RESCUE - FLARES .CO.UK

Why are Rescue Laser Products better than traditional pyrotechnic flares?

How do Rescue Laser Flare Products work?

Wouldn't my laser pointer do the same thing?

Are they safe to look at?

Won't they stun the pilot/captain whose attention I'm trying to get?

When I shine my Rescue Laser in the distance, I can't see anything. Why?

I'm holding my laser in the air and my friend can't see me. Why?

Does it matter which way the laser line is pointed? If so how will I be able to tell.

1. What is the difference between the Rescue Laser Light, Green Rescue Laser Flare® and the Rescue Laser Flare Magnum®?

While all three products have the same signaling capacity, they do vary in signaling time and design. Please see below.

2. Why are they better than traditional pyrotechnic flares?

3. How do they work?

Please see How Rescue Laser Flares® Work

4. Wouldn't my laser pointer do the same thing?

No. In order to signal at a distance with a laser pointer, you would have to accurately hit your target in the eye in order for them to see you. Our products draw a line which fans out the further it goes. At 16 miles, you have a 6000 ft. long fan of light with which to hit your target. Please see How Rescue Laser Flares® Work

5. Are they safe to look at?

Yes. Our lasers are classified by the The United States Food and Drug Administration as a Class IIIA Laser Product. Just like any other light, however, it isn't advisable to point it directly in the eye at short range for an extended period of time.

6. Won't they stun the pilot/captain whose attention I'm trying to get?

No. When the fan of light crosses your target's vision it will appear as a brilliant flash in the distance and will in no way impair their night vision.

Comparison of cockpit illumination power densities of Rescue Laser Flare® emergency signaling device vs. typical laser pointer
 
Let’s compare the amount of laser light power which illuminates an aircraft cockpit from the Rescue Laser to that of a typical laser pointer, at a common signaling distance of 1.5 miles.  The laser power level illuminating the cockpit and hitting the pilot’s eye from the Rescue Laser is about one trillionth of a watt.  This power level is very low because the Rescue Laser begins with a very small amount of laser light and then creates a very long 2 dimensional fan (line) of light further reducing the power density of the light. This level can be easily detected, but will not obscure pilot vision in any way. 

However, because the light from the laser pointer remains in a relatively small one-dimensional pencil thin beam, the laser beam spot size at the aircraft is about 240CM (8 ft) in diameter. Because all of this light is concentrated in a relatively small spot, rather than spread out in a long line like the Rescue Laser, the power density impinging on the pilot’s eye is about 1,000 times greater from the laser pointer, at this distance.

Therefore, although the signaling capability of the Rescue Laser emergency rescue and signaling device remains effective for signaling SAR aircraft, the power levels (brightness) of the Rescue Laser is reduced by one thousand times, this is a level where visual flight acuity is not affected. 

It should be noted that even the laser pointer’s output although bright, is still about ten thousand times lower than the power level where eye injury can occur, at this distance.

Supporting analysis:

Rescue Laser Flare®
7mW
5degree fan angle (87mrad)
1mrad narrow axis divergence angle
1.5miles = 2,414 meters
Area of laser line at 2,414 Meters = 5.07 Million CM^2
Watts/CM^2 = .007 / 5,070,000CM^2 = 1.38 x 10^-9 W/CM^2 = 0.000,000,001,4Watts/CM^2

Typical Laser Pointer
5mW
1mrad divergence
1.5miles = 2,414 meters
Area of spot at 2,414 meters = 45,745CM^2
Watts/CM^2 = .005/45,745CM^2 = 1.1x10^-7 W/CM^2 =
0.000,000,1Watts/CM^2

The laser light power density from the laser pointer is 1,000 times higher than that from the Laser Flare, when both measured at 1.5 miles. Neither are remotely a hazard for actual eye injury.

7. When I shine my Rescue Laser in the distance, I can't see anything. Why?

Lasers are directional lights. Unless the fan of light produced by Rescue Laser Flares crosses your line of vision or you pass over a retoreflective material, you will not see the light when aiming at a distance. Please see How Rescue Laser Flares Work

8. I'm holding my Rescue Laser Flare® in the air and my friend can't see me. Why?

If you were to just hold the laser without aiming while slowly moving it back and forth you will probably not be visible to your target. Because lasers are directional lights, the fan of light must cross their line of vision. This is accomplished by first aiming at your target and then moving the laser slowly back and forth. Every time the fan of light crosses their vision they will see a brilliant red flash. Please see How Rescue Laser Flares® Work

9. Does it matter which way the laser line is pointed? If so how will I be able to tell.

Yes, it does matter. The 6000 ft. high fan of light produced at 16 miles gives to the greatest signaling area. The laser line should be pointed vertically at your target. In order to tell which way the line is directed, point the laser a few feet in front of you on the ground. Please see How Rescue Laser Flares® Work