This document is intended to give guidance to users, regulators and persons in the aviation field who may be affected by the potential visual interference effects of lasers aimed at aircraft by the general public. The potential effects include startle (distraction, disruption, disorientation, and operational incapacitation), glare, and flashblindness. This document provides mitigation strategies against such effects, including operational procedures, pilot education, and the use of Laser Glare Protection.
Prevention of harm from laser eye injuries is discussed but is not a focus of this document, due to the extremely low likelihood of injurious levels of laser light in typical aircraft illumination scenarios.
Devices for detecting and reporting hazardous laser illuminations are briefly described in Appendix D, but are not a focus of this document.
Some information in this document may also be useful for non-aviation users, such as persons driving vehicles. Additional information can be found in ANSI Z136.6, “Safe Use of Lasers Outdoors”.
Rationale
The greatest single bright-light concern in aviation today is portable hand-held lasers misused by the general public. Bright laser light aimed at the aircraft during night and dim conditions can interfere with pilots’ vision. There is also a small but finite possibility of laser light causing an injury to pilots’ eyes.
This document provides information about (1) operational considerations, (2) education and training, and (3) whether and how to mitigate these effects using Laser Glare Protection (LGP). In addition, a brief description of devices to locate and report laser illuminations is given in Appendix D.
Stakeholders include: Pilots and aircrews, aircraft operators, public safety managers such as police and medical officials, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The SAE G-10 Aerospace Behavioral Engineering Technology committee focuses on human factors in all facets of aircraft development and operations. It defines appropriate recommendations that could provide cost effective and efficient operation of aircraft (machine) through the use of aerospace behavioral engineering technology. The group is comprised of several subcommittees dedicated to creating, preparing, and maintaining all relevant specifications, standards, and requirements for addressing human factors in aircraft development and operation.
* Redlines comparisons are available for those standards
listed in the Revision History that contain a radio button. A
redline comparison of the current version against a revision is
accomplished by selecting the radio button next to the standard and
then selecting 'compare'. At this time, Redline versions only exist
for some AMS standards. SAE will continue to add redline versioning
with ongoing updates to SAE MOBILUS.
View/Annotate
Content Loading, Please Wait
Document Preview
Content Loading, Please Wait
Document Comparison
Content Loading, Please Wait
Download
A list of downloadable items.
Product Code
Document Title
File Type
Download
ARP6378
Guidance on Mitigation Strategies Against Laser Illumination Effects
Export Metadata
This modal will allow the user to download citation information or export specific fields of data into one of three file formats: Excel, comma-separated values, or text.
You are currently not logged into your Dashboard account, which is required for annotating.
Please select Login to login or register for the Dashboard. Select Continue to view the content without the ability to annotate.
Redline Warning
You are currently not logged into your Dashboard account, which is required for annotating.
Please select Login to login or register for the Dashboard. Select Continue to view the content without the ability to annotate.
Data Set Warning
Guidance on Mitigation Strategies Against Laser Illumination Effects
SAE Journal Subscriptions are available in a variety of options, which include electronic, electronic with back file, and archive. For detailed information and options, please complete the following:
Content Request
Check My Access!
You may already have access to the Aerospace Standard, Guidance on Mitigation Strategies Against Laser Illumination Effects
Subscription Access
If you have Subscription Access with a username and password, please login below.
Institutional Login
If you have Institutional Access to SAE MOBILUS, using a predetermined organizational login utilizing single-sign-on (Shibboleth), please login below. To request institutional access to SAE MOBILUS, please complete the institutional subscription information form.
Purchase
If you do not have access to SAE MOBILUS via username/password or institutional access, you can still purchase the Aerospace Standard, Guidance on Mitigation Strategies Against Laser Illumination Effects.
Search Tips: Search Operators:AND, OR, NOT; Wild Cards; Using Quotes
SAE MOBILUS® Search Tips
Please note: All terms not contained within quotes, will be evaluated using the OR operator. This means that your search results will contain all results that contain ANY of the entered terms.
AND, OR, NOT
SAE MOBILUS supports the use of the AND, OR and NOT BOOLEAN operators ONLY function with the Advanced Search.
Wild Cards
Using the asterisk, ( * ) allows you to search for a partial word. For example, entering a keyword search of aero* will search for any word beginning with aero.
Using the question mark, ( ? ) allows you to search for a word with a single character wildcard. For example, searching for t?re would match both tire and tyre
Using Quotes
Words in double quotes " " are treated as a phrase. Conducting a search for "heat model" will return all results in which the exact phrase "heat model" is found, while "heat modeling" would NOT be included.
A term combined with a phrase will be joined with an OR operator.
Searching for Standards
When searching for a standard please use the entire Document Number assigned, which includes the abbreviation. A space can be used, or omitted between the abbreviation and number.