UAV personnel training


Since August 2014 the research and manufacture center of unmanned aviation "Virazh" of National aviation University started training of remote pilots. Aim of training course program of Remote pilot is to give to students a general theoretical knowledge in design, functioning, opera-tion of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and practical skills necessary for piloting of unmanned aircraft (UA) with active use of autopilot.

The training course consists of three phases:

  • theoretical;
  • simulator;
  • practical.

The theoretical training program was developed on basis of the following normative documents:

  • Air code of Ukraine, 2011
  • JAR-FCL 1: Flight crew licensing (aircraft)
  • CAP 722. Unmanned Aircraft System Operations in UK Airspace
  • CAP 658. Model Aircraft: A Guide to Safe Flying
  • Беспилотные авиационные системы (БАС), Циркуляр 328 // Док. ИКАО AN 190, 2011
  • Руководство по обучению в области человеческого фактора: ИКАО – Док. 9683 – АN/950, 1998.

The program is harmonized with the pilot training program of piloted aircraft, approved by Civil Aviation Administration of Ukraine, taking into account peculiarities of UAS piloting and is coordinated with programs of domestic and foreign organizations dealing with remote pilot training. It includes study of the following disciplines:

  • Aviation legislation
  • Principles of flight
  • Flight performance and planning
  • Design, functioning and operation of UAV
  • Design, functioning and operation of UAS’ instruments and equipment
  • Operational maintenance of UAV
  • Meteorology
  • Communication
  • Navigation
  • Human performance and limitations
  • General flight safety

The knowledge of theoretical courses is evaluated according to results of intermediate tests.

Иллюстрация
Figure 1. Universal UAS simulator

Simulator training is carried out on universal UAS simulator (Fig. 1) in the laboratory "Unmanned aircraft system". The simulator is designed to acquisition of practical skills of UA control, flight task planning, going over route. It allows:

  1. To reduce material losses associated with erroneous actions at initial stage of remote pilot training.
  2. To plan and work out all regimes of flight (movement on runway, take-off, climb, level flight, descent and landing), maneuvers and flight tracks for planned tasks taking into account simulation of terrain and weather conditions.
  3. On base of surface image simulation to train target load operators (television system of video observation) methods of detection, recognition and tracking of ground objects.
  4. To work on action coordination, communication of UAV crew at performance of flight task.
  5. To select specific UAV types to perform mission tasks ensuring the most efficient use of resources.

Due to this the simulator is an indispensable for initial training of remote pilot without previous experience in UA control.

Practical training is carried out on the aerodrome "Borodianka" and consists of four main types:

  • ground;
  • preliminary;
  • pre-flight;
  • analysis of flights.

Practical training of remote pilot includes:

  • Ground preparation for flight, including simulator training
  • A pre-flight UAV preparation, starting engine operation
  • UAV takeoff and landing
  • UAV piloting on route
  • Operation of target load
  • Postflight UAV inspection
  • Control and solo flights
  • Test flights

Practical piloting skills are practiced on different types of UAV (polycopter NAU PC-08, mobile unmanned complex M-10 "Oko 2", multi-purpose unmanned aircraft complex М-6-3 "Zhayvir", training UAV M-22 D "Aerotester", twin-engine experimental unmanned aircraft M-7D "Nebesniy patrul", twin-engine UAV M-7B5 "Nebesniy patrul").

After training course the students should have knowledge, abilities and skills of UAV piloting:

  • To perform take-off and landing of UAV taking into account operational factors (basing conditions, atmospheric conditions, UAV thrust-to-weight ratio, etc.).
  • To perform UAV piloting on route according to established task in semi-automatic and automatic control modes.
  • To operate a target load.
  • To operate an autopilot.
  • To make adequate response on normal and emergency situations during take-off, en-route flight and landing.
  • To perform preflight and postflight inspection of UAV and its systems to assess it condition and airworthiness.