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)

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...