Air Combat Command officials investigating the March 20 crash of a Predator unmanned aerial vehicle in Iraq say that the pilot flying the UAV erred when he decided to “turn off the aircraft’s Stability Augmentation System pitch and roll axes.” The pilot was flying the Predator at a speed that led to rapid loss of altitude, dropping the UAV 2,000 feet below its required clearance altitude, states an ACC release. The pilot mistakenly attributed the loss of altitude to a control issue and turned off the SAS, sending the UAV into a steep dive and breaking the satellite communication link with the aircraft.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.