Cockpit coating could protect pilots from laser attacks

Such attacks, where criminals on the ground use powerful laser “pens” to dazzle pilots and air crews, have become a major concern in recent years. According to the Civil Aviation Authority(CAA) there were 1,258 attacks on planes landing or taking off from UK airports last year alone.  The attacks can distract pilots and flight crew, obscure instruments and dials, and cause short-lived ‘flash’ blindness or even permanent eye damage. With pressure growing across industry to address the problem, UK ministers are currently considering plans to license the sale of laser pointers in an effort to clamp down on the problem.

BAE’s solution to this problem is a flexible coating which filters out laser light and can be applied to the inside of cockpits canopies or windscreens.

This film uses the principle of Holographic Interference to block and deflect incoming laser energy.  By targeting just the very narrow laser frequency, the filter appears colourless and highly transparent.