BY ORDER OF THE COMMANDER
AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
COMMAND
AIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING
COMMAND HANDBOOK 11-211
12 JUNE 2020
FLYING OPERATIONS
ROAD TO WINGS REMOTELY
PILOTED AIRCRAFT
ACCESSIBILITY: Publications and forms are available for downloading or ordering on the
e-Publishing website at www.e-Publishing.af.mil
RELEASABILITY: There are no releasability restrictions on this publication
OPR: HQ AETC/SEF
Certified by: HQ AETC/SE
(Lt Col Jason Powell)
Pages: 19
This publication implements Air Force Policy Directive (AFPD) 11-2, Aircrew Operations and
AFPD 91-2, Safety Programs. It provides flight training activities with a source of lessons
learned from over 10 years of aircraft accidents in the MQ-9A aircraft. This publication applies
to Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command units. Ensure that all records created as
a result of processes prescribed in this publication are maintained IAW Air Force Instruction
(AFI) 33- 322, Records Management and Information Governance Program, and disposed of
IAW Air Force Records Information Management System (AFRIMS) Records Disposition
Schedule (RDS). Refer recommended changes and questions about this publication to the Office
of Primary Responsibility (OPR) using the AF Form 847, Recommendation for Change of
Publication; route AF Forms 847 from the field through the appropriate functional chain of
command. This publication may not be supplemented or further implemented/extended.
FOREWORD
The “Road to Wings” series is a journey in Air Force Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) mishaps
since 2009…how they happened, why they happened, and most importantly, the lessons learned
from those mishaps. Whether you are a student attending training or an experienced 3,000+ hour
aviator, “Road to Wings” offers all of us the opportunity to learn from past mistakes and improve
our airmanship.
This handbook includes Class A mishaps for the MQ-9 aircraft. The majority of mishaps
contained herein occurred during combat operations and/or during the Launch/Recovery phase of
