[p01926]

Ludicrous authoritarianism masquerading as a solution to a problem.

Given that all laser pointers fall into a couple of very narrow bandwidths, surely it would be more practicable to filter these at the cockpit window. That way you solve the problem in every country where you fly your plane and also deal with the billions of laser diodes already in circulation that are essential most aspects of our modern existence. But that would cost air carriers directly, not the public, so I guess it's unacceptable to them.

[542458]

With all due respect, what on earth are you talking about? The filtering idea is much more complicated than you'd think, and almost certainly won't work. Laser safety glasses are typically sold for specific wavelength sets. However, the block isn't all that precise - typically you just filter out the entire neighbourhood. Look at the Optical Density vs. Wavelength graphs on this page: https://www.thorlabs.com/newgrouppage9.cfm?objectgroup_id=76... . Now imagine trying to combine a whole bunch of those to cover all commonly available laser diode wavelength groups. Your laser-proof glass would be nearly opaque!

Even if we're extremely optimistic and have invented some new sort of very precise optical filter, you're still looking at dramatic reductions in visible light transmission which I would have to believe would be a huge safety implications.

[p01926]

[Airbus partners with Lamda Guard to evaluate an innovative laser strike protection](http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/a...)

[542458]

Which is very cool, but still very experimental and appears to only block a single frequency range (not what OP was proposing). I've also yet to see any published specs at all for the stuff (i.e. what's the actual optical density at those wavelengths?), so I'm a little skeptical still.

[Shorel]

True, but on the other hand this seems something useful to keep researching.

[qbrass]

Build a windowless cockpit and feed the displays using an array of cameras with different filters on them composited back to full color.

[lighttower]

> Given that all laser pointers fall into a couple of very narrow bandwidths, surely it would be more practicable to filter these at the cockpit window.

Any changes you make to an aircraft are necessarily exponentially more expensive than equivalent changes in any other industry.

Since lasers are being shot from the ground it means that it will always hit the cockpit window at a high angle of incidence vs the normal to the glass surface. therefore wouldn't the vast majority be reflected anyway? unless the source of very far away, but that increases dispersion. does anyone have a video of what a laser strike look like from a cockpit?

[KirinDave]

I do not agree lasers are offensive weapons, but blocking out green light is pretty challenging, and these are the one of the most frustrating lasers for human vision.

[adrusi]

Filtering out lasers is probably not possible, but how about just detecting the source on the ground and automatically dispatching law enforcement. Or even use drone strike technology to quickly eliminate the threat.

[runamok]

Did you just suggest we send a hellfire missile after someone shining a laser pointer at a plane?