“…the F.A.A. determined that the risk would be minimal even if the laser came into contact with an airplane”
I’m curious to know more about the testing. Was it only done on airliners, or GA aircraft, too?
Is this an admission that the arrests and prosecutions of people with lasers were a farce?
Probably not. The military is allowed to do lots of things civilians aren’t, in part because of the assurance of training.