After six successful years, Aviation Specialties Unlimited, (ASU) completed their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) training contract this month. ASU provided both initial training and recurrent training to FAA Aviation Safety Inspectors (ASI) on the use of night vision goggles.

During the six-year time span 1,015 flight hours and 956 academic hours were completed. ASU provided initial training to 87 ASI’s and recurrent training to 70 ASI’s. Palm Beach Helicopters was the successful bidder for the new contract.

“ASU would like to congratulate Palm Beach Helicopters on their successful award,” said ASU Founder Mike Atwood. “It has been a great six years and we would like to thank all of the FAA personnel that attended our course for their experience exchange and professionalism. We wish you all the best in the future.”

ASU’s training took place in Boise, Idaho in the high desert mountains and in remote areas where low-light condition made it ideal for training and closely matched the environments that the majority of EMS operations are conducted in . ASI’s experienced first –hand how night vision goggles enhance pilots’ abilities to identify obstacles, identify safe landing areas and how to enhance operational safety using the goggles. ASU has trained pilots from all over the world. Since ASU began training, they have trained more than 2000 pilots.

“Our mission at ASU has always been to raise the bar on safety in the aviation industry. At ASU we helped pioneer the use of night vision goggles in the civilian market to include emergency medical services, law enforcement and search and rescue units in North America and throughout other parts of the world more than 17 years ago. We hope our services over the last six years helped pave the way for the FAA’s ASI’s to further their mission of safety also,” said Atwood.

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About ASU
Since 1995, ASU’s goal has been to implement night vision in the civil aviation market to increase operational safety and improve mission capabilities. Our focus is on providing a turnkey solution to our customers so that with one call they can obtain:
· Night vision goggles and replacement parts
· Service/inspection for goggles
· NVG cockpit lighting solutions, installed by our FAA-approved 145 repair station technicians at our facility in Boise, Idaho, or at the customer’s facility
· Cockpit replacement parts provided by our FAA-approved PMA
· Initial and recurrent training for flight crews on the use of night vision via an FAA-approved 141 Training Program and/or 135 Air Operator Certificate
· Assistance in establishing Night Vision Programs.
To date, ASU has completed more than 700 aircraft STC installations and sold over 2,500 aviator systems here in the U.S. ASU has trained more than 2000 pilots.