Story ID: 
Eurocopter Receives First Civilian NVG OK
By: AIN Staff
Caption: Eurocopter announced recently that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the EC 145 for civil night-vision goggle (NVG) operations, and 
Word Count: 168
Eurocopter announced recently that the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified the EC 145 for civil night-vision goggle (NVG) operations, and in doing so, according to Eurocopter, making it the first OEM to offer commercial helicopter NVG capabilities from the factory. Various retrofits have been available to operators for a number of years. The manufacturer said NVG extensions are available for new helicopters, as well as those already in service; extensions for helicopters in service would require adaptation of lighting setting systems and replacement of all devices that do not comply with the Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS), however. Configured systems include the NVIS, internal and external aircraft lighting and ITT F 4949 and/or NOGALIGHT NL-93 night-vision goggles. Eurocopter said the certification was “a major step [in] enabling civil operators to access NVG operations, thus increasing their mission capabilities and safety during night operations,” and plans to extend NVG operations to the EC 135. The EASA worked with the FAA and TSSA (Canada) in certifying the NVG operational capability.