The term "Pilot Error" is a well-known term in the aviation community. However, what is "Airborne Sensor Operator" and "Aircrew Error"?
ASOG Focus Area | Aviation Safety
Source | ASOG Safety Center
Pilot errors, Airborne Sensor Operator (ASO) errors, and Aircrew errors all refer to mistakes made within the context of aviation but involve different roles and responsibilities.
Pilot Error
Definition - Pilot error refers specifically to mistakes made by the pilot(s) operating an aircraft. These errors can involve misjudgment, improper aircraft handling, incorrect decision-making, or failure to adhere to standard operating procedures.
Responsibility - Pilots are directly responsible for flying the aircraft, navigating, taking off, and landing, and ensuring the overall safety and control of the flight. Errors within this category pertain to the pilots' actions or decisions during their duties.
Airborne Sensor Operator Error
Definition - An airborne sensor operator error refers specifically to mistakes made by individuals operating specialized sensors and equipment on board an aircraft. These errors involve mishandling or misinterpreting data collected by sensors or improperly operating the equipment.
Responsibility - Sensor operators manage and operate sensors, cameras, radar, or other equipment used for specific tasks like surveillance, reconnaissance, or data collection. Errors might involve misinterpreting data, incorrectly adjusting equipment settings, or overlooking crucial information during operational tasks.
Aircrew Error
Definition - Aircrew error is a broader term encompassing mistakes made by any member of the crew on board an aircraft. This term includes pilots, Co-Pilots, Airborne Sensor Operators, Flight paramedics, and any other personnel serving specific roles during a flight.
Responsibility - Aircrew error extends beyond pilot errors, encompassing a more comprehensive array of potential mistakes. It might involve communication breakdowns, coordination issues between crew members, procedural errors in tasks beyond piloting, and other collaborative tasks necessary for safe flight operations.
Conclusion
To bring it all together, pilot error is related to errors made by those specifically flying the aircraft, aircrew error encompasses mistakes made by any crew member, and airborne sensor operator error involves mistakes made by individuals operating specialized sensors and equipment aboard the aircraft for data collection or monitoring purposes. As you can see, each category denotes different roles and responsibilities within the aviation environment.
Either way, errors made from any specific aircrew position in the aircraft can lead to a possible "Chain of Events" that can result in mission failure or, worse, an aviation accident. Understanding your role & responsibilities is critical, and understanding (and supporting) your fellow aircrew member's roles & responsibilities is part of any aircrew member's professional duty & development.
Comments
Thank you David Bradshaw From your Pilot and ASO experience, what do you recommend for future articles we can write about?
Great article! Having been, and continuing to be, both a sensor operator and a pilot (and made plenty of errors in both roles), I know the value of identifying errors, analysing them, finding ways to do better, and moving on. Military crew debriefs seen from the outside probably appear blunt and brutal, but that's the way we are taught, to confront error head on and move on.
As a fellow here in SA says, "always a little better", or as one of my TACCOs used to put it, "struggle less than yesterday."