It's all what you're used to. If I had to come to Oceana tomorrow and lead a division SES, my head might explode trying to negotiate "real" course rules again.
(Nothing specifically to you, just a general thing I notice with HS/HSC) I agree 95% of the time NVGs are better than not, but everyone should try unaided at times in a semi controlled environment to stay proficient.
Same/same for purposely doing an instrument hop into the clouds. I recently flew with a senior H2P who hadn't flown actual IMC since HTs. To say they were "rusty" would be an understatement. Hell, I wasn't that great either. Better to find out then than a stormy night behind the boat.
(Nothing specifically to you, just a general thing I notice with HS/HSC) I agree 95% of the time NVGs are better than not, but everyone should try unaided at times in a semi controlled environment to stay proficient.
Same/same for purposely doing an instrument hop into the clouds. I recently flew with a senior H2P who hadn't flown actual IMC since HTs. To say they were "rusty" would be an understatement. Hell, I wasn't that great either. Better to find out then than a stormy night behind the boat.
Maybe its a dumb question, but what would the scenario (other than you fucked up and didnt bring goggles) be that you would fly without goggles these days? Your NVDs go down and so does the backup? I feel like a lot of things would have to go wrong that you would have to fly unaided. Speaking from a junior pilot's perspective, where aided flying is still a growing skill, I think I would rather use those few hours unaided 'for proficiency' to further my proficiency aided.
I was in the habit of always taking NVDs if I was out on operational missions for the reasons you mention. There's little to no reason to not bring them. They're small, light, easy to Cary, and easy to store. You bring a flashlight with you all the time, why not NVDs?I'm preaching to the choir here, but you never know what stupidity might happen outside of home guard 2.5s. Lots of times you don't bring them on a simple day thing that goes sideways.
CCX ferry to AUTEC/Fallon/whatever? Get delayed in that second stop for a partially broken aircraft in your section, and all of a sudden your daytime flight pushes into night and you don't have NVDs. Or you did bring them, but are you going to wear them for the last 20 minutes of a 12 hour day that's technically after sunset.
Log run to tbe beach that gets rolled right. Are you going to RON on the beach because you didn't bring NVDs?
I get these are silly HAC board type questions, but they've happened to me or friends of mine. NVDs are a great tool and I'd never purposely do a night hop without them, but the helicopter won't burst into flames without them after the sun sets.
I was in the habit of always taking NVDs if I was out on operational missions for the reasons you mention. There's little to no reason to not bring them. They're small, light, easy to Cary, and easy to store. You bring a flashlight with you all the time, why not NVDs?
It sometimes got weird looks in the brief when I'd mention it but no one ever fought it.
Maybe its a dumb question, but what would the scenario (other than you fucked up and didnt bring goggles) be that you would fly without goggles these days? Your NVDs go down and so does the backup? I feel like a lot of things would have to go wrong that you would have to fly unaided. Speaking from a junior pilot's perspective, where aided flying is still a growing skill, I think I would rather use those few hours unaided 'for proficiency' to further my proficiency aided.
Do the HTs still do regular unaided training? When I went through 10 years ago it was only the last 10 hours of the HTs that was on goggles.
I'm preaching to the choir here, but you never know what stupidity might happen outside of home guard 2.5s. Lots of times you don't bring them on a simple day thing that goes sideways.
CCX ferry to AUTEC/Fallon/whatever? Get delayed in that second stop for a partially broken aircraft in your section, and all of a sudden your daytime flight pushes into night and you don't have NVDs. Or you did bring them, but are you going to wear them for the last 20 minutes of a 12 hour day that's technically after sunset.
Log run to tbe beach that gets rolled right. Are you going to RON on the beach because you didn't bring NVDs?
I get these are silly HAC board type questions, but they've happened to me or friends of mine. NVDs are a great tool and I'd never purposely do a night hop without them, but the helicopter won't burst into flames without them after the sun sets.
And everywhere elseHarrier guys use them at the boat.
@Randy Daytona
Oh, and straight TQ for vertrep.