1

General anatomy and characteristics of the eye

Anatomy:

—          Overall structure of the eye

—          Cones

—          Rods

Visual deficiencies:

—          myopia

—          hyperopia

—          astigmatism

—          presbyopia

Effects of light on night vision & NV protection

physiology:

—          Light levels

—          illumination

—          luminance

—          reflectance

—          contrast

—          Types of vision:

—          photopic

—          mesopic

—          scotopic

—          Day versus night vision

—          Dark adaptation process:

—          dark adaptation

—          pre-adaptive state

—          Purkinje shift

—          Ocular chromatic aberration

—          Photochromatic interval

1 hour

2

Night vision human factors

—          Night blind spot (as compared to day blind spot)

—          Field of view and peripheral vision

—          Distance estimation and depth perception:

—          monocular cues

—          motion parallax

—          geometric perspective

—          size constancy

—          overlapping contours or interposition of objects

—          Aerial perspective:

—          variations in colour or shade

—          loss of detail or texture

—          position of light source

—          direction of shadows

—          Binocular cues

—          Night vision techniques:

—          off-centre vision

—          scanning

—          shapes and silhouettes

1 hour

—          Vestibular illusions

—          Somatogyral illusions:

—          leans

—          graveyard spin

—          coriolis illusion

—          Somatogravic illusions:

—          oculographic illusions

—          elevator illusion

—          oculoagravic illusions

—          Proprioceptive illusions

—          Dealing with spatial disorientation

—          Visual illusions:

—          auto kinetic illusion

—          confusion with ground lights

—          relative motion

—          reversible perspective illusion

—          false vertical and horizontal cues

—          altered planes of reference

—          height /depth perception illusion

—          flicker vertigo

—          fascination (fixation)

—          structural illusions

—          size-distance illusion

—          Helicopter design limitations:

—          windscreen condition

—          helicopter instrument design

—          helicopter structural obstruction

—          interior lights

—          exterior lights

—          Self-imposed stresses:

—          drugs

—          exhaustion

—          alcohol

—          tobacco

—          hypoglycaemia

—          injuries

—          physical fitness

—          Stress & fatigue:

—          acute vs. chronic

—          prevention

—          Hypoxia issues and night vision

—          Weather/environmental conditions:

—          snow (white-out)

—          dust (brown-out)

—          haze

—          fog

—          rain

—          light level

—          Astronomical lights (moon, star, northern lights)

—          Effects of cloud cover

3

NVIS general characteristics

—          Definitions and types of NVIS:

—          light spectrum

—          types of NVIS

—          Thermal-imaging devices

—          Image-intensifier devices

—          Image-intensifier operational theory

—          Types of image intensifier systems:

—          generation 1

—          generation 2

—          generation 3

—          generation 4

—          type I / II

—          class A & B minus blue filter

—          NVIS equipment

—          shipping and storage case

—          carrying case

—          binocular assembly

—          lens caps

—          lens paper

—          operators manual

—          power pack (dual battery)

—          batteries

—          Characteristics of NVIS:

—          light amplification

—          light intensification

—          frequency sensitivity

—          visual range acuity

—          unaided peripheral vision

—          weight

—          flip-up device

—          break-away feature

—          neck cord

—          maintenance issues

—          human factor issues

—          Description and functions of NVIS components:

—          helmet visor cover and extension strap

—          helmet NVIS mount and attachment points

—          different mount options for various helmets

—          lock release button

—          vertical adjustment knob

—          low battery indicator

—          binocular assembly

—          monocular tubes

—          fore and aft adjustment knob

—          eye span knob

—          tilt adjustment lever

—          objective focus rings

—          eyepiece focus rings

—          battery pack

1 hour

4

NVIS care & cleaning

—          Handling procedures

—          NVIS operating instructions:

—          pre-mounting inspection

—          mounting procedures

—          focusing procedures

—          faults

—          Post-flight procedures;

—          Deficiencies: type and recognition of faults:

—          acceptable faults

—          black spots

—          chicken wire

—          fixed pattern noise (honeycomb effect)

—          output brightness variation

—          bright spots

—          image disparity

—          image distortion

—          emission points

—          unacceptable faults:

—          shading

—          edge glow

—          fashing, flickering or intermittent operation

—          Cleaning procedures

—          Care of batteries

—          Hazardous material considerations;

1 hour

5

Pre- & post-flight procedures

—          Inspect NVIS

—          Carrying case condition

—          Nitrogen purge due date

—          Collimation test due date

—          Screens diagram(s) of any faults

—          NVIS kit: complete

—          NVIS binocular assembly condition

—          Battery pack and quick disconnect condition

—          Batteries life expended so far

—          Mount battery pack onto helmet:

—          verify no LED showing (good battery)

—          fail battery by opening cap and LED illuminates (both compartments)

—          Mount NVIS onto helmet

—          Adjust and focus NVIS

—          Eye-span to known inter-pupillary distance

—          Eye piece focus ring to zero

—          Adjustments:

—          vertical

—          fore and aft

—          tilt

—          eye-span (fine-tuning)

—          Focus (one eye at a time at 20 ft, then at 30 ft from an eye chart)

—          objective focus ring

—          eye piece focus ring

—          verify both images are harmonised

—          read eye-chart 20/40 line from 20 ft

—          NVIS mission planning

—          NVIS light level planning

—          NVIS risk assessment

1 hour

6

NVIS terrain interpretation and environmental factors

—          Night terrain interpretation

—          Light sources:

—          natural

—          lunar

—          solar

—          starlight

—          northern lights

—          artificial

—          cultural

—          infra-red

—          Meteorological conditions:

—          clouds/fog

—          indications of restriction to visibility:

—          loss of celestial lights

—          loss of ground lights

—          reduced ambient light levels

—          reduced visual acuity

—          increase in video noise

—          increase in halo effect

—          Cues for visual recognition:

—          object size

—          object shape

—          contrast

—          ambient light

—          colour

—          texture

—          background

—          reflectivity

—          Factors affecting terrain interpretation:

—          ambient light

—          flight altitudes

—          terrain type

—          Seasons

—          Night navigation cues:

—          terrain relief

—          vegetation

—          hydrographical features

—          cultural features

1 hour

7

NVIS training & equipment requirements

Cover the relevant regulations and guidelines that pertain to night and NVIS flight to include as a minimum:

—          Crew experience requirements;

—          Crew training requirements;

—          Airspace requirements;

—          Night / NVIS MEL;

—          NVIS / night weather limits;

—          NVIS equipment minimum standard requirements.

1 hour

8

NVIS emergency procedures

Cover relevant emergency procedures:

—          Inadvertent IMC procedures

—          NVIS goggle failure

—          Helicopter emergencies:

—          with goggles

—          transition from goggles

1 hour

9

NVIS flight techniques

Respective flight techniques for each phase of flight for the type and class of helicopter used for NVIS training

1 hour

10

Basic instrument techniques

Present and confirm understanding of basic instrument flight techniques:

—          Instrument scan

—          Role of instruments in NVIS flight

—          Unusual attitude recovery procedures

1 hour

11

Blind cockpit drills

Perform blind cockpit drills:

—          Switches

—          Circuit breakers

—          Exit mechanisms

—          External / internal lighting

—          Avionics

1 hour