The Insitu ScanEagle and General Atomics Ikhana are significantly different aircraft albeit with similar purposes; terrestrial observation. The smaller ScanEagle is approximately 5 feet long with a wingspan just over 10 feet and a max takeoff weight of just under 50 pounds (Insitu, 2015). The Ikhana is a variant of the Predator B. It is significantly larger than the ScanEagle at 36 feet long and a wingspan of 66 feet. The Ikhana is able to takeoff at 10,000 pounds (Drdla, 2015). Both aircraft perform similar missions with their electro-optical or infrared imaging sensors. Since both of these aircraft have similar variants that have been type certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this case study will assume both aircraft will have certificates of airworthiness (Kasitz, 2015), (Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, 2013).
During this hiring effort the company will only focus on the operations crews. The launch and recovery crews are not subject to the same qualifications and training. The operational concept will look to operate the ScanEagle with one crew member, the pilot in command also acting as a sensory operator. The Ikhana will be crewed by two members, one acting as the pilot in command and the other acting as a co-pilot and sensor operator.
Due to the nature of the positions being hired by the company, certain qualifications must be met in order to be hired. Because of the assumption both unmanned aerial systems (UAS) will maintain a certificate of airworthiness all potential applicants will require a pilot certificate in order to be competitive for the position. The FAA requires a pilot certificate for the pilot in command of any aircraft with an airworthiness certificate additionally a supplemental pilot, which the sensor operator will be, requires, at a minimum, private pilot’s ground school (Seipel, 2013). In addition, applicants must be able to obtain and maintain a Flying Class II physical.
Once the individual is hired the training program will begin. Each airframe will have a specific plan of instruction (POI) for the initial qualification training (IQT). This will follow a logical progression beginning with fundamental knowledge about the system itself including the aircraft, ground station, launch equipment and recovery equipment. The next area of instruction is the nominal operations of the equipment beginning with launch, then flight and sensor operation, and finally landing or recovery. Once the knowledge base has been built, the student will progress to simulator operations and finally flying the real system in an operational environment. Upon successful completion of a comprehensive final flight checkout the operator will be certified for unsupervised operations. In the Ikhana system the initial certification will be in the co-pilot/sensor operator position. A similar POI for upgrade training will take place to reach the pilot in command position. The initial training courses will be taught by the manufacturer. Once a team of subject matter experts is developed, training will move in-house and be taught by instructors from within the company. The ScanEagle certification will be for the single position. The initial Ikhana certification will be for the sensor operator position. Upon successful completion of the upgrade training sequence, the operator will be dual certified in both pilot in command and sensor operator positions. Periodic rechecks will occur to maintain currency in each certified position.
References
Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. (2013, June 26). FAA Type Certifies Firs UAS for Commercial Ops. Retrieved from Aviation Week Network: http://aviationweek.com/awin/faa-type-certifies-first-uas-commercial-ops
Drdla, K. (2015, February 3). NASA Airborne Science Program - Ikhana. Retrieved from NASA: https://airbornescience.nasa.gov/aircraft/Ikhana
Insitu. (2015). ScanEagle. Retrieved from Insitu: https://insitu.com/images/uploads/pdfs/ScanEagle_SubFolder_Digital_PR080315.pdf
Kasitz, K. (2015, June 15). Certifiable Predator B Completes Critical Design Review. Retrieved from General Atomics and Affiliated Companies: http://www.ga.com/certifiable-predator-b-completes-critical-design-review
Seipel, J. D. (2013, August 2). Airworthiness Certification of Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Optionally Piloted Aircraft. U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration.
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