Big challenges in recruiting and training for unmanned aircraft operations

Speaking at Safeskies 2011 today, USAF Lt Col Ray King provided entertaining insight into the selection and training of unmanned aircraft operators.

These are some of the main points from his presentation:

* The USAF will spend more this year on Remotely Piloted Aircraft (what we used to call UAVs) than on manned combat aircraft.

* RPA pilots are now not recruited from USAF pilot ranks, but are carefully selected from a wider field, and specifically trained for RPA operations.

* Psychological profiling is an important part of the selection process - and an air traffic controller template is more relevant than pilot selection.

* Nonetheless, the skills and abilities of the RPA operators are grossly similar to those of manned aircraft pilots.

* The similarlity of RPA and ATC will increase if multiple RPAs are to be controlled by a single operator.

* Perhaps the motivation to fly RPAs is different from that of pilots, and maybe it's the gamers we should be targeting for recruitment.

* We are better at discriminating between those who can and those who can't (ability) than we are at determining who will and who will not (motivation).

* RPA operators don't deploy but they still operate in a reasonably rigorous environment. The job is not stress-free. They will be working irregular hours and long shifts in isolation.

* There is currently a great deal being done in the US to develop selection strategies for RPA operator recruitment.