Understanding Custom Sessions

1.1 Drone Operations Center – Active Flights and Custom Sessions

Before you start:

In Live Operations, there are two types of live sessions available in AirHub, Active Flights and Custom Sessions.

Both provide live streaming and mapping capabilities, but they serve different purposes.
• Active Flights are automatically created and linked to specific missions.
• Custom Sessions are manually created dashboards for live collaboration and multi-feed management.

Understanding the difference between them helps you select the best workflow for your operation.

1.2 Active Flights

An Active Flight is a live session automatically generated when a pilot begins a mission in AirHub.

How it works:
• When a pilot starts a mission using the AirHub Ground Control app, the drone’s location, telemetry, and live video feed are automatically streamed into Live Operations.
• The session is directly connected to that mission’s logbook entry, ensuring that all data, including video, flight path, and telemetry, is stored for post-flight analysis.
• Once the flight ends, the Active Flight session automatically closes and becomes part of the mission’s permanent record.

Use case:
Active Flights are the standard method for monitoring planned missions and logging flight data.
They provide:
• A full, integrated flight record.
• Real-time telemetry and video monitoring.
• Automatic linking to mission details and compliance documentation.

1.3 Custom Sessions

A Custom Session is a manually created live session that is not tied to a specific drone or mission.
It allows administrators to build and share persistent live dashboards containing multiple feeds and map data.

How it works:
• Custom Sessions are manually created in the Drone Operations Centre.
• They remain active until an administrator manually ends them.
• Administrators can add live feeds from any connected device, display them on a shared map, and arrange the layout as needed.
• Each Custom Session can generate a secure shareable link for external stakeholders, who can view the live session even if they are not AirHub users.

Use case:
Custom Sessions are ideal for operations that require a shared Common Operating Picture (COP), such as:
• Large-scale emergency response events involving multiple agencies.
• Public safety missions where multiple stakeholders (e.g., police, fire, and medical teams) need situational visibility.
• Special events or live monitoring requiring flexible, long-running sessions.

They enable coordinated viewing and collaboration across multiple teams, enhancing awareness and communication during complex operations.

1.4 What’s Next

Now that you understand the two types of live sessions, you can learn more about how to use them effectively:

• Viewing an Active Flight

• Working with Custom Sessions