Studies have been done to determine how laser light affects pilots. Below are summaries of selected studies. Click on the link for more details.
- 2004 FAA simulator study. On a challenging “short final” approach, lasers at the glare and flashblindness levels caused problems such as a missed approach on roughly 25% of landings.
- 2009 comparison of searchlights to lasers. Very bright searchlights aimed at a helicopter caused few problems for the pilot. In contrast, a 3.5mW green laser pointer caused serious glare, along with flashblindness and afterimages.