The Aerosonde represents and entirely new observing facility, that has considerable flexibility of operation, but that does require a well-defined procedure for operations. This paper provides a description of the basic procedure as information for potential users. The operational trial at Port Hedland in Australia during January and February 1998 is used for illustration.
A critical component of any Aerosonde mission is the interaction with aviation safety. We have operated with aviation authorities in Australia, the US, Canada, Taiwan and Hong Kong and the general procedure is accomplished in two parts: 1. an overall definition of the operations area, potential flight plans, flight hazards, other traffic, built-up areas and aviation routes;2. an agreed procedure which details the interactions which will take place between Aerosonde operators, air services and other aviators.
Field operations consist of a launch recovery component, and an in-flight command component, each of which can be independent of the other. Launch is currently from a car-top cradle and recovery is by a belly landing. These can be autonomous or under local command by a pilot. The requirement is an open area clear of obstructions of approximately 500x200 m in the direction of the prevailing winds. Equipment at this site consists of some form of shelter, usually a demountable or a tent, with required communications equipment. The launch can usually be accomplished in a 15 min window. Once launched, the aircraft commences a local flight pattern (autonomous) whilst system checking is completed. Its mission program is then uploaded and command is transferred to the command site.
Mission command can be accomplished from anywhere with a suitable telephone communications capacity. For example, in the operational trials command was maintained from Perth, some 1500 km away from the launch and recovery site. Whilst the operation is completely autonomous, continuous communications are maintained and new flight programs can be uploaded at any time. Recovery occurs by the aircraft returning to base, and landing either under control of a pilot, or autonomously.