Rotorcraft
FAA Approves TSO for ASU Panoramic Night-vision Goggles
Lightweight white-phosphor NVG have a 94-degree field of view
Aviation Specialties Unlimited E3 PANO night vision goggles
© Aviation Specialties Unlimited

The FAA has approved Aviation Specialties Unlimited’s (ASU) lightweight E3 Panoramic night-vision goggles (NVG) as meeting the design and production minimum performance requirements under technical standard order C164c. 

A follow-on to ASU’s white-phosphor lightweight E3 NVG, the E3 Panoramic, with a 94-degree field of view, adds two more NVG tubes outboard of the center tubes that help the pilot employ peripheral vision with less head-turning, a critical factor in helicopter flight. The unit’s light weight of 660 grams (the baseline E3 weighs 390 grams) also helps reduce pilot fatigue. “This certification provides operators with next-generation panoramic night-vision capability designed to improve situational awareness and operational effectiveness in demanding flight environments,” according to ASU.