Date: UAS Mission Briefing Guide

Briefing Time: 

Aircraft #/Flight Title: 

Crew Positions:

PIC: 

PO:

GC:

Airspace (E) Altitude Time

Weather: (call local AWOS)

Time (ZULU):

Winds -Direction:

-Speed:

-Gusts:

Visibility:

Skies:

Temp/Dew Pt.:

Altimeter:

Density Altitude:

Thunderstorm info:

Forecast:

_________________________________________________

NOTAMS: https://www.notams.jcs.mil/

Previous Gripes on Aircraft/GCS:

A/C

GCS

MAFS Signed (Y/N): Who? 

Aircraft Inspection (Y/N): Who? 

GCS Inspection (Y/N): Who?

Safety Checklist Signed (Y/N): Who?

Mission________________________

Description:

Special Needs/Special Communication: 

Go/No Go Criteria: A/C; Wx

⁪ Frequencies:

Downlink: 

Uplink:

_______________________________________

⁪ ORM/Gotcha’s/Personal Issues:

⁪ Safety Brief-FOD, Ears, No Cell 

phones/Cameras, EP Cables, Eyes on AC, 

Prop, Chatter, Where to Stand

Flight Details (for Flight Database)

Takeoff Time:

Land Time:

Total Time:

Phone Numbers:

Emergency: 911

CEO: xxx-xxx-xxxx

Operations: xxx-xxx-xxxx

Safety: xxx-xxx-xxxx

MD FSDO: (410) 787-0040

DC FSDO: (703) 230-7664

VA FSDO: (804) 222-7494

NJ FSDO: (201) 556-6600
Vulcan Mantis Preflight

GPS Antenna

Extend and lock into place. Check antenna disk for 

security

Props Check for cracks or fraying

Motors Check for security and smooth movement

Arms Check for rotation or movement

Electronic components Check for security

Video transmitter

Check security, verify antenna is securely screwed 

on and pointed vertically down

Transmitter Install antenna

Transmitter

Check all switches up/aft, throttle full done (idle)

Transmitter

Verify power button next to antenna is set to 0.5

Vulcan Mantis Power-up

Vulcan UAV

Place in takeoff spot, verify takeoff area is clear 

overhead

Note: the UAV will return to this spot in an 

emergency, make sure it can land without 

hitting anything

Transmitter Power on, verify "Vulcan Mantis" displayed on 

screen

Note: verify camera controller is also turned 

on at this time

Transmitter

Verify all switches up/aft, throttle full down (idle)

Camera lens cap remove, power on

Battery

Plug in BOTH batteries Note: if using single larger battery connect it 

to the longer lead and secure lead under 

battery using battery's Velcro strap. Leads 

flopping around in the wind may become 

disconnected!

Vulcan Mantis Before Flight

LED indicator Verify working, should be flashing purple/red or 

just purple

Camera

Have camera person rotate 180 degrees down, 

verify green LED.

Camera

Have camera person rotate 90 degrees back up, 

press record button once to bring up menu, then a 

second time to start recording

Camera verify record counter on display is counting UP

LED indicator Verify blinking Purple with no red. GPS mode switch full up

LED indicator Switch Mode to ATTI, verify blinking Orange with 

no Red ATTI mode switch middle

LED indicator Switch Mode to Manual, verify no lights illuminated MAN mode switch full down

LED indicator Switch back to ATTI, re-verify blinking Orange with 

no Red ATTI mode switch middle
Vulcan Mantis Takeoff

Crew Verify camera person is ready for takeoff

Area Visually clear

Motor start

Push sticks in lower opposite corners, after motors 

start smoothly apply power to 1/4 throttle

Pre-liftoff Wait for white LED to change back to Orange, verify 

smooth sounding motors

Liftoff Slowly and steadily apply power until lift off

Post liftoff

Climb to approx. 30 feet, hover, raise landing gear. 

Verify all looks good, continue smooth climb out 

Note: don't just feel for the landing gear 

switch, look down and verify you have to 

correct one before moving it.

Vulcan Mantis Landing

Descent

Slowly descend to approx. 60ft, hover and lower 

landing gear.

Note: don't just feel for the landing gear 

switch, look down and verify you have to 

correct one before moving it.

Touchdown Touch down at the slowest rate possible with no 

side movement

Vulcan Mantis Postflight

Camera

Have camera person rotate camera 90 degrees 

down, press record button. Verify recording stops

Battery Disconnect batteries

Camera Turn off

Transmitter Turn off

Motors

Feel motors for temperature differences, if one or 

more motors are hotter than the others note which 

one it is. DO NOT FLY AGAIN

Electronic Speed Controllers

Feel ESCs for temperature differences, if one or 

more ESCs are hotter than the others note which 

one it is. DO NOT FLY AGAIN

GPS antenna Lower and lock into place

Equipment Return to case or change batteries and start 

preflight over again
Ground Station Setup

Antenna tripod setup Verify battery is installed

Video receiver

Place on tripod, verify antenna 

is securely screwed on and 

vertical

Case Battery (orange) Plug into battery red lead

Goggle video transmitter

Place on Velcro on front of 

case, extend antenna vertically, 

plug battery lead into 3s port

Goggles

Remove from case, screw on 

antenna

Monitor 

Turn on, verify mode is on AV2

Video splitter

Verify on AV2, press "Mute" 

button to silence beeps.

Video receiver

Plug into battery red lead, 

extend tripod to highest level. warning: in windy conditions 

weigh tripod down or secure 

to ground

DVR recorder

Plug Red Pushbutton switch 

into AV OUT port on top of DVR

Camera controller

Verify all switches aft, throttle 

(left stick) full down

Camera controller Turn on, verify "Vulcan Raven 

Cam" reading on screen
Ground Station Operation

Vulcan UAV powered on

Verify clear picture on monitor

Camera

Center camera after auto 

calibration is complete

Camera

Rotate camera down 90 

degrees, pilot checks for green 

LED

Camera Start recording via tx switch

Lights Turn on light if applicable via tx 

switch

DVR

Press and hold big red button 

for 2 sec then let go. Verify 

screen turns on, red REC is 

displayed

Goggles

Plug in battery, place on head

Post Flight

Camera Stop recording via tx switch

Goggles

Remove from head, disconnect 

battery and unscrew antenna, 

place back in box

Transmitter Turn off

DVR

Press and hold big red button 

for 2 sec then let go. Verify 

screen turns off

Battery

Disconnect battery from red 

connector and goggle receiver 

from 3s port

Goggle receiver remove from front of case, 

place back in case

Video receiver

Lower tripod, disconnect 

battery, place receiver back in 

case, top left slot.

Note: be careful not to 

damage blue cloverleaf 

antenna

Case

Tuck all cables away nicely, 

place goggle box on top. Lay 

fancy blue cover over top, close 

and lock case
Troubleshooting

Poor video quality in goggles

Check antenna position on 

goggles and goggle video 

transmitter. Both should be 

vertical.

Poor video quality in goggles

Check no obstructions between 

goggle antenna and goggle 

video transmitter antenna

No picture on goggles

Verify battery is plugged in on 

goggles and on goggle video 

transmitter

No picture on monitor

verify battery is plugged in. 

Verify Mode is AV2

Video picture quality poor 

Verify clear Line of Site to UAV 

video transmitter

Note: video quality will be 

poor when UAV is directly 

overhead video receiver due 

to antenna radiation pattern

No video, just fuzzy Verify video splitter is set to 

AV2

No video, just fuzzy

Press red button on top of 

video receiver until video is 

displayed on monitor

Note: there are 8 channels on 

the video receiver. Pressing 

red button steps through 

each channel. If you go past 8 

button clicks and still no 

video, that is not the problem

No video

Verify camera is on and green 

light is illuminated underneath 

camera

Note: if red light underneath 

camera is illuminated power 

camera down and back on. If 

that doesn't work power 

down entire UAV then power 

back up.