Airborne electro-optical sensors
From the physics of light and heat to enhanced vision on the flight deck, sensor turrets on helicopters and drones, and the rules for certifying, maintaining and using them.
What you will be able to do
- ✓ Explain the visible, near-infrared and thermal infrared bands, cooled and uncooled detectors, resolution, emissivity and stabilisation
- ✓ Describe the parts of an airborne sensor system and match sensors and operating rules to helicopter and drone missions
- ✓ Distinguish EVS, SVS, CVS and EFVS, and explain the operational credit available under 14 CFR 91.176 and the EU air operations rules
- ✓ Outline how installations are classified and approved (STC, AC 20-167B, CS-AWO) and how they are maintained
- ✓ Apply drone, data protection and export compliance rules to aerial imaging, and describe current trends
Course content
Session 1 · Seeing with light and heat
1
- Beyond the human eye · free preview
- Detectors: cooled and uncooled
- Resolution, emissivity and stabilisation
- Worked example: how far can a thermal camera find a person?
Session 2 · Turrets, gimbals and missions
2
- Inside a sensor turret
- Helicopter missions
- Drones as sensor platforms
- From the investigation file: two news helicopters over Phoenix
Session 3 · Enhanced vision on the flight deck
3
- Four acronyms on the flight deck
- US operational credit: 14 CFR 91.176
- Europe, ICAO and the LED problem
- Worked example: an EFVS 200 decision on a foggy morning
Session 4 · Installation, certification and maintenance
4
- Changing the aircraft: classification and STC
- Proving a vision system
- Keeping the picture clear
- Worked example: sending a thermal camera core for repair
Session 5 · Mapping, data rules and what comes next
5
- Measuring the world: photogrammetry, LiDAR and multispectral
- Data protection and export compliance
- Where airborne sensing is heading
- Worked example: mapping a new estate, from pixel to privacy
Who this course is for
Course content © Aerospace Garage Limited. All rights reserved.