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 Master 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, Latches) and acting as a point of contact on the flight line 

during preflight checks.

● The 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, ensuring 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 Station.

Camera Operator

● Monitors overall progress of the UAV through all phases of the mission through data link display 

overlaid on camera monitors.

● Performs preflight checks of all ground station, downlinks and camera.

● Operates 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 needed).

● 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, propellers 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 correctly.

● 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 barometric 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.

○ Manual 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. Once 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 (check for a signal strength / # of satellites locked?).

○ SNR on both radios is acceptable.

○ Camera is showing good quality images.

In Flight (pilot)

● Be aware of airspace around UAV. 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 reaches 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 GPS 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 conditions.

● 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 they 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 pilot will 

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

○ During a manual landing, the GCS will call out the airspeed 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 landing 

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 reckoning) 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 

mode where it will ascend or descend to 100 feet and return to home and land.