UAV Pilot Shortage & Military Intelligence
By Scott Spangler on March 24th, 2009A recent New York Times’s article, “Drones Are Weapons of Choice in Fighting Qaeda, ” added to the mounting evidence that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are changing the face of military aviation. This is especially true in the U.S. Air Force, an organization run by pilots for pilots. Herein lies the problem: with a growing number of missions (they’ve nearly tripled over the past three years), there’s a shortage of UAV pilots.
This is where the military intelligence comes in. The Air Force says UAVs must be flown by pilots who are trained to fly manned aircraft. (I’m not sure why; I’ve tried flying remote-controlled models, and nothing I learned in the cockpit helped me.) So it has been re-equipping squadrons, like the NY ANG’s F-16 flying 174th Fighter Wing, with the MQ-9 Reaper. (I imagine the the pilots were thrilled to hear they’d soon be trading a cockpit for cubicle with a joystick and computer screens.)
On the one hand, this makes sense. UAVs, made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, cost less than F-16s and other flying hardware like it. Powered by a Rotax 914F, the MQ-1 Predator is 27 feet long and ca cruise at 25,000 feet for more than 20 hours. With its ground control station, it costs $7.6 million. The Reaper is slightly. Powered by a TPE 331 turboprop, it’ll cruise at 50,000 feet all day long. It costs $13.4 million (and unarmed versions now patrol U.S. borders from bases in North Dakota and Arizona.)
On the other and, retraining fighter pilots to fly UAVs makes no sense at all. A recent article in the Air Force Times, “UAV pilot career field could save $1.5B,” showed why. It takes more than a year and $2.6 million to train a fighter pilot. It takes 20 weeks and $135,000 to train a UAV pilot, who doesn’t need to be a fighter pilot, hence the savings.
To be fair, the Air Force is considering this option, as a FlightGlobal.com story explained in “USAF tests non-aviators for unmanned air system operations.” But it seems clear that the generals in charge (all of whom are, most likely, pilots) are trying to sustain the heroic status earned by 20th century pilots. Training non-pilots to fly UAVs could be a solution, they say, but “it raises debate around issues such as whether operators will be awarded wings and earn flight rates of pay.”
Like it or not, 21st century aviation is all about clinical and economic efficiency: technology rules and our master is the bottom line. You train to do the job at hand, no more, no less. It’s time to face reality. Professional pilots today, military or civilian, are systems operators. UAVs are just the next step in this process; they move the system operator from the cockpit to the cubicle. The military gets more bang for its bucks. Pilots give up g-forces–and the chance of a hostile death.
It will be interesting to see how the UAV pilot shortage shakes out in the short term. The long term seems clear, however. UAVs will be flying an increasing percentage of military missions, and as the need for UAV pilots grows, the bottom line will ultimately issue the training orders. — Scott Spangler
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March 24th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
This seems like a role that any civilian with a PPL or even a highly experienced MS Flight Simulator “pilot” could be trained to do. Why waste a fully rated combat pilot on UAV missions?
March 25th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Ive flown this type of UAV for almost a decade. I’ve flown real airplanes for 18 years and counting. You’ll never fly for me with only experience in flight simulator. A requisite to fly THESE (RQ1/RQ9) aircraft (NOT tactical point and click UAVs) is extensive manned aircraft experience. Go become a PREDATOR INSTRUCTOR pilot and get back to us or quit making uniformed comments. The author of this article needs to get a clue along with you, Eric.
March 25th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
I don’t eem to understand the nature of the problem in finding pilots to fly your UAV’s.
I personally spent 26 years in the UAFF Reserves as a mechanic and a flight engineer and have also had the good fortune to of been an airline Captain for another 20 years on top of that and am now retired from both and working part time as a contract Pilot of VLJ’s.
I will speak for myself here but I also know other professional aviators who are retired that would jump at the opportunity to fly these craft in support of their country and our comrades currently in the Military.
You’ve got pilots out here sitting on 20,000 plus hours of experience looking for something to do. Tell the generals with all due respect to look beyond the edge of their desk and he’ll have you guys fully manned with a 1000% backup capability in less than a week.
Sincerely, Jim Harrod
Retired Msgt, Airline Captain, Aircraft mechanic and full time Flight Instructor!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I’ll agree that learning to fly a UAV would take more than “Flight Sim.” My only proof of this is that flying the PC sims used to train new RC model pilots help, but they do not create fail-safe pilots, as crashed models attest when a new RC’er takes the sticks.
But I still fail to see the correlation between in-cockpit experience and the UAV mission. Dan, as a pilot with experience in both, perhaps you can give us an example or two of those requisite skill transfers. Thanks!
March 25th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Scott beat me to the punch, but Dan, I would be glad to hear about the extra skills it takes to pilot a UAV that requires fighter-pilot training.
They aren’t dog-fighting for heavens sake.
Even sending a small missile at a ground target … how tough can that be to lock on and fire?
I’d love to hear more about this.
March 28th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
this was bound to happen according to a survey
March 29th, 2009 at 4:59 am
The RAF are heavily involved in this program and forming their own squadrons. The comment I picked up on from them was that it is the relationship between the GIB/Looker/RIO that makes or breaks the mission.
The missions are very tough when they go hot but most are routine looking for intelligence to track movements and habit changes that fit into the bigger Intel picture. Those missions perhaps (an uninformed view) may be suitable for non-combat trained pilots but Dan does have his point I think.
Perhaps we are going to see an entirely new category of pilot – one trained from day one for the role. It will be quite a task though and will probably involve FAC duties to develop an intimate understanding of the battlefield and its demands. Those are real people down there…
March 29th, 2009 at 5:02 am
…. relationship pilot to GIB/’Looker’/RIO/WSO that makes or breaks…
Should have spend another minute editing.. LOL
April 17th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I don’t think anyone mentioned fighter pilot training
*break*
Like it or not UAV will have a good size role to play in all branches of the military. As a former military pilot I have mixed feelings about men and women being removed from the cockpit but from a tactical, strategic and cost effectiveness standpoint it makes perfect sense.
UAV have more endurance and are cheaper to operate than manned aircraft. They can provide battlefield commanders or fleet commanders with round the clock real time intelligence in addition to being able to attack targets.
In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sort of unmanned submarine in the near future.
Become A Marine Pilot
April 17th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Forget to mention…as Jim Harrod says there are plenty of people who have flight experience who would jump at the opportunity to fly one of these for the country.
I hear that the Air Force is taking newly winged lieutenants and “volunteering” them to a UAV assignment for their first tour.
Why doesn’t the Air Force or DOD hire people with military flight experience to fly the UAVs?
Become A Marine Pilot
April 21st, 2009 at 8:30 am
This truly brings up a valid point. When they developed some of the new tech ground robots they had the Soldiers train on them forever and found that the controls were too complex for the Soldiers to become proficient in a timely manner. Thus when the Soldiers suggested the controller be switched to an X-Box controller a 9 year old kid kicked the crap out of an enemy force scenario training exercise. Unreal! Noted flying UAV is not a HALO video game so make no mistake, I agree with Norman “Those are real people down there…” Also drawing from the experience of the retired force is an excellent idea. I would switch service branches for the opportunity to fly period, regardless of it being a UAV or Raptor. I was passed over for flight Warrant officer as a Blackhawk Pilot having scored a 90 on the flight test, and being highly reccomended by a CW5 combat rotary wing pilot. Atleast you all got the chance to actually fly. The military could end the conflict with the experience they have between retired, active, UAV, and fighter pilots. They should let some of these expert Ace Combat 5 pilots run actual squadron missions. You would be truly amazed at the talent this generation has to offer.
17 yrs Active Service Member
US ARMY
April 30th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
hey I’m 17 right now in high school, and I have wanted to be a pilot since I was a little kid, Then I got Glasses and that dream was shot to hell. But I think it would be an awsome career to fly these things for a job. I totally agree with Dwayne. I have ace combat 5 and other games similar, including flight simulator games on the PC and even though I have no Flying experience because I’m too young, I still think there should be some short of way to do this for a living instead of just wanting retired pilots. Because I do think we have potential just from playing video games, and it does give us the basics, does it not? Is there some way I can fly these things for a living? Please let me know
May 3rd, 2009 at 3:05 pm
If anyone is interested in a solution to the Air Force problem, look at the Army. We currently fly the MQ-1B, with missiles, and our safety record is comparable to that of the Air Force. However, we do it with an all enlisted crew with no formal aviation training. While it is a prerequisite to fly a tactical UAV (RQ-5,RQ-7) prior to coming to the MQ-1B program, manned time is not required (although it is helpful).
Jonathan, as the son of a fighter pilot, I always wanted to be a fighter jock too. But I have my mom’s eyesight so I was in the same boat as you are now. I now fly these things full time with a very promising career path ahead of me. If you are truly interested, contact your local Army recruiter and ask about the 15W MOS. You won’t be disappointed.
July 7th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Dan,
I believe you will find more fruit in your replies and work if you replied in the same fashion as Jim. Without anger.
No one denies that you are trained but a UAV pilot must have a host of skills.
I’m a systems engineer never sat much in a cube, always on line during a mission when the operator had no clue! This UAV deal will take pilots, software guys, photography experts, weather men, am I geetin through. Who holds the joy stick doesnt matter if the joy sticks broke.
I understand what you are saying but there is room for the rest of the guys in this business and if you are training pilots carry on! I’ll be on the runway “when it dont fly”
August 24th, 2009 at 1:03 am
This is great. I havn’t graduated high school yet but becoming a UAV pilot has been my number one choice for a career path. i hope they do make a UAV pilot career field that would be fantastic!
August 24th, 2009 at 1:06 am
oh yeah, and robert, it is a lot harder than you think. you are dropping missles through a very tight air space. its not a video game
October 7th, 2009 at 10:46 am
I’m very sure that this is the way of the future ,i am a big fan of flight simulator i wonder if i will qualify for the uav pilot scheme i am probably to old , very interesting article will follow
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:00 pm
A response to Jim Harrod:
You’re absolutely correct. My grandfather told me that if they gave him a place to eat and sleep he’d do it for free. He’s a retired command pilot w/ 27 years of AF experience.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:12 am
If I got a UAV on my drop at the end of UPT I think I might put a bullet in my brain. In all honesty I believe it would be worse than flying a heavy (at I’d really be off the ground). Training to become an AF pilot is one of the hardest things anyone could do. However, it’s also one of the most rewarding. A UAV would be a smack in the face after working for so long at what you though would fulfill your dreams. I agree that they serve a great purpose. I think that purpose could be served with retirees and experienced civilian pilots who want to do the job though, not 2nd Lt’s who are being forced to. Let the young guys do the real thing, I’m sure when they’re old and ready to settle down many of them would be happy to fill a UAV slot later on. Maybe I’m coming at this with a little bit of bias (PPL with an application to OTS soon), but I sure as hell don’t want to fly a remote controlled airplane for the 10 years I’d be stuck in with wings.
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:08 am
The University of North Dakota has a BS in UAV piloting and works with the Army. It would be a good place for someone in high school to look at attending if they are interested in being a UAV pilot. At U of North Dakota, they practice with the Army’s permission in military airspace. They also have both an Army and Air Force ROTC there, as well as regular commercial aviation training.
January 11th, 2010 at 11:29 pm
[...] to point out that, right now, the military is the primary career opportunity for UAV pilots (see UAV Pilot Shortage & Military Intelligence), but let’s be honest, the no-pilot airliner is just around the [...]
January 12th, 2010 at 4:20 am
[...] to point out that, right now, the military is the primary career opportunity for UAV pilots (see UAV Pilot Shortage & Military Intelligence), but let’s be honest, the no-pilot airliner is just around the [...]
January 27th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Thanks for being a dick whoever edits this blog I found my information elsewhere.
February 14th, 2010 at 11:14 pm
[...] And it seems to work well in fixed-wing aircraft that fly high in the controlled airspace (see UAV Pilot Shortage & Military Intelligence and UND Plants Seeds of No-Pilot Airliners ). But down in the dirt and among the trees [...]
February 15th, 2010 at 12:24 am
[...] And it seems to work well in fixed-wing aircraft that fly high in the controlled airspace (see UAV Pilot Shortage & Military Intelligence and UND Plants Seeds of No-Pilot Airliners ). But down in the dirt and among the trees [...]
February 26th, 2010 at 9:18 am
We are currently making a documentary for the History Channel US, and looking for retired UAV pilots. If Dan or anyone else with experience of flying UAV’s is interested in talking to us and hearing more about the programme, please contact me at rik.hall@octoberfilms.co.uk Many thanks