By Ian McPhedran
Newcastle cars targetted for 43 seconds
Lasers the Air Force's most powerful
Danger of permanent eyesight damage
IT was not quite a Star Wars death ray, but air force Top Guns accidentally focused high-powered lasers on to a civilian car in May this year - potentially endangering the eyesight of peaceful earthlings.
RAAF F/A-18 fighters from the Williamtown base north of Newcastle were conducting exercises near the NSW mid-north coast town of Forster when the incident happened.
The pilots thought their laser targeting system was turned off for the training flight.
Unfortunately it wasn't and the powerful light beams, known as class four lasers, were shone twice on to a road intersection for a total of 43 seconds.
The incidents happened at 11.25am and 4.13pm at the corner of Lakes Way and Seal Rocks Rd.
One car was targeted and eight others passed close to the beam.
The lasers used by Hornet fighters as target designators are the most powerful laser beams used by the air force.
The Defence department confessed to the mistake by press release yesterday without any prompting from the public.
It said RAF and US Air Force specialists had advised they were not aware of any incidents of laser injuries to people on the ground, as a result of lasings from aircraft in incidents similar to this one.
While the likelihood of injury is rare, the powerful beams of compressed light have the potential to damage the retina permanently.
According to the department, the symptoms of laser damage would be easy to recognise and investigate.
If exposure had occurred symptoms would include glare, dazzle, a sudden bright flash (similar to a camera flash), and potentially pain and watering.
"Blurring and loss of vision may also be experienced. This could be temporary or permanent," the department said.
"Visual changes would depend on amount and location of injury; small changes may not be obvious without specialist eye assessment.
"Worldwide documented cases of people on the ground being injured from airborne lasers are rare.
"However, members of the public are being advised to seek medical advice if they are concerned that they may have been exposed.
"Defence and air force are currently strengthening safety procedures associated with the F/A-18 test and evaluation of the Litening laser targeting system."
A public health fact sheet on the laser is available at
Original Source