ASOG Article of the Month - March 2020

ASOG Author: Gareth Davies; Image: Wikicommons.Saberwyn

In aviation and especially in the Airborne Sensor Operator community, are specific golden rules being forgotten, which ensures safety and avoids unnecessary accidents? Gareth Davies discusses this and how the ASO community can make a difference.

Flying is like skiing

Many years ago, F.I.S. (Federation Internationale de Ski) produced 10 rules for safe skiing. These 10 rules were plastered on the sides of the huts at the start of T-Bars and chairlifts. As the queue slowly shuffled past these posters and placards there was plenty of time to read them. They are:

1. Respect for others: A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.
2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding: A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.
3. Choice of route: A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.
4. Overtaking: A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.
5. Entering, starting and moving upwards: A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes, must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.
6. Stopping on the piste: Unless absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.
7. Climbing and descending on foot: A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.
8. Respect for signs and markings: A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.
9. Assistance: At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty-bound to assist.
10. Identification: Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.

So even after a day’s skiing, these rules were instilled and, for the most part, followed.

Forget me not!

Fast forward to today’s generation of snowboarders whose parents (as they did not snowboard) had no chance to teach their offspring ‘mountain lore,’ and the onset of ever-faster ways up the mountain meant that these rules were not being read and therefore not taken in.

Because of this, they’re now relegated to a small placard next to a set of tools for binding adjustment, i.e., away from the queues and the main body of operators. Silly really as those with enough knowledge to be able to adjust bindings know these rules backward.

Flying is not inherently dangerous, however…

My point. A lot more people should know the rules, and when the majority know the rules accidents are less likely to happen.

Contrast that to the recent sad Helicopter accident in California with NBA Star Kobe Bryant onboard; Double IIMC (Inadvertent Immersion/instrument to Meteorological Conditions) is bandied about as a possible cause. Far be it me to second guess the NTSC; however, if more people, Aircrew, TFO’s and passengers, knew about IIMC I would l bet my last dollar of there being less of these types of accidents.

Let me explain. I am not a pilot nor qualified aircrew however I was the chairman of the Police Aviation Conference for 12 years. Over the years I have met and chatted with any number of Aviation Safety Unit (ASU) chief pilots. To a man their unspoken (well publicly anyway) fear was IIMC. With or without IFR training this condition was the minefield in the sky. This was a condition to be avoided at all costs. Because Dear reader Double IIMC is an Inadvertent Immersion/instrument to Meteorological Conditions (IIMC). To us laymen this means suddenly (inadvertent) you are flying blind. Very limited or even no spatial awareness, no reference points and therefore no way on knowing where you are relevant to terrain. Once more for us layman this means cloud, fog, smoke or mist.

To re-enforce this, on March 27, 1977 over 500 people died in Tenerife Spain when two 747s collided on the runway. Fog was factor as was a peer pressure issue between a junior and senior pilot. I have always found it strange when the final report on such incidents are published. Strange because in most cases they, more or less, read the same.

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Event though the pilot on aircrews are trained to recognize and manage an IIMC situation, other crewmembers are not. Organizations like ASOG, aircrew associations and aviation schools can play a major part in minimizing aviation accidents by promoting education programs that provide the necessary knowledge and tools for non-pilot crewmembers to enhance the effectiveness of the crew.

I think it would be a tremendous advantage to all who fly in helicopter’s (and even fixed-wing aircraft) because I know enough to want to know these things before I get into one:

1. What are the prevailing weather conditions?
2. Is the pilot IFR trained?
3. Does the company they fly for have an IFR rating?
4. Is the aircraft rated for IFR?

And even then, I am going to be sceptical.

For pilots reading these please do not take these questions as an insult to your ability. I have since learned that IIMC is such a serious matter that if you think there is any possibility at all being anywhere near a potential IIMC, thank you I’ll take a bus (and perhaps you should too).

The final leap!

As for FIS and the skiing community not re-enforcing these basic golden rules, people keep leaping out onto the piste without looking, blocking path and entry ways and stopping just over the brow of a hill where they cannot be seen, with resulting injuries and deaths!

Regarding the aviation community and especially the aircrew world, educating and implementing basic airmanship rules for all aircrew positions is critical in minimizing future aviation injuries and deaths!

I leave you with General Wilbur “Bill” Creech because I think it applies in any organization as well in a cockpit:

"Many people believe that decentralization means loss of control. That's simply not true. You can improve control if you look at control as the control of events and not people. Then, the more people you have controlling events -- the more people you have that care about controlling the events, the more people you have proactively working to create favourable events -- the more control you have within the organization, by definition."

-- Gen. Bill Creech (Commander, United States Air Force Tactical Air Command from May 1, 1978 to December 31, 1984)

ASOG Members, as part of this year’s ASOG’s Focus initiatives, we would like to start a new project called “ASOG Article of the Month.” This is in addition to the open blog board.

To make this happen, we need nine volunteers to write at least one article (or two) for this year (2020). If you’re a volunteer, let me know what month you want to author.

Also, If you sign-up for one of the slots and the article gets published on the board (plus, shared over Linked-In & Twitter), we will have a tab on the webpage that highlights you as an ASOG Author, i.e., “Meet the ASOG Authors.”

Who can write?
All ASOG members! As many of you know, ASOG is about networking and sharing best practices via your aircrew experiences and knowledge (manned & unmanned aircraft operations) to help others in their jobs and highlight the many different aspects of our aircrew profession.

Also, this includes those members who might not be an aircrew type but someone who’s a stakeholder in the aerial-remote-sensing sector, i.e., part of our eco-system (Students, OEMs, Suppliers, Integrators, Educators/Trainers, Ops Service Providers, Imagery/GIS Analyst, end-users, etc.), i.e., how you connect and collaborate with the ASO profession.

What can I write about?
Here are some general ASO story Domains to focus on:

• Aviation & Airmanship
• Remote-Sensing/Communication technology & application (sensors, processing, exploitation & dissemination)
• Training & Education
• Safety/CRM
• Civil/Commercial Ops
• Public Safety Ops
• Defense & Security Ops (Nothing classified)
• Other (Hoist Operator, JTAC, Imagery Analyst, GIS Specialist, Air Ambulance Paramedic, etc.)?

Here are some example story types that you may want to use or combine:

• Personal Discovery Stories – Tell how you learned a lesson, i.e., give some practical advice on how the group might learn from your experience.
• Best Practice Tips – share with the group your thoughts on how to do better with something, i.e., career, training, operating systems, instructing, planning, CRM, etc., etc.,
• Trending / Future – tell the group where your sector is trending or what is trending.
• Success Stories – tell how you achieved something that others can learn.
• Failure Stories – show some lessons learned through failure.
• Biographies – tell a positive story of a person in your niche – pulling out useful parts that can be applied and used to help others in the aerial-remote-sensing aircrew profession.
• Autobiographies – tell your own professional career story from start to finish or a part of your career, e.g., how you went through flight training and your thoughts then and now.
• Case Studies or Observation – describe a situation, flight, project, or mission that others can learn from, i.e., a spot from history or your history.

What can’t I write about?
We don’t want poetry, fiction, reviews of someone’s else product/work in a negative way (unless you have solid facts & figures), long academic papers, political themes or preachy lectures.

Remember that you are writing colleague to colleague – one peer sharing knowledge with another, i.e., good practices or experiences that cross-checks with other peers and the next generation of peers. Our approach is conversational and casual, and that’s why long academic papers and rambling stories don’t work well either.

However, as I said above, industry white papers, press releases, announcements, wanted request etc. are highly encouraged for the blog board. This specific article of the month initiative focuses on individual members uniquely contributing to the aircrew community and the industries that support it.

What are the guidelines?

• Volunteer and let me know what month or slot you want to fill for this year (deskeditor@aso-group.org ).
• The typical length of an article is 1000 to 1500 words, but we are willing to go a bit shorter or longer. Plus, author-supplied (i.e., you own it) photos are a huge plus. I think a few pictures or graphs tell the story better.
• We are willing to post an article that’s already been published elsewhere if you can prove you own the rights to the material.
• Send your article in a Word document format. Don’t send a link to a blog or a PDF file.
• Include a title and your full name. Plus, a short bio and photo of yourself for the “Meet the ASOG Article of the Month Authors” section.
• Send your article to deskeditor@aso-group.org two weeks before your article month.
• That easy! 

Remember!
If you can hang out in the hanger and tell experiences with your buddies, you have the talent to write it down. I know from my personal corner of the world; I want to hear your unique professional thoughts and stories.

Who knows, next time you go to a BBQ, you can say you’re an ASO and an author!

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG 2020 Focus Areas: Networking

Upper Left Photo: Our roving ambassador George introduced future ASOG members Emmanuel PREVINAIRE/CEO and Yuk Kwan WONG/Exec.Asst. of Flying-Cam at the Singapore Airshow 2020.

Lower Left Photo: ASOG members Brynn ELLIOTT (Police Aviation News / PAvCON Editor) and ambassador George practice the new Singapore Airshow 'handshake' going on this week.

Right Photo: ASOG's Marcus GURTNER (R) and ambassador George (L) introduce future member Ernest NG of ATOS/France.

Joe CHEU of AlpinSun (Singapore) immortalized in the act of signing up to becoming an ASOG member during the preparations for the Singapore Airshow 2020. Witnessed by our ASOG ambassador-at-large George.

Fellow ASOGers, several of you are planning to attend Singapore Airshow this year. Based on yesterday’s reports (7 Feb) regarding the Coronavirus and the airshow, the show is still scheduled to open. However, many companies and organizations are reporting that they’re canceling their participation because of the situation.

For more information, check out the latest news release from the Airshow operators:

Singapore Airshow 2020 will proceed with additional measures to safeguard the well-being and safety of attendees

Top Photo: Nuno VILACA and Abby GONZALEZ of HawkEye360 based in Herndon (VA), future ASOG members, met with our ambassador at the ADECS2020 EW Conference in Singapore today. Pictured below are Nuno, Abby and George.

Bottom Photo: Muhsin Alperen BOLUCEK, CEO, and Tunahan KIRILMAZ, CTO, of TUALCOM, based in Ankara, Turkey, future ASOG members, met with George at ADECS2020 in Singapore

Georg DeCock (ASOG Member and ASOG Ambassador) asked to share this video with his fellow ASOGers. Georg is one of many folks from different companies taking part in this world tour. Currently, they just completed the African leg of the trip and now heading to Asia. The next stop is Singapore Airshow (11 – 16 Feb).

If you want to check out the aircraft and learn more of the integrated special mission kit, reach out and contact Georg via the ASOG Network page for a member to member engagement opportunity.

From an ASOG perspective, this is an excellent opportunity to network and learn something new regarding aerial remote sensing capabilities.

Also, if you want to track the bird as it travels the world, the tail number is C-GVKI. Maybe you’ll have the chance to catch it at an airfield near you.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG 2020 Focus Area: Disseminate and share information related to Aerial Work (AW) aircraft, systems, and equipment.

AVBuyer and GA Buyer Magazine have just launched a new initiative to focus on the Aerial Work or Multi-Mission aviation industry sector. In the past, they concentrated on general aviation and air transportation. Now, they’ll add focused relevant information or intelligence related to specialized services (manned and unmanned) like Aerial Mapping and Surveying, Flight Training, Glider Towing, Airborne Law Enforcement, Aerial Photography and Cinematography, Aerial Fire Fighting, Aerial SAR, COCO C4ISR and more, i.e., what we as ASOs do for a living and the aircraft, systems and equipment we use.

From an ASOG perspective, it’s great to see a media organization focus on our community and provide information that helps with our specific professional development. Also, it’s great that AVBuyer recognizes and supports the efforts and purpose of the Airborne Sensor Operators Group.

If you’re interested, you can view their webpage or subscribe for a paper copy. The webpage is:

Intelligence - Multi-Mission Aircraft Hub

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

***Outstanding*** Per the folks at TerraSense, they want to give a big Thank You to all the ASOG members, followers, and connections that helped with their request. Quote “Thank you very much for posting our wanted ad - we've had a tremendous response from some very well-connected group members.”

As MD of ASOG, I also want to say thank you to everyone who supported, and I’m very pleased with how our community/network responded.

TerraSense Analytics is looking to charter an aircraft (with Airborne Sensor Operator and Pilot) equipped with Wescam MX-15 (or similar) EO/MWIR sensor package to collect maritime target data for testing a software product.

While our firm is Canadian, we are open to travel anywhere in the world.

For more information on the project, please contact admin@terrasense.ca and visit https://www.terrasense.ca/mist/

Like last year, it’s time to review ASOGs focus areas and set new ones for 2020. The due date for inputs is 15 Jan 2020...it would be great to get your feedback and thoughts. The main Categories are:

• ASOG – General
• Networking
• General Professional Standards
• Training
• Certification
• Career Support
• Safety
• Aircraft, Equipment, and Systems
• Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures

The specific focus items are broken-out below. Review and recommend changes or additions. The rationale of the ASOG Focus Areas is to help manage everyone’s interest and efforts regarding individuals participating and outcomes.

Again, ASOG is an open platform/network for professional individuals (like you) to share their experiences and knowledge to help individual career efforts, advance aircrew operations, and improve the aerial remote-sensing profession.

If you have an input, you can easily respond here on the blog page or send me a separate message no-later-than 15 Jan 2020:

As I promised last month regarding the AVBuyer’s Leaders Roundtable Event, here’s a quick recap.

However, before I press forward, I would like to say thank you to those ASOG members who sent topics to bring up or discuss, e.g., standards and training. Also, I would like to say thank you to one of our members - Astrid Ayling - for making it possible for a representative from ASOG (even though I was a non-UK participant) to attend….”Good on you, Astrid!”

The Aviation Leaders Roundtable event took place on 20 Nov 2019 at the Phyllis Court Members Club outside of London. The meeting consisted of representatives from all aspects of UK Aviation: Fixed & Rotor wing Aviation, Multi Mission, Drones, Product & Services, and Associations. Plus, government officials from Westminster and the DfT.

Even though this was a UK focused aviation round table discussion, I believe, based on my engagement with many of you from around the world, the issues and concerns are the same North & South and East & West.

The main topics discussed at the round table were:

• The current state of UK General Aviation and Aerial Work Aviation
• Economic issues within UK Aviation
• Education, Training and the Next Generation
• UK Aviation electronic conspicuity
• UK Drone operations and integration
• DfT “Aviation Ambassadors” and “Reach for the Sky” programs

Overall, the round table event, from an Airborne Sensor Operator perspective, was very interesting and informative, especially in the areas of standards, training, and setting the stage for the next generation of aviators. Some of the challenges highlighted in the discussions and many ways effect the ASO profession were:

• Aviation operations are over regulated and over charged in all aspects;
• Economic and access issues regarding recruitment, training and job opportunities in aviation;
• Standardizing General Aviation and Aerial Work electronic conspicuity; and
• Inconsistency between manned and unmanned aircraft regulations and implementation.

Regarding solutions, the members of the round table highlighted the need for both the aviation community and government to work together to narrow efforts on the following challenges:

• Regulations and Fees – Review, streamline and balance regulations in proportion to local needs & aviation sectors, and be competitive with other countries' aviation programs, i.e., attract students, aviators, and businesses from around the world with high quality, affordable and easily accessible UK aviation programs.
• Recruitment, training, and job opportunities – Implement campaigns to market career opportunities in aviation (especially at the education level), promote best practice training programs concerning next-generation learning intake, and encourage competitive incomes to mitigate people avoiding the aviation industry sector as a career choice.

If you’re interested to know more about this Round Table and/or want to share more of your concerns related to our ASO profession, just let me know. We can add it to ASOG’s 2020 Focus Areas.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG Members, one of our members (Derrick Brydges, Linewise Aerial) is looking for a used FLIR Corona 350 or a SWE Quad 400 for Powerline Inspection in Canada, U.S. and Central America. If you know of any available system, please reach out to Derrick, i.e., you can find him in the ASOG members area or drop me a line and I’ll forward accordingly.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG 2019 Focus Areas: Networking, Professional Development, Trending Technologies

Top Right Photo: L to R, Harry MacLeod, Patrick Ryan, Maxwell Field, Allister Wragg
Bottom Left Photo: L to R, Gustavo Duarte, Georg DeCock, Patrick Ryan

It was a great honor for ASOG and its members to participate in this year's Global Defence Helicopter meeting (Dresden, Germany, 29 -31 Oct). Per our ASOG 2019 Focus Areas, members were able to network, expand their professional knowledge, and track trending technologies. Overall, it was interesting to see the plans, programs and challenges military organizations are dealing with regarding their combat helicopter programs and how industry is trying to fulfill those requirements or mitigate the service's challenges.

Last but not least, I want to give a big thanks to Defence Leaders (Harry MacLeod, Maxwell Field) and Airborne Technologies (Gustavo Duarte) for recognizing the importance of the Airborne Sensor Operator profession and inviting us to this year’s event. Based on cross talking with Defence Leaders Directors (Harry & Max), anticipate more ASO/ASOG focused topics in their event programs. The next applicable event on their schedule that ASO’s can professionally benefit from is the Maritime Search & Rescue Conference (Tallinn, Estonia, 12 – 14 May 2020)....See details on the ASOG Event page.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG 2019 Focus Areas: Professional Development

To stay current on the latest in aerial remote-sensing, I love to check out publications (especially free and open-source) that focus on the three domains Airborne Sensor Operators make a living in (Civil, Public Safety, Defense). One small-business open-source publication I’ve been checking-out for the last eight years is the Police Aviation News. This publication is focused primarily on police aviation but also dives into the other sectors of airborne public safety, i.e., who’s doing what, which flight departments have (or going to buy) certain aircraft/systems, etc. From my perspective, this periodical doesn’t give you the standard five-lines of information but also embeds a certain level of mature operator perspective/commentary in its information. I’m sure the editor has “Ruffled a few feathers” since its publication, but sometimes, a necessary service.

So, if you’re interested, here’s the link, walk-through the pages, and check-out the monthly magazines and special reports. Also, you can find this link in the “ASOG Link-Library”:

Police Aviation News

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG Focus Areas: Professional Development

ASOGers – I thought this would be a good professional development share. If you’re part of the process of deciding on what manned aircraft to acquire or modify for your aerial surveying operation or you want to have professional knowledge regarding aircraft selection, this is a good article to read. Lyndon Yorke (I was honored to meet Lyndon at InterGeo 2019, plus, he’s an ASOG member) does a good job of highlighting current factors that decision makers face and a review of the leading aircraft operating in today’s aerial remote sensing industry sector.

If you have any questions for Lyndon, look him up in the member's area.

Aerial Survey Flying - What are the Options?

AVBuyer | Lyndon Yorke | 15th January 2019

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG 2019 Focus Area: Technology Trends and Application

Maybe some of you might find this interesting. I came across this PPT briefing (see below) the other day when researching a different topic. The briefing reviews four different airborne de-mining trial projects. It’s a bit dated (1996 to 2004); however, it was interesting to see the testing process of how aerial remote sensing could support this requirement, i.e., airborne mine field detection. Speaking of dated, does anyone know if any of these projects have gone beyond test and experimental?

M. Bajic, Aerial survey for mine action: the paradigm, validation, recommendations for standardization, Workshop Inventory and analysis of operationally validated results related to mine action space -and airborne surveys, Scientific Council HCR and CTRO Ltd., Zagreb, Croatia, 30 November 2005.

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)

ASOG 2019 Focus Areas: Advocacy

Again, big thanks to AV Buyer for helping the ASO profession and the multi-mission aviation industry do things a “little bit better.” This latest article highlights the “So What” of adding more rigor to the Airborne Sensor Operator profession. In this case, it relates to those aircrew members working a sensor/mission management system and aviation safety. You can find the article below (hyperlinked) on page 3 (one flip) in the October 2019 GA Buyer Europe magazine.

There’s a Gap in Aviation Safety – GA Buyer Europe Magazine (October 2019)

ASOG 2019 Focus Areas: Professional Development

If you’re looking to expand your professional geospatial footprint and want to participate in an association or society in your part of the world, here’s a great website that appears to have identified and cataloged a great number of organizations from around the globe.

So, if you’re a civil aerial surveying and mapping Airborne Sensor Operator or a mil ASO wanting to transition to the civil side of aerial remote sensing, this is a very good site to help you in your professional development.

World Directory

ASOG 2019 Focus Areas: Technology trends

As many of you know, ASOG is not a commercial project. When we post or share commercial white papers or press releases, it’s for the purpose of helping individual ASOs with professional development, i.e., what’s trending in the different ASO industry sectors, career management and technology, i.e., “keeping you ahead of the aircraft!”

The article below was shared by Astrid (new ASOG member) regarding trending technology. In this case, after flying many hours and collection data, turning that raw data into something that end-users can appreciate. Also, even though the article is focused on drone operations, some of the baseline points the author (Picterra) makes can apply to manned operations.

How Big is the Drone Services Market?

ASOG 2019 Focus Areas – Tactics, Techniques, Tips and Procedures

I know I keep saying “It’s just not a Pilot responsibility,” but I have to say it again. There’re many regulatory responsibilities, and actions pilots are required to know and conduct that Airborne Sensor Operators should have at least a working knowledge. In this case, it’s radio operations. As many of us know, radio operations are a critical part of aviation and the aerial work environment. As a professional crewmember, especially in the civil/commercial aerial remote-sensing sector, it’s important to be skilled in how to operate radios and communicating with others in the flying environment. Having this skill will maximize your utility, situational awareness and value during any flight operation.

So, if you’re new to the profession or you’ve been acting like a passenger and making your fellow crewmember the pilot fly solo, make it a point to train up. To get you started, here’s a collection of useful links that will give you a professional level of knowledge and capability to help you aviate, navigate, and communicate with your fellow crewmembers:

AOPA Radio Communications and ATC (Online Course / Free / Registration required)

Talking to Air Traffic Control | Radio Basics | ATC Communications (Video / Free)

RADIOTELEPHONY COMMUNICATIONS 1 HANDBOOK (PDF/Free)

PlaneEnglish - The Aviation Radio Simulator (App / Subscription)

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick)