Laser protection .......................................

[Chris Ryser]

Just found an interesting website that explains it all...............................

Protective eyewear for pilots

Some pilots have advocated using laser protective eyewear, or “anti-laser glasses”. The FAA is aware of LPEs but currently does not recommend or require LPE use.

Pilots who want to use LPEs can do so -- subject of course to any rules applied by their airline or employer. Interested pilots should consider laser safety glasses developed specifically to protect against laser pointer illuminations. We are aware of four brands at this time (June 2013): Laser-Gard eyewear from Sperian/Honeywell, LaserShields eyewear from NoIR Laser Co., Laser Armor eyewear from Night Flight Concepts, and LaseReflect Aviator eyewear from Iridian Spectral Technologies.


see all at ----------------------> http://www.laserpointersafety.com/pa...erglasses.html

[Uilleann]

I would absolutely think twice (or MORE) before wearing those silly things at night. On short final in the busy class B around here, the last thing I want is to block light to my eyes. While there are isolated incidents reported of laser light in the cockpit of an aircraft - it is still exceedingly rare. (It's actually quite difficult to target the cockpit glass of a rapidly moving aircraft, at night, for any length of time...indeed if at all.)

But hey, it makes these companies money - and Chris, you get even more website traffic to boot. win/win right?

[Chris Ryser]

Uilleann ..............you gave your opinion, which was also stated in the article I posted the link to. I am not a pilot so I know only what one can see on a occasional visit with the captain on a commercial flight. However it might be interesting for the younger people on OB.

[MikeAurelius]

There have been a few incidents here in the US where lasers have flashed the cockpits of landing aircraft, most notable at LAX, and the main problem is temporary "flash" blindness. And since the more modern and up-to-date commercial aircraft land on autopilot, it really isn't the problem some make it out to be.

The guys who really worry about it are the military pilots, and the DoD has taken steps to provide them with protection.

For the most part, it isn't an issue.

[MakeOptics]

Uilleann ..............you gave your opinion, which was also stated in the article I posted the link to. I am not a pilot so I know only what one can see on a occasional visit with the captain on a commercial flight. However it might be interesting for the younger people on OB.

There have been a few incidents here in the US where lasers have flashed the cockpits of landing aircraft, most notable at LAX, and the main problem is temporary "flash" blindness. And since the more modern and up-to-date commercial aircraft land on autopilot, it really isn't the problem some make it out to be.

The guys who really worry about it are the military pilots, and the DoD has taken steps to provide them with protection.

For the most part, it isn't an issue.

+1's, Not as big of an issue.

[Stan Tabor]

Interesting article. Do a search on "lasers pointed at aircraft" and you will see dozens of articles highlighting the problem.

I am not certain if the product above is a viable solution, however, laser pointers appear to be an issue to pilots and those who write about aviation.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/late...they-land-jets
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/11/asiana-laser-faa/2508109/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57...-skyrocketing/
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/19...errorism-unit/
http://www.laserpointersafety.com/pa...erglasses.html

[Judy Canty]

http://gizmodo.com/5953538/careful-w...-you-in-prison

[rbaker]

• Pilots Shielded From Lasers With Gold?
  
  

Laser chemist and researcher Jayan Thomas of the University of Central Florida is working to create eyewear that could use gold to prevent pilots from being temporarily blinded or injured by laser light shot into the cockpit from the ground. Thomas is working in collaboration with other researchers at the Carnegie Mellon Institute in the field of nanotechnology. The team is working to develop a method of impregnating lenses with tiny nano clusters of gold that block out high-intensity laser light while allowing normal visible light to pass through. Last year, the FAA documented more than 3,400 laser incidents that involved aircraft.

Captain Steve Sevier is a US Airways pilot and safety expert for the Coalition of Air Line Pilots Associations. Sevier recently told the Orlando Sentinel that a doctor told him he had narrowly avoided serious eye injury after personally suffering a laser incident while on approach to LAX. According to the Sentinel, "Most experts say there is little chance of pilots suffering permanent eye damage from a laser pointer aimed at them from thousands of feet away on the ground." While more powerful lasers are now publicly available, AVweb is not aware of any similar incidents resulting in permanent eye damage to a pilot. However, potential consequences resulting from extremely bright light being introduced into the cockpit during critical phases of flight extend beyond eye health. Responding to concerns over cost, Thomas says his research revolves around nanotechnology and that the amount of gold required for a pair of glasses is far less than a fraction of an ounce.

[MakeOptics]

• Pilots Shielded From Lasers With Gold?

Laser chemist and researcher Jayan Thomas of the University of Central Florida is working to create eyewear that could use gold to prevent pilots from being temporarily blinded or injured by laser light shot into the cockpit from the ground. Thomas is working in collaboration with other researchers at the Carnegie Mellon Institute in the field of nanotechnology. The team is working to develop a method of impregnating lenses with tiny nano clusters of gold that block out high-intensity laser light while allowing normal visible light to pass through. Last year, the FAA documented more than 3,400 laser incidents that involved aircraft.

Captain Steve Sevier is a US Airways pilot and safety expert for the Coalition of Air Line Pilots Associations. Sevier recently told the Orlando Sentinel that a doctor told him he had narrowly avoided serious eye injury after personally suffering a laser incident while on approach to LAX. According to the Sentinel, "Most experts say there is little chance of pilots suffering permanent eye damage from a laser pointer aimed at them from thousands of feet away on the ground." While more powerful lasers are now publicly available, AVweb is not aware of any similar incidents resulting in permanent eye damage to a pilot. However, potential consequences resulting from extremely bright light being introduced into the cockpit during critical phases of flight extend beyond eye health. Responding to concerns over cost, Thomas says his research revolves around nanotechnology and that the amount of gold required for a pair of glasses is far less than a fraction of an ounce.

http://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/ri...ble_01_37.html

roughly 10 million flights depart in the USA, that's 10,000,000 and only 3,400 incidents. Percentage wise that equates to 0.034% and of that number I would make an assumption that most are just a simple flash in the cockpit not a steady aimed in the eye high powered laser beam. The problem comes from night flights and bleaching of the rodopsin(sp?) in the rods which takes roughly 45 minutes to recoupe for the average person, given the advanced age of pilots 40+ it may even take longer. During critical times a laser disrupting night adaption can mean serious consequences, but the numbers are still low and the threat still way way way way lower than getting killed by a texting driver.