Originally Posted by LivingInMEM

Fletch, first - what statistics are you talking about?

Next, do me a favor and do some research on what a pilot in a UAV does. While we do have pilots doing the takeoff and landing, those phases of flight represent about 20 minutes of a 20 hour sortie. If the non-rated guys who are so good at MS Flight Sim want to exclusively do take-off's and landings, have at it - be my guest. But, right now are talking about someone fulfilling the role of an ISR/CAS asset commander and making all of the decisions associated with the position and commanding the respective crew. I will ask you what I have already posted before - would you put these LT's as AC in the U-28, an ISR asset with less capability than some of our UAS's and no offensive capability? How about the left seat of an AC-130? I will assume the answer is "no". Why not? I will argue that it is easier for a neophyte to maintain SA in a combat environment by actually being there vs having to build the picture in his brain via remote sensing. If you think the most difficult part of the UAS is the flying, you don't understand the concept of employment. If it only comes down to the flying, let's put the new guy in the F-15 - by far the easiest to fly aircraft that I have flown, but by far the most difficult to employ. By the way, the most difficult portion of employment of the F-15 or any other combat asset is in the mental aspect, not the physical. I do agree with only one example of having those who are not otherwise physically capable of flying being assigned to a UAS - take experienced combat aviators who are now DNIF and assign them to the UAS.