4 ms·

> I'm surprised that remote video cameras aren't used by tower controllers. I'm surprised that forward-looking infrared cameras aren't more commonly used in ci

by zkms 8y ago

> I'm surprised that remote video cameras aren't used by tower controllers. I'm surprised that forward-looking infrared cameras aren't more commonly used in civilian aircraft, especially given the availability of staring arrays with decent resolution/framerate that don't require cooling. Even without the requisite certification for use as a for-realsies landing aid, it's nevertheless a useful tool to get situational awareness in inclement weather / at night.

outworlder 8y ago
They are more commonly found aboard 'experimental' aircraft because of the certification issues you pointed out.
- DuskStar 8y ago
  And high-performance infrared cameras are also probably one of those things that end up on arms control lists. (Since it's not just useful for spotting planes on your "runway", but also for spotting tanks or people on your hill requesting an ordnance delivery)
  - bigiain 8y ago
    I have several of these emails (when ordering to Australia): Hello, Your recent SparkFun order contains 1x KIT-13233: FLiR Dev Kit. This item is export controlled by the United States government. By law, we are required to gather the following information from you as the importer: 1) Do you intend to sell or send this item to anyone in any of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria? 2) Will this be used in any military applications? 3) Will you be the ultimate end user of this item? If no, please go to 3.a. 3.a) If you are not the end user, who will this item be sold or transferred to? Please include full name, physical address, end use and confirmation that they will not sell or transfer this item to any party in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria. 4) What is the end use of this item? 5) Where is the location where the item will be used? Response to all five questions is necessary before we are able to ship your order. If we don’t hear back from you within one week, your order will need to be canceled.Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you have a great day!
    - semi-extrinsic 8y ago
      I've had this exact one for all sorts of kit. Digital pressure regulators, optics alignment hardware, etc.
kejaed 8y ago
In aviation these are called Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) cameras and when paired with a Head Up Display (HUD) are called Enhanced Floght Vision Systems (EFVS). EFVS give ‘credit’ to land in bad weather using the camera and display to see the runway. Anyways, in the last couple years the FAA has changed the regulations to allow EFVS for credit on Part 121 (passenger aircraft), you can read the rulemaking change proposal that was implemented [0]. The generation of camera that existed at the time of this rulemaking was generally a cryogenically cooled InSb sensor type. The main (certified for credit) cameras here were the CMA-2600/2700 from CMC Electronics (I worked on these) and the Kollsman EVS I and II. These were mostly on BizJets before the rules were changed , except for the FedEx fleet that had an exemption. As the rules were changed, airport lighting started to change form incandescent to LED, which made those expensive and heavy InSb cameras useless at seeing the approach lights in bad weather. Over the years microbilometer LWIR tech has improved, and while they won’t help you see any lighting at all, LWIR sensors will help you see the ground and have better weather penetration than other wavelengths. All that leads to the next gen of cameras being fused multi sensor cameras, 2,3, or even 4 sensors. Rockwell Collins EVS-300 and Elbit’s Clearvision EVS are examples. The non-certified for credit systems have mostly used microbolometers over the years although some have used SWIR sensors as well. As others have said the ITAR comes into play with anything approaching usable frame rates and resolution, although these are being slightly relaxed. Also, don’t buy American and you don’t have this problem. After camera-based systems they are database driven Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) that would have helped greatly in this particular near disaster. Then you can get even fancier and fuse synthetic with infrared to get a Combined Vision System (EVS + SVS = CVS), while Elbit and Rockwell offer. Sometimes I miss working on these vision systems. [0] https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/06/11/2013-13454/revisions-to-operational-requirements-for-the-use-of-enhanced-flight-vision-systems-efvs-and-to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/06/11/2013-13...

by zkms 8y ago

outworlder 8y ago

They are more commonly found aboard 'experimental' aircraft because of the certification issues you pointed out.

DuskStar 8y ago
And high-performance infrared cameras are also probably one of those things that end up on arms control lists. (Since it's not just useful for spotting planes on your "runway", but also for spotting tanks or people on your hill requesting an ordnance delivery)
- bigiain 8y ago
  I have several of these emails (when ordering to Australia): Hello, Your recent SparkFun order contains 1x KIT-13233: FLiR Dev Kit. This item is export controlled by the United States government. By law, we are required to gather the following information from you as the importer: 1) Do you intend to sell or send this item to anyone in any of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria? 2) Will this be used in any military applications? 3) Will you be the ultimate end user of this item? If no, please go to 3.a. 3.a) If you are not the end user, who will this item be sold or transferred to? Please include full name, physical address, end use and confirmation that they will not sell or transfer this item to any party in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria. 4) What is the end use of this item? 5) Where is the location where the item will be used? Response to all five questions is necessary before we are able to ship your order. If we don’t hear back from you within one week, your order will need to be canceled.Please let me know if you have any questions. I hope you have a great day!
  - semi-extrinsic 8y ago
    I've had this exact one for all sorts of kit. Digital pressure regulators, optics alignment hardware, etc.

kejaed 8y ago

In aviation these are called Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) cameras and when paired with a Head Up Display (HUD) are called Enhanced Floght Vision Systems (EFVS). EFVS give ‘credit’ to land in bad weather using the camera and display to see the runway. Anyways, in the last couple years the FAA has changed the regulations to allow EFVS for credit on Part 121 (passenger aircraft), you can read the rulemaking change proposal that was implemented [0]. The generation of camera that existed at the time of this rulemaking was generally a cryogenically cooled InSb sensor type. The main (certified for credit) cameras here were the CMA-2600/2700 from CMC Electronics (I worked on these) and the Kollsman EVS I and II. These were mostly on BizJets before the rules were changed , except for the FedEx fleet that had an exemption. As the rules were changed, airport lighting started to change form incandescent to LED, which made those expensive and heavy InSb cameras useless at seeing the approach lights in bad weather. Over the years microbilometer LWIR tech has improved, and while they won’t help you see any lighting at all, LWIR sensors will help you see the ground and have better weather penetration than other wavelengths. All that leads to the next gen of cameras being fused multi sensor cameras, 2,3, or even 4 sensors. Rockwell Collins EVS-300 and Elbit’s Clearvision EVS are examples. The non-certified for credit systems have mostly used microbolometers over the years although some have used SWIR sensors as well. As others have said the ITAR comes into play with anything approaching usable frame rates and resolution, although these are being slightly relaxed. Also, don’t buy American and you don’t have this problem. After camera-based systems they are database driven Synthetic Vision Systems (SVS) that would have helped greatly in this particular near disaster. Then you can get even fancier and fuse synthetic with infrared to get a Combined Vision System (EVS + SVS = CVS), while Elbit and Rockwell offer. Sometimes I miss working on these vision systems. [0] https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/06/11/2013-13454/revisions-to-operational-requirements-for-the-use-of-enhanced-flight-vision-systems-efvs-and-to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/06/11/2013-13...