Visual Observer 

Training Guide

Training GuideRef-12
Overview – 2 Part Guide

 Visual Observance Learning Seminar (Part 1 – 60 Minutes)

 Challenges to human visual perception 

 Limits of human visual perception 

 How outside factors impact our visual perception

 How motion, lighting changes, and changes in depth affect visual perception

 Classroom Training (Part 2 – 90 Minutes)

 Introduction to the Role

 Visual Observer

 Responsibilities Review

 Terminology

 FAA Regulation Review for Applicable Airspace

 COA Provisions Review
Part 1 – Visual Observance Seminar
Perception

 Perception 

 The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses. 

 Examples

 See a helicopter fly overhead

 Hear a helicopter fly overhead

 Feel vibration as a helicopter flies overhead

 Sensory Cues Drive Perception

 Ensure you pay attention to your senses

 See oncoming air traffic

 Hear oncoming air traffic

 Feel vibration of oncoming air traffic

 Smell burning plastic, melting wires, etc on UAV before flight

 Hear excessive vibration or grinding on UAV before flight
Perception - Continued

 Detection of a Sensory Cue 

 Typical UAS Sensory Cues

 Visual Cues

 Color Change

 Motion

 Glimmer/Light Flash

 Auditory Cues

 Oncoming Air traffic

 Humming – Excessive vibration

 Grinding

 Odor Cues

 Melting Plastic

 Melting Wires
Concepts – Visual Perception
Vision

 Central vs. Peripheral Vision

 Each is optimized for different visual cues

 Central Vision

 Image sharpness

 Color

 High resolution and focus 

 Peripheral Vision

 Orientation

 Relative Speed/Movement 

 Motion in your surroundings 
UAV Implications

 Important for Visual Line of Sight Rules

 UAV must be flown within UNAIDED VISUAL LINE OF SIGHT 

 Aid is permitted via contact lenses/prescription lenses but nothing else

 Central Vision needed in times of object recognition

 Particularly important with UAV because of the small size of the aircraft

 Peripheral Vision needed in times where movement needs to be detected
Visual Challenges
Depth Perception

 Depth Perception 

 Difficult beyond 20 yards 

 Limited to 200 yards 

 Points of Reference are needed 
Depth Perception Continued

 Size Reference
Visual Observance Challenges

 UAVs appear different on the ground than in the sky 

 Natural barriers to vision

 Fog

 Haze

 Smog 

 Cloud Color vs. Craft Color

 Loss of Contrast 

 White UAV flying in front of white cloud

 High light and low light

 Flights in line with the sun

 Dusk

 Dawn 

 Central vs. Peripheral Vision 

 Ex.) Battle between focusing on UAV and judging its speed
Natural Barriers
Loss of Contrast
Lighting Conditions
Central vs. Peripheral Vision –

Relative Motion

 Relative Motion 

 Objects moving in our peripheral vision are easier to detect

 Remember Peripheral Vision is used for motion 

 Objects moving toward or away from you are difficult to perceive

 Central Vision is for sharpness and HD Vision, not motion

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vMbATfG-5I
Strategies for Better Visual Perception

 Beware of conditions that degrade Visual Perception

 Natural Phenomena

 Fog, Haze, Smog

 Lighting Conditions

 Sun

 Cloud Cover

 Know your vision

 How far can I see?

 What types of flights/flying techniques will challenge my perception?

 Ex.) Speed flights that rely on central vision

 Improve environment

 Place yourself somewhere with a good vantage point

 Relative to hazards/structures/obstacles

 Check backgrounds for contrast 

 Alter aircraft coloring if necessary
Strategies for Better UAV Operations

 Place yourself in the right position

 Utilize all of your senses

 Visual of immediate area around the UAV

 Audio cues from other air traffic

 Maintain constant communication with the Pilot In Command

 Verbal Communication Range

 Routinely ask for updates 
Classroom Training – UAS Flights 
Why do we need a Visual Observer?

 Why? 

 Compliance with applicable sections of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations 

(14 CFR) to operate in the NAS

 Compliance with the Petition for Exemption and Granted Section 333 Exemption 

 To ensure at least an equivalent level of safety as is provided by existing rules and 

regulations for the National Airspace System as developed by the Federal Aviation 

Administration 
Observer Requirement

 Observer Requirement 

 VOs must; 

 Not allow the aircraft to operate beyond the visual line-of-sight 

 Be able to see the aircraft and the surrounding airspace sufficiently at all times 

 Determining the UA’s proximity to all aviation activities and other hazards (e.g., terrain, 

weather, structures) 

 Exercising effective control of the UA 

 Complying with 14 C.F.R. 91.111, 91.113, and 91.115 

 Preventing the UA from creating a collision hazard

 Inform the PIC before losing sufficient visual contact with the UA 
Observer Requirement

 Observer Requirement 

 Why are visual aids not permitted to be used to keep an aircraft within “Line 

of Sight?”

 Visual Aids including;

 Telescopes

 FPV Goggles

 Binoculars

 Distort vision and alter an observer’s field of view
Observer Requirement

 Observer Requirement 

 In a UAS flight crew the PIC operates like a captain and the VO as the 

assistant, therefore the PIC will select a location from which the VO will 

perform their duties so as to afford the best available view of the entire area 

within which the operation is to be conducted.
Communications

 Communication Requirements 

 A VO provides see-and-avoid assistance to the PIC and due to this, must have 

immediate communication with the UAS pilot

 Verbal Communication Range at all times

 Not Permitted

 Cell Phones

 Text

 Walky-talkies 
Post-Observer Training Qualifications

 UAS Observer Qualifications 

 All observers must have an understanding of Federal aviation regulations 

applicable to the airspace where the UAS will operate.

 Observers are considered crewmembers 

 Observers must NOT perform crew duties for more than one UAS at a time

 Observers are not allowed to be both the VO and PIC 
Observer Qualifications – Regulatory 

Knowledge

 UAS Observer Qualifications 

 Observers must complete sufficient training to communicate to the pilot any 

information required to remain clear of conflicting traffic, terrain, and 

obstructions, maintain proper cloud clearances, and provide navigational 

awareness. 

 Overview 14 CFR: 

 91.111, Operating Near Other Aircraft; 

 91.155, Basic VFR Weather Minimums; 
COA Provisions Review 

 Blanket 200 Foot COA 

 Applicable to all Section 333 Exemption Holders

 Rules

 At or below 200 feet

 Aircraft that weigh less than 55 pounds

 Operate during daytime Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions

 Operate within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the pilots

 5 nautical miles (NM) from an airport having an operational control tower; or

 3 NM from an airport with a published instrument flight procedure, but not an operational tower

 2 NM from an airport without a published instrument flight procedure or an operational tower

 2 NM from a heliport with a published instrument flight procedure
Visual Observer Communication

 PIC should be in verbal communication range

 Develop a communication plan and go over terminology

 Return to Base 

 Return the Aircraft to the take-off point 

 Traffic/Obstacle advisory

 VO will warn you of oncoming traffic 

 Maneuver aircraft to avoid conflict 
How to Communicate with the PIC

 Give a direction first, then a description.

 Directive then Descriptive (Strategy highlighted by Dr. Warren Jensen M.D.)

 Directive

 Clearly tell the PIC to maintain or change flight paths

 Descriptive

 Identify the conflict with a direction and range

 “Continue current path, small aircraft to the north, 3 miles out, heading 

west.” 
Visual Observer Duties

 Place yourself somewhere with a good vantage point of the craft and 

obstacles

 Warn Pilot In Command of Obstacles, air traffic, and the like

 Communicate clearly and effectively with the Pilot

 Always maintain verbal communication range

 Assist in the pre-flight check and after flight procedures

 Routinely update the Pilot during a flight

 Ensure the PIC follows all applicable rules and regulations
Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters

 Proposed operations using sUAS in the United States under the granted form 

of this Petition for Exemption will be limited to;

 Aircraft contained in the approved Exemption Petition

 Aircraft weighing less than 55 pounds including batteries and operational & 

technical payloads

 Aircraft not exceed 100mph speeds
 Commercial UAS Flights will be limited to those stated within an approved 

petition for exemption

 All of these flights will take place in Class G airspace nationwide unless 

otherwise advised in a FAA-Granted Certificate of Waiver or Authorization 

 Adherence to 200 Foot Automatic COA unless granted a further COA

 After receiving an exemption number from the FAA

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 All flights conducted will be below 400 feet AGL (Above Ground Level)

 All flights will be carried out by a trained flight crew consisting of a licensed 

(at minimum Sport Pilot’s Certificate) PIC with a Medical Certificate or 

equivalent valid U.S.A. Driver’s license and a trained Visual Observer.

 All flights conducted will include aircraft that are flying below the 87 knot 

(100 mph) airspeed maximum, highlighted by the FAA in their guidelines. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 All flights conducted will be conducted within Visual Line of Sight and adhere to 

Visual Flight Rules under the Visual Meteorological Conditions associated with Class 

G airspace. 

 Link to VMCs -

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/nas_redesign/regional_guidance/eastern_reg/nynjphl_r

edesign/documentation/feis/appendix/media/Appendix_ANational_Airspace_System_Overview.pdf

 The Petitioner will not allow any PIC to operate a sUAS unless the PIC meets the 

qualification standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration (i.e. Minimum -

Sport Pilot’s Certificate/Medical or U.S.A. Driver’s License) and by the safety 

guidelines and operational capabilities relating to safe sUAS operations, such as;

 Evasive Maneuvers

 Emergency Actions

 Fail-Safe Knowledge

 Flight Skills

 Maintaining adequate distances from;

 People

 Property

 Structures

 Etc.

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 PIC qualification flight hours will be logged in a manner consistent with 14 C.F.R. 

61.51(b). Additionally, a record of the PIC training will be documented and made 

available upon request to the Administrator. 

 Training operations will only be conducted during dedicated training sessions. 

During training, all persons not essential for flight operations will be deemed 

nonparticipants, and thus, the PIC will operate the UA with appropriate distance 

from nonparticipants in accordance with 14 C.F.R. 91.119. 

 As highlighted by the FAA, the Visual Observer’s duty is to visually observe the 

relevant airspace for aircraft, hazards, obstacles, structures, or the like. For this 

reason, the VO will not be allowed to operate the camera or other instruments. 

 A third operator must be utilized if the commercial flight requires a dedicated camera 

person

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 The PIC for the duration of an unmanned flight will be named prior to the 

flight. Due to this, once the PIC is named and a flight is begun, the PIC will 

not be able to transfer his/her designation as the PIC though the duration of 

the flight. Furthermore, the PIC is the Captain of the flight crew and will 

ensure that the Visual Observer is qualified to hold the VO position for the 

duration of the flight. 

 Each commercial sUAS flight performed will be planned for ahead of the flight 

date. This will be to ensure adequate time for all participants to prepare and 

to obtain all the necessary permissions (landowners, homeowners, property 

owners, etc.) if any are needed. All flights will be preceded by a meeting at 

least one day before the flight at which all participants of the flight will be 

present. This is to ensure adequate knowledge and preparedness prior to the 

sUAS flight. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 Aircraft maintenance is obviously vital for any commercial SUAS operation. It 

ensures safety and is necessary prior to each flight to maintain safe, efficient, 

and effective flight operations. Once again, the PIC, as the captain of the 

flight crew, will take a leading role in inspecting the aircraft prior to flight. 

The PIC will likely have the most experience of anyone on the flight crew and 

will be in turned with the specific maintenance needs of each specific flight 

craft. If the PIC were to find an error in the flight craft or any of the 

associated systems, including the Ground Control System for example, he/she 

would ground the flight until adequate maintenance is completed and the 

aircraft is once again safe to fly. All maintenance on flight crafts will be 

noted and logged as to ensure the safety of all aircraft and the people 

operating them. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 Relating to the above Condition, anytime a flight-critical component is 

replaced or anytime there is mission-critical maintenance on the craft, the 

PIC will conduct a flight test of the system before completing the intended, 

commercial mission. Once again this flight test will be logged by the PIC. 

 Routine maintenance and inspections of the sUAS will be logged by the PIC in 

accordance with the requirements and suggestions laid out by the aircraft 

manufacturer in terms of aircraft component maintenance, overhaul, 

replacement, inspection, and life limits, which are part of the supporting 

documents for each aircraft contained in the Exemption and Operations 

Manual. The logging of these maintenance/inspection checks will be included 

in the aircraft records and include the total time of service and description of 

work. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 All SUAS flights will be conducted within Visual Line of Sight (“VLOS”) of both the 

PIC and VO at all times. Furthermore, VLOS means visual observance unaided by 

any device other than corrective lenses such as eye glasses or contacts. The use 

of telescopes, FPV systems (for purposes of VLOS flights), binoculars, and the like 

will not be permitted. Also, both the PIC and VO should be in constant, verbal 

communication range. The use of other devices to communicate out of verbal 

range are not permitted. These devices would include, cell phones, text 

messaging, walky-talkies, and the like. 

 No commercial flight missions will be executed unless it can be determined that 

the flight crew can complete their mission from take-off through landing, with a 

reserve of 20% battery life. New flight crafts have adaptive battery monitors and 

for this reason this condition will an automated process as the Petitioner can set 

the default Advisory and Critical Battery warnings to 30% and 20% respectively, 

which will warn the PIC of the depleted battery and engage him/her to fly home 

and land with 20% remaining power. For all systems without this automated 

feature, a watch will be used to monitor flight times to ensure a safe return home 

with adequate battery power. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 In the case of an unexpected obstacle or in-flight issue, each sUAS operator will 

have the ability to abort a mission and take corrective actions. 

 The sUAS utilized will be programmed so that if the sUAS loses signal with the PIC 

or Ground Control Station during flight, the system will return to a 

preprogrammed GPS location located within the operating area containing the 

flight crew. Furthermore, this failsafe can also be used in controlled situations, 

meaning the failsafe will be able to be engaged should something happen on the 

ground that disallows the PIC from bringing the sUAS back in a normal fashion. 

Additionally, in both situations described above, where the failsafe is either a 

controlled action from the pilot or an uncontrolled situation, like radio-link signal 

loss, the unit will not only fly back to its preprogrammed home point, it also has 

the ability to land itself. This creates safe operations of the aircraft even in bad 

situations, like signal loss, and prevents the unit from flying off uncontrollably or 

landing in an unknown location. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 The operating documents required under 14 C.F.R. 91.9 and 91.203 will be 

maintained and available to the PIC at the Ground Control Station of the UA 

anytime the sUAS is operating. Furthermore, these documents will be 

available for review by the Administrator or other law enforcement officials 

upon request. 

 It is always important to specify precedent when determining operating 

practices. For this reason, if a discrepancy exists between the conditions laid 

out in the Petition for Exemption and the actual Granted Exemption, the 

conditions laid out in the finalized Granted Exemption will take precedent 

over the conditions laid out in the Petition. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 As has been noted, the Petitioner will obtain written and/or oral permission 

from the landowners, farmers, property owners, or otherwise authorized 

agents for flights above their property. 

 The Petitioner will also obtain all required permissions and permits from 

territorial, state, county or city jurisdictions, including;

 Law Enforcement

 Fire Departments

 Municipal Agencies or;

 Other Appropriate Governmental Bodies 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 The Petitioner will not conduct operations at night, as defined in 14 C.F.R. 

1.1. Furthermore, all operations will be conducted under visual 

meteorological conditions (VMC).

 All SUAS flights conducted by the Petitioner will be done so in accordance 

with airspace requirements established by the FAA and/or an ATO-issued COA, 

including;

 Class of Airspace

 Altitude Level, and potential;

 Transponder Requirements

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 The sUAS will not be operated within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference 

point as noted on a current FAA-published aeronautical chart unless a letter 

of agreement with that airport’s Air Traffic Control is obtained. 

 The PIC will follow VMC guidelines for VFR flights;

 Visibility equal to or in excess of 3 statute miles from the PIC

 Adequate distance of no less than 500 feet below, or less than 2,000 feet 

horizontally from a cloud

 All operations by the Petitioner will be conducted in Class G airspace 

nationwide or as otherwise advised in a COA. 

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 All aircraft utilized by the Petitioner operate via radio frequency, which is 

governed by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”). For this reason, 

prior to commercial operations under a granted Section 333 Exemption, the 

Petitioner will ensure the radio frequency spectrum used to operate and control 

its sUAS complies with FCC rules. 

 The PIC will always yield the right of way to all manned aircraft and aviation 

operations. 

 No sUAS operations will take place while a PIC is in a moving device or vehicle.

 Cars/Trucks/SUVs

 Boats

 Tractors

 ATVs

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 All sUAS operations by the Petitioner will be conducted at least 500 feet from 

all nonparticipating people, vessels, vehicles, and structures, unless the 

following conditions apply;

 Protective barriers are present that adequately protect nonparticipants from flying 

shrapnel or debris should there be an accident. 

 The Petitioner has been granted permission to operate near a vessel, vehicle, or 

structure by the owner/controller of these properties

 Operations nearer to the PIC, VO, operator trainees or essential persons do not 

present an undue hazard to those persons per 14 C.F.R. 91.119(a).

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
 The Petitioner will log and report to the UAS Integration Office (AFS-80) 

within 24 hours of any incident, accident, or flight operation that occurred 

outside the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the operational area as 

defined by the COA under which the flight was operating. Furthermore, the 

Petitioner will report accidents to the National Transportation Safety Board 

(NTSB).

Section 333 Petition for Exemption Parameters
Questions?
Let’s Head Outside – Flight Training

 Total at least 25 hours for the PIC

 Team Training with Pilot In Command

 Aircraft-Specific Training if Multiple Aircraft are used