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Unmanned Aircraft System

Night Operations Training 

Manual

HONESTDRONES LLC

April 21, 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PREFACE...................................................................................................................... 1

4. DEFINITIONS .............................................................................................................. 2

6. SAFETY......................................................................................................................... 2

6.1 MEDICAL FACTORS ...................................................................................................... 2

6.2 WEATHER AND LOCATION ......................................................................2

7. TRAINING.................................................................................................................... 3

7.1 OBJECTIVE................................................................................................................... 3

7.2 INSTRUCTORS.............................................................................................................. 3

7.3 TRAINING PLANS ......................................................................................................... 3

7.4 INITIAL TRAINING........................................................................................................ 3

7.5 RECURRENT TRAINING ................................................................................................ 3

7.6 MISCELLANEOUS ......................................................................................................... 4
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1. Preface

The following procedures are intended to promote safe, efficient and lawful operation of 

the HONESTDRONES LLC unmanned aerial system (UAS). Safety, above all else, is the 

primary concern in each and every operation, regardless of the nature of the mission.

4. Definitions

1. Night time shall be the known as the defined in FAR 61.57(b) .

2. PIC Shall be known as defined in FAR 91.3

6. Safety

6.1 Medical Factors

1. The PIC of a night operation shall hold a current aviation medical without a waiver 

for color vision.

2. The PIC shall abide by all requirements to self-evaluate and refrain from exercising 

operations requiring a medical should a temporary medical issue cause reasonable 

assumption that would invalidate the issued aviation medical.

6.2 Location and conditions

1. Special consideration should be given that the PIC and Visual Observer scout area 

surrounding the location for the night flight during visual daylight hours. If it is 

believed that the safety of the night operation cannot be maintained at the equivalent 

daylight, the flight should be canceled until risks can be mitigated.

2. Weather during night operations can be critical since clouds and rapid changing 

conditions cannot be identified as quickly. Aviation and public weather forecasts 

and current conditions should be checked before any night flight.

7. Training

7.1 Objective

1. The key to continued safe NIGHT operations is by maintaining a professional level 

of competency. The first step in this process is establishing minimum qualifications 

for selecting members, and the second step involves training those personnel.
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7.2 Instructors

1. If any members are FAA certified flight instructors, they are given instructor duties. 

Such duties can include developing training courses, provide training, and student 

evaluation and documentation.

2. Duties of instructing new members shall fall upon those who have the most flight 

time and knowledge of UAS operations. Instructors are designated by those within 

the unit and approved by the UAS Coordinator.

7.3 Training Plans

1. All members have a training plan on file that outlines training objectives for the

upcoming year. This training plan will be held in conjunction with the member's 

normal training file per company policy.

2. The approved training plan is developed by the UAS coordinator.

3. All deployments or exercises are documented and count toward a member's 

training.

4. It is the member's responsibility to verify their training file contains all pertinent 

information.

7.4 Initial Training

1. NIGHT Observers and Operators must have completed sufficient training to 

communicate to the pilot any instructions required to remain clear of conflicting

traffic. This training, at a minimum, shall include knowledge of the rules and 

responsibilities described in 14 CFR 91.111, Operating Near Other Aircraft; 14 

CFR 91.113, Right-of-Way Rules: Except Water Operations; and 14 CFR 91.155, 

Basic VFR Weather Minimums; knowledge of air traffic and radio 

communications, including the use of approved ATC/pilot phraseology; and 

knowledge of appropriate sections of the Aeronautical Information Manual.

2. In conjunction with fulfilling all training requirements for operator/observer duties, 

the new member must also become familiar with UAS operations, the aircraft and 

its equipment.

3. Any new member who fails to successfully complete the initial training may be 

denied as a member of the UAS flight crew.

4. Before a member can fly as an operator, they must complete at least 5 hour of flight 

training with the UAS instructors (demonstrate sufficient knowledge to operate 

safety and approved by experienced UAV pilots to show proficiency of night flight 

training exercises and the airframe. This must be accomplished to show their ability 

and knowledge of the UAS.

7.5 Recurrent Training

1. All members within the unit shall maintain night proficiency in their 

operator/observer abilities. Members who do not have any documented night 

training or night flight time within a span of 90 days will have to show proficiency 
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before being an operator/observer during a deployment or exercise. A minimum of 

3 night takeoffs and landing to a full stop and 1 hour of night flying is required to 

satisfy 90 day proficiency. 

2. Recurrent training is not limited to actual operating/observer skills but includes 

knowledge of all pertinent UAS/aviation matters.

3. Failure to prove proficiency can result in removal from night UAS responsibilities.

7.6 Miscellaneous

1. Training shall only be conducted at approved locations and follow the provisions 

within the approved FAA regulations.