Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w. d i s t i n c t ly m o n ta n a . c o m 63 uNmaNNED aErIaL SyStEmS INtErVIEW WIth profESSor SCott WILSoN, roCky mouNtaIN CoLLEgE aVIatIoN program D r N E S o V E r m o N t a N a So lEt'S Start WIth thE Word "dronE." In thE mIndS of moSt PEoPlE thErE IS lIkEly an InStant ConnECtIon WIth "mIlItary" or "SPyIng." do you oBJECt to thE uSE of that Word? I understand why the media uses the word "drone" because it is much shorter and more understandable to the general public than "Unmanned Aircraft Systems." I am also comfortable with the term because I served 32 years as an officer in the Navy, where "drone" is commonly used. you haVE BEEn quotEd aS SayIng that "thE laSt fIghtEr PIlot haS al- rEady BEEn Born." What do you mEan By that? As America's technological prowess grows, America's tolerance for wartime losses is diminishing. Fighter drones can fill the gap. In the rough and tumble maneuvers of dogfights, UAS can sustain much higher G-loads and roll rates than manned fighter aircraft. Without a vulnerable human pilot aboard, they may also sustain more battle damage. Furthermore, the weight added to current fighters due to crew life support systems and ejection seats can total thousands of pounds, but 100% of a UAS can be dedicated as a weapons platform. Small UAS can also be programmed for swarming "kamikaze" attacks on enemy targets and aircraft. In 2014, I am confident that fighter pilots can react and ana- lyze air-to-air combat situations faster than UAS, but with rate of drone development, I do not think that will still be the case in 2024. Killer drones already exist. America is currently leading the world in UAS development, but other nations, some of which are hostile to American interests, are also developing UAS. As we look at all the armed conflict spots around the world, I believe the day will soon come when drones will attack drones. uaS IS gEttIng BIg. thErE IS noW EVEn a uaV PIlot traInIng CErtIfICatE aVaIlaBlE. IS thIS What you EnVISIon for rmC? The vision has already become reality at Rocky Mountain College. I give the students more than just a certificate by endorsing the permanent logbooks of students who demonstrate UAS expertise. tEll uS aBout thE uaS CourSE you arE dEVEloPIng for rmC. What WIll It CoVEr? The UAS course provides an overview of Unmanned Aircraft System operations from a non-engineering civilian operational perspective. The course covers the history of UAS, then explores current technology and potential UAS developments in the future. The course also examines all facets of UAS operations, including safety procedures and relevant human factors.

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