1 

General anatomy and characteristics of the eye 

Anatomy:

— Overall structure of the eye

— Cones

— Rods

Visual deficiencies:

— myopia

— hyperopia

— astigmatism

— presbyopia

Effects of light on night vision & NV protection physiology:

— Light levels

— illumination

— luminance

— reflectance

— contrast

— Types of vision:

— photopic

— mesopic

— scotopic

— Day versus night vision

— Dark adaptation process:

— dark adaptation

— pre-adaptive state

— Purkinje shift

— Ocular chromatic aberration

— Photochromatic interval

2 

Night vision human factors 

— Night blind spot (as compared to day blind spot)

— Field of view and peripheral vision

— Distance estimation and depth perception:

— monocular cues

— motion parallax

— geometric perspective

— size constancy

— overlapping contours or interposition of objects

— Aerial perspective:

— variations in colour or shade

— loss of detail or texture

— position of light source

— direction of shadows

— Binocular cues

— Night vision techniques:

— off-centre vision

— scanning

— shapes and silhouettes

— Vestibular illusions

— Somatogyral illusions:

— leans

— graveyard spin

— coriolis illusion

— Somatogravic illusions:

— oculographic illusions

— elevator illusion

— oculoagravic illusions

— Proprioceptive illusions

— Dealing with spatial disorientation

— Visual illusions:

— auto kinetic illusion

— confusion with ground lights

— relative motion

— reversible perspective illusion

— false vertical and horizontal cues

— altered planes of reference

— height /depth perception illusion

— flicker vertigo

— fascination (fixation)

— structural illusions

— size-distance illusion

— Helicopter design limitations:

— windscreen condition

— helicopter instrument design

— helicopter structural obstruction

— interior lights

— exterior lights

— Self-imposed stresses:

— drugs

— exhaustion

— alcohol

— tobacco

— hypoglycaemia

— injuries

— physical fitness

— Stress & fatigue:

— acute vs. chronic

— prevention

— Hypoxia issues and night vision

— Weather/environmental conditions:

— snow (white-out)

— dust (brown-out)

— haze

— fog

— rain

— light level

— Astronomical lights (moon, star, northern lights)

— Effects of cloud cover

3 

NVIS general characteristics 

— Definitions and types of NVIS:

— light spectrum

— types of NVIS

— Thermal-imaging devices

— Image-intensifier devices

— Image-intensifier operational theory

— Types of image intensifier systems:

— generation 1

— generation 2

— generation 3

— generation 4

— type I / II

— class A & B minus blue filter

— NVIS equipment

— shipping and storage case

— carrying case

— binocular assembly

— lens caps

— lens paper

— operators manual

— power pack (dual battery)

— batteries

— Characteristics of NVIS:

— light amplification

— light intensification

— frequency sensitivity

— visual range acuity

— unaided peripheral vision

— weight

— flip-up device

— break-away feature

— neck cord

— maintenance issues

— human factor issues

— Description and functions of NVIS components:

— helmet visor cover and extension strap

— helmet NVIS mount and attachment points

— different mount options for various helmets

— lock release button

— vertical adjustment knob

— low battery indicator

— binocular assembly

— monocular tubes

— fore and aft adjustment knob

— eye span knob

— tilt adjustment lever

— objective focus rings

— eyepiece focus rings

— battery pack

4 

NVIS care & cleaning 

— Handling procedures

— NVIS operating instructions:

— pre-mounting inspection

— mounting procedures

— focusing procedures

— faults

— Post-flight procedures;

— Deficiencies: type and recognition of faults:

— acceptable faults

— black spots

— chicken wire

— fixed pattern noise (honeycomb effect)

— output brightness variation

— bright spots

— image disparity

— image distortion

— emission points

— unacceptable faults:

— shading

— edge glow

— fashing, flickering or intermittent operation

— Cleaning procedures

— Care of batteries

— Hazardous material considerations;

5

Pre- & post-flight procedures

— Inspect NVIS

— Carrying case condition

— Nitrogen purge due date

— Collimation test due date

— Screens diagram(s) of any faults

— NVIS kit: complete

— NVIS binocular assembly condition

— Battery pack and quick disconnect condition

— Batteries life expended so far

— Mount battery pack onto helmet:

— verify no LED showing (good battery)

— fail battery by opening cap and LED illuminates (both compartments)

— Mount NVIS onto helmet

— Adjust and focus NVIS

— Eye-span to known inter-pupillary distance

— Eye piece focus ring to zero

— Adjustments:

— vertical

— fore and aft

— tilt

— eye-span (fine-tuning)

— Focus (one eye at a time at 20 ft, then at 30 ft from an eye chart)

— objective focus ring

— eye piece focus ring

— verify both images are harmonised

— read eye-chart 20/40 line from 20 ft

— NVIS mission planning

— NVIS light level planning

— NVIS risk assessment

6 

NVIS terrain interpretation and environmental factors 

— Night terrain interpretation

— Light sources:

— natural

— lunar

— solar

— starlight

— northern lights

— artificial

— cultural

— infra-red

— Meteorological conditions:

— clouds/fog

— indications of restriction to visibility:

— loss of celestial lights

— loss of ground lights

— reduced ambient light levels

— reduced visual acuity

— increase in video noise

— increase in halo effect

— Cues for visual recognition:

— object size

— object shape

— contrast

— ambient light

— colour

— texture

— background

— reflectivity

— Factors affecting terrain interpretation:

— ambient light

— flight altitudes

— terrain type

— Seasons

— Night navigation cues:

— terrain relief

— vegetation

— hydrographical features

— cultural features

7

NVIS training & equipment requirements

Cover the relevant regulations and guidelines that pertain to night and NVIS flight to include as a minimum:

— Crew experience requirements;

— Crew training requirements;

— Airspace requirements;

— Night / NVIS MEL;

— NVIS / night weather limits;

— NVIS equipment minimum standard requirements.

8

NVIS emergency procedures

Cover relevant emergency procedures:

— Inadvertent IMC procedures

— NVIS goggle failure

— Helicopter emergencies:

— with goggles

— transition from goggles

9

NVIS flight techniques

Respective flight techniques for each phase of flight for the type and class of helicopter used for NVIS training

10

Basic instrument techniques

Present and confirm understanding of basic instrument flight techniques:

— Instrument scan

— Role of instruments in NVIS flight

— Unusual attitude recovery procedures