What is the primary responsibility of a launch and recovery crew?

The primary responsibility of a launch and recovery crew centers on the safe and efficient initiation and conclusion of an unmanned aircraft's mission. This includes ensuring the aircraft is appropriately launched and safely recovered, which inherently involves handling the control of the aircraft during its transition to and from the operational phase.

By focusing on the launch and recovery aspect, the crew is tasked specifically with managing the critical moments of flight where the aircraft is most vulnerable to issues such as environmental conditions or system failures. Their role is essential in guaranteeing that the aircraft reaches a designated handoff point where it can be transferred to a secondary control station or operator, maintaining safety and operational integrity throughout the process.

While preparing the aircraft for takeoff, managing maintenance repairs, and ensuring compliance with federal regulations are all important aspects of sUAS operations, they are not the primary focus of the launch and recovery crew’s responsibilities, which are more directly linked to the actual launch and recovery operations.