200W laser ?

[Lycosaurus]

Just came across this video, and these guys are shining a 200W IR laser into the night sky. They claim that since they could not see any flights on flightaware in that direction, they are safe. Of course, not everyone is under ATC control or have ADS-B out, so not all flights are logged or tracked on flightaware.

I would imagine that a 200W IR laser onto a pilot's eyes might affect night vision some. Wow... just wow (idiots).

Testing begins around 12:55

 

[weilke]

If done right it gets NOTAM'd.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Infrared lasers are apparently more dangerous than visible light lasers because you won't have the reflex response to close pupil or eyelids before focal boiling of retina which occurs at 100°C (you might only hear a pop first, then have blindness)

Sounds like a Class IV laser (fda description) "Immediate skin hazard and eye hazard from exposure to either the direct or reflected beam; may also present a fire hazard."

I wonder if WikiP has this correct: "It is permitted to use lasers whose output exceeds the limits of these zones, if other control measures are in place. For example, spotters could be used to watch for aircraft, and turn off the laser if a potential conflict is sighted."

 

[pmanton]

Scary

 

[Salty]

That’s a lot of money to light a bunch of random stuff on fire. This guy is a walking future Darwin Award winner.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

This guy is a walking future Darwin Award winner.

That's his whole shtick.

 

[geezer]

Feed him a laser guided missile from a non ADSB emitting aircraft......