The Growing Laser Threat To Aircraft: the intentional shining of lasers on aircraft is on the rise.

Terrorists?

The FBI and Homeland Security Department have issued memos to law enforcement agencies stating that evidence indicates terrorists have considered using lasers as weapons. Federal officials have found no evidence any incidents to date are part of a terrorist plot. In a speech delivered in 2005, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta stated, “Let me address the security issue. There is no specific or credible intelligence that would indicate that these laser incidents are connected to terrorists. As far as we know, lasers are not the terrorists’ weapon of choice. Nor is there any evidence that these incidents are terrorists practicing for use of other weapons, as some have speculated. Unfortunately, most incidents have been linked to persons who have decided just for the thrill of it, to laser an aircraft.”

Since June of 2008, people have been arrested and charged in cases in Ohio, Texas, Florida, California and Massachusetts in which the lasers have been shined into the cockpit windows of aircraft in flight. The green laser pointers, sold online for less than $50, are many times brighter than red lasers and are used for presentations and to point at stars. When aimed at aircraft, however, they are bright enough to temporarily blind pilots. According to one police report, an incident occurred when a suspect pointed a laser at a State Patrol helicopter while it was flying over Minneapolis. The pilot was forced to land the helicopter when temporarily blinded. Investigation of the case has been referred to the FBI. Officers should be aware that these incidents are both federal and quite likely state criminal offenses. In New York State for example, a person could be charged at the state level for Reckless Endangerment in a laser incident.

The Danger of Lasers

Although it is unlikely a standard, commercially available laser could down an airliner there is still a significant threat. Shaoul Ezekiel , Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor emeritus of laser science said a pulse laser that emits a short burst of light is especially dangerous because there’s no chance for pilots to look away. “For pulse lasers, you haven’t got a chance,” Ezekiel said. “All it takes is one blast and it’s too late.” Putting louvers on the windscreen could reduce the probability that a laser would blind a pilot, he said. John Nance, a former pilot and aviation safety consultant, said military-grade lasers can actually punch through the back of the retina and kill the victim by causing a cerebral hemorrhage. Nance said he is concerned that some of the recent laser incidents could be terrorists testing laser equipment in preparation for an attack. “They’ll be looking to blow out the eyes of a pilot,” he said.