ildadirect said:
There are a number of problems with having pilots routinely use laser-protective goggles during takeoffs and landings.
One is that the wavelengths to be defended against are unknown. Yes, today most laser-aircraft incidents involve green pointers around 532 nm. But other wavelengths are available and getting more popular and affordable. After a certain point, goggles are blocking a wide spectrum which means there is a wide spectrum of light that pilots can't see.
Such blocking interferes not only with night vision outside the cockpit, but also blocks many indicator lamps and colors on the CRT or LCD panels used in "glass cockpits". Even blocking just 532 nm would make some green cockpit lights and CRT/LCD colors disappear.
Another problem is the unknown and variable strength of the laser. The irradiance can vary widely, depending on the laser power (1 to 250 mW for hand held pointers) and the distance/geometry to the aircraft. So the goggles can't simply act as OD filters to knock down the power. Too little OD and the light is still too bright. Too much OD and the instruments and the outside disappear.
You really need active goggles which can react to the power (and perhaps wavelength) in order to protect the pilot. AFAIK, such goggles do not exist in an effective and affordable enough form to require every civil aircraft to be equipped with goggles.
Even if goggles worked pretty well, there is still one argument against them which, IMHO, trumps all the other considerations. Pilots rightly ask "why should I have to wear goggles every time I take off or land?" This is a reasonable question. The routine use of goggles in today's cockpits would probably be more dangerous (due to limiting some vision) than the current situation. Pilots and regulators correctly feel that the burden should be on laser users not to lase aircraft, and on police to find and prosecute those who might do so.
If regulators are asked to choose between pilots and airlines sayiing "ban laser pointers", and laser pointer users saying "wear goggles on every flight", well ... guess who is going to win.
And (unfortunately) it does not matter whether a ban would be effective. At least The Authorities Have Done Something.
My view is that the best solution is to try to get the word to laser pointer users to NEVER aim at aircraft. The idea is to make it uncool, similar to how MADD turned drunk drivers from being amusing, into social pariahs.
LaserPointerSafety.com emphasizes the hazards to pilots; the possibility of arrest, fines and jail for the laser user; and the fact that lasers will be banned if these incidents don't go WAY down right away. This may be a quixotic quest, but it is worth a try before the U.S., Canada and other countries go the way of Australia and the U.K. in banning or severely restricting laser pointers.
I know most of you reading already know not to lase aircraft (or annoy strangers). These incidents -- about one per day in the U.S. -- are adding up to strong pressure for a ban. If you can get the word out to others, that would be greatly appreciated. We need to change peoples' behavior, before it is too late.
If you search this forum with the term pilot, airplane, aircraft etc. you will find that active members in this community commonly refer to anyone in the news who have shone a laser at an aircraft as 'idiots' and discourage the behavior.
There will always be idiots who find it amusing to do such things, and it will be interesting to see what the outcome in AU will be, post banning.
I would have figured that the airline companies would take a proactive approach, and retro fit the planes with some sort of broadband coated windscreens to avoid such incident all together. I haven’t heard much of anything involving lasers other than 532nm, and am guessing that they make up more than 90% of the reports. There are only 3 main colors that are readily available in high power at prices that appeal to the average 'idiot'. Would it not be a good idea for the airline companies to investigate possible solutions?
There are concerns in this world today with terrorist acts, and the airline industry. Knowing this should be more than enough reason to take a proactive stance, and eliminate the risk,
period.
I would agree that it’s not a feasible idea to expect pilots to wear goggles during critical points in flight. But we are not necessarily speaking of the hazards of the ignorant, rather the potential threat of the ones who have malicious intent.
I'm not sure how much they cost, but when purchasing a jumbo jet, the cockpit windows are worth pennies in comparison to the rest of the plane. So why haven’t the big companies who own them take a proactive approach? We can educate and pass the word till we are blue in the face, but these incidents will still occur, and nothing seems to be getting done offensively.
Continue to arrest and prosecute the idiots of society, this is most definitely one of the logical steps to be taken, but putting the burden completely on law enforcement and the general public will most likely not solve this issue.
I would suggest that the airline companies shoulder some responsibility in this matter, as it is not impossible to protect their pilots, nor the hundereds of passengers in a single craft.
http://www.newport.com/Lab-Windows/579225/1033/catalog.aspx
"Product Description
Newport is pleased to offer lab windows from Glendale Laser one of the largest manufacturers of laser protective products. Their full range of polymer and glass filters are designed to meet the most demanding laser safety requirements for industrial, military, telecommunications, medical, R&D and specialty markets.
Glendale's polymer Diffused Viewing Only (DVO) designed lab windows maximizes visibility, while providing unsurpassed attenuation for today's most common lasers such as NdYag, CO2, Argon, 532 nm and YAG. These windows come in 2x3 ft or 3x4 ft sizes.
Their Laminated Glass Technology (LGT) lab windows are designed to provide highest visible light transmission with multiple wavelength coverage. Sizes for the glass windows are 100 mm x200 mm and 210 mm x297 mm. "
Just a thought…
*Edit* -Pilots rightly ask "why should I have to wear goggles every time I take off or land?"
My response would be, you should not have to. But if wearing a pair of goggles will save lives, why shouldnt you? If equipment is introduced to the industry that will not hinder the performance of their duties, and effectively protect them, why would they even question it? Thats just silly
I just saw a huge flash of green light, and literally threw the laser away onto my bed.
I'm going to an eye doctor soon, to see if anything can be done.
