FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Instant criminals

[<rtejera@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

OK, I am a pilot (although inactive for many years) and I have also =
worked in the airline industry.  First, Planes flying over Buckeye hills =
would typically be at an altitude between 8000-10000 ft msl =
(7000-9000agl). Also airliner cockpits windows are on the upper side  of =
the aircraft, and the pilot sit well toward the center of the a/c, =
especially on wide body aircraft. this gives airline pilots a =
notoriously lousy view of the ground directly below them. In order to =
shine a laser into the flight deck windows you would need to be at a =
probably (Pure speculation here) a 45 degree angle to the a/c. There is =
a good discourse about this from some expert in the laser field on my =
astro officers BB. I'll dig up the link and post it here.=20

Again. reality is that the threat is minimal and any incidents are being =
greatly exaggerated. However given the current administrations level of =
paranoia, I don't expect this to go away quietly.

My 1.19840 Bangladesh taka's Worth

Rick

-----Original Message-----
From: Russell Chmela~ [mailto:rchmela@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, January 04, 2005 3:06 PM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Instant criminals=20


A cockpit windscreen in most of the standard airliners is about the
same size as that of an automobile , just double glazed and flat in
its shape.
 =20
  What I find odd about the whole thing is that (and someone with
more laser knowledge help me out here if this is not correct) a beam
from a green pointer would likely diverge and spread if going through
all of that glass at an angle. If coming from the ground, it will be
an angle and a steep one. The amount of power left would be little or
no harm to vision and like Thad said, how can you track a retina with
a hand pointer given the large angle movement between those two?

  The way I see it, its just more paranoia on the part of airlines=20
and government. I would be a lot more worried if that green beam was
trying to lock onto an engine. Instead of worrying about George Lucas
type threats , maybe the security types should be worried about the=20
hundreds of shoulder carried SAM rockets (infrared) out there and=20
be a bit more realistic.=20

Not a pilot, but very enthusiast on aircraft.
Not bored , but photon deprived.
=20
 RC

----------------------------------
 Added bonus thoughts....How big is a cockpit window?  How much control=20
would someone from
say, a mile or two, have to possess to point a laser in that area, even=20
momentarily, while it's moving
at a few hundred mph?  Is it feasible to think that someone *could* do=20
it by *hand*?

I know there are some pilots in the group, what are your thoughts?

Just bored on a Tuesday afternoon,

 =20
--=20


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