Justin Hensley

Training and Operations - Lessons Learned by the Airlines and How they Might Apply to Part 108

Justin Hensley, Airline and Helicopter Instructor, UAS Success

When it comes to pilot training and managing unmanned flight operations there is not a need to reinvent the wheel, the airline and helicopter industry has already done the work.  The initial training for a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate is pretty straight forward - prepare for and pass a knowledge exam.   The current version of the exam has some strengths and weaknesses as far as preparing a pilot for the real-world but it is so much better than its original version in 2017 - we discuss some of the strengths and weaknesses in it’s current state and what additional training could help fill those gaps.   Manned operators use several methods to identify weaknesses in training including non-punitive observations. A fellow pilot who is not in a supervisory role simple observes day to day flight operations and collects anonymous observations about procedural compliance, intentional and unintentional non -compliance and general performance.  This anonymous data provides invaluable insight into the  overall safety and efficiency of an operation. - we discuss some simple ways to facilitate this.  Non-punitive reporting:   In the past when a manned aviator made a mistake there was no process to self-disclose.   Instead, out of fear of punishment/certificate action by the FAA many pilot errors  were simply swept under the rug.  The problem with this is that when an error is kept quiet it is almost certain to be repeated by another pilot in the future.  It took a while but the FAA eventually realized this and that not sharing and learning from error will eventually lead to an accident.  Today  most commercial operators have an ASAP Program - in a nutshell the ASAP program is a method for pilots, mechanics, dispatchers and flight attendants to self-disclose an error.  The self-disclosure provides invaluable data regarding the effectiveness of current procedures and it identifies gaps in a training program. The self-disclosure also provides certificate protection for the pilot.   As of today there are no FAA-Approved ASAP programs for part 107 operations and the FAA  has indicated that the have no intent to approve one for 107 ops (believe me, I tried a couple of years ago).  But an employer can create an in-house version of one - we discuss a few key qualities of what an internal punitive-free safety reporting program for pilots should have and the amazing benefits of having one .  And finally, operating under Part 108 - what it is beginning to look like and how  operating under Part 108 will be much more like running an airline.   

Operating UAS since 1996 Founded three successful UAS businesses  ATP in airplanes and Helicopters  CFI for 25 years Thousands of flight hours as an instructor in helicopters and airplanes. Former Part 135 Check Airman in helicopters Current Pilot/Instructor/Check Airman for JetBlue in the Airbus A220 Chief Pilot (UAS) Essential Aero Authored the first FAA-accepted Part 107 Training and Operations Manuals Authored an industry-first 107.145 waiver for a heavy life sUAS FAAST member - Orlando FSDO My online Part 107 training course currently has a 100% pass rate