Lased flying into IND last night
 

Be careful flying around IND - I got hit in the face/eyes with a powerful green laser last night. We were descending through around 7,000' setting up for a right downwind to 5R when I saw a flash up above my head inside the cockpit. I looked up and saw nothing. I then saw something out of the corner of my eye coming from over my right shoulder… I looked right and got hit square with a bright green laser. It was very brief, but obviously I have concerns. We'll see what my next eye test uncovers.

The source appeared to come from E/NE - roughly a 060 course just outside of the tall buildings of downtown proper. I'm assuming it is a telescope mounted system as it seemed pretty accurate in hitting us more than one in the cockpit.

It would be nice to see these bozos caught.

Goose17

You're not the first. Another crew got hit by a green laser, and got pulled off their trip.

Green beams can be 60+ times more powerful than standard red. I'm sure you reported it to ATC, but if not - a report to the FBI is in order. Hope your eyes are okay!

I got hit in Tokyo earlier this month & got a few days off due to being med-down. Total PIA, be careful out there!

happened in CMH (Columbus OH) last night. They (American Eagle) reported it to the tower, who reported it to Columbus Police. The police helicopter got lased and they caught the idiots. 2 charged with felonies. One of the suspects is an Army helicopter mechanic home on leave. Did I say idiots????

The Columbus Dispatch : Two charged with pointing laser at airplane, helicopter

Reported to ATC and then the company via flight safety report.

Goose,
Why would "they" laze a Humpy guy? Hope your all right.

They must not have heard you were 'hand' selected for Talons. I, too , hope you're ok.

I think we just found a nomination for the darwin award of stupidity. That is so stupid its funny.

Goose17, I don't want to be an alarmist, but, I would be going to an eye doc on the company's dime in IND if it was me. You shouldn't wait for your next physical to determine if there was eye damage. You could have a retina burn and not even realize it, if you looked directly at the laser.
Best of luck to you.

Read some of the comments posted by readers of the article. Some defending kids as just having fun and over-reaction from the police. Those people are even bigger idiots!

What EVERYONE needs to know:

The laser event last night is identical to the crew pulled off their trip in July!

Right Pattern for 5R, between 5,000'-7,000' (and on a Monday Night).

The crew stated that "they felt like they were being tracked" because the laser entered the cockpit 2 or 3 times.

Also, in addition to the FSR, there is a company security report to be completed.

You guys crack me up
 

I haven't noticed any lingering eye issues. It sure was bright though. And yes, it did track the aircraft.

Goose17

Goose17,

I’ve been hit once by a laser directly in the eye while flying an approach… We immediately notified ATC and they warned other aircraft via ATIS. I later got an email from the FAA as well as my chief pilot asking me to fill out a questionnaire (questions such as did you encounter momentary blindness, permanent damage, location of the incident, etc) and to discuss the incident in detail.

I was pretty ticked about this especially since I new the jerks were tracking our aircraft too. Having done a lot of training in the area I new EXACTLY (plus/minus 1 block) where the laser came from and was ready to drive over there myself, until I got reassigned. So instead, I used Google maps and made a quick PowerPoint presentation with the satellite images on the location of the laser beam. I submitted it to my airline and the FAA and they were very pleased with it.

If you have the time and know the location pretty well I would suggest you do the same. Go on Google maps, type in the airport, and use the “Screen-print” function to make a copy of the satellite-image map. Edit it in paint and paste the image in PowerPoint. I had about 6 pictures, starting with a zoomed-in screenshot of the location to a zoomed-out screenshot with a drawing of our flight path and a circle indicating the source of the laser.

Let me know if you need any help, and best of luck to you.

What is with these people doing this recently. Aircraft flying into SEA have been hit quite regularly the past few months. Even a WASP 182 was hit. Those guys got caught. Last week I heard multiple reports over the SMO vor going into LAX of people on the pier shining lasers at planes. These people need to be caught and be made into examples of what happens when you do this and be charged with domestic terrorism, assault, and attempting to take down an airliner.

Maybe a little **Clockwork Orange** REEDUCATION - but involving the use of lasers :D;)
I am amazed (and not in a good way) reading the comments of some in conjunction with the web news report. They really have no idea do they?

USMCFLYR

Recommendation from the company during ground school last spring regarding lasers was to get to the Eye Doctor ASAP after an event. The damage done in the first 24 hours, I think it was 24 hours, can be reversed if you do. If you wait, the damage is lasting. They said some Delta Captain got hit and if he had gone in sooner they would have been able to help him.

Hope y'all are alright. Nothing to fool around with!

I doubt you or anyone will have serious or permanent damage from this.

There were a couple in IND a couple months back. Had a buddy get lazed.

I really don't know the area that well and don't have any more detail on the source than what I said already. The laser came into the cockpit from our 4:00 and it wasn't REAL close to the plane. I wish I could pinpoint it better on a map.

Just be careful.

Goose17

AC Advisory 70-2 covers Reporting of Laser Illumination of Aircraft. Google it.
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Gu.../key/AC%2070-2


A real PITA, (pain in the a$$), but all of us need to follow more than company reporting. Have found from my own experience, the company was pretty ignorant of all the data required/suggested by several interested parties. If they followed the reporting as recommended in the 70-2, good for them. Doubtful they do.

Copy should go to the Washington Operations Control Center
Seek medical evaluation. As stated, Laser illumination can do damage without feeling pain.

From the Callback Safety folks " Advisory Circular 70-2 details the reporting procedures to be used by air crews who experience a laser illumination incident, and suggests practical actions pilots may consider taking before, during, and after encountering laser activity.
Immediately report the laser incident to ATC, including the event position (e.g., latitude/longitude and/or fixed radial distance), altitude, direction and position of the laser source, beam color, and length of exposure (flash or intentional tracking).
Pilots flying in uncontrolled airspace are requested to immediately broadcast a general laser illumination caution on the appropriate UNICOM frequency. This general caution should include the following elements:

Phrase “Unauthorized Laser Illumination Event”

Event time (UTC) and general positional information (e.g., location and altitude)

General description of event (e.g., color, intensity, and direction of beam)
Pilots should avoid flight within areas of reported ongoing unauthorized laser activity to the extent possible.
If laser activity is encountered while pilots are in contact with ATC, pilots should obtain authorization prior to deviating from their last assigned clearance.
Pilots should avoid direct eye contact with lasers and should shield their eyes to the maximum extent possible during a laser incident.
We hope this information on laser illumination hazards has been useful, and we would appreciate any additional reports to ASRS on laser incidents."

I got the same thing last night flying into Chicago Executive. About a seven mile left base for 16 descending through 2,000 ft. Just a heads up.

Well Slipped, unless you've dealt with high power lasers before, you may not understand the dangers. They can do a lot of damage, especially if you look right at the source like Goose17 may have done. Here's an older article about the dangers:

By Bill Gertz
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
September 29, 2004

A pilot flying a Delta Air Lines jet was injured by a laser that
illuminated the cockpit of the aircraft as it approached Salt Lake
City International Airport last week, U.S. officials said.

The plane's two pilots reported that the Boeing 737 had been five
miles from the airport when they saw a laser beam inside the cockpit,
said officials familiar with government reports of the Sept. 22
incident. The flight, which originated in Dallas, landed without
further incident at about 9:30 p.m. local time.

A short while later, however, the first officer felt a stinging
sensation in one eye. A doctor who examined the pilot determined that
he had suffered a burned retina from exposure to a laser device, the
officials said.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokeswoman Yolanda Clark
confirmed the incident, but declined to provide details.

"TSA is aware of the incident, and we are working with the airline in
conducting an investigation to try and determine the cause of the
incident," Miss Clark said.

She would not say whether TSA considers the incident a possible
security threat to commercial aircraft. Other officials said the
incident was serious enough that the pilot will be unable to fly for
at least a week.

"So far, it doesn't sound like there will be permanent [eye] damage,"
one official said.

The identity of the pilot could not be learned, and Delta spokesman
Anthony Black declined to comment.

Officials were unsure of the source of the laser and could not
determine whether the exposure was deliberate or accidental.

John Mazor, a spokesman for the Air Line Pilots Association, said
commercial pilots have been exposed to laser illumination.

"The Air Line Pilots Association has received reports in the past of
incidents where lasers penetrated cockpits and, in at least one case,
caused injury," Mr. Mazor said.

Several years ago, a pilot flying into a Western airport was hit by a
light from a laser light show. The causes of the other incidents are
not known, he said.

Asked whether a laser aimed at pilots could cause a plane to crash,
Mr. Mazor said: "I think that's highly improbable. In every case in
the past, the flights landed safely."

Military personnel also have suffered eye damage from laser
illumination.

In one case, Naval Lt. Cmdr. Jack Daly and Canadian helicopter pilot
Capt. Pat Barnes suffered eye injuries hours after an aerial
surveillance mission to photograph a Russian merchant ship that had
been shadowing the ballistic-missile submarine USS Ohio in Washington
state's Strait of Juan de Fuca.

The Navy recently turned down an appeal from the Defense Department
inspector general to award Cmdr. Daly a Purple Heart for the incident.
Cmdr. Daly, who retired from the service last year, continues to
suffer eye pain and deteriorating vision.

During congressional testimony in 1999, he warned of laser threats to
pilots.

"Numerous documented cases regarding the use of lasers against
aircraft, civilians and military personnel exist, as well as does an
all-too-lengthy list of the injuries that have resulted from the
accidental and intentional misuse of these devices," Cmdr. Daly told a
House Armed Services subcommittee.

He noted that incidents of lasers being directed at commercial
airliners during takeoff and landings have raised fears that "this in
fact may be a new form of terrorism."

"Lasers are easily obtainable and can be self-manufactured weapons in
the terrorist arsenal, which essentially can effect a soft-kill
solution and leave virtually no detectable evidence," he said.

What makes you the Medical Expert on this????

well
 

Due to your background as a Humpy.....they knew you were a National Treasure


Goose.......Hope you're ok.....Thanks for the Headsup

For those interested in the time to get to the Eye Doctor after a laser event, I found it in my notes.

The company said get to the Doctor within 48 hours.

?
 

What notes? From where?

Notes I took from recurrent ground school this past spring. The Security Talk they had this year delt with laser events. He mentioned the Delta incident. His advice was to get to the Doctor within 48 hours and they should be able to reverse any damage.

That's all I really have as far as advice.

What makes you infer I am a medical expert?

Obviously just my opinion.

I don't know slipped - but your comment above certainly made it sound like you knew what you were talking about. What people are pointing out - and maybe you haven't had some of the laser training that some in the military get or training that some seem to get in recurrent - but your statement is just out of line. Laser are extremely serious business and can absolutely cause damage and they don't have to be of the Stars Wars Death Star variety.

USMCFLYR

My buddy has one of these green lasers. They're called star pointers, and as you can imagine, they're used to point at stars.

If you have never seen one of these in person, you just cannot imagine how powerful they are. With new batteries in it (two AA), the green beam will track all the way to the star (from your perspective).

If pointed at a balloon, it will pop the balloon after a number of seconds.

They're really useful tools is used properly, and they're neat lasers.

But for the poster who said "you probably didn't suffer damage", you are very mis-informed. I hope anyone who gets one of these in the cockpit ends up alright.

Fly safe!

Was the location of this laser located west of the field?

I was lased from this general area about a year ago on final to 5R.

Link

Fair enough, my buddy has one(the green kind) and ive seen people get it in the face, they were ok and that was from like 10 feet, I just like to play devils. I was not, and am not, trying to minimize this. It does seem like I am right though(correct me if I am wrong) dudes still flying, with both eyes.

Not all lasers are the Class I laser-pointers that you describe. I worked with high power lasers (Class III and IV) in undergrad and the lab was actually funded with "Star Wars" anti-missile funding. I can assure you that there are lasers in the visible spectrum that are capable of producing blindness if you happen to look down the beam.

There are green lasers and then there are green lasers. You can buy cheap ones in Shanghai for 5 bucks that look great but aren't very powerful. You can also buy other types from places I won't mention (don't want all of you rushing off to get them) that can light a match at 10 feet. Maybe your buddy has one those cheap ones that is more or less just a toy but is still dangerous.

All lasers and bright light sources are dangerous and even the toy ones can cause lifelong damage to your eyes!

And there are many different types of lasers slipped - and of course not all are dangerous. are you willing to play devils with which are and are not when they are shining lasers into the cockpits? In this case - let's hope that he is OK. If you don't know that there are different kinds than the ONE that you friend might have then I suggest a little research on the internet.

USMCFLYR

Happened to me awhile ago too... not sure if anyone else said it but be sure to file a NASA ASRS report ASAP!

I think the droogs version would be more appropriate. As opposed to the experimental (but effective) Ludovico Technique the state used on Alex.

I worked with Class IV lasers before getting into flying which can be very dangerous. I've been around lasers for awhile and you could very well receive eye damage from the handheld powerful green laser pointers. Here's an example, shot this about 4 years ago before the "laser fad" hit. About 300 yards away reflecting off a stop sign, this is a medium power laser. The regulations now a days with these things is scary. 12 year old kids can buy them without anyone asking a question.

http://i425.photobucket.com/albums/p...t/100_0233.jpg