One thing I learned in my career (plus life) is to keep one-eye on what is trending. The article below is a good example of Geospatial trends. What trends do you see in your sector, e.g., EO/IR, SAR, LiDAR, Acoustics, Aerial Surveying, Airborne Law Enforcement, C4ISR, RPA, Manned Aircraft, Aerial Fire Fighting, Maritime Patrol, Training, etc.?
Posted: Monday, January 14, 2019, | Author: Qassim Abdullah
ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)
Image: Terabass, Wikimedia commons
Some of you in the group might be interested in these conferences around the world, i.e., professional development. The focus of some of these academic conferences is on Aerial Surveying, and Aero photogrammetry + other sensors/problem sets. Look at the list below and see if something is interesting. For me, once my Gulfstream G-5 is out of phase MX, I’ll fly around the world and attend a few…especially the conferences in Bali ;)
Open Science Research Excellence - Aerial Surveys and Aero Photogrammetry
Some of you might have seen this article on Linked-In, its an article published by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority. I think it compliments the point of “How to speak ASO like a pro!” What do you think?
“Cracking the code: Aviation English”; By staff writers; Jan 14, 2019
I remember as a new aircrew member being overwhelmed with all the unfamiliar things I had to learn. There were so many procedures and systems to keep track of, and people and departments to memorize! Every day I heard a new term, jargon or acronym and had to ask someone "O.K. what does that mean?" or try to figure it out from the context in which the unfamiliar term was used.
Here are 21 Terms, Jargon and Acronym links that relate to the 101 of our profession (Aviation and Remote-Sensing) and to specific ASO professional sectors (Commercial, Public Safety, and Defense) to help you speak like a professional ASO in your industry domain. There are many more, however, if you know of other sites that offer useful terms, jargon, and acronyms that other professionals can learn from, please share. Once the list is complete, I’ll post them in the “Link Library.”
Aviation:
Airodyssey.net / Reference - Glossary
Wiktionary / Appendix: Glossary of Aviation, Aerospace and Aeronautics
CFG / Aviation Jargon: 45 Terms Aviation Enthusiasts Should Know
FPV Quadcopter Acronyms, Terminology, Glossary
Remote-Sensing:
Ideo Columbia Education / Remote Sensing Glossary
Canadian GIS and Geospatial Resources / Geomatics Acronyms and Abbreviations
Civil/Commercial – Aerial Photography:
Find Aerial Photography / Glossary
Digital Photography School / Photography Terminology: A Glossary of 71 Photographic Terms
B&H / A Glossary of Digital Photography Terms
Civil/Commercial – Aerial Surveying:
Remote Aerial Surveys / Glossary
Public Safety – Airborne Law Enforcement:
Wikipedia / Law Enforcement Jargon
Public Safety – Aerial Search & Rescue:
Greater Philadelphia Search And Rescue / Search and Rescue Glossary and Acronyms
Fire Service Information / Basic Glossary Of Fire Fighting and Rescue Terms
Public Safety – Aerial Firefighting:
Fire Fighter Exam / Fire Service Acronyms and Terms
USDA Forest Service / Fire Terminology
Defense – Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance:
Military.Com / Military Terms and Jargon
Wiktionary / Appendix: Glossary of U.S. Navy slang
Defense – Electronic Warfare:
ATI / Glossary of Electronic Warfare Terms
ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick Ryan)
At a ceremony held at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s headquarters, London on Monday evening, representatives from Smith Myers, Biggleswade and Leonardo Helicopter, Yeovil, were presented with the RAeS Team Silver Medal award for their teamwork developing the Redstreak Mobile Phone Detection and Location System.
Previous Silver Team Medallist include The Beagle 2 Mars Mission Engineering Team
A joint Smith Myers and Leonardo Helicopter team brought diverse skills from different domains to engineer an innovative and effective SAR capability.
The team’s vision was to enable a SAR helicopter to have the capability to locate and communicate with a person in distress possessing a standard mobile phone. This system had to work in areas of no cellular network coverage and effectively configure the mobile phone as a rescue beacon.
Leonardo Helicopters experience in airborne system design, development and evaluation together with Smith Myers’ expertise of advanced telecommunications design, produced Redstreak.
Redstreak demonstrated detection ranges of 32km with accuracies of better than 100m. Whilst locating the individual, Redstreak provides both voice and text communications.
Redstreak can locate individuals not detectable by other sensors and large search areas can be covered rapidly. The search is quicker, safer and more effective.
The Redstreak system is used on the AW101 Norwegian All Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter, possibly the most advanced SAR helicopter in the world.
The systems avionics certification covers both rotary and fixed wing aircraft.
Peter Myers managing director of Smith Myers said “Despite the distance between the two sites, the team quickly gelled and rapidly produced flying prototypes. The professionalism and expertise of both companies ensured a well-designed and thoroughly tested system. Redstreak/Artemis gives SAR crews an effective alternative where previously looking out the window was the only option”.
If You Want to Know More
Redstreak (also known as ARTEMIS) is a development of existing designs by Smith Myers, with new location estimation algorithms and redesigned hardware to meet the exacting international standards required by modern avionics on fixed and rotary wind aircraft (DO160G and MilStd 810G).
Smith Myers ARTEMIS has also received recognition from the following:
British Engineering Excellence Award 2017,
Critical Communications Award 2018,
ADS Security Innovation Award 2018.
Smith Myers are a UK SME (30 people) with a 30-year track record of innovative leading edge design, employing the latest radio techniques such as Software Defined Radio and Smart Linear Power Amplifier design. This, in addition to embedded protocol design on the latest Field Programmable Gate Arrays, permitted a radical and effective alternative to traditional direction-finding methods.
The ARTEMIS technology is also available in a smaller package for use on Search and Rescue drones. This system offers the same user interface, but at lower ranges of operation. Used in search scenarios including: coastal paths, cliffs, open sea, avalanche, poor visual conditions etc.
ASOG members, one of our supporters (Airborne Technologies in Austria) wanted to share their latest accomplishment with the Airborne Sensor Operator community/ASOG, i.e., with a focus on the Sensor Operator.
Traditions represent an important element of our Airborne Sensor Operator professional culture. They reinforce the structure and foundation of our skill-set and our vocation. Tradition reminds us that we are part of a history that defines our past, shapes who we are presently and who we are likely to become in the future. Once we disregard the meaning of our traditions, we’re in danger of damaging the underpinning of our professional identity. The backbone of why traditions matter to Airborne Sensor Operators is:
• Tradition reinforces values such as integrity, personal responsibility, a strong work ethic, and the value of being selfless.
• Tradition provides a medium to provide positive role models and highlight the standards that matter.
• Tradition validates the contribution the profession provides to society and unites members of the profession.
• Tradition contributes a sense of professional belonging. It brings individuals together and enables people to work together at a common level or perspective.
As ASOs, we must strive to utilize every opportunity available to us to reinforce the professional values and standards that we see are the core of our profession. The alternative is professional mediocre. As a famous writer once said,
“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
Marcus Garvey
What are your thoughts...Does tradition matter for our profession?
ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)
If you call yourself a professional ASO, are you able to identify what-is-what 70 to 80% of the time while collecting information real-time? Based on your industry sector (commercial, public safety or defense), can you identify, describe, and predict the actions of the primary objects in your view be it from an active or passive sensor?
An ASO is“Top-Gun” material if he or she can go beyond saying “I see something interesting” to “I see X and Y together and if this continues Z will happen,” i.e., real-time airborne Sherlock Holmes skills.
The reason I’m posting this blog is based on a note from a fellow ASOGer Grant Reid highlighting a skill-set area that defines an ASO. Here’s part of his message that got me thinking about this post. (Also, strip out the defense aspect of his message and replace it with your specific target sets, e.g., agricultural targets/surroundings, urban area structures/surroundings/human behavior patterns, etc. when you read his point):
“Note for ASO is ship, aircraft and weapon system recognition. I know my old boss will read this and agree that although your primary job is to be an integral part of the flight crew, you aren’t worth a hill of beans if you can’t pick out the differences between Russian and Chinese systems. I remember when going thru training in Comox, that my wife knew ships, aircraft and weapon systems just as well as I did (she ran the slide deck for the guys on my course at night - she was very unforgiving).
Modern non-military ASO deal with the same in that they must know every type of vehicle identifiable from the air.
The point is to know your job and do it to the best of your ability.”
I agree with Grant, there is more to the ASO job than just operating systems, checking-off the target deck and making sure that each mission lands safely. It consists of knowing your collection operating environment, i.e., in some ways being an airborne analyst. An ASO should develop a sense of knowing what is important, what ‘matters,’ and it comes from knowing your environment intimately.
What do you think?
ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)
“I met up with Jean-Philippe (R) at the show, was really great meeting him and Pascal Vetter (L) and talking about airborne radar.
Kind Regards,
George”
George Beaumont (Center of picture)
George DeCock (L) meeting our new member Marco Zanata (R) at Combat Helicopter Conference in Bucharest Romania this week.
ASOGers’ Richard Glyn-Jones (R) and Jean-Philippe Auneau (L).
“I met Jean-Philippe Auneau today at Euronaval so more good connections through ASOG!
Best Regards,
Richard Glyn-Jones”
George Beaumont (L in the picture) wanted the group to know he’s at EURONAVAL this week. Go by and say Hi as a fellow ASOGer.
"DIADÈS MARINE is at EURONAVAL 2018 on the GICAN stand (E10/F17) introducing the industry to our advanced, high performance radar solutions. Feel free to come by the stand to talk detection, surveillance and radar or to see our latest airborne solution the C-RANGER-100 in action!"
ASOG members Richard Glyn-Jones (L) and Piet De Backer (R) meeting for the first time at EURONAVAL 2018.
ASOG veterans Peter Myers (L) and George DeCock (R) welcome soon-to-be ASOG member Vince Macri at the Helitech 2018 conference & exhibition in Amsterdam last Wednesday.
Dowe Gallagher Airborne Data Group (DGADG) just sent this new job requirement to us. The point-of-contact is Grant Gadway (mailto:ggadway@dowegallagher.com ). If you’re interested, review the job description below and contact Grant accordingly:
Airborne Sensor Operator/Technician DGADG – Sarasota, FL
Major Responsibilities:
• Operate and monitor LiDAR, optical, and GPS systems/instruments for accurate image quality capture while working with pilot to safely and efficiently complete each mission
• Assist PIC in tailored mission/flight planning and execution to include aircrew resource management and safety, pre-flight and post-flight safety and systems checks, contingency planning, reviewing job specifications, weather interpretation, ground support, onsite project and client coordination, briefing, debriefing, and detailed flight line planning
• Assist PIC in complying with all governing regulations including service guidance, company procedures and Federal Aviation Administration Regulations
• Monitor, review, interpret, transfer, analyze, and conduct QA/QC of acquired imagery, make backups and ship/disseminate data to clients in a timely fashion
• Conduct sensor maintenance, upkeep, troubleshooting, installation and removal from the aircraft • Assist with LiDAR calibration, cleaning, classification, and final product generation
• Prepare and submit logs, reports, expense reports and other materials as required
Education/experience:
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in Geography, GIS, Engineering, Geology, Photography or related field, preferred
• 2-5 years of experience in Aerial Survey, GIS/Remote Sensing, or Land Surveying, preferred
• Experience with airborne and terrestrial remote sensing instruments
• Proficiency in flight planning and software applications used for processing survey data
• Understanding of geospatial concepts and GPS survey methods
• Have strong proven technical and computer skills through previous GIS and/or Photography experience
• Capable of learning and operating advanced software program
• Experience with and working knowledge of LiDAR calibration, cleaning, and final product generation
Requirements:
• Ability to demonstrate crew discipline and knowledge of aviation requirements
• Adhere to standardized procedures; checklists, safety and security considerations
• Hold a valid driver’s license and ability to obtain passport
• Ability to work a flexible schedule during early mornings, late evenings, weekends and possibly holidays
• Able to climb a 6’ stepladder
• Have the ability to lift 75 pounds
• Sit for long periods of time in a small aircraft
• Fly missions for approximately 6 continuous hours, twice daily with an hour rest between
• Outside flight operations, exposure to the cold and heat, elements of the seasons
• Be willing to fly/travel in 7 to 30-day time spans in inclement weather and/or un-cleared and rough terrain
• Work successfully both independently and in a team setting
• Possess strong prioritization, organization, decision making, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Have desire and flexibility to work in a dynamic work environment
• Adhere to a strict work schedule, complete tasks both individually and as a team • Ensure safe and secure use of company equipment and instrumentation
• Practice good judgment and discretion during travel and at work site
Phillip sent this job requirement to us. If you're interested, please contact Phillip. His contact info and the job requirements are below:
Phillip Yergin
Intel Recruiting Team Lead
Mission Essential
6525 West Campus Oval, Suite 101
New Albany, OH 43054
+1 614 750 1955 direct
+1 614 371 8945 mobile
+1 614 750 2055 fax
phillip.yergin@missionessential.com
JOB DESCRIPTION: The candidate will produce geo-location data to support the development of various intelligence reports. The qualified candidate must possess the skills and knowledge to manage and facilitate the prosecution of collection data files. Additionally, the candidate will conduct general and directed radio frequency searches on targets of interest. This is a 24hour operation and shift work is required.
REQUIREMENTS: t TS/SCI FS Poly (CI Poly is acceptable but must be able to pass a Full Scope Polygraph) t Experience with communications intelligence collection equipment is required. t Experience with ground, airborne, and/or national geolocation systems is preferred. t Previous experience with processing collection data files.
ASOG Members,
Just-in-case you didn’t receive the “Call for Feedback” e-mail, a message went out to all members requesting feedback on efforts to date and recommendations for the future. The group has been running for about a year. Since we’re a global and virtual group, it’s hard to get a low-altitude view of the community’s specific needs/wants. With that, I would like to get a pulse-check on the ASOG effort.
You can answer all the questions or consolidate your thoughts, inputs or recommendations into one response…we’re all busy folks, and I want to keep it simple but effective.
The call for feedback will run for two weeks (02 Oct to 16 Oct 2018). Please send your feedback or thoughts to me NLT 16 Oct. I’ll follow up with everyone on the results. If you have any questions, just let me know.
Thanks, Everyone,
Cheers Mates!
Patrick
OK…let’s be honest…how many ASO’s (non-rated-pilots) have wondered what would happen if their fellow crewmember the pilot “all of a sudden” was incapacitated...I would say many. Here’s one program that was developed over 35 years ago by AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) called the “Pinch-Hitter” course to help with this situation. According to AOPA, the course is:
“Designed to help non-pilot flying companions learn how to safely land an aircraft in the unlikely event of pilot incapacitation. It includes an introduction to the principles of flight, a basic overview of instruments and radio communications, and a scenario-based training guide.
Participants are encouraged to first take the free Pinch Hitter™ online course from the AOPA Air Safety Institute (ASI), and then use this training syllabus to further guide instruction. ASI recommends using a certificated flight instructor (CFI) or an experienced, proficient pilot for the ground and flight instruction portions of the syllabus.
While pilot incapacitation is extremely rare in general aviation (GA), completing this syllabus will help non-pilots be more knowledgeable and better prepared in the event of an actual emergency— they may even decide to pursue additional flight training.”
PINCH-HITTER AOPA - AIR SAFETY INSTITUTE
Besides the primary purpose of this course, I think it’s also a great program for any small and medium size aerial work firm that uses or participate with part-time (non-rated-pilot) Sensor Operators or Secondary ASO Professionals (Photographers, Non-TFO police officers, Research Scientist, etc.) to improve the level of airmanship of each crewmember. The course is not time consuming or expensive compared to other safety or flight orientation training programs, but it’s methodical, economical and effective for small operations and freelance professionals.
Bottomline and just my two-cents, if I were an Aerial Work Business Owner, Aerial Work Pilot or a new ASO or Secondary ASO professional, I would encourage this program for all my crewmembers and fellow ASOs. If you know of other programs like this, let the group know.
“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Benjamin Franklin
ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)
AAD 2018 (See Event Calendar) presently going on in Johannesburg South Africa. ASOG members Luthando Prinsloo (L) and George De Cock (R) with Adeel Carelse (soon-to-be-ASOG member!)
Thank you Richard Glyn-Jones for highlighting this White Paper. BREAK, BREAK If you have any questions, just reachout to Richard...you can find him in the members area.
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Technology brings high-end SAR to the civil world
Smaller, lighter advanced SAR equipment is putting high-end capability in the hands of civil operators.
(Source - http://www.sentientvision.com/2017/10/20/technology-brings-high-end-sar-civil-world/)
Nowhere has the relentless march of technology and development been more prevalent than in the field of airborne search and rescue.
Advances in sensors, cameras, data transmission technology, navigation systems and airframe design, to say nothing of the rise of unmanned aerial systems, have transformed a task that by sheer cost and logistics was originally the preserve of government and military agencies alone.
Freed from the belt-and-braces survivability requirements of military users, civil electro-optical and infrared sensors, radars and communications products have become lighter, smaller and easier to integrate. Interface and usability advances mean a single operator can perform roles that previously required several, and single and twin-engine aircraft and helicopters now have capability previously only found in large, heavy and complex military platforms.
Such is the availability of these technologies on the civil market that defence forces around the world are relinquishing their civil search and rescue roles to contracted civil operators. These operators are often proving they can do it more cheaply and in some cases better, with a culture and concept of operations geared directly to the civil surveillance and rescue tasks that make up the bulk of any national program.
In many cases advances have been aimed at improving performance of traditional systems such as radar and infrared. But some innovators have turned traditional doctrine on its head, repurposing existing technologies in ground breaking new roles.
Australia’s Sentient Vision Systems has turned airframe mounted digital cameras in to “optical radar”, offering the “track while scan”, wide area surveillance capability and interrogation functions of traditional radar from an optical system that emits no energy, minimises data transmission requirements to ground stations and uses a simple graphical interface that also allows users to slave an aircraft’s primary sensor to any desired contact with the click of a mouse.
ViDAR uses airframe-mounted single or multiple 9-megapixel cameras, which scan the ocean’s surface in a 180-degree arc from any UAS, helicopter or aircraft, imaging a swathe of ocean up to 20 nautical miles wide. Its onboard software autonomously detects any object on the surface of the ocean, flags it on the sensor operator’s screen, and captures and displays a digital still image.
Operators simply watch the passing ant trail of images across their screen to see what the aircraft is detecting in its assigned surveillance area. With a mouse click they can cross-cue the aircraft’s primary sensor, such as an infra-red or daylight TV camera turret, to investigate the contact. ViDAR’s onboard processing system ensures only detected targets are transmitted for analysis, dramatically reducing bandwidth requirements.
In US Coastguard trials ViDAR identified small boats at a range of 17.7 nautical miles, a life raft at 3.7 nautical miles and a mannequin representing a person in the water at 1.5 nautical miles. In trials on small unmanned aerial systems, ViDAR demonstrated that it could search an area 80 times the size of a standard UAS in a single sortie.
ViDAR is already in service aboard the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s four highly modified Challenger 604 search and rescue aircraft, and with the Royal Australian Navy on Boeing’s Insitu ScanEagle unmanned aerial system and has been demonstrated with the US Coast Guard, EMSA and the UK Unmanned Warrior exercise.
For Simon Olsen, Sentient Vision’s Director of Business Development, Strategy and Partnerships, ViDAR has the power to ease the workload of search and rescue operators, mitigate sensor operator fatigue on long sorties, and give operators a greater choice of airframes capable of performing the task at hand.
“At the tactical level ViDAR reduces the workload for search and rescue operators and increases the probability of a successful contact, particularly on long and intense sorties,” he said. “Its ability to detect and display objects in the water that may not be readily visible to the human eye reduces a sensor operator’s workload, allowing them more mental acuity to manage the mission and maintain situational awareness.
“But at the strategic level ViDAR has the power to change acquisition decisions in hardware and aircraft, to change capability mixes,” he said. “Offshore patrol vessels previously dependent on shore-based aerial surveillance can now deploy their own. What could previously only be accomplished with a manned aircraft can now be accomplished with a tactical unmanned aerial system, and missions that previously needed large aircraft can now be accomplished with smaller, more cost-effective airframes or helicopters.
“ViDAR brings wide area maritime surveillance and detection within the reach of operators for whom this type of capability was previously outside the realms of technical possibility. It combines the most effective capabilities of both radar and optical sensors, without the limitations of either.”
Contact:
Sentient Vision Systems
Stewart Day
General Manager
T +61 3 9646 3331
E marketing@sentientvision.com
