Robonic Considers UAV Pilot Training
15 December 2006 16:34
Finnish Robonic Arctic Test UAV Flight Centre Ltd (RATUFC), affiliated to UAV launcher designer and manufacturer Robonic Ltd, is launching a study of the potential for development of a UAV-pilot training business venture, in cooperation with the town of Kemijärvi, in Finnish Lapland. RATUFC is seeking domestic and international partners for the proposed venture.
Robonic managing director (chief executive officer), Juha Moisio, believes that such a centre would be able to play an active part in a future European UAV-pilot training system.
"The new venture would pursue the anticipated global growth in use of UAVs for both military and civil purposes, with this in turn requiring qualified pilots and operators" Moisio stated.
"The growth of the UAV market is dependent on the safe sharing of airspace by UAVs with other aviation types, meaning the training of UAV pilots to an appropriate skills level must be a primary objective to ensure aviation safety standards are maintained."
RATUFC believes that its existing test centre at Kemijärvi is well positioned to offer at least basic-level UAV flight training services, with options for expansion to encompass all elements of UAV operations, including operator and payload specialist training. "The venture could become the focal point for a common European UAV training centre that would provide major cost savings to involved nations," Moisio added.
Initial advice on the proposed venture has been provided to Finnish aviation, military, and other civil authorities.
A common internationally-agreed and approved training-system for UAV pilots does not exist in Europe or elsewhere in the world. "This absence is however being addressed as a matter of priority by a variety of international regulatory forums as well as national aviation safety authorities, " said Moisio. "It is anticipated that in the near-term existing aviation rules laid down by the EU and ICAO will expand to cover also the world of the unmanned aerial vehicles.
"That emerging regulatory environment will demand the development of a comprehensive approach to UAV-pilot training, raising a near-term opportunity that is not currently being offered within either the European or international aviation environments.
"There is the potential for the proposed new venture to become a common European facility, reducing the requirement for national specific UAV training capabilities for both military and civil users. There are strong precedents for this approach in the exploration by European air forces for the establishment of common manned aircraft training centres, with this also including the outsourcing of services to training-focused private companies."
RATUFC believes that the demand for training will strongly increase as the use of UAVs in civil applications grows.
RATUFC was established earlier this year, with its launch customer, Sagem DS, commencing flight operations at the Kemijärvi facility in June.
For more information on this company:
Robonic - Pneumatic UAV Launcher Systems and Arctic UAV Test Centre
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