Thread by @RikeFranke

This is a noteworthy change: new #Luftwaffe Heron TP #drone pilots will not need to have flown manned systems before, and while they will train to do so during their course, they will not get a licence and thus not fly manned systems in parallel.
augengeradeaus.net/2019/01/bei-de…

Why do we care?
So far, Luftwaffe #drone pilots were certified to also fly other Luftwaffe aircraft, and did do so. Thus, they were never drone pilots only; even those who primarily flew drones retained their licenses. [1]

This meant that in the German air force, drone pilots - contrary to other countries' armed forces - did not become a completely separate new class of soldiers. This is likely to change now. [2]

Having a separate #drone pilots 'class', comes with advantages and challenges, as seen in other countries (and analysed in my PhD thesis): on the one hand it can help with identity formation. On the other, there can be rivalries and issues of ranking ("not real pilots"). [3]

In the US for instance, there was an issue of #drone operators complaining to be treated as second-class citizens.
It will be interesting to see how this develops in the #Bundeswehr.
If you find this topic interesting, check out @ReaperBook's writing on RAF drone pilots. [4/4]