Human Factors Issues in UAS Training

There is currently a surge in the utilization of Uninhabited Aerial Systems (UAS). Although the importance of the human in the system is often ignored with a focus upon the physical airframe, there are nevertheless numerous human factors issues that must be considered one of which is the training of operators. This paper will describe the inventory and assessment of existing U.S. military and civilian UAS operator training activities and programs conducted by the Arizona State University group of the UAV Alliance, Research, and Curriculum Development Partnership Program. The paper will then discuss various avenues of future research pertinent to operator training including what training backgrounds UAS operators should possess, issues in team training, and use of simulators