AUVSI 2012 : CTI Reveals Training Enhancements for MQ Crews

Speaking at AUVSI's Unmanned Systems North America David Kaiser, chief learning officer at Crew Training International (CTI) revealed details of a three year study to improve crew training for UAS.

The study was sponsored by the Air Force Research Laboratory and focussed on the human factors associated with 'Class A Mishaps' involving UAVs. The company took data from the period 1995 to 2006 and identified 30 MQ (Predator and Reaper) incidents.

Kaiser said that there were for main factors involved in the mishaps: channelised attention; task misprioritisation; selecting an inappropriate course of action; and poor crew coordination. CTI then looked at training interventions that could be used to reduce the likelihood that those mistakes would occur.

'Training has got to be designed properly to fit the audience,' Kaiser pointed out. He added that the study had identified a disparity in the training needs between experienced pilots converting to the MQ-class aircraft and sensor operators who 'six months before could have been selling snow cones.'

The two types of intervention that proved to be effective was 'enhanced academics' with greater levels of instructor led lessons and a serious game team trainer. The latter involved four students working cooperatively to complete a space-based game designed specifically to enhance team-building. After undertaking the training there was a significant enhancement to operators skills in all four danger areas.