A comprehensive resource for safe and responsible laser use

Video from FAA & Air Force summarizing laser hazards: “Aircraft Laser Illumination”

This presentation gives a good overview of laser/aviation incidents and hazards. A key audience for this video is pilots. Towards the end, pilots are given techniques to help them recognize and recover from a laser illumination incident.

The video was produced in 2009 for the FAA and Air Force, and is approved for public release (AFRL-RH-BR-AV-2009-0001). All of the videos below are based on the FAA/Air Force version 4.1, obtained in February 2011.

Edited version (10 minutes) for general interest

This version was shortened from the original 21-minute video; editing was done by LaserPointerSafety.com. The edited version contains the most important information, to give a quick overview of the issues.

The 10-minute edited version can be viewed via YouTube, and we also have a downloadable version available.

YouTube video

Downloadable file

The 10-minute edited version is also available as a downloadable video file. It is higher resolution and better quality than the YouTube video. If you need the downloadable version, please contact us.

Extended version (13 minutes) for pilots

A leading pilot safety expert asked for additional footage (that was in the 21-minute full-length original version) to be included in the shorter version. This material is especially useful for pilots. Therefore, we made an extended version by adding 2.75 minutes of explanation about the visual effects of laser light on pilot performance. This material appears from 4:18 to 7:04 in the video. Also, one of the title slides was updated to give the Dec. 2011 statistics of over 10,000 incidents between 2004 and 2011.

The 13-minute extended version for pilots can be viewed via YouTube, and we also have a downloadable version available.

YouTube video

Downloadable file

The 13-minute extended version for pilots is also available as a downloadable video file. It is higher resolution and better quality than the YouTube video. If you need the downloadable version, please contact us.

Full-length version (21 minutes)

The original, full-length video is below. It is split into two parts due to length restrictions at YouTube.

Compared to the 10- and 13-minute versions above, the 21-minute original version has additional background including information on high-powered lasers, laser light shows, and pilot protective eyewear. The only change we made from the FAA/Air Force original version is to add a title slide with release information at the very beginning, and to add a superimposed update with Jan. 2011 statistics about the over 7,000 incidents between 2004 and 2010.

Part 1 of 2

Part 2 of 2