My MA2 got hit by a powerful laser.

[Mannypenny843]

First time posting on this forum. I got really mad at the moment and flew where the guy was lasering from. Maybe not a good idea, but luckily I didn't find anything wrong with the camera sensor. I was so mad when it happened but cooled off. Well here are a couple of pictures I took that night. Video link:

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[Tufargon]

Lat, Lon, report?

 

[Mannypenny843]

I'm sorry, do you mean latitude and longitude?

 

[Tufargon]

Yes. That's a federal offense.

 

[Mannypenny843]

I know it is, my local police department doesn't seem well versed in FAA regulations nor interested in this accident. Also, I don't want to publish this guy's location.

 

[Tufargon]

You can and should probably do it with the FAA. It might be some kid in his backyard having fun but WE as drone users seem to get bullied around a lot. This is a situation where probably the person in the wrong should be published rather than the pilot. Hopefully you were doing everything legal too.

 

[Meta4]

Yes. That's a federal offense.

I doubt you'd find any authority that thinks so.

 

[Tufargon]

I doubt you'd find any authority that thinks so.

FAA?

 

[Meta4]

FAA?

Try them and see.
I can't see them getting excited about it.

 

[Tufargon]

If the FAA would not do anything with the video he has I'd be surprised.

 

[boblui]

Really cant imagine why pointing a laser pen to a drone is an offense .....

 

[Tufargon]

Just a quick link I found. Same thing as shooting at a drone or aircraft basically.
Aiming lasers at aircraft is a federal crime. Penalties should reflect severity.

 

[Meta4]

Just a quick link I found. Same thing as shooting at a drone or aircraft basically.
Aiming lasers at aircraft is a federal crime. Penalties should reflect severity.

I still can't see any authority getting excited enough to do anything about it.
I suspect they would laugh at you.

 

[boblui]

Just a quick link I found. Same thing as shooting at a drone or aircraft basically.
Aiming lasers at aircraft is a federal crime. Penalties should reflect severity.

I think that applies to manned aircraft ? I doubt very much if a drone is classified as an "aircraft" in the context of that FAA rules/laws.

 

[Tufargon]

Look it up. Shooting down a drone is a federal offense.

 

[boblui]

Look it up. Shooting down a drone is a federal offense.

With a gun ? that's damaging the others' properties. common sense says that it's an offense

 

[Tufargon]

Ok I'm out. You need to learn the laws. I tried.

 

[Deleted member 103366]

The question of whether or not the FAA will go after the pointer aside, I am curious as to why the OP seemed to remain in the vicinity of the pointer and turned the camera back towards them several times? I'd have though it was wiser to get the heck out of there as quickly as possible.

I can imagine a laser being dangerous for the camera but could it cause damage to the drone that could bring the drone down? If so then pointing a laser at a drone in flight surely constitutes an attack on an aircraft in flight, doesn't it?
Of course if pointing a laser at a drone poses no risk of causing crash-causing-damage to the aircraft then maybe the FAA wont be bothered

 

[Tufargon]

The question of whether or not the FAA will go after the pointer aside, I am curious as to why you seemed to remain in the vicinity of the pointer and turned the camera back towards them several times? I'd have though it was wiser to get the heck out of there as quickly as possible.

I can imagine a laser being dangerous for the camera but could it cause damage to the drone that could bring the drone down? If so then pointing a laser at a drone in flight surely constitutes an attack on an aircraft in flight, doesn't it?
Of course if pointing a laser at a drone poses no risk of causing crash-causing-damage to the aircraft then maybe the FAA wont be bothered

Stop assuming and look up the laws.

 

[boblui]

I can imagine a laser being dangerous for the camera but could it cause damage to the drone that could bring the drone down?

Yes if it is some kind of laser weapon that can melt a hole on the drone.