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The safe integration of military UAS in the (inter)national airspace: some underlying processes

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Abstract

This paper brings a social science perspective (from the ethnicity and diversity literature) to bear on a process that is regarded by many as essentially a technical one: the safe insertion of military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the (inter)national European airspace. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain a more adequate scientific socio-technological understanding of the topic, so as to strengthen issue dialogue and discussion. Indeed, studying the “integration” of these UASs (as this process is often referred to) through the lens of acculturation literature revealed some socio-technological processes that have been little noticed but which seem to underlie and inform this debate. For example, some voices seem to be favoured over others, a well-known phenomenon in the ethnicity and diversity literature. Safety, it could even be argued, is in this debate the pivot point around which social and other dynamics revolve. Belief and power may thus be more important factors here—“masked” of course—than technical aspects of safety. The results of this study are important not only for the military since the incorporation of military UAS occurs, partially at least, in civilian airspace. Civil actors thus formed a substantial subset of those interviewed here.

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Notes

  1. Documents included NATO (2007, 2009), ICAO (2005, 2011, 2012b), EU (2013), and Eurocontrol (2007/2012).

  2. One member of ICAO; two members of EASA; two members of Eurocontrol; one staff member from the civilian German air traffic control organization (Deutsche FlugSicherung, DFS); one staff member from the military German air traffic organization (Amt für Flugsicherung der Bundeswehr, AFsBw); two members of the German Air Force, including one active UAS pilot; three employees of Cassidian, including one active UAS pilot who is released by Cassidian to fly the Heron UAV in Afghanistan for the German armed forces (Cassidian is one of the larger companies that belong to the German military UAS industry); one member of the German Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) representing German General Aviation in this debate; one member of the airline pilots’ branch organization (Cockpit).

  3. One member of AOPA NL, three members of the Dutch Airline Pilots’ Association (VNV).

  4. One with two members of the EASA, one with two members from Cassidian, and one with three informants from VNV.

  5. One interviewee, for instance, was at the time in Afghanistan.

  6. These included: the attitude towards multiculturalism; the attitude towards newcomers; identification with one’s own background, experience(s) and origin; agreement with policies and policy makers in relation to this specific issue; threats and perceived threats related to newcomers such as fears for the own position; intergroup anxiety.

  7. Detect and avoid equipment includes technologies such as sensors or radars that should be able to detect other aircraft as to avoid collision.

  8. In manned aviation, the pilot is ultimately required to "see and avoid" obstacles like other aircraft, especially when operating in airspace where traffic is operating without the help of air traffic control.

  9. With a background in policymaking and air traffic management.

  10. The exact wording in the ICAO document is: “It is important that vigilance for the purpose of detecting potential collisions be exercised on board an aircraft, regardless of the type of flight or the class of airspace in which the aircraft is operating, and while operating on the movement area of an aerodrome”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Military Sciences, Netherlands Defence Academy, PO Box 90002, 4800 PA, Breda, The Netherlands

    Gwendolyn C. H. Bakx

  2. Department of Anthropology, Ball State University, 2000 W. University Ave, Muncie, IN, 47306, USA

    James M. Nyce

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  1. Gwendolyn C. H. Bakx
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  2. James M. Nyce
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Correspondence to Gwendolyn C. H. Bakx.

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Bakx, G.C.H., Nyce, J.M. The safe integration of military UAS in the (inter)national airspace: some underlying processes. Cogn Tech Work 18, 465–477 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10111-016-0377-z

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