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If you have some years and flight hours under your belt as an ASO (both manned and unmanned), you’ll know not all ASO Instructors are the same. In a very simple or broad breakout, one can categorize the different types of Instructors as "the good, the bad and the ugly!"

Let’s start with the ugly or what I like to call the “SCREAMER.”  In general, the screamer is abrasive, abusive, stern, excitable, condescending, or foul-mouthed. Their attitude and behavior are counter to all the basic principles of flight (and technical) instructing. Their oblivious to the needs of the student and how their negative behavior affects everything from the student, crew and flight section. I’m sure all of us can look through your flight log and point to a few names!

A bad ASO Instructor is the individual who is good or even outstanding as a stand-alone Mark-1 ASO plus an individual you can have fun drinking a beer with. However, they either don’t have the natural ability, motivation or proper training to instruct others. In the end, the student says “nice guy but I didn’t learn anything!”

O.K., now for the good ASO Instructor, a good ASO instructor is very proficient as an ASO and enjoys or even loves instructing! Here’s a list of traits that I think highlights a good ASO Instructor:

• Attitude – Love of profession and love for teaching.
• Disciplined – Observing regulations and standards, i.e., a good role model.
• Certified – His or her hard work, experience, and technical skills are validated by other professionals.
• Teaching Abilities – Understand each student learns differently, i.e., knowing different instructing methods.
• Tough Love “Tough Coddling” – Like a parent, doesn’t coddle their students but lets them learn from their mistakes.
• Mentoring – Goes beyond just instructing technical modules but share the art & spirit of being an Airborne Sensor Operator.

If you find yourself as a professional ASO or even a secondary professional ASO instructing others but have never learned the trade of instructing, here’s one free open source for you to do a little self-professional development: FAA Aviation Instructors Handbook.

If you know of any instructor traits (the good, the bad and the ugly) that I missed or an example, please comment.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick Ryan)

ASOG Members, can you add to this.

Yes, ASOs and other Crewmembers are not the PIC (Pilot-In-Command), but, ASOs (in Manned & Unmanned Crews) still have a critical job in aviation operations. Are the following 8 points good to pass to the next generation of ASO’s?

1. Learn and observe with your Crew. You will see very good traits, some marginal and some bad ones. Pay attention to the good ones, and in the future, this will make a major difference in your career.

2. If you have a big ego, you probably going to have a hard time being an ASO, because your ego will be bruised and tested by different PICs (or other crewmembers). When the PIC points out something to you, don’t say – “yes I was about to do it” – or say – “right,” like if you were testing the PIC’s knowledge.

3. Don’t burn bridges, in the Manned & Unmanned Airborne/Aerial Remote-Sensing industry (Surveying, LE, ISR, ) you will need of all the friends you can make. The guy sitting in the cockpit or next to you in an Unmanned Ground Crew can be the one opening the door to your next job.

4. An aircraft’s cockpit or integrated unmanned ground crew is not a good place to be shy, ask questions to clarify that you don’t understand, be respectful but express your opinions, ideas, and concerns in a clear manner.

5. The most stupid question that you can ask in an airplane or during an unmanned flight operation is the one you don’t ask. Be willing to ask, if the PIC or fellow crew members don’t know the answer, then go to the source and learn together.

6. Don’t mix personal interest with the job at hand, like intensely hanging-out with other crewmembers or talking with a friend on the phone while you’re in the middle of flight operations.

7. Keep professional a 100% of the time, always be on time for your flight and if for some reason you’re delayed, call your supervisor, and let them know you care about your responsibilities.

MOST IMPORTANT: If you see a potential danger to the safety of the flight, don’t hesitate to speak up, or even act. If the PIC is smart (and most of them are), his or her response will be: Thank you!

Patrick Ryan