Medi Flight goes green at night
Oklahoma City-based Medi Flight is the first medical helicopter service in the state to equip its fleet of helicopters with night vision goggles.
Several Medi Flight pilots have been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration to use the state-of-the-art ITT ANVIS-9 Aviator Night Vision Imaging Systems. The other pilots will be certified during the next several weeks.
The United States military uses the same night vision technology.
“Not only do the goggles allow our pilots to fly more safely throughout the night, but they also let them locate and safely land at dark emergency response scenes,” Medi Flight director Marvin McLellan said. “With this advantage we can travel faster, land more quickly and get the patients off the ground and to the appropriate hospital with less delay. In a critical situation speed equals saved lives.”
Medi Flight, in existence for 27 years, conducts more than 5,000 flights a year and 1,500 of those are at night.
“It’s like a little visible green window to let you see through a dark, dark world,” said Bryan Palmer, Medi Flight pilot and program aviation manager. “Safety for our patients, our crew and the first responders at a scene has always been our top priority. The (night goggles) will save and protect lives in Oklahoma.”
Medi Flight’s base is at the Trauma One Center at OU Medical Center. It has satellite bases in Chickasha and Seminole.
Medi Flight has flown more than 4.5 million miles and carried more than 37,000 critically ill and injured patients, officials said.
Frequently asked questions:
How do the night vision goggles work?
Night vision goggles contain an image intensifier tube which senses the smallest amount of light in the night sky using the moon and stars and converts the light energy into electrical energy. The energy exits the tube and passes through a thin small disk called a “microchannel plate.” As electrons bounce off the channels in the plate, more electrons are released resulting in thousands of electrons. Electrons strike the phosphor screen similar to a small television screen, resulting in the release of photons (energy that “glows green”). The small amount of light has been greatly intensified to a visible level of brightness. The user sees the intensified image on the screen.
How far can you see using night vision goggles?
Many factors determine how far a user can see using night vision goggles. Those factors include the type of goggle used, the size of the objects in the viewing area and the level of darkness. Generally, unless goggles are equipped with a special magnification lens, distance is viewed normally. For example, unaided night vision is 20/200 or less. With night vision goggles, vision is 20/20.
How much do night vision goggles cost?
Approximately $12,000 each plus the cost of training, certifications and helicopter cockpit modifications.
Brian Sargent
Staff Writer
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