Midwest Aerial Vantage 

FI ight 

Operations 

and 

Procedures 

Manual 

August 15` h , 2015 

Version 1 
Introduction 

Midwest Aerial Vantage (M.A.V.) is a business that operates sUAS equipment for the purpose of aerial data 

acquisition. These operations include videography, still photography and other forms of data acquisition for many 

purposes, including but not limited to, enhanced real estate marketing, inspections, precision agriculture, aerial 

surveys and support of local emergency services. M.A.V. uses only licensed operators that meet FAA mandated 

experience and currency requirements. M.A.V. also carries liability insurance to cover accidental damages to 

people and/or property in the very unlikely event that an incident should occur. 

Personnel 

Officers 

Owner and Chief Pilot 

Michael Romanowski 

500 N Dominic Ave. 

Sioux Falls, SD 57107 

605-413-8490 

Essential to Flight Operation 

The minimum personnel required to conduct a flight operation is the Pilot in Command (PIC) and a Visual 

Observer (VO). M.A.V. will maintain a list of qualified/approved PIC's and VO's. 

Pilot in Command (PIC) — The duty to ensure the safety and legality of a flight operation rests entirely with 

the PIC. 

• It is the PIC's responsibility to ensure that the sUAS is operated within the bounds of the 

restrictions listed in the FMRA Section 333 exemption granted to M.A.V. (see Appendix A) The 

PIC must be the sole operator of the sUAS flight controls at all times during flight operations. At 

no time during the flight can PIC duties be transferred to another pilot. 

• The PIC must maintain, unaided verbal communication with the VO at ali times during the flight. 

• The PIC is responsible for the safe transport of the sUAS system being used and ensuring that the 

sUAS is legally and physically ready for flight before the flight commences. 

• Prior to the first flight of any sUAS operated by M.A.V. the PIC must read and understand all 

materials provided by the manufacturer pertaining to safety, maintenance and operation of the 

sUAS. This includes ensuring that aircraft log entries show that all required maintenance, as 

indicated by the recommendations in the manufacturer's maintenance manual, has been 

performed. 

• The PIC must ensure that permission has been obtained from all property owners or authorized 

personnel prior to flying over a property. 

Visual Observer (VO) — The VO's role is to provide an additional set of eye's for the PIC and help the pilot 

look for and avoid other aircraft and people within the vicinity of the sUAS. 

• The VO must maintain the ability to communicate with the PIC verbally for the duration of the 

flight operation. 

• If the VO observes another aircraft or person approaching or in the vicinity of the sUAS it is their 

responsibility to inform the PIC of the situation. 
• If the VO is able to maintain communication with the PIC, while also communicating with the 

pilot of the other aircraft or person they should alert the other pilot/person of the ongoing 

operation and ask them to remain at a safe distance. 

Optional 

Camera/Sensor Operator — At times M.A.V. may use a camera or sensor operator to improve efficiency of 

the data acquisition process and for their artistic skills and ideas in getting creative images for customers 

that require such imagery. At no to time shall the camera/sensor operator be given control of the sUAS or 

interfere with its safe operation. 

Qualifications 

PIC Qualifications 

• Must be an FAA licensed pilot holding at least a Sport Pilot's license. 

• Must have a 3" class medical or a state issued driver's license 

• Must be current in the category and class of aircraft listed in their pilot's certificate 

including biennial flight review. 

• Must meet all requirements as indicated in the Section 333 exemption granted to 

M.A.V. 

• In addition to the FAA's requirements any PIC operating equipment for M.A.V. must also 

meet the following qualifications: 

o Have a minimum of 20 hrs of documented flight time with the same or similar 

equipment to that operated by M.A.V. 

o Must read and prove by answering questions from the chief pilot that they 

understand and have retained the content of this operations manual as well as 

the manuals for all sUAS systems they will operate for M.A.V. 

o Be able to demonstrate to M.A.V. Chief Pilot that they possess the skills and 

ability to operate the sUAS safely. 

o Must be able to demonstrate these skills while operating the sUAS that they 

will pilot for M.A.V. during a training/demonstration flight. 

VO Qualifications 

• Must be at least 18 years old 

• Must be able to read and speak English so that they can read this manual and 

communicate effectively with the PIC. 

• Must be able to understand the technical direction of the PIC and follow commands. 

Site Safety 

At all times the safety of people and property must be the highest priority. Never push to get a shot or collect data 

when the safety of any person or property is in question. It is always better to miss the shot and try again later or 

think of a different approach than it is to jeopardize safety. 

Procedures 

AII M.A.V. flight operations will be conducted only over property with permission from the owner or 

controlling entity prior to flight. It is the responsibility of the PIC to ensure that if any condition arises on 

or over the site that mayjeopardize the safety of any person or property that the flight be terminated as 

soon as it can be safely. 

Prior to any flight, permission must be obtained from the subject properties owner/controller as 

well as from the owner/controller of any surrounding property that is located within the 
minimum safe distance from the sUAS operations as described in the Section 333 exemption 

restrictions and applicable FARs. 

• Once flight operations begin, if any person, ground vehicle or aircraft enters the operations area 

that is not a participant in the operation, the sUAS must be landed as soon as it can be safely. 

• The sUAS must not be operated at a site where the ability to operate safely is in doubt. 

Equipment 

Maintenance 

Maintenance will be performed by qualified personnel per the manufacturers' recommendations. For 

simple preventative maintenance items such as updating firmware or changing propellers any one 

qualified as a PIC will be considered qualified to perform such maintenance. For any major maintenance 

or repair items such as repairing or replacing electronic parts, motors or other items essential for flight, 

the sUAS will be sent to a manufacturer authorized repair facility. 

Documentation 

AII maintenance performed on any sUAS owned and operated by M.A.V. will be logged in an aircraft 

maintenance log. Each sUAS will have a dedicated maintenance log. 

Transport 

AII M.A.V. owned equipment will be transported in the case provided by M.A.V. AII sUAS will be powered 

down with batteries removed before transport. 

Flight Operations 

Pre-flight 

• The PIC will ensure that a NOTAM has been filed at least 24 hours prior to the time of the flight 

operation. 

• The PIC will log the date, time, location, PIC name and VO name for the flight operation as well as 

any other data that may be required for reporting to the FAA as listed in the Section 333 

exemption restrictions. 

• The PIC must confirm that the current weather conditions are within the sUAS manufacturers' 

recommended limits. 

• The PIC will perform a pre-flight inspection prior to the first flight after removing the sUAS from 

its transport container. 

• The pre-flight inspection will be done by following the manufacturer's recommended 

procedures. 

• The PIC will follow the manufacturer's recommended procedure to get the aircraft ready for 

flight. 

• AII manufacturers' recommended calibrations will be done at each new location or as otherwise 

described in the manufacturers' operation/owner's manual. 

• Prior to takeoff the PIC will ensure that no non-participant people are in the operation area. The 

operation area includes any part of a subject property or surrounding property that falls within 

the minimum safe distance of the sUAS at takeoff and while operating. The minimum safe 

distance is described in Appendix A in the list of restrictions contained in the Section 333 

exemption granted to M.A.V. 

• The PIC will ensure that the batteries of the sUAS have sufficient power to perform the desired 

flight and safely return to the home position and land with 25% power remaining. 

• The PIC shall ensure that the sUAS GPS is tracking sufficient satellites to be ready for GPS guided 

flight if that is the mode in which it is being used. 
• If equipped with a Return to Home function, the PIC will ensure that the home position has been 

recorded appropriately before flight. The PIC will also ensure that the Return to Home altitude 

has been set adequately to clear all obstacles on the return path home from any point in the 

operations area. 

• The PIC shall ensure that the sUAS is ready for flight according to all indicators provided by the 

ground station software and aircraft lights if so equipped. 

During flight 

• Immediately after takeoff and reaching a safe height for doing so, the PIC must test the aircraft 

controllability about all axis. 

• The sUAS must be operated within the visual line of site (VLOS) of the PIC and VO at all times. 

• The flight operation must be terminated when the battery level of the sUAS reaches 25% or after 

30 minutes of flight, whichever occurs first. 

• The sUAS shall not be operated in a reckless manner, such as at high speed while heading toward 

any person or property or closer than necessary to any subject structure. 

• The PIC shall concentrate on maintaining situational awareness and controlling the aircraft first 

and getting the shot or data second. 

• At no time shall the PIC operate the sUAS in a manner that is contrary to FAA regulations except 

with respect to the exemptions granted by the Section 333 exemption granted to M.A.V. 

Post-flight (debrief) 

After each flight the PIC and VO should talk about the flight and communicate anything of interest. For 

instance if either observed a potentially unsafe situation that could have developed. This would also be a 

good time to discuss how to better improve efficiency when applicable or how to get a better, more 

aesthetically pleasing shot on the next flight, etc. This would also be a good time to record any "squawks" 

or negative comments about the performance of the system for further investigation and improvement 

later. AII squawks should be reported to the Chief Pilot. 

Every flight operation should be thought of as a learning experience and a time to share and transfer 

knowledge amongst M.A.V. personnel. 

Packing up 

After concluding flight operations at a site, the PIC must pack up the sUAS equipment following 

the manufacturer's recommended procedures for transport and storage. 

The PIC and VO should police the area to make sure that nothing is left there that wasn't there 

when they arrived. This includes all equipment and documents pertaining to the sUAS as well as 

any litter that may have been produced. Please leave the area as clean as or cleaner than when 

you arrived. 

Emergency Procedures 

UAS Contact Causing Injury to Person 

If a sUAS comes into contact with a person and the sUAS is still airborne afterwards, immediately 

terminate the flight in a way that will not cause any more harm to that person or any other person or 

property. 

If possible while the PIC is safely landing the sUAS alone, the VO should immediately assess the 

need for medical attention. 
• Immediately after getting the sUAS on the ground the PIC should also make an assessment as to 

the need for medical attention for the injured person. 

• If the injured person asks for emergency medical attention, emergency medical personnel should 

be contacted immediately by dialing 911. 

• AII M.A.V. crews must carry a first aid kit with supplies to handle lacerations and minor burns. 

• If the injured person has lacerations, don the appropriate protective gear from the first aid kit 

and dress the wounds. Insist that the injured person get medical attention right away and offer 

to transport them to the nearest medical facility. If lacerations are severe call emergency 

medical services by dialing 911 regardless of whether the injured asks for medical attention or 

not. 

• If the injured person has sustained a blunt impact injury, especially to the head, but they are still 

conscious, insist that they get medical attention and/or advice. Offer to drive them to the 

nearest medical facility. If they are unconscious, contact emergency medical services by dialing 

911 immediately. 

• Once the injured persons medical needs have been addressed, contact the M.A.V. Chief pilot and 

inform him of the situation. 

• Provide the injured person M.A.V.'s insurance contact information. 

UAS Contact Causing Damage to Property 

If a sUAS comes into contact with and damages anything other than a person, do the following: 

• Contact the owner of the property or an agent of the controlling entity and inform them of the 

damage. Assure the owner/agent that the property will be repaired or replaced as necessary to 

return it to its prior condition or better. 

• Provide the owner or agent with M.A.V.'s insurance company contact information. 

• Contact the M.A.V. Chief pilot and inform him of the situation. 

Appendix A 

FMRA Section 333 Exemption granted to Midwest Aerial Vantage 

Appendix B 

Acronyms 

sUAS — Small Unmanned Aircraft System 

VLOS — Visual Line of Site 

FAA — Federal Aviation Administration 

PIC — Pilot in Command 

VO — Visual Observer 

M.A.V. — Midwest Aerial Vantage 

FMRA — FAA Modernization and Reform Act