UAS Crew Member Selection

Crew Positions

             The Insitu ScanEagle requires quite a large crew besides the operator to get the device airborne. The total crew includes not only the ground control station (GCS) operator, but the command, control, and communications (C3) subsystem operator, launch and recovery team, and payload expert (Wilke, 2007). The ScanEagle has the capability to operate either automatically or manually for launch and recovery and sensor operations, but requires manual inputs by an operator for flight planning and pre-flight/post-flight (Wilke, 2007). Any company considering hiring operators should hire at least two sets in order to fill long duration missions.

            The Ikhana unmanned aerial system (UAS) requires a pilot and payload operator for the GCS in order to fly since it is based on the MQ-9 UAS (NASA, 2009). The payload operator fills the copilot position and role for the Ikhana and can control certain systems on takeoff and landing to configure the aircraft properly (NASA, 2009). Because the Ikhana flies via beyond line of sight (BLOS) operations over the open ocean, pilots need to have substantial flying experience in similar aircraft. Typically both operators have flight experience either in manned or unmanned systems because the aircraft requires a team effort to get airborne. Any company considering hiring operators should hire at least two sets in order to fill long duration missions.

Qualification, Certification, and Training

             According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there are a handful or requirements that pilots must meet in order to operate UAS commercially within the United States. To become certified, UAS pilots must pass a 2 year recurring knowledge test about applicable regulations concerning UAS operations in the national airspace (FAA, 2017). Once a pilot receives this certificate, for most companies including Boeing and General Atomics, they must also be qualified in a particular aircraft. At a minimum, applicants need to be a U.S. citizen and speak English fluently. This means they must have a current checkride on file. Therefore, the training associated with the ScanEagle or Ikhana variant must have already been accomplished before the application is submitted to the company. Below is a list of minimum and ideal criteria that candidates must fill in order to be considered to fill open positions.

Minimum Criteria

             For the Insitu ScanEagle, the minimum set of criteria for hiring are as follows:

-        FAA class II medical physical

-        U.S. citizen

-        Background Check

-        Strong handle on the English language

For the Ikhana, the minimum set of criteria for hiring are as follows:

-        FAA class II medical physical

-        U.S. citizen

-        Background check

-        Strong handle on the English language

Ideal Criteria

             For the Insitu ScanEagle, ideal criteria are as follows:

-        6 years experience flying UAS or ScanEagle

-        Associate degree or higher

-        Security clearance

-        Private or commercial pilot certification

-        Leadership experience

For the Ikhana, ideal criteria are as follows

-        6 or more years of pilot in command MQ-9 experience

-        Current and qualified Instructor/Evaluator

-        Security clearance

-        Technical master’s degree

-        Private or commercial pilots certification

-        Leadership experience

References

FAA. (2017). Becoming a pilot. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/uas/getting_started  

/fly_for_work_business/becoming_a_pilot/

NASA. (2009). Ikhana: Unmanned Aircraft System Western States Fire Missions. Retrieved from https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/601239main_Ikhana-ebook.pdf

Wilke, C. (2007). ScanEagle Overview. Retrieved from http://www.csdy.umn.edu/acgsc /Meeting_99/SubcommitteeE/SEpubrlsSAE.PDF