If a lasfile has an extra component like "vertical distance", you can just read the file and use the PointCloudStatisticsCalculator to calculate the statistics for the addicional component "vertical distance".

Added a sample workspace demonstrating this.

Thanks but your template is not suitable for what I want to do. I already have the distance attribute in my input file LAS (attached). I can't use PointCloudCoercer because I have about 1 billion points in my las file. I would like to use this "Distance" attribute in my FME template.

I think it is. The left bookmark is only generating the pointcloud. The right bookmark is reading a las file, then using the PointCloudStatisticsCalculator to generate the statistics. You have to manually enter "Distance" in the parameters to process it.

I can't use "Distance" in the left bookmark to do any manipulation on it except to generate? 

I think you need to add the PointCloudStatisticsCalculator downstream of the reader in your printscreen, manually add the Component "Distance" in the Statistics to Calculate and check the statistics you need.

If this is not what you need I did not understand your original question correct.

Ok thanks for your help, this is the result I wanted for the statistics. Is it possible to use the distance attribute to generate a raster?

Yes you can. PointCloudComponentRenamer to rename "Distance" to "z". NumericRasterizer to go from pointcloud to raster.

OK thanks you! I will try this!