Thanks to all for the replies. Schnugg, I'll see if I can get the BASH desk tomorrow.
Adding to what Gatordev and exhelodrvr said, let me threadjack myself. At San Diego Sheriff's Aviation I think the visor issue may be more important to us than most because we typically fly in the single pilot configuration with the MD-500 and Bell 407 meaning no cyclic or pedals on the TFO (tactical flight officer) side in the MD-500 and no cyclic, pedals or collective on the TFO side in the Bell 407. Therefore, if the pilot eats feathers, there is nobody sitting nearby to take the controls. The Bell 205 (Huey) has full time duals.
Because I know some of you are certainly wondering why we would fly without dual controls (I would) I?ll explain. We are somewhat of a unique law enforcement aviation unit due to the amount of off-field work we do including night ops in the mountains. A large percentage of our off-field work involves the TFO debarking while the pilot maintains a ?toe-in? or ?one-skid? hover. Doing this with the controls in place invites disaster. I?ll be the first to admit I?m a bull in a china shop. My helmet is severely battle scarred from just getting in and out of the helicopter on a daily basis. In addition, on the TFO side of the cockpit is a monitor and associated keyboard which must be stowed with dual controls installed and the pre WWII searchlight installed on most of our MD-500s is hand operated by the TFO with the hand controller directly in front of where the cyclic would be.
On one of our many marijuana eradication details, I was dropping off and picking up about 15 narcotics agents in a canyon near Hot Springs Mountain in San Diego County, about 3 miles east of Warner Springs SERE. The agents were familiar with helo ops and were briefed on the ?dos and don?ts? before the evolution. Each pick up and drop off involved a ?toe in.? One of the agents who got into the right front seat (MD-500) pushed down on the collective to help himself adjust his seating position before I departed the ?toe-in.? Thankfully I was prepared for somebody to do this. Some of those boys were rather beefy and there is no way they would have maneuvered around a cyclic.
We also sometimes load rescuees into the front seat with the TFO staying behind depending on the situation.
As far as the NVGs go, we use them religiously (ANVIS-9). Depending on what mount I end up with, I can sometimes get my clear visor down in front of the goggles but mostly not. I wonder what kind of protection they would offer from bird strike. It?s a sobering thought.
With the cyclic out of the MD-500 and the pedals removed I think there may still be hope with a pilot in the left seat who has a turkey buzzard sticking out of his face. I have experimented with using an expandable baton (ASP), to put into the slot where the cyclic goes. A long shot at best.
A couple years ago I asked the folks at Approach if they could put us on the distribution list but no joy. I do seem to remember an old issue, maybe early 90?s, which had a visor safety article with picture of a pen sticking out of a visor. If I remember correctly, it got lodged there during a cat shot?
Great story about the turkey buzzard and T-34 collision.
