On Lasers and Aircraft - are terrorists sighting-up aircraft for missile attacks? :: Terrorism

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January 6, 2005

On Lasers and Aircraft - are terrorists sighting-up aircraft for missile attacks?

(...) "Lasers are not being used to blind pilots. Lasers are being used to measure straight line distance from the ground to an aircraft aircraft at its most vulnerable state - landing. An aircraft on takeoff would be a more difficult target - maximum power and maximum climb. But a landing ship slows down to a speed just short of a stall and follows a prescribed path of flight ." The Daily Brief Jan 1, 2005... - The Aircraft Laser Threat

This chilling comment comes from Phantom at The Daily Brief who continues with:

There has recently been a huge media feeding frenzy on the prospect of laser devices being used to blind pilots of commercial airliners. The reports note that no damage was done to the crew, and the planes landed safely.

There is an assumption that lasers are being used to blind pilots. The type of laser that could blind two pilots would, first, have to be highly sophisticated and expensive and, second, would have to hit the cockpit from the front of the aircraft. A difficult feat on an object moving over 300 miles per hour.