Night Lights
Air: If you can PM me with an email address I can send you some pics. Essentially the kit is 2 spotlights hung either side of the helicopter on the lower tube just behind the rear skid tubes. These have to be wired straight to the battery so they have independent power. The CAA kit also needs 2 activation switches put on the CB panel, marked with some very expensive luminous tape.
The whole kit fitted costs around US 3000 and you lose about 2-3 kts airspeed. It would be great if the light mountings could be hinged so the lights could be folded up for daytime use - but the CAA won't allow that.
And we still can't to CAT flights in the dark in the UK, single engine. And that applies to both fixed and rotary.
The kit works for both 22 and 44. Years ago the approved night kit was based on 2 flares - so we've moved on. A bit.
The whole kit fitted costs around US 3000 and you lose about 2-3 kts airspeed. It would be great if the light mountings could be hinged so the lights could be folded up for daytime use - but the CAA won't allow that.
And we still can't to CAT flights in the dark in the UK, single engine. And that applies to both fixed and rotary.
The kit works for both 22 and 44. Years ago the approved night kit was based on 2 flares - so we've moved on. A bit.
Jim,
I'm intrigued by your comment below (the emphasis is obviously mine):
Does that mean that you think that we should be able to do single-engine public transport flights at night? Or that you think that the rules might be changed and that we might be able to do them some time in the future? 
Sorry for the thread drift. Or does this topic need a thread of it's own?
I'm intrigued by your comment below (the emphasis is obviously mine):
Sorry for the thread drift. Or does this topic need a thread of it's own?
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I agree with bluestack. The problem isn't seeing the instruments, it's seeing the kneeboard, the approach plate, finding the pen dropped on the floor, etc. The instruments in the aircraft I fly are well lit, indeed often too well lit, so preserving night vision is impossible. A cheap, reliable headlight is my choice, with another in the bag as a backup. For <$10US, it's worthwhile.
For you folks who wear Ball Caps.....or have a true "stiff upper lip" perhaps.
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Jim,
Given the recent history of night accidents during hele CAT there is zero prospect of doing SE CAT in JAA land. If you only have one pilot, you'll need the AP too. The reasons are all in the comments in this thread.
By all means take the risks yourself in a private flight, but we DO NOT NEED any more high profile CAT hele accidents in the UK. Apart from anything else it will kill our business.
Given the recent history of night accidents during hele CAT there is zero prospect of doing SE CAT in JAA land. If you only have one pilot, you'll need the AP too. The reasons are all in the comments in this thread.
By all means take the risks yourself in a private flight, but we DO NOT NEED any more high profile CAT hele accidents in the UK. Apart from anything else it will kill our business.
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These guys are a US & UK concern, so you should be able to find their gear either place. Finger lights are around $16.
http://www.nitevis.com/Lighting_Filters_Mainpage.htm
All things for night vision...includes the lip lights, finger lights, and break sticks. The finger light has spectacle clips as well as finger straps.
All things for night vision...includes the lip lights, finger lights, and break sticks. The finger light has spectacle clips as well as finger straps.
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personal cockpit lighting
I have been flying in the dark for a long time and am always looking for ideas on lighting. I have tried a lip light and was not totally satisfied with what it offers. back in the day we made our own finger lights using parts from Radio Shack. For the past several years I have been using a finger light from "FliteLite". They really work great. I put one on my left hand pointer finger and its very easy on and off with my middle finger. (can I say middle finger?) Any way, they are inexpensive (4-8 bucks per) and a -throw away and replace- when the batteries die. I (I guess you could replace the batts but I just throw on a new one once or twice a year.) I believe they turn off after 10 minutes so if you leave one in your pocket and it accidentally gets turned on it won't burn out. Any way, what else is out there and available? Recommendations? I really like this finger light but am always looking for ideas. A simple overhead light built in to the 407 and AStar would be great for paperwork purposes.
cheers
cheers
I have a little Peli L1 torch with a special holder that velcros onto the earcup of my headset. You can adjust the position easy enough and remove it when you don't want it. Powerful little thing that comes with red, green and white lenses. not that cheap mind and the holder was difficult to get hold of. Best off ordering from Peli direct.
Torches are mens toys 
Well, don´t know to much about SE helicopters at night, haven´t done that kind of flights since Culdrose
but doing at least 1/3 of my actual flying with NVG.
I have four lights - with Smartphone - 5 lightsources with me.
a UK Penlight Minilampe UK 2AAA Penlight eLED - Underwater Kinetics in a pocket as a spare an for refueling
a no name singe AAA battery LED-Light for start up, when instrument lightning gets dark due to power consumption of the starter and for normal walk around
a one blue LED keylight on a very thin cord with an automatic coil device, which is on my chest-pocket, always handy to have a look on the switches
and last, a modifed kneeboard, where I changed the white bulbs against blue LED (which I prefer against the green ones and they don´t distrurb the NVG either)
Works great for me.
The other "Zweibrüder" torches, Mini Mag lights and so on are collecting dust in my drawer, they were just to bulky or broke to easily (bulbs of the mini mag) or were to complicated to switch on (to much options and I don´t want to search for the "right" lightcolorswitch) ;-)
Greetings Flying Bull
Well, don´t know to much about SE helicopters at night, haven´t done that kind of flights since Culdrose
but doing at least 1/3 of my actual flying with NVG.
I have four lights - with Smartphone - 5 lightsources with me.
a UK Penlight Minilampe UK 2AAA Penlight eLED - Underwater Kinetics in a pocket as a spare an for refueling
a no name singe AAA battery LED-Light for start up, when instrument lightning gets dark due to power consumption of the starter and for normal walk around
a one blue LED keylight on a very thin cord with an automatic coil device, which is on my chest-pocket, always handy to have a look on the switches
and last, a modifed kneeboard, where I changed the white bulbs against blue LED (which I prefer against the green ones and they don´t distrurb the NVG either)
Works great for me.
The other "Zweibrüder" torches, Mini Mag lights and so on are collecting dust in my drawer, they were just to bulky or broke to easily (bulbs of the mini mag) or were to complicated to switch on (to much options and I don´t want to search for the "right" lightcolorswitch) ;-)
Greetings Flying Bull
Avoid imitations
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I use the cockpit wander light.
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this is the one i like
FLITELite Finger Lights
this particular model has an on/off switch mounted on top so you can use your middle finger to turn it on and off. In other words a one handed op. I just looked at other options and they all look good but the size and operation of this one looks best. Love some of the other lights I read about as well. The machine gun spotlight looks groovy.
Cheers
this particular model has an on/off switch mounted on top so you can use your middle finger to turn it on and off. In other words a one handed op. I just looked at other options and they all look good but the size and operation of this one looks best. Love some of the other lights I read about as well. The machine gun spotlight looks groovy.
Cheers
Last edited by grumpytroll; 17th Jan 2015 at 21:47. Reason: spelling
