Boatnerd Discussion Forum

Correct....A good friend of mine is a current Predator Drone pilot in Vegas. They are not "gamers," rather fully trained USAF pilots who went through 3 years of USAF pilot training, in addition to drone training. They are able to transfer from Drones to piloted aircraft when able.

[quote="eddyfitz"]Within the past year I saw on national TV news where the drones are "flown" by young officers from Area 59 in Nevada. The news clip showed these operaters driving their cars to work, parking in a large lot and entering a "house trailer office" where they commanded the drones for an 8 hour shift. quote]

I believe that you are referring to Area 51. In any case, that is incorrect. The USAF drones are flown/controlled from Creech AFB at Indian Springs, NV - just a few miles outside of Vegas.

Within the past year I saw on national TV news where the drones are "flown" by young officers from Area 59 in Nevada. The news clip showed these operaters driving their cars to work, parking in a large lot and entering a "house trailer office" where they commanded the drones for an 8 hour shift.

As an aside they control the drones with a joy stick that sends the signals up to a satellite and initiate the bombing that way. It just so happens that our son Leon, a graduate of a Michigan high school builds and launches these satellites from different sites around the world. "sorta secret operation"

Some drone wreckage recovered when it washed ashore, search for remainder suspender:
http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/new_york_air_national_guard_suspends_search_for_drone_that_crashed_near_oswego.html#incart_river

[quote="ed"]I was told that the operators of these drone aircraft qualify for 'flight pay'. In other words, they get the same rate of pay as a fighter pilot gets while flying.[/quote]

I wonder if this has something to do with the major difference between the qualifications of US Air Force vs. Army drone "operators"?

I've read that in the Air Force they have to be fully qualified pilots (and maintain their currency), while the Army seeks out kids with a high degree of hand-eye coordination skills garnered through countless hours of game console use. There's supposed to be quite a significant average age difference also.

It turns out the inevitable also happened this week, a ship was actually hit, although not on the lakes:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/17/us-usa-navy-drone-idUSBRE9AG0CO20131117

I was told that the operators of these drone aircraft qualify for 'flight pay'. In other words, they get the same rate of pay as a fighter pilot gets while flying.

Another factor concerning this search is the level of classification any of the sensors or equipment that was aboard the drone when it was lost. This could possibly extend to the coatings the craft was covered with. I remember hearing about one incident several years ago when US naval rescue personnel were prohibited from entering a sinking aircraft after getting no signs of life from those inside. One of the reasons given was that the rescue crew did not have security clearances high enough to enter the aircraft, which was fitted out as an electronic intelligence platform.

I don't think that just because the Air Force was called in to assist with the search that there was a question of the Coast Guard's capabilities. Spending man and equipment hours on something that is not organic isn't good stewardship of taxpayers money. It's the Air Force problem, they have the resources. Don't be shocked if the Navy is called in also for deep water search.

Apparently someone thinks the Coast Guard doesn't know how to handle searches on the Great Lakes, so now they're talking about bringing in the Air Force:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/the_174th_attack_wing_requests_air_force_help_to_find_missing_drone_in_lake_onta.html#incart_river

The Coast Guard hasn't found anything yet, and all drone operations over Lake Ontario have been suspended, at least temporarily:

http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/11/military_drone_flights_over_central_new_york_grounded_following_crash_in_lake_on.html#incart_river

Yet another thing to watch out for as you ply the shipping lanes, drones:

http://innovationtrail.org/post/coast-guard-searching-military-drone-crashed-lake-ontario