Flying UAV takes as much know-how as regular plane

BY MOLLY MCMILLIN

The Wichita Eagle

It's not everyday you meet someone with the title "chief UAV pilot."

But Kirk Demuth, 24, flies unmanned aerial vehicles for a living for Flint Hills Solutions in Augusta.

The company is working on technology for UAVs to operate in the nation's airspace and to commercialize their use for civilian markets.

As pilot-in-command, Demuth works at a computer on the ground when a small, 35-pound Aerosonde UAV tested by Flint Hills Solutions is in the air.

Although Demuth's not in the cockpit, flying an unmanned air vehicle takes the same kind of piloting knowledge needed to fly other types of aircraft.

He checks weather briefings, has to know rules and regulations, and takes care of preflight information. Demuth goes through a preflight-checklist and makes sure components are working before flight.

The unmanned aerial vehicle is launched from the top of a vehicle. Once the vehicle reaches 50 miles an hour, it will take off.

Demuth can see how unmanned vehicles can be valuable in disaster situations, such as when a tornado hit Greensburg, he said.

"It's chaos after one of the things go through," Demuth said.

With proper equipment on board, a UAV can give responders information on what they have to deal with and how widespread the damage is to help them decide where to allocate resources, he said.

Flying is a passion for Demuth, who earned his private pilot's certificate at age 17.

He grew up on a farm near Ford and graduated from Kansas State University in Salina in 2007, earning his instrument and flight instructor's ratings.

Rather than becoming a pilot flying traditional aircraft, Demuth took a job with UAV manufacturer General Atomics in California.

There, he flew the chase plane to act as an observer during Predator and Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles development and testing.

"I got a lot of knowledge about UAVs and what it takes," Demuth said.

There's a lot of opportunity for pilots of unmanned aircraft, he said.

"This is where the aircraft industry is going to be focused," Demuth said.

Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or mmcmillin@wichitaeagle.com.