I think one reason may just be the urgency; they have to take the risk to stop the attacks. The other thing, high-power (1000mw+) lasers used to be a few hundred bucks, you had to want one more than you wanted an X-box. Now, they’re down in the $10-$20 range, and in a number of wavelengths. The cost barrier that kept at least some of the idiots out of this dangerous game is gone :-/ Luckily, the price of IR lasers that are both outside of the visible spectrum and powerful enough to do damage at any distance is higher, and because the beam is invisible, they don’t appeal to the idiots that just want to make a bright dot appear somewhere. Worked with them in long-haul fiber circuits, and always was mindful of the “do not look into laser with remaining eye” stickers that were ubiquitous

(Written on 27/01/2020)(Permalink)

They had to lead the article with “A Florida man” didn’t they? (Ok, if I was a copy editor I probably wouldn’t be able to resist either.) What a f&^%$ing nitwit. I’m glad no one was injured, and the defendant should be grateful as hell too, because it’ll mean maybe missing a birthday in jail instead of never walking outside a prison fence again.

(Written on 27/01/2020)(Permalink)

I’ve been in an S-76, just as a passenger, but I am thinking every seat was full. And with several aboard being professional athletes (current or retired) they were carrying a lot of weight. I’ve never had to use SVFR, I decided early on that I would always rather land if conditions were not clearly acceptable for me to proceed. SVFR, I reserved for totally unforcast weather coming out of nowhere, or having to divert to an alternate without realizing conditions had slipped at my alternate.

(Written on 27/01/2020)(Permalink)

I looked at the track and saw the same thing. I wish I could overlay it with a topographical map, but I am going to speculate that the pilot knew they were close to terrain, but getting squeezed between it and clouds. That violent ascent right at the end sure looks like they saw terrain and were carrying WAY too much speed to do anything about it, pulled up with everything the bird had, but too late. My money’s on CFIT. I’m not a helo pilot but everything about this flight strikes me as making bad decisions and piling worse ones on top with every choice.

(Written on 27/01/2020)(Permalink)

I’m certain there are enough charges to keep both a state and federal prosecutor busy for quite a while. Since she never got it off the ground and was described as “disoriented and uncooperative”, I’m going to say that favorite phrase: “Alcohol may have been a factor”. “Ground, ah, King Air Delta Whisky Whisky, request taxi to the drive-in FBO *hic*” “DWW, um, not familiar with that location.” “Ground, no worries. Making my own. Hold my beer.” *really expensive sound of two turboprops being used as hedge trimmers*

(Written on 20/12/2019)(Permalink)

I WANT TO BELIEVE lol yea, I posted this only a few minutes after it was reported by AP. The lockdown and response with military aircraft indicate the (FAA? DHS? I presume probably the latter, acting on information from the former) were alarmed by something, but that it was resolved less than 25 minutes later, yep, probably one of those things they need to assume is a threat but quickly verified it wasn’t. Happy thanksgiving to all, and may the ATC gods smile upon those of us with flights tomorrow

(Written on 27/11/2019)(Permalink)

He really, really really picked the wrong day to stop sniffling glue. Don’t think I’ve ever been able to actually say that huffing paint would have been a wiser choice during work hours.

(Written on 06/09/2019)(Permalink)

I’m always a little reluctant to demand someone lose their job over off-duty behavior unless it’s truly egregious, endangering others, or - and it sounds like this is the case here - they act in a manner that any reasonable person would find offensive, and do so in a way that associates their boorishness with their employer. Being a jerk is rude. Being a jerk while clearly identifying yourself as being an employee of a competitor and citing your expertise as such? Sorry, that’s a no-no. If I had a nickel for every time some company’s legal/hr dept asked for records of an employee’s Facebook activity, that occurred on a company computer, during work hours, at their desk... I’d have a big stack of nickels to hand out to people who were usually unemployed shortly after. Facebook: not even once. 😂

(Written on 06/09/2019)(Permalink)

Stories like this remind me of something that is really easy to overlook: Most people are good and generous and patient. We mostly only hear about people because they’ve done something truly awful. While we still have to deal with those cretins, take a moment to appreciate the fact that the hundred or so random people on this flight are much more representative of humanity in general. And if you find your eyes watering a bit, don’t blame the pollen, you’re just having the natural reaction to an act of kindness and empathy.

(Written on 30/08/2019)(Permalink)

"Yes, I'm sorry, honey, but it's airline rules - we can't fly after sundown on friday. *sigh* Stuck here in the middle of the desert with nothing to do until sunday morning. Whoops, GZZRRKKK bad reception here in the desert BZRRRPPP better go!"

(Written on 07/08/2019)(Permalink)