SAE G10T Laser Hazards Committee
One of the key groups working on laser/aviation safety is SAE G10T. Participants include aviation regulators (mostly U.S. FAA but also Transport Canada), laser regulators (U.S. FDA/CDRH), pilots, military laser users, laser safety experts, the laser light show industry (International Laser Display Association - ILDA), scientific and research users (NASA, Keck Observatory), and manufacturers with products using, detecting or protecting against laser light in an aviation environment.
SAE G10T takes a consensus, science-based approach to defining and reducing laser hazards. The committee’s recommendations have become regulations in the U.S. and other countries.
Documents
SAE G10T’s publications have a wealth of information on various aspects of laser/aviation safety. There is a cost for these documents; see the G10T website for a full list and links.
Aerospace Standards (AS)
- AS4970, Human Factors Considerations for Outdoor Laser Operations in the Navigable Airspace
- AS6029, Performance Criteria for Laser Control Measures Used for Aviation Safety
Aerospace Recommended Practices (ARP)
- ARP5290, Laser Beam Divergence Measurements Techniques Comparison
- ARP5293, Safety Considerations for Lasers Projected in the Navigable Airspace
- ARP5535, Observers for Laser Safety in the Navigable Airspace
- ARP5560, Safety Considerations for High-Intensity Lights (HIL) Directed into the Navigable Airspace
- ARP5572, Control Measures for Laser Safety in the Navigable Airspace
- ARP5674, Safety Considerations for Aircraft-Mounted Lasers Projected into the Navigable Airspace
Aerospace Information Resource (AIR)
- AIR5995, Evaluation of Human Factor Considerations for Outdoor Laser Operations in the Navigable Airspace
Related Publications (developed in whole or part by SAE G10T)
- FAA Advisory Circular 70-1 (AC No. 70-1), Outdoor Laser Operations. AFS-400/ATO-R.
- FAA Advisory Circular 70-2 (AC No. 70-2), Reporting of Laser Illumination of Aircraft. ATO-R. Superseded by AC 70-2A, February 8, 2013; see this story on the update.
Membership and participation
If you are interested in laser/aviation issues, you can become an observer or a member of the committee. Also, if you have a product or service that may be useful in reducing laser/aviation hazards, you can ask to make a presentation to SAE G10T. Interestingly, there have been no laser pointer manufacturers or sellers on SAE G10T.
SAE G10OL Operational Lasers Committee
The G10OL covers aircrew operational aspects of laser/aircraft incidents. They co-developed the AIR5995 and AS4970 documents listed above, as well as:
- ARP5598, Unauthorized Laser Illuminations: Pilot Operational Procedures
As of February 2016, they are developing the following draft document. It covers pilot education and training, and laser glare protection eyewear and films.
- ARP6378, Guidance on Mitigation Strategies for Laser Illumination Hazards
As with the SAE G10T, anyone interested in laser/aviation issues can become an observer or a member of the committee. In addition to pilots and laser safety experts, there are a number of laser glare protection manufacturers on the committee.
About SAE G10
SAE International is a society for aeronautical and automobile engineering.
The SAE G-10 Aerospace Behavioral Engineering Technology committee focuses on human factors in all facets of aircraft development and operations. It defines appropriate recommendations that could provide cost effective and efficient operation of aircraft (machine) through the use of aerospace behavioral engineering technology. The group is comprised of several subcommittees dedicated to creating, preparing, and maintaining all relevant specifications, standards, and requirements for addressing human factors in aircraft development and operation.
The SAE G10T and G10OL are two of about ten G-10 subcommittees.