Helicopter operators must understand “the limitations and risks” of using night vision goggles (NVGs), especially in situations involving reflections or external light sources, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said in a new report on a 2016 event involving the emergency medical services (EMS) crew of a Eurocopter BK117 C-2.
In the Oct. 21, 2016, event, the EMS crew was returning to its home base in Orange, New South Wales, on a night visual flight rules flight after completing an EMS mission. Both the pilot and the air crewmember (ACM) were wearing NVGs.
After takeoff from the Crookwell Medical helicopter landing site, the helicopter unexpectedly encountered low clo…
