SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
In yet another laser beam incident, crew on a flight carrying Pope Francis reported a laser beam sighting to air traffic control in Mexico City:
Alitalia flight AZ4000 was travelling from Havana with the Pope on board, and was preparing to land when the laser was spotted.
No crew or passengers were injured by the beam, the airline added.[...] "This is yet another incident that shows how serious and widespread the issue of laser attacks on aircraft is," said Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), in response to the case involving the Pope's plane. "Modern lasers have the power to blind and the potential to dazzle and distract pilots during critical phases of flight," he told the BBC. "Shining a laser at an aircraft is illegal and dangerous and puts all those on board and on the ground nearby at completely unnecessary risk."
Aboard the plane headed from Rome to Mexico, the Pope said that contraception may be the "lesser evil" for women at risk of catching the Zika virus. In comments made on the ground, he chastised Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump for his plan to build a wall on the Mexican border.
In another story from the UK laser crime beat, Englishman Philip Houghton has been sentenced to 20 weeks in prison for admitting to shining a laser pen at a Humberside Police helicopter that was investigating a shooting.
(Score: 2) by Gravis on Friday February 19 2016, @01:36PM
seriously. why does this shit still make the news when there are laser protective glasses [laserpointersafety.com]?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Friday February 19 2016, @02:08PM
All the passengers are going to wear laser protective glasses (which only reduce, not eliminate risk)?
It's not news that you got shot, you weren't wearing a bulletproof vest!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by Gravis on Friday February 19 2016, @02:35PM
actually, it's the opposite. it's not news if you get shot and easily survive since you were wearing a bulletproof vest. however, it is news if you get shot and die. i'm saying if you are wearing these glasses, getting hit by a laser isn't news. that doesn't make the actions of the offender any less illegal, it's just not newsworthy. frankly, we should have autonomous airplanes and lasing a plane isn't a big deal if you design the sensors with that in mind.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by nitehawk214 on Friday February 19 2016, @03:13PM
I don't know what warzone you live in, but when someone is shot around here, survival or not, vest or not, it is newsworthy.
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 2) by Gravis on Friday February 19 2016, @02:37PM
All the passengers are going to wear laser protective glasses (which only reduce, not eliminate risk)?
the passengers aren't the ones flying the plane. they can just close their window shade.
(Score: 2) by Dunbal on Friday February 19 2016, @03:20PM
So can the pilots. That's what IFR means.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 19 2016, @05:32PM
You mean IFR means blind landings??
(Score: 2) by Dunbal on Friday February 19 2016, @06:55PM
For a tiny tiny part between DH and the runway, you need to be able to see the runway. And that is almost the only time an IFR pilot needs to look out the window. Congrats on focusing on just that. But be careful technology changes all the time [youtube.com].
(Score: 2) by takyon on Friday February 19 2016, @05:22PM
Note: In case of laser incident, close window shade to protect remaining eye!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 19 2016, @05:38PM
seriously. Your solution is to have all pilots wear laser protective glasses to fly a plane? Have you ever worn laser protective glasses (I work in laboratories with lasers)? And what glasses are you going to have them wear? Ones that block green? What about those new, obnoxious blue laser pointers? What about the red laser pointers? The most effective protection would be to have them wear opaque glasses that blind people wear. That will fix the problem!
(Score: 2) by Tork on Friday February 19 2016, @08:33PM
seriously. why does this shit still make the news when there are laser protective glasses?
Because 'this shit' is the result of people who should know better ruining it for everybody. No, you don't actually want to live in a society where everything is okay as long as technology hasn't physically prevented you from being up to no good.
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 2) by Gravis on Friday February 19 2016, @10:00PM
No, you don't actually want to live in a society where everything is okay as long as technology hasn't physically prevented you from being up to no good.
i'm not saying it should be reported to the authorities or that the legality should be changed. i'm asking why is it news.
(Score: 2) by Gravis on Friday February 19 2016, @10:01PM
should not be reported*