September 14, 2015 

Docket Operations, M-30 

U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) 

Docket Management System 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor 

Washington, DC 20590-0001 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

Page 11 

Attached please find Aerial Innovations of TN Inc. (Aerial Innovations of TN) request, as a 

member of the Professional Aerial Photographers Association, International (PAP A), for an 

exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations to allow commercial operation of its 

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems ("sUAS") for aerial imaging to include video and still 

photography. This exemption request is initially for the use of the Inspire 1 sUAS manufactured 

by DJI, an established sUAS company and in accordance with the sUAS training and 

certification program as administered by PAP A. 

' Also attached to this letter is the equipment "Aerial Innovations of TN Flight Manual" (Manual), 

which outlines the operating requirements, limitations, and technical specifications for the DJI 

System as used by Aerial Innovations of TN. Aerial Innovations of TN has reviewed this Manual 

and has found it to be acceptable for sUAS operations. Applicant submits this manual as a 

Confidential document under 14 CFR 11.35 (b) as the entire Manual contains proprietary 

information that the applicant has not and will not share with others. The Manual contains 

operating conditions and procedures that are not available to the public and are protected from 

release under the Freedom oflnformation Act 5 USC 552 et. seq. 

Thank you for your time and consideration, and please let me know if you have any questions. 

J!Zdldl 

Wendy Whittemore 

Aerial Innovations ofTN, Inc. 

Corporate Officer 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 
July 24, 2015 

Docket Operations, M-30 

U.S. Department ofTransportation (DOT) 

Docket Management System 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor 

Washington, DC 20590-0001 

Page 12 

Re: Exemption Request Section 333 ofthe FAA Reform Act and Part 11 ofthe Federal Aviation 

Regulations from 14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b); 91.103(b); 91.119;91.121; 9.151(a); 91.405 (a) (1); 

91.409 (a) (2); 91.417 (a) & (b). 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012 (the Reform Act) 

and 14 C.P.R. Part 11, Aerial Innovations of TN Inc. (Aerial Innovations of TN), an aerial 

photography and digital imaging company, on behalf of itself and its related affiliates under 

common ownership and control, hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal 

Aviation Regulations ("F ARs") to allow commercial operation of its Small Unmanned Aircraft 

Systems ("sUAS") for aerial imaging for video and still photography, so long as such operations 

are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the 

FAA as required by Section 333. 

As detailed in this document and the attached Flight Manual, the requested exemption would 

permit the operation of sUAS under controlled conditions in airspace that is 1) limited 2) 

predetermined 3) controlled as to access and 4) would provide safety enhancements to the 

already best practices safety protocols followed by Aerial Innovations of TN during aerial 

photography operations in accordance with the training and certification provided by the 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association, International (PAPA). Aerial Innovations of TN 

is a member of the Professional Aerial Photographers Association~International (PAPA) and has 

a demonstrated record of safe operations in the National Airspace System (NAS). Principal 

employees have received ground school training and have logged well over 25 hours of sUAS 

flight operations. The Pilot In Command (PIC) proposed by Aerial Innovations of TN is an FAA 

licensed pilot with years of safe and successful aerial photography operations. Approval of this 

exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation's (the FAA 

Administrator's) responsibilities to " ... establish requirements for the safe operation of such 

aircraft systems in the National Airspace System." Section 333(c) ofthe Reform Act. 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 

• 
The name and address of the applicant is: 

Aerial Innovations ofTN, Inc. 

202 S. 171

h Street 

Nashville, TN 37206 

PIC-Joel David Boyers, FAA Licensed Pilot (Commercial Helicopter, #3126036) 

PH: 615-650-2002 

Email: wendy@flytenn.com 

Regulations from which the exemption is requested: 

14 C.F.R. Part 21 

14 C.F.R. 45.23(b) 

14 C.F.R. 61.113 (a) & (b) 

14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a) 

14 C.F.R. 91.9 (b) (2) 

14 C.F.R. 91.103 

14 C.F.R. 109 

14 C.F.R. 119 

14 C.F.R. 121 

14 C.F.R. 91.151 (a) 

14 C.F.R. 91.203 (a) & (b) 

14 C.F.R. 91.405 (a) 

14 C.F.R. 407 (a) (1) 

14 C.F.R. 409 (a) (2) 

14 C.F.R. 417 (a) & (b) 

I. STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR EXEMPTIONS 

Page 13 

The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA authority to issue exemptions. This statutory 

authority includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under §40 101 of the Act, 

including sUASs, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have a current airworthiness 

certificate. 

The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation prescribed under 

subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702-44716 of this title if the Administrator 

finds the exemption in the public interest. 49 U.S.C. §4470l(f) See also 49 USC §4471l(a); 49 

USC §44704; 14 CFR §91.203(a) (1). 

Section 333(b) of the Reform Act assists the Secretary in determining whether sUAS may 

operate in the National Airspace System (NAS) without creating a hazard to the user, the public, 

or a threat to national security. In making this determination, the Secretary must consider: 

• The sUAS's size, weight, speed, and operational capability; 

• Whether the sUAS operates within the visual line of sight of the operator 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 I 
Page 14 

• Whether the sUAS operates outside of highly populated areas and away from 

close proximity to airports 

Reform Act §333(a). If the Secretary determines that a sUAS "may operate safely in the national 

airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft 

in the national airspace system." I d. § 3 3 3 (c) 

Aerial Innovations of TN' sUAS are multirotor vehicles, weighing 20 or fewer lbs. including 

payload. They operate under normal conditions at a speed of no more than 70 knots and have the 

capability to hover, and move in the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. The sUAS will 

operate only in the Pilot's visual line of sight at all times and will operate only within the 

controlled "Area of Operations" described in the Confidential Aerial Innovations of TN Flight 

Manual (Manual), attached as Exhibit 1 (hereinafter "Manual"). Such operations will ensure that 

the sUAS will "not create a hazard to users of the National Airspace System or the public." 

Reform Act Section 333 (b). 

Given the small size ofthe sUAS involved and the restricted and controlled environment within 

which they will operate, our application falls squarely within the zone of safety (an equivalent 

level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow 

commercial operations of sUAS to commence immediately. Also, due to the small size of the 

sUAS, altitudes, and controlled areas in which the sUAS will operate, approval ofthe application 

presents no national security issue. 

Given the clear direction in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority contained in the Federal 

Aviation Act, as amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed 

operations, and the significant public benefit, including enhanced safety, the grant of the 

requested exemptions is in the public interest. Accordingly, Aerial Innovations of TN 

respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested exemption without delay. 

II. PUBLIC INTEREST 

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress' goal in passing Section 

333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of Transportation to 

consider whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the NAS before 

completion of the rulemaking required under Section 332 of the Reform Act. By granting an 

exemption the FAA will fulfill Congress's intent of allowing UAS to operate with significant 

safety precautions in low risk environments. 

The use of sUAS on aerial photography operations can significantly reduce the risk to 

photographers and participants. sUAS can inspect, photograph, and collect data on hard to get to 

areas that otherwise would require direct access or manned aircraft. 

Additionally, sUAS could replace the use of helicopters and small aircraft to produce imagery 

for various purposes. The sUAS we propose to fly in this application are less than 20 pounds, 

and carry no combustible material on board, as opposed to the much larger conventionally 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 
Page 15 

powered small aircraft. Shifting to sUAS from manned aircraft presents a marked safety increase 

for our workers and the public. 

Lastly, sUAS reduce the environmental impact by dramatically decreasing the energy used for 

aerial imaging and data collection. The sUAS used by Aerial Innovations of TN use rechargeable 

lithium ion batteries, as opposed to fossil fuels burned in operation of small aircraft that are 

many hundreds of times heavier. 

III. EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY AND SECURITY 

Aerial Innovations of TN proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to sUAS that have 

the characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide 

for at least an equivalent or even higher level of safety to operations under the current regulatory 

structure because the proposed operations represent a safety enhancement to the already safe 

protocols followed on imaging and photography operations conducted with conventional aircraft. 

Aerial Innovations of TN will be bound by the following limitations when conducting its sUAS 

operations under an FAA issued exemption: 

1. The sUAS will be less than 20 pounds. 

2. Flights will be operated within visual line of sight of a pilot. 

3. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 20 minutes. The operator 

calculates battery reserve, and will return the sUAS to the "Designated Safety Zone" with at 

least 20% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 20 minute limit. 

4. Flights will normally be operated at an altitude of not more than 400 feet AGL, but never in 

controlled airspace without prior coordination and approval of A TC. 

5. Flights will not be conducted within the surface area of controlled airport airspace without 

prior coordination and approval of ATC. 

6. Flights will not be conducted within 5 miles of any uncontrolled airport without prior 

coordination and approval ofthe airport authority. 

7. Crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS Operator who will keep the sUAS within 

his visual line of sight at all times and a qualified Observer. 

8. The sUAS operator will be trained in flight, operations, and safety procedures as detailed in 

the Flight Manual. 

9. The sUAS will only operate within a confined "Area of Operations" as defined in the Manual, 

including but not limited to evaluation of the airspace by reference to a current 1 :500,000 

scale FAA Sectional Aeronautical Chart. The Manual also requires the establishment of a 

"Designated Safety Zone" for the flight operations area. 

10. A briefing will be conducted regarding the planned sUAS operations prior to each day's 

production activities. It will be mandatory that all personnel who will be performing duties 

within the boundaries of the Designated Safety Zone be present for this briefing. 

11. All onsite personnel will consent to the UAS flyover on site by waiver, and the Operator will 

obtain additional verbal or written consent of all persons who will be allowed within 100 feet 

ofthe flight operation. 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 
Page 16 

12. Operator will have been trained in operation ofUAS generally and will have received up-todate information on the particular sUAS to be operated as required by the Aerial Innovations 

of TN Manual. 

13. Necessary written and/or oral permission from the relevant property holders will be obtained. 

14. All required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, country, or city 

jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, fire, or other appropriate government agencies. 

15. If the sUAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, it will have the capability to enter 

"loiter mode" and hover, reestablish satellite connection, and return to a predetermined 

location within the "Designated Safety Zone" and land. 

16. Aerial Innovations ofTN personnel will be easily identified by law enforcement personnel 

and the Public through wearing a green fluorescent or blaze orange vest with Section 333 

Grant and PAPA credentials prominently displayed within a weatherproof container on the 

persons back. 

IV. DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC REGULATIONS 

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b): Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command 

Sections 61.113 (a) & (b) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. Because the sUAS 

will not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can achieve the equivalent level of 

safety of current operations by requiring the Operator operating the aircraft to have completed a 

sUAS flight training course of 25 hours before flying a sUAS (See the Aerial Innovations of TN 

Manual for details) or meeting any FAA pilot licensing requirement. Unlike a conventional 

aircraft that carries the pilot and passengers, the sUAS is remotely controlled with no living thing 

or cargo on board. The area of operation is controlled and restricted per prior planning and 

necessary coordination with the local FSDO if applicable, and all flights are planned and 

coordinated in advance as set forth in the Aerial Innovations ofTN Manual. 

The sUAS to be operated hereunder is less than 20 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor 

passenger, carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclusively 

within a controlled Area of Operation as set out in the Aerial Innovations of TN Manual. Like 

other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by 

the Operator, pursuant to the Aerial Innovations of TN Manual requirements, and under the 

requirements and in compliance with local public safety requirements, to provide security for the 

Area of Operation as is currently done on aerial photography operations. The FAA will have 

advance notice of all operations as required. 

The risks associated with the operation of the sUAS are therefore diminished from the level of 

risk associated with commercial operations contemplated by Part 61 when drafted, and allowing 

operations of the sUAS as requested, with an operator who has met the minimum requirements 

stated in the Aerial Innovations of TN Manual, achieves the level of safety contemplated by 14 

C.P.R. §61.113 (a) & (b). 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 

.. 
Page 17 

14 C.F.R. 91.103: Preflight Action 

This regulation requires that each Operator in Command take certain actions before flight to 

ensure the safety of flight. An exemption is needed from this requirement as the Pilot will take 

separate preflight actions, including checking for weather conditions, checking flight battery 

requirements, checking takeoff and landing distances, and all other actions in the Preflight 

Checklist in the Aerial Innovations of TN Manual. These actions will provide an equivalent level 

of safety. 

14 C.F. R. 91.119: Minimum/ Maximum Safe Altitudes 

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d) allows 

helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person operating 

the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. This 

exemption is for a multirotor craft that flies similarly to a helicopter, with vertical takeoff and 

vertical landing, which will typically operate at altitudes of less than 400 AGL, so an exemption 

may be needed to allow such operations. The sUAS will never operate at altitudes higher than 

the base of controlled airspace without prior approval and coordination with A TC and will be in 

a Controlled Area with a "Designated Safety Zone", where buildings and people will not be 

exposed to operations without the specified pre-obtained consent. (See Aerial Innovations of TN 

Manual for detailed procedures.) 

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the sUAS as well 

as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the required permission of the 

property owner or local officials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and any 

onsite personnel, as outlined in the Aerial Innovations of TN Manual, all affected individuals 

will be aware of the planned flight operations. Unlike flight operations with aircraft or rotorcraft 

weighing far more than the maximum 20 lbs. proposed herein, our sUAS will not carry 

flammable fuel. In addition, the low-altitude operations of the sUAS will ensure separation 

between sUAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with 

Section 91.119. 

14 C.F.R. 91.121: Altimeter Settings 

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by 

reference to an altimeter that is set " ... to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate 

altimeter setting available before departure." As the sUAS may not have a barometric altimeter, 

but instead a GPS altitude read out, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety 

will be achieved by the operator, pursuant to the Aerial Innovations of TN Manual and Safety 

Check list, confirming the altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS altitude indicator before 

flight. 

14 CFR 91.151 (a): Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions 

Sectio~ 9.1.1.51 (a) outlines fuel requirements for beginning a flight in VFR conditions. Our 

sUAS IS hmtted to operations in controlled environments as outlined in the Aerial Innovations of 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 
Page IS 

TN Manual, and has a limited range and flight time which require an exemption from 14 CFR 

91.151 (a) 

The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 20 minutes of powered flight. To meet 

the 30 minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, sUAS flights would necessarily be 

impossible to conduct. Given the limitations on the sUAS's proposed flight area and the location 

of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a shorter time frame (less than 30 

minutes) for flight in daylight or night VFR conditions is reasonable. 

Aerial Innovations of TN believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the 

scope of prior exemptions. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to 

operate without compliance with FAR 91.151(a)). Operating the small sUAS, in a controlled area 

where only people and property owners or official representatives who have signed waivers will 

be allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that 

Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed ofthe small UAS. 

An equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 20 minutes, or enough battery 

reserve to ensure that the sUAS lands at the ground station with at least 20% of battery power (as 

determined by the onboard monitoring system and the operator), whichever happens first. This 

restriction would be more than adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from 

anywhere in its limited operating area. 

Similar exemptions have been granted to other operations, including Exemptions 2689F, 5745, 

10673, and 10808. 

14 CFR 91.405 (a); 407 (a)(1); 409 (a)(2); 417 (a) & (b): Maintenance inspections 

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner "shall have that aircraft inspected as 

prescribed in the subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as 

provided in paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of 

this chapter ... ," and others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. 

Given that these sections and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, 

these sections will not apply to Aerial Innovations of TN. Maintenance will be accomplis~ed by 

the operator and pursuant to the flight manual and operating ha~dbook a~ referenced m the 

Aerial Innovations of TN Manual. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these 

small sUAS are very limited in size and will carry a small payload and operate ?nly in. controlled 

areas for limited periods oftime. If mechanical issues arise, the sUAS can land Imme~Iately even 

if operating at a maximum of 1200 feet AGL. As provided in the Aer~al Inn?~~tt~ns of. TN 

Manual the operator will ensure that the sUAS is in working order pnor to mittatmg fltg~t, 

· perfor~ ~equired maintena~ce, .~nd k~~thae ~~c;:ft a:d ~=~~~~::;~op:!~::d~h~~:~~;:rint a: 

operator IS the person most 1ami tar WI 

airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety. 

P t t C F R Part 11 the following summary is provided for publication in the Federal 

ursuan o · · · ' . · · d d· Register, should it be determined that publication IS nee e . 

. . f 1 Section 333 Doc 15-014 

Professional Aerial Photographers Assoctation-Interna 10na 
Page I 9 

Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules: 14 C.P.R. § 21, subpart H; 14 C.P.R. 

45.23(b); 14 C.P.R.§§ 61.113(a) & (b); 91.7 

(a); 91.9 (b) (2); 91.103(b); 91.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.203(a) and (b); 91.405 (a); 

91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2) and 91.417 (a) & (b) to operate commercially a small unmanned 

vehicle (55lbs or less) in aerial photography operations. 

Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of sUAS in the aerial photography 

industry enhances safety while reducing risk. Manned aircraft still photography and video may 

create a greater risk because the craft are much larger, have combustible fuel, and carry an 

onboard human pilot. In contrast, a sUAS weighing fewer than 20 lbs. and powered by batteries 

eliminates virtually all of that risk given the reduced mass and lack of combustible fuel carried 

on board. The sUAS will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not expose them to the 

risks associated with manned aircraft flights. 

The operation of small sUAS, weighing less than 20 lbs., conducted in the strict conditions 

outlined above, will provide an equivalent level of safety supporting the grant of the exemptions 

requested herein, including exempting the applicant from the requirements of Part 21 and 

allowing commercial operations. These lightweight aircraft operate at slow speeds, close to the 

ground, and in a controlled environment and, as a result, are far safer than conventional 

operations conducted with manned aircraft operating in close proximity to the ground and people. 

Privacy 

All flights will occur over private or public property with the property owner's prior consent and 

knowledge. Images taken will be of individuals who have also consented to being filmed or 

otherwise having agreed to be in the area where aerial photography will take place. 

Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 2012--size, weight, 

speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation within 

visual line of sight and national security - provide more than adequate justification for the grant 

of the requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of applicant's sUAS in the aerial 

photography industry pursuant to the Manual appended hereto. 

Sincere!:; /01/ ~Whittemore Aerial Innovations ofTN, Inc. 

Corporate Officer 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association-International Section 333 Doc 15-014 
aerta 

innovations 

OF TN & KY 

sUAS Operations Manual 

Aerial Innovations of TN, Inc. 

14 September 2015 

This manual contains standard operating procedures and guidelines for UAS operations. 
Aerial Innovations of TN 

sUAS Operations Manual 

Table of Contents 

Purpose, Scope, and Mission Statement ............................................................. 5 

Definitions .......................................................................................................... 6 

Personnel Responsibilities .................................................................................. 8 

Visual Observer .................................................................................................... 8 

PIC ....................................................................................................................... 8 

Flight Team Composition ..................................................................................... 8 

Qualification Requirements ................................................................................. 8 

Operating Limitations and Conditions ................................................................. 9 

Maintenance Procedures .................................................................................. 10 

Routine Maintenance ........................................................................................ 10 

Full Flight Test .................................................................................................... 11 

Software Firmware Update Policy ...................................................................... 11 

Logs and Records .............................................................................................. 12 

Pilot and Aircraft Hours ...................................................................................... 12 

Battery Logbook ................................................................................................. 12 

Flight Planning .................................................................................................. 13 

Weather ............................................................................................................. 13 

Site Permissions ................................................................................................. 13 

Pre-Flight Inspections and Checks ...................................................................... 13 

Documentation .................................................................................................. 14 

Pre-Flight Area and Personnel Checks ................................................................ 14 

Closed Set Operations ........................................................................................ 15 

2 
On-Site Procedures ............................................................................................ 16 

Site Survey .................................................................................................. 16 

Selection of Operating Areas and Alternatives ............................................ 16 

Boundaries .................................................................................................. 17 

Anemometer Weather Check ..................................................................... 18 

Crew Briefing .............................................................................................. 18 

Communications ......................................................................................... 19 

Frequency Scans ......................................................................................... 19 

Recharging and Battery Use {Fuel Management} ........................................ 19 

Load-outs and Equipment ........................................................................... 19 

Flight Procedures .............................................................................................. 21 

Motor Start ........................................................................................................ 21 

Take-Off ............................................................................................................. 21 

In-Flight .............................................................................................................. 22 

Let Down/Landing .............................................................................................. 23 

Shutdown .......................................................................................................... 23 

Emergency Procedures ...................................................................................... 24 

Motor Thrust Loss .............................................................................................. 24 

Battery Failure ................................................................................................... 24 

Battery Failure Failsafe ............................................................................... 25 

Transmitter/Controller Battery Failure ....................................................... 26 

Controller Battery Failsafe .......................................................................... 26 

Loss of Control Frequency .................................................................................. 26 

Loss of Frequent Failsafe .................................................................................... 26 

Malicious or Accidental Interference with Control Frequency ........................... 27 

Pilot Incapacitation ..................................................................................... 27 

3 
Aircraft Incursion ........................................................................................ 27 

Fly Away Procedure ............................................................................... -........... 28 

Crash & Incident Response ................................................................................ 28 

Appendix A - Checklists ..................................................................................... 29 

Pre-Flight Start-Up Checklist .............................................................................. 30 

Pre-Flight Inspection Checklist ........................................................................... 32 

In-Flight .............................................................................................................. 33 

Landing Checklist ............................................................................................... 34 

Appendix B ....................................................................................................... 35 

Maintenance Logbook ....................................................................................... 36 

Appendix C ....................................................................................................... 37 

Incident/ Accident Logbook ................................................................................ 38 

Appendix D ....................................................................................................... 39 

Flight Record Logbook ....................................................................................... 40 

Appendix E ........................................................................................................ 41 

Inspire 1 User Manual ........................................................................................ 41 

4 
PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND MISSION STATEMENT 

Aerial Innovations of TN, Inc. (Aerial Innovations of TN), a member of the 

Professional Aerial Photographers Association, International (PAPA) intends as the 

Operator to promote safe operation of sUAS in the National Airspace System 

(NAS) in a manner that is consistent with a long history of safe and professional 

flight operations in close cooperation with the Federal Aviation Administration 

(FAA). The Operators are experienced licensed pilots. The sUAS Pilots In 

Command (PIC} that will operate systems according to the approach outlined in 

this Manual of Procedures (Manual) are trained in accordance with this Manual 

and FAA regulations and have decades of successful experience on Aerial 

Photographic flight missions. 

The intent of the Manual is to provide the outline of a system to conduct safe and 

successful sUAS operations in accordance with the applicable FAA regulations and 

consistent with the Section 333 waiver that this Manual is based upon. It is 

expected that the Operator will continue to apply the skills and experience they 

have employed in manned aircraft operations under FAA regulations. This 

combination of prior successful flight experience and sound sUAS flight 

operational procedures is intended to promote the highest levels of 

professionalism in safe aerial photographic flight missions. 

5 
DEFINITIONS 

The following definitions of words and terms apply to the information contained 

in this Manual and are specific to procedures and operations that are outlined 

herein. In the case of a conflict with an official FAA definition, the FAA definition 

will be the rule. 

Anemometer- An instrument to measure the velocity of the wind in the Area of 

Operations. 

Area of Operations- Defined as the area where sUAS operations will be carried 

out for a specific flight or series of flights on a given mission. 

Checklists- Procedural checklists used by the PIC to verify proper and safe 

procedures during all phases of sUAS operations. 

Designated Safety Zone - Defined and marked area of ground operations used for 

safe take offs and landings of the sUAS at a given Area of Operations. 

FPV- First Person View- Defined as real time viewing of photo-video imagery 

transmitted to a screen by a person/s. 

Flight Control Systems -The combination of telemetry, PIC operated controls, 

and on board control mechanisms that are employed to control the flight of the 

sUAS. 

Frequency Analyzer- A device used to scan the Area of Operations for possible 

interference from radio waves. 

GPS- Global Positioning System. 

Handheld Radio- A radio transceiver capable of communication with other Pilots 

or FAA personnel in the Area of Operations. 

Loiter Mode- A default recovery mode the sUAS goes into when communications 

are lost from the PIC. 

6 
Maintenance Recommendations- Periodic maintenance recommendations for 

each of the sUAS components that have a usable life. 

Manual -This flight manual that combines the Operator specific procedures with 

the sUAS manufacturers' manual. 

Manufacturers Recommendations- Written recommendations provided by the 

manufacturers of the various components of the sUAS. 

NAS- National Airspace System. 

Non Participants- Persons who have not agreed to participate in sUAS 

operations. 

Operator- The entity submitting as the applicant on this waiver request to the 

FAA who will be responsible for all sUAS operations and procedures. 

PAPA- Professional Aerial Photographers Association, International. 

Participants- Persons who have agreed to participate in sUAS operations. 

Pilot In Command - Person who will fly the UA during sUAS operations and who is 

responsible for all safety related or operational decisions under the direction of 

the Operator in accordance with this Manual and FAA requirements. 

SOP- Standard Operating Procedures. 

sUAS- Small Unmanned Aerial Systems as contemplated under the FAA 

guidelines, not to exceed 55 pounds in weight or 100 miles per hour in speed. 

Telemetry- Electronically transmitted data that provides control and information 

transmissions to and from the PIC and the sUAS. 

UA- Unmanned Aircraft. 

Visual Observer- An individual who is designated to observe flight operations and 

to maintain visual contact with the UA during flight operations while maintaining 

communications and coordination with the PIC. 

7 
PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITIES 

FLIGHT TEAM COMPOSITION 

The onsite flight team is composed of a Pilot in Command (PIC}, a Visual Observer 

{VO), and a Videographer. The PIC is responsible for all flight operations and 

decisions to proceed. The VO is responsible to maintain visual contact with the 

UA and to provide constant communication with the PIC regarding aircraft status 

and surrounding conditions within the Area of Operations. The Videographer 

views areas being photographed and has control of the camera only. 

VISUAL OBSERVER 

All operations will utilize a Visual Observer. The main responsibilities of the Visual 

Observer will be to ensure that the UA is operated within the visual line of sight of 

both the PIC and Visual Observer at all times. The Visual Observer will maintain 

verbal communication with the PIC at all times. Prior to flight, the PIC will ensure 

that the Visual Observer understands and can perform all the duties required of 

the Visual Observer. 

PIC 

Pilot in Command is responsible for the safe operation of the sUAS at all times in 

accordance with this Manual and the applicable FAA regulations. 

Pilot in Command will be responsible for: 

• All support personnel. 

• Performing all pre-flight, flight phase, and post flight inspections, air 

worthiness, diagnostics, and testing. 

• Manufacturer recommended maintenance operations. 

• Weather condition assessments and forecast reviews. 

VIDEOGRAPHER 

The Videographer is responsible for operating the slave controller which 

manipulates the camera only. 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS 

The PIC must be an FAA-licensed pilot and must have completed the PAPA 

sponsored ground school with at least 25 hours of sUAS flight time. The VO and 

the Videographer must have completed sUAS ground school training and must 

8 
demonstrate experience with FAA procedures and the standard procedures of 

this Manual. 

OPERATING LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS 

Operational Ceiling- Maximum 1,200 ft AGL, typical400 ft AGL. 

Operational Endurance- 18 minutes. 

Maximum Speed- 50 MPH 

Maximum Operating Temperature - 104 degrees F 

Minimum Operating Temperature - 14 degrees F 

Maximum Operational Wind Speed- 22 MPH (gusts to 20 MPH} 

9 
MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES 

Only Aerial Innovations of TN personnel or an appointed service technician may 

carry out maintenance on the sUAS aircraft systems described in this operations 

manual. In all cases a Maintenance Logbook (see Appendix B) is completed to 

reflect any work undertaken and a flight test, testing all functions {including the 

return-to-home failsafe facility), is subsequently carried out by the PIC. 

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE 

The Pre-Flight and Post-Flight checklists shown in Appendix A are completed by 

the PIC every time a Aerial Innovations of TN sUAS aircraft is operated. Every six 

months {or fifty hours of flight time - whichever comes first) the following 

inspection is carried out by the PIC. The inspection is recorded in the 

Maintenance Logbook along with any findings. Any issues identified are remedied 

and the aircraft undergoes a full flight-test before the aircraft is returned to 

Operational Status: 

• Inspection of the airframe for any damage, unusual marks and tightness of 

fixings; 

• Inspection of the motor mountings for correct tension; 

• Inspection of the propellers for condition, unusual marks, chips, cracks and 

tightness of fasteners; 

• Inspection of electrical wiring for condition, unusual marks or discoloration; 

• Inspection of electrical terminal fittings and plugs for secure attachment 

and general condition; 

• Inspection of the attachment of all fittings such as flight controller, GPS 

antennas etc. for secure attachment; 

• Inspection of payload attachment points for condition and security of 

payload; 

• Inspection of the condition and function of all ancillary equipment such as 

transmitter etc. 

• Testing of all system battery packs for charge status and general condition. 

If any issues or problems are identified then the aircraft is not allowed to fly until 

the issue has been remedied. If minor problems (such as damaged propellers, 

faulty battery packs etc.) are identified and remedied, and the PIC believes the 

aircraft is suitable to return to Operational Status then the work completed is 

noted in the Maintenance Logbook. If major issues are identified {such as an 

10 
unserviceable motor, damaged airframe etc.}, then the aircraft undergoes a full 

flight test regime {as described below}, once the identified fault has been 

remedied. 

FULL FLIGHT TEST 

The system has all functions tested with a minimum of five minutes flight time by 

a qualified PIC recording any abnormalities in the Flight Record Logbook 

(Appendix D). If the PIC deems the aircraft to be safe then he must sign the Flight 

Record Logbook as fit for Operational use. Systems with identified issues relating 

to firmware or software (see below} are grounded by Aerial Innovations of TN 

until any problems are rectified. 

SOFTWARE AND FIRMWARE UPDATE POLICY 

All new software and firmware are thoroughly assessed before installation. 

Particular attention is focused on relevance to operations, reason for release and 

any known issues. Multi-rotor and sUAS forums are consulted regularly for any 

reported issues with the release and only when the validity of the upgrade has 

been confirmed is the upgrade considered. 

In all circumstances the upgrade is performed by qualified Aerial Innovations of 

TN personnel or appointed service providers. All upgrade information such as 

version numbers and new functions are recorded in the Maintenance Logbook. 

All Aerial Innovations of TN PIC are made aware that the firmware or software has 

been upgraded before any flight operations are undertaken. 

Any upgraded system has all functions thoroughly tested with a minimum of five 

minutes flight time by a qualified Aerial Innovations of TN PIC who records any 

abnormalities in the Flight Record Logbook. If the PIC deems the aircraft to be 

safe then the PIC signs the Flight Record Logbook as fit for Operational use. If any 

doubts exist as to the new upgrade the aircraft is downgraded to the previous 

firmware and the flight test procedure is repeated. Systems with identified issues 

relating to firmware or software are grounded until the problem can be rectified. 

11 
LOGS AND RECORDS 

PILOT AND AIRCRAFT HOURS 

Aerial Innovations of TN PIC are required to keep a log of pilot and aircraft hours. 

To meet this requirement~ Aerial Innovations of TN holds and updates a 

spreadsheet-based Personal Flying Log Book for Aircraft Operating Crew. This log 

book is a separate document which can be viewed on request (see sample page at 

Appendix D). 

BATTERY LOGBOOK 

Aerial Innovations of TN Personal Flying Log Book (Appendix D) additionally 

records information about battery condition (charge) before and after each flight. 

The Battery Logbook is accompanied by- and supported with- Aerial Innovations 

of TN Incident Logbook (Appendix C) and Maintenance Logbook (Appendix B). 

12 
FLIGHT PLANNING 

WEATHER 

Operator will require PIC to obtain all necessary weather information in order to 

plan and conduct safe flight operations according to and as referenced by any 

applicable UA Operator Manuals. If operating near an operating Automated 

Terminal Information Service (ATIS) or All Weather Observation Service (AWOS), 

the broadcast system will be consulted. If ATIS/ is not available, PIC will consultalternative sources for a current weather forecast. 

The operating envelope for the Inspire 1 has been referred to earlier. It is 

emphasized that the PIC is to ensure the operating envelope environment meets 

or exceeds all safe and legal visibility, precipitation, humidity, and wind limitations 

for safe operation. 

SITE PERMISSIONS 

• Secure permissions from property owner if required. 

• Secure permissions from participants. 

• Coordinate with local law enforcement if required. 

• Prior to operations, Operator receives permission for take-off and landing 

from the relevant land-owner. In most cases permission attainment is 

unproblematic as the landowner and the client are the same individual (or 

entity). In the case of local authority owned land, the relevant authority is 

contacted in advance to secure permission for take-off and landing, and to 

find out about any operating restrictions or specific insurance requirements 

that might apply. 

PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTIONS AND CHECKS 

Prior to each flight, the PIC will conduct a pre-flight inspection and determine if 

the sUAS is in a condition for safe flight, and to account for all possible 

discrepancies or inoperable equipment. If the inspection reveals any condition 

that will affect the safe operation of the sUAS, the aircraft will be prohibited from 

operating until the necessary maintenance can be performed and the sUAS can be 

returned to safe flight. The preflight inspections will include the following 

components according to the recommended checklists in the DJI operator 

manual, and in the Aerial Innovations of TN checklist: 

13 
D Airframe 

D Battery 

D Transmitters 

D Camera and Gimbal 

D Propulsion system including propellers 

In addition, with the battery attached and turned on in the sUAS, the PIC will 

oversee and monitor the series of diagnostic tests to determine and verify proper 

voltage levels, control function, communication, and GPS satellite connectivity 

acquisition. PIC will utilize the DJI Inspire 1 LED indicators as well as telemetry 

data to determine if the proper preflight diagnostics have been completed. The 

PIC will also perform and log a pre-flight compass calibration each time the sUAS 

is flown from a new location. 

DOCUMENTATION 

PIC will ensure that all documents used by Aerial Innovations of TN to ensure safe 

flight operations and any document required under 14 CFR 91.9 and 91.203 must 

be available at the Ground Control Station on site at any time the sUAS is 

operating, and ready to be made available to any law enforcement official upon 

request. If possible, these documents will be on the PIC's person at all times 

during flight operations, and accessible to law enforcement without interrupting 

the PIC while conducting flight operations (possibly in a pouch on the back of the 

vest). 

PRE-FLIGHT AREA AND PERSONNEL CHECKS 

• Survey flight operations area for safety concerns and to verify conditions. 

• Examine all components of the sUAS to verify proper function in 

accordance with the applicable manuals and manufacturer's instructions. 

• Verify notification to all personnel on site. 

• Establish Designated Safety Zone and verify safe clearances. 

• PIC should wear the specified safety vest. 

• The ultimate responsibility for aircraft airworthiness and operational safety 

rests with the sUAS pilot-in-command. For this, the PIC- as an aid- uses a 

Pre-Flight Checklist (see Appendix A). In summary, the Pre-Flight Checklist 

prompts examination of the following: 

D The airframe (for condition and lack of damage); 

D The battery (for level-of-charge and security of attachment); 

14 
D The transmitter {for level-of-charge and to check that switches 

are in the 'home' position}; 

D The camera {secured, on and operating). 

D Propulsion system 

• In addition, when the flight battery is connected to the sUAS, the flight 

controller undertakes a series of diagnostic tests {while simultaneously 

locating the position of GPS satellites}. 

CLOSED SET OPERATIONS 

If this exemption permits operations for the purpose of closed-set motion picture 

and television filming and production, the following additional conditions and 

limitations apply: 

• The operator must have a Motion Picture and Television Operations 

Manual {MPTOM} as documented in this grant of exemption. 

• At least 3 days before aerial filming, the operator of the sUAS affected by 

this exemption must submit a written Plan of Activities to the local Flight 

Standards District Office {FSDO} with jurisdiction over the area of proposed 

filming. The 3-day notification may be waived with the concurrence of the 

FSDO. The plan of activities must include at least the following: 

o Dates and times for all flights; 

o Name and phone number of the operator for the sUAS aerial 

filming conducted under this grant of exemption; 

o Name and phone number of the person responsible for the onscene operation of the sUAS; 

o Make, model, and serial or N-Number of sUAS to be used; 

o Name and certificate number of sUAS PICs involved in the 

aerial filming; 

o A statement that the operator 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; 

o Signature of exemption holder or representative; and 

o 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 altitudes essential to accomplish the 

operation. 

15 
• Flight operations may be conducted closer than 500 feet from participating 

persons consenting to be involved and necessary for the filming production, 

as specified in the exemption holder's MPTOM. 

ON-SITE PROCEDURES 

The on-site procedures undertaken by Aerial Innovations of TN are conducted in 

accordance with and controlled through an extensive use of checklists. For this 

reason the following sections repeatedly refer to various checklists found in 

Appendix A of this Manual. 

• Site Survey- In advance of operations, a survey is undertaken to review the 

site, its terrain, structures and surroundings- to check any assumptions 

made about the location prior to arrival and to adjust the operations plan 

accordingly. For this, an On-Site Survey Checklist is used {see Appendix A, 

page 25). The primary purpose of the site survey is to make a visual check 

of the operating area with the objective of identifying any potential 

hazards. 

• Selection of Operating Areas and Alternatives- In advance of the pre-flight 

On-Site Survey, Google maps will be consulted and- if possible- the local 

site will be visited beforehand. The site will be specifically checked in terms 

of: 

o Proximity to Airport Reference Points (ARP) as denoted in the 

Airport Facility Directory {AFD). Must operate outside 5 miles 

of ARP, unless otherwise agreed upon by virtue of written 

letter of agreement with the airport's management, or 

otherwise permitted by the COA issued to Aerial Innovations of 

TN 

o Ability of PIC and VO to operate the sUAS clear of, and give 

way to, all manned aviation operations and activities at all 

times. 

o 500ft. clearance of all non-participating persons, vessels, 

vehicles, and structures unless; A. sufficiently protected in the 

event of an accident, and the nonparticipating persons remain 

protected at all times during operations of the sUAS, and B. 

The owners and controllers of any vessels, vehicles, or 

structures has granted permission for the operating closer to 

16 
those objects and the PIC has made a safety assessment of the 

risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it 

does not present an undue hazard. 

o Ability of Aerial Innovations of TN to conduct operations over 

private or controlled access property with permission from the 

owner/controller or representative of such, and said 

permissions are granted. 

o Proximity to radio interferences 

o Prevailing weather conditions have been adequately assessed, 

including; high winds, convection, visibility, minimum cloud 

clearance (500ft below, and 2,000 ft horizontal clearance}, or 

when visibility is less than 3 miles from the PIC. 

The primary site for take-off and landing will be assessed {size, shape, surface, 

slope and surroundings} and an alternative site will be identified should the 

primary site become unavailable or unsuitable. 

• Boundaries - Aerial Innovations of TN requires that proper identifiers and 

signage will be in place in the operating area to alert people to the fact that 

aerial work is being conducted. The PIC will be responsible for cordoning to 

ensure safe distances from operations are observed. Cordoning procedures 

to be practiced include: 

o Take-off and Landing safety Area: PIC will determine the safe 

distances of all people from the take-off and landing operation 

of the sUAS. The PIC will also establish a cordoned area with 

clearly marked delineation the take-off and landing operations. 

o Signage and Identifying Clothing: The PIC will place signage at 

each entry point within the operations area alerting people to 

the following: 

A. Low altitude aerial work is being conducted 

B. Use of any actual sensing equipment being used 

C. A request asking people to not enter the area without 

first notifying the PIC or Aerial Innovations of TN 

designated on-site flight operations personnel 

D. PIC and VO will put on outerwear that will identify them 

in their respective roles. Signage will be attached on 

their person that will instruct law-enforcement, 

17 
observers, or any other people present that they are not 

to be interrupted un-necessarily while conducting flight 

operations. 

• Anemometer Weather Check- Beyond pre-site planning weather forecast 

checks, Aerial Innovations of TN requires that the PIC conduct specific onsite weather checks. The PIC will utilize a hand-held or portable 

Anemometer to determine wind speed, direction, temperature, and 

humidity. Aerial operations will only be conducted within the specific 

recommended wind and humidity limitations of the sUAS manufacturer's 

operating manuals, or if not identified therein, only in conditions where 

wind speed is less than 15m ph, gusting up to 20m ph. 

• Crew Briefing - Aerial Innovations of TN flight operations personnel will 

typically include the PIC, VO, and other possible ground crew. The 

operations personnel, in addition to any other parties that may be present, 

will be briefed prior to the start of operations. The briefing will include: 

o Introduction to the equipment being used including the sUAS 

and the ground station functions, with particular emphasis on 

moving parts including weight of the sUAS, and the harm or 

damage that could possibly be inflicted by coming into contact 

with those components (particularly the propellers, and hot 

surfaces) 

o Familiarization with the failsafe return-to-home systems and 

instruction on how to activate those systems if the PIC is 

unable to activate those systems 

o Expected flight plan, holding positions, flight duration, and 

overall flight boundaries. 

o Expected responsibilities and authority of each flight 

operations personnel 

o Identification and familiarization with the take-off and landing 

designated areas, and the requirements for remaining clear of 

those areas at all times. 

o The need for all present to alert the PIC of any encroachments 

of people or objects into the airspace and ground boundaries 

o Importance of mitigating any possible distractions or unnecessary communication with the PIC during operations 

18 
o Careful review of Lost Link and emergency procedures 

• Communications - Aerial Innovations of TN uses channel-hopping 

technology on 2.4GHz to maintain communications with the SUAS for the 

purposes of platform control. There is no communication {'downlink') from 

the sUAS to the ground station. In the event of loss of or interference with 

the control frequency, the sUAS is programmed to return to its take-off 

position and land autonomously {'return-to-home'}. This failsafe procedure 

is described further under Emergency Procedures. 

• Frequency Scans- Aerial Innovations of TN will perform frequency scans to 

help identify possible conflict with radio communications. This will be 

performed via a hand-held or portable radio spectrum scanner by the PIC. 

These scans will include a full spectrum scan of the applicable frequency 

range of the sUAS. Possible sources of radio interference or conflict will be 

identified and evaluated to determine if flight operations can be safely 

continued. 

• Recharging and Battery Use (Fuel Management) - The DJI Inspire 1 utilizes 

a 4480 mAh 15.2V LiPo 45 Intelligent Flight Battery. Batteries are charged 

at base prior to flight operations. The number of batteries that will be 

transported to the flight operations area will be based on the specific needs 

of the flight operations or mission. The battery capacity will be tested 

utilizing the internal proprietary tester on the battery, and will also be 

checked utilizing the proprietary DJI software, as well as any internally 

sensed telemetry software and hardware attached to the sUAS. A battery 

charge log will be kept via the proprietary DJI Inspire 1 software and will be 

completed prior to every flight. Any battery found to be less than fullycharged, damaged, displays insufficient voltage, or otherwise defective will 

not be used. 

• Load-outs and Equipment- The Inspire 1 is a simple quad-copter UAS with 

limited capability for loads and equipment. Removable equipment includes 

the battery, gimbal, camera, telemetry hardware, antenna, and imaging 

transmitter. The battery is held in place via proprietary fittings. The gimbal 

is attached via screws into the airframe. The camera is attached to the 

gimbal using screws and a proprietary harness. All other equipment is 

attached using nylon fittings, Velcro, or adhesives. Total takeoff weight 

19 
with these components will not exceed the maximum recommended takeoff weight identified in the Inspire 1 Users/operators Manual of 1280 

grams. Payload security is tested prior to any operations both visually and 

by vigorous tactile testing. All attachment points will be inspected and 

tested weekly. 

20 
FLIGHT PROCEDURES 

Aerial Innovations of TN will utilize checklists to direct the flight operations 

personnel in flight procedures. The following section will continually refer to the 

several checklists presented in the Appendix. 

• Motor Start- All of the various preflight checks will have been performed 

prior to motor start and will include: 

o PIC and VO will put on identifying outerwear. 

o Pre-flight compass calibration, GPS verification, and voltage 

diagnostics completed. 

o Take-off position and location is checked to ensure it is clear of 

obstacles, debris, potential hazards, and people. 

o Transmitter switches are placed in the proper configuration, 

including the home switch and GPS mode switch. 

o Transmitter is on and properly charged with voltage confirmed. 

o Battery is secured, on, and properly seated. 

o Camera and gimbal is armed, responding to commands, and 

stabilized. 

o sUAS is placed in the proper takeoff position. 

o LED flight mode indicator, and telemetry read-out shows adequate 

GPS connectivity according to the DJIInspire 1 User/operators 

Manual. 

o LED flight mode indicators and telemetry read-outs show the proper 

flight mode is selected DJIInspire !User/operators Manual. 

o Camera is switched on. 

o All flight operations personnel are in their proper position and at the 

ready. 

o Start motors, and establish functional pre-take-off power setting. 

• Take-Off - Once motors have been started, the PIC will verify that the pretake-off checklist has been completed. Once this has been verified, the PIC 

will follow the following take-off procedure: 

1. Apply power for a controlled ascent to a safe low-level test altitude 

over the take-off area, and then hold. 

2. After in hold, PIC performs check of all control stick response 

including rudder, aileron, elevator, and throttle to ensure proper 

21 
response to commands. 

3. PIC confirms with VO that the flight operations area is free of 

obstructions or other manned or unmanned air traffic. 

4. PIC confirms with all flight operations personnel that they are ready 

to proceed with flight operations as planned. 

• In-Flight - Aerial Innovations of TN requires that the PIC is free to 

concentrate on positioning, scanning, and monitoring systems and the 

flight operations area without un-necessary distraction, and to ensure the 

flight is compliant with remaining 500 ft clear of all non-participating 

persons, vessels, vehicles, or structures unless proper permissions have 

been obtained as described in the previous section addressing the selection 

of sites. Throughout the flight, PIC will take particular care to remain within 

the established operating permissions and envelope by executing the 

following practices: 

o Verify through verbal communication with the VO that they are 

alerted to any manned or unmanned aircraft within the flight area. 

o Verify through verbal communication with the VO that obstacles are 

being identified and avoided. 

o Interval monitoring of voltage and communication with sUAS to 

ensure adequate voltage according to the DJIInspire 

1User/operating Manual for safe return and landing. 

o Monitor time since motors were started to ensure a minimum of 3 

minutes of battery fuel is available for return and landing of sUAS. 

o A safety margin of a minimum of 3 minutes of battery life is 

maintained at all times. 

o Maintain visual contact with flight systems/mode and battery LED 

light indicators at all times. 

o Maintain situational awareness of changes in weather, visibility, or 

cloud avoidance at all times. 

o Maintain operation speeds less than 100mph. 

o Maintain visual contact with sUAS at all times. 

o Ensure VO has visual contact with the sUAS in flight at all times. 

Establish a position hold until VO re-establishes visual contact with 

the sUAS if contact is lost. 

22 
• Let-Down/Landing - To execute a safe recovery and landing of the sUAS, 

the PIC will ensure that the following practices ar~e followed: 

o Establish and guide the sUAS through a safe route to directly above 

the cordoned take-off and landing area. 

o Maintain a safe descent rate and follows all procedures and 

techniques to avoid vortex state or settling with power. 

o Verify that a minimum of 3 minutes of battery life is available, as 

mentioned above, to ensure a holding position if the landing area is 

not cleared. 

o Verify that the landing area is clear of debris, obstacles, people, or 

hazards that would preclude a safe landing. 

• Shutdown - Upon landing, the throttle is returned to the home position 

causing the rotors to stop spinning. Operations then proceed as follows: 

1. The sUAS battery is switched off or disconnected. 

2. The camera is stopped and is then switched off. 

3. The sUAS is removed from the landing area and is checked for 

any abnormalities or damage. 

4. The transmitter is switched off. 

5. The sUAS battery is removed, tested, and then the battery is 

safely secured and stored. 

23 
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES 

The emergency procedures described below address the following, safety-critical 

question: In the event of a malfunction failure or other in-flight emergency, how 

is the sUAS going to safely land without creating a hazard to other airspace users 

or persons or property on the ground? 

MOTOR THRUST LOSS 

As a quad copter, The Inspire 1 has no 'rotor redundancy'. Loss of power to a 

motor on a quad copter will result in a crash. For this reason, Aerial Innovations 

of TN takes specific preventative steps to ensure that loss of power to a motor 

will not occur: 

• Wiring integrity is checked visually prior to any flight operations. 

• A pre-flight battery check is undertaken to test the charge of the cells. 

• Upon take-off, the sUAS is lifted into a temporary, low-altitude holding 

position and the throttle/ rudder and aileron/elevator control sticks are 

moved to check that sUAS is responding as expected. 

If there is a loss of thrust to a motor, any residual control left available to the PIC 

will be used to guide the sUAS away from people and objects to avoid injury or 

damage to property and people. Every effort will be made to restrict the crash 

site to the safest possible position. 

sUAS BATTERY FAILURE 

As has been addressed in above previous sections, Aerial Innovations of TN has 

procedures and practices in place designed to prevent sUAS batter failure or 

malfunction, and they include: 

• The batteries are physically inspected and tested through all phases of preflight and post flight for damage or swelling 

• The Battery performance and condition is tested prior to each flight to 

ensure they are fully charged, and the proprietary DJI software charge 

track/log is checked to ensure the battery meets the minimum safe 

requirements as specified by DJI in operating manual and firmware specs. 

• Throughout all phases of flight, the battery voltage, percentage of charge 

remaining, and time in operation is constantly monitored via the telemetry 

transmission to the ground station to ensure there is the proper minimum 

voltage and time to return and land is achieved and maintained. 

24 
• The PIC will immediately land the sUAS in the nearest possible landing area 

if telemetry indicates the minimum voltage, time in operation, or 

percentage of charge are not met. 

BATIERV FAILURE FAILSAFE 

{Low Battery RTH) 

The low battery level failsafe is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is 

depleted to a point that may affect the safe return of the aircraft. Users are 

advised to return home or land the aircraft immediately when prompted. The DJI 

pilot app will display a notice when a low battery warning is triggered. The aircraft 

will automatically return to the Home Point if no action is taken after a 10 second 

countdown. The user can cancel the RTH procedure by pressing the RTH button 

on the remote controller. The thresholds for these warnings are automatically 

determined based on the aircraft's current altitude and distance from the Home 

Point. 

The aircraft will land automatically if the current battery level can only support 

the aircraft long enough to descend from its current altitude. The user can still use 

the remote controller to alter the aircraft's orientation during the landing process. 

A more detailed description of indications, warnings, and thresholds is presented 

in Appendix E-Phantom 3 User Manual, page 13 and 14, of this document. 

TRANSMITIER/CONTROLLER BATIERV FAILURE 

As has been mentioned previously, through the extensive use of checklist 

procedures, Aerial Innovations of TN requires that the PIC ensure the DJI Inspire 1 

controller {ground station} will be fully charged prior to any aerial operation. Any 

monitors being used to display telemetry will also be fully charged. 

CONTROLLER BATIERV FAILSAFE 

Aerial Innovations of TN will use The DJI Inspire 1 flight control system that 

incorporates an automated failsafe system which commands the sUAS to return 

to home and land if there is a loss of remote control for 3 seconds due to battery 

failure or any other cause. When the controller battery level is critically low The 

Remote Status Indicator will blink red and sound an alert. 

25 
LOSS OF CONTROL FREQUENCY (and/or Ground Station Failure) 

To help prevent a loss of control frequency, Aerial Innovations of TN requires that 

the PIC ensure flight operations only occur within un-aided visual line of site VLOS 

at all times. Doing so will keep the sUAS well within the required minimum range 

of the DJI Inspire 1 controller/transmitter. 

LOSS OF CONTROL FREQUENCY FAILSAFE 

If the control frequency signal is lost for more than 3 seconds (sUAS out of range, 

ground station failure etc.} the DJI Inspire 1 Flight Controller has been 

programmed to switch the UAS into failsafe mode and it will 'return to home' 

(RTH) and also land: 

• If the failsafe occurs while in GPS mode according to the parameters of 

the DJIInspire 1 User/Operator Manual, the sUAS will return to the takeoff and landing area and auto-land. 

• If the fail location occurs while in A Til mode according to the parameters 

of the DJIInspire 1 User/Operator Manual, the sUAS will auto-land. 

• The RTH failsafe mechanism works by the sUAS Flight Controller saving 

the home (take-off} point automatically when the throttle stick is moved 

for the first time (after 6 or more GPS satellites have been acquireddenoted by a single red pulse from the LED or a series of continuous 

green pulses). 

The RTH failsafe function on the sUAS is tested on a weekly basis by Aerial 

Innovations of TN by switching the transmitter off during a test flight session. 

MALICIOUS OR ACCIDENTAL INTERFERENCE WITH CONTROL FREQUENCY 

As was mentioned in previous sections, through the extensive use of checklists, 

Aerial Innovations of TN requires that the PIC utilize a Spectrum Scanner to 

ensure there is no accidental or malicious radio interference. In the unlikely 

event that this should occur, the PIC will initiate the failsafe procedure mentioned 

in the previous section 

• Pilot Incapacitation - If the pilot-in-command becomes incapacitated to 

the extent that control of the sUAS becomes unviable, the sUAS will hover 

in a stationery position until the battery's second level low-voltage 

protection is triggered. At this point, the sUAS will descend and land in a 

steady, controlled manner. If an observer is present, they will have been 

26 
briefed on the sUAS's failsafe {return-to-home) mode and its activation 

(see Section on 11Crew Briefing"). 

• Aircraft Incursion - If another aircraft should enter or appears to be 

entering the Visual Line of Sight Operating Envelope VLOS, PIC will 

operate the sUAS to immediately maintain safe visual separation, and give 

way to any manned flight operation. 

FLY AWAY PROCEDURE 

A 11fly away" is defined as the loss of control transmission link where the PIC no 

longer has control or the ability to command the sUAS to remain within the 

bounds of the intended operation area. In the unlikely event that this should 

occur, the PIC will observe and record the direction of flight heading, speed, and 

altitude of the sUAS, and then follow the Incident Response Procedure as outlined 

below: 

• Crash & Incident Response While Aerial Innovations of TN takes extreme 

caution in its flight procedures to prevent a loss of control or crash, any 

incident, accident, or operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical 

boundaries as defined by the applicable COA issued must be reported to 

the FAA UAS Integration Office {AFS 80) within 24 hours. The following 

procedures will also be ensured by the PIC: 

o PIC will have on their person a copy of the local emergency 

response contact information, including fire, law 

enforcement, medical response, and the UAS Integration 

Office contact information 

27 
aer1a 

innovations 

OF TN & KY 

Appendix A 

Checklists 

28 
SITE SELECTION CHECKLIST: 

o Review applicable charts and note airspace including Special Use Airspace (SUAL 

Prohibited Areas, and nearby designated airport traffic patterns. Assess property 

boundaries within the working area and consider coordination efforts and 

documentation needed for safe operation. 

o Check for Notices to Airmen (NOTAMS) 

o Determine a weather observation source for the area. 

o Note prevailing weather conditions. 

o Assess Risk Factors. 

o Visually check the operating area and identify potential hazards: 

• Persons, vessels, trees, fencing, structures, high-tension lines, 

livestock, sensitive habitats areas, noise abatement. 

o Analyze and determine the best take off and landing zone. 

o Account for hard or soft surface conditions including sloping and terrain 

differences. 

o Establish an alternate if the primary take off and landing zone should become 

unavailable or unsuitable. 

29 
PRE-FLIGHT START-UP CHECKLIST: 

o Verify all transmitter, on-board aircraft and camera batteries are fully 

charged (confirm voltages). 

o Ensure no frequency conflicts with video and transmitter I receiver. 

o Check all control surfaces for signs of damage, loose hinges, and overall 

condition. Inspect the wings I rotors to ensure they are in good structural 

condition and properly secured. 

o Check motor I engine and mounting attachments to the airframe. 

o Inspect propellers I mounting hardware {tight) I rotor blades for chips and 

deformation. 

o Check the landing gear for damage and function. 

o Test electrical connections (plugged in and secure). 

o Ensure photo I video equipment mounting system is secure and 

operational. 

o Check location of GPS equipment controlling the autopilot. 

o Check the IMU movements in the ground control software. 

o sUAS in stabilization mode, ensure control response move toward the 

correct positions. 

o sUAS I Drone is in a level location safe for takeoff. 

o FPV I Power up ground station. 

o FPV I Power up Video receiver. 

o If using Video recorder, turn on camera system. 

o Camera settings are correct {still images, video, frame rate). 

o SD camera memory clear and inserted into the camera. 

o Action I Start filming. 

o All transmitter controls move freely in all directions. 

o All transmitter trims in neutral position. 

o All transmitter switches in correct position (typically away). 

o Transmitter throttle to zero. 

o Radio transmitter on. 

o Connect I power on battery to airframe. 

o Ensure led indicators and audible tones are correct. 

o Timer on {if applicable). 

o FPV, confirm video is in monitor I goggles. 

o Scan for nearby cars I people I animals. 

o Say "CLEAR!". 

o Arm flight controller. 

30 
o Increase throttle slightly listening for any abnormalities. 

o Short 20-30 second hover at 3-5 feet (listen for vibrations I loose items). 

o Confirm Voltage levels are correct. 

31 
PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION CHECKLIST: 

D Perform initial walk-around. 

D Inspect sUAS for cracks in joints and structural members. 

D Inspect sUAS for loose or damaged screws, ties, fasteners, straps. 

D Inspect sUAS for loose or damaged wiring. 

D Inspect sUAS for loose or damaged connections (solder, plugs, etc.). 

D Inspect prop mounts and screws and apply slight counter pressure on arms 

to check for loosened components. 

D Ensure antennas and masts are secure. 

D Inspect I clean FPV Camera and Lens and insure it is secured and 

connections are firmly attached. 

D Ensure camera settings are correct (still images, video, frame rate). 

D Ensure FPV Transmitters are secure and operational. 

D Ensure batteries are fully charged, properly seated and secured. 

D Ensure the following fail-safe equipment is functioning: 

D RTH (return to home). 

D Recovery Command Response (toggle test). 

D Firmware Airport Proximity Detection. 

D Ensure props are smooth and free of damage I defect (check blade, surface 

and hub). 

D Ensure prop adapters are tight I secure. 

D Ensure voltage alarm is connected. 

D Ensure arming I idle timeout is properly configured. 

D Ensure correct model is selected in transmitter (if applicable). 

D Check RC transmitter for the correct range and centering for all sticks. 

D Perform range test. 

32 
IN-FLIGHT CHECKLIST: 

D Basics: If flying manually, always keep your fingers on the 

controller/transmitter. 

D Never let the sUAS out of your sight even for a second. 

D Climb to a safe altitude away from potential hazards and to reduce noise 

pollution. 

D Keep aircraft at a safe operating distance from people, electric utility lines 

and buildings. 

D If the sUAS must be flown over buildings or people, use a lightweight sUAS 

and maintain a safe altitude for recovery and make every effort to minimize 

exposure. 

D Spotter: Use a spotter whenever possible and appropriate, especially when 

flying by First Person View (FPV). 

D Do not fly sUASs within distance defined by local laws of any 

private/commercial airport/helipad. 

D Do not fly around a pre-existing sUAS flying site without a frequencymanagement agreement. 

D Do not interfere with operations and traffic patterns at any airport. 

33 
LANDING CHECKLIST: 

D Regardless of whether of a manual or automated sUAS landing, scan 

landing area for potential obstruction hazards. 

D Announce out loud "Preparing to Land". 

D Use a safe descent rate and follow correct procedures to avoid a vortex 

state or settling. 

D Carefully land the aircraft away from obstructions and people. 

D Turn the power off to the aircraft and/or disconnect the batteries. 

D Turn off the transmitter. 

D Turn the power off to the photo equipment. 

D Visually check aircraft for signs of damage and/or excessive wear. 

D Remove the unused fuel if applicable. Secure the aircraft. 

D Check pictures: Verify that the sUAS camera actually took the pictures. 

0 LOG FLIGHT. 

34 
aer1a 

innovations 

OF TN & KY 

Appendix B 

Maintenance Logbook 

35 
MAINTENANCE LOGBOOK 

36 
aertal 

innovations 

OF TN & KY 

Appendix C 

Incident/ Accident Logbook 

37 
INCIDENT/ ACCIDENT LOGBOOK 

38 
aer1a 

innovations ... ~ OF TN & KY 

Appendix D 

Flight Record Logbook 

39 
FLIGHT RECORD LOGBOOK (Sample Page) 

40 
I I 

User Manual (v1.2J 

2015.3 
Using this manual 

0 Warning Lt Important :\;5: Hints and Tips ~ Reference 

The following tutorials and manuals have been produced to ensure you to make full use of your Inspire 1. 

1. Disclaimer 

2.1n the Box 

3.1nspire 1 Quick Start Guide 

4.Safety Guidelines 

5.1nspire 1 User Manual 

6.1ntelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines 

Watching all the tutorial videos and reading the Disclaimer before flight is recommended. Afterwards, 

prepare for your first flight by using the Inspire 1 Quick Start Guide. Refer to this manual for more 

comprehensive information. 

Please watch the tutorial video below to learn how to use Inspire 1 correctly and safely: 

www.dji.com/product/inspire-1/video 

Download and install the DJI Pilot app before use. Scan the OR code or visit 

"http://m.dji.net/djipilot" to download the app. 

~ firm 

For the best experience, use mobile device with Andriod V 4.1.2 or above. Requires iOS 8.0 or later. 

2 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
Contents 

Using this manual 

Legends 2 

Before Flight 2 

Watch the video tutorials 2 

Download the DJI Pilot app 2 

Product Profile 

Introduction 6 

Feature Highlights 6 

Assemble the Aircraft 7 

Aircraft Diagram 9 

Remote Controller Diagram 9 

Aircraft 

Flight Controller 12 

Flight Mode 12 

Flight Status Indicator 12 

Return to Home (RTH) 13 

Dynamic Home Point 15 

Vision Positioning System 16 

Flight Recorder 17 

Attaching and Detaching the Propellers 17 

DJI Intelligent Flight Battery 18 

Remote Controllers 

Remote Controller Profile 24 

Remote Controller Operations 24 

Dual Remote Controllers Mode 29 

Remote Controller Status LED 31 

Linking the Remote Controller 32 

Remote Controller Compliance Version 33 

Gimbal and Camera 

Camera Profile 35 

Gimbal 36 

@ 2015 [)JI All F1i;JI1cS Reserved. 3 
DJI Pilot App 

Camera 40 

Map 43 

Academy 43 

User Center 43 

Flight 

Flight Environment Requirements 45 

Flight Limits and Flight Restriction Area 45 

Preflight Checklist 49 

Calibrating the Compass 49 

Auto Take-off and Auto Landing 50 

Starting/Stopping the Motors 51 

Flight Test 51 

FAQ 

Appendix 

Specifications 57 

Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) 60 

How to Update Firmware 61 

FCC Compliance 62 

4 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved 
This chapter describes the features of 

Inspire 1, instructs you to assemble the 

aircraft and explains the components on 

the aircraft and remote controllers. 

@ 2015 DJI. All Rigl1lS RcsorvCJd 5 
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Product Profile 

The Inspire 1 is brand new quadcopter capable of capturing 4K video and transmitting an HD video 

signal (up to 2km) to multiple devices straight out of the box. Equipped with retractable landing gear, it 

can capture an unobstructed 360 degree view from its camera. The built-in camera has an integrated 

gimbal to maximize stability and weight efficiency while minimizing space. When no GPS signal is 

available, Vision Positioning technology provides hovering precision. 

Camera and Gimbal: Up to 4K video recording and 12 megapixel photo capture. Reserved mounting 

space for ND filters for better exposure control. New quick-release mount allows you to remove the 

camera with ease. 

HD Video Downlink: Low latency, HD downlink powered by an enhanced version of the DJI Lightbridge 

system. It also provides dual controllers mode. 

Landing gear: Retractable landing gear that enables an unobstructed panoramic view from the camera. 

DJI Intelligent Flight Battery: 4500 mAh DJI Intelligent Flight Battery employs new battery cells and a 

battery management system. 

Flight Controller: The next generation flight controller system provides a more reliable flight experience. 

A new flight recorder stores the flight data from each flight, and Vision Positioning enhances hovering 

precision when no GPS is available. 

Unlocking Travel Mode 

The aircraft is in Travel Mode during delivery. Follow these steps to change it to Landing Mode before 

your first flight: 

1. Insert the Intelligent Flight Battery into the battery compartment. 

2. Power on the Remote Controller and the Intelligent Flight Battery. 

3. Toggle the Transformation Switch up and down at least four times. 

4. Power off the aircraft. 

Travel Mode Togglex4 Landing Mode 

6 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

~ • Battery must be fully charged before using it for the first time. Refer to "Charging the Intelligent 

Flight Battery" (P21) for more information . 

• If you have purchased the dual remote controller version, you must use the Master remote 

controller to deactivate Travel Mode. Refer to "Setting Up Dual Remote Controllers Mode" (P30) 

section for more infromation about Master remote controller. 

• Be sure to remove the gimbal from the aircraft before switch from Landing Mode to Travel Mode . 

• Place the aircraft on the smooth and reflective surface (e.g. table or tile) before switching between 

the travel modes to the landing mode. Do not place the aircraft on the rough and sound-absorbing 

surface (e.g. carpet) before switching between the travel modes and landing mode. 

Installing Gimbal and Camera 

1. Remove Gimbal Cover. 

2. Rotate the Gimbal Lock to the unlocked position (to the right when facing the nose of the aircraft). 

3. Insert the gimbal by aligning the white mark on the Gimbal. 

4. Rotate the Gimbal Lock back into the locked position. 

~---- Gimbal Cover 

--Gimbal Lock 

--Mounting Place 

---Gimbal Connector 

Locked 

~ Ensure the Micro-SO card is correctly inserted into the camera. 

Attaching Propellers 

Attach propellers with the black nut onto motors with the black dot and spin counter-clockwise to secure. 

Attach propellers with gray nut onto motors without a black dot and spin clockwise to secure. 

@ 2015 DJI All flights ROSCIVEld. 7 

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INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

& Place all propellers onto the correct motor and tighten by hand to ensure security before flight. 

Attaching 1345s Quick-Release Propellers 

The 1345s Quick-Release propeller is the upgrade version of the propellers that greatly enhance the 

reliability of the propeller during the flight. Following the steps below to attach the 1345s Quick-Release 

propellers. 

t Install the propellers with a white dot onto the mounting plates that have a white dot, and install the 

propellers without a white dot onto the mounting plates 

~ 

that do not have a white dot. 

WithOUtWhite dot 

Without 

white dot 

2. Align the hook (A) on the propellers with the securing spring (B), then press down the propeller onto 

the mounting plate then rotate the propellers according to the lock direction until it is secured. 

Preparing Remote Controller 

Tilt the Mobile Device Holder to the desired position then adjust the antenna as shown. 

1. Press the button on the side of the Mobile Device Holder to release the clamp, adjust it to fit then attach 

your mobile device. 

2. Connect your mobile device to the remote controller with a USB cable. 

3. Plug one end of the cable into your mobile device, and the other end into the USB port on the back of 

the remote controller. 

8 © 2015 DJI. All Rigl1ts Fleserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

[1] GPS 

[2] Propeller (P17) 

[2] 

[3] [3] Motor 

[4] 

[6] [4] Front LED (P12) 

[5] Landing gear 

[7] [6] Gimbal and Camera (P35) 

[8] 

[9] 

[7] Intelligent Flight Battery (P18) 

[11]- ----[10] [8] Aircraft Micro-USB Port 

4=.~~i-- [3] 

~~~-l\---- [4] [9] ---!+--~-=-=~ 

[8] --+1---~~ '-----H----[5] 

.-------1-t--[6] [7]--~--~ 

..._-==~-~ ....... --

[9] Rear LED (P12) 

[10] Camera Micro-USB Port 

[11] Camera Micro-SO Card Slot (P35) 

[12] 

[13] [12] Vision Positioning Sensors (P16) 

[13] Aircraft Status Indicator (P13) 

[1] Antennas (P29) 

Relays aircraft control and video signal. 

[2] Mobile Device Holder 

Mounting place for your mobile device. 

[3] Control Stick 

Controls aircraft orientation. 

[4] Return Home (RTH) Button (P13) 

Press and hold the button to initiate Return to 

Home (RTH). 

[5] Transformation Switch (P27) 

Toggle the switch up or down to raise or lower 

the landing gear. 

@ 2016 D.JI All Riqhls Rose,vecl. 9 

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INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

[6] Battery Level LEOs [8] Power Button 

Displays the current battery level. 

[7] Status LED 

Used to power on or power off the remote controller. 

[9] RTH LED 

Displays the power status. Circular LED around the RTH button displays RTH status. 

[1 OJ Camera Settings Dial 

Turn the dial to adjust camera settings. 

Only functions when the remote controller is 

connected to a mobile device running the DJI 

Pilot app . 

[11] Playback Button 

[16] (17] [18] [19] 

iD Playback the captured images or videos. 

[13] --- '----[12] 

[12] Shutter Button 

Press to take a photo. If in burst mode, the 

set number of photos will be taken with one 

press. 

[13] Flight Mode Switch 

Used to switch between P, A and F mode. 

[14] Video Recording Button 

Press to start recording video. Press again to 

stop recording. 

[15] Gimbal Dial 

Use this dial to control the tilt of the gimbal. 

[16] Mini-HDMI Port 

Connect an HD compatible monitor to this 

port to get a live HD video preview of what the 

camera sees. 

[17] Micro-USB Port 

For connecting the remote controller to your 

computer. 

[18] CAN Bus Port 

Reserved for future use. 

[19] USB Port 

Connect to mobile device to access all of the 

DJI Pilot app controls and features. 

[20] GPS Module 

,------:---- (20] Used to pinpoint the location of the remote 

[22]---

10 © 2015 D.ll. All Rights f1eserved. 

controller. 

[21] Back Left Button 

Customizable button in OJI Pilot app. 

[22] Power Port 

Connect to a power source to charge the 

remote controller's internal battery. 

[23] Back Right Button 

Customizable button in DJI Pilot app. 
Aircraft 

This chapter describes the features of 

the Flight Controller, Vision Positioning 

System and the Intelligent Flight Battery. 

@ 2015 D.JI All hiqhts Reserved 11 
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0 

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Aircraft 

The Inspire 1 's flight controller is based on DJI flight controller with several enhancements such as new 

flight mode and new safe mode. Three safe modes are available: Failsafe, Return Home and Dynamic 

Home Point. These features ensure the safe return of your aircraft if the control signal is lost. A flight 

recorder stores crucial flight data for each flight. 

Three flight modes are available. The details of each flight mode are found in the section below: 

P mode (Positioning) : P mode works best when GPS signal is strong. There are three different states of P 

mode, which will be automatically selected by the Inspire 1 depending on GPS signal strength and Vision 

Positioning sensors: 

P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning both are available, and the aircraft is using GPS for positioning. 

P-OPTI: Vision Positioning is available but the GPS signal is not. Aircraft is using only Vision 

Positioning for hovering 

P-ATTI: Neither GPS or Vision Positioning available, aircraft is using only its barometer for positioning, 

so only altitude is controlled. 

A mode (Attitude): The GPS and Vision Positioning System is not used for holding position. The aircraft 

only uses its barometer to maintain altitude. If it is still receiving a GPS signal, the aircraft can automatically 

return home if the Remote Controller signal is lost and if the Home Point has been recorded successfully. 

F mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. For more information 

about IOC, refer to the IOC in Appendix. 

:\): Use the Flight Controller mode switch to change the flight mode of the aircraft, refer to the "Flight 

Mode Switch" on P27 for more information. 

The INSPIRE 1 comes with the Front LED, Rear LED and Aircraft Status Indicator. The positions of these 

LEOs are shown in the figure below: 

Front LED Rear LED 

The Front and Rear LED show the orientation of the aircraft. The Front LED displays solid red and the 

Rear LED displays solid green. 

Aircraft Status Indicator shows the system status of the flight controller. Refer to the table below for more 

information about the Aircraft Status Indicator: 

12 © 201() D,ll. All Riphts Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

:(~):~:(9)~~x ...... Red, Green and Yellow Flash Power on and self-check 

Alternatively 

,', .;:':'~~;:/?<<~_,:_', ,' ' _,; >:,~::'>'' 

•·•;;.;;:~6rr~en and YelloiJII.~ff/las 

•rfiir · · · · · · Green Flashes Slowly Safe to Fly (P mode with GPS and Vision Positioning) 

''••··; .• ~.[.:;~fe~.tq.fi~·~~·~~§~:~f~·~$~;~:~b§1t'P~i~£j··.o. rwrtn~~t·~~s)· 

·:(yY: · · · · · ·Yellow Flashes Slowly Safe to Fly (A mode but No GPS and Vision Positioning) 

:(y):- ...... Fast Yellow Flashing Remote Controller Signal Lost 

(B)···· · · Fast Red Flashing Critical Low Battery Warning 

The Return to Home (RTH) brings the aircraft back to the last recorded Home Point. There are three cases 

that will trigger RTH procedure; they are Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH and Failsafe RTH. 

Home Point 

Smart RTH 

~.ull 

The Home Point is the location at which your aircraft takes off when the 

GPS signal is strong. You can view the GPS signal strength through 

the GPS icon ( ~.ull ). If you are using the Dynamic Home Point 

setting, the Home Point will be updated to your current position as you 

move around and when the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks green. 

Using the RTH button on the remote controller (refer to "RTH button" on P28 for more information) or the 

RTH button in the DJI Pilot app when GPS is available to enables smart RTH. The aircraft return to the 

latest recorded Home Point, you may control the aircraft's orientation to avoid collision during the Smart 

RTH. Press the Smart RTH button once to start the process, press the Smart RTH button again to exit 

Smart RTH and regain the control. 

@ 2015 DJI. All Rights HoservGd. 13 

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INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Low Battery RTH 

The low battery level failsafe is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is depleted to a point that 

may affect the safe return of the aircraft. Users are advised to return home or land the aircraft immediately 

when these warnings are shown. DJI Pilot app will advise user to return the aircraft to the Home Point 

when low battery warning is triggered. Aircraft will automatically return to the Home Point if no action is 

taken after 10 seconds countdown. User can cancel the RTH by pressing once on the RTH button. The 

thresholds for these warnings are automatically determined based on the current aircraft altitude and its 

distance from the Home Point. 

Aircraft will land automatically if the current battery level can only support the aircraft to land to the ground 

from the current altitude. User can use the remote controller to control the aircraft's orientation during the 

landing process. 

The Battery Level Indicator is displayed in the OJI Pilot app, and is described below 

Low battery 

Critical Low battery level Sufficient battery 

warning(Red) levei(Green) 

I ~~~~ ~~;~~~g l Remaining flight time 

-L-~- iia 

The battery 

Power requires 

to return horne 

Battery level indicator 

Aircraft status 

• power is low. 

level warning . Please land the · indicator blinks 

RED slowly. 

the aircraft return to the 

Home point and land 

automatically, or "Cancel" to 

resume normal flight. If no 

action is taken, the aircraft 

Estimated 

remaining 

flight time 

· aircraft. 

·Estimated 

· remaining flight 

based on current 

. battery level. 

14 @ 2015 D,ll. All Rights Heserved 

N/A 

· will automatically go home 

· and land after 10 seconds. 

Remote controller will sound 

an alarm. 

N/A 

Fly the aircraft 

back and land 

it as soon as 

possible, then 

stop the motors 

and replace the 

battery. 

N/A 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

:\>: • When the critical battery level warning activates and the aircraft is descending to land 

automatically, you may push the throttle upward to hover the aircraft and navigate it to a more 

appropriate location for landing. 

• Color zones and markers on the battery level indicator reflect estimated remaining flight time 

and are adjusted automatically, according to the aircraft's current status. 

Failsafe RTH 

Failsafe RTH is activated automatically if remote controller signal (including video relay signal) is lost for 

more than 3 seconds provided that Home Point has been successfully recorded and compass is working 

normally. Return home process may be interrupted and the operator can regain control over the aircraft if 

a remote controller signal is resumed. 

Failsafe Illustration 

Blinking Green Blinking Green 

Fast Blinking Yellow Fast Blinking Yellow 

Fast Blinking Yellow 

:s~U£~o~1ng;;~tt~r•.8o:;;~rirg·1.5si;re!il 

-.,-

@ • 

Fast Blinking Yellow 

& • Aircraft automatically descends and lands if RTH is triggered when the aircraft flies within a 20 

meter (65 feet) radius of the Home Point. 

• Aircraft cannot avoid obstruction during the Failsafe RTH, therefore it is important to set an 

reasonable Failsafe altitude before each flight. Launch the DJI Pilot app and enter "Camera" 

view and select "MODE" to set the Failsafe altitude. 

• Aircraft will stop ascending and immediately return to the Home Point if you move the throttle 

stick if the aircraft reaches 20 m altitudes or beyond during Failsafe. 

Dynamic home point is useful in situations when you are in 

motion and require a Home Point that is different from the 

takeoff point. GPS module is located at the position shown in 

the figure below: 

& Ensure the space above the GPS module is not 

obstructed when using Dynamic Home Point. 

@ ~'015 Cl.JI. All Rigl1ts Reserved. 15 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

There are two options for Dynamic Home Point. 

1. Set the aircraft current coordinate as the new Home Point. 

2. Set the remote controller's coordinate as the new Home Point. 

Setting Up Dynamic Home Point 

Follow the steps below to setup Dynamic Home Point: 

1. Connect to the mobile device and launch the DJI Pilot app and go to the "Camera" page. 

2. Tap"'"and select"~", to reset the remote controller's coordinates as the new Home Point. 

3. Tap"'"and select"4.9", to reset the aircraft's coordinates as the new Home Point. 

4. The aircraft status indicator blinks green to show Home Point is set successfully. 

DJI Vision Positioning is a positioning system that uses ultrasonic and image data to help the aircraft 

identify its current position. With the help of Vision Positioning, your Inspire 1 can hover in place more 

precisely and fly indoors or in other environments where there is no GPS signal available. The main 

components of DJI Vision Positioning are located on the bottom of your Inspire 1, including [1]two sonar 

sensors and[2]one monocular camera. 

Using Vision Positioning 

Vision Positioning is activated automatically when the Inspire 1 is powered on. No manual action is 

required. Vision Positioning is typically used in the indoor environment where no GPS is available. By 

using the sensors on the Vision Positioning system, Inspire 1 can perform precision hovering even when 

no GPS is available. 

16 © 2015 Dell. All Rights Reserved 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Follow the steps below to use Vision Positioning: 

1. Toggle the switch to "P" as shown the figure to the right: 

2. Place the Inspire 1 on a flat surface. Notice that the Vision Positioning system 

cannot work properly on surfaces without pattern variations. 

3. Power on the Inspire 1. The aircraft status indicator will flash twice in green light, 

which indicates the Vision Positioning system is ready. Gently push the throttle up 

to lift off, and the Inspire 1 will hover in place. 

& The performance of your Inspire 1 's Vision Positioning System is subject to the surface you are 

flying over. The ultrasonic waves may not be able to accurately measure the distance over sound 

absorbing materials, and the camera may not function correctly in suboptimal environments. The 

aircraft will switch from "P" mode to "A" mode automatically if both GPS and Vision Positioning 

System are not available. So operate the aircraft cautiously when in any of the following situations: 

• Flying over monochrome surfaces (e.g. pure black, pure white, pure red, pure green). 

• Flying over a highly reflective surfaces. 

• Flying at high speeds( over 8m/s at 2 meters or over 4m/s at 1 meter). 

• Flying over water or transparent surfaces. 

• Flying over moving surfaces or objects. 

• Flying in an area where the lighting changes frequently or drastically. 

• Flying over extremely dark (lux< 10) or bright (lux> 10,000) surfaces. 

• Flying over surfaces that can absorb sound waves (e.g. thick carpet). 

• Flying over surfaces without clear patterns or texture. 

• Flying over surfaces with identical repeating patterns or textures (e.g. tiles with same design). 

• Flying over inclined surfaces that will deflect sound waves away from the aircraft. 

• In the event of loss of remote controller's signal, the aircraft will hover for 8 seconds and then 

auto-land if it is in "P" mode. 

:\j: • Keep the sensors clean at all times. Dirt or other debris may adversely affect the effectiveness 

of the sensors. 

• The effective hovering altitudes of the aircraft is from 0 to 2.5 meters. 

• Vision Positioning system may not function properly when the aircraft is flying over water. 

• Vision Positioning system may not be able to recognize pattern on the ground in low light 

conditions (less than 1001ux). 

• Do not use other ultrasonic devices with frequency of 40 KHz when Vision Positioning system is 

in operation. 

• Vision Positioning system may not be able to stabilize the aircraft when flying close to the 

ground (below 0.5 meters) in fast speed. 

0 Keep the animals away from the aircraft when Vision Positioning system is activated. The sonar 

sensor emits high frequency sound that is only audible to some animals. 

Flight data is automatically stored in the internal storage device of the aircraft. User can gain access to 

these data through the DJI Pilot app. This includes flight duration, orientation, distance, aircraft status 

information, speed, and other parameters. 

Use only DJI approved propellers with your Inspire 1. The grey or black nut on the propeller indicates 

the rotation direction of the propeller and where it should be attached. To attach the propellers properly, 

(Q) 2015 DJI All Rigl1ts Reserved. 17 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

match the nut with the dots on the motors of your Inspire 1: 

Legends B'l Lock: Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to mount and tighten 

'b 'l Unlock: Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to loosen and remove 

Attaching the Propellers 

1. Attach the propellers with a grey nut onto a motor without a black dot and spin the propellers clockwise 

~ to secure them in place. Attach the propellers with a black nut onto a motor with a black dot and spin ...., 

~ the propellers counter clockwise to secure its position. Be sure to completely tighten each propeller by 

OJ 

;:I:' hand before flight. 

& . Ensure propellers are attached to its corresponding motors, otherwise the aircraft cannot take off. 

• Handling the propellers with care . 

• Manually tighten each of the propellers on the corresponding motors to ensure it is attached firmly. 

Detaching the Propellers 

Hold the motor still. Then spin the propeller in the unlock direction indicated on the propeller itself. 

Detaching 1345s Quick-Release Propellers 

Press the 1345s Quick-Release propellers downward firmly then rotate the propeller in the unlock 

direction to unlock the propellers. 

& • Check that the propellers and motors are installed correctly and firmly before every flight. 

• Ensure that all propellers are in good condition before each flight. DO NOT use old, chipped, 

or broken propellers. 

• To avoid injury, STAND CLEAR of and DO NOTtouch propellers or motors when they are spinning. 

• ONLY use original DJI propellers for a better and safer flight experience. 

The DJI Intelligent Flight Battery has a capacity of 4500mAh, voltage of 22.2V, and smart chargedischarge functionality. It can only be charged with an appropriate DJI approved charger. 

Intelligent Flight Battery Charger 

18 @ 2015 OJ I. All Rights Fleserved. 
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INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

& Battery must be fully charged before using it for the first time. Refer to "Charging the Intelligent 

Flight Battery" P21 for more information . 

OJI Intelligent Flight Battery Functions 

1. Battery Level Display: LEOs display the current battery level. 

2. Battery Life Display: LEOs display the current battery power cycle. 

3. Auto-discharging Function: The battery automatically discharges to below 65% of total power when it 

is idle (press the power button to check battery level will cause battery to exit idle state) for more than 

10 days to prevent swelling. It takes around 2 days to discharge the battery to 65%.1t is normal to feel 

moderate heat emitting from the battery during the discharge process. Discharge thresholds can be 

set in the DJI Pilot app. 

4. Balanced Charging: Automatically balances the voltage of each battery cell when charging. 

5. Over charge Protection: Charging automatically stops when the battery is fully charged. 

6. Temperature Detection: The battery will only charge when the temperature is between 0 °C(32°F) and 

40°C (104°F). 

7. Over Current Protection: Battery stops charging when high amperage (more than 10A) is detected. 

8. Over Discharge Protection: Discharging automatically stops when the battery voltage reaches 18V to 

prevent over-discharge damage 

9. Short Circuit Protection: Automatically cuts the power supply when a short circuit is detected. 

10. Battery Cell Damages Protection: DJI Pilot app shows warning message when damaged battery cell 

is detected. 

11. Battery Information History: Show the last 32 entries of battery information records that include warning 

messages and so on. 

12. Sleep Mode: Sleep mode is entered after 10 minutes of inactivity to save power. 

13. Communication: Battery voltage, capacity, current, and other relevant information is provided to the 

aircraft's to the main controller. 

& Refer to Disclaimer and Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guide/ins before use. Users take full 

responsibility for all operations and usage. 

Using the Battery 

Powering ON/OFF 

Powering On: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to power on. The 

Power LED will turn red and the Battery Level Indicators will display the current battery level. 

Powering Off: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to power off. 

~jl 2015 DJI. All Rigrrts R0served. 19 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Low Temperature Notice: 

1. The performance of the intelligent Flight Battery is significantly reduced when flying in a low 

temperature environments (those with air temperatures below soC). Ensure that the battery is fully 

charged and the cell voltage is at 4.43 V before each flight. 

2. Using the Intelligent Flight Battery in extremely low temperature environments (those with air 

temperatures below -1 ooC) is not recommended. When flying in environments with temperatures 

between soc and -10°C, the Intelligent Flight Battery should be able to achieve the appropriate voltage 

levels (above 4.2 V), but it is recommended that you apply the included insulation sticker to the battery 

in order to prevent a rapid drop in temperatures. 

3. If the DJI Pilot app displays the "Critical Low Battery Level Warning" when flying in low temperature 

?. environments, stop flying and land the aircraft immediately. You will still be able to control the aircraft's 

o movement when this warning is triggered. 

~ 4. Store the Intelligent Flight Battery in a room temperature environment and ensure that its temperature 

exceeds soc before using it in the low temperature environment. 

S. When using the Inspire 1 in a low temperature environment, begin by allowing the aircraft to hover at a 

low altitude, for approximately one minute, to heat the battery. 

6. To ensure optimum performance, keep the Intelligent Flight Battery's core temperature above 20°C 

when in use. 

& In cold environments, insert the battery into the battery compartment and allow the aircraft to 

warm up for approximately 1-2 minutes before taking off. 

Checking the battery level 

The Battery Level Indicators display how much remaining power the battery has. When the battery is 

powered off, press the Power Button once. The Battery Level Indicators will light up to display the current 

battery level. See below for details. 

E:§ The Battery Level Indicators will also show the current battery level during charging and 

discharging. The indicators are defined below. ,., 

: LED is on. -~:- : LED is flashing. ,,, 

~ : LED is off. 

20 © 2015 [),II. All Rights FlEJserved 
• 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Battery life 

The battery life indicates how many more times the battery can be discharged and recharged before 

it must be replaced. When the battery is powered off, press and hold the Power Button for 5 seconds 

to check the battery life. The Battery Level Indicators will light up and/or blink as described below for 2 

seconds: 

& When battery life reaches 0%, it can no longer be used. 

ffi For more information about the battery, launch DJI Pilot app and check the information under the 

battery tab. 

Charging the Intelligent Flight Battery 

1. Connect Battery Charger to a power source ( 1 00-240V 50/60Hz). 

2. Open the Protection Cap and connect the Intelligent Flight Battery to the Battery Charger. If the battery 

level is above 95%, turn on the battery before charging. 

3. The Battery Level Indicator will display the current battery level during charging. 

4. The Intelligent Flight Battery is fully charged when Battery Level Indicators are all off. 

5. Air cool the Intelligent Flight Battery after each flight. Allow its temperature to drop to room temperature 

before storing it for an extended period. 

& • Do not charge the Intelligent Flight Battery and remote controller with standard charger (model: 

A 14-1 OOP1 A) at the same time, otherwise the charger may overheat. 

• Always turn off the battery before inserting it or removing it from the Inspire 1. Never insert or 

remove a battery when it is powered on. 

Power Outlet 

Intelligent Flight Battery Charger 

@ 2015 D.JI. All Riglrts Ruserved. 21 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

)> 

o """' Charging Protection LED Display 0) 

;::::; The table below shows battery protection mechanisms and corresponding LED patterns. 

After any of the above mentioned protection issues are resolved, press the button to turn off the Battery 

Level Indicator. Unplug the Intelligent Flight Battery from the charger and plug it back in to resume 

charging. Note that you do not need to unplug and plug the charger in the event of a room temperature 

error, the charger will resume charging when the temperature falls within the normal range. 

& OJI does not take any responsibility for damage caused by third-party chargers. 

:c:j: How to discharge your Intelligent Flight Battery: 

To effectively calibrate the battery capacity, it is recommended to charge and discharge the 

battery thoroughly for every 10 charge-and-discharge cycle. User should install the battery onto 

the aircraft and then power on the aircraft to initiate the discharge process, discharge the battery 

until the aircraft is powered off automatically. User should then fully charge the battery to ensure 

the battery is working at its optimal. 

Slow: Place the Intelligent Flight Battery into the Inspire 1 's Battery Compartment and power it 

on. Leave it on until there is less than 5% of power left, or until the battery can no longer 

be turned on. Launch the DJI Pilot app to check battery level. 

Rapid: Fly the Inspire 1 outdoors until there is less than 5% of power left, or until the battery can 

no longer be turned on. 

22 © 201b D.ll. All Rights Reserved. 
Remote Controllers 

This chapter describes the features 

of the remote controller that includes 

aircraft and remote controller operations 

and dual remote controller mode. 

11?)2015 D.JI. All Rigllts Roservod. 23 
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Remote Controller 

The Inspire 1 Remote Controller is a multi-function wireless communication device that integrates the 

video downlink ground system and aircraft Remote Controller system. The video downlink and aircraft 

Remote Controller system operate at 2.4 GHz with maximum transmission distance of 2km. The remote 

controller features a number of camera functions, such as taking and previewing photos and video, and 

controlling gimbal motions. The remote controller is powered by a 2S rechargeable battery. The current 

battery level is displayed by LEOs on the front panel of the remote control. 

rn -

& 

• Compliance Version: The Remote Controller is compliant with both CE and FCC regulations. 

• Operating Mode: Control can be set to Mode 1 , Mode 2. 

• Mode 1: The right stick serves as the throttle. 

• Mode 2: The left stick serves as the throttle. 

Do not operate more than 3 aircrafts within in the same area (size equivalent to a soccer field) to 

prevent transmission interference . 

Powering On And Off The Remote Controller 

The Inspire 1 remote controller is powered by a 2S rechargeable battery with a capacity of 6000mAh. The 

battery level is indicated by the Battery Level LEOs on the front panel. Follow the steps below to power on 

your remote controller: 

1. When powered off, press the Power Button once and the Battery Level LEOs will display the current 

battery level. 

2. Then, press and hold the Power Button to power on the remote controller. 

3. The Remote Controller will beep when it powers on. The Status LED will blink green (slave remote 

controller blinks solid purple) rapidly, indicating that the remote controller is linking to the aircraft. The 

Status LED will show a solid green light when linking is completed. 

4. Repeat step 2 to power off the remote controller after finish using it. 

Charging Remote Controller 

Charge the remote controller via supplied charger. 

24 © 2011) D . .! I. All f1ighls Fleserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Power Outlet 

Charger 

Power Button 

Controlling Camera 

Shoot videos or images and adjust camera settings via the Shutter Button, Camera Settings Dial, Playback 

Button and Video Recording Button on the remote control. 

[1] Camera Settings Dial 

Turn the dial to quickly adjust camera settings such as ISO and shutter speed without letting go of the 

remote controller. Move the dial button to left or right to view the pictures or videos in playback mode. 

[2] Playback Button 

Press to view images or videos that have already been captured. 

[3] Shutter Button 

Press to take a photo. If burst mode is activated, multiple photos will be taken with a single press. 

[4] Recoding Button 

Press once to start recording video, then press again to stop recording. 

Controlling Aircraft 

This section explains how to use the various features of the remote controller. The Remote Controller is set 

to Mode 2 by default. 

@ 20 IG DJI. All Riqlns Reserved 25 

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EE Stick Neutral/ mid point: Control sticks of the Remote Controller are placed at the central position. 

Move the Stick: The control stick is pushed away from the central position. 

• @ 

s 

@ 

Moving the left stick up and down changes the 

aircraft's elevation. 

Push the stick up to ascend and down to descend. 

Push the throttle stick up to takeoff . 

When both sticks are centered, the Inspire 1 will 

hover in place. 

The more the stick is pushed away from the 

center position, the faster the Inspire 1 will change 

elevation. Always push the stick gently to prevent 

sudden and unexpected elevation changes . 

Moving the left stick to the left or right controls the 

rudder and rotation of the aircraft. 

Push the sick left to rotate the aircraft counter 

clock-wise, and push the stick right to rotate the 

aircraft clockwise. If the stick is centered, the 

Inspire 1 will stay facing its current direction. 

The more the stick is pushed away from the center 

position, the faster the Inspire 1 will rotate. 

Moving the right stick up and down changes the 

i;;~~;i~?m:~ aircraft's forward and backward pitch. 

+ Push the stick up to fly forward and down to fly 

backward. The Inspire 1 will hover in place if the stick 

is centered. 

Push the stick further away from the center position for 

a larger pitch angle (maximum 35°) and faster flight. 

Moving the right stick control left and right changes 

the aircraft's left and right pitch. 

Push left to fly left and right to fly right. The Inspire 1 

will hover in place if the stick is centered. 

Push the stick further away from the center position for 

a larger pitch angle (maximum 35°) and faster flight. 

Gimbal Dial: Turn the dial to the right, and the 

camera will shift to point upwards. Turn the 

dial to the left, and the camera will shift to point 

downwards. The camera will remain in its current 

position when dial is static. 

26 @ 2015 D,ll. All Rights Reserved 
Flight Mode Switch 

Toggle the switch to select the desired flight mode. 

You may choose between; P mode, F mode and A 

mode. 

_/--:_; 

p C::::!::::9 Pmode 

(;\.._ 

F~ 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

P mode (Positioning): P mode works best when GPS signal is strong. There are three different states of P 

mode, which will be automatically selected by the Inspire 1 depending on GPS signal strength and Vision 

Positioning sensors: 

P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning both are available, and the aircraft is using GPS for positioning. 

P-OPTI: Vision Positioning is available but the GPS signal is not. Aircraft is using only Vision 

Positioning for hovering 

P-ATTI: Neither GPS or Vision Positioning available, aircraft is using only its barometer for positioning, 

so only altitude is controlled. 

A mode (Attitude): The GPS and Vision Positioning System is not used for holding position. The aircraft 

only uses its barometer to maintain altitude. If it is still receiving a GPS signal, the aircraft can automatically 

return home if the Remote Controller signal is lost and if the Home Point has been recorded successfully. 

F mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. For more information 

about IOC, refer to the IOC in Appendix. 

The Flight Mode Switch is locked in P mode by default. To unlock the switch, launch the DJI Pilot app, 

enter the "Camera" page, tap "MODE", and then activate "Multiple Flight Mode" . 

Transformation Switch I RTH Button 

The Transformation Switch I RTH Button combination serves two functions. Toggle the switch up or down 

to raise or lower the landing gear. Or, press the button to activate the Return to Home (RTH) procedure. 

Transformation Switch 

This switch has two positions. The effect of toggling the switch to any of these positions is defined below: 

\ J 

Lower Raise 

1. Raise: Raise the landing gear to its upper most position. 

<!5) 2ll151J.JI. All Riqr1ts Reserved. 27 

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2. Lower: The landing gear will lower to its lowest position for landing. 

( 

Lt. Do not raise the landing gear when the aircraft is on the ground. Ensure the landing gear is 

lowered before landing. 

RTH button 

Press and hold this button to start the Return to Home (RTH) procedure. The LED around the RTH Button 

will blink white to indicate the aircraft is entering RTH mode. The aircraft will then return to the last recorded 

Home Point. Press this button again to cancel the RTH procedure and regain the control of the aircraft. 

Connecting Mobile Device 

Tilt the Mobile Device Holder to the desired position. Press the button on the side of the Mobile Device Holder 

to release the clamp, and then place your mobile device into the clamp. Adjust the clamp to secure your 

mobile device. Then connect your mobile device to the remote controller with a USB cable. Plug one end of 

the cable into your mobile device, and the other end into the USB port on the back of the remote controller. 

28 © 2015 D.ll. All Rights Reserved 
P' 

INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Optimal Transmission Range 

The signal transmission between aircraft and remote controller perform best within the range that 

displayed in the picture shown below: 

Optimal Transmission Range 

Strong Weak 

Ensure the aircraft is flying within the optimal transmission range. Adjust the distance and position 

between the operator and the aircraft to achieve optimal transmission performance. 

More than one remote controller can connect to the same aircraft in Dual Remote Controller mode. In 

Dual Controllers mode, the "Master" remote controller operator controls the orientation of the aircraft, while 

the "Slave" remote controller controls the movement of the gimbal and camera operation. When multiple 

"slave" remote controllers (max of 6) are connect to the aircraft, only the first connected "slave" remote 

controller is able to control the gimbal, the remaining "slave" remote controller can view the live feed video 

from the aircraft and set the camera parameters, but they cannot control the gimbal. 

,. ..... --.... ----... 

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INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

& Use the gimbal dial on the remote controller to control the pitch movement of the camera in the 

single remote controller mode, however, you cannot control the pan movement of the camera. 

Setting Up Dual Remote Controllers Mode 

Dual Remote Controllers mode is disabled by default. Users must enable this feature on the "Master" 

remote controller by through the DJI Pilot app. Follow the steps below for setup: 

"Master" Remote Controller: 

1. Connect the remote controller to your mobile device and launch the DJI Pilot app. 

2. Go to the Camera page, and tap ~~ 11 111 to enter the remote controller settings window. 

3. Tap "Set RC Status" to enable Master-and-Slave mode. 

4. Select "Master" in the "Set RC Status" section to set the remote controller as "Master" remote controller. 

RC Settings X 

[ RC Control Settings >] 

Master and Slave 

Set RC Status [ OFF Mf§M Slave 

RC Name T12254 Connection Password [,_ __ 1_2_34 _ _, 

Slave RC List 

5. Enter the connection password for the "Slave" remote controller. 

"Slave" Remote Controller: 

1. Tap "Search for Master Controller" to search the "Master" remote controller. 

RC Sett1ngs X 

[ RC Control Setting >] 

Master and Slave 

Set RC Status 

RC Name S88642 

Request Control 

Search for Master Controller 

Master RC List 

30 © 2015 D.JI. All Rights Reserved 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

& Remote controller cannot link to the aircraft if the remote controller is set as "Slave". Meanwhile, 

the "Slave" remote controller cannot control the orientation of the aircraft. Reset the remote 

controller to "Master" in DJI Pilot app it you wish to link the remote controller to the aircraft. 

2. Search the "Master" remote controller in the surrounding area in the "Request Control" section. 

RC Settmgs X 

[ RC Control Settings >] 

Master and Slave 

Set RC Status 

RC Name 888642 

Request Control 

Search for Master Controller 

Master RC List 

[ v T12254 

3. Select the "Master" remote controller from the "Master RC List" and input the connection password to 

connect to the desired "Master" remote controller. 

v T12254 Connection Password 1234 

Master RC List 

The Status LED reflects connection status between Remote Controller and aircraft. The RTH LED shows 

the Return to Home status of the aircraft. The table below contains details on these indicators. 

~ ([)) ~ 

(@) $))}----Jr--- RTH LED 

Status LED --·----""~;;;:;;;;;;;;;;;;~~==""" 

(ij) 2015 DJI. All Riqhts Reserved. 31 

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:(~)-Solid Red f chime 

·tcf····· .. · .......... ··. ,· .... · .~,~Wi-~$ol!dGreen. 

·~)--Solid Purple D-D-

:(~) · · · · ··Slow Blinking Red D-D-D· · · · · · 

The remote controller set as "Master" but it is not 

connected with the aircraft. 

~·!:here~~te conttoller set'as"Mast~·~'\and:lt•ilconnected ;~wiffi tfi~·:~ifc@u;,,;., r . . . . . •• • . . 

"fie''' 

The remote controller set as "Slave" but it is not 

connected with the aircraft. 

Remote controller error. 

:(Vj),: -Solid White f chime Aircraft is returning home. 

. 8•;.·; ·. ···~·· -··.··•·· •··•• §fnpr~d·~ei~m:tp-~6~e'•t9~~~6~.'td,ths;aifcraft;::·-··· 

(Vj; ...... Blinking White DD ...... Aircraft Return to Home in progress. 

Lt. The Remote Status Indicator will blink red, sound an alert, when the battery level is critically low. 

The remote controller is linked to your aircraft before delivery. Linking is only required when using a new 

remote controller for the first time. Follow these steps to link a new remote controller: 

1. Power on the remote controller and connect to the mobile device. Launch DJI Pilot app. 

2. Power on the Intelligent Flight Battery. 

3. Enter "Camera" view and tap on and then tap "Linking Remote Controller" button as shown below. 

< RC Control Setting X 

Remote Control Calibration > 

Stick Mode > 

Default stick mode is Mode 2, changing stick modes alters the way the aircraft is controlled. 

Do not change unless familiar with your new mode. 

C1 I Gimbal Pitch/Yaw 

32 @ 2015 D.ll. All Rights Reserved. 

C2 I Reset gimbal yaw 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back 

of the remote controller. 
INSPIRE 1 User !VIanual 

4. The remote controller is ready to link. The Remote Controller Status Indicator blinks blue and "beep" 

sound is emitted. 

< RC Control Sett1ng X 

Remote Control Calibration > 

Stick Mode > 

Searching for aircraft frequency, 

Default stick mode is Mode timeout in 54 seconds ircraft is controlled. 

Do not change unless famili 

Press the linking button on the aircraft 

C1 Gimbal Pitc 

'-------1 

to link this remote controller 

Cancel 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back 

of the remote controller. 

5. Locate the Linking button on the front of the aircraft, as shown in the figure shown below. Press the 

Linking button to start linking. The Remote Controller Status Indicator will display solid green if Link is 

succeed. 

& . Remote controller cannot link to the aircraft if the remote controller is set as "Slave". Meanwhile, 

the "Slave" remote controller cannot control the orientation of the aircraft. Reset the remote 

controller to "Master" in OJI Pilot app if you wish to link the remote controller to the aircraft. 

• Remote controller will disconnect from the linked aircraft if a new remote controller is linked to 

the same aircraft. 

The remote controller is compliant with both CE and FCC requirements. 

(i5.)2015 DJI All Riotns Heservod 33 

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Gimbal and Camera 

This chapter provides the technical 

specifications of the camera and explains 

the working mode of the gimbal. 

34 © 2015 D,ll. All Rights Reserved. 
Camera and Gimbal 

The on-board camera supports 4K video capture up to 4096x2160p24 and 12M pixel photos capture by 

using the 1/2.3 inch CMOS sensor. You may export the video in either MOV or MP4 format for editing. 

Available picture shooting modes include burst, continuous, and timer mode. A live preview of what the 

camera is seeing before you shoot videos and pictures is supported through the DJI Pilot App. 

Camera Micro-SO Card Slot 

To store your photos and videos, plug in the micro-SO card into the slot shown below before powering on 

the Inspire 1. The Inspire 1 comes with a 16GB micro-SO card and supports up to a 64GB micro-SO card. 

A UHS-1 type micro-SO card is recommended, because the fast read and write capability of these cards 

enables you to store high-resolution video data. 

0 Do not remove micro-SO card from the Inspire 1 when it is powered on. 

Camera Data Port 

Power on the Inspire 1 and then connect a USB cable to the Camera Data Port to download photos or 

videos from the camera to your computer. 

~ Power on the aircraft before attempting to download the files. 

(ij) 20 15 DJ I All Rights Rosorvod. 35 

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Camera Operation 

Use the Shutter and Record button on the remote controller to shoot the images or the videos through the 

DJI Pilot app. For more information about how to use these buttons, refer to "Controlling Camera" P25. 

NO Filter 

Attach an ND filter to the front of the camera to reduce over-exposure and "jello" effect. 

Gimbal Profile 

The 3-axis Gimbal provides a steady platform for the attached camera, allowing you to capture stabilized 

images and video. The Gimbal can tilt the camera up to 120 degrees and rotate 360 degrees. 

Use the gimbal dial on the remote controller to control pitch movement of the camera by default. Note that 

you cannot control the pan motion of the camera by default. Enable the "Master-and-Slave" mode and 

set the remote controller to "Slave" state if you wish to control both the pan and pitch movement of the 

camera. 

& Use the gimbal dial on the remote controller to control the pitch movement of the camera in the 

single remote controller mode, however, you cannot control the pan movement of the camera. 

Pan Control 

Follow the instructions below to use the gimbal dial to control the pan movement of the gimbal: 

1. Power on the aircraft and remote control, launch DJI Pilot app and enter "Camera" page. 

2. Tap "RC Control Settings" icon and select either C1 or C2 customizable button as the gimbal pitch/ 

yaw switching button. 

3. Select "Gimbal Pitch/Yaw" from the dropdown list. 

36 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

< RC Control Sett1ng X 

Remote Control Calibration > 

Stick Mode > 

Default stick mode is Mode 2, changing stick modes alters the way the aircraft is controlled. 

Do not change unless familiar with your new mode. 

C1 [L__G __ im_b_a_IP_i_tc_hN __ a_w __ ~ C2 [ Reset gimbal yaw L-----~~--~--~ 

You can customize the C1 and C2 buttons on the back 

of the remote controller. 

Press C1 or C2 button to switch from pitch mode to yaw mode. You may use the gimbal dial to pan the 

gimbal under yaw mode. Press C1 or C2 again to exit yaw mode. 

Using DJI Pilot App to Control Gimbal 

Follow the steps below to use DJI Pilot app to control the gimbal orientation: 

1. Launch DJI Pilot app, enter "Camera" page. 

2. Tap and press on the screen until a blue circle is shown. 

3. Slide to control the gimbal orientation within the "Camera" page as shown below. 

~o11ll ~CL •• •• 

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(i;) 2015 DJI All Riqhw Fleservod. 37 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Gimbal Operation Modes 

Three Gimbal operation modes are available. Switch between the different operation modes on the 

Camera page of the DJI Pilot App. Note that your mobile device must be connected to the remote 

controller for changes to take effect. Refer to the table below for details: 

Pitch 

Follow Mode 

FPV Mode 

Pan 

The angle between Gimbal's orientation and aircraft's nose remains 

constant at all times. One user alone can control the pitch motion of the 

Gimbal, but a second user is required to control the pan motion using a 

second remote controller. 

The Gimbal will lock to the movements of the aircraft to provide a FirstPerson-View flying experience. 

The Gimbal's motion is independent of the aircraft's orientation. One user 

Free Mode alone can control the pitch motion of the Gimbal, but a second user is 

required to control the pan motion using a second remote controller. 

Tap to force the Gimbal orientation to re-align with aircraft's orientation 

Re-alignment by panning from gimbal's current orientation. Pitch angle will remain 

unchanged during the re-alignment. 

Lt, • Gimbal motor error may occur in these situations: (1) Gimbal is placed on uneven ground. (2) 

Gimbal has received an excessive external force, e.g. a collision. Please take off from flat, open 

ground and protect the gimbal after powering up. 

• Flying in heavy fog or cloud may make the gimbal wet, leading to a temporary failure. The 

gimbal will recover when it dries out. 

38 © 2015 D,ll. All Rights Reserv0d 
DJIPilotApp 

This chapter describes the four main 

GUI of the DJI Pilot app. 

@ 2015 D.J1 All Rights Reserved 39 
)> 

D 

D 

DJ I Pi lot App 

The DJI Pilot app is a new mobile app designed specifically for the Inspire 1. Use this app to control the 

gimbal, camera and other features of your flight system. The app also comes with Map, Store a User Center, 

for configuring your aircraft and sharing your content with friends. It is recommended that you use a tablet 

for the best experience. 

United States 

Mountain View 

B . . . oiREdr6iV . 

The Camera page contains a live HD video feed from the Inspire 1 's camera. You can also configure 

various camera parameters from the Camera page. 

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] 

[9] 

[10] 

[12] [11] 

40 © 2015 IJ,JI. All Rights Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

[1] Flight Mode 

8: The text next to this icon indicates the current flight mode. 

Tap to configure the MC (Main Controller) Settings. These settings allow you to modify flight limits and 

set the gain values. 

[2] GPS Signal Strength 

ull: This icon shows the current strength of GPS signals. Green bars indicate adequate GPS 

strength. 

[3] IOC Settings 

~ CL: This icon displays the IOC setting when the aircraft has entered F-mode. Tap to view the IOC 

settings menu and select the desired IOC setting. 

[4] System Status 

: This icon indicates the current aircraft system status and GPS signal strength. 

[5] Battery Level Indicator 

-o--o-o : The battery level indicator provides a dynamic display of the battery level. The colored 

zones on the battery level indicator represent the power levels needed to carry out different functions. 

[6] Remote Controller Signal 

~:;.. 11 111: This icon shows the strength of remote controller's signal. 

[7] HD Video Link Signal Strength 

1}@:;..11111: This icon shows the strength of the HD video downlink connection between the aircraft and 

the remote controller. 

[8] Battery Level 

1ft 1 00%: This icon shows the current battery level. 

Tap to view the battery information menu, set the various battery warning thresholds, and view the 

battery warning history. 

[9] General Settings 

:: : Tap this icon to view the General Settings page. From this page, you can set flight parameters, 

reset the camera, enable the quick view feature, adjust the gimbal roll value, and toggle the flight 

route display. 

[1 0] Camera Operation Bar 

Shutter and Recording Settings 

1!0 :Tap to enter various camera value settings, including color space for the recording, resolution 

of the videos, image size and so on. 

Shutter 

e: Tap this button to take a single photo. Press and hold this button to select single shot, triple shot 

or time-lapsed shooting modes. 

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INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Record 

: Tap once to start recording video, then tap again to stop recording. You can also press the 

Video Recording Button on the remote controller, which has the same functionality. 

Playback 

[8 : Tap to enter the playback page. You can preview photos and videos as soon as they are 

captured. 

Camera Settings 

~;::Tap to set ISO, shutter and auto exposure values of the camera. 

[11] Vision Positioning 

~ : This icon shows the distance between the surface and the Vision Positioning System's sensors. 

[12] Flight Telemetry 

u The Vision Positioning Status icon is highlighted when the Vision Positioning is in operation. 

Flight attitude is indicated by the flight attitude icon. 

( 1) The red arrow shows which direction the aircraft is facing. 

(2) Light blue and dark blue areas indicate pitch. 

(3) The angle of the boundary between the light blue and dark blue areas indicates the roll angle. 

[13] Map 

Display the flight path of the current flight. Tap to switch from the Camera GUI to the Map GUI. 

[14] Home Point Settings 

0 .. 200m ..__. 

' : Tap this button to reset the current home point. You may choose to set the aircraft take-off 

location, the remote controller's current position, or the aircraft's current position as the Home Point. 

[15] Return to Home (RTH) 

cf; : Initiate RTH home procedure. Tap to have the aircraft return to the latest home point. 

[16] Gimbal Operation Mode 

Refer to "Gimbal Operation Mode" P38 for more information. 

42 @ 201(5 IJ.II. All Rrghts Reserved. 
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[17] Auto Takeoff/Landing 

.1/i.: Tap to initiate auto takeoff or landing. 

[18] Livestream 

~: Livestream icon indicates the current video feed is broadcasting live on You Tube. Be sure the 

mobile data service is available on the mobile device. 

[19] Back 

~ :Tap to return to the main GUI. 

Director is an automatic video editor built into the DJI Pilot app. After recording several video clips, simply 

tap "Director" from the app's home screen. You can then select a template and a specified number of 

clips, which are automatically combined to create a short film that can be shared immediately. 

Tap "Store" to visit the official DJI Online Store to see the latest information about DJI products and easily 

buy new products. 

Sync pictures and videos to your mobile device, view flight logs, and check your DJI account status in 

"Discovery". Use your registered DJI account to login to "Discovery". 

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Flight 

This chapter describes the flight safety 

and flight restrictions. 

44 © 2015 Dell. All Righls Reserved. 
Flight 

Once pre-flight preparation is complete, it is recommended to use the flight simulator to learn how to fly 

safely. Ensure that all flights are carried out in a suitable location. 

1. Do not use the aircraft in severe weather conditions. These include wind speed exceeding 10m/s , 

snow, rain and smog. 

2. Only fly in open areas. Tall buildings and steel structures may affect the accuracy of the on-board 

compass and GPS signal. 

3. Avoid from obstacles, crowds, high voltage power lines, trees or bodies of water. 

4. Minimize electromagnetic interference by not flying in area with high levels of electromagnetism, 

including mobile phone base stations or radio transmission towers. 

5. Aircraft and battery performance is subject to environment factor such as air density and temperature. 

Be very careful when flying 14700 feet (4500 meters) or more above sea level as battery and aircraft 

performance may be reduced. 

6. The Inspire 1 cannot operate within the polar areas in "P" mode. 

Flight limits on height and distance can be set. The details of these flight limits are described in the following 

section. 

All unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operators should abide by all regulations from such organizations as 

the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), FAA and their own national airspace regulations. For 

safety reasons, the flight limits function is enabled by default to help users use this product safely and 

legally. The flight limits function includes height limits, distance limits and No Fly Zones. 

When operating in P Mode, height, distance limits and No Fly Zones work together to manage flight. In A 

mode only height limits work and flights cannot go higher than 120 meters. 

Max Height & Radius Limits 

Max Height & Radius limit flying height and distance, and the user may change these settings in the 

DJI Pilot App. Once complete, your Inspire 1 will fly in a restricted cylinder that is determined by these 

settings. The tables below show the details of these limits. 

Max Height Max Radius 

Home Point 

-Y---+- Height of aircraft 

when powered on 

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INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Max Radius 

Flight Limits 

Flight distance must be within 

the max radius. 

DJI PilotApp 

Warning: Distance 

limit reached. 

Flight Limits DJI Pilot App 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

Rapid red flashing 

······when close to the 

max radius limit. 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

'§- Max Radius No limits 

- & o If you fly out of the limit, you can still control the Inspire 1, but cannot fly it further. 

o If the Inspire 1 flies out of the max radius in Ready to Fly (non-GPS) mode, it will fly back within 

range automatically. 

No-Fly Zones 

All No-Fly Zones are listed on the DJI official website at http://flysafe.dji.com/no-fly. No-Fly Zones are 

divided into Airports and Restricted Areas. Airports include major airports and flying fields where manned 

aircraft operate at low altitudes. Restricted Areas include borders between countries or sensitive sites. 

The details of the No-Fly Zones are explained below: 

Airport: 

(1) Airport No-Fly Zones are comprised of Takeoff Restricted Zones and Restricted-Altitude Zones. Each 

zone features circles of various size. 

(2) R1 depends on the size and shape of the airport, and is an area around the airport that is a Takeoff 

Restricted Zone, inside of which take-off and flight is prevented. 

(3) From R1 to R1 + 1 mile around the airport, the flight altitude is limited on a 15 degree incline, starting at 

65 feet (20 meters) from the edge of airport and radiating outward. The flight altitude is limited to 1640 

feet (500 meters) at R1 + 1 mile. 

(4) When the aircraft is within 320 feet (100 meters) of the No-Fly Zones, a warning message will appear 

in the DJI Pilot app. 

46 © 2015 D . .! I All Rights F1eserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User tvlanual 

1~ R1 --~ .-----------R2--------~ No-fly zone Restricted-altitude flight zone Warning zone 

Restricted Areas: 

( 1) Restricted Areas do not have a flight altitude restriction. 

(2) R around the designated Restricted Area is a Take-off Restricted area. Aircraft cannot takeoff within 

this zone. The value of R varies depending on the definition of the Restricted Area. 

(3) A "warning zone" has been set around each Restricted Area. When the aircraft is within 0.6 miles (1 

km) of this zone, a warning message will appear in the DJI Pilot app. 

No-fly zone Warning zone Free zone 

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Aircraft 

Zone Restriction DJI Pilot App Prompt Status 

Indicator 

Motors will not start. Warning: You are in a No-fly 

zone. Take off prohibited. 

No-fly Zone If the aircraft enters the 

restricted area in A mode but Warning: You are in a No-fly 

P mode activates the aircraft zone, automatic landing has 

will automatically descend to begun. (If you are within 1.5 mile 

land then stop its motors after radius) 

landing. 

Warning: You are in a restricted -:m'x ...... zone. Descending to safe ,..,-, 

Red flashing 

RestrictedIf the aircraft enters the altitude. (If you are between the 

restricted area in A mode but P range of 1.5 mile and 5 mile 

altitude flight mode activates, it will descend radius) 

zone to a safe altitude and hover 15 Warning: You are in a restricted 

feet below the safe altitude. zone. Max flight height restricted 

to between 1 0.5m and 120m. Fly 

Cautiously. 

Warning zone No flight restriction applies, but Warning: You are approaching a 

there will be warning message. restricted zone, Fly Cautiously. 

Free zone 

No restrictions. None. None. 

E:§ Semi-automatic descent: All stick commands are available except the throttle stick command 

during the descent and landing process. Motors will stop automatically after landing. 

Lt. • When flying in the safety zone, aircraft status indicator will blink red quickly and continue for 3 

seconds, then switch to indicate current flying status and continue for 5 seconds at which point 

it will switch back to red blinking. 

• For safety reasons, please do not fly close to airports, highways, railway stations, railway lines, 

city centers and other special areas. Try to ensure the aircraft is visible. 

48 © 2015 [),II. All Rights Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

1. Remote controller, aircraft battery, and mobile device are fully charged. 

2. Propellers are mounted correctly and firmly. 

3. Micro-SO card has been inserted if necessary. 

4. Gimbal is functioning as normal. 

5. Motors can start and are functioning as normal. 

6. DJI Pilot app connected to the aircraft. 

IMPORTANT: Make sure to calibrate the compass in every new flight location. The compass is very 

sensitive to electromagnetic interference, which can cause abnormal compass data leading to poor flight 

performance or even failure. Regular calibration is required for optimum performance. 

0 • DO NOT calibrate your compass where there is a chance of strong magnetic interference, such 

as magnetite, parking structures, and steel reinforcements underground. 

• DO NOT carry ferromagnetic materials with you during calibration such as keys or cellular 

phones. 

• DO NOT calibrate beside massive metal objects. 

Calibration Procedures 

Choose an open space to carry out the following procedures. 

1. Ensure that the compass is calibrated. If you did not calibrate the compass as part of your pre-flight 

preparations, or if you have moved to a new location since the last calibration, tap Aircraft Status 

Indicator bar in the app and select "Calibrate", then follow the on-screen instructions. 

2. Hold and rotate the aircraft horizontally 360 degrees, and the Aircraft Status Indicator will display a 

solid green light. 

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3. Hold the aircraft vertically with nose pointing downward, and rotate it 360 degrees around the center 

axis. Recalibrate the compass if the Aircraft Status Indicator show solid red. 

& If the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks red and yellow after the calibration, move your aircraft to a 

different location to carry out compass calibration. 

:\j: Calibrate the compass before each flight. Launch DJI Pilot App, follow the on-screen instruction 

to calibrate the compass. 

When to Recalibrate 

1. When compass data is abnormal, and the Aircraft Status Indicator is blinking red and yellow. 

2. When flying in a new location, or a location that is different from your last flight. 

3. When the mechanical structure of the Inspire 1 has changed, i.e. changed mounting position of the 

compass. 

4. When severe drifting occurs in flight, i.e. the Inspire 1 does not fly in straight lines. 

Auto Take-off 

Use auto take-off to take off your aircraft automatically if the Aircraft Status Indicator displays blinking 

green. Follow the steps below to use auto take-off: 

1. Launch DJI Pilot app, enter "Camera" page. 

2. Ensure the aircraft is in "P" mode. 

3. Go through the pre-flight checklist. 

4. Tap" t ", and confirm flight condition. Slide to confirm and take-off. 

5. Aircraft takes off and hovers at 1.5 meters above ground. 

50 © 2015 Dell. All Rights Reserved 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Auto-Landing 

Use auto-landing to land your aircraft automatically if the Aircraft Status Indicator displays blinking green. 

Follow the steps below to use auto-landing: 

1. Ensure the aircraft is in "P" mode. 

2. Check the landing area condition before tapping ".i", to perform landing. 

3. Aircraft lowers the landing gear and proceed to land automatically. 

·A· 

·v· Landing gear will automatically raise when the aircraft reaches an altitude of 1.2m for the first 

time, and automatically lower every time it descends to O.Bm. Users can turn this feature ON/OFF 

in the Pilot app. 

Starting Motors 

The Combination Stick Command (CSC) listed below are used to start the motors instead of simply pushing the stick up. Ensure that you perform the CSC in one motion. 

OR 

Stopping Motors 

There are two methods to stop the motors. 

Method 1: When the Inspire 1 has landed, push the throttle down CD, then conduct CSC ®. Motors will stop 

immediately. Release both sticks once motors stop. 

Method 2: When the aircraft has landed, push the throttle down and hold. The motors will stop after 3 

seconds. 

OR 

& Do not perform esc when aircraft is in midair, otherwise the motors will be stopped. 

Take off/Landing Procedures 

1. Place the aircraft on open, flat ground with battery indicators facing towards you. 

2. Power on the remote controller and your mobile device, then the Intelligent Flight Battery. 

3. Launch the DJI Pilot App and enter the Camera page. 

4. Wait until the Aircraft Indicator blinks green. This means the Home Point is recorded and it is safe to fly 

. now. If it flashes yellow, it means Home Point is not recorded, and you should not take off. 

5. Push the throttle up slowly to take off or using Auto Take-off to take off. 

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6. Shoot photos and videos using the DJI Pilot app. 

7. To land, hover over a level surface and gently pull down on the throttle slowly to descend. 

8. After landing, execute the CSC command or hold the throttle at its lowest position for 3 seconds or 

more until the motors stop. 

9. Turn off the Intelligent Flight Battery first, followed by the Remote Controller. 

& • When the Aircraft Status Indicator blinks yellow rapidly during flight, the aircraft has entered Failsafe 

mode. 

• A low battery level warning is indicated by the Aircraft Status Indicator blinking red slowly or 

rapidly during flight. 

• Watch video tutorials about flight for more flight information. 

Video Suggestions and Tips 

1. Work through the checklist before each flight. 

2. Select desired gimbal working mode in the DJI Pilot app. 

3. Aim to shoot when flying in P mode only. 

4. Always fly in good weather, such as sunny or windless days. 

5. Change camera settings to suit you. These include photo format and exposure compensation. 

6. Perform flight tests to establish flight routes and scenes. 

7. Push the sticks gently to make aircraft movements stable and smooth. 

52 © 2015 Dell All Rights F1eserved. 
FAQ 

rijl 2015 D.JI All Ri!)hts RCS<crved. 53 
Troubleshooting (FAQ) 

1. How can I put a Go Pro camera on the Inspire 1 ? 

The Inspire 1 does not currently support GoPro attachments. The gimbal is designed to hold DJI 

cameras only. 

2. When will ground station functionality be available? 

The Inspire 1 does not currently support ground station. Ground station will be available with future 

firmware updates. 

3. Is the camera's exposure automatic? 

The exposure can be set to Auto, for automatic changes, or Manual, if you wish to use a specific setting. 

4. Can I see the size of images through the app? 

Yes, you can preview image or video sizes through the DJI Pilot app. 

5. How much weight can the Inspire 1 carry without its included camera? 

We do not recommend flying with any payload other than the included DJI gimbal and camera. 

6. Do you have an LCD monitor available for the Inspire 1 ? 

No, DJI does not sell LCD or HD monitors for the Inspire 1. However, you can output the live streaming 

video to a compatible monitor or mobile device of your own. 

7. How long does it take to charge the battery? Does it comes with a charger? 

Yes, all Inspire 1 units come with standard TB47 charger. 

With the standard TB47 100W charger, it takes 85min to fully charge a 4500mAh battery. 

8. Are the two remote controllers the same? Should I setup the remote controllers in the app or 

somewhere else to control the camera and aircraft separately? 

The two remote controllers are physically identical. You can set the remote controllers to either "Master" 

or "Slave" through the DJI Pilot app if you wish to use dual controller mode. 

9. Where can I find info on the simulation application that plugs into the trainer port? Can you suggest a 

simulation program? 

There is no trainer port on the remote controller for the Inspire 1. 

1 0. Can the mobile device holder be used on the Phantom 2 series remote controller? 

No, it cannot. The mobile device holder can only be used with the Inspire 1 remote. 

11. Does the Inspire 1 have a SD card included? 

The Inspire 1 comes with a 16GB micro-SO card. It supports SD cards up to 64GB. 

12. Can I upgrade and buy a second remote controller if I only buy a single remote controller now? 

Yes. 

13. How big is the Inspire 1? 

Its length x height x width dimensions without the propellers attached are 44 x 30 x 45cm ( 17.3 x 11.8 x 17. 7in). 

54 © 2015 Dell. All Rights Reserved 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

14. What flight controller does the Inspire 1 use? 

The Inspire 1 uses its own new flight controller. 

15. Which motors and propellers does the Inspire 1 come with? 

The Inspire 1 uses 3510 motors and 1345 propellers. 

16. Aircraft frame arm joints appear loosen, is that normal? 

The space of the joins shown in the below figure is normal and it will not affect the performance of 

aircraft, do not adjust the position of the screws on your own. 

17. Failed to complete self-check? 

Place the aircraft on the flat surface before powering on. Do not move the aircraft during the selfcheck. 

@ 2015 D.JI. All Rights Roservod 55 

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Appendix 

56 © 2015 Dell. All Rights fleserved. 
Appendix 

Model 

~ ', ,<>,,>>\~ -:~ 

WeiQf;ltf~~iatt~ry ",'' »' :,; 

Hovering Accuracy (P Mode) 

Max Tilt Angle 

Max Descent Speed 

Max Flight Altitude 

Max Flight Time 

Propeller Model 

Operating Temperature Range 

Dimensions 

Model 

Operating Current 

Mounting 

Mechanical· Range 

T600 

Vertical: 0.5 m 

Horizontal: 2.5 m 

35° 

4 m/s 

4500m 

Approximately 18 minutes 

DJI 1345 

-10° to 40° C 

438x451x301 mm 

ZENMUSE X3 

Station: 750 mA; Motion: 900 mA 

Detachable 

Pitch: -125° to +45° 

Pan: ±330° 

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Total Pixels 

;~~tt$~tiv~' Pix~ Is . 

Image Max Size 

Electronic Shutter Speed 

~f9~1rt~!el~ ot(~~~w);' 

CMOS 

Still Photography Modes 

Max Bitrate Of Video Storage 

Supported SD Card Types 

Name 

Transmitting Distance 

Video Output Port 

J?p~~r,~U'pply 

Charging 

"'" 

,.b.ual ,', o'<''"'''< Q~~r:O~p~blliiy·· :,', > 

58 © 20i5 D.ll. All Rig ills Reserved. 

X3 

12.76M 

4000x3000 

8 s to 1/8000 s 

Sony EXMOR 1/2.3" 

Single shoot 

Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames 

Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 

0.7EV Bias 

Time-lapse 

60 Mbps 

Micro SO 

Max capacity: 64GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required. 

C1 

2 km (Outdoor And Unobstructed) 

USB, Mini-HDMI 

DJI charger 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Mobile Device Holder Tablet or Smart Phone 

Operating Temperature Range 

Charging Temperature Range 0-40° c 

Model A 14-100P1A 

Rated Power 100W 

Name Intelligent Flight Battery 

Capacity 4500 mAh )> 

""0 

""0 

CD 

::l 

Battery Type LiPo 68 High voltage battery Q. 

>< 

Net Weight 570 g 

Less than 3 months: -20° to 45° C 

Storage Temperature Range More than 3 months: 22° C to 28° C 

Max Charging Power 180W 

Name Intelligent Flight Battery 

Capacity 5700 mAh 

Battery Type LiPo 6S 

Net Weight 670 g 

Less than 3 months: -20 to 45° C 

Storage Temperature Range More than 3 months: 22° to 28° C 

@ 20 15 DJI All Rigl1ts Roserved 59 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Max Charging Power 180W 

Velocity Range Below 8 m/s (2 m above ground) 

Operating Environment Brightly lit (lux > 15) patterned surfaces 

Mobile Device System Requirements iOS version 7.1 or later; Android version 4.1.2 or later 

IOC allows users to lock the orientation of aircraft in different fashions. There are three working modes for 

~ IOC and you may select the desired IOC modes from the DJI Pilot app. IOC only works under F mode, 

"0 

ro and user must toggle the flight mode switch to "F" mode to activate IOC. Refer to the table below: ::J 

o_ 

;;;:· 

Home Lock (HL)* Record a Home Point (HP), and push Pitch stick to control the aircraft far from 

or near to the HP. 

•Pol6t. ot;JM~~resMffieccic.~i?.P9iht:~f· int~~6'·c: ,+ .. ro,A 

···.·•:::.the·eol.•.&l~·tH~~bse·~@a~s·p~(f:lts·t6· .. 

:\): *Home Lock and Point of Interest feature are coming soon. 

Prerequisites of IOC 

Use the IOC feature under the following condition: 

Course Lock 

•·:~gff:le 

POl 

Using IOC 

No None 

~~s 

Yes 

None 

Aircraft < 5m-50om > Point of Interest 

Enable the IOC feature by tapping "Enable IOC" in the setting page of the DJI Pilot app. Toggle the Flight 

Mode Switch to "F" mode and follow the on-screen instruction to use IOC feature. 

60 © 2015 Dell. All Rights Reserved. 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

Follow the process described below to upgrade the aircraft, remote controller and battery. 

Updating the Aircraft Firmware 

Step 1- Check Battery and SO Card Capacity 

Ensure the Intelligent Flight Battery has at least 50% power and there is at least lOOMB of free space on 

the SD card. 

Step 2- Prepare the Firmware Update Package 

I. Download the firmware update package from the official DJI website (http://www.dji.com/product/ 

inspire-!). 

2. Insert the SO into your PC. Extract the all downloaded files into the root directory of the SD card. 

Remove the SO card from your PC. Ensure the Inspire 1 is powered off then insert the SO card into the 

SO card slot on the Inspire 1 camera. 

Step 3- Update the Aircraft 

1. Ensure the remote controller is powered off and then power on the aircraft. Upgrade will begin 

automatically after aircraft is powered on. 

2. It will take approximately 25 minutes to complete the firmware update. The camera will sound a short 

pulse of "D-0-D-D" beeping sound to indicate the upgrade is in progress and sound a "D---00" 

beeping sound to indicate the update is complete with success. 

3. Check the upgrade status by opening the ".txt" file that is automatically generated after the update. 

The update is successful if the text "result: successful" is in the document. Try upgrading the firmware 

again if the text "result: failed" is found or the gimbal sound a long beep sound. 

Updating the Remote Controller Firmware 

Step 1- Check Battery and SD Card Capacity 

Remote controller firmware is included in the aircraft firmware update package. Use the same update 

package file that is downloaded from the OJI official website. Ensure the remote controller battery level is 

above 50%. 

Step 2- Prepare the Firmware Update Package 

I. Extract all downloaded files into the root directory of an SO card or USB thumb drive. 

2. Insert the SO card into a SO card reader or the USB disk onto the remote controller USB port when 

remote controller powered off. If you do not have a SO card reader, you may insert the SO card into 

the gimbal and connect the gimbal with remote controller to upgrade the remote controller. 

Step 3- Update the Remote Controller 

I. Power on the remote controller and wait 60 seconds until the upgrade begins. Do not power off the 

remote controller during the update. 

2. It will take approximately 10 minutes to complete the firmware update. The camera will sound a 

beeping sound and the Status LED on the remote controller shows solid blue to indicate the update is 

in progress. The Status LED on remote controller shows solid green and beeping sound will stop if the 

upgrade is completed with success. The Status LED on remote controller shows solid red if upgrade is 

failed. Try upgrade again. 

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Updating Intelligent Flight Battery Firmware 

The Intelligent Flight Battery is upgraded during the aircraft firmware upgrade process. It is recommended 

to keep the upgrade package files in your SO card. The upgrade will start automatically after power 

cycling the aircraft. 

& • Do not perform firmware update while the aircraft is still flying in the air. Only carry out firmware 

update when the aircraft is landed. 

• Be sure to update the remote controller's firmware to the latest version after you upgrade the aircraft's 

firmware. 

• The remote controller may become unlinked from the aircraft after updating. Re-link the remote 

controller and aircraft. 

• Confirm the update results according to the gimbal sounds. It is normal for the aircraft to sound or the 

LED to blink during the update process. 

• Ensure there is only one firmware package file stored on your SO card. 

• Only storage devices that are formatted for FAT32 and exFAT file systems are supported for aircraft 

and remote controller firmware updates. 

• Delete any automatically generated txt files (xxx_GS.TXT) in the SO card when updating multiple 

remote controllers. 

FCC Compliance 

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 

(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and 

(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired 

operation. 

Changes or modifications not expressly roved by the party responsible for compliance could void the 

user's authority to operate the equipment. 

Compliance Information 

FCC Warning Message 

Any Changes or modifications not expressly roved by the party responsible for compliance could void the 

user's authority to operate the equipment. 

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: 

( 1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference 

received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. 

FCC Radiation Exposure Statement: 

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. 

This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator& 

your body. This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or 

transmitter. 

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, 

pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against 

harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio 

62 © 2015 D,ll All Rights Reserved . 
INSPIRE 1 User Manual 

frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful 

interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in 

a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, 

which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct 

the interference by one or more of the following measures: 

-Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. 

-Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. 

-Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. 

-Consult the dealer or an experienced radio(N technician for help. 

IC ASS warning 

This device complies with Industry Canada licence-exempt RSS standard (s). Operation is subject to the 

following two conditions: ( 1) this device may not cause interference, and (2) this device must accept any 

interference,including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. 

Le present areil est conforme aux CNR d'lndustrie Canada licables aux areils radio exempts de licence. 

L'exploitation est autorisee aux deux conditions suivantes: 

(1) l'areil ne doit pas produire de brouillage, et 

(2) l'utilisateur de l'areil doit accepter tout brouillage radioelectrique subi, meme si le brouillage est 

susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement. 

IC Radiation Exposure Statement: 

This equipment complies with IC RF radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. 

This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter. 

This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 20cm between the radiator& 

your body. 

Any Changes or modifications not expressly roved by the party responsible for compliance could void the 

user's authority to operate the equipment. 

KCC Warning Message 

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