UFO geeks deny close encounters with lasers

THE Territory's most famous alien hunter has defended the professional skills of his UFO-spotting colleagues, saying that they pose no risk to aircraft with their laser beams.

THE Territory's most famous alien hunter has defended the professional skills of his UFO-spotting colleagues, saying that they pose no risk to aircraft with their laser beams.

Acacia Hills ufologist Alan Ferguson wrote on his website last week that shining laser beams at spacecraft makes them "power up".

It prompted unimpressed pilots to speak out about the dangers of shining the high-intensity light at aircraft that may be descending to land.

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Mr Ferguson, who is part of the Australian Close Encounter Resource Network, said people who used lasers on planes were idiots.

"If caught, throw the book at them," he said.

"Me and my fellow associates only show the real deal and are not into hoaxes as these mongrels make our job more difficult."

But he said nobody he knows would be fooled.

"All my associates are very professional in what they do and can see the difference between a UFO and a plane.

"Even you would see the difference, no comparison. Especially when they just appear then move off then stop again, no planes do that."

Mr Ferguson said lasers were used with infra-red binoculars because they were better for spotting UFOs.

"The laser when flashed at them makes them power up, so they are making contact back," he said.

"They are intelligently controlled and (do) not always move across the sky, sometimes stopping, sit there flashing then shoot off in a blur."

A380 pilot and former pilots' association president Barry Jackson warned that laser lights shone at planes coming in to land could cause a catastrophic crash by blinding pilots who needed their night vision to steer the plane.

"Most aircraft are landed manually," he said. "The pilot is doing all the work and they need night vision." The maximum penalty for those caught shining lasers at aircraft in the Territory is four years in prison.

Laser pointers were shone at aircraft landing in Darwin last week by persons unknown. Mr Ferguson said some UFO hunters in the Top End had come to his place for a spotting mission but none had lasers.

"I don't even have a laser myself as I don't have the time these days due to working long hours," he said.