Abstract: The effect of the vertical extinction characteristics of aerosol, cirrus and dust on laser pulse maximal threshold energy of the airborne lidar for eye safety is analyzed quantitatively according to U.S.A. ANSI standard. Airplane minimum altitude for eye safety was calculated and analyzed quantitatively according to the dust detected by the ground-based lidar in Hefei. The variation rule of laser pulse eye safety coefficient with altitudes was simulated and calculated with the characteristics of all kinds of atmospheric compositions detected by airborne lidars. The calculation result indicates that the influence amplitude of the dust on laser pulse maximum threshold energy for eye safety reaches tens of millijoules. The conclusion forms a baseline for the maximal energy setting of 532nm 1064nm laser pulse for the airborne lidar design for eye safety.