Scary thought for air travelers (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on January 22, 2011 8:45 AM. The previous post in this blog was Have a great weekend. The next post in this blog is Sky is not falling on state and local government finance. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« Have a great weekend | Main | Sky is not falling on state and local government finance »

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Scary thought for air travelers

This kind of thing is happening with increasing frequency.

Posted at 8:45 AM | Permalink

Comments (9)

Wow, the benefits of being too poor to travel just keep multiplying and multiplying!

Who says this economy isn't working out?

Yay, deprivation!

Posted by Samuel John Klein | January 22, 2011 8:58 AM

I call BS.... How does a laser go through the windshield of the cockpit... at the altitude they fly and unless they are descending I would imagine it would be very hard to get a laser in the line of sight of the pilots.

I have had some pretty decent laser pointers and the range and visibility has never been that great.

Posted by Benjamin Kerensa | January 22, 2011 10:02 AM

Those lasers, including the green ones, might be a nuisance, but I doubt they cause any damage. (At least my eyes are fine after my brother tagging me with one multiple times.)

Reminds me of the case of the cop now on disability because of "retinal damage" because of some kid flashing one of those at him. (That kid went to jail for a half dozen years IIRC.)

Posted by PJB | January 22, 2011 12:13 PM

Just a couple of years ago while sitting with friends one evening at a sidewalk cafe, as a TriMet bus went through the intersection I became aware of an intensely bright red dot in my peripheral vision coming from one of the windows in the back of the bus. In 2 seconds it was over and the bus was gone. I instantly realized it had been a laser pointer and also became aware of grey zone in my night vision that persisted throughout the rest of the evening and into the next day.

An eye exam at an opthalmologist a few days later confirmed that my retina had been burned and I was told that it might get better, or it might never, or I might just stop noticing it.

Research online and a call to the police confirmed that red laser pointers with illegally higher power are easily available on the internet and certainly can cause eye damage. Green lasers are even more powerful and are also available over the internet. Only a few seconds of exposure from an undiscernible location and undiscernible distance somewhere off in the dark can cause semi-permanent or permanent damage, especially to eyes that are already dilated for night vision.

This stuff is definitely a public health hazard and shouldn't be so easy to get.

Posted by Mr. Grumpy | January 22, 2011 12:32 PM

I think a small physics lesson might be in order here, namely the inverse square law.

http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr162/lect/light/intensity.html

This law works applies to lasers at far distances (which would include someone on the ground and a plane flying). It might not apply to a distance of 10 to 50 feet depending on the design and construction of the laser involved.

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/newton/askasci/1993/physics/PHY76.HTM

Posted by LucsAdvo | January 22, 2011 12:42 PM

The inverse square law would apply at all distances, so it's true pilots high in the sky are probably at little risk since it's unlikely someone 7 miles below on the ground would have a device with enough power to be much nuisance. But during landing approaches at low altitudes over neighborhoods I think the hazard is probably very real. The bus rider that got me was a good 60+ feet away across several lanes, and that was only a red laser.

Posted by Mr. Grumpy | January 22, 2011 1:11 PM

Be sure to keep up to date with the tech. Last year a new laser hit all the MSM. Lights matches, melts plastic, pops balloons, can be seen over 14 miles.

http://www.wickedlasers.com/laser-tech/in_the_media.html

Y tube is full of kid vids doing crazy stuff with these.

The super hots can run $200 and over but so do the shoes kids like.

Yes the distance weakens the effect, but the human eye lens also concentrates it!

Posted by dman | January 22, 2011 1:25 PM

"Mr. Goldwasser said poor regulation contributed to the problem"

According to the R's regulation of businesses is always "job killing". If only the gubmit would get out of the way we'd be living in the land of milk and honey.

Posted by John | January 23, 2011 2:18 AM

Yeah, let's make laser diodes a restricted commodity, and watch as everyone cries when prices of CD / DVD / Blu-ray players go up, as they use lasers to do what they do.

Instead of restricting electronics that have too many legitimate purposes to count, why don't we restrict aiming them at aircraft, or people's eyes?

Posted by MachineShedFred | January 24, 2011 10:18 AM

In Vino Veritas

Quinta das Amoras, Vinho Tinto 2009
Mauro Molino, Barbera d'Alba 2009
Garda Chiaretto Rose
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Vineyard 10 White
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley 2009
L'Hortus, Rose de Saignee 2010
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2008
McKinley Springs, Bombing Range Red 2008
Trader Joe's Pinot Gris 2009
Montes Alpha, Cabernet 2007
Gran Sasso, Sangiovese, Terre di Chieti 2009
Garda, Classico Chiaretto Rose
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1999
Picos del Montgo, Tempranillo 2008
Chateau de Montmirail, Vacqueyras 2008
La Granja 360, Syrah 2009
Montgras, Carmenere Reserva 2009
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet 2008
Kirkland, Pinot Grigio 2010
Trader Joe's Coastal Syrah 2009
Columbia Crest, Horse Heaven Hills Merlot 2008
Trader Joe's Coastal Chardonnay 2009
Vieux Papes Red
Domaine de l'Aujardiere, Chardonnay 2009
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Medalla Real 2007
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008
Guild, Red, Lot #02 2008
Dievole, Dievolino Sangiovese 2008
Laforet, Burgogne Chardonnay 2009
Columbia Winery, Merlot 2007
Bonterra, Cabernet 2008
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2009
Maquis Lien 2006
Scott Paul, Pinot Noir, Le Paulee 2007
Cameron, Chardonnay
B.R. Cohn, Cabernet, Silver Label 2006
Graffigna, Cabernet 2005
Palo Alto, Reserve Red 2008
Menguante, Garnacha 2008
Lange, Pinot Gris 2009
Felsina Berardenga, Vin Santo 1997
Anne Amie, Pinot Gris 2009
McKinley Springs, Bombing Ramge Red 2007
Vieux Papes Red
Dionysius Chardonnay 2009
Haden Fig, Pinot Noir 2009
Vega Montan, Mencia 2008
Chateau la Vernede, Coteaux du Languedoc 2007
Mount Defiance, Hellfire (White) 2008
Root: 1, Cabernet 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines Pinot Grigio 2009
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 White, 2008
Columbia Crest, Two Vines, Vineyard 10 Rose, 2007
Abacela, Grenache Rose 2009
Avia Cabernet 2004
Lemelson Pinot Noir, Thea's Selection 2007
Chateau de la Roulerie, Rose d'Anjou 2009
Casal Garcia, Vinho Verde Rose
La Ferme Julien, Rose 2008
Cana's Feast, Bricco Red, 2006
Hogue, Genesis Merlot, 2008
Owen Roe, Sharecropper's Cabernet, 2008
Kim Crawford, Unoaked Chardonnay 2008
J. Scott, Pinot Noir 2008
Edmunds St. John, White, Heart of Gold 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2006
Stevenot, Cabernet, Sierra Foothills, "Stanford" 2000
Portuga, Vinho Rose 2009
Taylor Fladgate, First Estate Reserve Porto
Franciscan, Cabernet, Napa 2006
Chaparral de Vega Sindoa, Garnacha 2008
Quinta da Aveleda, Vinho Verde 2008
St. Francis, Chardonnay Sonoma 2008
E. Guigal, Cotes du Rhone Blanc, 2007
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Noir 2008
St. Innocent, Pinot Noir 2006
Jigsaw, Pinot Noir 2007
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Indian Wells 2007
Charles Shaw, Chardonnay 2008
Edmunds St. John, Bone-Jolly, Gamay Rosé 2009
Cameron, Willamette Valley Chardonnay
Il Valore, Sangiovese, Giovane, Puglia 2008
Duck Pond, Chardonnay, Wahluke Slope 2007
Kim Crawford, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Domaine du Pesquier, Cotes du Rhone 2005
Cantina Zaccagnini, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006
Domaine Matrot, Chardonnay, Bourgogne 2007
David Hill, Oregon Sparkling Wine, Brut
Chandler Reach, Monte Regalo 2006
Elk Cove, Pinot Gris 2008
Kirkland, Columbia Valley Merlot 2008
D'Aragon, Old Vine Garnacha 2008
Columbia Crest, Walter Clore Private Reserve 2005
Pavin & Riley, Merlot 2006
David Hill, Estate Pinot Noir, Barrel Select 2006
Castle Rock, Paso Robles Cabernet 2006
Magnificent, Cabernet, Steak House 2008
Conundrum 2008
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Saint Cosme, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
La Granja, Tempranillo 360, 2008
Santa Rita, Mendalla Real Cabernet 2006
Columbia Crest, Grand Estates Merlot 2006
Andezon, Cotes-du-Rhone 2007
Collegiata, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Troon, Druid's Fluid 2008
La Granja, Tempranillo 2008
Monte Antico, Toscana 2006
Vieux Papes, Blanc de Blancs

The Occasional Book

Jack London - The House of Pride, and Other Tales of Hawaii
Jack Walker - The Extraordinary Rendition of Vincent Dellamaria
Colum McCann - Let the Great World Spin
Niccolò Machiavelli - The Prince
Harper Lee - To Kill a Mockingbird
Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus - The Nanny Diaries
Brian Selznick - The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Sharon Creech - Walk Two Moons
Keith Richards - Life
F. Sionil Jose - Dusk
Natalie Babbitt - Tuck Everlasting
Justin Halpern - S#*t My Dad Says
Mark Herrmann - The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law
Barry Glassner - The Gospel of Food
Phil Stanford - The Peyton-Allan Files
Jesse Katz - The Opposite Field
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
J.K. Rowling - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
David Sedaris - Holidays on Ice
Donald Miller - A Million Miles in a Thousand Years
Mitch Albom - Have a Little Faith
C.S. Lewis - The Magician's Nephew
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
William Shakespeare - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Ivan Doig - Bucking the Sun
Penda Diakité - I Lost My Tooth in Africa
Grace Lin - The Year of the Rat
Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 54
At this date last year: 50
Total run in 2011: 113
In 2010: 125
In 2009: 67
In 2008: 28
In 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269