AOPA Evaluates NORAD's Visual Warning System In Live Flight
Demo
After expressing safety concerns and pressing for an opportunity
to preview a new laser warning system intended to alert pilots who
stray into the Washington Metropolitan Air Defense Identification
Zone (ADIZ) or too close to the flight-restricted zone inside it,
AOPA staff members Wednesday had a chance to see the system in
action during an in-flight demonstration.
Their conclusion? The unique red-red-green light sequence of the
Visual Warning System (VWS) was bright enough to be seen, but not
so bright as to be blinding or excessively distracting, even inside
the cockpit of a small general aviation aircraft.
"With implementation of the VWS and other security measures,
like missile installations and improved surveillance, it's time to
review the restrictions imposed on general aviation operations
around Washington and make some improvements," said AOPA President
Phil Boyer. "The Washington ADIZ is slowly strangling general
aviation even though there's plenty of evidence to show that small
GA aircraft are not a threat."
The VWS is set to be operational in the next 30 to 45 days, but
there's still work to be done to ensure its effectiveness.
"The VWS will definitely get a pilot's attention, but
understanding what it means is the challenge that security
officials need to address," said Andy Cebula, AOPA senior vice
president of government and technical affairs. "It could be a
useful tool in preventing unintentional violations of the
restricted airspace, but security officials and the FAA must
educate pilots on what it means and how to react. As always, AOPA
is committed to helping with that effort."
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) developed
the ground-based laser system, which sends out low-intensity beams
of red and green light to warn pilots that they are flying without
permission in designated airspace. It's designed to alert pilots
who violate the ADIZ and can't be reached by radio. The lasers will
only be used when the military personnel operating them can
visually identify the intended aircraft.
Pilots who are "illuminated" by this system are violating
restricted airspace and should immediately turn around, fly away
from the laser, and contact air traffic control. Failure to do so
could result in use of force by the military.
The VWS consists of at least seven turrets, each housing a red
and a green laser, placed around the Capital region. The 1.5-watt
lasers are diffused through lenses to produce wide, low-intensity
beams covering an area roughly 100-feet in diameter 10 nautical
miles from the turret. The lasers are visible at distances up to 20
nm. Each turret is connected to a command center and will be
operated by military personnel.