NVG Pilot Training
When you need training, choose ASU’s flexible and specialized pilot and crew training programs. Our team of military-trained instructors will design a program around your goals. Specialized courses include NVG mission-specific initial, recurrent, CFI, and maintenance training.
Flexible options allow you to train in our diverse environment at our headquarters in Boise, Idaho, or at your location with your aircraft.
FAA Certifications in Part 133,135,137 and 141.
Diverse Training & Specialized Environments
Should your organization choose to execute the training in Boise, Idaho, you will not be disappointed. In one flight, you will experience mountain peaks, valleys, confined spaces, over water, dense forest, and arid desert covered with dust or snow. Idaho boasts more backcountry airstrips than any other state in the lower 48! Adding the unique diversity of this environment to the NVG experience is what sets ASU above the rest.
Environment Using Bell 505
Rotary Wing
NVG Training
This terrain map shows the vast amounts of training areas available to our customers. From the beginning of Lucky Peak reservoir (1st turnpoint for route beginning at the bottom of the picture below) and many miles beyond it to the North and East, the area is an approved nap-of-the earth training location that offers many different challenges including over water flight, pinnacle landings, confined space operations, and both snow/dust landings depending on season.
Also available inside the Boise Class C airspace is a landing strip that may be used for traffic patterns as needed to hone proficiency in scanning with NVG’s while gaining comfort operating the Bell 505
Rotary Wing
NVG Training
Environment Using Cessna 206
Fixed Wing
NVG Training
The attached snapshot displays the commonly used training locations for airplane students. Multiple runways both lit and unlit are scattered throughout the Treasure Valley region with immediate climbs in elevation and complete darkness available north and south of these airports. Experience the challenges and beauty of elevated backcountry while flying with the highest quality NVG’s and skilled instructors. Whether you operate in large metropolitan areas or in the middle of the desert, Boise offers a mix of just about everything except humidity.
ASU also maintains an FAA Approved Part 141 Flight School for initial private pilot certification. Training is conducted in Boise, Idaho, in a Bell 505 and Cessna 206.
Fixed Wing
NVG Training
01. What type of NVG training does ASU offer?
- ASU offers NVG maintenance training as well as NVG flight training.
- Maintenance training teaches technicians how to conduct the required 180-day inspections required by the FAA and RTCA DO-275.
- Flight training teachs aviators the techniques used to capitalize on all of the advantages of flying with NVG while at the same time shows aviators how to recognize the hazards of flying at night.
02. How does a pilot receive an endorsement to fly NVGs?
- With ASU, the aviator will conduct 8 hours of academics which include subjects outlined in CFR 61.31k along with additional training that highlights some of the techniques and experiences ASU has acquired over the last 20 years in the industry.
03. What type of AC does ASU use to conduct NVG training
- The Bell 505 was specifically selected to enhance and accommodate the needs of the student pilot in developing good NVG flying skills. This AC has exceptional unobstructed viewing from the front and middle rear seats. The modern crew station enhances pilot situational awareness and exceptional NVG compatibility utilizing the Garmin GXI flight displays.
04. What equipment is required to conduct NVG Training?
- Normally a student will bring a helmet. But if the student does not have a helmet, ASU has manydifferent sizes to accommodate any student large or small. Additionally, the students will be equippedwith the newest state of the art NVG technology. We expose the new pilots to ANVIS 9 green and whitephosphorus goggles as well as the new E-3 white phosphorous goggle. If you are an aviator receivingrecurrent training you have your choice of goggle type. However, most will choose the new light weightE-3 goggle.
05. How long is the course?
- If you are a new pilot seeking an endorsement ASU will spend the first day discussing all aspects of night vision and how the aviator can safely navigate the challenges of flying at night with the NVG. Over the next three nights of flight training the aviator will accrue approximately 5 hours of NVG flight experiencing everything from bright cultural lighting conditions to the darkest most challenging mountain environments.
- If you are a pilot seeking recurrency we will spend approximately four hours reviewing academics followed by approximately 1.5 to 2 hours of flight reacquainting aspects of flying with NVG.
- The course can also be tailored to suit the individual and desired flight time.
06. What type of flying is required?
- Other than training normal and abnormal flight conditions with the night vision goggle we train basic maneuvers and maneuvers in adverse dark environments. ASU offers a unique and challenging flight environment for the student. Everything from bright culturally lighted environments to desert low contrast and mountainous conditions. Our goal is to ensure the aviator is experienced and proficient with all types of NVG environments.
- Multiple Military Applications
- Emergency Medical Services
- Search and Rescue
- Law Enforcement
- Agricultural Spraying
- High Altitude/Mountain Operations
Mission Specific Programs
More than 6,000 pilots and crew have been trained by ASU instructors. We hold FAA certifications in Part 133, 135, 137 and 141. All of our instructors have vast experience operating NVG’s in these mission sets. They have employed weapon systems under zero illumination conditions with NVG’s and have saved lives on pinnacles with the best NVG’s available on the market.