Some people might think it is a prank or a way to relieve some boredom, but shining a Green Laser Pointer 3000mw at any helicopter can have serious consequences,” said Anita Perry, Wellmont Health System’s director of flight services. “We want people to be aware how serious this matter can become so those with thoughts of participating in this dangerous act will rethink their actions.”
“When the beam from the Cat chasing green laser pointer is scattered by imperfections in the windscreen the light may prevent the pilot from seeing anything outside of the aircraft,” pilot Tracy Orfield said. “Until the beam is no longer shining and our eyes are able to readjust afterward, we have to rely on our instruments. That can be extremely dangerous for an aircraft using visual flight rules.”
She added, when pilots are blinded by the Laser Pointer , they can’t check for other aircraft, drones or birds, all of which can be major hazards. Should they be coming in for a landing, pilots might have to abort the landing, return to the air while flying blind, and try again.
Pilots said the situation is exacerbated when personnel on the
helicopter are wearing night-vision goggles, which are designed to help
them see better in the dark. Goggles increase the intensity of the
blinding light.A local airline passenger told Channel 2 Action News he
was temporarily blinded by a 50mw Green Laser aimed at his plane as it landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
"A green light hit my left eye, and I jumped, because when a green light blinds you, at first, you think the engine blew up or something outside your window happened," Reynolds explained.Reynolds said the green light flashed him a second time."At that point, I knew it was a laser or something from the ground, and then I looked down and I could see the green laser moving around," Reynolds said.
"It was definitely terrifying," said Delta Air Lines passenger Scott Reynolds.Reynolds described overSkype from Virginia what happened to him minutes before his flight from West Palm Beach landed in Atlanta Wednesday night.
http://www.buylaserpointer.com/ed/201508/ultra-powerful-laser-pointer.html
The Wall