News & Information

ASOG Members,

The ASOG ASO Search and Rescue Working group just completed the 1st edition of the ASO Search and Rescue (Public Safety / Maritime / Fixed-Wing) Training Guide. As an ASOG member, you can “Log-In” and find the guide (and in the future other training guides) in the “Career Center/Training and Cert.” area of the website (which will link you to the final document developed in the working group).

As you know, one of ASOGs goals is to codify the standards, techniques and procedures across the different aerial work industry sectors related to the Airborne Sensor Operator position or profession. This is our first guide under the category of “ASO Training.” The intent of these guides is to “what to expect to study” fashion regarding general knowledge for fulfilling the responsibilities of a crewmember and a basic understanding of specific ASO operations. The means to obtain this knowledge can be accomplished via self-study (internet, books, etc.), learning from peers or by taking a course.

If you have any questions, inputs or comments regarding this guide, please send me a note. Our/your guides are living documents and have the Lat/Long space to change. If you are interested in developing a training guide on your specific ASO position, please let me know, we’ll get a working group started.

Before I close, I would like to recognize the members who led the way in developing this guide. Both members are truly Subject Matter Experts in both Maritime/SAR operations and training. Michael Sheehy and Glen Moratti, my hat is off to you! Super effort on taking time out of your busy schedules and sharing your top-level experience and knowledge with our global profession…”Good On You!”

Thank you Everyone!

Cheers!

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