Flight Operations

ASEC’s flight department grew out of a customer need to demonstrate various systems on other than government research aircraft. ASEC first acquired a Navion L-1A aircraft to support unmanned aircraft flight systems in the National Airspace. From these early beginnings in 2004, it expanded to include DHC-6-300 Twin Otters, a Beech Super King Air 300 and our most recent addition a Basler conversion Douglas DC-3 aircraft. These low cost, easily configured aircraft have been ideal platforms for supporting multiple programs over the years.

ASEC flight personnel have the critical experience to conduct a variety of research and development testing. With office space conveniently located right outside Gate Two of NAS Patuxent River and ASEC aircraft hangared within 8 miles of NAS Patuxent River, we provide convenient and cost-effective research and development testing. ASEC’s Flight Department has a 16 year history of conducting safe and efficient flight support to government and commercial partners.

Flight Test Support

Our Flight Department offers full spectrum Flight Test Support including aircraft modification and FAA certification, training, test planning, range liaison, flight test risk mitigation review, flight operations and test reporting.

Research & Development

We currently operate three Part 91 General Aviation aircraft specially modified to conduct research and development of advanced sensors.

Experienced Test Pilots

Our Navion aircraft and three of our experienced test pilot instructors previously conducted Qualitative Evaluations for the USNTPS Short Courses under contract N00421-12-P-0002.

FAA Part 91

ASEC operates to FAA Part 91 commercial best practices using a Flight Operations Manual that follows the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) standard, use of certified simulator training and adherence to member guidelines provided by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA).

ASEC flight personnel have the critical experience to conduct a variety of research and development testing.

ASEC can provide a turn-key flight operation:

• Aircraft selection
• Aircraft modification and certification
• Test planning
• Aircraft flight operations

Navion

The Navion is a single-engine, low wing, four-seat, aircraft originally built by North American Aviation as a general aviation successor to the P-51 Mustang. The aircraft is of all-metal construction with conventional flight controls and a stable platform for small project experimentation and data collection needs. It meets all FAA regulations for Part 91 aircraft. In the sixteen years of operating this aircraft, reliability has exceeded 99%. The aircraft is ideally suited for testing UAV size payloads, up to 14” belly mounted payloads and up to 180 pound wing stores.  The aircraft can also carry and freefall up eight “A” size sono-stores.

Beechcraft 300 Super King Air