Who's At Fault in UAV/Part91 MAC?

Larry,

The Predator is equipped with a modified Honeywell ETCAS TPA-81A. The
system responds to Mode 1, 2, 3, 4, A, C, and S. Forward surveillance
has been extended to 360 degrees.

In addition, Predator is data-linked to airborne and ground commands for
control and observation.

Predator is piloted by a ground controller who is assisted by up to six
(6) mission specialist. Each specialists is responsible for the
sensor/system he/she is operating to complete the mission (optical, IR,
armament, etc.). The pilot ground controller is dedicated to flying the
airplane. Some controllers are certified pilots and all controllers
have spent many hours in a simulator.

There are more eyeballs on a Predator and its proximity to everything
than any GA aircraft.

Mike $$$ (PA28)

On Fri, 23 Apr 2004 19:40:48 -0500, (Mike Money)
wrote in Message-Id: :

Larry,

The Predator is equipped with a modified Honeywell ETCAS TPA-81A. The
system responds to Mode 1, 2, 3, 4, A, C, and S. Forward surveillance
has been extended to 360 degrees.

http://www.honeywelltcas.com/etcas_tpa81a.htm
System Operation
ETCAS provides two modes of operation. The basic mode is ACAS II
which is the same as TCAS II with Change 7.0 software and is RVSM
compatible. In addition to the standard TCAS functions of
situational awareness, traffic alert and resolution advisories,
the Honeywell ETCAS provides a formation mode. This formation mode
allows aircraft operators to locate, identify, rendezvous with and
maintain flight formation with aircraft equipped with a variety of
identification systems, including Identification Friend and
Fo(IFF), Modes 1, 2, 3, and 4, Mode A, Mode C and Modes S
transponder equipped private, commercial and military aircraft.

In order for UAV operators to rely upon the Honeywell ETCAS for
aircraft separation, _all_ aircraft would have to be transponder
equipped, and FARs would have to be changed to mandate transponder use
at all times while airborne. So while TCAS is definitely part of the
solution to aircraft separation, it would not separate UAVs from
aircraft without electrical systems, nor those operating in airspace
where transponder operation is not mandated by regulation.

In addition, Predator is data-linked to airborne and ground commands for
control and observation.

I'd like to know more about that.

Predator is piloted by a ground controller who is assisted by up to six
(6) mission specialist. Each specialists is responsible for the
sensor/system he/she is operating to complete the mission (optical, IR,
armament, etc.). The pilot ground controller is dedicated to flying the
airplane. Some controllers are certified pilots and all controllers
have spent many hours in a simulator.

How will the flying public feel about sharing the sky with
uncertificated UAV operators with lots of sim time? Shall we now
permit gamers with lots of MS Flight Simulator time to ply the
nation's skies? Yikes!

There are more eyeballs on a Predator and its proximity to everything
than any GA aircraft.

Mike $$$ (PA28)

What is the aggregate cost for all those eyeballs?

What is the cost of two man Cessna 182 patrol?

Are there any eyeballs aboard the UAV that meet the vision
requirements of a certificated airman: 20/20 binocular color vision?

Before the government starts operating UAVs among the flying public,
they need to insure UAVs will meet the same or better criteria they
currently demand of airman. Anything less is criminal negligence.

"Mike Money" wrote in message
...

The Predator is equipped with a modified Honeywell ETCAS TPA-81A. The
system responds to Mode 1, 2, 3, 4, A, C, and S. Forward surveillance
has been extended to 360 degrees.

What do you mean by 360 degrees? What is the resolution? Better or
worse than someone with 20/40 vision? Is there collision detection
software analyzing the incoming video, or does it just rely on the ground
based operator to see what's going on.

And of course not all GA aircraft are equipped with TCAS, nor are
they required to be.


In addition, Predator is data-linked to airborne and ground commands for
control and observation.

From the crash reports that Larry provided, this seems to be a ground
link which is easily obscured by terrain. I'd have thought some satellite
link would be better.


Predator is piloted by a ground controller who is assisted by up to six
(6) mission specialist. Each specialists is responsible for the
sensor/system he/she is operating to complete the mission (optical, IR,
armament, etc.). The pilot ground controller is dedicated to flying the
airplane. Some controllers are certified pilots and all controllers
have spent many hours in a simulator.

"Some" are certified pilots??? Come on now.

I bet there are millions of little weenies with hundreds of hours
of Microsoft FS under their belts, but I certainly wouldn't want them
flying around in the same sky as me and my passengers.


There are more eyeballs on a Predator and its proximity to everything
than any GA aircraft.

It's not "eyeballs on a Predator" that concern me. It's the
eyeballs the Predator has looking out for other traffic and
the competence of those interpreting what they see which
is the safety concern.

In the final analysis, the operator of a Predator just has his
job on the line; I have my life on the line, and that of my
passengers.

Tell you what. How about fitting operators with a helmet
that has a built-in gun pointing directly into his head? If they
hit another plane, the gun goes off.