Lamda Guard, a company based in Canada, has developed a thin film filter that could protect pilots from laser strikes when applied to airplane windows. The film is built from an array of nanoparticles. It’s quick to install, long-lasting, and cost-effective compared to other options, the company said. The metamaterial technology can block multiple laser colors simultaneously and doesn’t interfere with visibility. The film is a better solution than safety goggles or reflectors, the company says, which interfere with night vision or can be constricting to use in the cockpit.
When aimed at an aircraft, the powerful beam of light from a handheld laser can travel more than a mile and illuminate a cockpit, disorienting and temporarily blinding pilots, according to the FBI. Last year, the FAA documented at least 35 incidents where pilots required medical attention after a laser strike. The FAA and FBI have been aggressively prosecuting those accused of pointing lasers at aircraft, and several of those convicted are serving lengthy jail sentences.
