In the flight training world, view-limiting devices (VLDs or hoods) haven’t changed much, and arguably most get the job done if you resist the temptation to sneak an occasional peak to the outside.
But Nick Sinopoli, a tech-savvy military helicopter pilot who lost a friend in an IMC wreck, believes the simple instrument hood can be better. He founded ICARUS Devices and he patented the smart VLD—a multi-piece system that allows the instructor to digitally control the view inside a see-through visor to more realistically simulate a trip through the clag. We took a look.