1. Presented to: 2009 International Laser Safety Conference By: Van B. Nakagawara, O.D. Date: March 23-26, 2009 Federal Aviation Administration Federal Aviation Administration Laser Illumination of Pilots in the NAS March 23-26, 2009 Laser Illumination of Pilots in the National Airspace System

3. Federal Aviation Administration 3 Federal Aviation Administration Laser Illumination of Pilots in the NAS March 23-26, 2009 Green laser pointers are now responsible for > 86% of aircraft lazing incidents. Their light (532 nm) is near the human eyes’ peak sensitivity.

4. Federal Aviation Administration 4 Federal Aviation Administration Laser Illumination of Pilots in the NAS March 23-26, 2009 642412192517TOTAL 910155≥10K 371379148CRITICAL 18105964 LASER FREE AFTER-IMAGE FLASH- BLINDNESS GLARE COCKPIT ILLUMINATIONS OPERATIONAL PROBLEM PAIN/ INJURY VISUAL EFFECTS ZONE Visual and Physiological Effects and Operational Problems by Altitude

5. Federal Aviation Administration 5 Federal Aviation Administration Laser Illumination of Pilots in the NAS March 23-26, 2009 Percentage of Laser Illuminations by Percentage of Laser Illuminations by Month Type of Flight

6. Federal Aviation Administration 6 Federal Aviation Administration Laser Illumination of Pilots in the NAS March 23-26, 2009 Percentage of Laser Illuminations by Time of Day Note: Laser Illuminations occur most frequently from 6:30 – 11:30 p.m.

7. Federal Aviation Administration 7 Federal Aviation Administration Laser Illumination of Pilots in the NAS March 23-26, 2009 FAA Order 7400.2 was revised to establish zones of navigable airspace around airports to protect flight crewmembers from temporary visual impairment during critical flight operations.

8. FLIGHT ZONES FAA Order 7400.2 FLIGHT ZONES

10. FAA 737 Flight Simulator Kodak DC240, aperture f/2.8, shutter speed 1/6 s

11. Irradiance level: 0.5 µW/cm 2 Simulates the effect of a 5 mW green laser pointer as seen from 3,000 feet away, or a 300 mW laser from 16,000 feet away

12. Irradiance level: 5 µW/cm 2 Simulates the effect of a 5 mW green laser pointer as seen from 1,000 feet away, or a 300 mW laser from 6,700 feet away

13. Simulates the effect of a 5 mW green laser pointer as seen from 330 feet away, or a 300 mW laser from 2,400 feet away Irradiance level: 50 µW/cm 2

14. Federal Aviation Administration 14 Federal Aviation Administration Laser Illumination of Pilots in the NAS March 23-26, 2009 Fly Safely!