Due to the installation of new tactical radios in four different helicopters a new NVIS certification was required. Two engineers from SPAES were on the customer’s location for the tests.
Tactical radios were installed in the customer’s helicopters for communication between the pilots and the rescue services on the ground. With the conversion, the existing NVIS certification of the four helicopters have to be renewed. For the new certification SPAES carried out the necessary ground tests in the customer’s own hangar.
During the tests the readability of the lighting conditions at day and night were checked. The light source intensity of the avionics in the cockpit with NVIS goggles switched on was examined. For the new certification it was important that the electronic components do not dazzle the pilot’s view and create no reflections when using goggles. All devices must be readable under different light intensity conditions. A luxmeter and a tri-bar chart were used for the verification. During the test the hangar was completely darkened.
“In order to be able to test under realistic conditions the tests are carried out at night. The darkening of the hangar is unsatisfactory for optimal conditions. A complete darkening of the hangar is hardly feasible due to existing light leaks”, explains Joachim Schanz, CEO of SPAES.
All four tests on the helicopters were successfully carried out and completed.
“The review and the new NVIS approval ensure that there are no restrictions on the use of night vision goggles” clarifies Joachim Kies, COO of SPAES.
After completion of the tests and the finalization of approval documents a Minor Change was issued by SPAES.
