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Laser beam 'dazzles' pilot preparing to land at airport

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Published Date: 13 June 2008
THE pilot of an easyJet plane was "dazzled" by a laser beam just minutes before landing at Edinburgh airport. Police are investigating the bizarre incident amid claims the consequences could have been disastrous.
The pilot and his first officer are believed to have been dazzled for more than ten seconds after the bright green light was shone into the cockpit as the plane – which was carrying 42 people – was preparing to land.

It happened at 11.10pm on Tuesday, just three miles from the airport. Police believe the beam originated from the city centre.

An aviation source reportedly said: "They were well into the descent and less than five minutes from landing when both the pilot and the first officer reported a bright green beam being directed at the aircraft. It only lasted a few seconds but it impaired their vision for longer.

"This could have had very serious consequences for everyone on that aircraft, not to mention people below on the ground."

A force spokesman said: "Police are investigating an incident on Tuesday night, where the pilot of an aircraft was momentarily dazzled by a beam on his approach to Edinburgh Airport.

"The beam, which was green in colour, came from somewhere in the vicinity of the city centre."





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  • Last Updated: 13 June 2008 11:40 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Andy Pandy,

Loanhead 13/06/2008 13:20:11
The mystery green light was Kenny Ritchie (allegedly) opening his uranus to spill his darkest prison secrets for his book
2

Hector the Red,

13/06/2008 13:22:09
Now, where in Edinburgh city centre would there be a laser beam powerful enough to hit a plane 3 miles away in the air. I'm no sherlock Holmes but if I were the police I would check with the universities first.

Bleedin' students, not satified with cones on the heads of statues, they now want to bring down planes from the sky!
3

alex paterson,

embra 13/06/2008 13:22:46
It was probably coming from an advertising board at Easter Road,the Inter Toto and beyond is the way forward.
4

Unimpressed one,

13/06/2008 13:36:10
Green laser pens originating from China with 10mW up to 100mW output power are freely available on fleabay for £10 to £100. German customs routinely seize the higher powered devices but it seems that our own customs don't bother. These are very dangerous items when used in the wrong hands and are definately not toys.
5

,

13/06/2008 13:39:59
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
6

Franck,

13/06/2008 14:22:52
i think that it was the god damn aliens.
7

Niadh,

Edinburgh 13/06/2008 14:25:02
#2 Hector.
Technically it wouldn't have to be powerful.
It's light so unless it encounters something on its way it could quite happily travel on the the end of the universe.
My question wouldn't be so much about the range but about the accuracy.
If someone was using a laser against this aircraft how were the able to aim it accurately enough to hit the cockpit of a moving vehicle (500knots) for several seconds?
8

Incandescent,

13/06/2008 14:54:26
#8 mount it on a telescope or pair of binoculars and wait until the plane's aspect approached head-on.
9

Douglas,

Bathgate 13/06/2008 15:04:40
Or shine it from a stealth autogyro on an intercept course.
10

,

13/06/2008 15:35:23
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
11

mig,

Edinburgh 13/06/2008 15:50:37
Lasers have been around for ages. Why are people still dazzled by them?
12

gotalottosay,

13/06/2008 16:21:19
obviously been laying into the duty free again!
13

Incandescent,

13/06/2008 17:17:48
#12 Thanks for that gem, mig - I can now start my weekend with a smile!
14

Kirsty Boyd-Williamson,

New Town 13/06/2008 17:49:11
No.8 Niadh > hit the cockpit of a moving vehicle (500knots) for several seconds?

If it was an easyJet aircraft on 3 miles finals then the airspeed of the A.319 would be closer to 150 knots.
15

rmd,

morningside 13/06/2008 18:13:15
#8 Green lasers are typically more powerful than the red ones. Also, their wavelength makes them ideal for night-time pointers, as they produce a visible line in the sky.

So, it's much easier to accurately hit a plane using a green laser than the red types.
16

lulach mac gille coemgain,

13/06/2008 18:54:00
I have a few suspects - but it’ll take at least 42 days to establish a case against them!
17

Mr Fuzzy,

Edinburgh 14/06/2008 02:39:53
Perhaps they were testing the lighting effects (searchlights) for the Einburgh Tattoo - on those days leading up to the start the festival, they would be switched on towards midnight, and made to run in spiral circle patterns.
18

Dougie McGill,

Edinburgh 14/06/2008 05:11:05
This sort of thing is a real problem in Sydney. NSW police are continually scurrying around the suburbs looking for the wee scamps
19

Finbarr Saunders,

14/06/2008 08:02:06
16 - rmd - "So, it's much easier to accurately hit a plane using a green laser than the red types."

Are you speaking from experience or is that a challenge for the red laser owners?
20

Diachi,

Glasgow 15/06/2008 13:40:01
It would be too hard to acuratly into a cockpit, because:

A) at that distance the slightest hand movement causes a large movement at the other end.

B) the dot at that distance would be atleast 5 inches wide.

C) the laser would need to be extremely powerful and I'm talking power that would cost in excess of 100-200 dollars and would need be 50-200mW in power, this power cannot be obtained from ebay as all ebaylasers are underpowered and over priced, mostly scams.


 

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