Light/NVG management at night

[Helios]

Just tried out my first night sortie for a simple ramp-start / take-off / land procedure. Which was very fun! And of course there were a few hiccups when trying out something new:

 

I was following the WarriorX cold-start checklist (which I really like) that specifies setting up NVG for a night sortie. Everything was good until I was near the runway and my take-off got approved - wow, who turned on the lights! The world suddenly got very bright, and it was pretty clear there would be no NVG take-off if I wanted to actually see the runway. So from that experience I am assuming that NVG for taxi or take-off is a no-go. Also the manual seems to indicate NVG should also be removed for landing, which was also my experience from this flight when I ended up landing after a last-second disabling of NVG and landing with the HUD barely visible.

 

Did some searching and didn't seem there was too much info to get from forums, manual etc. regarding night operations, so this led me to want to ask a few questions ...

 

Anyone with some good input when to (not) use NVG when flying at night; beyond not using for take-off/landing are there other situations when (not) using the NVG is more appropriate?

 

And another question - how should one best use the MFDs with night vision. Even after switching them to night-mode, the TAD (with map projected) was just a bright blur. I forgot to check the TGP whether it had the same problem, but I assume so ... Seems like a couple options are (a) switch off night goggles when checking graphics on MFDs, (b) tilt the head so one can read the MFDs just below the goggles, or © maybe there is some MFD setting that makes things look nice with the goggles - just rotating MFD knob to "night" didn't seem to cut it though.

 

Third question - there was a post a few minutes ago regarding procedures for setting external lights - what (if anything) should be done differently at night?

 

I'm guessing there are some night-flying experts here who might have insightful comments :-)

 

/ Helios

[Frederf]

In real life circa 1997 NVGs for takeoff were a no-go. Modern maybe they allow it in certain conditions now but it might be "goggles off" still by the rules. I enjoy the IFR challenge of it so I avoid NVGs unless I actually need to see the ground.

 

Make sure you have found the gain up/down controls for NVGs as well as without that adjustment they are practically worthless. Also play with the internal light dials as the default settings are at maximum I think.

 

NVGs are like binoculars with a manual focus so you look at the MFDs or anything in cockpit under them or flip them up. The sim doesn't model the eye focus thing so it's sharp at all depths. Night mode is just a pre-set profile of contrast, brightness, symbol settings. Each MFD page on each MFD saves its C/B/S profile separately so that's some 80-100 brightness profiles.

[Tess]

For a real-world NVG take-off you would request for the runway lights to be turned-off. As this is probably not possible in DCS it's best to carry out a conventional night take-off then switch to NVGs at a safe height (>2000ft). As Frederf mentioned, you need to minimize all non NVG-friendly lighting in the cockpit and only use the NVIS lights (front left console). For modern night tactical ops NVG are essential. Alot of jets optimized for fighting at night will have other toys, e.g. FLIR, Terrain Following Radar etc, but NVGs and the Litening II TGP make a great combination for med lvl night ops as simulated in DCS.

[Frederf]

The NVIS lights on the front left console are for the exterior NVIS lights on the fuselage (not modeled.)

[Helios]

Thank you for your insightful replies, I will try out in my next round of night missions, with some changes to NVG usage and playing with NVG gain settings.

 

Not tonight though - right now my head is spinning fast after practicing too many 35 kts crosswind landings (daytime). I don't know what USAF charges per smoked tire, but I believe I owe Uncle Sam some $$ ;-)

 

/ Helios

[riboyster]

Here's an interesting hint, although it has to do with the TGP during night ops, not NVG.

 

Often I prefer to use the CCD instead of FLIR to retain framerate at night. A good way to do this is to change the brightness of the MFD you're using to 0, and the contrast to around 35. This should magnify any faint light that the TV sensor picks up into a reasonable target acquisition brightness. And there's no frame loss! Just a thought.

[Scout]

I enjoy the IFR challenge of it so I avoid NVGs unless I actually need to see the ground.

 

 

"Instrument Flight Rules. A set of rules governing the conduct of flight under

instrument meteorological conditions." VIA: http://www.fly.faa.gov/Products/Glossary_of_Terms/glossary_of_terms.pdf

 

Just because its dark does not mean you are flying IFR. You can still see city lights if you in a populated area or stars or the moon. But when you are flying in fog or snow and you cant see a mile if front of the windscreen, and you have to use your instruments and hud to give you attitude and altitude indications, then your considered in IFR conditions.

 

As for the question, what Riboyster said is what works for me. I turn my gain all the way down till its blurry and then add 1 increase key press, and turn the brightness all the way down on my MFCD's and HUD color to night and also lower the intensity of that and I usually don't touch it for the rest of the flight time. I found that I can read and distinguish everything displayed on the TAD and TGP as long as the FLIR is in Black Hot Mode. White is just too bright there is nothing you can do about it, but look at it with your NVG's off.

 

Hope this helps.

[Snoopy]

Thank you for your insightful replies, I will try out in my next round of night missions, with some changes to NVG usage and playing with NVG gain settings.

 

Not tonight though - right now my head is spinning fast after practicing too many 35 kts crosswind landings (daytime). I don't know what USAF charges per smoked tire, but I believe I owe Uncle Sam some $$ ;-)

 

/ Helios

 

Me and my fellow crew chiefs wouldn't be happy....to many tire changes :D