INTRODUCTION

Safety is the number one focus of any NVG program. Preparing aircrews to properly react in critical situations can mean the difference between life and death. Because Night Flight Concepts takes safety very seriously, we’ve developed a number of aircrew and maintenance training courses to optimize NVG programs and ensure optimal safety. In this month’s edition of Night Vision Insights, we’ll take a look at two of our programs created for aircrew NVG safety.

FEATURED: NVIO™ 2.0

With an updated curriculum and enhanced training software, the new NVIO™ 2.0 self-paced training courseware is one of the most advanced NVG training solutions in the industry.

NVIO 2.0 Night Vision Training System integrates self-paced courseware and practice in advanced synthetic environments, following the latest Instructional System Design methodologies. Leveraging cutting-edge 3D animations, models and synthetic environments, the training system enhances learning by providing a more “real life” scenario in which to train.

Click here to learn more about our NVIO 2.0 training course.

Feature Product: Aircrew Training

Properly preparing and training an aircrew is mission one of any successful NVG program. NFC has created several NVG training courses that will address the training needs and level of experience of your team.

The courses have been created based on individual experience, aircraft required and whether the training is initial or recurrent/advanced training. The Night Flight Concepts suite of Aircrew Training courses includes:

• NVG Initial Qualification Training
• NVG Recurrent/Refresher Training
• NVG Requalification Training
• NVG Instructor Pilot Qualification Training
• NVG Advanced Training

Night Flight Concepts has also partnered with industry to be able to offer specialized NVG training and support. Our specialty courses currently include:

• Operational Risk Management (ORM)
• NVG Underwater Egress Survival Training
• Aviation Laser Defense Awareness Training
• NVG Maintenance/Technician Training

From initial qualification to advanced training, the suite of Night Flight Concepts training courses will assist you and your team in establishing a safe and fully optimized NVG program.

Find out more about the comprehensive training program solutions offered by Night Flight Concepts.

INTRODUCTION

Invented during World War II specifically for use by American, British and Soviet soldiers, night vision goggles have been a staple in commercial aviation, military and search and rescue operations ever since. In this month’s issue of Night Vision Insights, we will discuss the impact proper equipment and equipment maintenance can have on making any missions successful.

FEATURED: UNDERSTANDING THE IMPACT OF NVGS

Night Vision Goggles (NVGs) were determined and classified as appliances in 1990 by the Federal Aviation Administration and have been a critical tool when it comes to the control and operation of an aircraft during night flight for the past 50 years.

As critical appliances, NVGs must be able to meet certain criteria and performance standards, as well as a required FAA Certification. The performance standards are outlined in document RTCA/DO-275 (Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Integrated Night Vision Imaging System Equipment) and the FAA Technical Standard Order TSO-C164. Both documents outline the standards to which all night vision equipment must be maintained in order to be classified as certified and working at optimal performance.

Unlike infrared cameras, which only respond to heat, NVGs function based on low-frequency light wavelengths that humans can’t typically see; however, through electron accelerations, these wavelengths are intensified and become visible to the human eye even in almost completely dark surroundings where our eyes typically wouldn’t be able to decipher shapes or movement in close proximity.

And have you ever wondered why NVGs appear in a green display? Green is used because the human eye is most sensitive to green wavelengths. The combination of the photon multipliers and the green wavelengths make the images visible to the human eye.

The importance of the impact NVGs can have on an operation cannot be emphasized enough. With NVGs, you can see a person standing over 200 yards away on a moonless, cloudy night. This is a critical advantage for military or police operations and can mean the difference between life or death for those being sought by search and rescue teams. View NVG Equipment Options

Feature Product: NVG Maintenance Services

Night Vision Goggles are required to have inspections periodically and need to undergo regular services and repairs in order to maintain their worth, function and reliability. Through our FAA-approved Part 145 NVG Repair Station (certification #N5ZR113B), Night Flight Concepts has the authority to conduct and certify the air-worthiness of NVG inspections.

NVG inspections entail an in-depth procedure that is conducted by experienced, highly trained and certified technicians that use calibrated testing equipment and state-of-the-art inspection, servicing and repair procedures. Per FAA guidelines, NVGs should undergo maintenance every 180 days in order to warranty optimal performance.

Night Flight Concepts offers online maintenance support tools to streamline the repair process, including downloadable shipping forms and checklists to assist with NVG maintenance handling. The NVGs will be returned within 72 hours along with a test data sheet, air-worthiness compliance certificate and an NVG maintenance logbook.  Learn more

 OPERATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT

July issue of Night Vision Insights™ focus is to help enhance aircrew situational and self awareness through effective communication, assertiveness, leadership, decision making, and mission performance; better known as Operational Risk Management.

 RISK MANAGEMENT YOU CAN'T BUY OFF THE SHELF

Highly reliable organizations all embrace a “doctrine,” meaning they all use a body of formal knowledge that guides operators on how to conduct business. It is the “intellectual glue” that holds together organizations as they perform their daily operations. The road to making good doctrine is not an easy one; it is full of stories of failure and success. To navigate this road, I submit to you “Operational Risk Management” (ORM).

Aviation companies orchestrate many hazardous acts as part of their daily routine, yet still they are generally considered as highly reliable. If they aren’t held in this regard then they rapidly cease to exist (either due to business forces or from miscalculations of physics). If you embrace the fact that aviation is hazardous, and you should, you must naturally endeavor to use a system to manage those hazards. If you don’t, then it is likely that the countdown to your accident has begun.

ORM teaches your organization how to be both procedural and creative. Although doctrine has a mandatory feel to it due to all of its embedded procedures, good doctrine also encourages creativity throughout all levels of the organization. The benefit of this creativity is realized when you successfully implement procedural changes using a deliberate process to analyze new or known hazards. ORM takes you to the end-state, which has you either accepting or declining the changes based on your “appetite for risk.”

Why the label “Operational”? Primarily because it relies upon the operators to provide continual inputs to not only each other but to the management as well. The process also requires the management to transparently express how they need the operators to embrace their doctrine to ensure the business is actually highly reliable. If you are highly reliable in aviation, just accept that your customers won’t necessarily call you that…they will simply call you “safe.”

Contributed by: Daniel Deutermann, Managing Director, The Squadron, Inc. 

Featured Product: ORM Training Course with The Squadron

A critical part of establishing safe and effective NVG operations is the integration of appropriate risk management strategies and tools. Adam Aldous, the President and CEO of Night Flight Concepts, knows this only too well, and so approached The Squadron to deliver initial ORM training as part of the NVG solutions he is providing to his clients.

Read More about ORM Training for Organization

EVENTS CALENDAR

• ALEA 2013: July 17-19 in Orlando, Florida
• NightCon 2013: September 18th – 20th in Dallas, Texas

WELCOME TO NIGHT VISION INSIGHTS

Welcome to Night Vision Insights, the new Night Flight Concepts monthly newsletter.

Each month we’ll bring details on upcoming events, featured products, highlights from our blog and tips and tricks for optimal NVG Program success. Our new newsletter will make sure you don’t miss a thing!

FEATURED CONTENT: PREPARE YOUR NVG PROGRAM FOR 2013

We kicked this year off with a comprehensive blog series devoted to creating, optimizing and managing your NVG Program.  Want to review or reference anything from the series?  Here is a quick rundown of the entire series:

• NVG Program Checklist: Operations Planning and Maintenance
• NVG Program Checklist: Annual and Semi-Annual Training
• NVG Program Checklist: Cockpit Lighting Requirements
• NVG Program Checklist: Maintaining a Standard Operating Procedures Manual
• NVG Program Checklist: NVG Equipment and Technical Knowledge

FEATURED PRODUCT: LASER ARMOR AVIATOR GLASSES

With the growing number of laser strikes reported throughout the country, protective eyewear is now an absolute must.  Laser Armor^TM Aviator Glasses optimize protection from intentional and incidental laser strikes without compromising job performance in night operations.

Read more about the Laser Armor^TM technology and product specifications.

EVENTS CALENDAR

• CIAM 2013
• ALEA 2013
• NightCon 2013: September 18th – 20th in Dallas, Texas