Someone asked what the equipment requirements are for night flight in the USA for EMS aircraft. This is for VFR aircraft.....such as the Jetranger, 407, AS-350, BO-105's, and some K-117's. This is what the FAA thinks is needed. If you check the dates on this regulation...you will see the FAA gave the industry two years to fly without anything before this reg became law. Wonder if anyone died in that two year period because of the lack of instrumentation.
§ 135.159 Equipment requirements: Carrying passengers under VFR at night or under VFR over-the-top conditions.
No person may operate an aircraft carrying passengers under VFR at night or under VFR over-the-top, unless it is equipped with—
(a) A gyroscopic rate-of-turn indicator except on the following aircraft:
(1) Airplanes with a third attitude instrument system usable through flight attitudes of 360 degrees of pitch-and-roll and installed in accordance with the instrument requirements prescribed in §121.305(j) of this chapter.
(2) Helicopters with a third attitude instrument system usable through flight attitudes of ±80 degrees of pitch and ±120 degrees of roll and installed in accordance with §29.1303(g) of this chapter.
(3) Helicopters with a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds or less.
(b) A slip skid indicator.
(c) A gyroscopic bank-and-pitch indicator.
(d) A gyroscopic direction indicator.
(e) A generator or generators able to supply all probable combinations of continuous in-flight electrical loads for required equipment and for recharging the battery.
(f) For night flights—
(1) An anticollision light system;
(2) Instrument lights to make all instruments, switches, and gauges easily readable, the direct rays of which are shielded from the pilots' eyes; and
(3) A flashlight having at least two size “D” cells or equivalent.
(g) For the purpose of paragraph (e) of this section, a continuous in-flight electrical load includes one that draws current continuously during flight, such as radio equipment and electrically driven instruments and lights, but does not include occasional intermittent loads.
(h) Notwithstanding provisions of paragraphs (b), (c), and (d), helicopters having a maximum certificated takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds or less may be operated until January 6, 1988, under visual flight rules at night without a slip skid indicator, a gyroscopic bank-and-pitch indicator, or a gyroscopic direction indicator.
Now...I ask you....is this the cockpit you want to be sitting in on a marginal night. The boys and girls are out there nightly in just such aircraft. Just the inclusion of a RadAlt makes a world of difference...throw in an HSI...it gets better yet....add a simple three axis autopilot and gee....life is good....now add TCAS...EGPWS....even a fixed tube low light vision device...and life is great. NVG's....and super....a second engine and another pilot....life is grand! What we are talking about is a fully kitted and crewed IFR twin operation I reckon.