UAG - Unmanned Aircraft General Crew Resource Management Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a complex sUAS mapping mission, the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) is focused on the data display while the Visual Observer (VO) reports increasing wind speeds and darkening skies from the west. What is the most effective application of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in this situation?
- The RPIC should tell the VO to monitor the weather but continue the mission to meet the client's deadline.
- The RPIC should immediately land the aircraft without discussion to avoid any potential weather risk.
- The RPIC should acknowledge the VO's report, pause the mapping task to personally assess the changing weather, and discuss a revised plan, such as returning to base. (Correct answer)
- The RPIC should trust the aircraft's automated weather avoidance features and instruct the VO to only report direct threats like other aircraft.
Correct answer: The RPIC should acknowledge the VO's report, pause the mapping task to personally assess the changing weather, and discuss a revised plan, such as returning to base.
Effective CRM involves utilizing all available resources, including crew members. The RPIC must actively listen to the VO, integrate their observations with other data, and collaboratively decide on the safest course of action, prioritizing safety over mission completion.
Question 2: A remote pilot, feeling pressured to complete a job, decides to fly a mission despite the sUAS battery showing signs of degradation. The pilot thinks, "Accidents happen to other people, I'm experienced enough to handle this." Which hazardous attitude is being displayed?
- Resignation
- Invulnerability (Correct answer)
- Macho
- Anti-Authority
Correct answer: Invulnerability
The attitude of invulnerability is characterized by the belief that accidents won't happen to you. This mindset can lead pilots to take unnecessary risks, such as flying with questionable equipment, because they don't believe they will face negative consequences.
Question 3: Which of the following is a primary contributor to a loss of situational awareness during an sUAS operation?
- Conducting a thorough pre-flight briefing with all crew members.
- Excessive focus on a single task, such as framing a photograph, leading to inattention to the aircraft's position and surrounding airspace. (Correct answer)
- Utilizing a Visual Observer to monitor the airspace.
- Adhering strictly to a pre-planned flight path.
Correct answer: Excessive focus on a single task, such as framing a photograph, leading to inattention to the aircraft's position and surrounding airspace.
Situational awareness involves perceiving all relevant factors about the flight. When a pilot becomes fixated on one element, like the camera feed, they can fail to notice other critical information, such as changing weather, low battery levels, or other air traffic, leading to a dangerous loss of awareness.
Question 4: The primary goal of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in the context of sUAS operations is to:
- Ensure the Remote Pilot in Command always maintains absolute authority without question.
- Maximize the efficiency of the flight to reduce operational costs.
- Effectively use all available resources, including personnel, hardware, and information, to mitigate errors and improve safety. (Correct answer)
- Standardize all procedures so that no deviations are ever necessary.
Correct answer: Effectively use all available resources, including personnel, hardware, and information, to mitigate errors and improve safety.
CRM's fundamental purpose is to enhance safety by ensuring the entire crew and all available resources are used effectively. This includes fostering good communication, teamwork, and decision-making to manage and mitigate human error.
Question 5: During a pre-flight briefing, the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) states, "The planned flight path will be along the north perimeter." To ensure effective communication, what is the best response from the Visual Observer (VO)?
- "Okay, got it."
- "Roger that, I will watch the north."
- "Confirming, the flight path is along the north perimeter." (Correct answer)
- A thumbs-up gesture to show they are listening.
Correct answer: "Confirming, the flight path is along the north perimeter."
This is an example of closed-loop communication. By repeating the key elements of the instruction, the VO confirms to the RPIC that the message was received and understood correctly, reducing the chance of misunderstandings.
Question 6: A remote pilot is operating alone and encounters an unexpected software glitch that causes erratic control inputs. The pilot begins to think, "There's nothing I can do, the drone is going to crash." This mindset is an example of which hazardous attitude?
- Impulsivity
- Macho
- Resignation
- Anti-Authority (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Anti-Authority
The hazardous attitude of resignation occurs when a pilot feels powerless and gives up, believing they cannot influence the outcome of a situation. The correct response is to continue actively seeking solutions and flying the aircraft until all options are exhausted.
UAG - Unmanned Aircraft General Crew Resource Management Questions and Answers
During a complex sUAS mapping mission, the Remote Pilot in Command (RPIC) is focused on the data display while the Visual Observer (VO) reports increasing wind speeds and darkening skies from the west.
What is the most effective application of Crew Resource Management (CRM) in this situation?