Conduct a Sortie Aircrew Roles & Techniques Conducting an Imaging Sortie 1 Prepare Conduct Transfer Bag & Tag Publish

Conduct a Sortie Sortie's Primary Goal - Quality Images Safety - #1 Enroute Target Images Assessment Post-Sortie Actions 2 CAP Form 104b

Conduct a Sortie Safety - #1 IMSAFE applies to entire crew – Watch for fatigue or illness – Take breaks as needed – Speak up: If you are feeling ill If you see something that looks suspect If you are task saturated – Instruct then explain 3 IMSAFE Illness Medication Stress Alcohol Fatigue Emotion

Conduct a Sortie General Sortie Guidance Preflight – Arrive early to prepare and check equipment – Discuss course, target area, terrain, weather, etc. – Stay fresh and alert – Review mission roles and procedures During the Flight – Set up for initial approach – Review images before leaving the target area 4

Conduct a Sortie Approaching the Target - 1 You may need to turn off the strobe lights so they will not affect the photos, particularly in low- overcast conditions Review sortie objectives and crew communications, and set the audio panel and intercom for imaging pattern communications – MO records lat/lon Double-check radio and navigational settings and check navigational equipment against each other (detect abnormalities or failures) 5 You may need to turn off the strobe lights so they will not affect the photos, particularly in low- overcast conditions Review sortie objectives and crew communic ations, and set the audio panel and intercom for imaging pattern communic ations – MO records lat/lon Double- check radio and navigation al settings and check navigation al equipment against each other (detect abnormaliti es or failures)

Conduct a Sortie Approaching the Target - 2 Notify mission base and ATC (if applicable) on location and intended search procedures Verify camera GPS connection and satellite lock At two miles out stabilize at ‘Target ID Pass’ heading, altitude and airspeed ( knots) – This allows time for everyone to acclimate to flight conditions – visibility, wind direction, turbulence, terrain 6

Conduct a Sortie The ID Pass Initial fly over – Target verification – Record lat/lon waypoint – Overview image Assess photo conditions – go/no go Establish photo plan – altitude, angle, etc. Draw sketches as needed 7

Conduct a Sortie Lights, Camera, Action! 1000’ AGL and 90 knots Final camera check – on, GPS, lens cap Photo log and target cards ready Photo window open Frame your shot Pre-focus – push halfway Take photo when target moves through frame 8

Conduct a Sortie Taking Photos - 1 Steady the camera As the aircraft approaches the point where you intend to shoot, begin framing the shot When you near the shot point, you should pre- focus on the target for faster camera response – Focus on an object that is currently the same distance away as the target will be once you are lined up (i.e., in the same plane as the target) Once the target moves into frame, press the shutter button the rest of the way down to take the picture 9

Conduct a Sortie Taking Photos - 2 Take several photos on each leg of the pattern Keep the Photo Log keeper aware of what you are shooting: – It is easier on the log keeper if you tell them when you will be taking several photos per leg – On each leg, tell the log keeper the following photos will be taken “looking east” or “looking northeast” or “looking between the northern-most buildings,” then call out “shot 1, shot 2, …..” – This allows the log keeper to quickly and accurately log the photos 10

Conduct a Sortie Using the Telephoto Lens Use sparingly Zoom out to start to get panorama view Zoom in as needed to frame the shot – More zoom impacts focus Do not exceed 135mm 11

Conduct a Sortie In Flight Assessment Review the photos before leaving search area – Check for GPS coordinates on pictures – Cross-check with photo log – If needed revisit target for better photos – RTB when satisfied with results – Use Playback Viewer w/ zoom to review photos 12 Selector: Info: ▼▲ Pic: ◄►

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Glare from closed window Wing included in photo 13

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Angle and Glare Strut in photo 14

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Lower window sill 15

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Strut 16

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Haze Strut 17

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Focus 18

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Too far away, too much sky 19

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Wheel 20

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Wing and strut in turn 21

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Overhead shot too low, too close, wheel 22

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Overhead holding camera vertically (note the “falling away” effect) Too close Wheel 23

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Angle too low, not centered 24

Conduct a Sortie Things to Avoid Overhead shot not centered 25

Conduct a Sortie After the Sortie Recheck and repack the camera bag Check around the airplane for stuff Make sure camera window is secured Clean up windows, leading edges Check if another sortie is planned 26

Conduct a Sortie After the Sortie – con’t. Download pictures from camera ASAP – Verify successful transfer to computer – Do initial review of photos – Verify the geotagged data is present – Delete pictures on media card 27

Conduct a Sortie Debrief Complete Debrief section of CAPF 104 – Results/Deliverables section – include details on sightings and non-sightings; photo number and areas – Weather – unexpected weather; impact on search and photo capabilities Remarks section – Pertinent or helpful information not mentioned elsewhere Sortie Effectiveness – Quantitative assessment 28 CAP Form 104

Conduct a Sortie Debrief – con’t. Attachments & Documents – Label docs with Mission and sortie # – 104a – sketches and notes; times & positions – 104b – photo log – complete; matches with photos – Upload to WMIRS in pdf format Final checks for all fields complete – Hobbs times – including in/out of grid – Clear and legible 29

Conduct a Sortie Debrief - Verbal Overview of sortie and observations Use 104 as debriefing framework Review photos Be honest, objective and comprehensive Rest and prep for next sortie – if required 30