It isn't off topic.
The energy levels it takes to damage the eye are relatively low.
Path loss does not go up with an increase in power level until the air ionizes. That level of energy is huge. You'd vaporize the pilot at those power levels...
You're responding to a point I wasn't making. I was talking about the space heater laser comparison. The comparison was a conservation of energy comparison. Let me say it again: The heat energy dissipated by a laser traveling through 5 miles of atmosphere is almost certainly greater than the heat energy generated by a space heater. Even if you adjust the power levels and exposure times, I don't see it. As for the point you DID make, that was brought up by a different poster and yes, I can see that. You're basically saying that the laser energy and energy loss relation is not linear.
Air doesnt ionize in the near IR until well into the gigawatt regime. I work at megawatt intensities in air all the time.
That level of energy is huge. You'd vaporize the pilot at those power levels...
No, it would make an annoying spark on his skin, like getting whacked with a rubber band (high peak power, not energy). Much lower levels than this will cause eye damage.