Australian Nightsun Fly Manual Supplement
The original FAA approved Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement for the Spectrolab Nightsun SX-16 Searchlight does not allow for IFR operations with the Nightsun fitted.
In 1987, Capt. Keith Inglesman, a qualified Test Pilot, conducted a review of operations with the Nightsun fitted on the Bell 412. After extensive flight testing, Capt. Inglesman was able to justify the issue of an amended “Flight Manual Supplement for Operation with SX-16 Nightsun Searchlight Installation” by the then Department of Aviation for the 412. This amended Supplement was issued on 27 July 1987.
This amended Supplement does not prohibit IFR operations with the Nightsun fitted and has been used by most Australian operators of the SX-16 Nightsun since.
In “Section 5: Performance” of this amended Supplement it does require operators to add 140 kg to the aircraft weight when calculating single engine climb performance. As all IFR operations require the pilot in command to calculate the aircraft’s single engine climb performance, this Section requires IFR operations with the Nightsun fitted to add 140 kg to the aircraft weight when entering the single engine climb performance graph.
Cheers.