Tue, Dec 21, 2010
Agency Said Many Operators May Not Be Performing Adequate
Maintenance
The FAA released a SAFO on Dec 15 to notify operators of
aircraft equipped with a Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) of
potential deficiencies in the configuration and condition of
installed NVIS equipment. The safety alert warns "many operators of
NVIS-equipped aircraft may not be adequately meeting the inspection
and maintenance requirements of NVISs."
NVGsafety.com - an online resource site for Night Vision Goggle
(NVG) safety and education - has posted the SAFO 10022 bulletin,
along with complementary information (NVG maintenance regulations,
articles and resources) to assist organizations understand and
respond to related night vision program management issues.
The FAA findings are the result of a recent FAA's Aviation
Safety (AVS) nation-wide sampling of NVIS-equipped aircraft.
FAA teams, made up of Flight Standards Service (AFS) inspectors and
Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) inspectors/engineers,
discovered that NVIS-equipped aircraft were frequently out of
compliance with FAA NVIS requirements.
The FAA has determined it is likely that other NVIS-equipped
aircraft may not be properly configured or maintained for NVG
operations. They determined that "the likelihood of configuration
and maintenance problems increases as aircraft continue in service
after NVIS modifications". The bulletin warns "many operators of
NVIS-equipped aircraft may not be adequately meeting the inspection
and maintenance requirements of NVISs."
Non-compliance to NVIS maintenance regulations is a critical
safety issue and failure to properly maintain an aircraft's NVIS
configuration and equipment can degrade NVG acuity and prevent the
flight-crew from clearly seeing aircraft instrumentation. As noted
in the bulletin "an aircraft that does not comply with the STC
and/or ICA requirements, or that has inoperative or improperly
maintained equipment, should not be operated until corrective
action has been taken."
The FAA SAFO maintenance bulletin outlines the primary reasons
that NVIS-equipped aircraft were frequently out of compliance and
provides key guidance on how to resolve these issues.
More News
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The T-6 Racing Association The T-6 Racing Association is all about T-6‘s and racing. Our mission is to bring great racing to our fans in Reno and other venues wher>[...]
Also: Electra Aero, AMO-CBP v Smugglers, Naval King Airs, Boeing Deal To the surprise of everyone involved, Waco Kitchen shut down both airport operations with little warning and h>[...]
Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]
Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]