CALI-C Protects Against Handheld Lasers

Revision Military has released a new eye-protection system for pilots, developed in partnership with the US Air Force’s research division.

CALI-C (Commercial Aviation Low Intensity: the company does not say what the second C denotes) is available in two configurations, designed for pilots of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, and is intended to offer protection from handheld laser pointers and similar threats. The eyewear system was developed in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the CALI lens technology was tested in live operations in 2021 by pilots of the Washington State Patrol, the state’s police force.

Legacy solutions for filtering out laser light rely on reducing the red or green light visible to pilots, which can degrade their ability to read instruments. The AFRL’s CALI lens technology filters the laser light without affecting pilot ability to view cockpit equipment. One Washington State pilot who tested the technology, Trooper Pilot/Tactical Flight Officer Camron Iverson, said his aircraft would typically see between 20 and 25 laser strikes per year. After using the CALI lenses, he told the AFRL: “It doesn’t distort colors too tremendously … the biggest distortion that we see is that it does darken up white, making it look more yellowish. But your reds and blues — even your greens — that are displayed on the instrument panel screen still look red, blue and green“.

Revision has productionised the CALI lens technology and packaged it in two forms, to suit different operating environments. The rotary-wing version includes ballistic protection and is in a wraparound spectacle style, while the fixed-wing variant is designed to resemble conventional aviator spectacles in a lightweight metal frame. Sales of both are restricted to aviation end-users but are available now.