The US’ drone pilots aren’t getting enough training
The US is increasingly relying on drones for recon and air support, but you almost wouldn’t know it from how little training those drones’ pilots get. A Government Accountability Office report has revealed that both Air Force and Army crews frequently have a tough time getting enough flight hours to stay current. Many Army pilots find themselves being assigned menial tasks that keep them from their main role, ranging from guard duty to mowing the lawn. Air Force operators on the front lines have no problems getting experience at the controls, but they’re often limited to whatever combat missions they can fly. The USAF only has about 85 percent of the qualified pilots it needs to be truly effective, according to the report.
Both branches are already trying things to boost both flight hours and the number of available pilots. The Air Force is handing out bigger bonuses to those who stick around for the long haul, for example, while the Army is pushing for more drone instructors. However, the experience problem is making improvement difficult. The Army had to lower the requirements for the drone teachers’ school just to get enough candidates, so many fresh-faced UAV pilots are getting their wisdom from mentors who themselves lack know-how. Unless the military treats drone training as a high priority, there’s a risk that the overall quality of the US’ robotic air fleet will drop.
[Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images]
Filed under: Robots
Via: Washington Post
Source: Government Accountability Office
Universal Releases First Trailer for ‘Steve Jobs’ Movie
After filming began earlier in January, and a few photo leaks soon thereafter, not much had been heard surrounding Universal Picture’s Steve Jobs movie. Today, however, the studio released the first official trailer for the new movie.
The trailer is mostly a single shot of Michael Fassbender as Jobs, with cast voice overs providing snippets and teases of conversations regarding Jobs’ true legacy at Apple. While it doesn’t reveal much that wasn’t already known, the one minute teaser provides a handful of closer looks as Michael Fassbender, Seth Rogen, Kate Winslet, and Jeff Daniels as Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Joanna Hoffman, and John Sculley, respectively.
The movie has faced turmoil over the years as it began development, with multiple actors up for the titular role and even a change of studios due to scheduling conflicts between Danny Boyle, the film’s director, and Sony. This year, as the film’s October 9 release date grew nearer, casting calls and set photos began popping up online, even going so far as to offer fans the first glimpse of Fassbender in full costume as Jobs.
SpaceX gets the all-clear to launch most NASA science missions
After three long years, SpaceX finally has approval to launch most of the US’ scientific missions. NASA tells Spaceflight Now that it recently greenlit the use of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket for “medium-risk” payloads, which covers all but the most valuable cargo. That rules it out of launching missions destined for places like Mars, but it also opens the door to more opportunities for Elon Musk and crew. Although they already have government contracts, they should have a much easier time getting that all-important space agency business. The company won’t have to wait long to prove its chops, either. A Falcon 9 will carry Jason 3, a satellite meant to measure ocean roughness, in late July.
[Image credit: SpaceX/Steve Jurvetson, Flickr]
Filed under: Transportation
Source: Spaceflight Now
Samsung rumored to release another Edge model ahead of Galaxy Note 5
According to GforGames.com, it has reports from Korea that Samsung plans to release a new Galaxy Edge in the second half of this year before the Galaxy Note 5 Edge makes its appearance.
The news is not all that surprising considering the fact that Samsung had to ramp up production of the S6 Edge from one to three million units per month due to the demand. In addition, supposedly, the company plans to continue increasing production until it achieves 10 million units manufactured per month by the end of the year.
It’ll be interesting to see if Samsung can meet these goals when the Note 5 is rumored to have a three-sided panel. It certainly has experience with releasing variants of its Galaxy series at quick turnover rates. Still, it is best to be optimistically skeptical of these rumors.
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