UAV hours
 

I posted this question in the military forum, but i thought some of you might have some gouge on the subject.

how does the FAA look at military Predator UAV pilots? they are logging PIC time as a military pilot, but does the FAA count this time for anything?

with more and more company's going the UAV route for either pipeline survey or whatever, i was thinking this issue might start to show its face in the airline world.

any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...

thanks!!

sounds like this is something i would ask your local FSDO. get them to give you an answer in writing, so it'll be harder to dispute later on.

i'd personally say it isn't logable (is that a word?) but it's just a gut reaction.

Here's the issue...ultimately, in a UAV your @ss is not personally on the line. A manned pilot has to perform while fearing for his own life every now and then.

I know some people in the predator world. It is not loggable as far as anything related to manned aircraft is concerned (employment, ratings).

I suspect that someday you might be allowed to credit some UAV training/time towards some aspects of certification (ie ground schools, instrument rating), and maybe airlines will allow UAV guys 20% credit toward the mins or something.

In the long run, expect credit similar to what helicopter people get, but less.

When SWA,DAL,UAL,etc start using UAVs to carry pax is when you'll be able to use your time, sooo.. not in the near future.

I agree.......but you never know in these days how they will look at things..

i didnt know helicopter guys got the shaft on hours...

OUCH!

thanks for all your inputs!!