Effects of Extended Use of AN/PVS-5 Night Vision Goggles on Helicopter Pilots' Performance

摘要

The effects of extended use of AN/PVS-5 night vision goggles (NVG) were investigated by observing 10 NVG helicopter instructor pilots during two 6-hour missions. Each mission consisted of three 2-hour flights during which pilot control inputs and aircraft status variables were recorded in flight. Questionnaires were completed before the first mission and after the NVG mission. In order to examine for a carryover effect, subjects were flown in a crossover design in which half of the aviators flew NVG on the first mission, the other half on the second. Only the out-of-ground-effect hover showed a statistically significant carryover effect; that is, subjects who flew naked eye before NVG demonstrated a greater absolute difference in hover flight performance variability than those who flew naked eye after NVG flight. In the traffic pattern (final approach segment), there was a statistically significant difference between the visual conditions only. The postflight questionnaire responses revealed a concern over what was described as a lack of concentration and a decline of mental alertness. Some physiological stress reactions were reported. None of the three maneuvers analyzed revealed a significant effect on performance across flights.