Drone Pilots or Drone Operators?
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You might note that I have written about UAVs on several occasions, usually in vain. Let me say for the record that UAVs (or Remotely Piloted Aircraft – RPAs) are great use of technology, particularly in the military.
But…
Ok, I was listening to an interview recently and they were talking about UAVs/RPAs and some of the challenges associated with staffing, etc.
I noticed they said “drone pilot” enough in the discussion that it actually started to grate on me. It wasn’t the hosts that were bothering me, they are great guys, but rather the innocent use of the word “pilot” as it relates to drone operations.
This brings up a fundamental question. Are RPA operators, pilots? Before you start sending me hate-mail, follow my logic.
The phrase “drone pilot” is common enough that most aviators use it without second thought. Even this critical author didn’t seem to be phased by its use until recently. But should we be ok with this misuse of the term? Is it a misuse of the term?
I think part of this comes from the military’s need to keep the drone operator’s egos up (yes I know many of which are current/former pilots). So the military propagates the title of “pilot” through the various channels to help keep them in the fraternity. Who can blame them? All reports are that attracting and keeping “operators” is proving challenging.
In a particularly horrendous blunder, the military started awarding combat medals to these folks, something the currently decorated veterans found understandably offensive.
I have nothing against the men and women who do this job, again many of which are actually fully trained pilots. I’m also not saying operating a drone isn’t a tough job. I’m sure it requires a good degree of intellect, talent, and discipline. I also recognize that operating a multi-million dollar, armed piece of equipment in anger has to be stressful, and they are certainly doing a worthwhile mission that is keeping real people out of harm’s way. For all this I salute them, but it just feels wrong to call them “pilots.”
Lets face it, if we were to adopt the RPAs guys, we better hand out pilot badges to flight simulator folks and the remote-controlled airplane crowd; wouldn’t they be considered pilots too using this standard?
In doing some research, I predictably found that the term originated from the nautical world. It came from ancient Greece to describe the rudder of a boat, which makes sense.
Maybe I have an inflated view of what it is be a pilot? I have been known to be a little “precious” about details like this. After all I worked my ass off getting my ratings and I don’t take it lightly.
In today’s world, as my fellow bloggers have pointed out, many pilots have strayed further and further from their roots as pilots and are closer to “systems operators” in many regards. Accidents like ColganAir 3407, AF447 and Asiana 214 were all stick-n-rudder related. So maybe I shouldn’t be so magnanimous with the term “pilot,” since the lines between a drone operator sitting on a military base commanding a drone and an A380 Captain sitting on the flight deck commanding a jumbo jet are starting to blur.
Why do I even care? Because I’m unashamedly romantic about flying and drones are about as unromantic as you can get. In fact, they’re creepy.
So back to my original question, should we call drone operators, pilots? Let’s hear your thoughts. Don’t hold back, but please don’t use too much profanity – this is a family blog.
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Couldn’t agree more on all fronts. Creepy is a good description.
Thanks Dana! They are really getting a lot of press here lately, which irritates me even more…
RPA operators do require a high skill level, but pilots they are not. And the idea that they could be awarded combat medals was the dumbest idea to come out of the 5 sided puzzle palace in a long time. Might as well give out awards for video games.
Bill,
Well said! I love your comment on the “5 sided puzzle palace…” too funny!
Brent
I believe them to be “operators”. They are directing a drone and not flying the thing. Also, the “5 sided puzzle palace” can be know as “fort fumble”.
Glenn,
Thanks! Funny!
My friend happens to be one of the RPAs operator you are talking about and an ex F18 pilot.
He received a combat medal for his actions in Afghanistan, as a RPA operator, but did not receive as a PILOT.
He does not like being called a RPA PILOT, he would rather be called a HIGHLY skilled UAV operator, or with his friends a HIGHLY skilled combat simulator operator.
He also thinks that PILOTS not operators should get medals; after all they are putting themselves in danger whereas an operator is not.
Kenneth,
I would obviously feel the same if I was not flying anymore. Good on your friend!
Brent
Brent,
Great article. My son is one of the “Operators” in the US Army. He operates the Grey Eagle, same thing as the Predator, just Army version. The Army classifies them as UAV Operators, not pilots. But with that being said. He did go through the PPL course, and instrument course, taking the FAA written on both. He essentially has a FAA PPL license but without the actual flight time required to be issued a PPL. He doesn’t consider himself a “Pilot” and even though I am instrument rated and owner of a Piper Warrior II, he has no interest in flying. Sad and I get on him all the time about the amount of time and money he has saved to get his PPL. Hopefully one day he will change his mind..
Wow, that’s fascinating Dave!
All that training, but no interest.
Thank you for sharing!
I so agree with you!
I have to agree: pilot means you’re on board the aircraft, hurtling through the air, and you’re butt is literally on the line. Operator means you’re doing it remotely. The aircraft crashes, you still go home at night in one piece. You might lose your job, but you’ll never lose your life if you do it wrong.
I’ve got nothing against RPVs. They make sense for many applications, but I wouldn’t refer to those who fly them as pilots or aviators. Like you, I take a more romantic view of those terms.
Well said Ron!
I think this is well said, Brent. That is not to impugn UAV operators, whom I’m sure receive a lot of training (I liked a previous commenter’s note about “highly skilled”, which seems appropriate). To me, piloting is about stick and rudder with the immediacy of seat-of-the-pants feedback; experiencing the sensations of flight directly. But I already know that I fall into the romantic category when it comes to aviation, so maybe I’m biased.
Though it’s probably not pertinent to the operator vs pilot discussion, your posting of this a mere week after the military dropped a Predator drone into Lake Ontario somewhere northeast of my house certainly caught my eye.
Spot on Chris! That’s definitely the differentiator.
The danger of UAVs is a whole different discussion that is certainly worthy of consideration. As glitchy as my new mac book pro became after apple sent out the new operating system tells me they will never be foolproof.
Brent
Brent, great article and I agree. As sad as it is to see some great pilots be plucked from their aircraft against their wills, when it comes to controlling UAVs (or RPAs or whatever the term du jour is) they are doing just that: controlling. Did you know that many of them don’t even have pilot wings in the USAF? Some never go through Undergraduate Pilot Training, but do a UAV-specific “pilot training” syllabus very much pared down from the UPT syllabus. I will always consider myself a pilot based on my training and hours of flight time, but if I ever find myself at the controls of a UAV, I will humbly bite my lip…and jump on Barnstormers as soon as possible.
Rob,
Thanks for your comments. I did know that many of the folks doing this work were doing so involuntarily, having lost their pilot seat. I like your solution – go fly civilian.
Regards,
Brent