Post by ray on Apr 3, 2020 22:09:13 GMT
There are two general types of misuse.
One is when people 'just' play around with their lasers. Many ordinary citizens that were arrested said that they did not realize the hazard. Often, aiming towards aircraft is done because of a visual illusion where a laser beam can seem to end, so it looks as if it cannot touch an aircraft. Also, users may think that the beam won't be seen by the pilots - as it is seemingly under or behind the aircraft. Finally, even if the beam is aimed at the cockpit, users may think the beam makes a tiny dot of light on the windscreen just like when they play with their cat or highlight a PowerPoint slide. They don't realize that over hundreds of feet, a laser beam spreads to become a 2-3 foot blob of light that blocks pilots' vision.
The other type of misuse is by antisocial or criminal people. They may not like police or the noise of airplanes and helicopters. (For example, a man in Orlando hit aircraft over 23 times in a three-month period; he had previously filed 500+ noise complaints with the airport.) They may already be involved with illegal activity, such as possessing drugs or being in a stolen vehicle. In a few cases, the laser may be deliberately used in order to interfere with a police helicopter's crime-fighting activities.
One is when people 'just' play around with their lasers. Many ordinary citizens that were arrested said that they did not realize the hazard. Often, aiming towards aircraft is done because of a visual illusion where a laser beam can seem to end, so it looks as if it cannot touch an aircraft. Also, users may think that the beam won't be seen by the pilots - as it is seemingly under or behind the aircraft. Finally, even if the beam is aimed at the cockpit, users may think the beam makes a tiny dot of light on the windscreen just like when they play with their cat or highlight a PowerPoint slide. They don't realize that over hundreds of feet, a laser beam spreads to become a 2-3 foot blob of light that blocks pilots' vision.
The other type of misuse is by antisocial or criminal people. They may not like police or the noise of airplanes and helicopters. (For example, a man in Orlando hit aircraft over 23 times in a three-month period; he had previously filed 500+ noise complaints with the airport.) They may already be involved with illegal activity, such as possessing drugs or being in a stolen vehicle. In a few cases, the laser may be deliberately used in order to interfere with a police helicopter's crime-fighting activities.
