Night Vision Goggles New FAA Rules On Use and Currency

1. Night Vision Goggles NewFAARulesOn UseandCurrency

2. Changes to CFR 14 Part 61 61.31 – Additional Training Requirements 61.57 – Recent Flight Experience (Currency) 61.95 – Flight Instructor Limitations and Qualifications

3. 61.31Type rating requirements, additional training, and authorization requirements

4. Initial Qualification 61.31 k) Additional training required for night vision goggle operations (1) Except as provided under paragraph (k)(3) of this section, a person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft using night vision goggles only if that person receives and logs ground training from an authorized instructor and obtains a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor who certifies the person completed the ground training. The ground training must include the following subjects:

5. Initial Qualification (Ground) (i) Applicable portions of this chapter that relate to night vision goggle limitations and flight operations;

6. Initial Qualification (Ground) (ii) Aeromedical factors related to the use of night vision goggles, including how to protect night vision, how the eyes adapt to night, self-imposed stresses that affect night vision, effects of lighting on night vision, cues used to estimate distance and depth perception at night, and visual illusions;

7. Initial Qualification (Ground) (iii) Normal, abnormal, and emergency operations of night vision goggle equipment;

8. Initial Qualification (Ground) (iv) Night vision goggle performance and scene interpretation; and

9. Initial Qualification (Ground) (v) Night vision goggle operation flight planning, including night terrain interpretation and factors affecting terrain interpretation.

10. Initial Qualification - Flight (2) Except as provided under paragraph (k)(3) of this section, a person may act as pilot in command of an aircraft using night vision goggles only if that person receives and logs flight training from an authorized instructor and obtains a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor who found the person proficient in the use of night vision goggles. The flight training must include the following tasks:

11. Initial Qualification (Flight) (i) Preflight and use of internal and external aircraft lighting systems for night vision goggle operations;

12. Initial Qualification (Flight) (ii) Preflight preparation of night vision goggles for night vision goggle operations;

13. Initial Qualification (Flight) (iii) Proper piloting techniques when using night vision goggles during the takeoff, climb, enroute, descent, and landing phases of flight; and

14. Initial Qualification (Flight) (iv) Normal, abnormal, and emergency flight operations using night vision goggles.

15. Initial Qualification - Exceptions (3) The requirements under paragraphs (k)(1) and (2) of this section do not apply if a person can document satisfactory completion of any of the following pilot proficiency checks using night vision goggles in an aircraft:

16. Initial Qualification (Exceptions) (i) A pilot proficiency check on night vision goggle operations conducted by the U.S. Armed Forces

17. Initial Qualification (Exceptions) (ii) A pilot proficiency check on night vision goggle operations under part 135 of this chapter conducted by an Examiner or Check Airman.

18. Initial Qualification (Exceptions) (iii) A pilot proficiency check on night vision goggle operations conducted by a night vision goggle manufacturer or authorized instructor, when the pilot—

19. Initial Qualification (Exceptions) (A) Is employed by a Federal, State, county, or municipal law enforcement agency; and

20. Initial Qualification (Exceptions) (B) Has logged at least 20 hours as pilot in command in night vision goggle operations

21. 61.57Recency of Experience

22. NVG Currency Requirements (f) Night vision goggle operating experience. (1) A person may act as pilot in command in a night vision goggle operation with passengers on board only if, within 2 calendar months preceding the month of the flight, that person performs and logs the following tasks as the sole manipulator of the controls on a flight during a night vision goggle operation—

23. NVG Currency Requirements (i) Three takeoffs and three landings, with each takeoff and landing including a climbout, cruise, descent, and approach phase of flight (only required if the pilot wants to use night vision goggles during the takeoff and landing phases of the flight).

24. NVG Currency Requirements (ii) Three hovering tasks (only required if the pilot wants to use night vision goggles when operating helicopters or powered-lifts during the hovering phase of flight).

25. NVG Currency Requirements (iii) Three area departure and area arrival tasks.

26. NVG Currency Requirements (iv) Three tasks of transitioning from aided night flight ( aided night flight means that the pilot uses night vision goggles to maintain visual surface reference) to unaided night flight ( unaided night flight means that the pilot does not use night vision goggles) and back to aided night flight.

27. NVG Currency Requirements (v) Three night vision goggle operations, or when operating helicopters or powered-lifts, six night vision goggle operations.

28. NVG Currency Requirements 2) A person may act as pilot in command using night vision goggles only if, within the 4 calendar months preceding the month of the flight, that person performs and logs the tasks listed in paragraph (f)(1)(i) through (v) of this section as the sole manipulator of the controls during a night vision goggle operation.

29. NVG Proficiency Check (g) Night vision goggle proficiency check. A person must either meet the night vision goggle experience requirements of paragraphs (f)(1) or (f)(2) of this section or pass a night vision goggle proficiency check to act as pilot in command using night vision goggles. The proficiency check must be performed in the category of aircraft that is appropriate to the night vision goggle operation for which the person is seeking the night vision goggle privilege or in a flight simulator or flight training device that is representative of that category of aircraft. The check must consist of the tasks listed in §61.31(k), and the check must be performed by:

30. NVG Proficiency Check (1) An Examiner who is qualified to perform night vision goggle operations in that same aircraft category and class;

31. NVG Proficiency Check (2) A person who is authorized by the U.S. Armed Forces to perform night vision goggle proficiency checks, provided the person being administered the check is also a member of the U.S. Armed Forces;

32. NVG Proficiency Check (3) A company check pilot who is authorized to perform night vision goggle proficiency checks under parts 121, 125, or 135 of this chapter, provided that both the check pilot and the pilot being tested are employees of that operator;

33. NVG Proficiency Check (4) An authorized flight instructor who is qualified to perform night vision goggle operations in that same aircraft category and class;

34. NVG Proficiency Check (5) A person who is qualified as pilot in command for night vision goggle operations in accordance with paragraph (f) of this section; or

35. NVG Proficiency Check (6) A person approved by the FAA to perform night vision goggle proficiency checks.

36. 61.195Flight instructor limitations and qualifications

37. NVG Flight Instructor 61.195 (k) Training for night vision goggle operations. A flight instructor may not conduct training for night vision goggle operations unless the flight instructor:

38. NVG Flight Instructor (1) Has a pilot and flight instructor certificate with the applicable category and class rating for the training;

39. NVG Flight Instructor 2) If appropriate, has a type rating on his or her pilot certificate for the aircraft;

40. NVG Flight Instructor (3) Is pilot in command qualified for night vision goggle operations, in accordance with §61.31(k);

41. NVG Flight Instructor (4) Has logged 100 night vision goggle operations as the sole manipulator of the controls;

42. NVG Flight Instructor (5) Has logged 20 night vision goggle operations as the sole manipulator of the controls in the category and class, and type of aircraft, if aircraft class and type is appropriate, that the training will be given in;

43. NVG Flight Instructor (6) Is qualified to act as pilot in command in night vision goggle operations under §61.57(f) or (g); and

44. NVG Flight Instructor (7) Has a logbook endorsement from an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector or a person who is authorized by the FAA to provide that logbook endorsement that states the flight instructor is authorized to perform the night vision goggle pilot in command qualification and recent flight experience requirements under §61.31(k) and §61.57(f) and (g).