14.1 Airborne lasers on Defence aircraft may present a hazard to the safe operation of the host aircraft if the laser is not integrated in a manner that prevents inadvertent exposure of aircrew/occupants, or aircraft structure and systems, to laser emissions. Further, hazards to other airspace users or people on the ground may result from inappropriate laser design requirements that do not limit the potential for such exposure to occur. Where airborne lasers have a classification that presents personnel exposure hazards, or the laser design is such that contact with the laser beam or by-products of transmission could cause damage to the aircraft, compliance with appropriate design requirements assists to safely integrate the laser into a Defence aircraft. Not all of the Authority recognised Airworthiness Codes in Section 1 of the DASDRM prescribe requirements for the safe integration of airborne lasers. Consequently, the Authority prescribes laser safety, integration and operation design requirements to supplement the civil and military Codes.
14.2 This chapter of the DASDRM presents Authority prescribed design requirements for Defence aircraft airborne lasers that have the capacity to present a personnel exposure hazard, or pose a hazard to safe aircraft operations through laser beam contact with the aircraft or the generation of by-products.
14.3 Laser systems fitted to Defence aircraft must not pose a hazard to safe operation of the aircraft through either exposure of aircrew or other aircraft occupants, inadvertent lasing of the aircraft or impact of laser by-products. This section presents the Authority prescribed laser system airworthiness design requirements for Defence aircraft.
14.4 Design requirement (Essential). Aircraft occupants must not be exposed to laser emissions that exceed the thresholds defined in AS/NZS IEC 60825.1 Safety of laser products - Part 1: Equipment classification and requirements.
14.5 Laser emissions from Defence aircraft may pose hazards to personnel. Designers must ensure that Defence aircraft laser systems do not expose occupants to emission levels that exceed the thresholds defined for laser classifications in AS/NZS IEC 60825.1. Designers must also analyse emissions from Defence aircraft laser systems and establish appropriate safe distances to ensure that persons outside the aircraft are not exposed to emission levels that exceed the safe thresholds and to identify appropriate personnel protective measures where required.
14.6 Design requirement (Essential). Defence aircraft lasers must be ‘certified’ in accordance with the Defence Radiation Safety Manual Chapter 6.
14.7 Laser certification per the Defence Radiation Safety Manual, Chapter 6, ensures the safe operation of lasers through establishing the applicable laser classification, and the resultant approach to management of associated hazards and risks.
14.8 Design requirement (Essential). Laser systems must not:
induce vibration, acoustic, thermal or structural loads that exceed aircraft limitations
create a safety of flight hazard due to chemical by-products and exhaust gasses generated during laser operations.
14.9 Design requirement (Essential). The laser beam must not contact any part of the aircraft.
14.10 Laser operation compatibility should be verified by analyses (e.g. structural, stress, mechanical load, electrical load, acoustical), explosive environment test and ground and flight demonstrations/tests. Exhaust gases or chemicals produced by laser operation must not exceed the concentrations defined as safe minimum values in any part of the aircraft or attached structures/pods. Inadvertent contact with the airframe by either laser by-products or the laser beam may cause damage to critical airframe components. The laser software and/or hardware inhibitor (laser masking) controlling the laser field of regard must be designed so that the beam will not strike any part of the aircraft or any peripherals (i.e. stores, sensors and so on). Laser energy must not be reflected back into the eyes of the pilot, operator, crew, or personnel off any part of the aircraft during laser operations.
14.11 Design requirement (Essential). Airborne laser installations must:
only allow operation and direction of the laser beam by the crew (and maintenance personnel)
not result in an unsafe (radiating) condition following failure or malfunction
allow the crew (and maintenance personnel) to determine when the laser is functioning and to discern the direction of the beam.
14.12 Design requirement (Essential). The laser system must not be capable of inadvertent lasing when the aircraft is on the ground.
14.13 Positive control of laser system operation must be provided to the crew (and maintenance personnel) to prevent inadvertent or unintentional operations of the laser during critical flight phases. The laser must be boresighted to the prescribed alignment limit, the sighting display must accurately point the laser to within prescribed limits and the aircraft and/or control station display must indicate clearly when and where the laser is firing. The laser system design must permit the crew or operator to maintain full control of the firing and pointing of the laser at all times. The laser must not fire unless activated by the crew or operator and immediately cease firing at a command from the crew, operator, or by system design. The laser must be controlled during ground operations to preclude inadvertent laser firing. Methods for preventing inadvertent laser firing include, but are not limited to, procedures for ground crew, redundant hardware (e.g. interlocks, interlock switches/weight on wheels), and software (e.g. armament, sensor).