Atmospheric turbulence seriously affects the imaging quality of airborne television imaging systems. In this paper, an analysis is conducted on the imaging mechanism of optical signal transmission for targets and backgrounds, and a Minimum Distinguishable Contrast (MRC)-based television imaging system acquisition range model is established, which includes atmospheric turbulence effects. The basic theory of atmospheric turbulence is analyzed, and the atmospheric refractive index structure constant suitable for helicopter borne television imaging systems is obtained. A calculation method for atmospheric coherent diameter is provided, and a modulation transfer function for atmospheric turbulence is established. Taking a certain type of helicopter borne television imaging system as an example, the influence of atmospheric turbulence on the acquisition range of the television imaging system is simulated and analyzed. The simulation results show that the atmospheric turbulence effect seriously reduces the acquisition range performance of the helicopter borne televisioin imaging system. The research results can provide a reference for the demonstration of the acquisition range index of helicopter borne television imaging systems, and improve the accuracy of indicator demonstration.