News & Information

ASOG Article of the Month: October 2021

ASOG Author: Mark Smits (Originally published 4 April 2019, ASOG)

Every profession has its own unique aspects. If you want to know the unique aspects of the Airborne Sensor Operator profession, Mark Smits gives a great breakdown of our career's characteristics and what it’s like to be an ASO.

Here are some great reasons to pursue an Airborne Sensor Operations job and career:

The Pay – If you’re looking for a great opportunity for fresh out of high school, technical or trade school, an undergraduate or graduate program, second career, and military transition, there is very likely a flavor of Airborne Sensor Operations that is right for you! The field, and therefor pay and benefits is greatly varied, however, you can anywhere from a livable wage (at a minimum) to 6 figures depending on what you bring to the table, and what your risk tolerance is. I will say, if you’re in it mostly for the cash, then you will likely be disappointed. This mentality and others will show through eventually in the profession that is both demanding and team driven, and you’ll likely not hit this success criteria if it is your primary motivator.

The Intrigue – Most people, at the minimum understand that you can put a camera on an aircraft, or in space, or on a boat, and these days a drone, to collect information, or at least a picture. You will be on the forefront of data collection, and the genius of hopefully important and valuable information. It may be something that most people are not familiar with these days you can point to Google Earth, and say you do something similar, or talk about the aircraft that spot hotspots for fire fighting efforts. Unless your acquaintances have lived under a rock for the last 20 years, you can relate your work to them. Also, many of us, cannot talk about work, so if you like to keep things short and mysterious, there’s a ASO job for that!

For the Pride – Airborne Sensor Operations are nearly never an end-in-themselves, there is a reason, and usually a pertinent, timely, and valuable demand is driving the requirement to get information. Rarely mindless, always relevant; there is a true satisfaction to understand the work would you do have value, sometimes economic, sometimes tactical, sometimes strategic, but again always valuable.

For the Schedule – The bane and beauty of most ASO work is the time on/time off schedule. The job is typically demanding, and employers are often balancing either have too many staff with the risk of having some sit out unpaid or having to little and countering attrition. Lots of firms will schedule week on/week off, or when OCONUS, 6 months onsite, then name your time to return. For those looking for high investment in you, a year in, year out schedule may look like one month on, one week off. The firms that will work with you on an individual level or have so strict of policies that both mutually benefit (cost) and lose (opportunity) in step with one another, can be the easiest to work scheduling with. Look for a firm that values resources, your time, and their own time, and you will be set up for a winning opportunity. Think travel, fishing, hiking, exploring, additional training and education, and side hustles, ASO schedules can enable these schedules.

The Travel – There are a few services related, and business-related fields that can support regular, regional, national, and global travel. Almost no other profession will couple travel with time on/time off scheduling for you to take advantage of where you are. Company paid travel can be one of the great beauties to ASO employment. Most firms will allow you to save yourself money by piggy-backing on your work travels and using that as a launching point for your own personal exploration and travel. You’ll typically be paid to go to the work, to the bird, that’s waiting for you.

The Complexity and Challenge – Airborne Sensor Operations are always evolving and are notoriously challenging for a variety of reasons. Let it be said, if you are looking for simple work, someone is looking to automate that work and your place in it. Airborne Sensor Operations both embraces the complexity involved with a variety of situations, with an aircraft or platform that has its own eccentricities, with a demand that must be met, typically for stakeholders that need it NOW! Dealing with these challenges, doing this job, will make you a better resource and person for it.

The Enabling Perspective – There are few professions that touch on so many others and have a state of excellence within them. As an ASO, you can develop skills in operations, negotiations, project management, aviation, and a variety of engineering disciplines. Are you an engineering student that does not know which way to jump into a tighter discipline, come into the field with sensors and instrumentation that leverage mechanical, electrical, optical, electro-optical, aeronautical, thermodynamic, damage tolerance, human-machine interfacing, software and control engineering, and many more disciplines. Are you an intel professional that wants to understand source data? A GIS grad that wants some adventure before you take the desk job? How about international affairs that what’s to travel? How about a veteran looking for great work and previous experience, at lower risk? The beauty of ASO as a career choice is that there are many points of entry, many flavors of employment, and usually something for everyone.

Please note the following role requires you to hold or be able to acquire and maintain a valid security clearance, EU security clearance minimum. 

Company Overview 

DEA is a full-service aircraft operator with extensive Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) flight capability backed up by a skilled in-house aviation engineering team. This powerful combination puts us at the forefront of our industry, both in the air and on the ground. It also ensures we can deploy and support quickly and efficiently, even in the world’s most challenging environments.

Task Specialist (Airborne Sensor Operator) Role 

To perform Task Specialist (Airborne Sensor Operator) duties on board fixed wing aircraft supporting ISR operations worldwide.

Key Duties & Responsibilities 

• Liaise with DEA Intel Analysts to understand mission requirement and constraints.
• Brief the aircraft commander on mission requirements and constraints.
• Assist the aircraft commander as required with pre-flight preparations.
• Ensure that all mission equipment is correctly configured.
• Responsible for the correct loading, use and husbandry of all mission equipment.
• Recording and updating all mission equipment technical records.
• Confirming that mission equipment is functioning correctly or that arising and/or unresolved faults do not compromise safety of flight.
• Alerting the aircraft commander to any changes to mission equipment serviceability and/or mission capability.
• Assisting as required with the safe conduct of the mission, such as by external observation and liaison with external agencies.
• Act as the mission manager (to include management of ground-based equipment) in accordance with company procedures to meet agreed customer objectives.
• Record all mission system faults and liaise with DEA Systems personnel as required in pursuit of timely fault resolution and a return to full mission capability.
• Assist the aircraft commander with any pre and post-mission duties as required.
• While engaged on contract, accept all other reasonable tasks as may be required to contribute to overall company objectives, attending, or delivering briefings, provide technical advice and support, representing DEA to the Customer and other stakeholders, and assisting DEA Managers in mission related tasks.

Technical Experience and Qualifications 

Essential attributes:

• To be able to demonstrate trainable competence with the following equipment;
  
  • EO/IR gimbal mounted payloads;
  • Aircraft mounted radar systems;
  • Communications equipment; and
  • Complex mission systems.

• Familiar with and competent in the use of Microsoft Windows OS and baseline Microsoft office products.
• Able to work in a small aircraft cabin environment for prolonged periods of time (up to a minimum of 5 hours daily and over consecutive days)

Desirable attributes:

• Verified experience in a multi crew aircraft acting as a sensor operator/observer.
• Experience of Wescam MX series sensors.
• Previous ISR and/or instructor/evaluator experience.
• Military, SAR or Policing background.

Verified experience in a similar role.

Skills Profile

• Possess excellent Crew Resource Management (CRM) skills.
• Able to accommodate irregular shift-patterns, sometimes with minimal notice.
• Communicate clearly and effectively (written and oral).
• Full acceptance of being a net contributor to a problem-solving network.
• Able to integrate seamlessly into small, deployed teams, accepting a full share of domestic tasks to promote team effectiveness and cohesion.
• Demonstrate ability to manage conflicting demands, prioritizing tasks, resources, and workload to meet deadlines and operational needs.
• Demonstrate a personal commitment to the Company’s health, safety and environmental practices and procedures, in full compliance of related regulations.

Essential requirements

• Holds a valid Driving License
• Holds a valid Passport without limitations
• Ability to travel at short notice
• Hold or be able to acquire and maintain a valid security clearance, EU security clearance minimum. 

Interested parties to please send their CV to:

ts.recruitment@dea.aero

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: ASOG Desk Editor, Article from ASOG Corporate Supporter – AvBuyer Magazine

Great article to read if you're interested in helicopters or the discipline of professional aircrew members.

AvBuyer-GABuyer Europe Magazine - The Highest Ever Flight in a Helicopter - 42,500FT

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Industry Support

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

It's great to see the industry recognize again the ASO profession and our group's efforts. We are delighted to announce another new ASOG Corporate Supporter this week – Hansa Luftbild.

The Hansa Luftbild AG, Muenster, Germany is in the geoinformation sector. They have been in successful operation, at an international level, since 1923. For clients in the public and private service sectors, they offer comprehensive solutions for geospatial problems and undertakings. They support clients with the optimal management of large sets of dynamic geospatial data and assist with effective planning, operating and decision making processes.

If you want to learn more about Hansa Luftbild, check them out on the ASOG Corporate Supporter page (clicking their Logo). Also, you can "Friend" Michal Sanocki (Business Line Manager/Flight Operations at Hansa Luftbild) and send him a message via the ASOG e-mail service.

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: Georg DeCock, (Article from Defence Web, 14 Oct 2021)

FYI - Possible jobs for some of you in the group. 

MAG Aerospace awarded UN contract for ISR aircraft in Mali

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Career Management

Shared By: ASOG Career Center

Hey everyone, Michal Sanocki (fellow ASOG Member) is looking for an ASO for a short freelance contract with the option of extending. The requested skills are:

• Experience with UltraCam Eagle Camera and Riegl Laser is essential.
• Aerial Surveying & Mapping familiarity.
• Candidates will be required to work for approximately 4 weeks between November and December.
• The ability to work in DE/EU is a must.

If you are interested and want to get more information about the job, contact Michal via the ASOG e-mail system, i.e., click the “Friend” button on Michal’s ASOG members profile page…once he accepts…you can e-mail Michal.

ASOG Career Center

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: ASOG Desk Editor – Alex Pollit, AirMed&Rescue Magazine, 13 January 2020

Even though this article focuses on CRM, it highlights something critical to all ASOs and non-rated Aircrew personnel. That is a lack of definition and standards by civil aviation authorities around the world regarding such Aircrew members, i.e., People who fly for a living and contribute to every flight's safety.

If you didn't know, one of ASOG's focus areas is advocating for better clarification in government publications and actions regarding ASOs and non-rated Aircrew Members worldwide. The rationale is that better definitions and guidance will lead to safer operations and better outputs by both employers and employees.

With that, read the article, and let's hear your thoughts?

Crew Resource Management in SAR and HEMS Operations

ASOG Article of the Month: September 2021

ASOG Author: Gary Micklethwaite (Originally published 1 February 2017, ASOG)

It is a debate as ancient as higher education itself - What matters most when it comes to getting a job? Does that college degree get your foot in the door, or does your past work experience count for more? Gary gives his perspective on this question from a 30+ years as an ASO.

OK, I'm about to open a can of worms. Education or Experience? Perhaps a bit of background on why this has percolated to the top of my things to complain about. While continuing on my ever widening job search for something Sensor Op related, I have perused many a job posting where there is a requirement for a post-secondary education along with experience, and this has led me to ask why.

Let’s look at my own example. I have no post-secondary education. There are no letters after my name, yet I have 30 years’ experience in Sensor Operation, mission planning, mission management, instruction, standards and aviation in general. When does one outstrip the other? When can one say that education is worth more than experience OR vice versa? Don't get me wrong there’s lots of other things going against me getting suitable employment in a field that I have loved for the past three decades, most notably of which is that I have three extra decades worth of life under my belt, which in a lot of situations would enable me hors de combat in the job competitiveness department. I understand that most employers want someone who can work for them quite possibly for an entire career and I don’t qualify on that count, so the needs of a company who wants someone for the long haul means that their experience levels are much lower than "us of a certain age", therefore the shortfall has to be made up with education, right? Or does it?

While I begrudge no one a career as an ASO, as I loved it for every one of those 30 years, we have to look at the way a lot of businesses run these days. A lot of companies are looking to change the demographic of their workforce in the future. The emphasis has begun to move away from "career" workers and start shifting towards contract or term workers. What employers are looking for then is someone who can parachute in, grab a desk (or hammer, wrench, torch or workstation) and do the job with a minimum of fuss or training. As the labor market constricts, as I see it, older workers will have more say in choosing the kind of  jobs they do, when, and how they work.

This blog doesn't even cover that argument that us old guys are taking jobs away from the youngsters while we should be off enjoying our retirement. There's a whole 'other discussion to be had  about that which I won't cover here. Suffice to say that people want to stay in the workforce for two major reasons. The mental engagement and the income. People are living longer, healthier lives, still want to contribute to society and don't want to outlive their money. Sixty is the new fifty and all that.......

So the kids have longevity on their side and us seasoned guys don't, which brings me back to my initial point of Education vs. Experience. What do we bring to the fight then? There's a lot to be said for age. While the young guy has the benefit of post-secondary education which may or may not be in a related field, I have the added perk of being out there in the work force and have lived life. Sort of a "been there, done that" perk that the kids don’t have in their pocket. Most of us also have the ability to use critical thinking, have strong decision making skills, a good work ethic and outside the box thinking skills. We also tend to be highly trained, self-managed, short on ego and willing to put in a full day’s work. Most of us are also ready and willing to work part time instead of full time.  Throw in efficient, organized, honest, punctual and dedicated and you give employers a lot of options. Put all this into a box and label it "life experience".

Now I'm not saying that younger and more educated people than I aren’t all of what I described in the previous paragraph, in fact a lot of them have all of the attributed I described, which then brings me back to does the employer want education or does he want experience in a worker?

It would seem from looking at job posts that companies are looking for education, and that something I like to call "education creep" is rearing its head. Much like mission creep that all of us who have a military background lived and loathed, education creep is moving the goalposts ever farther to the side of requiring higher and higher education. I have noticed job posts that have a requirement of a baccalaureate degree and an "it would be nice" listing of a post graduate level degree like a masters.  It seems we are over-qualifying the needs that an ASO required to do their job.  Like I said I lived this in the military. When I was a youngster most day to day decisions could be made by a corporal or a lieutenant. those very same decisions now require a Sgt-Major or a full Colonel.

In other words, decisions made today take someone with more experience than education. Kinda seems like a circular argument doesn't it?

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: Gustavo Duarte

If you want to breakout of your professional ASO silo sector or region of the world and get an impression of other aircrews doing their specialized work, Gustavo (ASOG member since 2018) thought this article and video from the Austrian Wings magazine would do the job.

Published in German, the article covers the Austrian Federal Police Flight department with a special focus on the aircrew, i.e., their duties and training.

To read the article in your mother-tongue language, go to the article and click the translate function on your web browser.

“Mit Video: Flugpolizei bildet neue Flight Operatoren aus” or “Flight Police Train New Flight Operators”

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Career Management

Shared By: Georg DeCock

If you’re new to the world of searching for a job or it’s been a long time since you had to find a new job, Georg DeCook (ASOG member since 2017) thought the ASOG community could benefit from this article posted by Indeed.com, i.e., especially the virtual world we find ourselves in today.

Like Georg did, if you have something to share with the ASOG community regarding career management, especially in the aerial remote sensing and aerial work aviation sector, post it on the blog board or send it to deskeditor@aso-group.org and we’ll get it on the homepage.

Virtual Interviewing: A Step-by-Step Guide

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: ASOG Desk Editor

Do you know what Aerial Broadcasting is? Or, do you know what this Aerial Work aviation sector does (i.e., a potential career field for Airborne Sensor Operators)? Here’s an article from AV Buyer magazine which highlights many informative & interesting aspects of this unique "News Reporting" aviation business sector.

Aerial Broadcasting: The Bird's Eye View

ASOG Article of the Month: August 2021

Shared By: ASOG Desk Editor

Original Author: Ian Fritz, The Atlantic, August 19, 2021

This was not written by an ASOG member; However, it was written by an ASO (C4ISR | SIGINT) who was deployed in Afghanistan and served in the U.S. Air Force from 2008-2013.

Because of the current geopolitical situation playing out in Afghanistan and ASOG’s mission to highlight what ASOs do for a living across the spectrum of Aerial Work aviation, in this case the Defense/Security sector, we thought this serious article would be a current and relative read for the ASOG community.

What I Learned While Eavesdropping on the Taliban

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Education & Training

Posted By: ASOG Education Center

As many of you know, one of ASOG’s focus areas is promoting professional development & Education across the Aerial Work aviation sectors of commercial, public safety and defense.

Regarding airborne public safety, the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) has organized a number of training events for this fall, i.e., for both manned & unmanned aircraft operations. If you’re part of the public safety community and looking to improve your skills for an affordable price, take a look at these training opportunities and register accordingly:

TACTICAL FLIGHT OFFICER (TFO) COURSE

The Tactical Flight Officers Course is designed to provide aircrew members the tactical skills and information necessary to safely and successfully support ground units engaged in a variety of law enforcement missions. Although specifically designed for tactical flight officers, this course is applicable to pilots and crewmembers alike and is also a valuable course for unit supervisors. Attendees will learn the elements of crew coordination, gain knowledge on how to set up a perimeter, direct the activities of ground units from the air, manage a vehicle pursuit and conduct a thermal imagery search using the latest in airborne tactics. Additionally, attendees will learn what specialized equipment is available and how to properly use the most common tools. This class is essential to the professional development of aviation law enforcement personnel and also meets one of the requirements for TFO training related to accreditation. Successful completion requires attendance at all 24 hours of classroom courses.

TACTICAL DRONE OPERATOR COURSE

The Tactical Drone Operator Course is three days of intensive training designed to increase piloting skills and provide students with the ability to operate in non-traditional drone environments. Students will be exposed to the equipment, tools, and techniques necessary to expand their drone program for the tactical environment. Each day will consist of four hours of classroom instruction and four hours of flight instruction, applying drone capabilities to real world scenarios. Students will:

• Understand and apply techniques for interior operations
• Develop teaming concepts for use with other units or capabilities
• Utilize the Drone as point and over watch during tactical scenarios
• Understand Weight & Balance and Center of Gravity considerations for Drones
• Identify issues associated with working in controlled airspace
• Operate as direct support for tactical team operations

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

This white paper came across my desk the other day. I thought some of you might find it interesting regarding sensor technology (i.e., current systems on the market) and their applications. Plus, I added a simple write-up/link from Sandia National Laboratories on “What is SAR?.”

The white paper was posted on the Unmanned Systems Technology webpage and produced by IMSAR LLC.

If you or your firm has a current white paper regarding your technology that connects with the Airborne Sensor Operator/Aerial Work aviation Aircrew Profession, send it to deskeditor@aso-group.org or post it on the blog board.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick Ryan)

 IMSAR Radar Solutions for Maritime Applications

Sandia National Laboratories – “What is SAR?”

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

Besides operating fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft, many ASO’s support the aerostat sector. Here’s a great article relating to “things to think about” regarding aerostat operations written by a new ASOG Linked-In connection Stuart Haycock. Stuart is the owner of Airborne Industries Limited and wrote the article to help customers and operators match requirements with the right platform.

To learn more, check out Stuart’s article on the Border Security Report webpage - Considering Aerostat Operations

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Career Management

Posted By: ASOG Career Center

ASOG Members,

We received a job opening this weekend regarding an Aerial Firefighting ASO position (freelance work). If you have a background in aerial firefighting operations and/or willing to get trained-up, look at the note below and engage accordingly.

“Hey I’ve got a guy with Bode Aviation needing some ASO’s for some freelance work. The platform is a Pilatus PC-12 utilizing a FLIR STAR SAFIRE HD ball and the mapping software is Churchill.

The gig is in support of fighting wildfires in Colorado. Pay is $500 a day and they comp travel and hotels and pay per diem. Schedule is tentatively 12 on and 12 off. The Churchill system has been modified to do mapping, and create fire perimeters. They also do scans for new starts, and do some real time loading of product via onboard satcom. They will do Fire academics for the MSOs so they have a basic understanding of fire behavior and fuels. The point of contact for this is Creig Rice, his email is creig.rice@flybode.com

Please feel free to share with the community to encourage anyone with the experience and time to kill to hit him up.”

ASOG Article of the Month: July 2021

ASOG Authors: Gareth Davies & Patrick Ryan

Even though this article is focused on helicopters and advise to an Airborne Law Enforcement Tactical Flight Officer (TFO), the airmanship advice crosses many Aerial Work aviation ASO silos

After reading an e-mail trail the other day that I participated in regarding Tactical Flight Officers, I thought I had to share this part of it with the ASOG community. As the ASOG Desk Editor, I had the privilege (along with ASOG member Gareth Davies) to connect with a proven & tested police aviation helicopter pilot and get his words regarding advice to junior TFOs (a.k.a., Airborne Sensor Operators).

Before I "Auto-Rotate" on to Bill's words, I want to introduce you to Bill Probets. Bill has over 30 years of flying helicopters in many multi-mission roles, including instructing both in fixed-wing & helicopters and flying as an Offshore Pilot. However, over the last 24 years, he's been a deputized Sergeant/Chief Pilot at East Bay Regional Park District's Air Support Unit in Oakland, California. Additionally, Bill is the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) Lead Accreditation Assessor ensuring public safety organizations comply with Safety Management Systems (SMS), administrative, operational, training, and maintenance standards applicable to aviation programs.

Based on a three-way e-mail conversation between Gareth Davies, Bill Probets, and myself, Gareth asked Probets the following "bottom-line" question – "What do you think a TFO should know to support a pilot when the S*** hits the proverbial?" Here's what Bill had to say:

• You are correct on the premise that TFOs should be familiar with in-flight emergency procedures and their role.

• There are two primary kinds of emergencies:

           1.) Those requiring immediate response from memory, i.e., engine failure, fire, loss of tail rotor effectiveness, etc.

           2.) And those that may require a procedural response such as a loss of a generator, loss of a fuel transfer pump, loss of anti-icing or de-icing, etc.

• The TFO should be familiar with Emergency Procedures (EPs) and included in such training. They should also have immediate access to the Emergency Procedures checklist and practice the responses with their pilots/crews using a challenge/check process for procedural emergency responses or whatever CRM system the operator uses.

• Given the extent that autopilots can fly the aircraft to a low hover (see Airbus Helionix), TFOs should be competent in operating flight controls if seated in the front – I am NOT a fan of removing the dual controls in an aircraft – that's more of a pilot ego thing than a genuine "safety issue." Given the growing risk of mid-airs with UAV's (not the professional folks but the drones flown by "drones"), the ability for the TFO to fly the aircraft and safely land with an incapacitated pilot is also part of the equation.

• Also, full utilization of Aircraft Life Support Equipment (ALSE) by all crewmembers is essential – flight suits, helicopter helmets (visors down), gloves, 8" tall boots, and appropriate equipment for overwater (Life Vest and Helicopter Emergency Egress Device (HEEDS), etc).

• Finally, there are ultimately three foundational things for airplanes, without which everything else is irrelevant – control, airspeed, and landing area. There are ultimately four foundational things for helicopters, without which everything else is irrelevant – control, rotor RPM, airspeed, and landing area.

"Hence, fly the aircraft first and don't stop flying until every last piece stops moving!"

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

Across the Aerial Work aviation sector, you’ll find professional Airborne Sensor Operators embedded in many specialized flight operations. Here’s one such unique Aerial Work industry sector ASOs play a major part – Flight Inspection & Validation.

If you want to learn more, flip to page 34-35 in this months GA Buyer Europe magazine (Special Mission section). O’…while you’re flipping, pick-out your next airplane or helicopter:

Flight Inspection – The “Calibrators” of Aerial Work Aviation

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Training & Education

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

ASOG Members, Connections & Followers,

The ASOG RFI survey regarding ASOG Sponsored Training Courses is now closed (ASOG Special e-Announcement – Request for Interest – ASOG Sponsored Training Courses). We received a good number of responses. I want to say "Thank You" to those who responded. Your feedback is an invaluable tool for ASOG to support your professional needs.

What's Next?

We'll take the responses and begin assessing the results. Below are the next two steps you can expect:

• Results Review: In the next two weeks, we'll tally the inputs and review the remarks provided, e.g., some of you offered support such as instructing or providing other supporting efforts…Outstanding…Thank You!
• Results Conclusion: Within one month, we'll decide and share the final decision regarding this ASOG project with you.

Even though the survey is closed, it's never too late to provide your ideas or interest to participate or support ASO & Aircrew training and education events or even other types of ASOG efforts…" Brainstorming" doesn't cost anything.

Again, "Thank You" to those who participated! Your feedback will help make your ASOG an excellent place for you to professional network & grow.