Autopilot Vs NVGs
I apologize if this issue has been previously addressed. My experiences include flying single engine B-206L and AS-350 machines at night, unaided, in the deserts surrounding Globe, AZ and operating more advanced machines at night with NVGs and autopilots in the Carolinas. The believe that decision to mandate the use NVGs over the basic autopilots was flawed. Standardized training that would require the engagement of an autopilot for all but departure and arrival phases of flight and would reduce workload allowing for better overall management of the flight. Encountering a significant change in weather, in route, could be handled by simply allowing the autopilot to reverse course. I believe that there is also a place for NVGs. A night emergency requiring an immediate landing in a remote would be just such an instance where NVGs would be invaluable. Given a choice, I would select an autopilot over NVGs.