Quote:
Originally Posted by RhinoPherret
The standard laser pointer sold is supposed to be within class IIIa: 1-5mW.
You do realize that hand held lasers can be bought within the class IIIb: 5-500 mW power range.
You do realize that physical harm to flight deck crew members can occur within the approach/departure flight parameters they have been used so far.
Do you not consider pointing a laser at an aircraft that can cause harm to the flight deck crew worthy of a strong punishment, regardless of the cost of punishment?
If someone pointed a laser at one of your family members while they were driving and caused them to crash and injure themselves and/or others or worse, what would you consider an appropriate sentence?
OMG laser we're all gonna die!!
My feelings wouldn't change based on if it was my family or not, and neither should yours. Nobody has crashed a plane because of a laser pointer as of now, and my family is not going to crash a car from a laser?
![Roll Eyes (Sarcastic)](https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif)
I'd be more concerned about consumer drones on short final or wandering into echo, some of those are pretty big now.
I'd bet in my next 1000 hrs I might be lased. I think this going to be a big, big, big problem as these things become trivial cost and are imported in masse from China and wind up in the hands of middle-schoolers on summer break.
My point is it is very difficult to lock up stupid. It makes me shudder when people advocate excessive sentences for stupid things, kind of like American "Sharia law" punishments. I don't advocate no punishment. Just not 10+ years.
And a massive education campaign, like some have been doing, and now found on almost all websites where you can order them.
Laser Pointer Safety - NEVER aim laser pointers at aircraft