| The Federal Aviation Administration is devising a | | | | least one study shows that they may cause |
| method of alerting pilots who enter a restricted | | | | temporary vision changes from lasers. Because |
| airspace to leave immediately. To do this is will use a | | | | general aviation aircraft often fly at relatively low |
| laser beam pointed at the aircraft in a certain color. | | | | altitudes, today's strongest lasers may pose a threat |
| This is something new, but the concept is probably | | | | to the safety of the flight in all flight regimes." |
| something, which came from the VASI light system for | | | | The FAA assures the AOPA, EAA and other pilot's |
| glide paths on landing. VASI is Vertical Air Situation | | | | association not to worry it will not be using any high |
| Indicator. | | | | powered lasers like was used against the Delta Heavy |
| General Aviation pilots are familiar with the sayings; | | | | on its way into Salt Lake City or the many others we |
| "Red over red you're Dead." The VASI lights had a set | | | | heard about in the news. Many pilots blamed the |
| of green and red lights three rows. If you only saw | | | | AFRL Air Force Research Lab for doing some sort of |
| green in the middle you were on a proper glide path, | | | | tests and the conspiracy theorists of course blamed |
| but if you saw the red only you were too low and | | | | the UFOs and aliens? Hard to keep everyone happy |
| liable to hit something and ruin your whole day, bite the | | | | these days. The AOPA also noted that: |
| farm or not walk away from that landing. | | | | "AOPA has also learned that the North American |
| Each year at Oshkosh Wisconsin is the annual | | | | Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is |
| Experimental Aircraft Association, the largest event of | | | | evaluating the use of laser beam technology to visually |
| its kind in the world. Planes fly in from all over and | | | | alert to aircraft that violate the security-restricted |
| converge at Oshkosh. There are always a few | | | | airspace around Washington, D.C. Very few details |
| deaths and mid-air collisions and hundreds of near | | | | have emerged about this research project; however, |
| misses. I propose the FAA allow the EAA to use the | | | | AOPA is concerned about the safety of general |
| laser system to alert pilots that they are on the proper | | | | aviation. According to NORAD officials, the |
| approach and heading. Thus preventing any crashes. | | | | ground-based laser system uses safety-tested |
| Currently you have probably heard on the news that | | | | low-level beams of alternating green and red laser |
| the FAA wants to use these lasers to prevent pilots | | | | lights to alert pilots that they are flying without approval |
| from entering restricted airspace, especially around | | | | in designated airspace. This system would be used |
| Washington DC or Crawford TX, etc. The Military | | | | when the aircraft in question cannot be contacted on |
| would also like to keep general aviation pilots away, so | | | | VHF voice radio by ATC. According to the FAA, a |
| they do not have to shoot them down. The whole | | | | preliminary test of the system showed that the laser |
| thing is a bit controversial. Airplane Owners and Pilots | | | | illumination is "eye safe." However, the FAA contends, |
| Association states their position: | | | | and AOPA agrees, that a number of important steps |
| "Safety of the nation's pilots should be the highest | | | | must be taken before the system is fielded. A special |
| priority for government agencies charged with | | | | advisory must be developed to alert pilots of the new |
| regulating the use of lasers. While AOPA does not | | | | system, operational procedures must be developed, |
| believe that lasers pose a significant safety issue that | | | | and a broad education and outreach effort must be |
| warrants the use of temporary or permanent airspace | | | | made to the pilot community. The Department of |
| restrictions, general aviation pilots should be aware that | | | | Transportation (DOT) is aware of this research and |
| higher power lasers are more readily available, and at | | | | the need to prevent potential safety hazards to pilots. |