U.S. Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz asked senators July 22 for more time to weigh arguments for and against boosting the number of unrated unmanned aircraft pilots, but promised that as chief of staff, he would have USAF intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) experts work closely with combat commanders and the nascent ISR Task Force set up by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"By increasing the number of MQ-9 vehicles, pursuing the 'Liberty Ship' construct for acquisition of more 'light' manned ISR aircraft, and accelerating the development of the Wide Area Airborne Surveillance sensor system, the Air Force is working very hard to get more ISR capability to the combatant commanders in support of ongoing operations," Schwartz testified at his confirmation hearing. "If confirmed, this will have my personal attention from day one."

Integration

Nevertheless, Schwartz – who is leaving behind Transportation Command – said the USAF needs to move away from the notion of discrete airborne ISR operations in separate domains and instead focus on integrating such capabilities to meet a seemingly insatiable combat demand.

"This includes integrating nontraditional ISR capabilities such as targeting pods and sensors on fighters, new UAVs, exploring the potential of airships with sensors, and then merging the ISR from all sources in networks that can be accessed by any warrior," Schwartz said.

Still, Schwartz said the Air Force has both nonrated enlisted operators as well as rated officer pilots operating drones, and that the level of responsibility involved and the flight regime of the unmanned system influences the appropriate level of qualification required. Qualified-rated pilots generally have the training and experience that is crucial to successful kill-chain decision-making, and FAA and ICAO rules require an instrument-qualified pilot for high- and medium-altitude aircraft in and through positive-control airspace.

But in written answers to lawmakers' questions submitted prior to the hearing, the general appeared to acknowledge that the limiting factor in accelerating fielding of ISR UAVs in combat theaters has been the availability of trained operators, who, under current USAF policy, must be rated pilots.

"It may well be that a blend of rated and nonrated operators makes the most sense," Schwartz told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "If confirmed, I will come to a conclusion on this issue quickly."

Meanwhile, the Air Force is increasing UAV combat air patrols (CAPs) from 26 today to 31 by December. In fact, the Air Force flew its first operational MQ-9 Reaper mission from Balad, Iraq, on July 21. Flying in Afghanistan since September 2007, the Reaper has flown about 480 sorties in Central Command's area of responsibility, totaling more than 3,800 hours.