My MA2 got hit by a powerful laser.

[Mannypenny843]

Isn't it illegal to point a laser at a drone because it can mess with the sensors on board?

 

[Deleted member 103366]

Without question agreed Boblui.
But is a pocket laser powerful enough to do that at distance?
I was thinking more along the lines of damaging sensors or interfering with control systems etc

Tufargon, I think you misinterpret the thinking behind my post, it was NOT meant to be contentious, the questions were and are sincere

 

[Mannypenny843]

Especially the ToF sensors, and infrared sensor on the bottom.

 

[Meta4]

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

No drones were harmed in the creation of the OP's video, so I doubt that will fly.

 

[Tufargon]

No drones were harmed in the creation of the OP's video, so I doubt that will fly.

Intent......

 

[Meta4]

Intent......

Uh-huh .. and the intent of the kid with the laser pointer was ???

 

[Mannypenny843]

Point at something that's in the air with a somewhat powerful laser.

 

[Meta4]

Point at something that's in the air with a somewhat powerful laser.

What was so powerful about it?

 

[Mannypenny843]

I saw the beam hitting my drone

 

[Meta4]

I saw the beam hitting my drone

You must have a different dictionary.
powerful : having the ability to control or influence people or things. : having a strong effect on someone or something. : having or producing a lot of physical strength or force.

 

[jmorales71]

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

It’s a high probability the drone can fall down because the laser hit the sensors , so if that happens there’s a federal offense

 

[Jim Flannery K0UNX]

That looked like a less than 5 mW laser. Just a pointer. Certainly shouldn't have been pointed towards an aircraft, manned or not. I have much more powerful industrial lasers, and would never do that, but it isn't likely that this laser pen would cause any damage to the camera, and certainly it wouldn't burn a hole in the drone. I'm more concerned with people who try to shoot one down with a gun, because you don't know where the bullet's trajectory will bring the bullet down.

 

[Vic Moss]

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.

UAS are considered aircraft due to the Pirker v. Huerta NTSB Legislative Law Judge ruling in 2014. So yes, all aviation laws dealing with "aircraft" apply to unmanned aircraft as well.

Getting the DOJ or DOT IOG to do anything about that is a different story though.

https://www.hoganlovells.com/~/media/hogan-lovells/pdf/publication/aslv27n2sepoct14ellettelder_pdf.pdf

 

[boblui]

It’s a high probability the drone can fall down because the laser hit the sensors , so if that happens there’s a federal offense

Base on my understanding of these sensors and how they work, I just cannot see how.

 

[JimWest]

Did the OP have authorization to fly at night? Chances are not. So the complaint to the FAA would be: This guy illegally pointed a laser at my drone while I was illegally flying at night...

 

[Capt KO]

Flying at night IS legal. As far is seeing the drone in the dark, very easy since it has lights. As a pilot, anyone pointing a laser at a plane needs to be arrested. If a kid doesn’t know better, it’s a good time to learn. An anonymous report to the FAA would put them on notice that there are possible violators in the area. Let them know you have video and leave it up to them.
Thank you.

 

[boblui]

UAS are considered aircraft due to the Pirker v. Huerta NTSB Legislative Law Judge ruling in 2014. So yes, all aviation laws dealing with "aircraft" apply to unmanned aircraft as well.

Interesting law. pointing a laser to this is an offense I believe ?

 

[PinpointUAVS]

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

I’m not sure about the rest of the world but here in Canada and in the US federal legislation classifies drones as aircraft. It is a federal offence to point a laser at ANY aircraft, period.

 

[Meta4]

I’m not sure about the rest of the world but here in Canada and in the US federal legislation classifies drones as aircraft. It is a federal offence to point a laser at ANY aircraft, period.

It's all very well for forum lawyers to confidently give their verdict, but has anyone ever seen the FAA care at all about anything similar?

 

[Kamau54]

Ok, here goes.
If the OP thinks that the FAA is gonna spend time and resources to investigate & prosecute someone who pointed a pointer at a drone, I say dream on. It doesn't matter whether drones are considered aircraft or not. You just can't logically or with common sense think that a drone is in the same league as a airplane. That's like thinking that just because we are called pilots gives us the same distinction and privileges as aircraft pilots.
So to keep it real simple...Get over it.
Nuff said.