The most important factor when selecting, certifying and training UAS operators is
safety. Having no onboard human on the aircraft
adds a high degree of complexity to UAS. It is therefore very important to not
only select the right crew members but
also people who are detail-oriented and safety conscious. Many UAS accidents are
caused by crew errors. Although many are as a result of Human interface systems
in the Ground Control Stations, a few as also a result of improper flight
operations procedures taken by UAS operators especially during takeoff and
landing.
When
it comes to the size and endurance of UAS, one has to look at the differences from
military and civilian systems. Due to FAA restrictions, most civil UAS are
either at or below the required 55 pounds. The bigger and longer endurance
systems are used by the military. UAS technology development and the FAA’s efforts
to integrate UAS into the National Airspace System is sure to blow open the
limitations on payload and endurance for civil use. A good example is the Ikhana
UAS that is being used to test Detect and Avoid technologies. When it comes to
qualifications, most military UAS operators will rank higher since they have
flown countless hours of UAS flights in training with flights in higher payload
and endurance UAS systems.
Flight Training is an ongoing process. Although a pilot might be skilled on a particular UAS
or system, there is still a need to continually train and refresh one’s knowledge
especially as new technologies are being developed and imbedded into systems.
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