Advice On Using Night Vision Goggles

[GAJ52]

I tried a night mission today for the first time to try out the Night Vision Goggles. I am able to turn them on ok and adjust the gain up and down, but found then very weird to use.

 

At what stages during the flight/mission are they normally used. I noticed even with the gain turned down the cockpit instruments and lights were practically unreadable, so I assume they are not switched on all the time.

[mtuckner]

I usually fly without them, unless close to the earth, then they go on. I will use them when running in with guns, turning down the HUD. I don't use them to look around the cockpit. Also to look for the sparkle from JTAC.

[Frederf]

In real life using NVGs is a big deal. You take off, land, refuel all with NVGs off. When the flight puts NVGs on they do it one at a time. There are low level NVG failure recovery drills and special qualifications to use them. Generally they are treated as something that is going to fail at just the wrong moment so be prepared. I also don't know their battery life but it's not something you'd leave on for an 8 hour flight.

 

16 MCI 11-A/OA10, Vol 3 17 January 1997

 

3.20. Night Vision Goggles (NVG) Procedures.

3.20.1. USAF/MAJCOM guidance (including AFI 11-206, AFI 11-214, and AFR 160-43 (AFMAN 48-123)), outlines NVG procedures. Additionally:

· *NVGs will only be worn in flight by NVG qualified pilots or by upgrading pilots with a qualified NVG IP in theflight.

· *Fly with NVGs only in MAJCOM approved NVG compatible lighted cockpits. Permanently modified NVG compatible cockpits that have a degraded light source may be used for NVG missions IAW 11-A/OA10 Vol 1, 11-A/OA10 Vol 3 paragraph 3.20.9 and Attachment 10, and the A/OA-10 NVG Upgrade and Continuation Training Program message.

· *(PACAF) Attachment 11 outlines the PACAF approved minimum checklist items for NVG cockpit set-up.

· NVG sorties require an operational GCAS system.

· *All flight members will make a radio call when going "goggles on" or "goggles off" and only one flight member will don/doff goggles at a time.

*3.20.2. NVGs must be preflight tested and adjusted for the individual pilot in a unit eyelane or equivalent tester prior to NVG operations. Preflight test time should allow sufficient time to fix problems and step at the prebriefed step time.

 

3.20.3. Do not wear NVGs during takeoff or landing. Do not don NVGs until at least 2,000 feet AGL or MSA (whichever is higher) in climbing or level flight. In all cases, remove NVGs a minimum of 5 minutes prior to landing.

 

3.20.4. Illumination Levels.

· *HIGH ILLUMINATION is defined as a minimum of 2.2 millilux illumination derived from natural or artificial sources. This roughly equates to a 20% moon disk at an elevation of 30 degrees or higher. If weather or otherconditions reduce actual inflight illumination below 2.2 millilux, low illumination procedures will be followed.

· *LOW ILLUMINATION is defined as less than 2.2 millilux.

· *Even when illumination levels are forecast, weather or other conditions may cause actual illumination levels to be higher or lower than expected. In flight, pilots must estimate whether actual inflight illumination levels are High or Low, and determine if the existing conditions provide sufficient NVG performance to accomplish the planned mission and/or events. Pilots will comply with High or Low illumination procedures/restrictions contained here and in AFI 11-214.

*3.20.4.1. NVG Minimum Altitudes. Minimum altitudes for NVG operations are based on illumination levels, inflight visibility, and the pilot's NVG category.

· *The minimum altitude for all Cat I sorties, Cat II sorties flown under low illumination levels, or Cat II sorties flown when inflight visibility is less than 5 miles is the minimum safe altitude (MSA), as defined in paragraph 3.17.12, or IAW AFI 11-214, whichever is higher.

· *The minimum altitude for all Cat II sorties flown under high illumination levels and with at least 5 miles inflight visibility is 1,000 feet AGL or IAW AFI 11-214, whichever is higher.

· * (PACAF) The minimum altitude for NVG operations is 2000 feet AGL, MSA, or IAW 11-214, whichever is higher.

3.20.5. NVGs may be worn for night tanker rejoins, but will be raised to the up and stowed position or removed no later than 1 NM prior to the observation or precontact position.

 

3.20.6. Wingmen wearing NVGs will fly no closer than route formation.

 

In DCS the NVGs are a lot more foolproof and have less drawbacks than their real counterparts. I tend to use them any time terrain is an issue or I need to see any NVIS lighting or IR pointers.

[Ranger79]

From expierence NVG's depending on the model and if IR is off or on can run straight for appx 3-4 hours, maybe 5 if you are real lucky. Also depends on weather, in Korea during the winter, cold would zap the battery life quick.

[Snoopy]

In real life using NVGs is a big deal. You take off, land, refuel all with NVGs off. When the flight puts NVGs on they do it one at a time. There are low level NVG failure recovery drills and special qualifications to use them. Generally they are treated as something that is going to fail at just the wrong moment so be prepared. I also don't know their battery life but it's not something you'd leave on for an 8 hour flight.

 

 

 

In DCS the NVGs are a lot more foolproof and have less drawbacks than their real counterparts. I tend to use them any time terrain is an issue or I need to see any NVIS lighting or IR pointers.

 

Our pilots (Real World) in the 23rd FG refuel with NVGs on...It's a normal practice now days to refuel with NVGs. This is one question I specifically asked a few pilots when we night flew recently...

[AlphaOneSix]

From expierence NVG's depending on the model and if IR is off or on can run straight for appx 3-4 hours, maybe 5 if you are real lucky. Also depends on weather, in Korea during the winter, cold would zap the battery life quick.

 

Seriously? What kind of goggles are these? I use AN/AVS-6 goggles (same as A-10C drivers) and just one of the two battery packs typically last me around 30 hours. Note that the -6's don't have an IR illuminator, so that's no issue.

[Frederf]

Our pilots (Real World) in the 23rd FG refuel with NVGs on...It's a normal practice now days to refuel with NVGs. This is one question I specifically asked a few pilots when we night flew recently...

 

Quoted document is 1997. Doesn't surprise me that training, confidence, policy, technology has made their use less voodoo.

[AlphaOneSix]

I use AN/AVS-6 goggles

 

Off-topic and I apologize but I must mention that about an hour ago I got issued a set of AN/AVS-9's. Yay, me!

[Cibit]

Off-topic and I apologize but I must mention that about an hour ago I got issued a set of AN/AVS-9's. Yay, me!

 

You got a spare set then:music_whistling:

[ErichVon]

You got a spare set then:music_whistling:

 

I remember my grunt training in Seabees in night time warfare and patrols. It is amazing how a person's night vision can be quite good allowing for enough time to acclimatize, as long as somebody doesn't pop a 10,000 candle power parachute flare.

 

I knew a Korea era guy that was selected especially for his night vision expertise in grunt combat patrols. He was American Indian. He told me his night vision was as good as day time.

 

I've seen the night vision goggles Army surplus for around $400. Thought night time hiking would be fun.

 

Erich

:pilotfly:

[ErichVon]

I tried a night mission today for the first time to try out the Night Vision Goggles. I am able to turn them on ok and adjust the gain up and down, but found then very weird to use.

 

At what stages during the flight/mission are they normally used. I noticed even with the gain turned down the cockpit instruments and lights were practically unreadable, so I assume they are not switched on all the time.

 

In real life? I don't know.

 

In game:

 

Nice to use in a dark cockpit doing a ramp cold startup. Don't turn any instrument lights on or until necessary.

 

Nice to use looking around airfield at night taxiing out to runway or to park it after your sortie, but turn off landing/taxi lights. Instrument lights can be dimmed to minimum---right console by seat.

 

Nice at night looking for an emergency runway that is not lit up, yet. Or some runways online at night are not lit up at all! Maybe I landed on an enemy airfield!

 

And of course, online, if you are JTAC and want to identify targets and smoke them or identify them as forward observer. I have not done this yet. I also have not done this yet, but why could not the JTAC laser designate targets like Special Forces did in the 1st Iraq war?

 

Erich

:pilotfly: