Abstract
Safe integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into airspace generally occupied by manned aircraft and other aviation stakeholders is a pressing global challenge. In the United States, efforts are being made to integrate small and large UAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). Whereas regulations for the civil operation of small UAS (25 kg and lighter) have already been adopted, those for larger unmanned systems are still being crafted. Thus, a two-part mixed methods study was conducted to examine three pivotal issues in the safe operation of large UAS: (1) What kind of visual observer skills are needed to execute safe UAS operations; (2) Should visual observers involved in UAS operations receive formal training; and (3) Should visual observers be required to pass a certification exam? In the first phase, subject matter experts identified various vigilance, trajectory estimation and communication skills that were vital to performing visual observer duties successfully and elaborated on their training regimens. In the second phase, survey participants were approximately evenly split on the need for formal classroom/online and hands-on visual observer training. Furthermore, participants generally favored visual observers having to pass a classroom/online certification exam, whereas they were against a practical (hands-on) exam.
Highlights
The establishment of visual observer training and certification requirements for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations is a component in ensuring the safe and efficient integration of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) into the U.S National Airspace System (NAS)
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operational Approval policy notice [1], visual observers are expected to be responsible for: (1) Helping UAS pilots keep the aircraft within visual line of sight and (2) Exercising see-and-avoid responsibilities by preventing the unmanned aircraft from creating a collision hazard and maintaining compliance with federal regulations, including Operating Near
All subject matter experts reported that they underwent a combination of computer-based and practical hands-on training before engaging in visual observer duties
Summary
The establishment of visual observer training and certification requirements for unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operations is a component in ensuring the safe and efficient integration of UAS into the U.S National Airspace System (NAS). To ensure the safety of UAS operations, visual observers must be able to visually scan the airspace effectively, track aircraft and make accurate and reliable estimates of (relative) aircraft position, assess the need for a potential avoidance maneuver and communicate that need to the UAS pilot in a timely manner [5]. The proposed language stated that flights were to be limited to small UAS (sUAS) operated within visual line of sight for the sUAS pilot during daylight hours in visual meteorological conditions. Like flying a predefined route in dedicated airspace, allow sUAS pilots to maintain the aircraft in their line of sight throughout flight. More complex operational tasks, like flying an ad-hoc route in shared airspace, typically require the pilot to actively maneuver the Safety 2018, 4, 15; doi:10.3390/safety4020015 www.mdpi.com/journal/safety
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