Semi
What I was alluding to is that Enhanced Vision Systems could more likely see acceptance in the civil world than NVG's which really have a few legacy issues. Crashworthiness, like flying looking through a drinking straw etc etc.....
Enhanced vision is certified in the plank world. Check out a current G550 or newer Global Express, Airbus etc etc. Granted not cheap. Check out the Gulfstream EVS site
here
You have been able to buy a Cadillac with Night Vision Head Up Display for about the last 2 years!! They are even talking about using it in their Endurance racing at night!!!
With our current aircraft, it would be possible, and is being considered, to install an uncooled microbolometer (read IR camera) which weighs 1 kg in the nose. MaxVision for example.
Because we have an aircraft with Thales SMD45 and 68 displays and video radar unit (that narrows it down a bit) which accepts a video input it is a matter of plugging in the cable and a bit of software configuration.
Bingo IR in the cockpit. Although granted it's not certified (doesn't have to be), its fixed not gimballed and the FOV is about 30 degees and it would be a Head Down Display. You don't have to fly around with anything attached to your head or maybe left behind. One switch.
But the increase in safety and awareness is huge for very little outlay (compared to the alternatives). And it is IR. Granted you are not flying using it as sole reference it is just "enhancing" things.
Next trick is to get it up on the inside of the windscreen along with a bit more info which is already available from the flight displays which would be another leap.
It's the mass produced technologies and the fact that the certifying aviation authorities are aware of these types of systems, have certified them and produced standards that will help.
Synthetic Vision Systems is the next step, but what you are looking at isn't real of course.
Getting back to the mass produced side you could possibly be surprised that the electronic control unit parts in a lot of smaller helicopter FADEC units have a much in common with a Korean car.
Just looking at the issue from a different angle and the return for the outlay!