Green Laser Flares?

[Delancey]

In February 2012, the United States Congress passed into law HR658 authorizing appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for fiscal years 2011 through 2014. Included in the law is Section 311 "Prohibition Against Aiming a Laser Pointer at an Aircraft". Section 311 39A(c)(3) on page 56 specifically exempts "an individual using a laser emergency signaling devices to send an emergency distress signal."

Obviously you would have to be pretty stupid to go around pointing lasers at people unless you were intending to use it as an emergency distress signal and yet it seems like a lot of people do it more than you think and I understand it is a real problem for commercial airline pilots.

The same qualities that make lasers hazardous also seem like they would make them ideal for signalling purposes and I wonder if anyone has experience or more detailed knowledge of their capabilities and limits?

I believe Green is the color for SAR because, being higher on the spectrum, is brighter and subsequently also more visible as Rayleigh scattering - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From what I understand lasers are permitted for sale in the US to the general public by the FDA as long as they are below 5mW in power. I see one product offered called the Rescue Flare Magnum that boasts nighttime visibility in optimal conditions out to 30 miles and is advertised for sale at almost $200 while another similar product listed on Amazon for $90 as a "tactical handheld laser" claims 1 mile visibility.

Not a lot of details are provided for either diode and I curious to know if one man's 1 mile visibility for a tactical laser is another man's 30 mile visibility as a distress signal? Any thoughts?

Seems like a handy item to have on board. Also found this interesting ODEO Laser Flare.

The ODEO Laser Flare - Practical Sailor Article

Green Rescue Laser Flare® | Greatland Laser

Amazon.com: BEAMSHOT GB50 Mini Tactical Handheld Green Laser (Battery included!!!): Sports & Outdoors

[Delancey]

From Greatland Lasers