Unmanned
Aircraft System (UAS) Crew Member Selection
Unmanned
aircraft system (UAS) operator training, qualification and certification are
complex and vital issues. In fact, they
have been identified as “…major issues facing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)
integration into the National Airspace System (NAS)…” (Mirot, 2013, p.
19). Until recently, the only operator
requirements provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been the
Interim Operational Approval Guidance 08-01, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations in the U.S. National Airspace
System, which was published nearly a decade ago. Section 9.0 of the guidance “…addresses the
qualifications of UAS pilots, observers, maintainers, and other personnel as
appropriate” (Federal Aviation Administration [FAA], 2008, p. 14). In February 2015, the FAA “…proposed a
framework of regulations that would allow routine use of certain small unmanned
aircraft system (UAS) in today’s aviation system, while maintaining flexibility
to accommodate future technological innovations” (FAA, 2015b, para. 1). The proposed rules apply to small UAS (sUAS)
that weigh less than 55 pounds and conduct non-recreational operations (FAA,
2015b). In addition to aircraft
requirements and operational requirements, limits and restrictions, the
proposed rules also address operator certification requirements and
responsibilities (FAA, 2015b). These
requirements are outlined in Section I.B of the notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM), and are discussed in detail in Section III.E (FAA, 2015a).
Training, Qualification
and Certification Requirements
There are many general knowledge, skills and abilities that
UAS operators, regardless of platform, must possess in order to ensure the safe
and successful operation of the system.
For example, operators should be well versed in the laws, regulations,
directives, etc. that are applicable within the airspace in which they
operating (Bishop, 2003). They must also
understand airspace integration requirements, and be capable of interacting
with both manned and unmanned aircraft operating in their vicinity (Bishop,
2003). They must be proficient at management,
risk assessment, problem solving and decision making; and be able to
effectively and efficiently coordinate, collaborate, and communicate, both
internally and externally (Paylas et al., 2009). Finally, in addition to these general
requirements, all operators must have platform-specific training that includes
normal, non-routine and emergency procedures (Mirot, 2013).
Insitu
ScanEagle
The
Insitu ScanEagle is an autonomous system that can operate in both land and
maritime environments (Insitu, n.d.).
The aircraft is approximately five feet in length, and has a wingspan of
approximately 10 feet (Insitu, n.d.). It
is classified as a sUAS due to its maximum takeoff weight of approximately 50
pounds and cruise speed of 50-60 knots (FAA, 2015a, Insitu, n.d.). It is capable of autonomous flight, or can be
flown either manually or via computer from a portable ground control station
(GCS; Barnhart, Shappee, & Marshall, 2011). As a sUAS, operations of the ScanEagle
require a Standard or Blanket Certificate of Authorization (COA; FAA, 2015c), must
remain below 500 feet, and must remain within visual line-of-sight (LOS) of the
operator or a qualified observer (FAA, 2015a).
In accordance with the FAA’s interim guidance (FAA, 2008) and NPRM (FAA,
2015a), operators must:
· Be
a minimum of 17 years of age.
· Successfully
receive general aviation training and pass an initial aeronautical knowledge
test. A recurrent knowledge test must be
successfully completed every 24 months as well.
· Possess
a pilot certificate.
· Possess
an unmanned operator certificate with a sUAS rating.
· Possess
a current Class 2 medical certificate.
General
Atomics Ikhana
The
General Atomics Ikhana is a variant of the company’s Predator B. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 10,500
pounds, typically operates at altitudes greater than 40,000 feet, can operate
via LOS or satellite command and control (C2) links, and requires a runway for
launch and recovery (National Aeronautics and
Space Administration [NASA], 2008).
Ikhana operations require a Standard COA and, when operating in Class A
airspace, are required to operate under instrument flight rules (FAA,
2015c). In accordance with the FAA’s
interim guidance (FAA, 2008), operators must:
· Possess
a pilot certificate with an instrument flight rating.
· Possess
a current Class 2 medical certificate.
· Complete
platform-specific training, to “…include manufacturer specific training (or
military equivalent), demonstrated proficiency, and testing in the UAS being
operated” (FAA, 2008, p. 16).
Personnel
Recommendations
For
the both the ScanEagle and Ikhana, it is recommended that a minimum of two
operators (e.g., one pilot and one sensor operator) be used for each
shift/mission. Mission endurance will
need to be determined, and crew rotation schedules will need to be consider in
order to determine the total number of operators required for each
platform. It is also recommended that
the pilots and sensor operators have the same training and certifications
required for their respective platforms in order to provide redundancy at each
position in the event that one of the operators becomes incapacitated during a
flight. In addition, a qualified
observer is required per shift/mission for ScanEagle operations. Finally, it is recommended that a mission
coordinator, or planner, be assigned for each platform in order to oversee all
aspects of crew missions, assignments, rotations, etc.
References
Barnhart, R. K.,
Shappee, E., & Marshall, D. M. (2011). Introduction
to Unmanned Aircraft Systems. London, GBR: CRC Press. Retrieved from http://www.ebrary.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu
Bishop, S. (2003,
September). Training for unmanned systems. Unmanned
Systems, 21(5), 28-31.
Federal Aviation
Administration. (2008, March 13). Unmanned
aircraft systems operations in the U.S. national airspace system. Retrieved
from https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/systemops/aaim/organizations/uas/coa/faq/media/uas_guidance08-01.pdf
Federal Aviation
Administration. (2015a). Notice of proposed rulemaking: Operation and
certification of small unmanned aircraft systems. Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/recently_published/media/2120-AJ60_NPRM_2-15-2015_joint_signature.pdf
Federal Aviation
Administration. (2015b, February 15). Press release: DOT and FAA propose new
rules for small unmanned aircraft systems. Retrieved from http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=18295
Federal Aviation
Administration. (2015c, October 27). Unmanned aircraft operation in the
national airspace system (NAS). Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Notice/N_JO_7210.889_Unmanned_Aircraft_Operations_in_the_NAS.pdf
Insitu. (n.d.).
Unmanned Systems. Retrieved March 2, 1016 from http://www.insitu.com/information-delivery/unmanned-systems
Mirot, A. (2013).
The future of unmanned aircraft systems pilot qualifications. Journal of Aviation/Aerospace Education
& Research, 22(3), 19-30. Retrieved from http://commons.erau.edu/jaaer/vol22/iss3/7
National Aeronautics
and Space Administration. (2008, October 3). Large UAS Aircraft. Retrieved from
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/research/ESCD/ikhana.html#.VteuFxFViko
Pavlas, D., Burke,
C., Fiore, S., Salas, E., Jensen, R., and Fu, D. (2009). Enhancing unmanned
aerial system training: A taxonomy of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and
methods. Proceedings of the Human Factors
and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, 53(26), 1903-1907. Retrieved from
http://pro.sagepub.com/content/53/26.toc
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