FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles

The FAA has approved Aviation Specialties Unlimited’s (ASU) lightweight E3 Panoramic night-vision goggles (NVG) as meeting the design and production minimum performance requirements under technical standard order C164c. 

A follow-on to ASU’s white-phosphor lightweight E3 NVG, the E3 Panoramic, with a 94-degree field of view, adds two more NVG tubes outboard of the center tubes that help the pilot employ peripheral vision with less head-turning, a critical factor in helicopter flight. The unit’s light weight of 660 grams (the baseline E3 weighs 390 grams) also helps reduce pilot fatigue. “This certification provides operators with next-generation panoramic night-vision capability designed to improve situational awareness and operational effectiveness in demanding flight environments,” according to ASU.

E3 Panoramic NVGs are available immediately, and the technical standard order approval “enables the E3 Panoramic to be integrated into approved aircraft configurations through applicable installation and operational approval processes,” the company said.

“As mission demands continue to increase, operators require technologies that provide greater awareness and confidence in challenging environments,” added ASU v-p of business development Chad St. Francis.