LASER dazzle visor
When you’re a pilot, making the final approach prior to landing, the very last thing you need is to be flying blind. But with cases of ‘laser dazzle’ from malicious use of high-powered laser pointers, this is exactly what many pilots have been experiencing – temporary laser blindness while at the controls of their aircraft. A scary prospect for even the most experienced pilot.
Cases of laser pointers being used in this way, to intentionally target aircraft, have risen dramatically in the past eight years. Over 10 incidents per day are reported in European airspace, up 14 times from 2008. So this is a problem that needs to be tackled fast, for the safety of pilots, passengers and aircrew alike.
Green lasers are the most commonly used, with the use of blue lasers becoming more prevalent, but many cockpit displays also use these colours, so a safe solution can’t simply block out these. What’s needed is an active system that selectively blocks laser wavelengths when detected, while allowing other colours through.
But how do you best achieve this in a way that can be scaled for military, commercial and ultimately civilian pilots? In 2014 Folium Optics began work on a prototype solution to meet these demands.
_____________________________________
1 SRC Annual safety report 2012
Cases of laser pointers being used in this way, to intentionally target aircraft, have risen dramatically in the past eight years. Over 10 incidents per day are reported in European airspace, up 14 times from 2008. So this is a problem that needs to be tackled fast, for the safety of pilots, passengers and aircrew alike.
Green lasers are the most commonly used, with the use of blue lasers becoming more prevalent, but many cockpit displays also use these colours, so a safe solution can’t simply block out these. What’s needed is an active system that selectively blocks laser wavelengths when detected, while allowing other colours through.
But how do you best achieve this in a way that can be scaled for military, commercial and ultimately civilian pilots? In 2014 Folium Optics began work on a prototype solution to meet these demands.
_____________________________________
1 SRC Annual safety report 2012
Steve Kitson, CEO explains the approach:
“We specialise in innovative, cutting-edge plastic display technologies. So our solution to laser dazzle involves creating a thin, flexible active filter that fits over the pilot’s visor. This filter includes an active shutter that blocks the hazardous laser light, but still gives the pilot complete visibility of all other colours, keeping them safely in control of their aircraft.
Our displays and filters can be made into virtually any shape, so this solution can be integrated into visors, goggles or any eyewear that needs to be protected from potential laser dazzle.”
For aviation companies or military organisations looking to solve the problem of laser blindness, Folium Optics original active filter should be the most effective solution. The work has progressed significantly from the early prototype in 2014. We have since developed the Multicurve technology to enable us to make active filters that can fit standard aircrew visors, and our R&D team are hard at work to develop state of the art filters to counter the threat of lasers.
Our technology was recently in the news. Please get in touch with us if you’d like more information.
“We specialise in innovative, cutting-edge plastic display technologies. So our solution to laser dazzle involves creating a thin, flexible active filter that fits over the pilot’s visor. This filter includes an active shutter that blocks the hazardous laser light, but still gives the pilot complete visibility of all other colours, keeping them safely in control of their aircraft.
Our displays and filters can be made into virtually any shape, so this solution can be integrated into visors, goggles or any eyewear that needs to be protected from potential laser dazzle.”
For aviation companies or military organisations looking to solve the problem of laser blindness, Folium Optics original active filter should be the most effective solution. The work has progressed significantly from the early prototype in 2014. We have since developed the Multicurve technology to enable us to make active filters that can fit standard aircrew visors, and our R&D team are hard at work to develop state of the art filters to counter the threat of lasers.
Our technology was recently in the news. Please get in touch with us if you’d like more information.