Definition
A pilot, visual observer, payload operator, or other person assigned duties for a UAS for the purpose of flight. Each crewmember has a defined role in operating or supporting the unmanned aircraft during a mission.
Plain English
Anyone given a job to help fly or operate a drone or other unmanned aircraft during a flight. This includes the person controlling it, the person watching it, and anyone running its onboard equipment.
Context Anchor
Seen in UAS procedures, authorizations, training, and discussions of who is responsible for each part of a drone flight.
Derivation
Crew comes from the Old French creue, meaning an increase or reinforcement of people. Member simply means one of a group. Together, the term names a person formally assigned to the team running the flight — even if no one is on board the aircraft itself.
Why Pilots Care
Correctly identifying UAS crewmembers determines who holds operational authority, legal responsibility, and training requirements.
Intuition Check
Do not assume a crewmember must be inside the aircraft. For UAS operations, a crewmember can be on the ground and still be part of the flight crew.
Example Sentence 1
Before the flight, the pilot in command briefed each UAS crewmember on their role, including the visual observer and the camera operator.
Example Sentence 2
The visual observer was added to the UAS crewmember roster to maintain line-of-sight contact.