Motion Picture and Television

Flight Operation Manual

Onion Creek Productions

2708 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite #400

Austin, TX 78704

(512) 291­6991

Date: January 21, 2016 Version: 1.0
Table of Contents

1. Purpose

2. Pilot/Operator Organization

3. Pilots To Be Used During Filming

4. List of Aircraft by Make, Model and Serial or Registration Number

5. Distribution and Revision

6. Persons Authorized

7. Area of Operations

8. Plan of Activities

9. Permission to Operate

10. Security

11. Briefing of Pilots and Production Personnel

12. Certification/Airworthiness

13. Pilot Personnel ­ Minimum Requirements

14. Limitations

15. Communications

16. Accident Notification

17. Recall/Stop Procedures

18. Aerobatic Competency

Appendix A

Appendix B

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Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual

A. Purpose

This Manual has been developed by Onion Creek Productions (“OCP”) in conjunction

with its application for an exemption from a limited number of regulations pursuant to

Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and 14 C.F.R. Part 11,

as outlined in OCP’s exemption application dated January 25, 2016, for use of sUAS to

gather footage from closed­set locations. OCP 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 an exemption.

B. Pilot/Operator Organization

Onion Creek Productions ­­ Operator

2708 S. Lamar Blvd., Suite #400

Austin, TX 78704

Jamie Brown ­ Executive Producer and applicant/responsible person ­ (512) 291­6991

C. Pilots To Be Used During Filming

Pilots to be used during filming will be included in the Plan of Activities to be filed at

least three (3) days prior to each scheduled filming, pursuant to Section H, infra, with

the local FSDO having jurisdiction over the area of proposed filming. The list of pilots

will include each pilot’s pilot certificate number as well as special pilot authorizations or

endorsements, if applicable.

D. List of Aircraft by Make, Model and Serial or Registration Number

A list of aircraft to be used appears in Appendix B, infra. Furthermore, any aircraft to be

used in the proposed filming shall be listed by make, model and serial or registration

number in the Plan of Activities to be filed at least three days prior to each scheduled

filming, pursuant to Section H, infra, with the local FSDO having jurisdiction over the

area of proposed filming.

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E. Distribution and Revision

OCP will issue a copy of this manual, including all revisions, to all personnel involved in

sUAS operation. All recipients are required to keep their manuals up­to­date with any

furnished revisions.

Amendments in FARs and normal usage will frequently indicate a need for additions,

deletions, or corrections of selected subject matter in this manual. Revisions to the

manual will be issued periodically to reflect these changes. In addition, manual users

who observe or experience a need for change are encouraged to submit their

suggestions to the Executive Producer for review and consideration.

Revisions to the Manual will be forwarded to the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO)

at least 15 days before the proposed effective date. Revisions will be noted on the

Revision Control Log maintained at OCP’s offices and will be noted in bold in the

succeeding versions of this Manual. Each subsequent revision of the Manual will be

distributed to all company personnel involved in sUAS operation.

F. Persons Authorized

Section 91.119(c) is waived only with respect to those participating persons, vehicles,

and structures directly involved in the performance of the actual filming. The

pilot­in­command and 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 in the event

that a suitable, equivalent level of safety can be achieved. An equivalent level of safety

may be determined by evaluation of the filming production area and the degree of

terrain features, buildings, etc. that will provide a safety barrier to observers.

Prior to any filming, the pilot­in­command and certificate holder shall be responsible for

obtaining signed consent forms from any person who is allowed within 500 feet (or 200

feet as outlined above) of the filming. Such consent forms shall be maintained by the

operator for a period of at least six (6) months following the filming.

G. Area of Operations

The area of operations shall cover all areas permitted by the blanket COA issued to

Section 333 Exemptions Grantees within the United States of America and its territories.

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The pilot/operator shall coordinate with the FSDO having geographic responsibility over

the area of the filming operations.

H. Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, OCP shall submit a written plan of

activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over the area of proposed filming. The

plan of activities shall include the following:

1) Dates and times for all flights.

2) Name and phone number of operator responsible for the filming production

event.

3) Name and phone number of the person responsible for the on­scene operation

of the sUAS.

4) Make, model, and serial number or registration number of aircraft to be used

and type of airworthiness certificate, including Category (CAT).

5) Names and certificate numbers of pilots involved in the filming production

event.

6) A statement that permission has been obtained from property owners and/or

local officials to conduct the filming production event; the list of those who gave

permission will be made available to the inspector upon request.

7) Signature of exemption holder or a designated representative.

8) A general outline, description or summary of the flight activity schedule,

including maps or diagrams of any area, city, town, country, and/or state over

which filming will be conducted and the altitude essential to accomplish the

operation.

At the discretion of the FSDO, the 3­day notification may be waived. Justification of the

exception to the 3­day requirement is needed.

Onion Creek Productions acknowledges that prior to the beginning of any filming

operations, the plan of activities must be accepted by the FAA.

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I. Permission to Operate

Before any flight operation 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

OCP’s 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 A and may be used when obtaining written permission. Written

permission forms will be maintained at the job site until flight operations are completed,

and then turned over to OCP 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.

J. 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, vehicles and aircraft. Provisions will be made to immediately discontinue

operations should the area(s) become unsecured or for any other reason in the interest

of safety.

K. Briefing of Pilots and 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 following during the filming

production event. Personnel will also be briefed on any additional provisions that may

be issued by the local FSDO, including the location of boundaries or any other time

limits.

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L. Certification/Airworthiness

Prior to any flight operation, the pilot in command will conduct a pre­flight inspection in

accordance with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 43 and 91

and applicable operating limitations. The pre­flight inspection will account for all

potential discrepancies, e.g., inoperable components, items or equipment. If the

inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the sUAS, the aircraft

will be prohibited from operation until the necessary maintenance has been performed

and the sUAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight.

OCP will follow the sUAS manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, replacement,

inspection and life limit requirements for the aircraft and aircraft components. Each

sUAS operated under this exemption will comply with all manufacturer's safety bulletins.

The aircraft to be used may be certificated in any CAT, including experimental, provided

the requirements of 14 CFR part 91, §§ 91.7, 91.9, and 91.203 are met.

M. Pilot Personnel—Minimum Requirements

The pilot in command will hold either an airline transport, commercial, private,

recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC will also hold a current FAA airman

medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a state, the District of

Columbia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the Federal Government. The PIC

also will meet the flight review requirements specified in 14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in

which the PIC is rated on his or her pilot certificate.

N. Limitations

Aircraft operations shall conform with the limitations set forth in OCP’s request for a

limited exemption, dated January 25, 2016, and all limitations and conditions typically

granted in a Section 333 Grant of Exemption for closed­set motion picture and television

production.

The aircraft will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level

(AGL). Altitude will be reported in feet AGL.

The aircraft will not be operated during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1.

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O. 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.

P. Accident Notification

Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the NTSB occur, the operator

would immediately notify the NTSB pursuant to 49 CFR § 830 and take steps to

preserve and protect the accident scene.

Q. 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.

R. Aerobatic Competency

If the filming operations require the issuance of FAA Form 8710­7, see Volume 5,

Chapter 9, Section 1, Issue/Renew/Rescind a Statement of Acrobatic Competency.

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Appendix A

Permission to Conduct Operations Form

In signing this form, I am giving Onion Creek Productions permission to operate its

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: ____________________________

Location: ____________________________

Date of Operation: ____________________________

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission:

______________________________________________________________________

Signature: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

Onion Creek Productions Representative Receiving Permission:

_______________________________________

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Appendix B

List of Approved Aircraft

Make and Model Type Weight

DJI Innovations Phantom 2 Multi­rotor 2.6 lbs.

DJI Innovations Phantom 3 Multi­rotor 2.8 lbs.

DJI Innovations Inspire Multi­rotor 6.5 lbs.

DJI Innovations S1000 Multi­rotor 24.3 lbs.

3DR Solo Multi­rotor 3.9 lbs.

Freefly Alta Multi­rotor 10.0 lbs.

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