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UAS systems are a growing industry and encompass the entire spectrum of capabilities. I have been working with DOD system for over 15 years and have experience in just about all the UAS systems currently being used.
As long as the DOD continues to expand the role of UAS systems. That being said there still continues to be roadblocks.
Dont for any instance consider yourself to be a pilot or pilot status when you learn to fly these things. They are nothing more than remote controlled airplanes. So there is no need to train to the same level as a pilot.
That being said there are exceptions based on the how the system is launched and recovered and the altitude it flys will dictate the level of complexity and amount of FAA training required to operate.
Example being a RAVEN does not fly high enoug and long enough to require a pilot to worry about airspace deconfliction. And it is deployed out of a pelican case to look over the hill.
ScanEagle is a great system, but it is launced by a catapault system and captured by a snare, and flys a pre-programmed mission, but does allow the pilots to make changes on the fly to address immediate needs.
Warrior Alpa has to use a runway, which woul require ground knowledge of runways, FAA take off and landing procedures etc.
Predator, only qualified pilots can fly these because they are very complex and fly very high.
Global Hawk, same thing but it mostly flys on a pre-programmed mission.
Just a few of the systems to pay attention to.
The big problem is the FAA prohibits UAS systems from being operated over populated areas of CONUS. So the benefits of being able to monitor crisis situations in urban areas are stuck in red tape with people arguing about airspace deconfliction of a UAS flying around and low flying private and commercial aircraft. There is not pilot or co-pilot to look for oncoming aircraft.
The biggest take away to all of these systems that is just as important as the video itself is the Telemetry Data provided. It is that data that makes the UAS system so vital to everyone else.
You cant go wrong by learning how to use these systems, but you need to learn the bigger picture (comms, data flow, consumers, maintance) to really aid you in a successful post mil. career.
Remember, Tech reps are a pain in the butt, but they do talk about who is good and who is a turd when they are out in the field and when you start dropping resumes looking for a job they are going to remember you and say "ye" or "ne".
As long as the DOD continues to expand the role of UAS systems. That being said there still continues to be roadblocks.
Dont for any instance consider yourself to be a pilot or pilot status when you learn to fly these things. They are nothing more than remote controlled airplanes. So there is no need to train to the same level as a pilot.
That being said there are exceptions based on the how the system is launched and recovered and the altitude it flys will dictate the level of complexity and amount of FAA training required to operate.
Example being a RAVEN does not fly high enoug and long enough to require a pilot to worry about airspace deconfliction. And it is deployed out of a pelican case to look over the hill.
ScanEagle is a great system, but it is launced by a catapault system and captured by a snare, and flys a pre-programmed mission, but does allow the pilots to make changes on the fly to address immediate needs.
Warrior Alpa has to use a runway, which woul require ground knowledge of runways, FAA take off and landing procedures etc.
Predator, only qualified pilots can fly these because they are very complex and fly very high.
Global Hawk, same thing but it mostly flys on a pre-programmed mission.
Just a few of the systems to pay attention to.
The big problem is the FAA prohibits UAS systems from being operated over populated areas of CONUS. So the benefits of being able to monitor crisis situations in urban areas are stuck in red tape with people arguing about airspace deconfliction of a UAS flying around and low flying private and commercial aircraft. There is not pilot or co-pilot to look for oncoming aircraft.
The biggest take away to all of these systems that is just as important as the video itself is the Telemetry Data provided. It is that data that makes the UAS system so vital to everyone else.
You cant go wrong by learning how to use these systems, but you need to learn the bigger picture (comms, data flow, consumers, maintance) to really aid you in a successful post mil. career.
Remember, Tech reps are a pain in the butt, but they do talk about who is good and who is a turd when they are out in the field and when you start dropping resumes looking for a job they are going to remember you and say "ye" or "ne".
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