ILDA is made possible by the voluntary efforts of a small and dedicated work force. It is critical to ILDA's well-being that our members take a small piece of their time and money each year and assist the association.

The committees are the primary vehicle through which ILDA effects or facilitates industry wide changes, thus creating the most important benefits of membership.

Please take the time to join one of our volunteer committees. Committee meetings are held throughout the annual conference. Make your voice heard.

August and October 1996 SAE G-10 meetings report

Date: 19 Oct 96 00:24:32 EDT Quoted from a post to the laserist-list

To all ILDA Members --

This is a report about the SAE G-10 committee meetings of August 19-20 and October 18-19, 1996, and also about the first report of the law firm hired through the ILDA Legal Defense Fund.

In brief, ILDA continues its successful work to make sure that any U.S. regulation of outdoor shows is safe and fair. We have done the following:

REGULATIONS SHOULD APPLY TO ALL

-- We persuaded the committee of a key principle: that the same regulations should apply to all lasers in airspace. As you know, at this time laserists are required by the CDRH to follow the FAA's 7400.2D "procedures". All other users, including scientific, research and industrial, do not have to follow any rules.

SAE G-10 was going to propose two sets of rules because the scientific people said "we'd be out of business if we had to follow the rules which cover light show people". But ILDA has persuaded the committee to have one set of rules, which all will follow. Obviously, this is both safer and makes for a level playing field -- one of ILDA's key goals.

NEW SOFTWARE AVAILABLE

Rockwell Laser Industries has a new Windows-based computer program called "Skyzan". It makes compliance with outdoor shows MUCH easier, as you basically plug in the numbers. The approximate cost is $125. This software will be demonstrated at the ILDA Conference, Nov. 11-14, 1996.

ILDA TO HELP MAKE VIDEOTAPE FOR PILOTS

-- ILDA has realized that part of our problem is perception. Pilots have an unfounded "fear" of lasers, probably based on military or Hollywood images of laser weapons. They do not want any laser light anywhere near their cockpit. While the SAE G-10 committee members are informed, and thus feel that some lasers are OK, many pilots would like to ban lasers completely.

To combat this, ILDA has accepted that it will be necessary for us to help create a training videotape for pilots and regulators. Previously, we felt the FAA should do this, but it is clear they do not have funding or much interest. Tony Zmorenski of ILDA new member Walt Disney World has generously agreed to have WDW help produce this tape.

-- I have written an outline and first draft of the tape. The outline follows at the end of this message. The SAE G-10 committee members agree on the outline; we are now working on a second draft which is written in "pilotspeak", the language they best understand.

CDRH AND FAA INADEQUATELY FUNDING THEIR RULES

-- There are indications that both CDRH and FAA feel the aviation safety issue is not as important as their other work. This is not so bad in some ways, since all agencies must prioritize, and outside of Las Vegas there have been no serious aviation incidents since lasers were invented in 1960.

What is bad is that these agencies are not taking actions which they should. For example, CDRH initially refused to write "validation" letters which are required by section 12.B.4 of the FAA 7400.2D regulations. I was told they did not want to comply for a variety of reasons which, ironically, we might say: in 20 years, there has been no problem; budgets have been slashed so this is less important; we don't agree with this clause so we're not going to follow it; it is too much paperwork. Also, FAA has not been training field inspectors in how to process laser show applications, so often the laser applicant knows much more than the inspectors.

If they want to regulate us, then they should do so. If not -- if they have no money or time or interest -- then they should ease the regulations because obviously they are not as important as some in the SAE G-10 or elsewhere believe.

ILDA TO HELP OTHER SAFETY ORGANIZATIONS

-- ILDA has been asked to participate in two important safety groups: the ANSI committee (which sets the ANSI standards), and the International Laser Safety Conference next March (where we will present a paper). This shows how ILDA is becoming more known and respected amongst major safety agencies.

ATLANTA INCIDENT PROBABLY SPOTLIGHTS

-- ILDA has concluded that the "Atlanta incident" where a Delta Airlines plane saw four beams from the vicinity of the Olympic Stadium on May 17 1996, was due to spotlights operating at the stadium, and was NOT from lasers. We simply haven't found anyone -- ILDA member or not -- who knows anything about a laser show or rehearsal being held at the Olympic Stadium. (While lasers were at non-Olympic events, they were not used in the Opening or Closing Ceremonies from the statium.)

After much investigation, no lasers were ever found near the highly-secure Olympic Stadium area. Given that spotlights were used for the ceremonies at the Olympics, it appears highly likely that the aircraft took evasive action to avoid spotlights.

ILDA GETS FIRST REPORT FROM LAW FIRM

-- Finally, we have gotten the first real results from the Washington, D.C. law firm hired thanks to the ILDA Legal Defense Fund. I should not discuss their findings here, but I would be pleased to tell any contributor to the Defense Fund who would like to contact me at (703) 335-6328 or via private E-mail.

SUMMARY

My thanks to Tony Zmorenski, who generously hosted the October SAE G-10 meeting at Disney World and who took the G-10 members backstage to see a major laser show -- and how safety-conscious are its operators. Also thanks to Greg Makhov, ILDA Safety Committee chair, for his continuing work and expert advice. And finally, thanks to the contributors to the ILDA Legal Defense Fund, who are helping ILDA make a difference in these meetings. The regulatory situation would be a lot worse without all these people.

-- Patrick Murphy
Past ILDA President

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. Lasers are all around us
      • Hollywood weapons
      • Operating rooms save lives
      • Aircraft manufacture laser tooling
      • Walt Disney World [our sponsor!] magical entertainment for thousands each evening
      • Scientists probing our universe
      • But what would happen if you fly through a laser beam (footage of helicopter in Las Vegas)
   2. Preview: "Tell them what you're going to tell them"
      • What is a laser
      • Is it a hazard to me
      • What is being done
      • What should I do if there is an incident
2. BACKGROUND
   1. What is a laser
      • A concentrated beam of light
      • No other "strange" radiation just light
      • Factors that make it dangerous
      • Laser's power how bright
      • Laser's divergence how much the beam spreads
      • Distance from the laser because of divergence, farther the distance, the safer you are
3. WHAT ARE THE HAZARDS?
   1. Primary hazard to eye, not skin or airframe
      • Drawing of eye showing that it goes through lens, hits retina
      • Permanent damage
      • Highly unlikely
      • No incidents in 36 years of laser use
      • Non-permanent effects
      • Startle
      • Glare
      • Flashblindness
      • Afterimage
   2. These non-permanent effects can result in
      • Distraction
      • Disruption
      • Disorientation
      • Incapacitation
   3. Sample hazards from past incidents
      • The worst ever case (Southwest Airlines)
      • Las Vegas 52 incidents (sightings or illuminations)
      • Others
4. CONTROL MEASURES: What is being done to prevent incidents
   1. All parties working to avoid hitting aircraft
      • If aircraft are hit, power is low enough to avoid problems
      • Current regulations
      • FAA 7400.2D
      • "Laser Free" zone
      • Critical zone
      • Sensitive zone
      • Normal Flight zone
      • Steps taken by scientific (non-regulated) users
      • Risk analysis
      • Automated devices
      • Boresight radar
      • RAMS
      • Infrared
      • Observers
   2. Despite regulation of sources, pilots should understand incidents might still happen
      • Laser pointer incidents low power, but could be startling
      • Other bright lights (searchlights) which are not regulated
      • Other countries
      • Deliberate (terrorist)
      • Accidental exposures from users who are complying with regulations
5. WHAT PILOTS CAN DO
   1. How to avoid being hit
      • Use navigation lights
      • Read and heed NOTAMS
      • Do not deliberately fly around shows (e.g., EPCOT Center)
   2. What to do if you are hit
      • Don't look into the beam
      • Don't deviate from your flight path
      • Report it if necessary to your company safety department and to
      • Aviation Safety Reporting System (so others will know)
      • If you are worried or think there are any aftereffects, contact your flight surgeon or an eye doctor (opthamologist or optometrist)
6. SUMMARY
   • Small but finite problem
   • Users and regulators are working to improve the situation
   • Pilots can play a role if there is an incident

GENERAL NOTES

• Speak directly to pilots no "acting", but straightforward discussion.
• Get their attention in the first 20 seconds. Keep it short, to the point.
• Hit the highlights; don't worry about details (e.g., eye physiology).
• Keep it positive. Don't discuss the "worst case", don't talk about why lasers are permitted in airspace.

  TO DO

  See sample video briefings used by commercial pilots (to help gauge tone). Figure out what clips we have and (especially) what clips we may need to get (example: scientific lasers)

The ILDA Technical Committee's mission is to facilitate growth of the laser display industry by the improvement of technical competence through the dissemination of information.

Please see the Technology Section for up to date information created by the Technical Committee. If you have any questions about the ILDA Technical Committee please send mail to William Benner, Jr.: William_Benner@msn.com.

The ILDA Terminology Glossary is now available online

The Terminology Committee, through Patrick Murphy and Frank and Kelly Plughoff, has made the ILDA Terminology Glossary available online. This comprehensive guide to laser display industry terminology and jargon is also provided in bound and printed format to ILDA members.

ILDA Terminology Glossary