NIGHT VISION GOGGLE COMPATIBILITY WITH COLOR DISPLAYS IN ARMY AIRCRAFT : A DISCUSSION OF ISSUES

The Army currently requires that helicopter cockpits comply with MIL-L-85672 for Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatibility, but this presents problems for Army planners and contractors who want to use color CRTs in avionics systems MIL-L-85672 is an extremely conservative specification that restricts the use of color (other than Green). This paper presents literature which shows that color displays that do not meet the requirements of MIL-L-85672 can be compatible in practical terms. Rationale is presented to adopt a definition of NVG compatibility that ultimately rests on pilot visual performance through the goggles. If cockpit lighting does not adversely affect vision through the goggles, compatibility Is achieved. A strategy is described for developing a measure of NVG compatibility based on pilot visual performance. A side discussion is also presented on a relatively inexpensive way for the Army to achieve NVG compatibility with color displays by increasing the value of the suppression fitter on the AN/ANS-6 goggles In the Army inventory.