# Aircraft Operations Check List

Alfred Gates

1 © Alfred A. Gates, 2014 Operating Procedures

# Check List, Documents, Example

Chameleon Pro Quadrotor Flight Near New Haven Airport

• NOTAM in place 72 to 48hrs prior to flight

• New Haven tower phone number

• Location of where you will be flying with respect to 

# New Haven tower. This does not have to be exact. (example 12 nautical miles North East)

• Check list for Chameleon Pro

• COA document



# • Copy of FAA written test score and date or pilot license

• Copy or original class II medical

• Short check list 2 Operating Procedures3 The Chameleon Pro or Chameleon Pro X is not authorized to fly over people, public areas, road ways, boat traffic areas or any other areas which involve flight over privet property and people. Equipment  Takeoff and landing mat  Chameleon Pro quadrotor  Pilot and observer transmitters  Video receiver and screen or goggles  Ground control station computer  Battery cell tester  Tools  Sun glasses  Safety vests, hard hat  VHF radio as necessary  Quadrotor Logbook: Flights must be recorded in the flight logbook

Operating Procecures4

Documents

• Pilot; Current class II medical and test score from PVT pilots exam or pilots license

• Observer; Current class II medical

• Quadrotor ; Registration and airworthiness documents

Contact Information

• NOTAM is active

• Contact airspace controlling authority (as necessary )

• Provide your name phone number

• Location of flight operations

• Time for start and finish time

• Maximum altitude, AGL

• Have the phone number of the nearest airspace controlling authority in case of a lost link or other emergency and or VHF radio tuned to the proper frequency

Operating Procecures5 Chameleon Preflight Procedure Takeoff and Landing Site

• Takeoff and landing site secure

• Takeoff and landing mat down (Required for takeoff and landing from surfaces other than paved, paved surfaces must be clean and clear of sand and small particles. The debris can damage the motors and electronics) Chameleon Quadrotor Aircraft

• Fully charged flight pack maximum allowed cell voltage difference .01 V

• Autopilot secure on vibration isolation mounts

• GPS secure

• Receiver secure

• Data radio secure

• Video transmitter secure

• Camera secure and camera battery charged

• Secure battery in correct location for a balance aircraft

• CG correct

• Arm bolts tight (check each flight)

• Motor bolts tight (check each flight)

• Landing gear bolts tight (check each flight)

• Check for cracks in frame, arms, landing gear, and camera mounts

• Check propellers for cracks and replace as necessary

• Propellers on correctly (See diagram in Chameleon Pro case)

• Propellers on tight (try to turn propellers while holding the motors. Check each flight)

• Motor spring clip check (Pull up on propeller, if the propeller and motor case moves up the shaft spring clip may be damage or disconnected. Replace motor or install a new clip. Check each flight) Operating Procecures6

Chameleon Quadrotor Take off Procedure

• GSC on as necessary

• All switches in correct position on transmitters

• Transmitters on (Pilot and Observer transmitters)

• Battery voltage in transmitters above 9.5 volts

• Quadrotor aircraft battery connect on

• Establish link between GSC and quadrotor , as necessary

• Check quardorotor aircraft battery voltage on GSC

• Range check transmitter

• Video display acceptable on observer transmitter

• Wait for acceptable GPS signal

• Arm quadrotor

• Mode set to ALT or manual/stabilize

• Engage motors, start timer

• Slowly advance throttle ( quadrotor should take off at less than half throttle)

Operating Procecures7 Chameleon In flight Procedure

• Control check in ALT mode (in a 4 foot or higher hover pitch, roll and yaw aircraft)

• Check position hold (Set mode to LTR, the aircraft should maintain position with in 2 meteres and should not drift much. If the aircraft rotates in a circle, called toiled bowl effect, most likely the magnetic compass will require recalibration).

• Fly the quadrotor in LTR or ALT modes. Manual mode flight is not recommended.

• Flight around obstacles. Pilot maneuvers quadrotor with in proximity of obstacle followed by the observer advising the pilot by using the live video feed and by standing at a different position relative to the structure.

• Flight near tree canopy. Anticipate turbulence and wind shear when approaching a tree canopy and be ready to switch flight modes from LTR to ALT. In extreme cases it may be necessary to switch to manual/stabilize mode. If switching to manual/stabilize mode it is recommended that the flight be terminated.

Operating Procecures8 Chameleon Emergency Procedure

• Loss of power (land quadrotor immediately)

• Unable to hover in LTR mode (switch modes to ATT or manual and check GPS signal strength)

• Loss of control (switch modes first to ATT second to /stabilize and land quadrotor immediately)

• Fly away (note altitude, direction of flight and check timer. Contact airspace controlling authority and tell them altitude, direction of flight and remaining flight time)

• Transmitter beeps ( Quadrotor approaching range limit. Fly aircraft closer)

• Flight out of range ( Quadrotor should return to land)

• Low voltage less than 10.4 volts. Quadrotor will return and land.

• Aircraft is being blown out of view. (Switch modes first ATT or Manual and fly back to starting point). Chameleon Landing Procedure

• Observer advised pilot around obstacles, structures

• Pilot or observer informs nearby people of landing

• At a 6 foot or higher hover switch modes to ATT or manual/stabilize (near the ground and obstacles the GPS signal strength can become weak)

Operating Procecures

# Quick Reference Check List

• Do not get over loaded with too many check 

# list

• Develop short check list for preflight

• Take off

• In flight

• landing

9 Operating ProcecuresEmergency: Switch S1 to center position 2/ Non GPS, LAND AIRCRAFT Aircraft fly's up and away Call New Haven Tower: (Phone Number Here) Report: Your location Direction of aircraft flying. Altitude of aircraft Remaining time of battery Normal Takeoff Position the quadcopter for takeoff Preflight Check List Complete Switches S2 and S1 in top position (Warning this requires a good GPS signal) Turn on transmitter TX Turn on quadcopter Wait for; Green lights sufficient GPS for Hold Arm

- Motor Move both stick to bottom corners (Hold until blades are spinning) Motor Engagement

- Pickup Motors running Throttle slowly increase Lift off quadcopter to 4 to 6 feet (The aircraft is in GPS hold) Hover Check Advance throttle for height to 4 to 6 feet hold Switch S1 in top position Control Check (Fly quadcopter a few feet away Let go of sticks and check GPS hold (Slight movement, 1 to 2ft horz, may occur) Yaw, Roll, Pitch movement CK Flight All flight should be performed in GPS Hold Periodically check battery status. (Hold TX in quadcopter line of site) Set Down Position quadcopter in front at 4

- 6ft Decide which mode to land the quadcopter Slowly lower the quadcopter to landing Keep the throttle at idle, all the way down, until the motors have stopped spinning plus 4 seconds Shutdown Unplug quadcopter battery

Transmitter off Camera, video TX and RX off Check DJI phantom documentation to verify check list

10 

# Sample

Operating Procecures