An Investigation of Laser Lighting Systems to Assist Aircraft

PDFTech ReportDOT-TSC-FAA-79-22FAA/RD-79/97Landing aidsAeronauticsFogLaser beamsVisual aidsUnited States. Federal Aviation AdministrationBurnham, D. C.Fantasia, J. F.John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)NTL-AVIATION-Air Traffic ControlNTL-AVIATION-Aviation Safety/AirworthinessVolpe National Transportation Systems Center, Technical Reference CenterA model for the visual detectability of narrow light beams was developed and used to evaluate the system performance of two laser lighting system configurations: (1) a laser VASI and (2) a crossed beam glide path indicator. Laboratory experiments confirmed the validity of the model. Using a criterion taken from the Federal Standard for laser safety, the potential hazards of each of the system concepts were evaluated. The following results were obtained for readily available laser power levels: Neither system will work during bright daylight. The laser VASI can be seen at night at the middle marker for visual ranges grater than 500 feet. The crossed beam system can be seen at night at the middle marker for visual ranges greater than 700 feet