- Title: USA: "Grounded" play explores life of a drone pilot
- Date: 7th July 2014
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 6, 2014) (REUTERS) "GROUNDED" POSTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR LUCY ELLINSON SAYING: "The post-traumatic stress disorder level amongst drone pilots is as high, if not higher, according to various different evidence, as fighter pilots themselves. And that's because they have this strong relationship, and they also have to watch the aftermath. A fighter pilot will be miles away by the time their ordinance is dropped. A drone pilot must linger."
- Embargoed: 22nd July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Usa
- Country: USA
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAD2IBRKAV56QLL0JH059UDE2JP
- Story Text: "Grounded", a one-woman play that explores the life of a drone pilot, appears on a Washington stage before making its way to theaters across the U.S. and the world.
"Grounded", a play which ponders life a drone pilot, appeared on a Washington stage on Sunday (July 6), as it makes its way to theaters across the U.S. -- and the world.
It's the story of an F-16 fighter pilot who gets reassigned to the "Chair Force" -- as she dismissively refers to it -- and how she adapts to the new work-life balance.
Now, instead of feeling like a hotshot pilot in Iraq, she's confined to a windowless trailer in the Las Vegas desert flying unmanned aerial vehicles. And, instead of decompressing with her comrades in the combat zone after a mission, she drives home to her husband and young daughter.
However, real-life studies show despite the removal of the threat of death for drone pilots and the proximity to their families, the job is not necessarily any easier psychologically. A 2013 report by researchers for the Pentagon found that drone pilots were just as likely to experience mental health problems as those deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Part of the reason, according to actor Lucy Ellinson, who interviewed several drone pilots in preparation for the role, is that they often follow a target for weeks on end, witnessing the intimate details of their lives before seeing them be killed.
"The post-traumatic stress disorder level amongst drone pilots is as high, if not higher, according to various different evidence, as fighter pilots themselves. And that's because they have this strong relationship, and they also have to watch the aftermath. A fighter pilot will be miles away by the time their ordinance is dropped. A drone pilot must linger," said Ellinson.
Written by Cleveland-based writer George Brant, the play was first produced in the U.K. before making its way to U.S. theaters. "Grounded" is now slated for productions in several states, from Ohio to Oregon, as well as in other countries, including Australia and Sweden.
Ellinson believes the play is a good conversation-starter about an issue many people know little about, especially since drone pilots now account for the majority of Air Force trainees.
"George Brant, who wrote the play, initially said he wanted this piece of work to open up a debate. And that's definitely what I found since I've been involved in the production from London. People come, they are fascinated. A lot of people say to me over in the U.K. -- are they even real the drones? So, it's genuinely a piece of work that's a step ahead of public consciousness," she said.
Several audience members in Washington said the performance made them think about the lives of drone pilots differently -- or for the first time at all.
"I'm anti-war like many. I like the idea of our people not being killed and not being in danger. But, on the other hand, I've never thought of it from the point of view of how they feel being in the desert in Las Vegas, and being far away, and suddenly realizing these are people with families and children," said Burma Bochner.
"It really shows what they go through everyday," added Ariana Marlett. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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