For the third time Aviation Specialties Unlimited, (ASU) was selected as the company that will train the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) on the use of night vision goggles (NVGs). ASU will provide both initial training and recurrent training to FAA ASI’s beginning on July 23, 2016.
During the previous two contracts awarded to ASU, the company conducted 1,015 flight hours and 956 academic hours of training. ASU provided initial training to 87 ASI’s and recurrent training to 70 ASI’s.
“Our pilots’ unmatched experience and depth of knowledge will provide great value to the FAA,” said Chief Pilot and Director of Training Justin Watlington. “Our flight instructors have 30 years or more experience in aviation and NVG’s and have been with ASU for more than a decade and have worked with the FAA’s POI’s, ASI” Test Pilots and managers during 2 previous NVG Training Contract awards. They have flown and trained with NVG’s around the world in the most extreme environments including remote mountains, tropics, deserts, and even the Arctic. They have also flown in many capacities including search and rescue, emergency medical, firefighting, agricultural and combat.”
ASU’s training will take place in Boise, Idaho in the high desert mountains and in remote areas where low-light conditions made it ideal for training. ASU has trained pilots and crews from around the world that fly in extreme conditions for unique missions. FAA ASI’s will receive 8 hours of ground school training, 1.5 hours of aircraft familiarization and 10 hours of flight training using NVGs.
“Our ultimate goal with anyone flying NVGs is to increase safety. If even one life is saved because of the proper use of NVG’s, then we have accomplished our goal. We have heard countless stories of lives saved, criminals apprehended, and lost people found because of NVGs. We are honored to work with the FAA on ASU’s third NVG contract award and look forward to working with their aviation professionals once more,” said Watlington.
ASU has sold and serviced NVG’s for more than 20 years, has modified almost 1,000 FAA certified aircraft worldwide and has trained more than 6,000 people. ASU will begin scheduling training session immediately. ASU will be at booth 404 at the annual Airborne Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) annual convention held in Savannah, Georgia July 20-22, 2016.
