Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual 

LW UAS LLC 

Table of Contents 

1. Introduction 

A. Purpose 

B. Pilot/Operator Organization 

C. Persons Authorized 

D. Area of Operations 

E. Plan of Activities 

F. Permission to Operate 

G. Security 

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

I. Certification/Airworthiness 

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 

K. Communications 

L. Accident Notification 

M. Recall/Stop Procedures 

N. Special Provisions 

2. Company Organization 

A. Chief Pilot 

B. Pilot in Command 

Appendix A 

List of Approved Pilots 

Appendix B 

List of Approved Aircraft 

Appendix C 

Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 

Appendix D 

Revision Letter (sample) 
1. Introduction 

A. Purpose 

This manual has been developed by "LW UAS LLC", hereafter referred to as "LWU", in 

conjunction with an application for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization of the provisions of 

FAR 91.119 (b) and (c) for the purposes of filming. LWU 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 

Lane Wooder - Owner/Operator 

LW UAS LLC 

207 Vine Street 

Morley, IA 52312 

770.331.5918 

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 ASI’s 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 

LWU's approved area of operations will be the United States of America and its territories. 

E. Plan of Activities 

Prior to any scheduled filming, LWU 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. 

(5) Name and contact information 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/maximum altitudes 

essential to accomplish the operations. 

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 LWU 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 C and may be used when obtaining written permission. LWU 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, LWU 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 

• Radio Communications 

• 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 sUAS aircraft operated by LWU and used in operations requiring a waiver of FAR 91.119 

(b) and (c) for the purpose of filming, will not be required to hold airworthiness certificates per 

our petition for exemption from 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H (issuance of Airworthiness 

Certificates required by 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)). All sUAS aircraft will have their 

make/model/serial information registered with the FAA, and when the FAA issues registration 

numbers for the sUAS aircraft they will be displayed as large as practically possible to be viewed 

from both above and below. 

Each sUAS aircraft will have a flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance and 

inspections and the dates or times 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. sUAS Pilot will be Pilot in Command (PIC). The PIC will be a FAA licensed airman with 

at least a Sport Pilot Certificate (current on flight review requirements), or any other 

classification the FAA recognizes as meeting it’s pilot requirements. 

2. The PIC will have a minimum of 20 hours of training time with the specific sUAS 

equipment LWU operates. In addition, the PIC will have a minimum of 40 hours of 

additional experience flying sUAS equipment of the same class as what LWU operates. 

3. The experience of the pilot will be certified by LWU through background checks and, if 

necessary, testing. 

4. The PIC must hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s 

license. 

5. Maintains up-to-date flight logs, and provides LWU with copies of all logs that pertain to 

operation for LWU. 

6. At least 21 years old. 

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. 

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 the LWU 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 LWU motion picture and television operations manual (see Appendixes A and B) or 

associated plan of activities. Each pilot’s name shall appear on each daily plan of activity. All 

sUAS 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). Takeoff and 

landing areas for sUAS equipment will be protected in a manner that will prevent unauthorized 

persons from entering the takeoff and landing area. LWU 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. 

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 LWU 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 LWU. 

• 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 LWU 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 the requirements of LWU and any 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. 

Appendix A 

List of Approved Pilots 

Chief Pilot 

Name : Lane Wooder 

Operator/Owner LWU 

Contact Number: 770.331.5918 

Appendix B 

List of Approved Aircraft 

Make and Model Registration Number 

1. FreeFly ALTA Model# 950-00030 TBD by FAA 

Appendix C 

Permission Acquisition Form 

In signing this form, I am giving the pilots of LW UAS 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 __________________________ 

LW UAS LLC Representative Receiving Permission: 

_______________________________________________________________ 

Appendix D 

Revision Letter 
Rev#: 

Section: 

Action: 

Remarks:______________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

______________________________________________________________________ 

Remove and Replace Delete and Destroy Insert New Page 

Manual Version# ___________________ Issued To ___________________________ 

Revised By _________________________________ 

LW UAS LLC approval by: _________________________________ 

Signature: _________________________________ 

Date _______________________ 

This form must be returned to the Chief Pilot no later than two days after signature date.