From the tradeshow floor of Helitech International, Aviation Specialties Unlimited Inc. (ASU) of Idaho, USA and U.K.-based operator and support organization, Specialist Aviation Services Ltd (SAS) announced the appointment of SAS as a dealer and service center for ASU’s aviation night vision goggles, NVIS lighting solutions, crewmember training programs and other products.
As more European HEMS operators seek to improve their capability while operating during hours of darkness, SAS is setting up its own NVG operation and servicing capability at its Gloucestershire, U.K.-based headquarters. SAS will take on the role of regional distributor for ASU, which includes the U.K. and Ireland.
“We selected SAS as our partner for the United Kingdom and Ireland because of their demonstrated capability and experience,” said ASU president Jim Winkel. “Our strategic relationship with SAS will enable customers to receive quality sales, service and operational support, all within the same time zone.”
SAS has been equipping aircraft for NVIS and providing night HEMS services since 2012. During this period SAS has undertaken extensive evaluations of commercially available NVGs prior to adopting ASU ANVIS 9 white phosphor goggles as its standard. It will have 20 sets of goggles in service by this autumn.
According to SAS flight operations director, Capt. Dave Burgess: “The ANVIS 9 goggles have the highest quality resolution and image intensity for any commercially available NVGs and we believe that the black and white images generated by white phosphor goggles provide the most natural view and one which crews find easiest to adapt to. We will now be able to service our own goggles in house and we will also be able to offer the same facility to third party operators this side of the Atlantic.”
ASU and SAS are both exhibiting at Helitech International 2015 at stand D46 and J50. For more information about ASU visit www.asu-nvg.com. For more information about SAS visit www.specialist-aviation.com
