AA Flights Outfitted with Defensive Laser Beams

While other airlines are cutting back on amenities such as pillows and pretzels, American Airlines is bringing the latest in military defense systems aboard. Thanks to a $29 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security and a partnership with BAE Systems (the world's third largest defense company!), an infrared-based anti-missile laser system known as "Jeteye," is being testing on three American planes based at New York's JFK and making flights to California.

Jeteye works by firing a lasers to misdirect heat-seeking missiles; the device is specifically designed to fend off the shoulder-fired rockets favored by terrorists, which are apparently referred to by the hilarious acronym "MANPADS." The lasers have been tested on American's fleet of cargo planes, but this will be the first time they're used with civilian passengers on board. The planes will log about 7,000 hours each, ensuring that Jeteye doesn't interfere with normal flight operations. (If you're flying out of JFK on American in the next few months, best of luck with that.) Don't worry though, they won't be firing the lasers; BAE assures potential buyers that Jeteye has an "ultra-low false alarm rate."

[BAE Systems: JETEYE™- Commercial Airliner Infrared Missile Protection System]