The Western Australian Police Air Wing has been operating with NVG for six months now and find them to be the bee knees. To answer some of the questions:
- cost of ITT ANVIS 9 (Gen 3 Omni 4) is about USD$10K per set (if you can get them through the long process of order and the US State Department). Cost of other sets varies on who you talk to.
- The cockpit should be modified to be compatible. While the ANVIS 9's can only be slightly affected by unmodified lighting, the NVG lighting is better than unaided lighting anyway and corners should not be cut. Our cost was USD$60kish
- Training. In Aust (based on US and Kiwi rules), 5 hours plus test before getting basic tick in box. Additional training as required to meet role (SAR, winching, fast roping etc)
- Use over cities. We fly from the trolley to the trolley and operate over metropolitan areas 80% of aur time and find the NVG to enhance our SA. We fly at 1500ft in the Police role looking for baddies on our FLIR, but the terrain is easily seen on NVG amongst the lights. The biggest improvement is that areas that where just dark (parks, etc) before, we can now look into visually. Use of the nightsun from that height gives a nice light that brightens up everything (and not just inside the glow). Using the IR filter on the light is even better as no-one can see you looking for them. We have found lots of people that way.
-Anybody with a light (ciggy, phoneetc) is easy to see. Using the white light, reflective tape on running shoes is a standout.
- Another bonus for us is that our FLIR is fitted with a laser illuminator (wider beam than a pointer) and we illuminate an area as we approach it (the FLIR op has the area or house on screen). Instead of a vague '2:30 near that roundabout', the light on NVG illuminates the target and we pilots can see it and know where to orbit.
- When we go outside the metropolitan area, the NVG are fantastic as dark is no longer.
- Use of white light in winching and approaches is a must as it makes the NVG work better and you can see those pesky poles (haven't seen a wire yet) no matter what the illum.
We do everything on NVG and I would feel naked without them now. My only point is introduce them properly (good gear, cockpit and cabin, and training) and you are 95% safer. We do 4 hours a night and I personally don't feel the weight and feel much fresher than boring around on the clocks.
Oh, and they are dead easy to fly with, not sure what all the fuss is about.
