Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) play a crucial role in enhancing aviation safety and navigation in commercial aircraft. These systems integrate aircraft-based sensors, such as near-infrared cameras and millimeter wave radar, to provide vision in limited visibility environments. EVS significantly enhances pilot situational awareness during poor weather conditions, haze, and at night, making it an essential technology for commercial jets.
Gulfstream Aerospace, an industry leader, pioneered the civil certification of EVS and has successfully incorporated it into their aircraft models like the Gulfstream V, G550, G450, and G650. Other prominent aircraft manufacturers such as Bombardier, Dassault, and Boeing have also embraced EVS in their business jet products.
These systems add an infrared camera that is mounted in the aircraft’s nose and display a raster image on the Heads-Up Display (HUD). This allows pilots to seamlessly transition between the IR camera image and the outside world as the aircraft gets closer to the runway. EVS greatly enhances safety during critical flight phases, especially during approach and landing, by providing early recognition of the runway environment and the ability to detect obstacles that may not be visible otherwise.
With the integration of enhanced vision systems in commercial aircraft, pilots can now have improved visibility and increased safety, ensuring smooth and secure navigation, even in challenging environmental conditions. By leveraging advanced technology, EVS contributes to the overall safety and reliability of commercial jets, offering peace of mind for both passengers and crew.
Infrared Technology Innovation for Enhanced Vision Systems
Enhanced Vision Systems incorporate specialized infrared imaging technology, with new-generation IR cameras operating in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrum. These SWIR sensors are tuned to the frequency of runway lights and are sensitive to the light in the surrounding environment. The nose-mounted IR camera sends a picture to the HUD combiner, providing the pilot with an accurate view in low visibility conditions.
EVS allows pilots to see runway markings, taxiways, adjacent highways, and the surrounding landscape, even in darkness or poor visibility conditions. This technology significantly improves the margin for error and helps prevent Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) incidents.
EVS II – Next Generation Enhanced Vision Systems
EVS II is the next generation Enhanced Vision System that enhances flight safety and pilot visibility, especially during flight operations in darkness, smoke, haze, rain, fog, and other low visibility conditions. It provides increased flight visibility, improving situational awareness for pilots.
EVS II adjusts to current conditions in real-time and maintains optimal detection capability, allowing pilots to identify runway lights and ground features at night and in low visibility conditions. The system works in conjunction with the aircraft’s Head-Up Display (HUD) and head-down display, and it complies with the Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) regulations set by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). EVS II can be installed on both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.
Enhanced Vision Systems Integration by Astronics
Astronics, a leading provider in aviation technology, specializes in the integration of enhanced vision systems to enhance safety and visibility for airframe OEMs and general aviation pilots. Their cutting-edge systems leverage advanced infrared sensors, signal processing, and state-of-the-art cockpit displays to improve visibility in challenging weather conditions, such as fog, smoke, precipitation, and darkness.
Designed with compactness, lightweightness, and reliability in mind, Astronics’ enhanced vision systems offer an affordable solution for both linefit and retrofit installations on various small fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft. Their systems comply with stringent safety regulations, ensuring optimum performance and peace of mind for pilots.
Astronics has obtained Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) for its enhanced vision systems on a wide range of aircraft models, including those from renowned manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing, Bell, Cessna, King Air, Leonardo, and Sikorsky. Deployed in critical missions such as search and rescue, firefighting, police operations, and construction, these systems greatly enhance visibility and safety for pilots and crew, helping them navigate through challenging environments with confidence.
