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?

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: Astrid Ayling

Are you keeping up with technology and how it plays in your aircrew life? Articles and white papers from companies are one of the best sources of information regarding new technology or the application of technology in the ASO world.

Here’s an article posted in AVBuyer magazine Multi-Mission / Aerial Work aviation section, i.e., how mobile phones are used as emergency beacons in Search & Rescue operations. It provides a simple overview of how the technology works and one type system on the market today.

If you want to learn more about this technology, one of our ASOG members (Peter Myers) is a Subject Matter Expert (SME), i.e., just reach out to him via the ASOG web mail service with your questions.

Mobile Phone as an Emergency Beacon

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Networking

Shared By: George DeCock

ASOG members Konstantin Krivovs and roving Ambassador George meet at MiliPol 2021 in Paris with the newest Penguin C VTOL UAV. The nose section turns 180 degrees upward for safe landing.

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Industry Support

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

Excellent news! We are proud to announce DEA Aviation Ltd is now an ASOG Corporate Supporter. Again, It's great to see the industry recognize the ASO profession and our group's efforts.

DEA Aviation is a UK-headquartered aircraft operations, management and maintenance service provider. They meet their customers’ specific and diverse requirements by creating custom solutions using their specialized hardware, equipment and personnel. Their services include:

• Airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
• Land and environmental survey and analysis
• Specialized commercial air transport
• EASA Part M and Part 145 and other regulatory bodies aircraft management and maintenance.

If you want to learn more about DEA, check them out on the ASOG Corporate Supporter page (click their Logo). Also, you can "Friend" Emma Taylor and send her a message via the ASOG e-mail service.

ASOG Article of the Month: October 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

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

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

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

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Industry Support

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

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

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

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

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

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

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

MAG Aerospace awarded UN contract for ISR aircraft in Mali

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

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

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

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

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

Crew Resource Management in SAR and HEMS Operations

ASOG Article of the Month: September 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: Gustavo Duarte

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

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

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

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

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Career Management

Shared By: Georg DeCock

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

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

Virtual Interviewing: A Step-by-Step Guide

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Shared By: ASOG Desk Editor

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

Aerial Broadcasting: The Bird's Eye View

ASOG Article of the Month: August 2021

Shared By: ASOG Desk Editor

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

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

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

What I Learned While Eavesdropping on the Taliban

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: Education & Training

Posted By: ASOG Education Center

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

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

TACTICAL FLIGHT OFFICER (TFO) COURSE

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

TACTICAL DRONE OPERATOR COURSE

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

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

ASOG 2021 Focus Area: News & Information

Posted By: ASOG Desk Editor

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

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

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

ASOG Desk Editor (Patrick Ryan)

 IMSAR Radar Solutions for Maritime Applications

Sandia National Laboratories – “What is SAR?”