Originally Posted by
Bucking Bar
Someone here probably has the numbers for the Air Force's drone implementation. My understanding was that they have two "pilots" operating the drone and one supervising the operation. Or in other words, three times the staffing needed to operate a single seat fighter.
Bar,
Incorrect. There is a pilot, sensor operators (operates the Multi-Spectral Targeting System [MTS], and most often times an "Intel Specialist" attached to the crew.
Originally Posted by
Bucking Bar
In about 10,000 hours there are only a couple of instances where I've needed to take action to avoid someone who has missed a clearance. There have probably been a few dozen instances of "why did the autopilot do that" and one complete electrical melt down that even took the emergency / standby busses down. Each of these were all in a days work for a pilot with average skills, but very likely catastrophic for a remotely piloted vehicle.
With all due respect, you're assumptions of what would be "catastrophic" for a Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV) are unfounded and simply, incorrect. Is your speculation based on accident data, or rumor-mill? I "assume" the latter.
Originally Posted by
Bucking Bar
Further, much of Part 121 maintenance is running parts "on condition." They fly as long as they continue to operate normally. That means they get replaced when they fail. Without pilots, the maintenance standards for aircraft would have to be completely revamped.
You are correct. (See, even a "jerk" can be nice every once in a while!)
Part 121 maintenance standards will need to be revamped, and the FAA is currently wrapping their minds around UAV's in the NAS, and the entire "sense & avoid" concept. I know for a fact because I speak with them on a weekly basis, after launching the first UAV into the traffic pattern of KRDR on Oct. 10th.
My apologies for the limited information. I'm late for an appointment with the UAV, as I type this.
2000+ hours of UAV operation
Mission Control Element (MCE) & Launch/Recovery Element (LRE) Qual'd
Performed the first launch of an unmanned vehicle for the Air Guard in KRDR's Class D Airspace
Fly safe,
GJ