           // if that switch is 1 then set it's state to DELAY_OP to flag
           // it to be sent out over serial, otherwise set it to zero
           opState[index] =  ((1 << index) & data) ? DELAY_OP : 0;
-          ops++;
+
+          // increase the operations counter 
+          ops++; 
         }
       }
     }


void updateHelm()
{
  // update control surface inputs
  pitchAdjust = getAdjustment(PITCH_PINS, pitchAdjust);
  pitch = getDirection(pitch, pitchAdjust, PITCH_STICK);



// helm control variables
// convert to structure for storage savings?
int16_t pitch, yaw, roll, throttle;
int8_t pitchAdjust = 0, yawAdjust = 0, rollAdjust = 0; // for ramping the direction input

