<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">My personal position is NO DRONES in the Private Sector of civil aviation of any kind or model aviation of any magnitude. As an airplane driver for 41 years, 13 USAF and 28 UAL, I had numerous encounters with private aviation. In addition to several VERY close encounters with private airplanes, and a couple military machines, I had a number of about 15 +/- bird strikes from just a blood and guts to actual airframe holes. Now these are just those that I saw or felt. I'm confident that some near misses with other aircraft were never seen.</span>
<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); ">
I learned to fly when we were taught how to watch the skies. Today's pilots have no concept of clearing the area. I have a son (retired Lt. Col. USAF) now with United. The whole concept is computer flying, therefore watching outside is not known in today's computer-drivers which I don't care to give them the sacred name of PILOT..
</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969); -webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); ">Back in my flying days - ending in 1996 - I was very concerned with the head-in-cockpit of the pilots being hired. MOST ex. military PILOTS were good to excellent. Civil AIRPLANE DRIVERS never had a clue outside the cockpit. About the same for RC fliers. I belong to 3 clubs. I watch the traffic. While many non-aviation background RCers are really good after a few years, there is an alarming portion of RCers that have the proverbial Chip-on-the Shoulder that preclude any listening to us Old F_rts as they designate many of us.</span>
<div></div><div>Normally I agree with you but, as a General Aviation professional pilot of over 30 years, your portrayal of military pilots as superior to their GA counterparts is simply untrue and an insult. I've found most ex-military types to be more arrogant and self-important than those who were civilian-trained.</div><div>The civvies were more teachable, open to input from others and worked much better in a crew environment. Plus, most wouldn't carry on for hours about how great a pilot they were. One ex-mil senior pilot I worked with frequently broke regs, altitudes and minimums. He was the scariest pilot I ever had to endure. Thankfully he retired shortly after I joined the company. Another retired ex-mil couldn't be bothered to show for a trip before 0830, so his usefulness was short-lived and he was allowed to continue sleeping in. I'm not prejudiced, just report what I've seen. Some other mil-types were very sharp, usually humble, and were a pleasure to work with. The helo guys were generally the best sticks, much to my chagrin!</div><div>Civilian pilots are just as good at looking out the windows as military pilots (perhaps because their heads are smaller and can swivel better?).
I don't think military pilots got some special shot that enabled better vision.</div><div></div><div>I agree the computer-technician-cum-pilot transition over the past 20 years is less than optimal, but the technology has gone in that direction. In the future, try not to paint with too broad of a stroke, OK? </div>