Crew Resource Management 101

Overview

In the last blog post, we examined the Yuneec H520 Case Study In this blog post, we will go over  basic topics regarding Crew Resource Management (CRM), what it is, and how it can be used in UAS operations. In the future, I plan to dedicate an entire section of my blog to CRM but for now take a look at what I have found so far.

What is Crew Resource Management?

As a fairly large topic, Crew Resource Management (CRM) covers a variety of subjects in aeronautical decision making. If you want to learn more about the literal definition, refer to the manned aviation language found in AC 120-51. Nevertheless, the same terminology is found 5 times in 14 CFR Part 107 (yes I counted five times). From what I learned, a broad definition of CRM is  working on a team based off a structural and procedural understanding. To simplify what good CRM criteria entails, refer to the list of Cs as defined by (Tomczyk 2016).

1.  Concise “Go/No Go” criteria.

2.  Clear responsibilities and roles.

3. A common language for standard and emergency procedures.

4. Crosscheck that gets everyone monitoring standard operations.

5. Checklists with cross-talk during operations with negative affirmatives

Crew Resource Management  Items for UAS

When planning and executing a mission, one must determine whether or not they should address the following items themselves or divide up the following items as a crew. Below, are bullet points and questions that I believe one must refer to when executing a UAS mission.

Pre-Planning

• Is the mission feasible?
• Does the mission meet Part 107/COA requirements?
• Will LAANC be needed?
• Selection of pilot for mission
• Level of experience of pilot
• Is Part 107 valid?
• Size of mission
• Airspace requirements?
• Can the UAS be flown within line of sight?
• Estimated Duration of Mission
• Time of flight
• does daylight affect the data collected?
• Selection of UAV for mission
• Selection of sensors
• Fixed wing or multi rotor?
• Selection of mission planning software
• Is the software open sourced?
• Is the software expensive?
• What part of the mission will be manually controlled?
• Selection of Ground Control Station
• Is Wifi Available?
• Estimated time to set up all components of Ground Control Station
• Battery Considerations
• Battery of UAV
• Battery of camera
• Battery of sensor
• Battery of viewing screen for camera
• Battery of Laptop 
• Battery of transmitter
• Back up batteries?
• Voltage readers?
• Temperature limitations for batteries
• Applications that will be utilized
• Pix4DMapper?
• B4Ufly App?
• Weather App
• Will a Visual Observer (VO)  be needed?
• Number of VOs present
• VO training prior to mission?
• Communication with VOs?
• Safety
• Risk assessment matrix
• Part 107 reflective vest
• Plan in case of an accident
• Report to FAA
• First Aid kit

Day of the Mission

• Weather
• Can UAS withstand conditions for proposed flight?
• Does mission have to be adjusted due to wind, temperature, humidity etc..,?
• What is visibility like?
• Surveying the site of the mission
• Any obvious hazards?
• Clearance for UAV
• Electromagnetic interference
• Hazardous to the Pilot or the Ground Control Crew
• TFRS, NOTAMS, No Fly Zones etc..,
• Placing Ground Control Points
• How many do you need?
• Are they working properly?
• Are they in optimal Locations?
• Will you be able to find them after the mission?

Pre-flight Checklist

• Has UAV been calibrated?
• Has sensor been calibrated?
• Current air traffic considerations
• Wifi source?
• Mobile hotspot
• Mifi
• Any signs of GPS interference, signal loss, or electromagnetic interference?
• Who is participating in this operation?
• VOs
• Note takers
• Do they know where first aid kit is?
• Someone to talk to curious pedestrians 
• Safety equipment
• Eye protection 
• Hard hats
• First aide kit
• Fire extinguisher

Takeoff

• Pilot in Command (PIC)
• Ensures that UAV is in condition for safe flight
• Ensures that they themselves are in condition for safe operation
• Is focused on the UAV at all times
• Has current Part 107 licence! (or is overseen by someone who does)
• Tests the UAS at a safe altitude before mission starts (ie pitch, yaw, rolll, range test etc..,)
• Ground Control Crew
• Maintains situational awareness of UAV 
• Maintains situational awareness in proximity to PIC
• Communicates with one another about potential obstacles when necessary
• Collects data from Ground Control Station

During Mission

• Pilot in Command (PIC)
• Notes battery life, transmitter life, altitude, and way-points of mission
• Has an emergency response plan in the event of a malfunction
• Is constantly on the lookout for hazardous such as other air traffic

• Ground Control Crew
• Is noting Key Metadata
• Is observing the UAS flight and ready to communicate to the pilot of any hazards
• Is making sure the Ground Control Station is operating properly

Post Mission

• Pilot in Command (PIC) 
• Lands UAS in a safe and secure manner
• Powers off UAS in reference to industry recommendations
• Assists ground Control Crew in dissembling ground control station and UAS
• Documents UAS flight in logbook 
• Key Metadata

• Ground Control Crew
• Ensures data is properly collected and saved
• Assists PIC in dissembling ground control station and UAS
• Documents UAS flight in logbook for redundancy and cross referencing purposes
• Key Metadata

Conclusion

As stated before, this is an introductory post about CRM. Generally speaking, the more robust the UAS technology is, (and depending on the mission) the more elaborate your checklists, organization and pre-planning must be. Also not that each system will needs its own CRM procedure which is important because the most experienced pilots believe that they can ignore checklists if they aren't any -this is how accidents occur. Although CRM can be daunting, to some, effective UAS operations will allow you to increase your credibility as an organization which can help your businesses public relations sector, reduce the amount of insurance paperwork and even allow you to get special exemptions from the FAA. Therefore, CRM is vital to UAS and this blog post does not do its description enough justice. 

Reference

Tomczyk, W. (2016). Crew Resource Applications in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Applications in Crew Resource Management ASCI 516. Retrieved April 1, 2019, from https://www.academia.edu/34112473/Crew_Resource_Applications_in_Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicles_Applications_in_Crew_Resource_Management_ASCI_516?auto=download