Human Factors and Safety Considerations of Night Vision Systems Flight Using Thermal Imaging Systems

Military aviation night vision systems enhance the aviators capability to operate effectively during periods of low illumination, adverse weather, and in the presence of obscurants. Current fielded systems allow aviators to conduct terrain flight during conditions which would be extremely dangerous, if not impossible, using only unaided vision. In night vision system, trade-offs are made that enhance some visual parameters and compromise others. Examples of visual parameters which are traded off include acuity, field-of- view, spectral sensitivity, and depth perception. Cost, weight, and size constraints also lead to compromises between the ideal and a viable system design, Thermal imaging sensors introduce enhanced night vision capabilities along with new problems associated with the interpretation of visual information based on spectral and spatial characteristics differing from those provided by unaided vision. Keywords Night vision, Forward looking infrared FLIR, Integrated helmet and display sighting system IHADSS, Pilots Night Vision System PNVS, Thermal imaging.