Lasers and aviation Safety Patrick Murphy Executive Director, International Laser Display Association SAE G-10T Committee Member Lasers and aviation Safety

Lasers and Aviation Safety Laser pointer threat Laser uses in airspace Laser hazards in airspace Hazard factors Hazard reduction Regulation and control

Laser pointer threat Steady rise in incidents Due to: Lower cost Higher powers (100-300 mW) Green (more visible)

Laser pointer threat January 1 – February 23, 2009: 148 laser illuminations of aircraft in the U.S. alone 2.7 per day February 22: 12 illuminations of aircraft landing at Sea-Tac

Laser pointer threat -- Australia 140 incidents Jan. - April 2008 March 2008 “coordinated attacks” in Sydney Led to NSW ban on laser pointer import, sales and possession

Why not ban laser beams from airspace?

Laser use in airspace “Guide star” lasers used in astronomy Satellite communications and ranging Atmospheric remote sensing

Laser use in airspace Aircraft warning Visual Warning System used in Washington Metropolitan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) 7 locations Green and red lasers, 1.5 watts Visible up to 20 nautical miles away

Laser use in airspace Entertainment Nightly show at a fixed site (theme parks) Infrequent shows at various sites (special events) Usually only 30-60 minutes long

Not practical to ban lasers from airspace Unduly restricts legitimate users Does not prevent accidental illumination incidents Does not stop deliberate targeting of aircraft Ignorance – does not know effects Malice – trying to cause harm

How are laser beams hazardous to aviation?

Primary hazard is to pilots From visible laser beams: Visual interference during critical phases of flight Distraction, glare and flashblindness Potential eye damage during any phase of flight From non-visible (infrared, ultraviolet) beams:

Visual interference Distraction Distracting, but can see past the light 0.5 μW/cm2 5 mW laser pointer at 3,700 feet (1130m)

Visual interference Glare Interferes with vision 5.0 μW/cm2 5 mW laser pointer at 1,200 feet (365m)

Visual interference Temporary flashblindness Blocks vision during and after exposure 100 μW/cm2 5 mW laser pointer at 350 feet (107m)

Visual interference does affect pilots 2004 FAA simulator study Pilots flew a challenging “short-final” approach Glare and flashblindness significant Adverse effects for more than 50% of the approaches 20-25% rate of aborted landings

Laser exposure in a police helicopter

Potential eye damage Can be caused by visible or non-visible laser beams, at power above the MPE Unlikely, though possible Few confirmed reports “Damage” could be pre- or post-exposure Previous eye injuries or abormalities Rubbing the eye after exposure

Hazards summary

(A plea for properly proportioned diagrams)

6 watt, 532 nm, 1.1 mrad laser Eye hazard to 1600 feet (488m) Flashblindness to 8200 feet (1.5 mi/2.5 km) Glare to 36,800 feet (7 mi/11.2 km) Distraction to 368,000 feet (70 mi/112 km)

What are the factors affecting the hazard level?

Factors affecting hazard level Laser factors Power, divergence, visible/non-visible, wavelength, pulsed vs. CW Operational factors Area covered in sky (stationary vs. moving) Location relative to airports Terminated vs. non-terminated beams Use of airspace observers (spotters) Use of automated detection (radar, cameras)

Factors affecting hazard level (cont. 1) Situational factors Day vs. night Aircraft speed and distance (helicopters at risk) Laser pointer user factors Deliberate (longer and more exposures) vs. accidental (short, single event)

Factors affecting hazard level (cont. 2) Pilot factors Read NOTAMs Flight phase (takeoff, landing, emergency) Pilot experience and training Recognizing a laser event Properly responding, to successfully avoid problems

Factors affecting hazard level (cont. 3) Legal and regulatory Follow aviation authority procedures FAA, CDRH in US Laws against interference Restrict the sale or use of laser devices May not be practical May give false sense of security Does not guard against deliberate intent

Single most effective way to reduce the hazard?

Pilot training reduces the hazard Laser illuminations can be managed with training Effective against both accidental and deliberate exposures Not a substitute for regulations and restrictions on law-abiding laser users

Public education may also help Educate heavy laser pointer users www.LaserPointerSafety.com Self-regulation/education by laser pointer sellers Package inserts Permanent labels on laser pointers Laser pointer seller participation in regulatory efforts Laser pointer seller trade association

www.LaserPointerSafety.com Facts, news and links on laser pointer safety for the general public Reduce annoying and dangerous incidents “Bad for safety” – pilots, drivers “Bad for yourself” – possible arrest, fines, jail “Bad for pointers” – misuse will lead to bans

What regulations must be followed in the U.S.?

U.S. regulations Federal Aviation Administration Does not have direct authority over laser uses Requests that laser uses be reviewed in advance by aerospace specialists Issues a “Letter of Non-Objection” if OK; a “Letter of Objection” if not OK

U.S. regulations FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health Regulates laser devices (equipment) Only regulates three uses Medical Surveying Demonstration Includes laser pointers and light shows Demonstration users MUST file with FAA and MUST get a “Letter of Non-Objection”. Only laser users legally required to get permission.

FAA regulations Four zones around airports and sensitive airspace, for visual interference “Laser-Free” Zone, < 0.5 μ/cm2 (50 nanowatts/cm2) Critical Flight Zone, < 5.0 μ/cm2 (optional) Sensitive Flight Zone, < 100 μ/cm2 Normal Zone, <MPE, no visual restrictions

What U.S. airspace is controlled? Almost all lasers outdoors in the U.S. Even if between two buildings on a city street Helicopters may need to fly between the buildings Even if terminated from ground to surfaces Termination may fail FAA control stops at about 60,000 feet Some lasers are hazards above 60,000 feet Must be reported to Air Force Space Command No current requirement to detect hard-to-spot aircraft Stealth, unmanned aerial vehicles, supersonic

How to report U.S. laser operations FAA Form 7140-1 (part of Advisory Circular 70-1)

Current status

Standards development SAE G-10T Laser Safety Hazards Subcommittee ANSI Z136.6 Standard for Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors

Current status SAE G-10T working on guidelines for automated detection and avoidance systems Prominent laser users (e.g., observatories) and laser shows follow FAA guidelines Laser pointers now are the area of primary concern Some concern over deliberate targeting to cause harm Difficult to do, not very effective

Resources for background, general public This ILSC paper and its references Wikipedia article “Lasers and Aviation Safety” Subject to “anyone can edit” caveat of any Wikipedia article www.LaserPointerSafety.com Links page

Questions

(Note: Slides after this point are “leftovers” which did not fit into the main presentation, or which had material included in other slides. They are left for future versions which may find the leftover slides useful.)

Hazard factors: Laser Laser power Beam divergence Visible vs. non-visible (infrared and ultraviolet) Color Green can be 2-10 times more visible than equal power red or blue lasers Pulsed vs. continuous

Hazard factors: Operational Beam movement Stationary: Smaller chance of flying through beam; easier to protect via spotters or automated methods Moving (laser show): Greater chance of exposure Location relative to airports and airlanes Projector and laser stability

Hazard factors: Situational Day vs. night Only dusk/night/dawn a problem for visible lasers More visible lasers operate at night Motion and speed of the aircraft Helicopters are at greatest risk due to hovering Distance to the aircraft Low-flying planes and helicopters at greatest risk

Hazard factors: Aircrew Flight phase Takeoff, approach, landing, emergency maneuvers Pilot awareness Prior exposure to laser illumination concepts Pilot response Overreaction vs. “fly the plane”

Hazard factors: Laser pointers Intent Deliberate targeting Longer exposure May be coordinated with others (Sydney, 2008) Easier to catch (though still not easy) May recur, hit multiple planes and/or multiple nights Accidental targeting One-time-only accident