Sensors and targeting
Night vision (PNVS)
At night each crew member flies on a thermal picture in their monocle. It comes from the PNVS turret on top of the nose, or from the TADS FLIR.
The night vision system (NVS) puts a FLIR picture in your helmet display unit, under the flight symbology, so you can fly at night without night vision goggles. It moves with your head.
The NVS MODE switch
Each crew station has its own NVS MODE switch, on the left console. It steps OFF → NORM → FIXED → OFF.
| Position | Picture |
|---|---|
| OFF | None. |
| NORM | The sensor follows your head. |
| FIXED | The sensor looks straight ahead, 4.9° below the aircraft’s nose, whatever your head does. The HAD shows NVS FIXED. |
Stepping the switch can also be bound, in AH-64D Official Project: Cockpit Controls.
NORM needs the IHADSS helmet to follow your head. The monocle must be down to see the picture: see IHADSS.
Which sensor
Two sensors can give a night picture, and each crew station uses one of them:
| Sensor | Field of regard | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PNVS | 90° left and right, 20° up, 45° down | The pilot’s normal sensor. |
| TADS FLIR | 120° left and right, 30° up, 60° down | Held in the wide field of view while used this way. |
By default the CPG has the TADS and the pilot the PNVS. Either crew member can swap:
| Binding | Effect |
|---|---|
| NVS Select PNVSunbound | You take the PNVS; the other crew station gets the TADS. |
| NVS Select TADSunbound | You take the TADS; the other crew station gets the PNVS. |
The last selection made by either seat holds.
While the TADS is someone’s night vision sensor with their switch on, it is not a sight. The TADS sight, link, field of view, sensor and LMC keys do nothing, and the TADS stays on FLIR wide. When the pilot has the TADS, the CPG’s HAD shows PLT TADS.
Looking past a sensor’s limits makes the reticle flash and shows LIMITS on the HAD. A damaged PNVS shows NVS FAIL to the pilot.
Tips
- Use FIXED when you need a steady forward view, for example on a long approach, or when your head is busy looking elsewhere.
- The FLIR sees heat, not light. Cold terrain and water can look flat; use the radar altimeter and the TPM radar mode (Fire control radar) as well.
- The other crew member can watch your sensor’s picture on their VIDEO page: see VIDEO.