What makes heliport lights NVG-compatible?
Controlled spectrum and brightness, so lights stay crisp through night vision goggles instead of blooming.
Night vision goggles (NVGs) amplify faint light, including near-infrared the eye cannot see. An ordinary bright light can overload the goggles, so it blooms into a large glare and the surface and markings around it fade from view.
NVG-compatible lights have a controlled spectrum, with little near-infrared, and controlled brightness, often with dimming. They are normally LED or filtered sources and stay visible to the naked eye. Floodlights are aimed and set the same way, and the layout should not depend on colour alone, because colour is harder to tell apart through goggles.
Crisp through the goggles, and still usable by pilots without them.
Seen only through goggles. For specialised use, not a general replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1What is NVG-compatible heliport lighting?
Heliport lights designed to work well with pilots wearing night vision goggles (NVGs). Their spectrum and brightness are controlled so they show as clear points through the goggles instead of glaring and hiding the surface.
Q2Why do ordinary lights cause trouble with NVGs?
Goggles amplify faint light, including near-infrared that the eye cannot see. A bright or infrared-rich light can overload them, so it blooms into a large glare and the surface and markings around it fade. The pilot may see the lights but lose the picture.
Q3How are NVG-compatible lights different?
They give out little near-infrared and their output is controlled, often with dimming so the level can be matched to the goggles. They are normally LED or filtered sources. They are still visible to the naked eye, so pilots without goggles can use them.
Q4Are infrared-only lights an alternative?
Some sites use lights that give out only infrared, which can be seen through goggles but not by the naked eye. They suit specialised or covert use and are not a general replacement, because pilots without goggles see nothing. Confirm what the operator needs.
Q5Does it affect floodlighting and markings too?
Yes. Floodlights are aimed and set so they do not bloom in the goggles, and the surface and markings must still read correctly. Colour discrimination is poorer through goggles, so the layout should not depend on colour alone.
Q6Which standards apply?
NVG compatibility is checked against a stated specification for spectrum and brightness, such as MIL-STD-3009 which is often cited, while ICAO Annex 14 Volume II covers heliport visual aids generally and does not itself set NVG spectral limits, so national heliport guidance and the operator's needs also apply. Requirements differ, so confirm against the standard in force and the operator's needs.
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