RN NVG Flying

[MightyGem]

Just read the latest edition of Cockpit and a report on an incident during an Lynx NVG sortie. The author stated that take offs and landings from the backs of ships are done without the aid of the goggles, and that googles were only used above 500'.

Why on earth would they have that restriction for the most hazardous parts of the flight?

[roon]

Depends on the ship, and whether on ops or ex. Maritime Rule of the Road requires ships to display a variety of frikkin bright lights, so switching from NVG to 'conventional' at a pre-determined point means that the goggles don't shut down 'cos they're switched off/ flipped up. There's always exceptions, and SOPs cover most of the circumstances; overshoot, go around, emergency (ship or aircraft), etc etc all require a variety of responses.

[I'm Off!]

NVG were initially only brought in as aid to ID and so were used above safe height. Lots of ships do not have NVG compatible lighting. Lots of crews therefore never trained for NVG deck ops.

[Tourist]

It's a gray lynx thing, because they only got limited nvg capability for on way to telic

[timex]

Grey Lynx started using/trialling NVG circa 99 during their annual ASUW Ex in Denmark and Norway. As mentioned earlier they were only for use above 500'.

[spheroid]

And besides....the Anvis 1A don't like bright lights..... Not many ships have NVG lighting.....

[Arkroyal]

We first tried NVG landings with the Sea king 4 in GW1.

Not impossible, but required a pretty dark ship, and is difficult due to narrow field of vision and poor depth perception through the gogs.

Deck landing needs a wide view and cues from peripharal vision.

[MightyGem]

Thanks guys, it just seemed a strange restriction after my Army NVG time.

[Tourist]

Ark

Junglies routinely land NVG on ships without any difficulty at all, and have done for a long time. Not difficult.

Grey Lynx to a small deck in a rough sea, different matter entirely

[Arkroyal]

That's interesting, Tourist.

We found that a marking on deck right and forward of the landing spot was useful. Is that now standard?Are the gogs the same ones we were using then, or are they an improved model?

[spheroid]

Improved....? The Anvis 1A are an improvement on a torch sapped to a used toilet roll but thats about it.

[Sailor Vee]

that googles were only used above 500'.Internet access in RN aircraft! Things HAVE changed since the days of the Wezzie then? :uhoh:

[Tourist]

Arkroyal

YouTube - Sea Kings on Ex Saif Serea (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJpnwaBu3o8)

this video should show what you are looking for about half way through

[spheroid]

Sadly, although internet access is available in RN aircraft it is fairly limited..... No PPRUNE I'm afraid.