The purpose of the tutorial is to educate aeromedical personnel on issues
concerning the operational employment of night vision goggles (NVGs). To
ensure coverage of information that is of current concern, the tutorial
has been divided into four areas: NVG technology, compatible cockpit lighting,
training and mishap investigation. Speakers with acknowledged expertise
in these areas will present information and answer questions. A brief description
of each presentation follows:
1. NVG Design and Function. J.J. Martin. The presentation will include
a description of NVG components, how the intensification process works,
and characteristics of the NVG image. Also included will be an explanation
of the various types of NVG filters and their operational applications
and limitations. In summary, various factors affecting the NVG image will
be discussed (e.g., illumination levels, weather and transparency transmissive
characteristics).
2. NVG-Compatible Cockpit Lighting. W.E. Berkley. In order for NVGs
to perform effectively from within a cockpit, it is vital that cockpit
lighting be designed to function within specified wavelengths. This raises
important issues regarding the use of filters and supplemental lighting,
and the design of displays. The presentation will cover these issues, and
will also address the use of colors and the types of NVG filters required
for use in various cockpit lighting configurations.
3. NVG Ground Training. R.P. Mason. NVG ground training has improved
over the years and continues to improve due to technological advances in
lecture formats and methods. In the mid-1980s, the United States Marine
Corps developed the standard for NVG ground training with the fielding
of the first Night Imaging and Threat Evaluation Laboratory (NITE Lab).
Currently, all USN, USMC and USAF units responsible for initial NVG training
are using the NITE Lab concept and are also using standardized courseware.
The presentation will include an overview of the NITE Lab concept, a brief
description of the courseware content, suggested areas for improving ground-based
training, and potential advances for future training.
4. NVG-Related Mishap Investigation Elements. J.C. Antonio. With
the rapid increase in NVG operations, there has been an attendant increase
in NVG-related mishaps. The result has been an increased potential for
mishap boards to be composed of personnel not expert with NVG operations.
Additionally, the guidelines for investigating mishaps do not yet thoroughly
cover NVG concerns. A thorough investigation is vital in order not to lose
NVG lessons learned and to avoid inadvertent misinformation relative to
NVG operations. The presentation will address these concerns and will offer
techniques to use when investigating NVG-related mishaps.
Abstracts
Panel: Current Aeromedical Concerns in Operational Military Aircraft:
Night Vision Goggles (Sponsored by the International Association of Military
Flight Surgeon Pilots)
J.C. Antonio*, W.E. Berkley*, R. P. Mason*, J. J. Martin. Armstrong
Laboratory, Mesa, AZ 85206
Until recently, the use of night vision goggles (NVGs) has been limited
to relatively few aircraft types. However, there has been a recent increase
in the use of NVGs and some contingency plans call for all aircraft to
eventually be ìNVG capable.î To adequately support airborne
NVG operations it is imperative that aeromedical personnel understand the
environment in which NVGs are used, and the hardware, physiological and
human factor limitations within that environment. In-depth knowledge is
also required to produce thorough and meaningful aeromedical inputs during
NVG-related mishap investigations. The rapid push to increase NVG operations
may, however, overrun the lead time necessary for the education of aeromedical
support personnel. Additionally, there have been many articles and news
stories concerning NVGs that have resulted in many support personnel being
ìmisinformed.î To help offset these potential problems, the
panel tutorial will address the following: (1) NVG design, function and
potential technological upgrades, (2) the adverse effects of incompatible
cockpit lighting and approaches used to minimize or nullify those effects,
(3) training methods and curriculum content, and (4) NVG-related mishap
investigation elements.
Night Vision Goggle Design and Function
J. J. Martin. Hughes Training, Inc./Armstrong Laboratory, Mesa, AZ
85206.
Night vision goggles (NVGs) have been used in military aircraft for over
twenty-five years and, over that period of time, there has been a steady
improvement in their performance. The purpose of the tutorial is to discuss
the various components of Generation III NVGs, how they interact with each
other, the resulting effects on the intensified image and technological
advances that may result in an improved image. The following NVG design
considerations will be discussed: direct view versus indirect view systems,
the optical train, image intensifier tube design and processing, power
supply requirements, and protective circuits. The following characteristics
of the NVG image, which are results of the design constraints, will be
discussed: field of view, color, resolution, signal to noise ratio, ìtailing,î
and ìblooming.î In addition to the design factors affecting
the NVG image, there are many operational conditions that have an effect
on NVG function and thus image quality. The following will be briefly reviewed:
illumination levels, point light sources within the field of view, cockpit
lighting, transparency transmissivity, weather, and airborne obscurants.
In summary, potential means of reducing or eliminating some of the adverse
design and environmental effects will be covered.
Night Vision Goggle-Compatible Cockpit Lighting
W.E. Berkley*. Armstrong Laboratory/ Aircrew Training Research Division
(AL/HRA), Mesa, AZ 85206.
Once the decision to use night vision goggles (NVGs) has been made, the
most important next step is to determine how to modify the cockpit lighting.
Cockpit lighting that has been improperly modified will not only result
in degraded NVG performance, but may also result in an NVG-equipped enemy
being able to locate the aircraft more easily. This tutorial will address
the following important considerations regarding NVG-compatible cockpit
lighting: the type of filter within the NVG planned for use, the effects
of color and heat from light sources, methods for illuminating instruments,
compatible filters for lights and displays, HUD compatibility, supplemental
lighting, canopy reflections and daylight readability concerns. Additionally,
the modification of external lighting will also be briefly discussed.
Night Vision Goggle Ground Training
R.P. Mason*. 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, MCAS El Toro, CA 92709.
Night vision goggle (NVG) ground training has improved over the years and
continues to improve due to technological advances in lecture formats and
methods. In the mid-1980s, the United States Marine Corps developed the
standard for NVG ground training with the fielding of the first Night Imaging
and Threat Evaluation Laboratory (NITE Lab). Currently, all USN, USMC and
USAF units responsible for initial NVG training are using the NITE Lab
concept and are also using standardized courseware. This tutorial will
include an overview of the NITE Lab concept, a description of the courseware
content, suggested areas for improving ground-based training, and potential
advances for future training.
NVG-Related Mishap Investigation Elements
J.C. Antonio*. Hughes Training, Inc./Armstrong Laboratory, Mesa, AZ
85206.
Night vision goggles (NVGs) have been in use in some military aircraft
for over twenty-five years. However, NVG utilization has increased over
the past few years to include practically all military aircraft and missions.
A consequence of this increased use has been a concomitant increase in
NVG-related mishaps. The purpose of this tutorial is to present information
to aid someone tasked to be a member of an NVG-related mishap board; specifically,
elements of a mishap investigation specific to NVG utilization will be
discussed. The following considerations will be included: NVG hardware,
environmental conditions, cultural influences, cockpit environment, training,
and potential illusions or misperceptions. The following additional considerations
associated with night operations but not specific to NVG use will be briefly
introduced: fatigue, flight planning and flight briefing.