Night Vision Lighting System Certification

1
Night Vision Lighting System Certification

• Configuration Management

Flight Test Safety Workshop
Sarah Thatcher, Flight Test Analyst, ASW -170
May 4-6, 2010
2
Overview

• Night Vision Lighting Systems
• Configuration Considerations
• Aircraft Modifications
• Types of NVIS Lighting Systems
• Integration of NVIS Lighting and NVG
• Safety Concerns
• Post Certification CM

3
Night Vision Lighting Systems
4
Night Vision Lighting Systems

• An aircraft lighting system that has been
  modified or designed to successfully and safely
  operate an aircraft with the aid of Night Vision
  Goggles (NVG)
• Provides adequate illumination under day and
  night conditions of instruments, displays, and
  controls for the unaided eye without degrading
  NVG performance
• System Components include but are not limited to
• Any component that emits or transmits light
  within the flight deck or crew compartment
• Windscreens Transparencies
• External Lighting

5
Night Vision Lighting Systems
6
Configuration Considerations

• Materials
• Composite Materials requiring compliance to
  27/29.853 27/29.855 (Burn Testing)
• NVG Filters
• Lighted Panels
• Operational Use
• EMS
• Cabin Lighting
• Medical Equipment Lights
• Patient Loading Lighting
• Law Enforcement
• Tactical Equipment Lighting

• Instrument Panel
• Instrument Layout
• Instrument Lighting
• Overall Geometry
• Glareshield Requirements
• External Lighting Equipment
• Searchlights
• Scene Lighting
• Landing Lighting
• Position Lighting
• Wire Cutters
• Skids

7
Instrument Panels
8
External Lighting
9
Aircraft Modifications

• Original Aircraft Manufacturers
• Aircraft Modifiers
• Instrument/Equipment Manufacturers
• Combinations of any or all listed above.

10
Types of NVIS Lighting Systems

• Instrument Panels
• Post Lights
• Flood Lights
• Bezel/Edge Lit Panels or Instruments (Overlays)
• Integrated Internal to each Instrument
• Overhead/Console Lighting
• Back Lights
• Floods
• Goose Necks
• Filters

11
Post Lights and Filters
12
Flood Lights
13
Bezel/Edge Lit Panels or Instruments
14
Filters
15
Integration of NVIS Lighting and NVG

• Lighting must meet 14 CFR Part 27/29 Requirements
• No worse than Basic Aircraft Lighting
• All Instruments, Markings, Color Bands, and
  Switches must be Legible and Discernable to the
  Pilot
• Colors are Critical
• Glares Reflections in Windscreens
  Transparencies
• Lighting must be Compatible with NVG

16
Integration of NVIS Lighting and NVG

• No worse than Basic Aircraft Lighting

17
Integration of NVIS Lighting and NVG

• All Instruments, Markings, Color Bands, and
  Switches must be Legible and Discernable to the
  Pilot

BK117B-2 Floods
AS350 Floods
18
Integration of NVIS Lighting and NVG

• Colors are Critical

19
Integration of NVIS Lighting and NVG

• Glares Reflections in Windscreens/Transparenci
  es

20
Safety Concerns

• Degraded NVG Performance
• NVG Blooming
• Reduction in Outside Visibility

21
Safety Concerns

• Can the Pilot read all Instruments, gauges,
  switch labels, range bands, limitation marks, etc?

22
Safety Concerns

• Caution / Warning Panel Legible, Workable
• Which Caution Lights are Lit?

23
Post Certification CM

• What happens after the aircraft is certified for
  compatibility with NVG?
• Configuration Management is CRITICAL for that
  aircraft.
• Removal, Replacement, or Installation of any
  equipment (internal or external) that could
  effect the NVIS lighting system requires a
  compatibility assessment.
• Who determines whether or not there will be an
  effect?
• Who completes the compatibility check-out?

24
Questions