XPONENTIAL Workshop Focuses on Drone Safety

Drone-safety company Argus Unmanned will lead a special workshop in May during AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2017  in Dallas.

Dubbed the Safety Stand-down, the May 10 event will focus on educating licensed drone pilots as well as FAA inspectors, government officials, attorneys and others in the areas of drone safety and risk management.

Partnering with the Unmanned Safety Institute, Argus is billing the workshop as a unique educational opportunity to “dive into a number of critical themes in the field of UAS aviation safety to help one better comprehend the concept of safety, role of managing risk, and organizational decision-making.”

The workshop is a breakout session of AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2017, an annual expo that officials say will bring together “the largest global community of leaders in drones, intelligent robotics and unmanned systems … to shape the future of [the UAV] industry.”

“A number of factors, including regulatory changes and technology advancements, are converging to drive rapid, unprecedented growth in the unmanned systems industry,” AUVSI President and CEO Brian Wynne said in a press release. “At XPONENTIAL, we have gathered the industry’s thought leaders to share their real-world experience, smart strategies, and a glimpse toward the future.”

Safety Stand-down will cover a wide range of topics including:

Human Factors and Limitations

A one-hour program discussing the “causes of human factors, aeromedical factors that affect remote flight operations, limitations in perception, processing, and performance, limitations in human function and cognition, and automation implications and lack of sensory cues.”

Principles of UAS Crew Resource Management

The class will focus the purpose of Crew Resource Management, including  the “evolution of CRM as a control for error, decision behaviors as a CRM skillset, the need for standard communication, nontechnical skills that can improve the function and efficiency of a UAS crew, and situational awareness.”

Safe Systems Approach to Emergencies

Organizers define the safe system approach to emergencies to include “the actions to prevent emergencies, procedures for loss of flight controls, protocol for accidents with injuries, and identification of high-risk incidents and steps of reporting them.” This segment will focus on “good aeronautical decision making, reporting requirements for UAS operations, emergency aviation communications and procedures, standards of practice for UAS professionals, and case studies and judgments about the ethical and professional use of UAS technology.”

Registration for Safety Stand-Down is now open.