Flightglobal:The US Air Force is testing a scheme to prepare non-aviators to fly its General Atomics MQ-1 Predator A and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned air systems, with its current......Author: Craig HoyleDate: 12 March 2009Read the full article
Author: Craig Hoyle
Date: 12 March 2009
Read the full article
Perhaps the Air Force should consider bringing on civillian pilots. Speaking as a private pilot who would love to log more hours but can't afford the the price of recreational flying, I would jump at the opportunity to be trained and fly predators.
They probably wouldn't be interested in having civilains involved in combat missions.....
So join the Air force! You'll need a degree of course.
I have spent the last 9 years flying in fighter jets for the Navy - the last three years of which I have been involve in flight test with all sorts of platforms from jets to remote-piloted vehicles and drones. I'm also qualified in the Reaper/Predator-B. Private pilot as well. My flight test background has put me in a unique position to watch how qualified aviators/non-qualified aviators approach flying. And here is what I think...the Air Force is making a HUGE MISTAKE. This is a DISASTER in the making.
The 'justifications' that the AF always throw out are shortfalls in manpower but here is a more important issue - FLIGHT SAFETY.
1) Non-aviators lack overall situational awareness in 3-dimensional space. Now, you can argue they're not in the plane so it doesn't matter but that is not enough. Predators are NOT small or micro UAVs. THESE THINGS ARE FULL FLEDGED AIRCRAFT. They have to file flight plans, need full runways, require significant airspace and frequency coordination and can kill just as readily as any manned aircraft when it hits another craft. These things fly at higher altitudes than small/micro UAVs. These things fly through altitudes where commercial planes fly, not down low. You have absolutely NO physical sense of what the aircraft is doing - other than some data listed on a computer screen. I don't think a non-aviator can truly appreciate the 'gravity' of their responsibility from a padded chair on the ground in an air-conditioned ground control station - ESPECIALLY with absolutely no flight background. Not without having some sort of actual flight syllabus prior to sitting down at those controls. Add the overall lack of basic 'air sense' and the fact that most of their situational awareness is gathered from a soda straw view from the nose camera or flir and this decision by the AF is nothing but ABSOLUTE NEGLIGENCE.
2) It is hard enough trying to get the FAA to deal with the onset of UAVs in this country. They won't even embrace it for qualified aviator military aircrews and you think they're gonna let any non-aviator qualified operator off the streets sit down at these controls? Just wait for the first crash. Just wait for the first news report telling everyone the pilot wasn't even a qualified pilot/aviator. It will bring about the beginning of the bitter-end of the UAV community.
3) Predators A's or B's are being used in combat. Lots of recon, but some of them are armed. I have dropped lots of ordnance and provided support to the Grunts/Devil Dogs on the ground. I have seen it first hand and can guaran-darn-T that they do NOT need someone slinging bombs around them and their convoys/patrols that can not truly appreciate the attack-from-the-air (i.e. Close Air Support) scenario. When you've got entire Airwings racked-n-stacked overhead and planes doing target run-ins from all which way, you don't need anyone in the picture who can't appreciate the complexity and 3 dimensional battlespace problem. I've seen the non-aviator sensor operators the AF already uses. Not impressed. AT ALL. Not a single one of them has proven their worth from what I've seen. I'm not saying they don't try hard...but they just don't get it - BECAUSE they are not qualified aviators.
If the AF actually goes through with this, it will signal a complete failure of leadership. This is SOOOOOOOOO much bigger than just debating over whether these people get wings or flight pay!!!! A workaround to budget and manpower shortfalls should not be A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR FLIGHT SAFETY. Pull your heads out of your butts senior AF leaders!!!!! YOU ARE ENDANGERING PEOPLES LIVES WITH THIS DECISION!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a contract employee currently in Iraq. I read this article and remember the request for UAV pilots in Stars and Stripes on Camp Anaconda JBB. I remember also, there was an age cut-off and salary issue.
I am a licensed civilian pilot with a degree in Aviation Management. I have been fyling since 1989 and I am very interested in this program. However, I am 43 years old and I wear corrective lenses. I'm a single engine instrument rated pilot with over 1700 hours logged.
The Air Force, appearently, isn't interested in safety or experience personnel for this mission. Sir, you make a very valid point in your articles response and I support your opinion 100%. Any professional, of the type of work being discussed here, would also take your concerns as creditable and valid.
If the Air Force has any "good intentions" they will take another look at this situation and reconsider..we hope.
As for aviators sharing the sky's with UAV's, I can only offer good luck to you Sir, the next time you see a UAV in the traffic pattern with you and your wingman.
Gypsy, You obviously don't think non-rated operators can be taught the necessary skills to safely operate an RPV? How did you get where you are...? I'm certain they can, without completing pilot trainig.
My comment about not having civilains operate them has to do with civilains committing acts of war, not something our government regularly supports.
Ron