# Master Digital M.D.

10/01/2015



# UAV Flight Operations Manual

# UAV Flight Operations Manual

This manual describes the procedures and policies for the operation of all M aster Digital M.D. UAV’s. This includes roles and responsibilities, mission phases and emergency procedures. The aim is to document everything that is needed to be done during a mission, so it can act as a reference point for team members. Roles and Responsibilities

Pilot

● Flying the UAV in Manual or ATTI mode. This may include takeoff, landing or during emergency procedures (when the UAV is circling Airfield Home and needs to be landed)

. ● Assembling the UAV if needed (Wings, Arms , L atches) and acting as a point of contact on the flight line during preflight checks

. ● Th e Pilot and the Backup Pilot will be the only team members on the flight line

. ● Monitors the state of the UAV

- altitude, speed, roll, pitch, etc

. ● Monitors the UAV’s progress through the mission

. ● Monitors the time in flight and battery levels, ensurin g the UAV will finish the mission with adequate reserve battery power remaining

. ● Monitors position of UAV in reference to surrounding conditions. Visual Observer (VO) ● Maintain awareness of flight area and inform of possible dangers

. ● Assist pilot with preflight and post flight checklists

. ● The Pilot and VO along with the camera Operator (if utilized) will be on the flight line within voice communications distance from one another at all times

. ● Acts as communications link between pilot and Ground Sta tion

. Camera Operator ● Monitors overall progress of the UAV through all phases of the mission through data link display overlaid on camera monitor s. ● Performs pre flight checks of all ground station, downlinks and camera

. ● O perates camera and gimbal via remote transmitter during flight

. ● Confirms the Camera is capturing correctly

. ● Monitors the camera capture and image processing

.Mission Planning

Confirm flight area specifics ● Secure written and signed approval from all parties involved pertaining to flight area for clearance and permission to operate in mission area

. ● Visual site survey

. ● Identify emergency landing area’s and how they will be secured and marked

. ● Check for NOTAMS and/or TFR’s

. ● Confirm nearest helipad, landing strip or airport

.

● Compile a “written plan of activities” and submit to area FSDO between 36 hours and 72 hours in advance

. ● Confirm permits (city, county commissions, etc) have been secured at the local level

. Setup Assembling the UAV ● Extend and lock arms in place (if ne eded)

. ● Check for physical damage

. ● Check all electronics present and connected

. ● Check for working flight surfaces

. ● Confirm all batteries charged

. ● No physical damage to airframe, motors , propeller s or avionics

. ● All hatches /latches closed and secured on aircraft

. ● Area and runway clear of unnecessary personnel and debris

. Setup of the Ground Station ● Radio links active and working (with a good SNR value)

. ● All laptops working and networked

. ● All laptops software working correctl y

. ● All Ground Station operators confirm

.Pre

- startup checks

● Verify ○ All servos and flight control surfaces responsive

. ○ APM(s) running

. ○ Battery voltage within stated acceptable range

. ○ RC radio link working

. ● Confirm GPS Lock

. ● Confirm compass enabled

. ● Check max height is set at 350 feet and enabled

. ● Check compass calibration is in range

. ● Confirm Altitude lock

. ● Ensure battery cell voltage is in stated acceptable range

. ● Airspeed calibration and check

. ● Receiver failsafe check

. ● Check barometric pressure sensor calibration

. Post

- startup Checks

● Motors running nominally

. ● Battery voltage at idle is in stated acceptable range

. ● Ensure flight mode MANUAL /ATTI. ● Confirm IMU gives the correct orientation

. ● Double check barometri c sensor is showing 0

- ft AGL altitude

. ● Check compass calibration on ground station

.

# Flight

Takeoff ● Takeoff may be automatic (in GPS mode ) or manual, depending on conditions.

○ M anual takeoff, allow the pilot to set to Manual mode. After takeoff and when the UAV is at least 30 Ft. off the ground, switch to ATTI mode. On c e the UAV has stable flight, the pilot can switch to GPS mode

.

● While the UAV is tracking , ensure that:
○ The UAV maneuvers correctly (good parameters)

. ○ GPS has a solid lock (c heck for a signal strength / # of satellites locked?)

. ○ SNR on both radios is acceptable

. ○ Camera is showing good quality images

. In Flight (pilot)

● B e aware of airspace around UA V . Sense and be aware of possible dangers (birds, wires, etc .). ● Always maintain your “emergency” landing area and have a plan to reach it if needed

. ● Stay in communication with observer on ground and camera op throughout entire flight

. ● When battery re aches stated low voltage, 1st warning is activated. Start return to home sequence. In Flight (Camera Op) ● Maintain open communication with pilot on battery voltage and possible dangers near or in flight path

. ● Maintain open communication with pilot on GP S lock and number of satellites “locked” while in flight

. ● When battery voltage in flight reaches stated low voltage and 1st warning is activated, Inform pilot of this condition. Landing ● Landing may be automatic (In GPS mode) or manual, depending on con ditions. ● By default you should land in GPS mode ○ In automated mode, the camera op will keep a careful eye on the speed and altitude of the UAV ○ The pilot will confirm when the UAV is in final descent.

○ The pilot will switch off the transmitter when th ey are confident of Manual control. They should ensure the Transmitter is set to the right modes/switches before power

- on. The GCS should be informed when this happens

.○ If, at any point during the landing, we are not confident in the auto landing the pil ot will

manually take over (only if the UAV is in visual range though)

. ○ During a manual landing, the GCS will call out the airs peed and altitude for the pilot.

Post

- flight Checks ● Disconnect and remove battery

. ● Visual inspection of control surfaces

.

● Check declination angle of GPS system

. ● Download all flight data from flight controller to laptop

. 

# Emergency Procedures

Loss of Datalink
● Occurs if the both datalinks are lost for more than 10 seconds

. ○ If combined with a loss of GPS, the UAV must terminate

. ○ The RC link fails during manual flight, the UAV must terminate

. ● The UAV will ascend or descend to 100 feet and return and hover over takeoff point
● If the datalink is not re

- established in this time, the UAV will terminate and begin auto la nding sequence

. ● We are allowed a maximum of 2 datalink losses during the mission

. Loss of GPS ● If the GPS reports a loss of lock, this mode must be activated immediately

. ● The UAV will automatically loiter around the point of GPS lock loss (via dead re ckoning) for 30 seconds. Loiter radius is ~100m

. ● The UAV will then navigate to the takeoff point (via dead reckoning)

. ● RC control will be established and the UAV landed. ● We are allowed a maximum of 1 GPS loss during the mission

.

DJI Software crash (Failure of Autopilot software / Failure of SAS)
● If no datalink is received from the APM for more than 1 second, this mode is activated

. ● Flight termination must be immediately activated

.Loss of motor power

● If we can still safely operate with a motor failure, navigate back to take

- off point and land immediately. ● If we cannot still safely operate, then we will begin to auto rotate down. Craft will automatically lower landing gear. (if applicable)

. ● We will have control of all three axis but yaw will be limited.
Fail

- Safe ● At any time and at the pilot’s discretion he can initiate fail safe. Thus forcing the craft to enter fail safe mod e where it will ascend or descend to 100 feet and return to home and land.