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Aerial Media Productions

Motion Picture and Television

Flight Operation and Procedures Manual

Aerial Media Productions

Matthew Arch & Anthony McCurdy – Principals

75 Holly Glen Lane, Cape May Court House NJ 08210

(609) 332-1423

sales@aerialmedianj.com
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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

A. Purpose 3

B. Pilot/Operator Organization 3

C. Persons Authorized 3

D. Area of Operations 3

E. Plan of Activities 3

F. Permission to Operate 4

G. Security 4

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 4

I. Certification/Airworthiness 5

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 5

K. Communications 5

L. Accident Notification 6

M. Recall/Stop Procedures 6

N. Special Provisions 6

2. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot 7

B. Pilot in Command 7

Appendix A

1 List of Approved Pilots 8

2 List of Approved Aircraft 9

3 Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 10
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1. Introduction

A. Purpose

This manual has been developed by Aerial Media Productions, hereinafter “AMP”, in 

conjunction with an application for a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization, specifically the 

requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations §91.119 for the purposes of filming. AMP’s pilots 

and other company personnel 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

Pilots: Matthew Arch and Anthony McCurdy

Aerial Media Productions

75 Holly Glen Lane

Cape May Court House NJ 08210

Anthony McCurdy, Managing Partner

(609) 332-1423

sales@aerialmedianj.com

C. Persons Authorized

FAR 91.119 (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.

D. Area of Operations

AMP’s approved area of operations will be the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, and US 

territories.

E. Plan of Activities

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

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

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.

(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.
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The three (3) day notification requirement may be waived, however, the operator should 

contact the FSDO 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

The AMP 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. AMP 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 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

• Radio Communications

• Takeoff procedures

• Aviation activities to be conducted during the filming production event

• Approach and landing procedures
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• Recall procedures

• Emergency procedures

• Risks to participating personnel

• How to control nonparticipating persons

I. Certification/Airworthiness

All AMP aircraft used in operations requiring a waiver of FAR 91 .119 (b) and (c) for the purpose 

of filming must be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, 

and have identification (N-Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. 

Markings must be as large as practicable.

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements

The pilot/operator shall establish and specify the minimum pilot requirements. Minimum 

requirements shall meet or exceed the following:

(1) PIC must have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 61.51 (b), a

minimum of 200 flight cycles and 25 hours of total time as a UAS rotorcraft pilot and at least

ten hours logged as a UAS pilot with a similar UAS type (single blade or multirotor).

(2) Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of motion picture filming (or similar

operations), the PIC must have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 CFR §

61.51 (b), a minimum of five hours as UAS pilot operating the make and model of UAS to be

utilized for operations under the exemption and three take-offs and three landings in the

preceding 90 days.

(3) Prior to any flight operations authorized by this grant of exemption, the PIC and visual

observer (VO) must have successfully completed a qualification process, as outlined in the

operator’s manual. As this is a requirement stipulated by the operator, the test must be

developed and implemented by a qualified person designated at the sole discretion of the

operator. A record of completion of this qualification process must be documented and made

available to the Administrator upon request.

(4) Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of motion picture filming (or similar

operations), a flight demonstration, administered by an operator-approved and qualified pilot 

must be successfully completed and documented. This documentation must be available for 

review upon request by the Administrator. Because the knowledge and airmanship test

qualifications have been developed by the operator, and there are no established practical test 

standards that support a jurisdictional FAA FSDO evaluation and approval of company

designated examiners, the petitioner will conduct these tests in accordance with the operator’s 

manual.

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.
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L. Accident Notification

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

requirements of FAR 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. Special Provisions

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in AMP’s 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 AMP motion picture and television operations manual (“Appendix A” page 11) or 

associated plan of activities. Each pilot’s name and UAS to be used shall appear on each daily 

plan of activity. All UAS’s and pilot(s) participating in the activity shall be available for FAA 

inspection before the scheduled event.

Each pilot-in-command conducting operations authorized under this certificate understands the 

conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes a waiver of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c).

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

persons from entering the takeoff and landing area.

AMP 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.
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2. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot/PIC

Duties and Responsibilities:

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

• Act as liaison between AMP 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 AMP.

• 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 AMP 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 responsibility.
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Appendix A .1

List of Approved Pilots

Chief Pilot/PIC

Name: 

Contact Number:

Pilots

Name:

Contact Number:

Name:

Contact Number:

Name:

Contact Number:
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Appendix A .2

List of Approved Aircraft

Make and Model Registration Number

UAS 1:

DJI Model Inspire 1 - awaiting Registration Number from FAA

Inspire 1 Operation manual: http://download.djiinnovations.com/downloads/inspire_1/en/Inspire_1_User_Manual_v1.8_en.pdf

UAS 2:

DJI Phantom 3 Professional - awaiting Registration Number from FAA

Phantom 3 Professional Operation manual: http://download.djiinnovations.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.6_en.

pdf
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Appendix A .3

Aerial Media Productions (AMP) Permission Acquisition Form

In signing this form, I am giving the pilots of Aerial Media Productions (AMP) 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: __________________________