From: "Jerald F. Wright" 
To: Charles Mitchard 
CC: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: "Jerald F. Wright" 




Charles Mitchard wrote:

> What I find more frightening is the apparent statement that these lasers
> can destroy a multi million dollar satellite. Its the same as multi million
> dollar aircraft that do not seem to have a few dollars spent on shielded
> avionics so a simple cell phone will confuse the aircraft.
> I believe South Australia has already banned these laser finders under the
> "risk to pilots eyes"
> Anyone from there know for sure?
> Charles

     The reason for not allowing cell phone use in aircraft is mostly to
protect the cell phone system. From an aircraft in flight your cell phone
signal is received by too well at too many cell sites.
    Unless there has been a change I am unaware of (quite possible) in Federal
Air Regulations (U. S.)  the pilot in command has discretion to allow the
operation of electronic devices on aircraft.  Shielding from unwanted
signals of frequencies not used by the aircraft navigation or
communications systems is one thing. But some electronic devices could
radiate at the very frequencies of operation of navigation or communication
systems of the aircraft.

    One should also consider that a discussion of  "how to disable or interfere
with the operation of a space based national defense asset" could be
criminal. If someone you have discussed this with attempts to do this
(whether successful or not) and is discovered are you a co-conspirator?
While I am quite confident it would be very difficult, a discussion of
doing it with amateur telescopes is the first step toward regulation of
amateur telescopes. I think that is what we are saying we don't want.

Jerry

--- BBBS/NT v4.00 MP