Wings of Freedom Rotary Wing Night Flight Part IV

Wings of Freedom

Rotary Wing Night Flight

Part IV

Wings of Freedom

ReferenceReferenceReferenceReference

FM 3-04.203FM 3-04.203

Wings of Freedom

Contents

V. Night Operations

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V. Night Missions

A. Pre-Mission Planning

1. Mission Briefing and De-Briefing

• All missions should be briefed prior to execution

• Following a mission a thorough de-briefing should cover problems, issues, recommendations, and lessons learned

2. Common Terminology

• Common terminology must be established among aircrew members and any other participants

• Terminology should be specific to prevent confusion

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V. Night Missions


3. Preflight Inspection

• Critical aspect of mission safety

• Preferably done during hours of daylight

• If done at night, a flashlight with unfiltered lens should be used

• Windscreens should be inspected, scratches acceptable for day flight may not be for night flight

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V. Night Missions


4. Aircraft Lighting-Cockpit Lights

• During before-starting checks, cockpit lights areadjusted to lowest usable intensity

level

• If any light is too bright, it must be modified or turned off

• As ambient light level decreases, cockpit lighting should be kept at lowest usable level to reduce glare

• Cockpit lighting should be aware of enemy detection due to cockpit lighting when operating in a tactical environment

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V. Night Missions


5. Aircraft Lighting-Anti-collision Lights

• Should be turned off during formation flights with exception of trail aircraft

• Bottom anti-collision light may be turned off to eliminate vision restrictions during night or NVG operations

6. Landing Light/Searchlight

• Use as required, but relying on it may prevent development of techniques to fly without it

• Consider surrounding aircraft when using

• Landing light should only be used during emergencies

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V. Night Missions


7. Aircraft Lighting-Position and Navigation Lights

• Inappropriate use can degrade night vision and increase possibility of detection by enemy

• Should be turned off or dimmed during formation flight to avoid distracting other aircraft.

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V. Night Missions


8. Aircraft Lighting-Supplemental Cockpit Lighting

• Any light device that is not part of the aircraft lighting system

• Must be checked for and be compatible with NVGs

9. Aircrew Preparation-

• Crewmembers must be physically and mentally prepared to participate in night flight

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V. Night Missions

B. Night Flight Techniques

1. Hover

• Difficult at night due to lack of references.

• Surface type affects aviator’s ability to judge movement

• Technique varies with surface type and availablelighting

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V. Night Missions


Hovering-Asphalt or Concrete

• Estimating height at night is difficult due to lack of visual cues

• Markings can be used to provide reference

• Must scan to avoid fixation

Grass

• Reference points difficult to find due to lack of contrast

• Tall grass is more difficult due to illusion of movement

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V. Night Missions

A. Night Flight Techniques

Hover-Snow or Dust

• Very difficult to hover over due to blowing debris

Water

• Most difficult surface to hover over, it is absent of visual reference points

• If possible, maneuver aircraft near an object to provide reference point

• Presence of waves tends to lead to drift

• Accurate height estimation requires use of radaraltimeter

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V. Night Missions


2. Takeoff

• If sufficient illumination exists, takeoff can be accomplished as a day VMC takeoff

• If illuminations is not sufficient, aviator shouldaccomplish an altitude over airspeed

takeoff

• Takeoff may be performed from hover or ground

• Should treat visual obstacles same as physicalobstacles

• Takeoffs in dust or snow should be performed as an ITO until clear of obscuration

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Night Operations

Night VMC Takeoff

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V. Night Missions


3. En Route

• Unaided- After reaching desired altitude adjust lights as night vision improves

• Aided- Viewing distance increases with altitude, while depth perception and acuity decrease

• Over-water- Avoid long flights without a radar altimeter.

Check barometric and radar altimeters prior to flight Pilot not on controls should cross monitor The lower the visibility or ambient light, the higher the

en route altitude should be

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V. Night Missions


4. Landing

• With reduced visibility LZs should be larger at night than in daytime

• Altitude, apparent ground speed, and rate of closure are difficult to estimate at night

• Crewmembers must share information on obstacle avoidance, altitude, airspeed, and approach angle

• Except in blowing snow or dust, night approaches to unlit area should be made to a hover then followed by slow vertical descent to ground

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V. Night Missions


4. Landing (Cont)

• Approaches made to the ground require the most skill and proficiency. Unimproved area approaches are usually planned to terminate at a hover due to unknown surface conditions

• To avoid slowing the vertical descent excessively and over-controlling the collective should be reduced gradually and continuously

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V. Night Missions


4. Landing (Cont)

• All aspects of the approach must be considered

• Apparent ground speed and rate of closure are difficult to judge during night operations

• Coordinated control movement of both cyclic andcollective is required to fly the

aircraft throughout the approach

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V. Night Missions


Landing-Ground Lighting Aids

• Field lighting systems provide fewer visual cues than a fixed landing site

• Minimum of two lights should be used separated by at least 15 feet. Use of one light may lead to auto kinesis.

• Two tactical field lighting configurations are used—the inverted Y and the T. When operating with NATO forces, aircrew members should anticipate use of the T.

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V. Night Missions


Landing—The Inverted Y

• Best used for an approach initiated from terrain flight altitudes

• By using the spacing between lights aviators canmaintain a proper approach path

and angle

• During the final 25 feet of the approach, aircrewmembers should divert FOV away

from lights andconcentrate on acquiring ground

references.

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Night Operations

Normal Approach to Inverted Y

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V. Night Missions


Landing—The T

• Seldom used by US forces, common among alliedforces

• Best for approaches initiated above 500 feet AGL

• Same theory as Y, spacing between lights cues angle and approach path

• During final 25 feet of approach, crewmembers should divert FOV away from lights and concentrate on acquiring ground references

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Night Operations

Normal Approach to lighted T

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V. Night Missions


5. Limitations

• Visual reference outside the aircraft is limited at night

• Movement of helicopter during unaided flight can be difficult to detect.

• Equipment, instruments, and control switches are easily located in a lighted cockpit; however aviators should be able to locate and use cockpit equipment associated with immediate action emergency procedures without cockpit lighting.

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V. Night Missions


5. Limitations (Cont)

• Location of items such as radios, mission equipment, and switches must be standardized to provide consistent base

• As flight altitude AGL increases visual references are less effective.

• Reduced visual references can cause a crew to focus on a single light or group of lights. This process can lead to illusions.

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V. Night Missions


5. Limitations (Cont)

• When completely night adapted, eyes will become sensitive to light. Exposure will cause a

partial orcomplete but temporary loss of night

vision.

• Night flight is more stressful than day flight.

• Deteriorating performance and efficiency causes poor coordination and slowed reaction time while reducing ability to see.

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V. Night Missions

C. Emergency and Safety Procedures

1. Basic Considerations

• Emergency procedures for the day and night flight are the same

• Responding at night usually takes longer

• Aviator must be familiar with all controls and switches and know all immediate action steps to minimize delays

• Established safety procedures prevent emergencies

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2. Electrical Failure

• If total or partial electrical failure occurs, aircrew must execute appropriate emergency procedure

• Aircraft may be difficult for other aircraft to see due to loss of lighting

• If on an approach the aircrew must decide if approach can be continued without creating an unsafe condition

• Aircrew should watch tower for light-gun signals

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3. Emergency Landing– With or without power

• With power, descending to a lower altitude may aid the aircrew in identifying a suitable landing area.

• The landing light may be used depending on conditions to aid in locating a safe landing area

• Before landing, the aircrew should attempt to alert the controlling agency of situation

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4. Ground Safety

• During night, the number of support personnel, vehicles, and use of ground-handling equipment on the flight line should be kept to minimum required for mission accomplishment

• Personnel should use flashlights when walking on flight line

• Caution should be used when climbing on or operating around aircraft

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V. Night Missions


5. Air Safety

• Aircrew members must be aware of the limitations of night vision and not overestimate their ability to perform duties

• Continuous training is required to become proficient

• Due to lack of references, vertigo or other illusions may be induced at night

• Use of instruments and aircraft lighting is essential to safe operations

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V. Night Missions


6. Airspace Management

• Sound operational planning and operating procedures must be developed and practiced to prevent most airspace conflicts

• The commander should establish priorities andguidelines for airspace usage

• Commander or designated representative should approve the use of airspace for preplanned operations

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QUESTIONS?

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Wings of Freedom Rotary Wing Night Flight Part IV