UAVs Capable Of Commercial Boom?

The United States military has had great success in the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in recent wartime skirmishes globally. UAVs offer many advantages over piloted aircraft in a wide range of missions. From reconnaissance to weapon systems delivery, it is quickly becoming apparent that UAVs may be capable of nearly any mission one can imagine. Removing the human body from the aircraft results in cost savings in nearly every aspect of aircraft operation. A small UAV burns less fuel, does not require heavy and expensive life support equipment, have a considerably lower upfront purchase cost, has a greater flight range, and will undoubtedly be less expensive to insure. It is no surprise that many public and private organizations are eager to begin to utilize this proven resource to improve overall operational capabilities and costs. As with any new technology in aviation regulatory and safety measures must be designed and implemented before use can begin. The two key components of regulating the adoption of UAV use in America will certainly be airspace integration and pilot training and certification.

            America is known to operate one of the most congested airspaces in the world. Recent numbers put the daily count in US airspace somewhere close to 90,000 commercial, military, and private flights. Many of these flights operate safely on what is referred to as “see-and-avoid” collision avoidance concept. This is simply a methodology for pilots to visually-scan their surroundings to avoid colliding with other aircraft. Obviously, UAV operators will not be able to rely on this method to avoid other craft. This issue led President Obama and Congress to require the development of six national test bases for testing and developing UAV “sense-and-avoid” anti-collision technology that can be integrated into the US airspace plan in the FAA Re-authorization Act of 2012. It is currently possible for both public and private organizations to get an FAA certification/waiver to operate UAVs on an individual basis. Current approved operators include military operators/bases and some border patrol outfits. These current certificates apparently include very specific limitations and are not exactly held by “private” organizations, only military and government contractors and organizations (Whittle, 2012). Obviously, the integration of UAVs to the airspace would be greatly benefited by the implementation of the fabled “NexGen” air traffic control program, but as we know this technology is painfully slow to get-going. It is entirely possible that if/when UAVs are permitted to operate in the US airspace for commercial purposes there will be an extremely large number of these craft flown due to the relatively low operational costs. Designing the appropriate air infrastructure will be critical to ensuring that UAVs can be safely operated in the US. Comprehensive pilot training and certification will be necessary for safety as well.

           The obvious advantages of UAV technology has led to the development of pilot training programs before commercial uses have even been approved. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) has been on the cutting-edge of the UAV pilot training, opening a program that began in 2009. In a recent interview Alex Mirot, program coordinator of the Unmanned Aircraft Systems at ERAU, identified some of the skills that UAV pilots will have to have that are different from traditional pilots. The skills he identified included data transmission systems, electronic circuit design, robotic technologies, and specific human factors training (Avionics Magazine, 2012). The course list for ERAU’s BS in unmanned aerial systems is certainly highly technical in nature including many science technology based-courses. Critics of unmanned aircraft point to the lack of personal stakes that a pilot has when remotely operating the aircraft. The fear is that there could be more risky decision-making on behalf of pilots because a crash would not have the same consequences for him/her. There would be, however, real consequences for those on the ground who could encounter the crashing UAV. Other concerns include a distinct lack of actually “feeling” the characteristics of flight, something a traditional pilot would know to be a critical factor in safely operating aircraft. All of the UAV piloting programs offered by ERAU require private pilot, commercial pilot, single engine, and multi-engine certificates, but a good amount of the environmental feedback that a traditional pilot relies on will not be available to UAV pilots (i.e. wind characteristics, flight control feedback, etc.). There is no doubt that the obstacles to successful operation of UAVs have not fully been identified yet, and that the development of pilot training programs is surely in its infancy at best.  

             Unmanned Aerial Vehicles present a great opportunity to business in America. Lowering the cost of aerial operations could have a boom-effect on the American business economy. There are many hurdles and learning experiences that will have to be overcome before the true commercial value and effect of UAV technology can be realized.

Sources

Avionics Magazine. (2012, May 1). Q&A: Embry-Riddle's Alex Mirot. Retrieved from aviationtoday.com: http://www.aviationtoday.com/av/issue/feature/Q-and-A-Embry-Riddles-Alex-Mirot_76213.html#.UQ5ncR3AfZ4

Federal Aviation Administration. (2009, December 8). Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Certifications and Authorizations. Retrieved from faa.gov: http://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/cert/

United States Congress. (2011, April 4). FAA Reauthorization Act of 2012. Retrieved from gpo.gov: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr658rds/pdf/BILLS-112hr658rds.pdf

Whittle, R. (2012, March 8). FAA Takes First Steps To Allow UAVs To Fly In U.S. Retrieved from defense.aol.com: http://defense.aol.com/2012/03/08/faa-takes-first-step-to-allow-uavs-to-fly-in-u-s/