First Australian Military Pilot Flies Boeing’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat | Aviation

The first RAAF pilot has completed the training to be certified as launch and recovery operator for the MQ-28, becoming the first non-Boeing pilot on the program.

Boeing’s MQ-28A Ghost Bat program achieved another milestone when the first RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) pilot, Wing Commander Phil Parsons, flew the aircraft from its ground control station. Parsons, an experienced remote systems pilot for the past 10 years, concluded his training program at Boeing on Jun. 13, 2024, and became the first non-Boeing pilot on the program, said a statement from the defense major.

As a launch and recovery operator, Parsons would oversee the MQ-28A’s ground preparation, take-off and landing operations In fact, while it has autonomous capabilities, the MQ-28 is still overseen by a human operator. “MQ-28A is designed to team with piloted aircraft through an ‘operator-in-the-loop’ approach,” said Glen Ferguson, Boeing Defence Australia MQ-28 program director.

The presence of a human operator adds another layer of safety to the operations. In fact, Parsons’ training included observing and monitoring the aircraft as it executed commands to climb and descend, accelerate and…