ZMP controller reports of an aircraft that turns off course and then is put back on course by ATC. R...

Attributes
ACN	1205232
Time
Date	201409
Local Time Of Day	1801-2400
Place
Locale Reference	ZMP.ARTCC
State Reference	MN
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	UAV - Unpiloted Aerial Vehicle
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Enroute
Qualification	Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Experience	Air Traffic Control Time Certified In Pos 1 (yrs) 8.5
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude Deviation - Procedural Clearance Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Deviation - Track / Heading All Types

Narrative:

Aircraft X was in route and called ZMP to request to return to rdr. The controller cleared them back to rdr and I assumed the sector. About 15 minutes later I noticed aircraft X off course and headed south. I questioned the aircraft and asked if they needed assistance and the reply from the pilot was 'correcting'. I informed my supervisor and was told to inform the pilot off a possible pilot deviation and instructed them to call ZMP operating manager in charge (omic). This event happened again a few minutes later with the controller to the north of me. The [uav] aircraft have difficulty holding altitudes and headings. The radios are not efficient enough with the lag time to communicate with the pilots when we need to. They are not safe to be flying in the NAS with other aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZMP Controller reports of an aircraft that turns off course and then is put back on course by ATC. Reporter then states aircraft has difficulty holding correct altitude and headings later in the session.

Narrative: Aircraft X was in route and called ZMP to request to return to RDR. The Controller cleared them back to RDR and I assumed the sector. About 15 minutes later I noticed Aircraft X off course and headed south. I questioned the aircraft and asked if they needed assistance and the reply from the pilot was 'Correcting'. I informed my Supervisor and was told to inform the pilot off a possible pilot deviation and instructed them to call ZMP Operating Manager in Charge (OMIC). This event happened again a few minutes later with the Controller to the north of me. The [UAV] aircraft have difficulty holding altitudes and headings. The radios are not efficient enough with the lag time to communicate with the pilots when we need to. They are not safe to be flying in the NAS with other aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

ZMP controller reports of an aircraft that turns off course and then is put back on course by ATC. Reporter then states aircraft has difficulty holding correct altitude and headings later in the session.