Air mission planning is fundamental to the successful deployment of helicopter crews. It ensures a greater chance of mission success and that mechanical and human resources are being used as effectively and efficiently as possible.
A cohesive aviation mission planning system can be used pre-, during and post-mission to help with data collection, training, goal achievement and accuracy. A pre-set plan is also key to reducing the high costs of each helicopter mission, ensuring budgets are maintained and allowing teams to carry out more operational procedures without overspending.
In fact, without a comprehensive air mission plan, an airborne unit is effectively grounded. In this article, we will examine how advanced planning systems can improve mission results, save time and money, and improve operator efficiency. We’ll examine the software and its role in mission planning, the key features and benefits, and what challenges proper planning can overcome.
We’ll also introduce you to FlySight’s innovative OPENSIGHT Mission Planning System and demonstrate how its advanced programming and the use of AI and Enhanced Reality is making air mission planning easier and more effective.
What is an Aviation Mission Planning System?
Aviation Mission Planning Systems, or AMPS, are collections of sophisticated software tools. These software tools are used by both military and civilian aviation units, such as reconnaissance, search and rescue, and operational units, to plan, develop, and execute their missions. The system can also be used for other roles, such as pilot training.
AMPS achieves its operational goals by automating some tasks, allowing the human operator to focus on other time- and skill-sensitive elements, such as operating the aircraft. AMPS provides data analysis pre- and post-mission, target identification and acquisition, post-operational data analysis, and pre-planning.
This sophisticated software is usually installed using ‘bolt-on’ mission consoles that use existing hardware. This makes even the most up-to-date advancements intuitive and easy to use. With the introduction of Enhanced Reality, AI and Augmented Reality software, the use of AMPS software has become a daily essential in airborne operational procedures.
Key features and benefits
Aviation Mission Planning Systems have a wealth of features and benefits. Let’s first take a look at some of the features and then examine the benefits.
Route Planning – In both the pre-operative planning stages and during the mission itself, route planning is essential. In highly fluid situations such as Search and Rescue events, the ability to change a route plan mid-flight may mean the difference between life and death. So, air mission planning software has to be adaptable to allow the user to not only create the initial route but modify it too.
Data Generation—While AMPS software is crucial for data generation during the mission, it is also an integral part of pre- and post-mission operations. Using AI to sift through vast amounts of data can speed up analysis (but always supporting a human operator overseeing the process). During operations, AMPS software can collate and transmit data in real-time, allowing it to change the parameters of a mission ‘on the fly’.
Operational Automation—Air mission planning software can be introduced to automate some operational procedures and connect multiple systems for easier control and access by human operators. This applies to both air- and ground-based systems, providing a more robust connection between the aerial platform (such as an SAR helicopter) and the ground control unit.
The benefits of AMPS are multi-layered, and many of the aspects of mission software can help overcome flight challenges such as operator fatigue or distraction. Because the automated systems can take care of aspects such as route planning and data gathering, the operators can concentrate on the decision – making with major support and faster. This can improve safety, prevent operator error in poor weather conditions, and reduce the risk to the vehicle and the crew.
AMPS allows users to create efficient flight routes and even modify them mid-flight if operational circumstances change. The adaptability of Air Mission Planning Software is one of its significant advantages, creating a flexible and practical system that is of particular benefit in changeable situations such as crowd management or SAR.
The interoperability of AMPS means that multiple systems can be connected, both in the helicopter cockpit and on the ground, for easier control and access. This can also be translated to post-mission analysis as well as using the system for advanced pilot training and fine-tuning the mission planning process for the future.
Data collection can be used to meet mission objectives and enhance situational awareness, as well as for future training. However, as many AMPS mission console systems use existing hardware to run their multi-tiered software bolt-ons, training time is reduced. This means that AMPS consoles can be fitted and fully operational more quickly and that the time and cost of training operators are greatly reduced.
AMPS – an intuitive system for modern operations
Air Mission Planning Software’s role as a teaching aid cannot be underestimated. For advanced TFOs and operators training and using technology to support their situational awareness skills, AMPS can help fine-tune an operator’s skills, making them a better and safer crew member.
The integrated nature of AMPS also means that ground crew can also be trained to analyse data more effectively. This is further enhanced with the help of AI, which can quickly filter out the background ‘noise’ and bring to the fore the most important data for further human interpretation.
To reduce the amount of time spent in the air, Automatic Target Recognition is a key element of AMPS. Through the use of systems such as the OPENSIGHT, targets can be acquired and monitored, with the AMPS software reducing background noise to allow for easier target tagging and identification, even in busy urban areas.
Multi-layered mapping capabilities can also introduce augmented data into the mix, giving operators more flexibility, with useable information at their fingertips and greater situational awareness.
The FlySight OPENSIGHT Mission Console
OPENSIGHT Mission Console can be easily grandfathered into any mission system and uses familiar, intuitive hardware, also introduces the latest in real-time Enhanced Reality and AI support for payload operators.
The system can handle large amounts of high-resolution data flow, including video, which can be analysed and reintegrated into the mission parameters in real time.
The multi-layered mapping system improves operators’ geospatial awareness, improving the safety of the vehicle and crew. It does this by superimposing synthetic information layers, which can be particularly helpful in an urban environment that may have been physically altered by a catastrophic event.
Automatic target detection and classification features that use AI can also be streamlined to focus on potential threats as well as targets.
All of this is accessed using an intuitive touchscreen HMI, which makes the OPENSIGHT Mission Console accessible to all operators. The intuitive nature and the fact that operators are using familiar technology to access the Console also reduce training time, which in turn keeps down costs.
Find out more from FlySight
The OPENSIGHT Mission Console represents the very latest in air mission planning systems. To find out more, visit the OPENSIGHT Mission Console page or contact one of our team for more information and a discussion on how OPENSIGHT can be tailored to create a bespoke solution for you.
