. If not, it gets confiscated.

**retailer** · 2012/07/18, 02:09 PM

These powerful green laser pointers is used to point out stars, constellations and planets. Very usefull when in the right hands. It would be sad if it gets regulated like a firearm. Imagine if you need a license to own one because of a couple of idiots pointing it at aircraft!

**jab2** · 2012/07/19, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by retailer

These powerful green laser pointers is used to point out stars, constellations and planets. Very usefull when in the right hands. It would be sad if it gets regulated like a firearm. Imagine if you need a license to own one because of a couple of idiots pointing it at aircraft!

That is about the best use I have seen, as I mentioned in my previous post. I have friends who are pilots and others who are amateur astronomers, and some who are both, so am sort of in between the usefulness and the annoyance. If the misuse is increasing, and it seems it is, then regulation will follow. I would hate to have this very useful tool in astronomical teaching be taken away, but I get frustrated by the lack of education about its uses, and misuse from the astronomical fraternity. Yes, some do point out the danger of pointing towards aircraft, but these people are in the minority, it seems. The only group currently giving green lasers any airtime are the aviation crowd, and that is invariably the regulate to death, and shoot the perpetrator kind of response. I would have thought the astronomical crowd would be a little bit more vocal, and visible in making an effort to education people on the dangers of the misuse of lasers, specially the more powerful green ones.

**SimonB** · 2012/07/19, 08:54 AM

Originally Posted by retailer

These powerful green laser pointers is used to point out stars, constellations and planets. Very usefull when in the right hands. It would be sad if it gets regulated like a firearm. Imagine if you need a license to own one because of a couple of idiots pointing it at aircraft!

You already need a permit to own the more powerful ones. They'll just change the threshold

Sent from my Motorola DynaTAC

**Escape** · 2012/08/14, 04:13 PM

Hi Friends!
Is it allowed to bring in a 5 mW alt. 50 mW astronomy laser pointer to South Africa from Europe? We are in a planning stage for 3 groups of birdwatchers and photo freaks.
Plese, advice.
Lennart - Sweden