ASOG 2022 Focus Area: ASOG Article of the Month – March 2022

ASOG Author: Patrick Ryan

Pilots are not the only living organism on the flight deck affected by human frailties. “Task Fixation”—the cousin of “Task saturation”—is another common psychological concept that at best causes financial ruin and, at worst, takes many lives in aviation.

Fixation causes all cognitive capacity to focus on one task. If this task is something other than flying the aircraft or managing the big picture of the mission, then the potential for an accident or mission failure rises exponentially. Furthermore, fixation is not just a single pilot issue, but everyone on a flight crew (e.g., ASOs), as highlighted in many accident reports worldwide.

Based on many studies in the aviation safety community, the top-level fixation causes are equipment problems, abnormal situations, and task fixation.

Equipment Problems – Equipment problems range from malfunctioning gear indicator lights, mission sensors, or erroneous systems (e.g., the piss tube is frozen) as some of the things that cause crews to fixate.

Abnormal Situation – Abnormal situation is an out-of-the-ordinary event that disrupts the orderly sequence of expected events or focus. The crew often tends to focus all cognitive capacity on resolving the abnormality or non-routine event, even when there is “no” emergency, such as dealing with a non-critical piece of equipment, e.g., a personal smartphone not behaving correctly.

Task Fixation - The final primary cause of fixation is task fixation. In this case, the crew concentrates exclusively on a task that is secondary to basic aircraft control, such as navigating around terrain, resulting in the aircraft being flown into the ground, or keeping one eye out of the aircraft from multiple crew positions to avoid a mid-air collision.

To mitigate this human frailty, learn to recognize when you and your crew are getting too deep into something and not keeping up with your routine Aviate, Navigate & Communicate duties. For example, is the aircraft still flying the way it should be, are you keeping an eye on traffic, are you heading in the right direction, and are you maintaining routine communication discipline internally & externally of the aircraft.

So, if you don’t want to return home to your family or dispense with your savings, get “fixated” on “not getting fixated!”

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information

 Shared By: ASOG Desk Editor | Written By: Mike Chase, AvBuyer Magazine

If you’ve been in the manned aerial remote-sensing aircraft business (e.g., Aerial Surveying, C4ISR, Airborne Law Enforcement, Aerial Firefighting, etc.) for some time, you’ve probably been involved with selecting a new aircraft for your mission. Or, if you’re new to the ASO career field, you'll probably be asked at some point what fits best for your job and type of mission.

To help you provide a smart and serious answer here’s a good starting point to help you organize your professional thoughts and provide an intelligent recommendation. Mike Chase, a writer for AvBuyer magazine, runs a series of articles on comparing aircraft, i.e., turboprops, helicopters to jets.

Specifically, Mike highlights the pro & cons, prices, and values of the world’s top aircraft models, including aircraft manufactured by Beechcraft, Cessna, Airbus, Daher, Bell, Pilatus, and Piper.

So, after reviewing Mike’s articles, what is the best aircraft for your aerial remote-sensing mission and why?

Aircraft Comparisons

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information (#Aerialmapping&surveying, #UAS, #LiDAR)

Shared By| Source: ASOG Desk Editor | Podtail – 8 Jul 2020, Harnessing Aerial – Drone Podcast (00:28:19)

Podcast - Aerial Mapping, Creating Surveying Partnerships, Drone LiDAR & More With Ryan McCutchen of Drone View Photography

What You Will Learn:

• (5:15) How Drone View Photography partners with civil engineering and smaller surveying firms to offer drone based LiDAR imaging services
• (5:30) What is LiDAR and how it works from an aerial perspective when compared to land surveying
• (7:10) Use cases for aerial LiDAR imaging
• (7:50-9:30) Strategy for overcoming the cost barrier to get into drone-based LiDAR
• (8:33) Typical costs of a LiDAR scanner
• (10:00) How you can effectively partner with other drone companies to acquire a shared LiDAR sensor and how to manage logistics to create a mutually beneficial relationship
• (11:15) Why renting a LiDAR scanner can be an effective strategy for getting into aerial LiDAR to start with
• (13:45) How to find & begin partnerships with surveying firms as a drone service provider and how to structure them to create a win win relationship for both sides
• (16:40) How you can overcome client objections related to cost of using LiDAR and demonstrating the ROI clients will receive if they invest
• (17:00) How a subcontractor model can be an effective way to support land surveyors with your aerial LiDAR services so you become a partner not a competitor
• (18:30) Typical turnaround times for LiDAR processing vs traditional timelines for land-based surveying
• (20:40) Tips for drone pilots and service providers that have multiple businesses and commitments to juggle their workload effectively
• (23:55) Why outsourcing aspects of your workflow and creating great partnerships can free up your bandwidth and open more doors for your drone service business.

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: Education (#Airborne Public Safety, #UAS, #Bestpractices)

Shared By| Source: ASOG Education Center | Youtube-DJI Enterprise, Sept 13, 2021

As part of ASOG’s mission to promote standards and best practices for all non-rated/ASO crewmembers in the commercial, public safety and defense sectors, here’s a great airborne law enforcement video highlighting best practices regarding drone (UAS) law enforcement operations.

If you didn’t know, The Law Enforcement Drone Association (LEDA) is an organization formed by law enforcement officers with a passion for bringing drones into the public safety sector for good. They are focused on training with regional law enforcement UAS Teams, and agencies with a desire to start UAS programs.

In this webinar, attendees will have the chance to learn from specific real scenarios experienced by the panellists, how drones were deployed, and the lessons learned. Additionally, the panellists will guide the attendees on best practices and frameworks for setting UAS Programs for law enforcement agencies.

Chapters:

• 00:00 Intro to LEDA and Speakers
• 08:00 Hit & Run Drone Deployment Success Case
• 15:30 Incident Debrief
• 23:00 Why was LEDA created?
• 27:30 UAS Program Goals
• 32:10 Hurdles & Challenges to Overcome
• 42:50 Logs & Documentation
• 47:40 Training
• 50:50 Justify your UAS Program
• 55:30 How to join LEDA?
• 1:00:00 Q&A

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: Chris Pocock

One of the most famous airborne sensing platform is the U-2 Dragon Lady. Outside the mainstream news, the U-2 is still very active and unique in its operation. Chris Pocock thought it would be a great idea to share current news about the U-2 program with the ASOG community. If you didn’t know, Chris is probably the number one expert on the U-2. Chris has written several books and published “The Dragon Lady Today.”

Suppose you’re like me regarding staying up-to-speed to all things Aerial Remote Sensing, i.e., commercial, public safety & defense; receiving Chris’s newsletter is a great source of professional information. So with that, enjoy Chris’s latest post.

Patrick Ryan | Acting ASOG Desk Editor

“INVISIBLE” U-2 PLAYS ITS PART IN UKRAINE SURVEILLANCE

ASOG Article of the Month: February 2022

ASOG Author: Patrick Ryan

As the acting ASOG Desk Editor, I routinely scan the internet for news & information that benefits you, the Airborne Sensor Operator professional members. The other day as I was jumping around to different sites, I came across a Q & A discussion on Reddit that I thought was very relevant to many members and future operators, i.e., what are the in's & out's of ditching your desk job for the cockpit?

With that, below is the discussion. Garret_TheFerret posted the question (a future ASO looking for information), and TheAbdBoy (an ASO manager at an Aerial Surveying company in Canada) providing very good career management information.

So, enjoy the discussion and if you're like TheFerret, I hope it helps you with your career choice. Also, for the veteran civil ASOs in the group, if you have something to add, please call it out. Remember, like with so many other professional career fields - networking, mentoring & cross-talking makes our profession stronger + safe and sound.  

Post: Garrett_TheFerret, 8 years ago

Hey guys, I came across a local job posting for an aerial survey observer/navigator, and I'm really interested in taking it. I'm one of those guys who spent most of his teen years playing Flight Sim and I've taken a handful of lessons, but I haven't been able to make the financial leap into getting my license yet. I think this may be a great opportunity to get my foot in the door, but I just have a few questions for guys who are familiar with the business.

What's the typical pay?

Do most guys stick around for awhile? I understand pilots tend to use this as an hour building gig before moving on, but what about operators? Why/why not?

The description says I would be operating LIDAR and photogrammetry equipment; what should I learn about this tech before I interview? I obviously have no experience with it but I do want to know what I'm getting into before I speak with these guys.

What else should I know before I ditch my desk job to try this? I want to know what the day to day life is like and whether it would be a wise career choice for someone like me, who aspires to fly professionally someday but currently has zero experience.

Thanks in advance for your guys' input!

Post: TheAbdBoy, 8 yr. Ago

I'm breaking my comment-ginity for you, because I'm currently in the process of hiring and training Sensor Operators at the aerial surveying company I work for in Alberta. I also occasionally jump in the plane and operate the equipment every once in a while.

Starting pay is between $18.30CAD/hour - $21.60CAD/hour

Pilots do not really stick around, they build their hours and then move onto bigger planes. We also don't fly in the winter because snow tends to ruin photos and LIDAR data, so the pilots who want to continue to fly in the winter usually end up working somewhere else. The sensor operators we hire are Geomatics Engineering Technologist (Geospatial Technologists in the US) and they like to stick around because we offer both field and office work related to their schooling. During our flying season they'll be operating the equipment, and in the winter, they'll be working on the data they collected. The sensor operators that leave are typically the people we hired that were overqualified for the job and they moved onto things that were better for them.

For our company, we hire Geomatics Engineering Technologists or people with a similar background. These people will have gone through a two-year diploma program, and some even have gone through a four-year engineering program. Depending on the company, you will probably need a diploma or experience in a geospatial related field to be considered. The equipment can require a bit of extensive knowledge on how they work. I personally think understanding the theory behind aerial survey flight plans is critical, because it will help you make some decisions in the air when ATC does not let you fly what you originally planned. It will also help you make decisions about navigation tolerances when the pilot is flying lines in turbulence. You can find the basics on aerial survey flight planning through Google.

The weather determines when you fly and how long you are working for. Sometimes you'll be away from home for a long time and feel overworked. Expect to be working on weekends and holidays. The sun determines how long your days are and in the summer, and the days can be long (at least when you do photo surveying, you can't take photos or fly around mountains in the dark). The good news is that you typically fly when it's SKC. The best part about it is being able to explore your country. I got to travel all over Canada, and on some bad photo weather days I got to do some fun things, such as kayaking in the mountains. If you want to do sensor operating as a career, I recommend getting a Geomatics Technology diploma first. If you want to fly for a career, you should finish your flight training. I've done over 500 hours of sensor operation and none of that counts towards my PPL!

Just to add a few things, having a interest in aviation for this job is a great asset! Most sensor operators do not understand the aviation side of aerial surveying, which can be quite frustrating at times because they don't understand the things pilots can't do (e.g. fly in icing conditions, fly into CYR airspace without permission, etc.). Working as a sensor operator in the plane also helps a lot as a student pilot. I'm currently working on my PPL, and I noticed I had slight advantages over other students. Working as a sensor operator in the plane allowed me to listen to the radio, become familiar with my home airspace, and become familiar with procedures with different airports and airspaces.

If you have any more questions about aerial surveying, feel free to ask me. I'm also an absolute nerd when it comes to the geomatics industry, so feel free to ask me about that too.

Posted: Garrett_TheFerret, 8 yr. Ago

Thank you very much for your reply. My google searches on the subject have turned up a ton of input from pilots, so it's great to hear your perspective on the industry. I want to ask you more questions so I'll be PMing you soon.

Original Link: Aerial Survey Operators/Observers

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: Astrid Ayling

Astrid shared this article from the Feb 2022 GA Buyer Magazine “Aerial Work” section, i.e., the magazine she edits. She thought her fellow ASOG members and others would find it informative since it’s one of the “focus points” of the ASO profession.

Discover the Image Makers of Aerial Work Aviation

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

ASOG Core Members,

FYI, check your inbox (or spam box) for January's ASOG e-Newsletter. The January e-Newsletter has a lot of new information regarding jobs, new members, corporate supporters, ASOG's Flight Plan for 2022, and more.

For visitors, to join the core group and to start receiving the ASOG monthly e-Newsletter, go to the upper right-hand corner of the ASOG homepage and click the "Sign-Up" button…that easy!

ASOG 2022 Focus Areas: News & Information, Industry Support

Shared By: Churchill Navigation – SHOTOVER (CEO, Tom Churchill)

This just came into the ASOG Desk Editors inbox from one of our ASOG Corporate Supports – Churchill Navigation (now SHOTOVER). Tom is a connection and member of the ASOG LinkedIn group. If you want to learn more about SHOTOVER and their products, go to the ASOG Corporate Supporter page and click on their logo.

In the year since SHOTOVER and Churchill Navigation merged, Brad Hurndell and I have worked together to ensure the new, combined SHOTOVER Systems is stronger and more innovative than ever. 

With SHOTOVER's change in leadership that came a year ago, we also began a process of ensuring continuity as our company evolves. While Brad Hurndell has recently departed SHOTOVER, the vision, the knowledge base and the team dedicated to unrivaled level of service remains, so you can rest assured that we are in an excellent position to continue supporting your needs.

Our VP of Gimbal Sales, Gordon Barry, will continue providing advice related to our products and services. Charlie Dowson Park, Aziel Mohammed, Nick Sprague and the rest of the worldwide support staff will continue ensuring all SHOTOVER products perform well. And our electrical, mechanical, and software engineering teams – all of which have grown substantially – are hard at work designing the next generation of products for the creative industry, while also enabling customers to recognize additional revenue by pursuing work in the utility, firefighting, and other markets.

The results of this effort will be on full display at this year’s NAB show:

• A gimbal simulator that will allow operators the ability to develop proficiency while training on the ground in a realistic environment as well as conduct pre-flight rehearsals
• Advanced motion control capabilities that will enable more sophisticated creative possibilities
• Beacons that can be attached to anything to enable automatic camera following
• Real-time augmented reality graphics that work seamlessly with SHOTOVER gimbals
• And much more

These new capabilities are largely driven by software – and software, unlike hardware, can easily be upgraded at no cost – meaning even more goodness is yet to come. 

Image: Hoover Dam with Augmented Reality Overlays from 10,000 feet,

Canon 50-1000mm lens, SHOTOVER M1

Our entire team is looking forward to showing you what we’ve been up to during the pandemic, and we hope to be able to see you in person soon! 

Best wishes,

Tom Churchill  

CEO, SHOTOVER Systems

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: George DeCock

Hey everyone, this might be of interest to some of you. Below is an article that compares the new 8K video format against the present 4K – and puts the 8K ‘advantages’ in perspective based on viewing the video on the ground.  For airborne operations these ground conditions don’t apply (very large screen size, operator-to-screen distance, etc),  except for the ability to have greater digital zoom.  But for post-mission analysis, via 8K recording or air-ground RF transmission, this may open up some more ‘visibility’ into target images. (GIZMODO, By Daniel Kolitz, 3 Jan 2022)

Can You Really Tell the Difference Between 4K and 8K?

ASOG Article of the Month: January 2022

ASOG Author: Patrick Ryan

More than a Pilot, you are the person expected (or should be expected) on a flight crew to know how the invisible and visible world of energy affects a wide range of things in a single flight or mission, i.e., sensor operations, data links, and even inflight smartphone usage. So, where are you on the map of understanding the basics of the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

Without saying, the word "Airborne Sensor Operator" projects you're the high-tech expert to others. But, especially when it comes to collection systems and aspects of what is going on in your particular Aerial Work flight operation. If you didn't perceive this sense, you need to "pickup your game" to help improve your working knowledge and aerial collection efforts.

So with that, what is the electromagnetic spectrum and its importance to you as an ASO?

ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM 101

At its core, The electromagnetic (EM) spectrum is the scale of all types of EM radiation. Radiation is energy that travels and spreads out as it goes – the visible light that comes from a lamp in your house and the radio waves that come from a radio station are two types of electromagnetic radiation. The other kinds of EM radiation that make up the electromagnetic spectrum are microwaves, infrared light, ultraviolet light, X-rays, and gamma-rays. (NASA CILab, 2016)

Electromagnetic radiation can be described as a stream of mass-less particles, called photons, each traveling in a wave-like pattern at the speed of light. Each photon contains a certain amount of energy. The different types of radiation are defined by the amount of energy found in the photons. For example, radio waves have photons with low energies, and microwave photons have a little more energy than radio waves, infrared photons have still more, then visible, ultraviolet, X-rays, and, the most energetic of all, gamma-rays. (NASA GSFC, 2013)

WHY SHOULD YOU LEARN ABOUT THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM?

ASOs who choose to learn about the electromagnetic spectrum not only gain the skills needed to understand complex sensors and systems (e.g., EO/IR, LiDAR, SAR, etc.) but come away with strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, as well as technical understanding necessary to succeed in the ASO world. In fact, having a basic understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum can be helpful for professionals in all industries, not just in aviation and remote-sensing.

ADVANTAGES OF LEARNING ABOUT THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

Here's a look at several advantages of learning about the electromagnetic spectrum and how it can benefit your aerial remote sensing organization, flight crew, and career:

• You'll Expand Your Vocabulary - Whether it's wavelength, hertz, or reflection, learning about the electromagnetic spectrum will give you confidence in fundamental terms needed to understand how systems operate and their relationship to the environment. Even if you don't use these words often in your current role, learning about these spectrum terms and principles will give you a better understanding of operational dynamics as a whole and how they apply to your work. Plus, depending on where you work, it will help you better communicate with clients, supervisors, and other co-workers.
• You'll Put New Knowledge into Practice - Electromagnetic spectrum isn't just learning a fancy set of terms and numbers; it's actually using them to understand, explain or manage the electronic sensors and systems you operate. When you understand this science, you can use principles and frameworks to assess situations and make a variety of operational decisions, e.g., whether to operate a LiDAR system in high sun angles and reflection conditions or the best ways to maximize an EO/IR sensor during certain kinds of conditions and environments.
• You'll Improve Your Career Prospects – Learning about the electromagnetic spectrum can improve your employability in various aerial remote sensing industry sectors. For example, here are a few job requirements taken from several different job posting which requires a candidate to have a good or excellent understanding of the spectrum:
  • “Experience and understanding of Remote Sensing”
  • “In-aircraft equipment alignment, calibration, and testing”
  • “Operating airborne LiDAR, digital imaging systems, and GPS instruments”
  • “Monitor the quality of GPS, image data performance”
  • “Routine maintenance and troubleshooting of laser sensor, GPS equipment, and other in-flight equipment”

OPTIONS FOR STUDYING THE ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM

There are many routes available for those looking to learn about the electromagnetic spectrum. Depending on your personal and professional goals, your current stage in life, and other important factors, you can learn about the spectrum from the comfort of your smartphone to taking a course at a local college.

So, if you are itching to get started to learn or just want to refresh yourself on the basics of the electromagnetic spectrum, here are a few sources that I think are perfect for the job:

• Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum (NASA, Video)
• Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum (NASA, Booklet)
• Electromagnetic Spectrum (Wikipedia, Article)

Whether you're new to the Airborne Sensor Operator world or an experienced ASO, having a thorough understanding of how radiation energy affects your job is essential to success.

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: Industry Support

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

It’s an honor to have a new corporate supporter who’s goal is to improve the Aerial Fire Fighting sector and to ensure our communities are safe from the devastating effects of wildfires. We are beyond delighted to announce - FireFlight Technologies Pty. Ltd – is now a new ASOG Corporate Supporter.

If you didn’t know, FireFlight Technologies provides real time wildfire intelligence using thermal sensors mounted on manned aircraft and UAVs. The FireFlight system comprises thermal imaging sensors; high precision GPS; flight management software; real time image processing algorithms; and web-delivery technology. The system delivers geospatially accurate fire maps to users in real time.

If you want to learn more about FireFlight Technologies and their products, check them out on the ASOG Corporate Supporter page (clicking their Logo). – OR - You can "Friend" David Bradshaw (Operations Manager at FireFlight Technologies) and send him a message via the ASOG e-mail service.

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: AVBuyer, 23rd December 2021, Astrid Ayling

Have you ever thought you could have a large, hazardous pipeline underneath or near your neighbourhood? If so, you probably wondered “How is the pipeline industry keeping these pipes safe?” AVBuyer ‘unearths’ the truth of how one part of this industry, the Pipeline Patrol and ASOs of Aerial Work aviation, is part of that safety net, ensuring those critical lines are safe and effective.

Discover the Pipeline Monitors of Aerial Work Aviation

ASOG 2022 Focus Area: News & Information

Source: PictureCorrect, August 21st, 2017, Paul Schlismann

If you are interested in breaking into the ASO career field of Aerial Photography, here is a good article from a veteran professional Aerial Photographer. Paul provides many sensible tips and best practices when it comes to taking images from a moving aircraft.

BASICS OF AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY FROM AN AIRPLANE OR HELICOPTER

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Industry Support

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

Once again, It's great to see industry recognize the ASO profession and our group's efforts. We are happy to announce another new ASOG Corporate Supporter this week and the start of the New Year – FLYSIGHT.

FlySight S.r.l., as a part of the Flyby Group, is the subsidiary company dedicated to the defence and security sector. This specific company was born exploiting the years of Flyby experience in satellite remote sensing and data analytics.

FlySight team is specialized in designing and developing cutting-edge software in the field of C4ISR systems (Command, Control, Computer, Communication for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance).

If you want to learn more about FlySight and their products, check them out on the ASOG Corporate Supporter page (clicking their Logo). Also, you can "Friend" Andrea Masini (CTO at FlySight Srl & Board of Director at Flyby Srl at FlySight) and send him a message via the ASOG e-mail service.

ASOG Article of the Month: December 2021

ASOG Author: Patrick Ryan

How do professional Airborne Sensor Operators (ASO) keep from making errors regarding operating sensors and aircraft systems? Plus, how do they backup other crew members during flight operations? The answer is professional ASOs use the "Checklist."

As I've said many times before, many actions, procedures, and responsibilities are not on the shoulders of one crew member, i.e., the pilot. Everyone on a flight crew, be it rated crewmembers to non-rated, should be applying the same practices, methods, and techniques. In this case, it's Checklist Discipline.

In aviation, a checklist is a list of tasks that aircrew should perform during all phases of flight. Specifically, aircrew use checklists for normal and non-normal operations, be it the aircraft or specialized systems (e.g., sensors, mission management systems, data links, etc.): for routine situations, landings, take-offs, collection operations, malfunctions, and emergencies.

There are many ways to ensure critical and non-critical tasks are accomplished regarding any flight operation. However, one method heavily used by many aircrews (manned and unmanned aircraft) in aviation is the "Flow-Check" method. This method is based on an aircrew member training and gaining experience with a particular aircraft or remote-sensor system to quickly and correctly accomplish all critical tasks required for flight and the mission.

The "Flow – Check" Method

First, a checklist means you use the list to check things. It's not meant to be a to-do-list. If you use a checklist as a to-do-list, you only have one opportunity to catch an error. If you have a preflight sensor flow followed by a checklist review, you have two chances to catch a mistake.

Flow

The flow part of this method consists of conducting actions from memory in a logical direction, say from left to right or up and down in the cockpit, crew compartment, or drone operation area. A preflight flow, for example, typically involves checking nearly every switch and system as well as circuit breakers and emergency equipment. Subsequent flows are typically shorter but nearly always follow a logical order.

One technique used to help with remembering what to check and in what order to flow is a mnemonic device. A mnemonic device is a simple acronym that breaks down a particular checklist into hunks and chunks. Here is an example of such an aviation mnemonic device:

Check

Regarding checking, there is also a discipline in using checklists. Checklists are usually printed on a card or kneeboard size page, sometimes laminated, and often folded vertically or lengthways. A single page is divided into many separate checklists. Additionally, checklists are presented electronically on a screen with newer aircraft, though a hard copy is always available.

Disruptions are the most common form of checklist mistakes. Some practices to apply to be sure the checklist gets continued to accomplishment is to recall your place or you can keep your finger on the point where you stopped. Can't remember where you left off? Just start over if you are not sure.

Professional aircrew members also use various techniques to ensure they don't forget to do a checklist. Usually, they leave the checklist in a prominent place (i.e., in front of a sensor operator workstation screen or on a kneeboard) to not be forgotten. There are numerous ways to cover your tail when using checklist, and different aircraft require different disciplines.

Improving Your Discipline

As a non-rated aircrew member, you don't need the same level of knowledge or experience as rated crewmembers when flying the aircraft. However, what makes a true professional non-rated aircrew member or Airborne Sensor Operator is having a baseline knowledge of the task for each phase of flight.

One technique is to learn aviation mnemonic devices for each phase of flight. With this general level of knowledge, one can back up the pilot(s) or assist in accomplishing these tasks. Additionally, running these acronyms in your head will improve your Situational Awareness (SA) and keep you "ahead-of-the-jet."

Another technique, and depending on the type of aircraft you fly and your crew position, you can support the pilot or UAS operator by reading aloud in a "challenge/response format" items on the checklist. Basically, you read the checklist task, and the pilot calls out the completion of the task. By doing this, you improve your knowledge while you ensure your flight runs safely and smoothly.

Checklist Complete

As you can tell, using a checklist is a critical practice to ensure that mistakes like damaging a million-dollar sensor or landing gear-up don't happen. However, checklist discipline doesn't have to be complicated or a nuisance. Instead, applying some basic methods, techniques, and practices can be a quick, correct, and reassuring process.

So, the next time you're scheduled to fly, take a few minutes, review your crew position checklist, and see if you can improve on them. Additionally, to grow as a professional non-rated aircrew member or ASO, stretch yourself and learn about other crew position checklist and task with an eye on safety, SA, and teamwork.

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

If we had an ASOG video of the month showing what our members do and what our profession is about, this would definitely be the winner for this month. One of our core ASOG members (Ax Verhij) is the clip's star. According to Ax remarks on LinkedIn:

"A short promotional video originally intended for the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard website, explaining what a Sensor Operator does and what the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard Dash 8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is capable of in terms of SAR and Counter Drug Operations in the Caribbean.

This video is in Dutch since it's mainly focused on the local Dutch viewers but still contains interesting footage that's probably recognizable to most of my fellow followers/colleagues in the ISR Aviation industry."

If you want to know more, you can "Friend" Ax here on the ASOG homepage and PM him on the ASOG e-mail service.

"Great job Ax! Keep up the Great Work!"

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor | Mark Pomerleau, C4ISRNET, Dec 16, 2021

I thought this was an interesting article to share with the group. I came across this article published by C4ISRNET – "US Air Force cyber team demonstrates first-ever in-flight mission." It highlights the demonstration of cyber warfare teams conducting in-flight operations. That's a first for me. It's great to see the Airborne Sensor Operator profession and EW world innovating and expanding, i.e., the Airborne Sensor Operator career field continues to thrive and grow.

US Air Force cyber team demonstrates first-ever in-flight mission

ASOG Focus Area 2021: News & Information

Shared By: Astrid Ayling

This article came in from one of our members (Astrid Ayling). Astrid thought it would be informative and educational for the community.

What does a rescue helicopter sound like to a victim when approaching? “Joy, Reassurance, Hope?” Suppose you want to know how Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters bring relief to victims and their families. In that case, one of ASOGs Corporate Supports highlights the unique elements of this critical lifesaving operation and how the helicopter gets the job done.

The Leading Edge of Search & Rescue Operations: Aerial Work Helicopters

ASOG Article of the Month: November 2021

ASOG Author: Patrick Ryan

As of today, the ASO profession, in general, is not recognized or formalized by many civil aviation authorities around the world. Why is this, and what can be done to professionalize this aircrew position and improve Aviation Safety?

Aviation Safety concerns are the most relevant in all aviation sectors, be it GA, Airlines, and Aerial Work aviation. This is because so many human lives are always at stake, making it worth all the right reasons to improve on it. Additionally, in the civil aviation sector (especially in the Aerial Work aviation community), the economic effect of an accident or regulatory violation can be a disaster regarding staying in business for many medium and small companies.

One of the primary reasons accidents & violations happen is due to human error in the cockpit and between the various crew members. The fuel that usually feeds human error is a lack of professionalism, skills, and a poor safety mindset at different levels within the various career fields that make up the aviation community.

So, What do I Mean by "Missing Link."

The "Link "that I'm talking about is the civil non-rated Airborne Sensor Operator (ASO) career field. This profession is a global group of highly skilled technical individuals focused, along with rated pilots, on collecting information or data from an aircraft for critical governments and commercial-type applications. For instance:

• Aerial Surveying & Mapping
• Aerial Photography
• Aerial Cinematography
• Aerial Videography
• Flight Inspection
• Aerial Agriculture
• Aerial Firefighting
• Aerial Maritime Patrol
• Aerial Search & Rescue
• Airborne Law Enforcement
• Airborne Command & Control
• Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance
• Airborne Electronic Warfare
• And more….

Since the beginning of man flight, ASOs have directly participated as crew members in civil and military aerial remote sensing operations. Today, hundreds and even thousands of individuals operate as ASOs on and off-board a manned or unmanned aircraft worldwide and across the spectrum of Aerial Work aviation. To highlight this point, search the internet and what you'll find are many job postings for:

• Airborne Sensor Operator
• Payload Operator
• Aerial Survey Operator
• Aerial Photographer
• Tactical Flight Officer
• Aerial cinematographer
• And many more…

However, ASO's have been overlooked or ignored by the global aviation community regarding standards, training, and developing a safety mindset equal to rated Pilots, Flight Dispatchers, and Flight Engineers. Again, search the internet, and you'll find very little regarding specific civil aviation regulations or non-government organizations producing or promoting standards for this profession, i.e., the Civil Aviation Authorities, industry, and the aviation world, in general, are not "closing the link."  

Bottomline - The aviation sector is failing not to recognize and take action to mitigate a source of risk.

Passenger vs. Aircrew Member

When it comes to the question of what is an ASO, one would argue that there is no safety "Missing Link" because the Airborne Sensor Operator is just a:

• "Passenger"
• The "Guy in Back" (GIB)
• "Self-Loading Luggage"
• Some person who babysits a sensor on a tethered Aerostat
• "The Dude standing next to me operating the camera on my drone"

Additionally, others would argue that individual civil ASO's are not in direct control of the aircraft like a Pilot or Flight Engineer, which mitigates them as a link in the risk management process. Therefore, no need to establish and enforce standards for this aircrew profession.

Plus, others would say civil ASO's should informally mirror pilot & remote pilot standards and best practices to meet the job's critical safety & task expectations. But, in general, it should not bother the established civil aviation community with another area of improvement. Or industry should hire from the various militaries worldwide for well-trained ASO's.

The counter-argument to this is the true intent of Civil Aviation Safety – "Mitigate Risk." The means of mitigating this risk is to identify areas of improvement and apply the appropriate actions or efforts in a rigorous & standardized manner. 

In this case – Airborne Sensor Operators. Allowing a group of professionals to participate in flight activities without universal guidance and oversight is a formula for trouble. Developing and implementing mechanisms to professionalize the ASO aircrew position, the civil aviation community will shave off accident percentages, ASOs will improve their skills, and commercial firms will protect their bottom-line.

Closing the Missing Link

Like with any problem, there is a solution. In this case, the solution is no different than the qualification process used for rated crewmembers, i.e., standards, training, and certification.

Standards

The first step is to establish and publish standards. This action consists of civil aviation authorities (ICAO, CAA, FAA, EASA, etc.) to recognize this aircrew position and establish basic operating standards. Doing so will provide an authoritative framework for non-government organizations (Associations, Aviation Societies, Industry, etc.) to refine & improve specific non-rated ASO/flight crew safety and qualification programs, i.e., Professionalize with safety and improvement mindset.

Training

The second step is to establish ASO training programs focused on airmanship and remote-sensing knowledge linked to the above civil aviation and industry standards. To achieve this training, non-governmental organizations (Flight Schools, etc.) would develop and offer dedicated training courses for ASO crewmembers beyond what is offered today.

Formal ASO training for ASO's will educate a group of active flying participants who lacked access to such training in the past. Without a doubt, this approach will help expand the expertise within manned and unmanned flight operations and diminish some of the risks associated with flying.

Certification

The third and final step is to establish professional Certifications to formally validate an individual ASO's level of knowledge and experience. Like with other aviation professions establishing a global certification system will enhance the professionalism of the ASO/Aircrew member career field while providing commercial & non-commercial entities the means to mitigate risk by hiring quickly & correctly with a standard qualification criterion.

Bottomline

Again, It appears the aviation community has a "Missing Link" in its safety perspective. The link is related to a particular highly skilled aviation group, in this case, the Airborne Sensor Operator.

As of today, the ASO profession, in general, is not recognized or formalized by many civil aviation authorities around the world. Because of this, the ASO profession lacks the formalization to guide participants to the next level of professionalism & a safety mindset equal to other critical aviation careers fields. By incrementally formalizing this profession through standards, training, and certification programs, the aviation community as a whole, as it should, can improve its safety margins!

However, today, the aviation industry sector is failing not to recognize and take action to mitigate a source of risk. It doesn't make sense. Why the non-action?