1. SAFE FLYING OPERATIONS
SYSTEM
This document has been formulated by Kamaljit Singh Jassal,
a formal Commander of Indian Navy.
He is presently working as Country Manager, FLIR Systems.
Ideas and Opinions expressed are personal and not attributed
to any Organization.
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SAFE FLYING OPERATIONS
SYSTEM
1. INTRODUCTION. Armed Forces around the world are meant to operate
in Harms way. While doing so, many challenges are faced by the
Aviation forces, which operate in hazardous climate that not only
causes the wear tear on the machinery but also external objects,
particles/ residues cause enormous damage to high speed machinery
or sometime the whole aircraft. Such objects which are generally
referred as FOD (Foreign Object Damage) may have come flying from
the environment or may have parted of from the previous landed/
taken off aircraft. The whole flying operations arena is charged with
discipline and drills and sometimes human errors also creep in,
inadvertently due to oversight or overconfidence. Many technical
challenges are also faced which complicates the environment. A simple
‘have’ RF transmission or ‘have not’ zip lip (no transmission policy) in
an forward area brings added dimensions in an open tarmac which is
prone to all vagaries of weather, challenging the human body to its
fatigue.
2. OPERATIONS. Typically, in any Army/ Air Force/ Navy, flying
operations is organized under various sections viz
a. Flying Crew. Combined team of Pilots, Navigators, Observers,
Gunner, Signaller etc.
b. Aircraft Ground Handlers. Combined team of Marshallers or
aircraft control persons, Engineers, Safety equipment men,
Vehicle handlers etc.
c. Runway Handlers. ATC personnel, Fire/ CFT persons,
medical staff, aircraft watch crew etc.
3. Segregation of responsibilities is well defined and well trained and
well-oiled crew work seamlessly in a battlefield front to deliver the
tangibles or achieve the objectives. It goes without saying that a well-
oiled crew also delivers- highest - noiselessly. Responsibilities of
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various crews as mentioned in above para could be gauged as first one
with in the aircraft, second one around the aircraft and third crew
distant but yet in close support call.
Safety Hazards & Security Risk
4. Determination of Aviation forces is such that nothing deters the
zealous flyers with aircrafts operating in close to zero error syndromes.
However, as they say that everything has its testing limit, errors do
happen and fatalities do take place in this highly professional force.
While the aircraft have gone under much of the technology up-
gradation but somehow most of the tarmac operations are still done in
sans technology way. It is here that this article broaches what can be
done in available technology, which when stitched together could
provide complete safe solutions and make flying a happy affair.
5. Perimeter Security.
a. Most of the secured military runway bases are fenced and have
vegetation around the tarmac. Small living surprises from these
vegetation provide more challenges then amusements. Hare
being chased by hound is not seen in the comics but could be
horrible delight for an about to touch ground incoming jet.
Occasionally, many other trespassers could cross-in which is not
worth mentioning.
b. In FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) both the perimeter security
as also to prevail communication over such a large area is a
challenge. Sometimes, in an open space FOB (without terrestrial
landmarks) it is difficult to distinguish the runway from other
natural land, be it a deserted ground or green meadow.
6. FOD. Out of various incidents reported around the airport which
affect air safety, Foreign Object Damage causes maximum damage to
the aircraft. Little pieces on the runway can cause horrible damage.
Bird hits in the flying area are also occurrences which are not unheard
of. It is must that both are spotted well before and taken care off.
7. Flying Area. Local Flying Area (LFA) is the area which is in close
proximity to the runway. It is must that all activities in this area while
being performed by professionals are being monitored by 3rd
person.
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a. Lookout. In a flying arena, look out or oversight is maintained
by ATC for any unnatural activity which may arise of
malfunctioning of onboard equipment or misunderstood
instructions or any other justifiable reason in the eyes of flyer or
GSE/ ASE handlers. Considering that so many RF transmissions
are taking place in the form of RT or Radar transmission, in
order to reduce EMI in the area and to have a better visual
appreciation of the flying area, an optical tracking of various
aircrafts is done by day/night color camera as also IR sensors.
One such device can do all these activities.
b. Under Carriage. One of the incident that causes the damage to
the aircraft is the under carriage not coming out in landing
position. While coming for landing, under carriage gets lowered
for the 3 wheels to come out in landing position. Sometimes, in a
single pilot cockpit 3 greens call is given in routine drill with
pilot’s mind pre-occupied in fast approaching touch down. A 3rd
party monitoring can obviate this error. Sometimes a person is
kept on approach side who confirms same to ATCO on a walkie
talkie.
c. FOB. In many of the Forward Operating Base, for obvious
reasons it is not possible to either construct an ATC building in
short time or have Radar transmissions emanating from such an
area. It is possible to meet the objectives and coordinating safe
flying operations by having a mobile tower which could act as
ATC tower with ability to track all ac, keep tab on activities and
home in wandering ac with a sectorial beacon transmissions.
Solutions without Transmissions – yet Track & Tab ability
8. Perimeter Security. This can be achieved by installing cameras with
capability to detect & identify a person in day, night and reduced
visibility. It is important that camera has IR sensors which can detect
human at sufficient ranges. Number of cameras to be deployed on the
perimeter would be based on coverage factor of 1.2 ie with an overlap
factor 0.2 for the detection range. Many companies have their offering
for same and FLIR product Ranger series (especially Ranger® MS-
LRTI) makes a good combination of integrating all this passive
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sensors. Cameras placement must be fixed at the terminal cardinals
viz four vertices of quadrilateral or five vertices pentagon.
9. FOD. In order to achieve detection of smallest particle, it is must
that these sensors are not only fitted on both sides of the tarmac or
runway but also their coverage factor for identification range is
increased to 0.3. These cameras should have the capabilities to detect
in day & night. Since these particles would be at normal tarmac
temperature and hence IR cameras may not be required in this case.
Many lead companies provide these cameras. Point to be noted while
installing these is that they should be integrate-able to total optical
solutions of the runway. The FOD detect system is installed on the
airport’s primary runway. The system is operated by the airfield
lighting maintenance team and requires less than one hour of
maintenance per two weeks, with maintenance carried out during
standard night time maintenance windows.
10. ATC Track & Tab watch. ATC is the command/ control
center for not only the flying operations but also coordinating/
operating the support activities for emergencies, CFT, medical aid etc.
It is here that entire installed digital output of various EO-IR systems
output are displayed. In order to track all aircrafts in flying areas in all
vagaries of weather. Hence this should have color day night camera
with MWIR, LWIR and Laser Range Finder facility. All such cameras
should be able to track individual targets assigned and when the
picture is to be shifted from one camera type to other it should change
without changing the dimension a aspects. An optical zoom of around
100X would be an ideal to zoom in and read the fast flying distant
aircraft or to see under carriage/ wheels for damage if any. A Gimbal
could be installed on the top of tower at ATC so that full track & tab
capability could be achieved. Best part of such a Gimbal is that it
would have the ability to track by Day/Night Camera, IR (SWIR/MWIR)
and able to illuminate an area by Laser beam.
11. FOB Sky Watch Tower. Flying operations in forward operating
bases have more challenges than secured bases. It is not always
possible to construct a high tower of ATC for controlling and
monitoring air operations. Open area poses as many challenges from
local vegetation living beings, as cordoning off fencing may not be
erected or effective. Challenges in such an area can be met by ‘No-
Transmission’ watch towers which have full ability to monitor through
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‘Sky Watch’. Vantage point is everything when it comes to
surveillance. SkyWatch™ mobile observation towers, which provide a
high level platform for an array of surveillance options. Every portable
tower includes the basics for the comfort and safety of the officer
inside through adjustable heat and air conditioning, tinted sliding glass
windows and comfortable seating. No matter what the application is,
only one person is required to set up and deploy a unit. The Sky Watch
portable surveillance tower can easily be relocated and is rugged
enough to handle even the most primitive off-road conditions. Each of
our hydraulic security tower models are adaptable for cameras, radios,
public address systems and other equipment integration. Now, one
officer can cover an area previously requiring three or more personnel.
It does sound great that such a post can obviate the costly DSC watch
towers in FOBs. It would be ideal if perimeter security watch towers in
today’s time are modernized to equip and shelter in such towers.
These Sky Watch Tower can also help to home in an inbound aircraft
FOD CAMERAS SETUP
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RUNWAY SETUP
GIMBAL
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FEATURES
All European system, single LRU HD system
Multiple Fields of View (FOV) 3-5μm thermal imager
High Definition color camera with 20x zoom
Spotter options
Laser options
4-axis active stabilization
EASA Certified installations
Simplified common interface standard
Optimized usability
It’s all FLIR inside
BENEFITS
All European content, single LRU for ease of installation and integration, digital
HD output for all video channels, and IMU for precise geo-location.
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Large format 640 x 512 infrared camera with extended performance optics
allows for positive scene analysis at safe stand-off ranges in all weather
conditions
1920 x 1080 HD camera maximizes detection range during daytime surveillance
missions; the low light function extends operation into dawn or dusk
Identify targets at longer detection ranges during daytime surveillance missions;
low light camera option provides extended operation into dawn and dusk
Covertly mark targets and determine their distance and location
Outstanding stability ensures stable imagery by compensating for aircraft
movement and vibration, critical for long range imaging
The system can be delivered with EASA Form 1 certification
Provides standardized wiring to all HD turrets in this familiy; and to external
systems, making this family of systems completely interchangeable and
interoperable
Backlit and NVG compatible remote controller for 24/7 operation in the modern
cockpit; integrated multi-mode auto-tracker to track moving or stationary targets
FLIR controls the entire supply chain for the critical technology inside its Ultra
class gimbals, ensuring fast service and long-term support
UltraForce® 350-HD
OVERVIEW
Gimbal size 350 mm (D) x 485 mm (H)
Gimbal weight 28 kg
Environmental RTCA DO-160E
THERMAL IMAGING PERFORMANCE
Sensor type 3rd gen 640 x 512 3-5 μm focal plane array
Image Enhancements Non Uniformity Correction
Bad Pixel Replacement
AGC (Automatic Gain Control)
Histogram Equalisation
Digital Details Enhancement (Tunable)
FOVs
Wide 17.3° x 13.6°
Medium 5° x 4°
Narrow 1.2° x 0.9°
Ezoom 2x
DAYLIGHT IMAGING PERFORMANCE
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Sensor High Definition CCD
Resolution 1920 x 1080
Fields of view Continuous optical zoom 20x
Ezoom Up to 4x continuous
SPOTTER SCOPE OPTION COLOUR LLTV
Sensor type Colour CCD EMCCD
Field of view 11.9° to 0.54° continuous zoom 15.8° to 0.72° continuous zoom
Sensitivity 1.5 Lux <100 μLux
GIMBAL SPECIFICATIONS
LOS Pan range 360 degrees continuous
LOS Tilt range +20 / -120 degrees
AZ/EL slew rate Up to 60°/s
Stow Magnetically held in stow position
ELECTRONICS CONTROL UNIT
Hand Controller Unit 0.8 kg, 230 mm Height
INTERFACES
ARINC 429, RS232/422 and other interfaces to support navigation systems, moving
maps, radars, searchlights, and GPS
OUTPUTS
Video 1080p/720p HD-SDI (all video channels), RS-170, NTSC, PAL, CCIR
POWER
Power requirements 22-30 VDC < 150 W
OPTIONS
Auto-tracker, Laser Range Finder, Laser Pointer
COMPACT ELECTRO-OPTICAL AIRBORNE GIMBAL
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SKY WATCH TOWERS
ATCs of FOB & PERIMETER WATCH
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Writer invites queries and critics to improvise
and
tailor to emerging security needs and challenges of
forward area flying.
