![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() This still frame shows the brightest “hit” from a video of a police helicopter incident. When the beam hits the windscreen of a cockpit, or the bubble of a helicopter, imperfections in and on the glass spread the light out even more: Even though the laser projects a small, millimeter-sized dot close up, at longer distances the beam can be many inches across. This makes it easy for a police helicopter to direct ground officers for an arrest, as described later on this page.)ĭistracting or flashblinding pilots is dangerousĪnother problem is that the beam is much larger at long distances than you might think. (Also, notice that the green beam two photos above points right back down to the laser’s location. This is one reason you should never aim at or near an aircraft. Obviously, seeing laser beams and flashes is distracting to pilots. The photo below shows a 1 milliwatt beam seen at a distance of 20 kilometers (12 miles) across Tokyo. Some people have been arrested because they thought the beam could not reach an aircraft - but it definitely can! From the air, the beam can look like this:Įven a very weak beam can be a distraction. The beam actually continues even if the light is no longer scattered back to your eyes. However, this is a visual illusion, as detailed here. If you aim a laser beam into the sky, it may seem to end, as shown in this unretouched photo: Below is more information about these three aspects. It is not safe, you may be arrested, and you may help get laser pointers banned. You should NEVER aim a laser pointer at or near an airplane, helicopter or drone (drones are legally considered aircraft and you may blind or damage the operator's camera). A comprehensive resource for safe and responsible laser use ![]()
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