AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010 - 90

approved earlier this year allows operations from Corpus Christie and a new CBP unit has begun operations there. The facility ribbon cutting was September 8. Grand Forks is training those pilots, Priddy said. “You can’t buy a Predator pilot.” There are about 70 civilian Predator pilots, he said, with CBP providing about two dozen in the past year. Priddy’s team also has trained three Coast Guard pilots, and has more in training. Different flying skills “You have to make a lot of shifts in thinking when you operate this airplane,” Priddy said. Preflight of the Predator includes a conventional walkaround inspection. Crew in the ground control station use familiar bound checklists, and the pilot picks up the Grand Forks Air Force Base ATIS through the comm radios. “Everybody that flies or controls is an FAA-rated, current pilot,” Elton explained. Currently, a valid airman medical certificate also is required. CBP is developing its own currency standards, but they’ll always be FAAcompliant. “It’s tough to keep guys current,” he noted. They’re also CBP agents, and come in as certificated pilots from the military or GA. Pilots sit at a console, looking at monitors with military-standard headup display symbology. The Predator typically loiters at 105 knots, with its Honeywell turboprop burning about 167 pounds of fuel per hour. “It’s definitely different,” said Alex Hill, an air interdiction agent and pilot for CBP. “Even the basic scan is different. A lot of what you do is head down, typing on a keyboard and using a mouse.” There’s no seat-of-the-pants sensations, or engine sound confirming power changes, he said. “When you don’t have them, you notice.” The ground-control station offers a conventional-looking joystick, throttle, and rudder pedals, but there’s no control-pressure feedback. “The way you trim the aircraft is a little different. You trim to a pitch attitude, not an airspeed.” The autopilot is controlled with the keyboard and mouse. Hill said flying UAS has benefits, however. “If you’re up on a 10-hour mission, you can call a replacement pilot in—go get a workout and have lunch—and come back.” You can pick up the phone and call the operations center for weather and notam updates, he added.
AOPA PILOT •

Pilots are a hearty breed, but even the heartiest among us can sometimes be grounded for medical issues. That’s why we’re proud to introduce the AOPA Medical Services Program — a new and comprehensive service developed by pilots for pilots to help keep you ﬂying. We’ll review your medical records prior to your application. Make sure your medications don’t interfere with your ﬂying. And keep you up to date on the latest medical news. This program is new to AOPA members, and new to the industry — there’s no other program for GA pilots with this many beneﬁts at one low price.

Here’s what you’ll get when you enroll:
• Access to AOPA Medical Specialists, who will answer your FAA medical certiﬁcation questions • Review of your medical records as it pertains to your FAA medical certiﬁcate • A liaison between you and the FAA • Customized online health risk assessments and information • Secure online medical records storage site • Informative medical e-newsletter geared toward pilots

Plus, a FREE prescription drug discount card with savings of 15% to 60%.
(Our Essential Package is $37 a year and includes the same valuable beneﬁts except review of your medical records.)

90 • NOVEMBER

2010

http://www.aopa.org/medicalservices http://www.aopa.org/medicalservices

AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2010