UAVSA Release 1.1

U.S. Department of Transportation

Page 1

Location Protocols

1. Before Arriving on Location

a. Check NOTAMS

b. View Weather and Pilot Reports

i. AIRMET

ii. SIGMET

c. Pre-Flight Weather Briefing and Forecast

d. Inform ATC of your flight plan if required

2. After Arrival to Location

a. Turn Cell Phones on Vibrate and Airplane Mode. 

b. Greet Production Team and Introduce the Company Team

c. Make Flight plan (if Not Already Discussed) and set time for Final Safety

Briefing Before first takeoff w/ everyone on set.

i. Inform Location Manager that area needs to be cleared

ii. Flight and Educate on Pre-Flight Checklist 

e. Confirm walkie-talkie for team is working properly ATC coms fully working

properly if needed

f. Check Weather at Local Weather Service

g. Check and Mark:

i. Wind Direction

ii. Average wind

iii. Relative Humidity

iv. Outside Temperature

h. Make Reference of Suns Location and Flight Plan

3. Clear Area Protocol

a. Set a perimeter for Take-Off

b. A 200 foot Circle area must be clear of people

c. Review Flight Plan/ Shot List

d. Identify and Clear Flight Area

i. Walk Through Of Entire Flight Area Look for Potential Hazards and

Hidden Obstacles Along Flight path

ii. Power Lines, Poles, Potential Magnetic Interference, Trees, Objects

that move in the wind, Wind Tunnels

e. Locate best Base Station for Equipment

f. Locate Pilot Station for Clear Visual Line for shot. 

g. Identify Emergency Landing Locations throughout upcoming flight paths

h. If there are Hazards along flight Path find alternatives to get the shot.

i. Record, writing concerns about upcoming flight and review with the Location

Manager. 

j. Record in writing “Alternative Safe Flight Paths”
UAVSA Release 1.1

U.S. Department of Transportation

Page 2

k. Check Height Restrictions for upcoming Flight Path of UAS s return to home

feature

l. Make Adjustment in Software by other means if Necessary

m. Review Data from Previous Flights

n. Make Adjustments to Pilot Connection Channels for Best Connection

4. Start Final Check For Multi-rotor

a. See PIC Set Final Checklist PDF

b. After Final Check of UAS equipment call for final Safety Briefing w/

Location Manager and Set Crew

5. Final Safety Briefing

a. Share w/ Location Manager and Crew Potential Hazards for upcoming shot.

b. If there are any changes to flight path that need to happen make

recommendations for alternatives now. 

6. UAS Limitations

a. Height Restrictions

b. Distance Restrictions

c. Battery Flight Time Limitations

d. Clear Line of Sight Rules

e. Wind Tolerance

f. Air Craft Flight Characteristics

g. What to Expect w/ Sound from UAS

h. FAA Regulations and Rules

a. Everyone on set needs to be on high Alert When UAS is cleared for Flight. 

i. Everyone on set that is available needs to keep eyes on UAS at all

times if possible. 

ii. Identify Crew members that need to focus on their jobs and cannot

give attention to UAS when in Flight. 

iii. Assign Crew to be the eyes and warning system

b. Emergency Procedures for Losing Control Of UAS

i. If for any reason Control of UAS is lost

c. PIC- Loudly Announce

i. I have no Control of UAS

ii. Everyone On Set EYES on UAS

d. Start Reconnection Process. 

e. Make Sure Landing Area is Clear (go home function should start)

f. Everyone on set needs to have eyes on UAS at all times During Flight and

maintain eye contact until UAS is back on Ground and powered down. 

g. Emergency Procedures if UAS Crash Lands

i. Make Sure Everyone is Safe

h. If someone is injured immediately contact emergency services

i. Clear Wreckage AREA and Stay 500 feet from UAS
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U.S. Department of Transportation

Page 3

j. If battery is on fire, take action to put it out w/ Fire Kit located at Ground

Station

k. Ask Crew if they have any Final Questions

l. Wrap up Final Safety Meeting

7. Return to Ground Station and Prepare for Flight

a. Final Check and Clearing of Flight Area

b. Final Meeting with VO and Gimbal Operator

c. Announce To Producer that We are Clear and Ready for Take-Off

d. *** If anything changes to Flight Plan before flight or if Weather Changes. 

IE. Wind, Sun Direction or Potential Hazards are Identified

8. Hold Flight

a. Let Producer Know we are not clear to fly

b. Share Safety Concerns

c. Re-Clear Flight Area- walk through and Restart Clear Area Protocol

9. Gimbal Operator and VO Arriving on set Set-Up Protocols

a. Unload Gear from Vehicle

b. Go Through Vehicle Checklist upon Arrival

c. Check-in All Gear to Set List PDF

d. Turn Cell Phones on Vibrate and Airplane Mode.

e. Start Scan

10. Set Walk Through

a. Set a perimeter for Take-Off

b. A 200 foot Circle area must be clear of people

c. Review Flight Plan/ Shot List

d. Identify and Clear Flight Area

e. Walk Through of Entire Flight Area Look for Potential Hazards and Hidden

Obstacles Along Flight path if Identified share with PIC

f. Power Lines, Poles, Potential Magnetic Interference, Trees, Objects that move

in the wind, Wind Tunnels

g. Locate best Base Station for Equipment

h. Locate Pilot Station for Clear Visual Line for shot. 

i. Identify Emergency Landing Locations throughout upcoming flight paths

j. If there are any Hazards along flight Path figure out alternatives to get the

shot.

i. Write Down Concerns Share with PIC. 

ii. Write Down Alternative Safe Flight Paths

k. Check Height Restrictions for upcoming Flight Path of UAS s return to home

feature

l. Make Adjustment through Software if Necessary

m. After PIC identifies flight Area Set up Base Station (refer to Base Station PDF

for Locations for Tent Tables and Chairs, Charging Station Setup and Tripod

and Monitor Placement
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U.S. Department of Transportation

Page 4

n. All antennas installed and all pointing in correct directions

o. Set Up Transmitters

p. Set Up Charging Station

q. Set up Pilot and Gimbal Monitors

r. Set up and Balance Gimbal and Camera

s. Camera Battery Full

t. SD card-Make sure Memory card has been formatted and is clear

u. Remove lens cap/Clean lens/ Put Lens Cap Back On

11. Battery Check

a. Transmitters Pilot and Gimbal Operator

i. Fully Charged

ii. Make sure 2 Backup Batteries are charged and ready to go

b. Video Downlink

i. Make sure all Systems are On and Operating

ii. ***Make sure Antennas are Tight and Secure before Powering On

iii. Power On

c. PIC- Monitor

i. Power on and check indicator for battery charge

ii. *** Make sure Antennas are tight and secure before powering on