| |
| |
|
Aviation Information |
|
|
|
Laser Beam Guidance for Oshkosh Air Show
The Federal Aviation Administration is devising a method of alerting pilots who enter a restricted airspace to leave immediately. To do this is will use a laser beam pointed at the aircraft in a certain color. This is something new, but the concept is probably something, which came from the VASI light system for glide paths on landing. VASI is Vertical Air Situation Indicator. General Aviation pilots are familiar with the sayings; "Red over red you're Dead." The VASI lights had a set of green and red lights three rows. If you only saw green in the middle you were on a proper glide path, but if you saw the red only you were too low and liable to hit something and ruin your whole day, bite the farm or not walk away from that landing. Each year at Oshkosh Wisconsin is the annual Experimental Aircraft Association, the largest event of its kind in the world. Planes fly in from all over and converge at Oshkosh. There are always a few deaths and mid-air collisions and hundreds of near misses. I propose the FAA allow the EAA to use the laser system to alert pilots that they are on the proper approach and heading. Thus preventing any crashes. Currently you have probably heard on the news that the FAA wants to use these lasers to prevent pilots from entering restricted airspace, especially around Washington DC or Crawford TX, etc. The Military would also like to keep general aviation pilots away, so they do not have to shoot them down. The whole thing is a bit controversial. Airplane Owners and Pilots Association states their position: "Safety of the nation's pilots should be the highest priority for government agencies charged with regulating the use of lasers. While AOPA does not believe that lasers pose a significant safety issue that warrants the use of temporary or permanent airspace restrictions, general aviation pilots should be aware that higher power lasers are more readily available, and at least one study shows that they may cause temporary vision changes from lasers. Because general aviation aircraft often fly at relatively low altitudes, today's strongest lasers may pose a threat to the safety of the flight in all flight regimes." The FAA assures the AOPA, EAA and other pilot's association not to worry it will not be using any high powered lasers like was used against the Delta Heavy on its way into Salt Lake City or the many others we heard about in the news. Many pilots blamed the AFRL Air Force Research Lab for doing some sort of tests and the conspiracy theorists of course blamed the UFOs and aliens? Hard to keep everyone happy these days. The AOPA http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/air_traffic/lasers.html also noted that: "AOPA has also learned that the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is evaluating the use of laser beam technology to visually alert to aircraft that violate the security-restricted airspace around Washington, D.C. Very few details have emerged about this research project; however, AOPA is concerned about the safety of general aviation. According to NORAD officials, the ground-based laser system uses safety-tested low-level beams of alternating green and red laser lights to alert pilots that they are flying without approval in designated airspace. This system would be used when the aircraft in question cannot be contacted on VHF voice radio by ATC. According to the FAA, a preliminary test of the system showed that the laser illumination is "eye safe." However, the FAA contends, and AOPA agrees, that a number of important steps must be taken before the system is fielded. A special advisory must be developed to alert pilots of the new system, operational procedures must be developed, and a broad education and outreach effort must be made to the pilot community. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is aware of this research and the need to prevent potential safety hazards to pilots." So with all this said it does appear that a low intensity laser beam guidance system might come in very handy as 50,000 private aircraft converge on this years Oshkosh air show in less than 4-days? Think on this and see you there. Oshkosh 2005; http://www.airventure.org/ "Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
MORE RESOURCES:
Aviation - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Lockheed Loitering Missile Expandable Wing Concept Smart Missiles are expensive, but effective. Efficiency in the the new paradigm of the net-centric warfare will yield results to those who pay attention and do not waste assets. Point to Point VS Spoke and Hub? Air Taxi Boeing it is said took a big gamble in predicting the future of air travel. Instead of going bigger like Airbus and building an aircraft like the A380, the biggest airliner ever built; The Boeing Company decided to go for a more efficient smaller aircraft with better materials and better range. Increasing TAS in Modern Day Fighters with Expandable Wing Tips As fighter aircraft get faster and faster there is a diminishing return on more aerodynamic streamlining in designs. You can only build the aircraft so "Aerodynamically Correct" once you have the best optimum design for speed, there is little you can do without changing the aircraft in-flight or the air itself. Mirrors to Redirect Mini Laser Weapons on Fighters for Vortex Airflows Recently a new airborne laser system was announced to be put onto fighter jets, once this technology becomes more advanced we will no longer need missiles for air-to-air combat. The system, which will go onto a fighter jet would be called the; "HELLADS" or High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System, it is being tested now. A Look at Fractional Jet Ownership We've all experienced it - the commercial flight. After a mad dash to make it to the airport on time, including the hours allotted for getting through security, where you'll have to take off your shoes, empty your pockets, and prove that your laptop is not a bomb, you sit and wait for a couple hours before they decide to start boarding, and give you the privilege of sitting in the cramped seat that you paid a couple hundred dollars for. Airport Travel Tips: Reducing Waiting Times Key Travel TipsFollowing these tips will help you reduce your wait time at the security checkpoint.Before you go to the Airport? Do not pack or bring Prohibited Items to the airport. Young Men Trying to Imitate the 9-11 Scenario, Part III What caused a teenager to crash an aircraft into the Bank of America Building in Tampa? It makes no sense. Read more in Part III to try to understand the causes involved in this scenario. Fuel Costs and Air Fares Set To Rocket After Hurricane Katrina Punishes The US It now looks certain that Hurricane Katrina will push fuel prices - and air fares - up through the roof.Hurricane Katrina has just killed hundreds of people, and it could well be thousands of people that we don't know about already. The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part One Business scholars and students throughout recent periods have studied the fascinating business model of franchising. In the most history of commerce under a common currency from Amsterdam forward to the Global Power House of the United States of America we have seen franchises lead the way. So You Want to Get Free Airline Tickets: Should You Choose a Reward or Cash Back Credit Card? If you want to use a reward credit card for getting free airline tickets, you have a choice of choosing a dedicated airline credit card, a travel reward credit card or a cash back credit card. A dedicated airline credit credit card has hefty annual fees and may not be worth it if you are not a very frequent traveller or do not spend enough on your credit card. Find Cheap Tickets From all the Major Airlines All of the major airlines are now associated with different web sites allowing for you to find discount airfare and cheap tickets on the internet. One of the reasons the airlines have done this is because so many people now have access to computers and the internet. Inflatable Aircraft Wing Camber Modification Every aircraft is a compromise. It is either built to fly fast or slow to land in tight distances and carry more weight. Sex in a Cessna, Part III So far we have learned the safety aspect of setting the aircraft up in non-restricted airspace, with auto-pilot and away from other aircraft traffic. Now we will describe sexual positions, which will help you maintain controlled flight without restricting visibility. Flying With Your Dog A pet owner must research the many requirements before taking a dog on an airplane. Different airlines have slightly different regulations, but most airlines follow the same basic set of rules in regards to flying with a dog. Helicopters - The Multi Utility Machines The vertical lift technology of helicopters has far more utilitarian aspects to its credit than only being an effective mode of transport. In India, civil helicopters are performing transportation business, be it executive or offshore. The History of the Aircraft Wash Guys, Part Three As we study this grass roots history of a franchise company in the making we see how opportunity in the market grows companies and how entrepreneurial thinkers take advantage of those opportunities to deliver goods and services, which match the desires of the market place. In this review of the history of the aircraft wash guys we see the company diversifying and finding other niches to serve, some of which were actually better than the original plan. American Airlines; Crash: Nov. 12, 2001 It seems there were not many comments to the AA crash of November 2001, as soon as it was ruled an accident instead of an attack the media stopped the reports and the story disappeared. The years following have been the safest years in Airline Industry History. Sex in a Cessna, Part II Sex in a Cessna or any light plane can be exhilarating and since your flight instructor never trained you how to do this you will need to read all of this several part series of articles, we do not want you screwing things up so to speak. In part one, we explained the need for a practice area and separation between other aircraft, staying out of flight path of other aircraft and setting the aircraft up in level flight. Airline Security; Stewardesses The Last Line Of Defense! Introduction:It might come as a chock to many people, including the Stewardesses, but the fact remains that in today's Airline Industry, the Stewardess is the last line of defense!In the 11th of September terrorist attacks, on the WTC and Pentagon, the first victims were the Stewardesses. Savagely attacked by the terrorist on their way to the cockpit's and tortured to pressure pilots, to comply with the terrorists demands. Entering Business Aviation, Part V: Tips on Finding Work I will not pretend that this is the easiest topic to write about. In fact, my knowledge of how one finds work as a private flight attendant is based chiefly on what others have shared with me.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
