FAA Question

[dsli_jon]

With a scrim screen i think you have to start with the assumption that the beams will basically be unterminated. The FAA doesn't have the expertise to get into what material you are projecting through, they only want to know...

Correct. This is what they will tell you, even-if you can, indeed, supply them with real-world measurements of how much, '%-wise' your scrim will 'attenuate' the projections.. They will always-eval the proposed-chunk of airspace from a 'worst-case' scenario.. (..full-strength power, and Beams) - they don't even really 'count', much, arguments about 'scanned-W/cm2', vs 'hard-beams-W/cm2' - to them, a "10 Watt RGB" used in a show is eval'd as straight, 10 Watt Beams, shot at the cockpit, at-distance / elevation / slant-angle, etc..

..Now, that-said, they *will* take such 'factors', "into consideration" - in other-words, they do-understand, and 'consider' attenuators, such as scanning, modulation, scrims, atmosphere, etc, etc, etc - but they won't include those 'factors' in the airspace risk-assessment calcs... Far-more of their 'concern' is Total-power, in W/cm2, @-the distance to the typical-traffic in that particular 'azimuth-range' (..the max-width of your planned-scans, and/or steered-beams, in-degrees, off-center of your 'compass-direction'..) and your proposed slant-elevation.. then, the beam-characteristics, wavelength, and whether or not you plan to use a CW or pulsed-source (..as those all-relate to the 'MPE' at that distance / elevation..)

..So, blah, blah, blah... Point is - You're better-off trying to ensure that the screen is truly light-tight (..and, therefore, your show is 'terminated'... with proper 'spotting'... and thus, you need-no 'NOHD-calcs' - Or - you simply file it as an 'open-air show', do the calcs, and make a nice bold 'NOTE: FACTORS TO CONSIDER: All open-air projections / fx in Show are Scanned / Color-modulated, and projected-thru (X)%-attenuative 'Scrim'; All solid-Beams will be 100% terminated in / about the Venue, on suitable termination-surfaces', 2x Qualified-spotters, etc, etc..'

Dos ¢avitos.. Sir B, PM me if ya have other kvestions..
j

PS -

What if you were contacted to do a laser show within 3-4 weeks of the event, under the 30 day deadline..

It's increasingly-rare, these-days, that Clients either have the organization, or budget - or either - together-enough to have a Laser-co booked, 30+ days-out, especially in the summer, where LOTS of 'last-minute fireworks-cancellation replacement-shows' come pouring-in.. Sometimes, you have a week, or less (!) In such cases, 'success' is all about the 'established-relationship' between your Co. and the Regional-specialist (..which, yes, can sometimes change..) But, if they're accustomed-to regularly 'dealing with you' / your Co., well, then they're much more likely to consider your 'rush-job'... especially, once you've dealt with the same-person (..or, usually at-most, a couple of people..) a few times...

..but, a Tip: Don't just 'Fax it and forget it'... *Follow-up*, with emails / phone calls - and be patient, but persistent - because, a) they're busy, b) you're very-low on the 'priority-pole', c) your tenacity speaks-well to them of your seriousness to be-responsible / respect the airspace, etc, and d) they're busy.. ..And yes, it get's 'easier with time / experience'...

ttyl..

[Darcean]

It's increasingly-rare, these-days, that Clients either have the organization, or budget - or either - together-enough to have a Laser-co booked, 30+ days-out, especially in the summer, where LOTS of 'last-minute fireworks-cancellation replacement-shows' come pouring-in.. Sometimes, you have a week, or less (!) In such cases, 'success' is all about the 'established-relationship' between your Co. and the Regional-specialist (..which, yes, can sometimes change..) But, if they're accustomed-to regularly 'dealing with you' / your Co., well, then they're much more likely to consider your 'rush-job'... especially, once you've dealt with the same-person (..or, usually at-most, a couple of people..) a few times...

..but, a Tip: Don't just 'Fax it and forget it'... *Follow-up*, with emails / phone calls - and be patient, but persistent - because, a) they're busy, b) you're very-low on the 'priority-pole', c) your tenacity speaks-well to them of your seriousness to be-responsible / respect the airspace, etc, and d) they're busy.. ..And yes, it get's 'easier with time / experience'...

ttyl..

Thank you, Jon.