Air Combat Command announced Monday that operator error caused the loss of an MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft flying out of Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, on Oct. 3, 2009. ACC’s accident investigation board determined that “channelized attention”—the lack of comprehensive situational awareness—by two Predator operators during the handover of the aircraft’s control between the pilot in the war theater and the pilot back in the US led to the MQ-1 crashing in rugged Afghan mountainous terrain and being destroyed on impact. The Predator was carrying one Hellfire missile. The total loss is valued at approximately $3.8 million, according to ACC. (Langley release) (AIB executive summary)
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.