insight of ground using a Flir camera
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insight of ground using a Flir camera
Ok Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons
Could you use a Flir thermal imaging camera to be insight of the ground legally ?
Could you use a Flir thermal imaging camera to be insight of the ground legally ?
Join Date: Jul 2009
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Why? Are you thinking about purchasing an SR-71 Blackbird? You're right you could fly VFR in space but you may have a problem seeing the ground. A camera is definitely the way to go! 
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I have done quite a lots of flight test with infra red. Generally, it is an excellent safety enhancement. It does have limitations though, and the pilot must be aware of them. It is possible to see through thin layers of mist or fog, but "cloud" will stop the image. Care must be used, particularly when flying at night, as you can accidentally enter cloud, while following the infra red image display.
Certainly worth the investment thought...
This is a photograph of the display, while I flew a FLIR equipped EC-120 on trials in British Columbia....
Certainly worth the investment thought...
This is a photograph of the display, while I flew a FLIR equipped EC-120 on trials in British Columbia....
From the UK Air Navigation Order:
Make of that what you will....
‘Visual Meteorological Conditions’ means weather permitting flight in accordance with the Visual Flight Rules;
‘With the surface in sight’ means with the flight crew being able to see sufficient surface features or surface illumination to enable the flight crew to maintain the aircraft in a desired attitude without reference to any flight instrument and ‘when the surface is not in sight’ is to be construed accordingly.
‘With the surface in sight’ means with the flight crew being able to see sufficient surface features or surface illumination to enable the flight crew to maintain the aircraft in a desired attitude without reference to any flight instrument and ‘when the surface is not in sight’ is to be construed accordingly.
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Think of it this way: You can divide just about all instrument in the aircraft into two types: Those which provide you information with will not extend the capabilities of the aircraft, ans those which could be used to extend the capabilities of the aircraft. Instruments like airspeed indicators, tachometers, and oil pressure indicators, though required by regulation, with a few exceptions and grey zones, cannot be used to enable the aircraft to do anything it could not, were that instrument not have been there.
The instruments which are most commonly installed to extend the capabilities would be the artificial horizon, and radio navigation instruments. These enable you to fly out of visual reference with the ground. whic is somethong which you could not do were they to not be installed.
Therefore, though the presence of the instrument itself in the aircraft may not violate operational regulations, how you use it might. Infra red, or synthetic vision certainly fall in these catagories. To some degree, this is borne of the concern as to how your flight would continue safety immediatly after it failed, were you to be relying upon it. Would the failure even be recognizable?
This is the senitment which results in the "Not for primary navigation" placards on some systems. To remind you that you are not allowed to make your flight dependant upon it.
Infra red is a great safety nice to have, but otherwise should not be expected to be used to extend operational capability beyond what it would otherwise have been.
The instruments which are most commonly installed to extend the capabilities would be the artificial horizon, and radio navigation instruments. These enable you to fly out of visual reference with the ground. whic is somethong which you could not do were they to not be installed.
Therefore, though the presence of the instrument itself in the aircraft may not violate operational regulations, how you use it might. Infra red, or synthetic vision certainly fall in these catagories. To some degree, this is borne of the concern as to how your flight would continue safety immediatly after it failed, were you to be relying upon it. Would the failure even be recognizable?
This is the senitment which results in the "Not for primary navigation" placards on some systems. To remind you that you are not allowed to make your flight dependant upon it.
Infra red is a great safety nice to have, but otherwise should not be expected to be used to extend operational capability beyond what it would otherwise have been.
