Comparison of ability requirements for UAS operators

Abstract

Since the introduction of UAS in the German Bundeswehr, their deployment has steadily grown and therefore the demand for operating personnel. Due to the lack of knowledge about specific demands created by operating UAS, the DLR German Aerospace Center, Department of Aviation and Space Psychology in cooperation with the German Air Force, Center of Aerospace Medicine conducts a study to empirically analyze ability requirements of UAS operators. Aim of the study is the development of specific requirement profiles for UAS operating personnel as well as the identification of possible differences in requirements between unmanned and manned military aviation. Requirement profiles will be differentiated for different types of UAS and different operating positions (pilot vs. sensor operator). Experienced UAS operators as well as pilots of manned aircraft answered a German version of the Fleishman Job Analysis Survey (FJAS). The FJAS consists of 73 scales for assessment of required abilities and skills from cognitive, psychomotor and sensory domains as well as interactive and social domains and was extended for two additional scales developed at DLR. First results suggest that general requirements irrespective of operating position can be deduced such as high mental persistence, high reliability and high selective attention. Also, position specific requirements were identified: For UAS pilots, operational monitoring and problem recognition are central aspects. For sensor operators, demands are higher in abilities like visualization and perceptual speed. Differences between systems will be discussed. The results can contribute valuable information about human factors relevant for selection, training, and stress management of future UAS operators.