Enhanced Vision Systems

[kmyfm20s]

Anybody have any experience with these? Seems like for single engine pilots flying IFR and at night it adds a lot of additional safety.

http://www.max-viz.com/#!max-viz-1200/c65h

I emailed my avionics guy to get all the cost involved but the system itself list for $5995 on the web page and would use my G500 screen for display.

[jbs007]

You could probably get someone with experience with this model on EAA forum, but here's my take on thermal and IFR from flying helo's with the USMC:

 

1) Thermal imagery sees temp differentials.  It's really cool for seeing into shadows on a low light night that near IR devices won't even help in, but you're talking IFR which implies rain or other precipitation.  Rain will make surfaces all the same temperature effectively "washing away" anything for your thermal picture. 

 

2) This unit is uncooled, doesn't specify what wavelength it uses, and is less than $20,000...  Half of that $6000 is from the fact it bolts on to an aircraft so the imagery inside is probably worth $3000 tops.  This makes me think it is near IR "NVDs" more that it is real "thermal imagery".  Honestly, if I had to have only one it would be the near IR NVD anyway.

 

3) My opinion on this is the same as it is for synthetic vision as an aid to IFR flight... IFR is IFR, Your flight planning and situational awareness is your safety.  I understand the desire to watch terrain go by but I think it is too much information and potentially distracting.  The only decision I really see it changing in people is "this procedure is confusing, I don't know what the controller wants me to do, the weather isn't THAT bad, with this equipment on board  I bet I could just proceed VFR and be just fine".  I know of MANY aircraft that crashed trying to do VFR when they shouldn't have.

 

 

My pessimism and reluctance to change aside, I am still curious what real experience with a system like this is.  It is still an interesting idea to put on a Mooney and I enjoy seeing any new technology come into the GA market.

[1964-M20E]

To the point made by jbs  IMC is IMC and no amount of techno wiz gadgetry will change that only mother nature can change IMC to VMC.

 

However, any gadget that can help make flying in IMC safer and easier definitely is a plus especially when you are the only pilot on-board.  Will this  allow you to get a visual on the runway environment sooner rather than later?  That is the question.

 

Personally I like it but would I spend 7 to 8 AMU to put it in most likely not since I do not generally fly in hard IFR conditions.

[carusoam]

I don't know what you would see while flying... Other planes? A mountain house?

Or is this a defense mechanism for Single Engine engine out operations in IMC?

But, you would see deer on your runway while landing or prior to T/O...

Looking down while landing is a bit challenging.

Check the range that it sees. This will relate to how often you would need to include this screen in your scan.

Synthetic Vision would see more for longer distances to help avoid mountain houses.

A few thoughts,

-a-

[Marauder]

I don't know what you would see while flying... Other planes? A mountain house?

Or is this a defense mechanism for Single Engine engine out operations in IMC?

But, you would see deer on your runway while landing or prior to T/O...

Looking down while landing is a bit challenging.

Check the range that it sees. This will relate to how often you would need to include this screen in your scan.

Synthetic Vision would see more for longer distances to help avoid mountain houses.

A few thoughts,

-a-

Think about the Beech accident. Wonder if he were using a system like this if it would have helped avoid the house?

[carusoam]

Chris,

You may have physically (?) missed a point, because of the way I was writing...

Refer to defense mechanism above.

I was writing and thinking and checking the website iteratively.

Initially I saw the need to avoid the lawn tractor in the hangar and other planes on the ramp.

Then I thought deeper. What would make a guy with an A36’s engine want to see a house on the ground in IMC?

Then, bingo! I added the defense line....

I'm still getting questions from my family in that area... What happened/how to avoid...?

A36s are listed to have a version of the IO550. According to the paper, their engine had a hole in it...

Best regards,

-a-

[kmyfm20s]

I looked at some YouTube videos and it looked impressive. Night and light fog was great. Thick clouds no good and really wet environment possibly not so great as mentioned above. I was looking at these before because as winter comes I will be taking off during daylight hours and landing after dark. Currently I'm taking off and landing through an overcast layer and would effectively make the ceiling higher. In regards to the recent crash I feel like this could have given that family a good chance of not hitting the house.

[Piloto]

Where EVS makes a difference vs. SVS is when you need to land on a road or a clear spot at night due to an emergency or mission requirements (military). It will also show obstacles at night. But you are better off with terrain maps on your GPS than with EVS when avoiding terrain.

José