REACH Puts Night Vision Goggles on Its Helicopters

California-based REACH Air Medical Services has equipped its Agusta A109, Bell 407 and BO105 helicopters with night vision goggles.

According to a report in Vertical Magazine, Vicky Spediacci, REACH's chief pilot, said the operator made its decision mainly to enhance safety during night operations.  Night vision technology multiplies available ambient light "thousands of times," and is "capable of turning darkness into near daylight conditions," Ms. Spediacci said.

Until recently, night vision goggles have been only used by the military, but improvements have made them practical for civilian purposes, Ms. Spediacci noted, adding that REACH has received approval from the FAA to modify its cockpits to make them compatible for NVG (night vision goggle) use.

In order to use NVG capability during its operations, REACH crews must participate in an FAA-approved training program.  Boise, Idaho-based Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU, Inc), which installed the NVG equipment for REACH, has approval from the FAA to conduct night vision goggle training for REACH pilots and medical personnel.  Each pilot has received eight hours of classroom and will participate in five hours of night time flight training.

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently issued a report expressing its concern about the safety of air ambulance flights, and noted the usefulness of NVG technology in this regard.  02-10-2006.

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