The Visual Arts Group, LLC

Motion Picture and Television

UAS Flight Operation Manual

3725 Highcroft Circle

Norcross, Ga. 30092

404-661-8669

FAA 8900 manual 
1

Date 05/04/2015

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

A. Purpose 4

B. Pilot/Operator Organization 4

C. Persons Authorized 4

D. Area of Operations 4

E. Plan of Activities 4

F. Permission to Operate 5

G. Security 6

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 6

I. Certification/Airworthiness 7

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 7

K. Communications 8

L. Accident Notification 8

M. Recall/Stop Procedures 8

N. Aerobatic Competency 8

O. Special Provisions 8

2. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot 9

B. Pilot in Command 10

Appendix A 

1 List of Approved Pilots 11

2 List of Approved Aircraft 11

3 Permission Acquisition Form 12

4 Revision Letter 14

Appendix B

1 Form 7711-2 (certification of waiver) 14
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Revision Control Page

Revision# Date Initials

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Date
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1. Introduction

A. Purpose

This manual has been developed by "The Visual Arts Group, LLC", hereafter 

referred to as "VAG", in conjunction with an application for a Certificate of Waiver of 

Authorization of the provisions of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c) for the purposes of filming. 

VAG pilots and other company personnel when applicable will comply with the policies, 

procedures and conditions of this manual, whenever motion picture or television flight 

operations are performed that require a Waiver of Authorization as mentioned above.

B. Pilot/Operator Organization

William H. Upchurch – Manager and Pilot 

The Visual Arts Group, LLC

3725 Highcroft Circle

Norcross, Georgia 30092

404-661-8669 cell

C. Persons Authorized

FAR 91.119 (b) and (c) is waived only with respect to those persons, vehicles 

and structures directly involved in the performance of the actual filming. The certificate 

holder shall ensure that no persons are allowed within 500 feet of the area except those 

consenting to be involved and necessary for the filming production. This provision may 

be reduced to no less than 200 feet if an equivalent level of safety can be achieved and 

the Administrator has approved it. For example, an equivalent level of safety may be 

determined by an ASI’s evaluation of the filming production area to note terrain features, 

obstructions, buildings, etc. Such barriers may protect nonparticipating persons 

(observers, the public, news media, etc.) from debris in the event of an accident.

D. Area of Operations

VAG’s approved area of operations will be the United States and its territories and 

possessions. While the waiver is issued by the pilot/operator’s local FSDO, the 

pilot/operator must coordinate with the FSDO having geographic responsibility over the 

area of the filming operations.
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E. Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, VAG will submit a written plan of 

activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over that area. The plan of activities will

include the following:

(1) Dates and times for all flights.

(2) Name and phone number of person responsible for the filming production event

(3) Name and phone number of person responsible for aircraft.

(4) Make, model, and serial or N-number of aircraft to be used and type of airworthiness 

certificate, including category including CAT.

(5) Name and certificate number of pilots involved in the filming production event.

(6) A statement that the waiver holder has obtained permission from property owners 

and/or local officials to conduct the filming production event. The list of those who 

gave permission must be made available to the inspector upon request from the 

waiver holder.

(7) Signature of waiver holder or representative.

(8) A description of the flight activity including maps or diagrams of any area, city, town, 

county, and/or State over which filming will be conducted and the minimum altitudes 

essential to accomplish the operations. 

The three (3) day notification requirements may be waived, however, the operator 

should contact the FSDO (flight standard district office) as soon as possible with this 

request and be prepared to explain in detail why the three (3) day notification is not 

practical.

F. Permission to Operate

Before any flight operations is conducted at less than 500 feet under the provisions of 

the certificate of waiver and this manual, the operator will obtain permission to conduct 

these operations from property owners and local officials as necessary or appropriate. 

Persons from whom permission may be required are listed below.

(1) Property owners

(2) Law enforcement officials

(3) Fire department officials

(4) Local, State and Federal government

(5) Air traffic control
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VAG personnel obtaining such permission will do so in writing whenever practical,

however, verbal permission is acceptable otherwise. A standard permission form is 

provided in Appendix A and may be used when obtaining written permission. VAG

personnel will assure a sufficient number of those forms are available at the job site. 

Written permission forms will be maintained at the job site until flight operations are 

completed, and then turned into the chief pilot to be kept on file for a minimum of six (6) 

months. These forms will be made available for inspection by the FAA or other official 

personnel upon request.

G. Security

Prior to any flight operation the operator will coordinate with appropriate production 

personnel to devise a plan of securing the area(s) of operation from all unauthorized 

persons and vehicles. Provisions will be made to immediately discontinue operations 

should the area(s) become unsecured or for any other reason in the interest of safety.

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel

Prior to the start of any operation under the provisions of this manual, the pilot in 

command will conduct a briefing of all procedures to participating personnel of the risks 

involved, emergency procedures, and safeguards to be followed during the filming 

production event. 

Personnel will also be briefed on additional provisions that may be issued by the FSDO 

that has geographic responsibility for the operational area, including the location of 

boundaries or time limits. The briefing shall cover:

• Authorization for motion picture and television certificate of waiver and the attached 

special provisions

• Operations manual

• Plan of activities

• Aircraft parking and starting

• Taxi procedures

• Radio Communications

• Takeoff procedures

• Aviation activities to be conducted during the filming production event

• Approach and landing procedures

• Recall procedures

• Emergency procedures

• Risks to participating personnel

• How to control nonparticipating persons
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I. Certification/Airworthiness

All VAG aircraft used in operations will be certified in any CAT including experimental, 

provided the requirements of §§91.203, 91.313 and 91.319 are met.

UAS to be used in the proposed operations do not need an FAA-issued certificate of 

airworthiness based on a finding they do not pose a threat to national airspace users or 

national security. 

Each aircraft will have a flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance and 

inspections and the dates or times they must be performed. A section for 

discrepancies is also found in the flight log. The pilot in command will assure the 

aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition and all required inspections, in accordance 

with the applicable parts of CFR part 43 or 91, or the assigned operating limitations and 

maintenance, has been completed before each flight.

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements

The UAS Rotocraft pilot/operator shall establish and specify the minimum pilot 

requirements. 

Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed the following:

(1) A current U.S. Private or Commercial certificate with ratings and a minimum of a 3rd 

class medical Cert. appropriate to the category, class and type (if applicable) of 

aircraft to be used under the terms of the waiver.

(2) At least 200 flight cycles as PIC and at least 25 hours, 10 in type logged as the PIC 

 in the aircraft type.

(3) A minimum of 5 hours and three takeoff and landings within the preceding 90 days.

(4) In the event that the 1,500-foot minimum standard contained in the 14 

 CFR 91.303(e) is to be waived, the pilot performing aerobatic maneuvers 

 must hold FAA Form 8710-7, Statement of Acrobatic Competency, to 

 perform the operations.

(5) In the event the operation to be conducted contains elements of an external-load 

operation, whether fixed or rotary wing operations, pilots used in the operation shall 

be qualified. This qualification may be obtained through a knowledge test (which 

may be oral and/written) and/or skill. The inspector or another company pilot 

approved by the geographically responsible FSDO who is qualified to carry loads 

externally will give the test(s) which are similar to part 133 requirements and cover 

the following subjects:

(a) Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a survey of the

 flight area.
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(b) Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the external load.

(c) Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating 

 procedures and the aircraft flight manual (AFM).

(d) Proper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel.

(e) Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a rotorcraft-load combination 

flight manual and limitations, if appropriate.

K. Communications

Prior to the start of any operation covered by this manual, the pilot in command 

will formulate a plan to provide communications capability to all participants 

during the actual operation and filming. Oral, visual or radio communications may 

be used as long as it is effective and is capable of keeping the participants continuously 

appraised of the current status of the operation.

L. Accident Notification

Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the NTSB occur, the 

notification requirements of 49 CFR Part 830 would comply.

M. Recall/Stop Procedures

Radio communication, oral, visual or a combination will be utilized to keep the 

participants continuously apprised of the current status of operation.

N. Aerobatic Competency

If the filming operations require the issuance of FAA Form 

8710-7, Statement of Aerobatic Competency, refer to

Volume 5, Chapter 9, Section 1, Issue/Renew/Rescind a Statement of Aerobatic 

Competency.

O. Special Provisions

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the VAG motion picture and 

television operations manual is the primary assurance that persons on the 

surface will not be jeopardized.

The aircraft and pilots used under this authorization and/or waiver will only be 

those specified in the VAG motion picture and television operations manual 

or associated plan of activities. Each pilot’s name and certificate number shall 

appear on each daily plan of activity. All civil aircraft and pilot(s) participating in 

the activity shall be available for FAA inspection before the scheduled event.
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Each pilot-in-command conducting operations authorized under this 

certificate understands the conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes a

waiver of FAR91.119 (b) and (c). (see attached document under “Appendix B”

page 15) (insert applicable regulations (e.g., §§ 91.119(b) and (c), 91.303(a) 

through (e), and 91.515)).

Aircraft may not be flown along a path that would require excessive maneuvering 

to avoid nonparticipating persons on the surface in the event of an emergency

UAS Rotorcraft takeoff and landing areas will be protected in a manner that will 

prevent unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff and landing area. The 

helipads must be located so the aircraft will not pass over nonparticipating 

personnel during takeoff and landing.

VAG will assure the UAS will operate within line of sight at all times and restrict 

flights to the “sterile area” on the set.

For motion picture filming, the PIC will have a spotter or visual observer as a 

member of the crew.

Night operations are prohibited.

In the event of an accident considered to be the result of an event deficiency or 

procedure, flight operations will be canceled until the deficiency has been 

corrected and the correction accepted by the FSDO responsible for the 

geographic area in which the activity occurred.

VAG will ensure that the participating persons involved in the operations are 

thoroughly briefed on special procedures, communication, emergency 

procedures, and on the provisions of the authorization and/or waiver before 

beginning the activities. No person may participate in any event unless that 

person has received a briefing on the provisions of the waiver.

2. Company Organization

A.Chief Pilot - Duties and Responsibilities:

• Final word in the formulation of policy and procedures concerning this

 manual.

• Act as liaison between VAG and the FAA on matter concerning this manual.

• Assure that each approved pilot is issued a copy of this manual and obtain a

 signed statement from each that they have read and understand its contents.

• Maintain a current copy of this manual at the main base of operations for VAG.
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• Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are distributed and

 processed properly.

• Must approve or disapprove each proposed job or operation performed by VAG

 under the provisions of this manual.

• Assume the responsibilities of pilot in command when acting as such.

• The chief pilot may delegate functions to other personnel but retains responsibility.

B. Pilot in Command

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assure that aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition and all inspections and

 required maintenance have been performed as per appropriate FAR's.

• Acquire permission from the chief pilot before any operation under the

 provisions of this manual.

• Be very knowledgeable of the contents of this manual and abide by the

 procedures, policies and conditions contained herein.

• Coordinate with movie and television personnel to formulate plans, 

 routes, locations, etc. with safety of all persons involved in the primary concern.

• Maintain their copy of this manual in current condition and have it on site at any

 job or operation requiring the waiver.

• The pilot in command may delegate functions to other personnel, but retains

 Responsibly.
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Appendix A.1

List of Approved Pilots

Chief Pilot

Name: William H. Upchurch

Contact Number: (404) 661-8669

Appendix A .2

List of Approved Aircraft

Make and Model UAV Registration Number

1. DJI Inspire 1 rotocraft experimental

2. DJI S1000 rotocraft experimental 
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Appendix A .3

The Visual Arts Group, LLC

Permission Acquisition Form

In signing this form, I am giving the pilots of The Visual Arts Group, LLC. Permission to 

operate their aircraft at less than 500 feet from property, or in some jurisdiction in which 

I am responsible for or affiliated with, for the purpose of film or television production.

Name:

Title:

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission:

Location:

Date of Operation:

Signature __________________________________________________

Date __________________________

VAG Representative Receiving Permission

_______________________________________________________________
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Appendix A. 4

Revision Letter

Rev# Section Page Action Remarks Initials 

______________________________________________________________________

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R •Remove and Replace D •Delete and Destroy N •Insert New Page

Manual Serial# ___________________ Issued To ___________________________

Revised By _________________________________ 

Date _______________________

This form must be returned to the Chief Pilot no later than _____________________________
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Appendix B.1

(see attached form 7711-2
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