ANC bash: 3 held over green laser light

LazyLion

LazyLion

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http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ANC-bash-3-held-over-green-lazer-lights-20120108

Johannesburg - Two men and a youth have been arrested near Bloemfontein for contravening aviation laws, police said on Sunday.

A 45-year-old man, his 14-year-old son, and their 22-year-old friend were arrested on Saturday night for pointing a green laser light at helicopters taking off from Bloemfontein Airport and Bloemspruit Air Force base.

The arrest of the three comes after acting national police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said on Thursday a no-fly zone had been declared above Bloemfontein and that the airspace in the area will be monitored during the ANC centenary celebrations over the weekend.

“No aircraft will be flying here to come and crash into the [Free State] Stadium [where the ANC centenary celebrations are being held for the masses on Sunday]," Mkhwanazi had said.

Police said the three arrested will be charged in terms of Section 133 of the Civil Aviation Act.

"The pointing of laser lights is viewed very seriously because it has the potential to blind and disorientate a pilot which could result in the aircraft crashing," Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said.

According to the Civil Aviation Act, any person who wilfully performs any act which jeopardises or may jeopardise the operation of an air carrier is guilty of an offence.

The three are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court on Monday.
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So were these guys arrested because the green laser light was a real threat, or because this was the ANC bash?

This reminds me of the spilling the drink near Zuma Assault charge.
 
Garyvdh said:
http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ANC-bash-3-held-over-green-lazer-lights-20120108



So were these guys arrested because the green laser light was a real threat, or because this was the ANC bash?

This reminds me of the spilling the drink near Zuma Assault charge.
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This is nothing like spilling a drink. Pointing a laser light at an aircraft poses a very real threat of causing a pilot to crash. Particularly during takeoff and landing. I suggest you read up a bit about it. You have to take this sort of thing seriously.
 
I agree. Just because you have a laser doesn't mean you should be an a$$ with it and put others lives in danger.
 
BobsLawnService said:
This is nothing like spilling a drink. Pointing a laser light at an aircraft poses a very real threat of causing a pilot to crash. Particularly during takeoff and landing. I suggest you read up a bit about it. You have to take this sort of thing seriously.
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Seriously... I understand that it can potentially blind someone or distract them if held in their eyes long enough.

But how hard is it to hold it straight and steady in someone's eyes from hundreds of yards away?
Have you ever held one of them?

Nevertheless, I fully support the authorities in their action on this... I just think it is a bit interesting that the only time you hear about it is at the ANC bash.

I mean look at this nutjob's comments...
No aircraft will be flying here to come and crash into the [Free State] Stadium [where the ANC centenary celebrations are being held for the masses on Sunday]," Mkhwanazi had said.
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There was a similar case at lanseria the other day.

when that laser hits you, your brain might fuse for a few seconds.

If there was a bomb at that stadium, I freeze to think.
 
I can understand it from a protective safety point of view... but the likelihood of anyone actually being able to hold the thing still enough for long enough straight into someone's eyes in an aircraft flying hudreds of meters or even kilometers away is extremely remote.

I therefore see it as more of a public safety training kind of thing.
Anyway, we will see what comes of the court case.
Whether they can actually look at the scientific evidence, or whether the ANC steps in to make a political case out of it.
 
“No aircraft will be flying here to come and crash into the [Free State] Stadium [where the ANC centenary celebrations are being held for the masses on Sunday]," Mkhwanazi had said.
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That's a weird statement to make. :confused:

What are the chances of this happening? :wtf:
 
Garyvdh said:
I can understand it from a protective safety point of view... but the likelihood of anyone actually being able to hold the thing still enough for long enough straight into someone's eyes in an aircraft flying hudreds of meters or even kilometers away is extremely remote.

I therefore see it as more of a public safety training kind of thing.
Anyway, we will see what comes of the court case.
Whether they can actually look at the scientific evidence, or whether the ANC steps in to make a political case out of it.
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Youtube some videos of what it looks like from the cockpit, and you will immediately see why it's dangerous, and ****ing stupid of those idiots to have done.
 
Garyvdh said:
Seriously... I understand that it can potentially blind someone or distract them if held in their eyes long enough.

But how hard is it to hold it straight and steady in someone's eyes from hundreds of yards away?
Have you ever held one of them?

Nevertheless, I fully support the authorities in their action on this... I just think it is a bit interesting that the only time you hear about it is at the ANC bash.

I mean look at this nutjob's comments...
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Ever seen a 200mW green laser shine at night? It looks like a 5km long light sabre!! I bought my Dad one for xmas for pointing out stars. The beam widens to about 20cm at 1km (judged by comparing it to rocks on a mountainside) and it's damn bright.

Even if it didn't hit the pilot in the eyes, the crazy green reflections shooting around the cockpit will definitely give the pilot one heck of a fright and who knows what can happen. Try pointing a weak red laser pointer (for safetys sake) into a cupboard full of glassware and you will see what I mean by crazy reflections!!
 
copacetic said:
That's a weird statement to make. :confused:

What are the chances of this happening? :wtf:
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Roughly the same as two planes flying into the world trade centre but it happened.
Gary you get various green lasers, some are weak and some are very strong.

It may not be an easy thing to do but it can be done and that is the point.
 
copacetic said:
Youtube some videos of what it looks like from the cockpit, and you will immediately see why it's dangerous, and ****ing stupid of those idiots to have done.
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"Nobody was injured and the plane landed safely" :erm:
 
Garyvdh said:
"Nobody was injured and the plane landed safely" :erm:
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Your point? :confused:

No one said it's guaranteed to cause an accident, that's utterly illogical to expect. Only that it increases the risk, which should be pretty obvious I'd say. :erm:
 
copacetic said:
Your point? :confused:

No one said it's guaranteed to cause an accident, that's utterly illogical to expect. Only that it increases the risk, which should be pretty obvious I'd say. :erm:
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LOL gary cannot really see the issue. I bet if a terrorist was shinning a green light at american planes he would want them shot dead.
 
It doesn't matter how difficult it is to point it at a target for whatever amount of time.

It doesn't need to shine in your eyes for an hour before it does damage, also maybe because people don't really do it here but there are many reports of people getting in serious trouble for shining lasers at helicopters.

What this has to do with the ANC I do not know.
 
hmm, so now, if i had a 500mw pointer & someone broke into my home & I managed to get the fvcker in the eyes it should stop him ?
any theories on this...
 
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