FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/19

Title and Subtitle: Human Factors Evaluation of Commercial Aviation, Low Intensity, Iteration 2 (CALI-2) Laser Eye Protection

Report Date: June 2023

Authors: Newton, D., Mofle, T., Hu, P.

Abstract: Laser strikes are an ever-increasing concern in the civil aviation community and are of particular concern to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). They pose a direct threat to aviation safety and air traffic coordination, particularly when they occur during critical phases of flight such as takeoff and landing. Laser strikes cause a variety of negative physiological and psychological effects, including glare, flash blindness, afterimages, and startle (Nakagawara et al., 2003, 2004). Laser eye protection (LEP) spectacles are designed to mitigate these effects by attenuating the visible and infrared light emitted by handheld lasers. While LEP spectacles are effective in mitigating the impacts of laser strikes on pilots, the attenuating properties of the lenses cause a shift in color perception. As such, wearing the LEP spectacles may impact pilots’ ability to use color-coded information during flight. The purpose of this study was to determine whether using the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Commercial Aviation, Low Intensity, Iteration 2 (CALI-2) LEP spectacles impacts flight performance and normal pilot duties during airborne phases of flight in a general aviation aircraft. Fourteen Instrument-Rated pilots volunteered to complete a series of simulated flights with the CALI-2 LEP spectacles in a variety of simulated flight environments. Overall, the findings suggest that pilots should be able to wear CALI-2 LEP spectacles in real aircraft without affecting their ability to carry out normal pilot duties. Results indicate that pilot participants’ ability to follow navigational and flight guidance information and ability to perceive and comprehend color-coded alphanumeric information is preserved when using the CALI-2 LEP spectacles. Questionnaire and interview responses from pilot participants revealed that the LEP spectacles were compatible with displays, controls, and instruments inside the aircraft, and do not substantially hinder visibility of environmental features such as airfield lighting. Implications for these findings in terms of LEP use during real-world flight are discussed, along with future directions for LEP research and implementation in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS).

Key Words: Laser Strikes, Laser Eye Protection, Aerospace Human Factors, Visual Perception

No. of Pages: 74