Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

A California man who lasered a police helicopter in 2017 has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and three years of&nbsp;probation. Roger Shane John, 34, of Turlock, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Dale Drozd after pleading guilty to purposely striking a Stanislaus County sheriff’s helicopter five or six times with an 85 milliwatt green laser that is 17 times more powerful than legally allowed for handheld consumer devices and strong enough to cause eye injury, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

 


John admitted to striking a CalStar emergency medical helicopter three or four times during the same evening. The strikes impacted the pilot and tactical flight officer aboard the sheriff’s helicopter and caused them to abort their response to a domestic violence call. John admitted guilt in the plea and said&nbsp;that he knew his conduct was illegal, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California.

 


The events occurred on Oct. 22, 2017, near the Modesto City-County Airport and were&nbsp;investigated by the FBI, Stanislaus County sheriff, and Modesto police department. John could have received up to five years’ incarceration and a $250,000 fine.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Helicopter Laserer Gets Federal Prison

A California man who lasered a sheriff’s helicopter in 2017 has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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