Low Light Comparison of Target Visibility with Night Vision Goggles: Flight Tests

Different night vision goggle image intensification technologies were tested to compare goggle performance in low light conditions. A total of four different night vision goggles were tested in a laboratory dark room and in flight. The laboratory tests consisted of viewing Landolt acuity stimuli of different contrast levels with the different goggles and without the goggles (baseline performance). The initial flight tests involved both a traditional standardized flight test manoeuvre and a novel target visibility rating task, whereas the second set of flight trials involved only the visibility rating task. The results from the laboratory testing indicated that there were significant differences in acuity between the NVGs, particularly for low contrast targets. Flight test data indicated differences between the different NVG technologies that were consistent with the laboratory findings. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of civil certification of NVG systems.