Nothing Films, Inc.

16144 Gallatin St. Fountain Valley, CA 92708

FAA Exemption No. 12784

Motion Picture and Television Operations 

Manual (MPTOM)

Table of Contents

A. Purpose 

B. Definitions 

C. Mission Statement 

D. Privacy 

E. Organization 

F. (MPTOM) Operations Manual 

G. Persons Authorized 

H. Plan of Activities 

I. Permission to Operate 
J. Flight Boundaries 

K. Security 

L. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

M. Communications 

N. Accident Notification 

O. Recall/Stop Procedures 

P. Aerobatic Competency 

Q. Special Provisions 

A. Purpose

This (MPTOM) manual has been developed by Nothing 

Films, Inc. to comply with the requirement by the FAA Order 

8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 8, Section 1.

And for the purpose of filming, Nothing Films, Inc. pilot, 

Robert Macey, will comply with the policies, procedures and 

conditions of this (MPTOM) manual, whenever motion 

picture or television flight operations are performed.

Regarding Flight Operations please refer to the Unmanned 

Aircraft System Flight Operation Manual for details.

B. Definitions

MPTOM Motion Picture and Television Operations Manual,
ATC Air Traffic Control, ATM Air Traffic Management, CAR 

Civil Aviation Regulations.

TSI Transport Safety Investigation Act 2013, UA Unmanned 

Aircraft UAS Unmanned Aircraft System(s), UAV Unmanned 

Aerial Vehicle. VLOS Visual Line of Sight COA (Certificate of 

Authorization)

C. Mission Statement

It shall be the mission of Robert Macey, who is trained in the 

use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), to use this Motion 

Picture and Television Operations Manual (MPTOM), for 

Photo and video capturing.

It shall be the intent of Robert Macey, UAS operator to make 

every reasonable effort to not invade a person's reasonable 

expectation of privacy when operating the UAS.

When operating the UAS, Robert Macey will abide by all 

FAA Regulations for flying the UAS.

D. Privacy

All flights will occur over controlled access property with the 

property owner’s prior consent and knowledge. Image 

capture of people will take place, but they will have 

consented prior to being filmed or otherwise have agreed to 

be in the area where filming production will take place.

UAS operator, Robert Macey, (PIC) and an observer will 

ensure and will be held accountable for ensuring that 

operations of the UAS intrude to a minimal extent upon the 
property and people to accomplish this primary goal.

E. Organization

Nothing Films, Inc.

Robert Macey, President

16144 Gallatin St. 

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

F. (MPTOM) Operations Manual

Nothing Films, Inc. procedures contained in this (MPTOM) 

manual are issued by Robert Macey.

This (MPTOM) manual is not intended to be all-inclusive, but 

as a supplement to other guidelines, Federal Aviation 

Administration regulations, aircraft manufacturer’s approved 

flight manual, etc.

(MPTOM) Manual has been written to address Motion 

Pictures and Television UAS operations as they existed 

when it was drafted.

Equipment, personnel, environment (internal and external), 

etc., change over time.

The management of change involves a systematic approach 

to monitoring organizational change and is a critical part of 

the risk management process. Given this, it is essential that 
this (MPTOM) manual be continually updated as necessary, 

the entire manual will be reviewed, at a minimum, annually to 

assure it is up to date.

A copy of the (MPTOM) manual (electronic and/or paper) will 

be issued to every person having UAS responsibilities.

G. Persons Authorized

Robert	Macey,	President and	(PIC)

Nothing	Films,	Inc.

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.

H. Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, 

Nothing Films, Inc. 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 and production of the 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 and production event, including any notation of 

external load endorsements or aerobatic competency, if 

required. 

6. A statement that the waiver holder has obtained

permission from property owners and/or local officials to 

conduct the filming production event. 

7. The list of those who gave permission must be made 

available to the inspector upon request from the waiver 

holder. 

8. Signature of waiver holder or representative. 

9. A description of the flight activity including maps or

diagrams of any area, city, to wn, county, and/or State 

over which filming will be conducted and the minimum 

altitudes essential to accomplish the operations. 

The three (3) day notification equipment 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.
I. Permission to Operate

Before any flight operations is conducted at less than 400 

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

Nothing Films, Inc. obtaining such permission will do so in 

writing whenever practical, however, verbal recorded 

permission is acceptable otherwise.

Nothing Films, Inc. 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.
J. Flight Boundaries

Although there may be requests for filming outside the 

certificate of authorization, Nothing Films, Inc. is committed 

to stay within the COA FAA boundaries so a UAS 

deployment will be declaim.

At no time shall UAS be granted outside the FAA COA.

Information regarding flight boundaries can be found in the 

FAA COA and the use of the VFR Terminal Area Chart.

Maximum altitude shall not be set more than 400' per the 

FAA COA.

K. 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.

L. 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:

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:

1. Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a

survey of the flight area. 

2. Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the

external load. 

3. Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture

operating procedures and the aircraft flight manual. 

4. Proper instructions for flight and ground-crew

personnel. 

5. Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a

rotor-craft load combination flight manual and 

limitations, if appropriate. 
M. 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.

N. Accident Notification

Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the 

NTSB occur, the notification requirements of FAR Part 830 

would comply and Flight Operation Manual will be fallow.

O. 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.

P. Aerobatic Competency

If the filming operations require the issuance of FAA Form 

8710-7, Statement of Aerobatic Competency, refer to 

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

Aerobatic Competency.

Q. Special Provisions

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the 

Nothing Films, Inc. 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 Nothing Films, Inc.

motion picture and television operations manual.

R. Signature

All Nothing Films, Inc. UAS operators must sign this sheet as 

evidence of having read, understood and agreed to apply the 

procedures and data contained in this Motion Picture and 

Television Operations Manual (MPTOM).

If this manual is reissued or revised they must resign, 

acknowledging review of the revision.

Name: ________________________

Signature: _____________________ 

Date: _________________________