USAF Air Vehicle Operator Training Requirements Study.

Abstract

Abstract : This study was initiated to examine questions raised at Corona South '97 regarding tne type of training pipeline that would need to be established within the Air Force for training pilots of current (i.e., Predator) and future (e.g., Global Hawk and Dark Star) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs). Although Air Combat Command now uses rated Air Force pilots to fly the Predator, a secondary issue addressed by the study is the feasibility of establishing an enlisted air vehicle operator specialty within the Air Force. The study employed a combination of a survey and focus group discussions conducted with Predator AVOs assigned to the 11th and 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons between August and December of 1997. The study sampled the opinions of virtually 100% of the trained Air Force AVOs, and the reliability on the written survey was extremely high (Spearman-Brown estimate of reliability equals .88). The results of the study indicate that current Predator pilots believe that training requirements prior to Predator initial qualification training (IQT) are roughly equivalent to undergraduate pilot training (UPT) received by AF pilots of manned aircraft. Further, they believe that manned aircraft flying experience is essential to effective employment of the Predator. Although these pilots believe that a carefully screened portion of enlisted personnel could successfully complete such training, members of the focus group discussions unanimously expressed concern with giving enlisted personnel the decision-making responsibilities necessary for effective Predator employment. The study yielded very little useful information regarding the training requirements for future UAV and UCAV systems.