Mod 05 Overflight Observer

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Photo: Chris Hall

Over-flightObservation

Mapping Oil from the Air


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Class Topics & Objectives

Familiarization with aircraft operations

Safety Briefings and equipment checklists

Conducting surveillance over-flights

Appearance of spilled oil from the air

Creating over-flight maps

Working with the Incident Command System

Video and Digital Photography


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Roles of A ircraft Durin g Spi l ls ...

Direct on-water operations

Media and VIP briefing

Track oil movement for trajectory input

Aerial reconnaissance for situation status and

shoreline survey

Dispersant spotter

Transport personnel and equipment

Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)


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Overf l igh t Check l ist ...

Safety briefing and flight plan

Appropriate survival equipment and clothing

for conditions of flight and weather Blank base map and previous overflight map

Clear understanding of mission purpose

Coordination with Planning and Operations


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Safety B rief ing ...

Required prior to every flight Must include the following at a minimum:

Location and operation of seat belts

Location and operation of emergency equipment Location and operation of fire extinguishers

No smokingin or near the aircraft

Safeentry and exitroutes for the aircraft Emergency actions


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Safety B rief ing (cont in ued)...

Briefing should also cover any additionalinformation pertinent to the flight:

Helicopter off-airport landings

Stowage and carry of tools and equipment

Loading and unloading while the rotors are

turning

Over-water operations

Helicopter performance limitations


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It cannot be overstated

ALWAYS FILE A FLIGHT PLAN !


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Weather Considerat ions &

Surv ival Equipment


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Surv ival Equ ipm en t...

Always wear an inflatable life vest whenover water for any period of time.

Depending upon the flight, FARs may

require either floats on the helicopter or atwin engine helicopter when over water.

Carry survival gear in vest, pack, pockets,

notin aircraft baggage compartment.

Dress appropriately! Plan to sleep on the

beach tonight!


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Appearance of Oi lf rom the A ir


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BLACK OIL LEAKING

FROM BARGE


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BLACK OIL

COLLECTING ALONG

SHORELINE


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STREAMERS AND

WINDROWS OF

BLACK OIL


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SHEEN SURFACING

FROM SUNKEN

VESSEL


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FRESH DIESEL FUEL

SLICK


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LIGHT RAINBOW

SHEEN


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DIESEL SPILL IN

MARINA


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TRANSPARENT

SHEEN


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WINDROWS OF

SILVER AND GRAY

SHEEN


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STREAMERS OF

EMULSIFIED OIL AND

DULL SHEENS


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STREAMER OF BROWN,

EMULSIFIED OIL


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TARBALLS VIEWED

FROM A BOAT

DIME- TO SILVER DOLLAR-

SIZED TARBALLS ANDSILVER SHEEN


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FALSE SIGHTING REPORT:

SOOT RELEASE FROM

VESSEL INERT GAS SYSTEM


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Overf l igh t Mapp ing


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Mapp ing Oi l from the A ir ...

Blank base map and previous overflight map Always take a map to track your flight

Use a scale 1:10000 to 1:50,000appropriate to the

incident area Use additional, more detailed maps for close up

Always take a full set of the previous flights maps

to maintain consistency in reporting

Choose reference points of known size and

distance to aid in measuring objects.


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Observation Check l is t

General Information to include on maps:

___ Incident name, Date & Time

___ Stage of tide (flood, ebb, slack)

___ On-scene weather (wind, sea state, visibility)

___ Platform (helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, boat)___ Observers' names & organizations/affiliations

___ Flight path/trackline

___ Altitude where observations taken___ Location of oil's source (if known)

___ Areas not observed (e.g., foggy locations,restricted air spaces, shallow water areas)


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Observation Check l is t

Oil Observations:

___ Slick location(s), dimension(s), and orientation

___ Distribution of oil (e.g., as continuos (C), windrows(W), streamers, pancakes (P), tarballs (T) or patches)

___ Color and appearance (e.g., rainbow, dull or silversheen, black, or brown in color, or mousse)

___ Percent coverage (see Percentage Coverage Chart)

___ Is oil recoverable (Y/N)? (examples of recoverable

oil types include black oil, mousse, and heavy dull- ordark-colored sheens)

Example Map: Open-ocean search for suspected oil


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Example Map: Open-ocean search for suspected oil.

In Example, tracklines areconfusing, but objective ofmap was to demonstratethe scope of area surveyed.

No recoverable oil wassighted despite searchingnearly 3000 square miles ofocean.


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Observation Checklist, Notes

Clearly describe the locations where oil is observed,as well as the areas where no oil has been seen.

Trackline is very important. Shows areas that werenot surveyed(not same as no oil)

Travel beyond known impacted areas to check forunexpected oil and to minimize the number ofobservations made while facing into the sun.

Include the name and phone number of the personmaking the observations.


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Response Observations

___ Skimmer deployment (general locationswhere skimmers are working. Are theyworking in the heaviest concentrations ofoil?) (M)

___ Boom deployment (general locations ofboom(s). Does the boom contain oil? Is oilentraining under the boom?) (M)

___ Source of oil (describe the status of thesource. Is oil still being released?) (B,E,R,G)(%) (W,C,T,P)


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Environmental Observations

___ Locations of convergence lines, rip tides,and sediment plumes

___ Locations of kelp beds, seagrass beds,and other features that could be mistakenfor oil

___ Wildlife (A or W) present in area(locations and approximate numbers of birdsand marine mammals)


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Leading the Fl igh t...

Dont let pilots race from sighting to sighting.

Base flight path on trajectory model output if

no other plan is reasonable.

Plan 5003,000 AGL, 60 - 120 knots airspeed

for survey.

Fly the planned flight path and draw the oil

that comes to you first; then fly perimeter orgo to hotspots.

Note where no oil occurred and where no

observations were made (very important).


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Leading the Fl igh t...

For each large area of oil sheen (R,G), try to

determine the lat/long for the center, and

its dimensions. Run the legs for bearing,

distance calculation and log color. Delegate tasks (photo, video) to other

people to concentrate on accurate mapping.

Get consensus on dimensions, coverage,

movement, and characteristics of oil from

others on flight.


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Methods of Reporting (Contd)

Slick Characteristics: Windrows = W

Continuous = C

Tar Balls = T Pancakes = P

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Methods of Reporting (Contd)

Other Properties: Mechanical Operations (boom, skimmers)

= M

Dispersant/chemical Operations = D In-Situ Burning (Fire) = F

Shoreline Clean-up = S

Animals or Birds = A Wildlife Habitat in area = H

Ocean Features = O

Extra Features, Debris = X42


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Rad io Repo rt

Slick Center LAT: (N) or (S) Slick Center LONG: (E) or (W)

Leading Edge LAT: (N) or (S)

Leading Edge LONG: (E) or (W)

Length of Major Axis in KM or NM

Length of Minor Axis in KM or NM

Orientation of major axis in degrees

Color of Slick: (B,E,R,G)

Percentage Covered: %

Character of Slick: (W,C,T,P) Other Properties: (M,D,F,S,A,H,O,X)

END

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Actual Repo rt

Slick Center LAT 58023 05 (slash) LONG176012 15 (slash) Leading Edge LAT 58023 40 (slash) LONG 176010 20 (slash)3km (slash) 1 km (slash) 40km (slash) B

(slash) 50 (slash) C (slash) M (slash) END. This means that there is a 3 km x 1 km

slick oriented NE (400), continuing black oil

at 50% coverage. The oil is continuous andthere is mechanical operations in the area.

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Photo: Chris Hall


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Video and DigitalPhotography


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Video and Digital Pho tos ...

Use photos to annotate the overflight mapsand to provide detail about the conditions.

Avoid rapid swings, zooms, and close-ups.

Avoid over- or under-representing the

incident with photos.

Provide Situation and Documentation withcaptions, locations, and altitude for all

photos.


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M/T Westches ter Inc ident : Overf l igh t 0830 11-29-00


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g

Empire Locks

Mississippi River MM29


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Divis ion B6 - C.L . Dil l

November 30Photo: USCG MSO New Orleans


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52Photo: OBriens Oil Pollution Service


December 1


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53Photo: OBriens Oil Pollution Service


December 1

C


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December 2Photo: OBriens Oil Pollution Service

Di i i B6 C L Dil l


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Di i i B6 C L Dil l


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P i O fl i h t M


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Preparing Overf l igh t Maps ...

Capture photo and map data from all flight

participants immediately after the flight.

Maintain consistency in scales, descriptions,shading and size throughout the spill.

Avoid using too heavy of gray scales whenusing computer graphics programs.

Shift focus from overflight mapping toshoreline mapping when appropriate forincident.


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D i E l


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Draw ing Example

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O fli h t M d ICS


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Overf l igh t Maps and ICS...

Maps are produced, collected, and distributed bySituation Unit (Planning Section).

Observers must take the time to debrief together,

identify captions for photos, and explain their

observations to the Situation Unit personnel while it

is fresh in their minds. Photos without captions tell

nothing. Photos should be recorder on GPS as WayPoints for later coordination by Situation Unit

personnel for command presentation(s).

O fli h t M d ICS


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Overf l igh t Maps and ICS...

Some federal and state agencies may produce mapsoutside of ICS structure (e.g. NOAA Scientific

Support Team, US F&WS). Make sure they

understand the distribution structure within the

Situation Unit

Ensure that the purpose of the flight is clear

before distributing the maps. A flight to look forwildlife will not provide accurate observations of oil

characteristics.

Fi ll


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Finally...

Remember that safety is always the primary

concern when considering helicopter

operations.

Watch for fatigue in personnel.

Do not flyif there is any question or doubt

about the safety of the flight. Remember Rule #1 in emergency response...


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Dont

become

part of the

emergency !

Q estions

Photo: Chris Hall


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Questions.. .

David Stevens

954-554-3887

[email protected]

References


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Best Known practices and personal experience.

References

Mod 05 Overflight Observer

Documents

Transcript of Mod 05 Overflight Observer