Who among the UAS crew communicates with external parties such as air traffic control and customers?

The correct answer identifies that any member of the UAS crew can communicate with external parties, such as air traffic control and customers, based on the operational protocols and specific roles within the crew. In many UAS operations, effective communication is critical for safety and coordination, especially when navigating controlled airspace or coordinating delivery and other tasks with customers.

This means that the responsibility for communication does not strictly fall upon the pilot alone but can be shared among crew members. Depending on the mission's complexity, the crew might designate specific roles for communication, or they may operate in a collaborative manner, allowing any member to act as a point of contact. The flexibility in communication roles helps ensure that all aspects of the operation run smoothly, and it supports the sharing of information that could be crucial for safety and operational efficiency.

In contrast, the pilot is primarily responsible for actually piloting the aircraft and ensuring flight safety, while the payload operator focuses on managing the payload and its operations. The flight technician, meanwhile, typically handles maintenance and technical support rather than direct communication with external parties. Hence, limiting communication roles to certain positions would not be practical in varied operational scenarios where any crew member could have valuable information to share or critical communications to handle.