Motion Picture and Television

Operation Manual

Hire A Professional Drone, LLC 

13014 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Suite #609 Tampa, Fl. 33618

Phone 813-477-1477 / 954-614-3176

Page 1 of 14
Table of Contents

1. Introduction

A. Purpose 4

B. Pilot/Operator Organization 4

C. Persons Authorized 4

D. Area of Operations 4

E. Plan of Activities 5

F. Permission to Operate 5

G. Security 6

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 6

I. Certification/Airworthiness 7

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 7

K. Communications 7

L. Accident Notification 8

M. Recall/Stop Procedures 8

N. Special Provisions 8

2. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot 9

B. Pilot in Command 9

Appendix A

1 List of Approved Pilots 10

2 List of Approved Aircraft 11

3 Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 12

4 Revision Letter (sample) 13

Appendix B

1 Form 7711-2 (certification of waiver) 14

Page 2 of 14
Revision Control Page

Revision#

Date

Initials

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Page 3 of 14
1. Introduction

A. Purpose

This manual has been developed by "Hire A Professional Drone LLC", in conjunction 

with an application for a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization of the provisions of FAR 

91.119 (b) and (c) for the purposes of filming. Hire A Professional Drone pilots and other 

company personnel when applicable 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

Harold Lee Seales - Pilot

Hire A Professional Drone, LLC

13014 N Dale Mabry Hwy Suite 609 Tampa, Florida 33618

Harold Lee Seales - CEO

Phone 813-477-1477 / 954-614-3176

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 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. For example, an

equivalent level of safety may be determined by an Aviation Safety Inspectors’

(ASI) evaluation of the filming production area to note terrain features,

obstructions, buildings, etc. Such barriers may protect nonparticipating persons

(observers, the public, news media, etc.) from debris in the event of an accident.

D. Area of Operations

Hire A Professional Drone's approved area of operations will be the continental United 

States, Alaska and Hawaii

Page 4 of 14
E. Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, Hire A Professional Drone 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, 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. 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.

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:

Page 5 of 14
(1) Property owners

(2) Law enforcement officials

(3) Fire department officials

(4) Local, State and Federal government

(5) Air traffic control

The Hire A Professional Drone 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. Hire A Professional Drone 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 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.

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

• Aircraft parking and starting

• Taxi procedures

• Radio Communications

Page 6 of 15
• Takeoff procedures

• Aviation activities to be conducted during the filming production event

• Approach and landing procedures

• Recall procedures

• Emergency procedures

• Risks to participating personnel

• How to control nonparticipating persons

I. Certification/Airworthiness

All Hire A Professional Drone aircraft used in operations requiring a waiver of FAR 

91.119 (b) and (c)for the purpose of filming will be properly registered and exempted 

from airworthiness requirements according to the operators 333 exemption. The

aircraft will be inspected according to OEM guidelines. Each aircraft will have a

flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance and inspections and the

dates / time they must be performed. A section for discrepancies is also found in

the flight log. The pilot in command will assure the aircraft to be flown is in

airworthy condition and all required inspections and maintenance has been

completed before each flight.

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) A current U.S. airmen certificate with any category, class, or type rating.

(2) At least 50 flights logged as PIC and at least 20 flights logged as the

PIC in the aircraft type.

(3) A minimum of 50 flights in the category: airplane, helicopter, or multirotor;

of aircraft to be used.

(4) A minimum of 5 flights in the make and model aircraft to be used

under the waiver.

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.

Page 7 of 14
L. Accident Notification

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

operator must comply with the notification requirements of NTSB Part 830.

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 the Hire A Professional Drone

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 Hire A Professional Drone 

motion picture and television operations manual (“Appendix A” page 11) or associated 

plan of activities. Each pilot’s name and certificate number shall appear on each daily 

plan of activity. All civil aircraft 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). (See attached document under “Appendix B” page 15)

Rotorcraft takeoff and landing areas will be protected in a manner that will

prevent unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff and landing area.

Hire A Professional Drone 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.

Page 8 of 14
2. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot

Duties and Responsibilities:

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

manual.

• Act as liaison between Hire A Professional Drone 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 Hire A 

Professional Drone.

• 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

Hire A Professional Drone 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.

Page 9 of 14
Appendix A .1

List of Approved Pilots

Chief Pilot

Name : Harold Lee Seales

Certificate Number : 3753516

Grade : Private ASEL Instrument Airplane

Medical Class/Date : First Class/ 5/27/15

Contact Number : 813-477-1477

Pilots

Name :

Certificate Number :

Grade :

Medical Class/Date :

Contact Number :

Name :

Certificate Number :

Grade :

Medical Class/Date :

Contact Number :

Page 10 of 14
Appendix A .2

List of Approved Aircraft

Make and Model Registration Number

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Page 11 of 14
Appendix A .3

Hire A Professional Drone, LLC

Permission Acquisition Form

In signing this form, I am giving the pilots of Hire A Professional Drone, LLC 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

Hire A Professional Drone Representative Receiving Permission

Page 12 of 14
Appendix A .4

Revision Letter

Rev# Section Page Action Remarks Initials

R Remove and Replace D Delete and Destroy N Insert New Page

Manual Serial# 

Issued To

Revised By

Date

This form must be returned to the Chief Pilot no later than _____________________________

Page 13 of 14
Appendix B .1

(see attached form 7711-2)

Page 14 of 14