As the numerous industries across the world introduce UAVs into their data collecting toolkit, the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International’s (AUVSI) economic study has found that the UAV industry will have an $82 billion economic impact and create more than 100,000 jobs in the first decade after integration. In February 2012, the United States Congress mandated that the FAA, coordinating with NASA and the Department of Defence, develop a test site program for the integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the National Airspace System.

UAVs are a relatively new technology that industries are beginning to leverage to efficiently collect valuable data; they can decrease cost, minimize risk and increase revenue. For example, inspections of structures such as flare stacks and bridges traditionally require workers to construct scaffolding and work at dangerous heights. Instead, a single UAV can be deployed to eliminate and minimise the risks and speed the inspection process up from hours or days, to just 15-30 minutes.

Just like the airline industry, the UAV industry is comprised of many teams and sub-teams. Whether it be two pilots controlling a single UAV, with direction from a client or creative director on location; to the UAV maintenance team back at headquarters or the team developing new flight plans; the functioning of each team and the communication between them, has an influence on the safety and efficiency of the operation.

Recently the In Motion Aero Team attended a RAeS Lecture focused on “Teamwork – Implications of Safety Management”. It was great to see a good turnout with the lecture theater nearly full. Roger Chambers, the CASA Regional Manager for Sydney Operations presented a seminar about team factors, the opportunities to harness those factors to improve safety within an organization through the Safety Management System, and the hazards that can manifest within and between teams.

Roger’s personal recounts and learning through his own experiences only added to the impact of how much teamwork has to do with a safe outcome. Roger also provided an update about safety promotion material that has been developed by CASA in the past 18 months.

Other guest’s from the panel discussion included Captain Ian Watkins, retired Supervisory Training Captain and MGR Flight Simulators at Qantas, Adam Burford, Managing Director of Air Traffic Systems at Thales, and John Vincent, Head of Quality and Risk at Qantas.

Just like the Captain and the First Officer of an airliner, flight crew of UAV must conduct thorough briefings and complete extensive pre-flight and post-flight checklists. Flight/GPS settings are checked prior to the first flight of the day to determine the aircraft settings are working, as described by records and team members from the UAV maintenance crew. For additional safety, our aircraft are all maintained in-house by our qualified aircraft maintenance engineer.

An external observer or client liaison is another example where teamwork can vastly minimise risk. They may increase situational awareness for the crew; by identifying potential incoming hazards on location, and can act as a liaison and point of contact between third parties and clients.

We spent many hours developing the In Motion Aero Operations Manuals and Safety Management Systems to ensure all aerial work is conducted safely and remains consistent with our customer’s ever changing expectations.

It is has been proven in the aviation industry, that teams like captains and crew members can either work together or against one another. Therefore it is vital, for all team members and crew of UAV companies, to work together using CRM (Crew Resource Management) principles to ensure that all aerial work is conducted safely.

As safety is paramount, if you are intending on hiring any UAV (for commercial reward) it is extremely important that you ensure your chosen service provider holds current CC’s (UAV Controllers Certificates) and a valid UOC (Unmanned Operators Certificate), before organising any aerial work.