Night vision goggles (NVG) are used to enhance your night vision but the cockpit instruments and displays need to be modified in order to be compatible with the NVGs. The process of modification is done through a supplemental type certificate (STC).
The STC is the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) term for their approval by form of a type certificate for modifications made to an engine, appliance or airframe. The NVG operational light spectrum requires that the infrared with illumination be eliminated so that there is only visible light available to the pilot and the flight crew. This will allow the goggles to get minimal amounts of infrared. With the goggles’ gain control amplification, the user gets maximum visibility in a night time setting.
You can eliminate the illumination of the infrared in many ways. There are the open ring bezels; you can add adjunctive lighting systems, post light modification or the modification of the instrument or display. Some methods would need the cockpit’s integral illumination to be eliminated so that the secondary lighting alternatives will work effectively. Secondary lighting alternatives filter the light source with an NVIS Green filter changing the color to green. If post lights are used, reflective illumination will be provided.
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