On aircraft - seeing really bright green lights on ground

[Kiltie]

I was on a flight from ABZ to LHR on Wednesday evening.

Near Manchester, I saw a very very bright but flickering green light.

Then, twice again over built up area near Birmingham.

And again, on approach to ABZ on the way home, same again.

What am I seeing?

[TigerS6]

laser pointer

[perdu]

Witnessing attempted murder

As the potential victim



There has been an imbecile with a laser pointer stabbing it around in the dark in Sutton Coldfield for a long time

Someone attempted to blind me whilst I was driving my AA van a few years ago, in Four Oaks

[Simpo Two]

How far does a tiddly laser pointer actually travel in 'blinding' mode? If they were really dangerous to aircraft they'd be banned.

[pherlopolus]

Quick Google reveals £60 buys you something with a 50 mile range...
http://www.megalaseruk.com/laser01.htm

It is illegal to point them at aircraft under offensive weapons laws

[perdu]

It would be nice to know that when an aircraft is on approach to BHX over Sutton that the workload is so light that external distraction cannot affect the crew.

However inefficient the tool being used I am certain that causing danger is the intent of the do-er

The one that hit me from about two hundred yards away dazzled me and I needed to stop to regain vision

[paintman]

Courts take a dim view of it:
http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/men-jailed-shini...
Some work in simulators here:
http://www.pangolin.com/faa/laser-aircraft-animati...
and from speaking to colleagues who have experienced it in the helicopter it makes seeing anything inside the cockpit at night very difficult - not what you need flying over a built-up area.