Ron Greenberg Video and Photo (Docket FAA-2015-2942)

OPERATIONS MANUAL FOR MOTION PICTURE AND 

TELEVISION OPERATIONS MANUAL

1. All Aerial Coordinators and/or Pilots in Command should possess a current 

FAA approved Motion Picture and Television Operations Manual and 

accompanying Waiver. The Waiver is specific to those Federal Aviation 

Regulations specified in the approved manual. Additionally, a copy of the FAA 

required Plan of Activity and approved Motion Picture and Television Operations 

Manual will be available to the Production Company prior to all aerial operations.

2. The Pilot in Command is at all times the final authority over his/her drone and

should be in command of his/her flight operations and/or related activities.

The Pilot in Command and/or Aerial Coordinator should have the authority to 

abort any flight operation in the interest of safety. Abort signals should be 

specified ahead of time.

3. Communications: The Aerial Coordinator and/or the Pilot in Command will 

coordinate with the designated production representative and implement a plan 

for communications between the participants in the air and on the ground.

The plan will incorporate the following:

a. Designated ground contact personnel;

b. Air to ground radios, VHF or FM;

c. Assignment of discreet frequencies (channels);

d. Visual signals (flags, specified hand signals, light or flare) should be used 

to halt filming in the event of lost communications or inability to utilize 

radios;

e. Abort signals, audible and visual to halt filming in the event of unforeseen 

circumstances or safety hazards.

4. At the start of each day’s filming the Aerial Coordinator and/or Pilot in 

Command and the designated production representative will conduct a

 BRIEFING/SAFETY MEETING for the production staff and those persons 

necessary for filming, including emergency, safety and security personnel.

Note: A subsequent BRIEFING/SAFETY MEETING should be required as 

necessary for intended action sequences and/orscenes

All BRIEFINGS/SAFETY MEETINGS should include the following:
 Ron Greenberg Video and Photo (Docket FAA-2015-2942)

a. Pertinent items and the special provisions of the Aerial Coordinator 

and/or Pilot(s) in Command, Motion Picture and TelevisionOperations 

Manual and accompanying Waiver, along with any additional provisions 

issued by the local FAA Flight Standards DistrictOffice

b. Possible risk to personnel who are involved

c. Safeguards to personnel and equipment

d. Communications

e. Emergency procedures

f. Location of boundaries

g. Local governmental limitations or restrictions, if any

5. A preplanned stunt and/or special effect sequence will not be changed in any 

way without the authorization of the Aerial Coordinator and/or Pilot in 

Command. No changes should be made once the drone(s) is/are airborne.

6. The Aerial Coordinator and/or Pilot in Command should designate one 

person as the Ground safety contact with no other responsibilities

7. If there is a question as to safety of any aerial filming sequence involving low, 

over-the-camera shots, a briefing/Safety Meeting should be held between the 

Aerial Coordinator and/or Pilot in Command and concerned persons as to 

whether the use of a locked-off camera is necessary.

8. Remain at least 50 feet away from the drone unless directed by the Aerial 

Coordinator and/or Pilot in Command or ground safety contact. Under no 

circumstances should you approach the drone without permission from the 

ground safety contact or the Pilot in Command.

9. Never walk near or around the drone whether it is running or not.

10. Necessary Crew and Persons Authorized

Flight operations closer than 500 feet of persons will include only those persons 

consenting to be in close proximity to the aircraft and who are directly involved 

and necessary for filming. (also see section 26)

The Aerial Coordinator and/or Pilot in Command and the designated 

production and security personnel will maintain an area perimeter to insurethat 

no unauthorized persons are allowed within 500 feet of the flightoperations.
 Ron Greenberg Video and Photo (Docket FAA-2015-2942)

11. Personal Protective Equipment should be utilized as required.

12. Never under any circumstance throw anything such as grip tape, clothing, paper, 

etc. around the drone, whether it is running or not.

13. The landing area should be cleared of debris.

14. Do not wear any loose clothing that may blow off, such as hats, when operating 

near a running drone. Protect your eyes, as well as your equipment, when drone

is landing or taking off.

15. Rotor blades and fuselage can be easily damaged while on the ground. Never 

push, handle, sit on or in, or lay any objects of any kind on the drone without the 

pilot's permission.

16. If a foreign object falls into or against the drone, report it immediately to the pilot 

or aerial coordinator.

17. Never allow cast or crew to handle the drone, unless authorized by the Pilot in

Command.

18. When working on location or when utilizing Department of Defense aircraft, local 

agencies, regional police, fire, park department regulations, or military guidelines 

may vary from this bulletin. The more stringent guidelines will always be in effect. 

Additional permits may be required.

19. The production company must notify all cast and crew members and the front of 

the studio call sheet should contain a statement to the effect that:

"A drone is being used and will be flown in close proximity to crew and 

equipment. Anyone objecting will notify the production manager or 1st AD 

prior to any filming.”

20) Operator: Pursuant to the exemption, the Petitioner Ron Greenberg videography and 

photography is considered the “Operator” of the UAS and has the overall responsibility to 

assure that every term and condition of the exemption is completely complied with--before, 

during and after each operation. Similar to aircraft regulations, the UA must be properly 

identified and complete records must be kept of the specific UA to keep in compliance with 

the operator’s manual and the manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, replacement, 

inspection and life-limit requirements. In addition, many reporting and documentation 

requirements are the responsibility of the Operator including obtaining proper permits, 

notices to the Air Traffic Organization (ATO) and related aviation authorities prior to any 

flight operations. The Operator must comply with any safety bulletins, adopt technician 
 Ron Greenberg Video and Photo (Docket FAA-2015-2942)

qualification criteria, possess a current operations manual, use the proper radio spectrum, 

submit a plan of activities prior to use of the drone, operate the drone in the proper 

airspace and must report any incident or emergency to the FAA. 

21) Flight Operators: Two persons must be present for UA operations--the pilot in 

command (PIC) and a visual observer (VO). The PIC must maintain a visual line of sight 

(VLOS) at all times with the UA. “This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision 

unaided by any device other than corrected lenses . . . . The VO may be used to satisfy 

the VLOS requirement, as long as the PIC always maintains VLOS capability. The PIC 

and VO must be able to communicate verbally at all times.” 

22) PIC Qualifications: The PIC must have at a minimum a private pilot certificate, third 

class medical certificate (or valid driver’s license per sports pilot licensing requirements), 

and meet flight review requirements regarding his aircraft. In addition, the PIC must 

accumulate 200 flight cycles, accumulate 25 hours of total time of which 10 hours must be 

logged on a similar type drone. For motion picture operations, the PIC must have a 

minimum of 5 hours of operating experience with the make and model to be used and at 

least 3 take-offs and landings within 90 days of the date used on the motion picture.

23) Pre-Flight Conditions: A pre-flight inspection by the PIC must be completed to 

assure that the UA is safe for flight. If the UA was subject to any maintenance or 

alterations that affect the UAS operations or flight characteristics, a functional test must be 

performed and documented prior to operation. In addition, the PIC and the VO must 

complete a qualification process outlined in the owner’s manual implemented by a 

qualified person designated by the Operator including a flight demonstration of the UAS 

use for filming. 

24) General Safety Requirement: The UA may not be operated directly over any 

person, except authorized and consenting production personnel nor below an altitude that 

would be hazardous to persons or property on the surface in the event of a UAS failure or 

emergency. 

25) Safety of Participating Persons: The owner’s manual contains safety mitigation 

requirements for authorized and consenting production personnel. At all times, these 

persons must be essential to the closed set film operations. 

26) Non Participating Safety Requirements: The Operator must ensure that no person 

is allowed within 500 feet of the area except those consenting to be involved and 

necessary for the filming production. This distance may be reduced to no less than 200 

feet if safety would not be adversely affected and is approved by the Administrator. This 

reduction is based on the production set that may have certain terrain features, 

obstructions, buildings or safety barriers that would otherwise protect persons from any 

debris from any accident. 
 Ron Greenberg Video and Photo (Docket FAA-2015-2942)

27) Flight Times, GPS Malfunction and Emergencies: Each flight must be completed 

within 30 minutes; or with 25% battery power remaining, whichever occurs first. Should 

the UAS lose communication or its GPS signal, the UA must return to a predetermined 

location. All operations of the UAS must be aborted in the event of unpredicted obstacles 

or emergencies.

A COPY OF THIS BULLETIN SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO THE CALL SHEETON 

DAYS THE DRONE IS BEING UTILIZED