Risk Management Magazine

When you are downrange in an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platoon, everything gets repetitive. You launch your aircraft, fly your mission and land several times every day. The platoon is usually isolated from the rest of your unit and everyone knows the rules of the flight line. It’s when visitors arrive that problems sometimes arise.

It is my hope that others might learn from my experience and never find themselves in an aircraft that’s inverted and ice-covered. If by misfortune you do find yourself there, know you can get out alive.

Sadly, the principles of risk management were never used, which lead to a tough lesson learned. It doesn’t matter where or how a loss occurs, the result is the same — decreased combat power or mission effectiveness.