News & Information

Even though you might NOT see yourself from your current professional or student position as an Airborne Sensor Operator (ASO), see if you’re an Airborne Sensor Operator in this Q&A:

Q1: Is my primary profession (.e.g. Archeologist, Police Officer, Student, Photographer, ISR Imagery Analysis, Land Surveyor, Fireman, Research Scientist, Realtor, Engineer, Powerline Inspector, GIS Analysis, etc.) other than a person solely (full-time) participating in aviation & aerial remote-sensing activity? Also, can aerial remote sensing capabilities support my primary professional goals & objectives?

Q2: Do I participate in Aerial Work flying activities with a Pilot-In-Command (PIC) of a manned or unmanned air vehicle and operate & collect data with remote-sensors and/or I’m both a PIC and sensor operator controlling an unmanned system to collect data?

Q3: Does my participation in an aviation activity as a crew member or team member (manned & unmanned) could affect the safety of an aircraft conducting a flight and the results of the data collected? 

If you answered YES to the questions above, you’re an Airborne Sensor Operator! Because this profession is not well defined in the global academic, commercial and civil aviation administration communities (something ASOG is trying to change), it could be confusing to see yourself as an Aerial Work crew member. There’re many non-flying professionals who drive their car to an airport with the intent to fly & collect data or participate on a sUAS crew who are working as an aircrew member vs. a hybrid-passenger! Bottom-line, the Airborne Sensor Operator profession consists of both full-time & part-time Airborne Sensor Operator professionals.

Either full-time or part-time, the following recommended standards will round-out your professional skills and improve the quality of your aviation participation and data collection activities:

General Responsibilities - Airborne Sensor Operators should:

• Approach flying with seriousness and diligence,
• seek excellence in airmanship,
• develop and exercise good judgment and sound principles of aeronautical decision-making,
• recognize and manage risks effectively, and use sound principles of risk management,
• maintain situational awareness, and adhere to prudent operating practices and personal operating parameters (e.g., minimums),
• act with responsibility and courtesy, and
• adhere to applicable laws and regulations.

Crewmembers, Passengers or People In Your Area of Operations - Airborne Sensor Operators should:

• Maintain a professional crew member mindset at all times (vs. Passenger mindset),
• keep your fellow crewmembers, passengers or people in your area of operations as safe as possible,
• act professionally towards your crew members, passengers or people in your area of operations and practice the principles of Crew Resource Management,
• seek to prevent unsafe conduct by crew members, passengers or people in your area of operations, and
• avoid operations that may alarm, disturb, or endanger crewmembers, passengers or people in your area of operations or people on the surface.

Training and Proficiency - Airborne Sensor Operators should:

• participate in regular recurrent training to maintain and improve proficiency beyond legal or professional requirements,
• participate in flight safety & remote-sensing education programs,
• remain vigilant and avoid complacency,
• train to recognize and deal effectively with emergencies & collection system failures,
• prepare for and review each lesson carefully, and
• maintain an accurate log to satisfy your training and currency requirements.

Use of Technology - Airborne Sensor Operators should:

• become familiar with and properly use appropriate aviation & remote-sensing technologies,
• Invest in new technologies that advance flight safety & remote-sensing. Learn and understand the features, limitations, and proper use of such technologies,
• carry redundant systems and equipment and use them in appropriate circumstances,
• maintain basic flying and remote-sensing skills to enhance safety in the event of failure or absence of advanced instrument displays or automation, and
• use flight simulators and training devices as available and appropriate.

After reading this post and you believe you meet the definition and standards of an Airborne Sensor Operator (even as a secondary profession or duty), Airborne Sensor Operator Group (ASOG) welcomes you to the community. So get out there and “kick the tires, light the fire and you’re cleared to cut.” But most of all be safe and enjoy being an Airborne Sensor Operator!

If you’re interested in furthering the ASO profession and want additional information regarding ASOG & its mission, you can find us at www.aso-group.ning.com or if you’re reading this post on our webpage, click the “Sign-Up” button.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick Ryan)

Are you logging your flight time? If not, you should be!

As a professional aviator and aerial sensor operator, it doesn’t matter what type of aerial platform you fly, be it fixed or rotary wing, manned or unmanned, tethered or free flight, you should be logging your flight time. It’s not just a pilot thing!

As a professional aircrew member, you should track your flight time because it represents you as a professional aviator, documents your skill set, and reflects your personality. It is attention to detail.  Even if airborne sensing is a secondary duty (your primary job is an archeologist, utility-line inspector, research scientist, etc. but fly & sense regularly to support that primary job), you should be logging your flight time.

First, it shows accountability and competence. Your logbook demonstrates and documents how many hours and experiences you have under your belt. It shows others you know your profession, and that you’re a competent aircrew member with a solid foundation. It can help in gaining access to training and certification programs, support your employers grant or contract proposals with solid data, or assist in documenting potential legal matters relating to flight mishaps or equipment damage. You have physical evidence that you are a competent, professional aircrew member that knows what you are doing.

Second, as a professional aviator, you need this for career development and self-evaluation.  As a doctor friend of mine once said, “If you didn’t write it down, it never happened”.  Having a log assists in tracking of upcoming requirements (flight physical exams, check-rides, annual training), as well as providing the 5 W’s (Who, What, Where, When, and Why) of the mission. Additionally, it will help you to record any training you have accomplished (be it certification or OJT) regarding aircraft, sensors, TTP (Tactics, Techniques & Procedures), communication systems, and data processing hardware/software systems. By writing it down, a log provides a well-documented, official record to help you to compare your current level of experience & knowledge against current trends in your industry sector, identify potential gaps in training or experience, and provide a roadmap for your professional development.

Finally, it can help you get promoted at your current job or help you find a new position! Having a professional ASO flight log will help you communicate in a factual way to your current and future employers that you’re the right person for the job. It showcases you as a professional aviator and sensor operator quantitatively defines your skill set, and reinforces your professional personality. Having a well-maintained flight log will help you when it comes time to prepare annual evaluations in your current job or write your resume or CV. If your log is current, it makes it that much easier to write that evaluation or job winning resume or CV.

Now that we talked about the “why ” let’s talk about the “what” and “how” of logging your flight information, what information should be in your log book?

Since the ASO profession lacks formalization, there is no set global “standard” on “what” is required in an ASO Aircrew Log Book. My recommendations, based on field experience are:

• Record of Flight Physicals, Medical Exams, and Altitude Chamber (if required)

• Record of Qualifications and Renewals (Check rides, Instructor certifications)

• Other required annual training (CRM, Risk Management, Survival, etc.)

• Record of Flying Hours

• Flight Date

• Takeoff and Landing times

• Flight Location (Arrival/Departure airfields, working area)

• Aircraft Type & Registration

• Aircrew Duties & Position (Mission op, Instructor, Evaluator)

• Flight Details (Mission type, Day/Night, Weather conditions, etc.)

• Sensor & Systems Details (Type sensor, Data-Links, etc.)

• PIC/Other Crewmembers

• Comments & Notes

• Flight Hours (mission and cumulative)

• Summary of Monthly and Grand Totals

Again, if you have any other recommendations from experience, please share with the group.

Now that we have an outline of what to record, the final question is “how.” Like I said before, the aviation community has not invested much in our profession; We are defining it as we go. There are not many “off-the-shelf” products (paper or electronic) available for ASO use. For now, use a pilot or generic aircrew log and manipulate the categories to meet your needs, or produce an excel spreadsheet. The situation is not optimal, but for now, it gets the job done.

However, I would like to challenge the ASOG community to do better. If you ever had a dream of publishing a book or developing an app, here’s your chance to fill a need. Now that there’s a growing group of us, I would think a smart and energetic individual could produce a paper and electronic product focused on the ASO professional community. If someone does, let me know, we’ll use the ASOG network to get the word out. Plus, we could even beta-test it for you! What do you think?

Are you logging your flight time and experiences? If you’re not writing it down, it never happened.