I have been involved with the aviation safety management work of the WFP for many years and this week I spent 3 days with them in Nairobi, Kenya, helping with their latest safety campaign. My part consisted of my usual role as moderator for the conference session on Day 1, along with delivering a presentation on 'Organisational Culture & Individual Behaviour', and then for the following 2 days I facilitated a workshop session on 'Airborne Conflict & Drones'.
Now I know quite a bit about airborne conflict issues and I recently attended the Eurocontrol seminar on the subject in Brussels. However, I didn't know much about military drones and their activity in the conflict theatres of Somalia and South Sudan in particular, which are of greatest concern to the civilian operators who share that airspace for the delivery of humanitarian flights. Lucky for me the USAF had sent two officers from one of their African bases, who were happy to pick up the baton on drones (or remotely piloted aircraft/RPAs).
These are some of the things we learnt:
Most RPAs are equipped with some form of transponder and even TCAS but during operational phases of the missions these are likely to be turned off - there is an operational need to minimise emissions from the vehicle to reduce opportunities for detection;
The establishment of common radio frequencies for specific areas would allow RPA operators to hear where the civil aircraft are and avoid them;
The establishment of common procedures for civil aircraft at unmanned aerodromes (always approach from downwind left, always turn right after departure for example) would allow the military to know where to avoid;
The RPAs are quite slow and most turbo-prop aircraft could outrun them;
The myth that the RPAs sometimes follow civil aircraft was 'busted' - they do not have the capability or speed;
In operational phases they are likely to fly a combat air patrol (CAP) pattern, similar to a holding pattern;
Whilst the USAF cannot share RPA flight plans for obvious reasons they are eager to learn of the intended flights of civil operators in order to de-conflict - I have some useful contacts for this and we discussed the possibility of sharing real time aircraft tracking data, which most civil operators have;
There is likely to be a significant increase in drone activity in the region, both military and commercial and all sectors of aviation need to work together to avoid confliction.
Now I know quite a bit about airborne conflict issues and I recently attended the Eurocontrol seminar on the subject in Brussels. However, I didn't know much about military drones and their activity in the conflict theatres of Somalia and South Sudan in particular, which are of greatest concern to the civilian operators who share that airspace for the delivery of humanitarian flights. Lucky for me the USAF had sent two officers from one of their African bases, who were happy to pick up the baton on drones (or remotely piloted aircraft/RPAs).
These are some of the things we learnt:
Most RPAs are equipped with some form of transponder and even TCAS but during operational phases of the missions these are likely to be turned off - there is an operational need to minimise emissions from the vehicle to reduce opportunities for detection;
The establishment of common radio frequencies for specific areas would allow RPA operators to hear where the civil aircraft are and avoid them;
The establishment of common procedures for civil aircraft at unmanned aerodromes (always approach from downwind left, always turn right after departure for example) would allow the military to know where to avoid;
The RPAs are quite slow and most turbo-prop aircraft could outrun them;
The myth that the RPAs sometimes follow civil aircraft was 'busted' - they do not have the capability or speed;
In operational phases they are likely to fly a combat air patrol (CAP) pattern, similar to a holding pattern;
Whilst the USAF cannot share RPA flight plans for obvious reasons they are eager to learn of the intended flights of civil operators in order to de-conflict - I have some useful contacts for this and we discussed the possibility of sharing real time aircraft tracking data, which most civil operators have;
There is likely to be a significant increase in drone activity in the region, both military and commercial and all sectors of aviation need to work together to avoid confliction.
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