Motion Picture and Television Flight 

Operation Manual 

 

Keith Hewes 1545 NW 8th St MIAMI FL 33125 (786)537-2329

Table of Contents 

1. Introduction 

1. Purpose 

2. Pilot/Operator Organization 

3. Persons Authorized 

4. Area of Operations 

5. Plan of Activities 

6. Permission to Operate 

7. Security 

8. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

9. Certification/Airworthiness 

10. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 

11. Communications 

12. Accident Notification 

13. Recall/Stop Procedures 

14. Aerobatic Competency 

15. Aerobatic Competency 

2. Company Organization 

1. Chief Pilot 

2. 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 Keith Hewes, hereafter referred to as 

“MPTFOM”, 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. 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 in Charge (PIC)

Keith Hewes – Owner/Operator 

1545 NW 8th St 

MIAMI FL 33125 

(786)537-2329

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 

Approved area of operations will be the United States of America and its 

territories. 

E. Plan of Activities 

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, I, Keith Hewes 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. (1) Dates and times for all flights. 

2. (2) Name and phone number of person responsible for the filming 

production event. 

3. (3) Name and phone number of person responsible for aircraft. 

4. (4) Make, model, and serial or N-number of aircraft to be used and type of 

airworthiness certificate, including category. 
5. (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. (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. (7) Signature of waiver holder or representative. 

8. (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 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. 

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 

When obtaining such permission I 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. I 

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

• 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 unmanned aircraft 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 

unmanned aircraft will have their make/model/serial information registered with 

the FAA, and when the FAA issues registration numbers for the unmanned 

aircraft they will be displayed as large as practically possible to be viewed from 

both above and below. 

Each unmanned 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) A minimum of 40 hours of flight time with the specific unmanned equipment 

we operate. 

(2) The experience of the pilot will be certified by Keith Hewes through 

background checks and, if necessary, testing. 

(3) Have passed the FAA Airman Knowledge Test for Private Pilots (Test Code: 

PAR or PRH). 

(4) Have at least a Class 2 medical certificate. 

(5) Maintains up-to-date flight logs, and provides Keith Hewes with copies of all 

logs that pertain to operation. 

(6) At least 21 years old. 

(7) In the event the operation to be conducted contains elements of an externalload 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. (a) Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a survey of the 

Flight area. 

2. (b) Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the external load. 

3. (c) Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating 

procedures and the aircraft flight manual. 

4. (d) Proper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel. 

5. (e) Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a rotorcraft-load 

combination flight manual and limitations, if appropriate. 

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 apprised 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 this 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 by Keith Hewes “PIC”. Each pilot’s name and certificate number 

shall appear on each daily plan of activity. All unmanned 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). Takeoff and landing areas for unmanned equipment will be 

protected in a manner that will prevent unauthorized persons from entering the 

takeoff and landing area. AAC 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. 

• 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. 

• Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are distributed and 

processed properly. 

• Must approve or disapprove each proposed job or operation performed 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. 

Appendix A

List of Approved Pilots 

Chief Pilot 

Keith Hewes

Operator 

(786)537-2329

Appendix B 

List of Aircraft

Make and Model Registration Number 

1. 3D Robotics SOLO TBD by FAA

2. DJI Inspire 1 TBD by FAA

3. DJI Phantom 3 TBD by FAA

Appendix C

Permission Acquisition Form 

Permission Acquisition Form 

In signing this form, Keith Hewes is giving permission to operate unmanned

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 __________________________ 

Keith Hewes Representative Receiving Permission: 

_______________________________________________________________ 

Representative 

_______________________________________________________________ 
Appendix D 

Revision Letter 

Rev# 

Section 

Action 

Remarks 

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________ 

R 

 

Manual Serial# ___________________ Issued To _______________________

Revised By _________________________ Date _______________________

Signature _______________________________________________________ 

 

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