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Judi Lynn

(164,122 posts) Mon Dec 19, 2011, 02:05 AM Dec 2011

U.S. drone operators show signs of exhaustion [View all]

U.S. drone operators show signs of exhaustion
By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY
Updated 3h 13m ago

About one in three airmen who operate cameras on high-altitude, remotely controlled spy planes and 30% of those who fly attack drones used to kill terrorists have emotional exhaustion from long hours of work, according to Air Force research recently released.

The airmen who operate drones from bases in Nevada and California complain of frequent shift changes, "mind-numbing" monotony, strains on families and ever-increasing workloads.

"There's just not enough people," says Wayne Chappelle, an Air Force psychologist who helped conduct a six-month study of drone operators from 2010 to 2011. "You have to constantly sustain a high level of vigilance, both visual and auditory information, and that would be really tough to do when there's a lot of monotony."

The aircraft — Predators, Reapers and Global Hawks — were used to track Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and are used to spy on Iran, locate and kill al-Qaeda leaders in Yemen and assist U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

More:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2011-12-18/study-drone-operators-exhaustion/52053016/1

33 replies

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U.S. drone operators show signs of exhaustion [View all] Judi Lynn Dec 2011 OP

Not to worry Kennah Dec 2011 #1

The problem is no one wants the position. Angleae Dec 2011 #2

Let the little bastards clean Newt's toilet, and they'll come to love the drone job Kennah Dec 2011 #4

Some of them HAVE to be flown by officers jmowreader Dec 2011 #6

They still don't want to. Angleae Dec 2011 #17

Well... jmowreader Dec 2011 #18

Actually, cargo pilots have the best chance of any military pilot. Angleae Dec 2011 #21

Exactly. That was my point. jmowreader Dec 2011 #32

Wouldn't those officers rather be really flying? Vincardog Dec 2011 #26

Killing people thousands of miles away, can be exhausting I suppose. sabrina 1 Dec 2011 #3

There is something different about their combat role. Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #5

US Navy Brooklyns_Finest Dec 2011 #7

RC technology will become the defacto battlefield systems in the future. Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #8

When President Perry, Bachmann or Gingrich invade Iran....nt Evasporque Dec 2011 #11

You seem to jump from us being the only nation waging this kind of war... Shoe Horn Dec 2011 #24

I did make that jump Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #25

Well, the 'distinct advantage' is for naught if we kill more innocent people and create more Shoe Horn Dec 2011 #27

What you said! Old and In the Way Dec 2011 #28

not much of a stretch, really justabob Dec 2011 #33

Intriguing and thoughtful questions, indeed. dixiegrrrrl Dec 2011 #13

You raise some excellent points, imo... Adsos Letter Dec 2011 #14

"no skin in the horror of war." boppers Dec 2011 #23

Well said. Thank you. mbperrin Dec 2011 #20

Must be a shock to the system when it finally occurs to them what they're doing. Magoo48 Dec 2011 #9

Ender's Game LastLiberal in PalmSprings Dec 2011 #22

Propaganda - Makes people sympathetic to widespread use of Drones.... Evasporque Dec 2011 #10

Nothing that some Adderall can't fix. Amphetamines have an illustrious history in the military. saras Dec 2011 #12

Isn't this how the Skynet idea got started? DeSwiss Dec 2011 #15

Two practical answers The Second Stone Dec 2011 #16

As to (2) Get more operators.... Devil_Fish Dec 2011 #19

Give everybody a break Gringostan Dec 2011 #29

Carpal tunnel syndrome sucks. rug Dec 2011 #30

I bet some of the kids on the receiving end of the drones ... Nihil Dec 2011 #31