Understanding Crew Resource Management

Introduction

Flying any aerial platform can require many tasks to both ensure the safety of the flight and ensure that the data is collected properly. As there can be many different tasks to perform it is also helpful to have multiple people around to help with those tasks. This comes to an important fact of "too many cooks in the kitchen" and when safety is the number one thing it is important to have set rules and boundaries for crew members to be able to successfully complete the flight without overstepping. This is why crew resource management (CRM) is so important.

What does CRM do?

CRM in its basic form is like a job description for all crew members so they know their jobs. This keeps members from overstepping and keeps everyone focused on their task so that all the resources of the flight are used in the best way possible.

Pilot-in-Command (PIC)

The first and most important job is the pilot in command. They are in charge of all aspects and what they say goes. That being said their most important job is the safe completion of the flight and they should never do or tell anyone to do something to compromise that fact. The PIC is the person who flys the aircraft much like a real pilot. Their job is to focus their energy on maintaining the flight and providing the opportunities needed for the sensor operator to do their job

Sensor Operator (SO)

The SO is the person who is second in command, almost like the co-pilot of the mission. Their job is to operate the sensor and gather the data required for the flight. Usually this involves conversations to the PIC and it is important to allow this communication to take place without interruptions such as bystanders talking over this conversation. The visual observer can be used to help regulate this and keeping bystanders quiet, this allows for the PIC and SO to solely focus on the flight.

Visual Observer (VO)

Although it's not the most important job, nor the one with the most authority, it is still an important task that is fulfilled by this person. The VO is in charge of watching both the drone and the operating area around the drone. They should alert the PIC if there is ever anything that enters the area that can impact the safety of the flight. They also are in charge of keeping any bystanders from impacting the flight in any way that would cause the flight to no longer to be safe. 

Safety Culture

In any aviation setting the number one thing that is stressed is safety. There is nothing that could ruin a fun day of flying like someone's hand getting caught by the prop or having a drone hit someone. This important fact is something that is woven into the very fabric of the society that aviation has formed. This sole reason is why the PIC's main job is maintaining the safety of the flight and keeping everyone safe. Just like how a pilot is responsible for going around a full-scale aircraft and inspecting it before a flight to ensure that it is airworthy the PIC must make sure that the drone that they are commanding is airworthy and doesn't have anything wrong with the aircraft. A common saying by the FAA is that every regulation that they have is written in someone's blood, or simply someone died and they made a rule to prevent a disaster similar. This gave birth to the safety culture that is around aviation and why safety is so important.

Conclusion

By using CRM a flight crew can manage the risks of a flight properly and can help keep the flight safe and able to be completed. CRM creates defined roles that will keep everyone in line and doing what they are supposed to be doing.