There are instances that pilots will have to fly their air crafts at night or during low-light situations. Pilots, including those who are considered experts, agree that it is one of the more difficult flying conditions. In order to reduce the occurrence of accidents due to pilot error, the Federal Aviation Administration has recently approved the use of night vision goggles. These special military grade binoculars are mounted on the flight helmets and draws power from a low-voltage type of battery pack. This modern gadget is an essential tool when flying an aircraft for medical missions, search and rescue operations, police operations and other tasks requiring high level of capabilities under low visibility flying conditions. The NVGs allow pilots to see clearly the terrain, stay clear of obstacles and manage the flight under changing weather conditions.
The NVG works by sensing even the minutest amount of natural or artificial light. Complex electronic system enhances this light and magnifies it by a thousand times in order to produce a clear image of the terrain.
The FAA and the NTSB have expressed their strong recommendation for the adoption of this military grade NVGs in medical related flights. It is essential for pilots to use the gadget when flying in areas with poor illumination or those areas which are notorious for sudden weather shifts. This is specifically recommended for pilots whose ability to see clearly is seriously compromised by inclement weather or darkness.
The safety of both the rescue teams and their patients are of highest priority and the NVGs are the most significant enhancements that have been so far added to the gadgetry of pilots to meet this end. These medical flights will not be cleared to operate under unfavorable weather conditions without this modern gadgetry. With this modern equipment, aircraft pilots will be able to fly even under poor visibility and access unfamiliar territory, and land on rural sites.
Majority of the pilot nocturnal glasses that are commercially available have two optional functions. These night and low light gadgets can be used by the pilot to enhance the image that he is looking at. Another variant of the device detects the heat that is emitted in order to produce the thermal image. There are also the more advanced versions of the gadget which now incorporates these two capabilities making them more flexible for varied flying conditions. Present models of the device allow the wearer to see over a distance of 250 feet making it very useful during low light flying conditions.
Most of the commercial type of nocturnal glasses is derived from the military and law enforcement agency standard equipment. Thus, you can be assured of its proven reliability and functionality. However, you must understand that the commercial variants that are sold in the market do not have the full specifications of their military counterparts. Nonetheless, this night flying devices provides the added safety feature which pilots need when flying their aircraft under low light condition. Safety experts consider this device as one of most important equipment that pilots must have when engaged in rescue operations.
Chuck Stewart recently studied night vision goggles https://www.glassesca.com/ to determine the usefulness of the items for the local police department. He reviewed flight helmets as part of a military safety study.