Until recently, flying after sunset was fantastic. However, today, they are carried out regularly and transport huge numbers of people and tons of valuable cargo daily.
All this became available after night vision systems began to be installed on modern helicopters and airplanes. We invite you to get to know them better and learn about the apparent advantages of using them.
Nuances of implementing NV systems in aviation
Night vision was introduced into the military sphere after the invention of night vision. In most cases, it was supplemented by ground equipment and aircraft. While various tanks and guns used it to shoot at the enemy, aviation used it to carry out night flights. Night vision began to be thoroughly used on civilian aircraft in 2003. The systems being introduced gradually improved, and their influence on the flight process increased every year.
Nowadays, such systems are present on all civil aircraft and some helicopters. With their help, pilots receive more visual information, which affects flight safety. Each successfully completed night flight is further proof of the successful operation of modern night vision systems.
Why does civil aviation need night vision?
Pilots actively use night vision systems and thermal imaging devices when flying in the dark. This is explained by several advantages that such equipment provides. First of all, its use improves flight safety. With the help of various modern devices, it is possible to exclude darkness from the potential causes of an emergency. Night vision also helps improve visibility in bad weather conditions. It shows the pilot a good-quality picture and allows him to better navigate in space, find the runway, and avoid collisions with high-rise buildings and other similar obstacles.
The introduction of night vision systems into civil aviation makes it possible to fill the dark hours with numerous flights. By making them, passenger traffic automatically increases, and the needs of the ever-increasing number of people using such transport services are met. Night vision also allows airlines to significantly reduce the frequency of flight cancellations and save themselves from paying compensation to dissatisfied passengers. Continuing the topic of finance, we should also mention the economic component. Thanks to night technologies, airlines can transport more passengers daily, increasing their profits.
Night vision helps civil aviation transport not only people but also various cargo. This circumstance opens up new trade opportunities and creates conditions for more fruitful cooperation between cities, regions, and countries. In some situations, well-equipped civil aviation aircraft are involved in search operations, firefighting and other essential activities. They can also be used for night photography or scientific research.
Another important reason for introducing NV systems in civil aviation is to reduce the workload of the pilot. Thanks to numerous devices, they can take some of their work off their plate and spend more time on other essential things. All this makes modern pilots more confident in themselves and their air transport, which allows them to reduce stress levels and fatigue after completing a flight. This, in turn, entails an increase in the quality of the pilot’s professional performance.
NV systems in modern civil aviation
Modern civil aviation will not exist without night vision systems. The most popular of them is EFVS, which has gone through several stages of modernization and has become as efficient as possible. This system combines several highly specialized instruments and many auxiliary sensors. Each element has its purpose and location, which is selected depending on the type of air transport and its method of use. Complementing each other and working to achieve a typical result, various instruments and sensors allow you to obtain maximum helpful information about the current situation around the aircraft. All collected data is sent to the onboard display within the pilot’s line of sight. The latter sees a detailed picture supplemented with important information.
All EFVS systems utilize a night camera for improved performance and high efficiency. It is usually mounted in the bow, where it can film without hindrance. Thanks to the correct configuration, minimal delay in data transmission is possible, which is extremely important when managing any air transport.
Pilots use the night vision system at all stages of flight. For example, during takeoff, it helps, even in abysmal visibility, to notice various obstacles, other aircraft in the way, and everything happening around. When landing, EFVS and other similar systems provide the pilot with a clear picture in which landing lights, markings, and dangerous obstacles (for example, power lines) are visible. During the flight, the system makes it possible to monitor the current situation around the aircraft and check the correctness of some readings from onboard equipment.
Nowadays, civil aviation cannot exist without night vision systems. Their presence makes it possible to operate flights at any time of the day, improve flight safety, increase the number of people and cargo transported, and help airlines receive certain economic benefits. In the future, today’s systems will be even more actively introduced into civil aviation. They will be constantly upgraded and become more efficient each time.