Airborne Information Services

APPENDIX a 

Training manual
AIRBORNE INFORMATION SERVICES UAS TRAINING MANUAL

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PURPOSE

The purpose of this training manual is to acquaint the UAS pilots, observers, and 

maintenance technicians with their duties and responsibilities. This manual will 

describe the requirements of each position, the necessary training, and checks to 

ensure that all personnel participating in AIS UAS operations are fully qualified and 

proficient at their assigned duties. All completed training will be documented in AIS-003 

Training Record Form.

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

Visual Observer 

Any person designated to act as a Visual Observer must have the following 

qualifications:

 He must have reached his 16 birthday

 He must have eyesight corrected to 20-20

 He must be capable of communicating verbally with the PIC

 He must have received training required under the provisions of the AIS

Operations Manual

Pilot-In-Command

In order to act as Pilot-In-Command of a UAS operating under Exemption _____, each 

person must have the following qualifications:

 He must hold a Private Pilot or higher certificate.

 He must have a current third class or higher medical certificate.

 He must have a current flight review that meets the requirements of FAR 61.56.

 He must meet the flight currency requirements of FAR 61.57, 3 takeoffs and

landings in aircraft type 

 He must have logged the following flight experience:

o 200 flights in multirotor aircraft

o 20 hours of flight time in multirotor aircraft

o 5 hours in aircraft type, including the following procedures:

 Preflight inspection

 Use of checklists

 Routine maintenance procedures

 Daily flight test checks

 Use of retractable landing gear

 Takeoffs, landings, and enroute flight

 Rotation around a point

 Gimbal and camera operation
AIRBORNE INFORMATION SERVICES UAS TRAINING MANUAL

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 Training in emergency procedures, to include:

o Loss of control link procedures

o Emergency landings

o Return to launch procedures

o One motor fail procedures

o Low voltage

Instructor Pilot

In order to act as Instructor Pilot for PIC’s of a UAS operating under Exemption _____, 

each person must have all of the requirements of PIC listed above and in addition: 

 He must have held a Private Pilot Certificate for at least one year

 He must have logged 10 hours in aircraft type 

 He must be qualified to program the UAS in accordance with the UAS User’s 

Manual

 He must be qualified in maintenance and repair of the UAS in accordance with 

the UAS User’s Manual

 He must be qualified to complete maintenance records in accordance with the 

AIS Operations Manual

Maintenance Technician

In order to perform and record maintenance required by Exemption _______, the 

Maintenance Technician must have completed the training required by the AIS 

Operations Manual, to include:

 Programming the UAS in accordance with the UAS User’s Manual

 Maintenance and repair of the UAS in accordance with the UAS User’s Manual

 Completing maintenance records in accordance with the AIS Operations Manual

Personnel may be qualified to act in any combination of these positions as long as they 

meet the qualifications and have completed the training required by this Training 

Manual.
AIRBORNE INFORMATION SERVICES UAS TRAINING MANUAL

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INSTRUCTOR AUTHORIZATIONS

 Only a qualified Instructor Pilot may conduct the training of a PIC or Maintenance 

Technician

 Any qualified PIC or Instructor Pilot may conduct the training required for a VO

TRAINING SYLLABUS

Visual Observer (VO)

 PIC/VO Communication Procedures

 Use of Sectional Aeronautical Charts

 Procedures for Obtaining Landowner Permission

 Applicable Sections of FAR 91

 Airspace Classifications and Restrictions

 Weather Minima

 Recognition of Common Hazards of Low Level Flight

 Powerline Description, Construction, Nomenclature and Common Problems

 Pipeline Components, Markings, and Common Problems

 Accident Reporting Procedures

 Mission Planning

 Requirements and Identification of Suitable Landing Sites

 Applicable Requirements of the AIS Operations Manual

 Terms and Conditions of the Grant of Exemption

 Terms and Conditions of Certificate of Authorization (Waiver)

Pilot In Command (PIC)

 Applicable Requirements of the AIS Operations Manual

 Terms and Conditions of the Grant of Exemption

 Issuance Requirements, Terms, and Conditions of Certificate of Authorization 

(Waiver)

 Documents Required to be in the Possession of the PIC

 Documents and Recordkeeping Requirements

 PIC/VO Communication Procedures

 Use of Sectional Aeronautical Charts

 Procedures for Obtaining Landowner Permission

 Recognition of Common Hazards of Low Level Flight

 Powerline Description, Construction, Nomenclature and Common Problems

 Pipeline Components, Markings, and Common Problems

 Accident Reporting Procedures

 Mission Planning
AIRBORNE INFORMATION SERVICES UAS TRAINING MANUAL

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 Requirements and Identification of Suitable Landing Sites

 Battery Charging Procedures and Cautions

 Camera Operations

 FPV Equipment and Operations

 Aircraft Operation

o Normal Procedures

 Preflight inspection

 Use of checklists

 Routine maintenance procedures

 Daily flight test checks

 Use of retractable landing gear

 Takeoffs, landings, and enroute flight

 Rotation around a point

 Gimbal and camera operation

o Training in emergency procedures, to include:

 Loss of control link procedures

 Emergency landings

 Return to launch procedures

 One motor fail procedures

 Low voltage

Maintenance Technician

 DJI S900 User’s Manual

 A2 Flight Control System

o Assembly and Configuration

o Basic Flight Techniques and Characteristics

o Protection Function Settings

o Advanced Functions

 Futaba 14SG 

o Basic Operation

o Receiver and Servo Operation

o Setup Procedure

o Functions Menu

 Zenmuse H3-3D Gimbal Installation and Operation

 GoPro Hero 3 Installation and Operation

 LightBridge FPV Installation and Operation