EASA SIB 2021-04
New Noga Light Ltd NL-93 Night Vision Goggles — Replacement
Summary
EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2021-04 is an airworthiness bulletin addressing the replacement of New Noga Light Ltd NL-93 Night Vision Goggles (NVG) used on helicopters with Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) certification. It highlights concerns about the replacement of NL-93 NVGs with Binimon (A) NVGs by Meprolight Ltd, the current manufacturer. The bulletin applies to all helicopters certified for NVIS and equipped with the NL-93 model.
What Changed
This bulletin informs that Meprolight Ltd has discontinued the NL-93 NVG production and is replacing them with Binimon (A) NVGs during maintenance or repair. EASA has found that Binimon (A) NVGs differ in physical and optical characteristics from the NL-93 and identified deficiencies in their maintenance documentation and optical performance. EASA currently does not authorize the use of Binimon (A) NVGs on NVIS certified helicopters due to insufficient compliance evidence.
Why It Matters
This information is critical for operators and maintenance organizations as using unauthorized NVGs like the Binimon (A) may compromise NVIS airworthiness certification and flight safety. The lack of clear maintenance criteria and potential optical performance degradation could affect pilot vision during night operations. Compliance teams must ensure only approved NVGs listed in the Rotorcraft Flight Manual are used to maintain regulatory compliance and safety standards.
What To Do
Operators and aircraft owners should use only NVGs explicitly listed in the Rotorcraft Flight Manual Limitations Section to ensure continued NVIS certification validity. If Binimon (A) NVGs are provided as replacements and no authorized NVGs are available, operators should contact the helicopter design approval holder to request inclusion of these NVGs via a Type Certificate or Supplemental Type Certificate change. Ongoing risk assessments may lead to future airworthiness directives, so stakeholders should monitor EASA communications.