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# Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual Flatwater Studios Table of Contents

**I.** 

### Introduction a. Purpose 3 b. Pilot/Operator Organization 3 c. Persons Authorized 3 d. Area of Operations 3 e. Plan of Activities 3 f. Permission to Operate 4 g. Security 4 h. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 5 i. Certification/Airworthiness 5 j. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 5 k. Communications 6 l. Accident Notification 6 m. Recall/Stop Procedures 6 n. Special Provisions 6 

### II. **Company Organization** a. Chief Pilot 7 b. Pilot in Command 7 **Appendix A** 1. List of Approved Pilots 8 2. List of Approved Aircraft 9 3. Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 1 0 4. Revision Request (sample) 11 5. Application for Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (Link) http://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/form/faa7711

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## Flatwater Studios Flight Operations Manual Revision Control Page Complete a new page for each revision. The Chief Pilot must approve all revisions 

## . Revision No. Date Name of Reviser Chief Pilot Approval: Initials Date

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## I. **Introduction a.**  **Purpose** Thi s manual has been developed b y “ Flatwater Studios ”, hereb y referred to as “ FWS ”, in conjunction with an application of Federal Aviation 333 Exemption Regulations for the purposes of closed

- set motion picture and television filming. FWS pilots and other company personnel will, when applicable , comply with the policies, procedures and conditions of this manual whenever motion picture or television flight operations are performed that require a COA as mentioned above. 

### b. **Pilot/Operator Organization**

. FWS will provide pilot information on an “as need” basis per project/flight. We employ various pilots due to differentiating geographical locations. See appendix A
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### c. **Persons Authorized** FAR 91.119 (c) shall be waived onl y with respect to those persons, vehicles and structures directly

involved in the performance of the actual filming. The certificate holder shall ensure that no persons are allowed within 500 feet of the area except those consenting to be involv ed and necessary for the filming production. This provision may be reduced to no less than 200 feet if an equivalent level of safety can be achieved and the Administrator has approved it. For example, an equivalent level of safety may be determined b y an Aviation Safety Inspector’s evaluation of the filming production area to note terrain features, obstructions, buildings, etc. Such barriers may protect nonparticipating persons ( e.g. observers, the public, news media, etc.) from debris in the event of an accident. 

### d. **Area of Operations** FWS’s area of op erations will be the within FAA approved airspace of the United States of America. 

### e. **Plan of Activities** At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming FWS will submit a written plan of activities to the local Flight Standards District Office (“ FSDO ”) having jurisdiction over that area. The plan of activities should include the following: 1. Dates and times for all flights. 2. Name and phone number of person responsible for the filming production event. 3. Name and phone number of person responsible for aircraft. 4. Make, model, and serial or N

- number of aircraft to be used and ty pe of airworthiness certificate, including category
. 5. Name and certificate number of pilots involved in the filming production event, including any notation of external load endorsements or aerobatic competency , if required. 6. A statement that the waiver holder has obtained permission from property owners and/or local officials to conduct the filming4 production event. The list of those who gave permission must be made available upon request to the FAA Administrator by FWS
. 7. Signature of an authorized FWS representative
. 8. 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 minimum altitudes essential to accomplish the operations. The three (3) day

notification requirement may be waived with the consent of the FSDO. However, the operator should contact the FSDO as soon as possible with any waiver request and be prepared to explain in detail why the three (3) day notification is not practical. 

### f. **Permission to Operate** Before any flight operations is conducted at less than 500 feet under the provisions of the certificate of waiver and this manual, the operator will obtain permission to conduct these operations from property owners and local officials as necessary

or appropriate. Persons from whom permission may be required are listed below: 1. Property

owners 2. Law enforcement officials 3. Fire department officials 4. Local, State and Federal government 5. Air traffic control Although verbal permission is acceptable, the FW S personnel obtaining such permission should attempt to obtain permission in writing whenever p ractical
. If permission is obtained verbally , the FWS personnel obtaining verbal permission shall record the details of the verbal grant of permission. A standard permission form is provided in Appendix A and may be used when obtaining written permission or recording grants of verbal permission
. FWS personnel will assure a sufficient number of those forms are available at the job site. Written permission forms will be maintained at the job site until flight operations are compl eted, and then turned into the C hief P ilot to be kept on file for a minimum of six (6) months. The FAA, or other official personnel, upon request, shall have access to all available forms for inspection
. 

### g. **Security** Prior to any

flight operation the operator will coordinate with appropriate production personnel to devise a plan of securing the area(s) of operation from all unauthorized persons and vehicles. Provisions will be made to immediatel y discontinue operations should the area(s) become unsecured or for any other reason in the interest of safety.5



### h. **Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel** Prior to the start of any operation under the provisions of this manual, the pilot in command (“PIC”) will conduct a briefing of all procedures to participating FWS personnel of the risks involved, emergency procedures, and safeguards to be followed during the filming production event. Personnel will also be briefed on additional provisions that may be issued by

the FSDO that has geographic responsibility

for the operational area, including the location of boundaries or time limits. The b riefing shall cover: 1. Authorization for motion picture and television certificate of w aiver and the attached special provisions 2. Operations manual 3. Plan of activities 4. Aircraft parking and starting 5. Radio Communications 6. Takeoff procedures 7. Aviation activities to be conducted during the filming production event 8. Approach and landing procedures 9. Recall procedures 10. Emergency

procedures 11. Risks to participating personnel 12. How to control nonparticipating persons 

### i. **Certification/Airworthiness** All FWS aircraft used in operations requiring a waiver for the purpose of filming will be properl y certified and hold airworthiness c ertificates. Each aircraft will have a flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance and inspections and the dates or times they must be performed. A section for discrepancies is also found in the flight log. The PI C will assure the aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition and all required inspections and maintenance has been complet ed before each flight. 

### j. **Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements** Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed the following: 1. Successful completion of an FAA

- approved ground school that meets the requirements of Part 61 of the FAR and passage of the an attendant knowledge test as specified by that part. 2. At least 400 hours logged as PI C and at least 20 hours logged as the PIC in the aircraft ty

pe. 3. A minimum of 100 hours in the category and class of aircraft to be used. 4. A minimum of 5 hours in the make and model aircraft to be used under the waiver. 5. In the event the operation to be conducted contains elements of an external

- load operation, whether fixed or rotary wing operations, pilots used in the operation shall be qualified. This qualification may be obtained through a knowledge test (which may be oral and/written) and/or skill. The inspector or another company pilot6 approved b y the geographically responsible FSDO who is qualified to carry loads externally

will give the test(s) which are similar to part 133 requirements and cover the following subjects: i. Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a survey of the Flight area. ii. Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the external load. iii. Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating procedures and the aircraft flight manual. iv. Proper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel. v. Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a rotorcraft

- load combination flight manual and limitations, if appropriate. 

### k. **Communications** Prior to the start of any operation covered b y this manual, the PI C will formulate a plan to provide communications capability to all participants during the actual operation and filming. Oral, visual or radio communications may be used as long as it is ef fective and is capable of keeping the participants continuously appraised of the current status of the operation. 

### l. **Accident Notification** Should an accident or incident occur that would require notification to the NTSB, the notification re quirements of FAR Part 830 will comply
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### m. **Recall/Stop Procedures** Radio communication, oral, visual or a combination will be utilized to keep the participants continuously apprised of the current status of operation.


### n. **Special Provisions** The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the FWS Motion Picture and Television Operations M anual is the primary assurance that persons on the surface will not be jeopardized. The aircraft and pilots used under this authorization and/or waiver will only be those Pilots specified in the FWS MPTOM and/or associated plan s of activities. Each pilot’s name and certificate number shall appear on each daily plan of activity . All civil aircraft and pilot(s) participating in the activity shall be available for FAA inspection. Each PI C conducting operations authorized under this certificate understands the conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes a waiver of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c). T akeoff and landing areas will be protected in a manner that will prevent unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff and landing area. FWS will ensure that the participating persons involved in the operations are thoroughly briefed on special procedures, communication, emergency procedures, and on the provision s of the authorization and/or waiver before beginning the activities. No person may

participate in any

event unless that person has received a briefing on the provisions of the waiver.7



## II. **Com pany Organization** 

**a. Chief Pilot**  Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Final word in the formulation of policy and procedures concerning this manual. 2. A ct as liaison between FWS and the FAA on matter concerning this manual. 3. Assure that each approved pilot is issued a copy of this manual and obtain a signed statement from each that they have read and understand its contents. 4. Maintain a current cop y of this manual at the main base of operations for FWS
. 5. Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are distributed and processed properl y. 6. Must approve or disapprove each proposed job or operation performed b y FWS under the provisions of this manual. 7. Assume the responsibilities of PI C when acting as such. 8. The chief pilot may delegate functions to other personnel but retains responsibility
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### b. **Pilot in Command** Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Assure that aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition and all inspections and required maintenance have been performed as per appropriate FAR's. 2. Acquire permission from the chief pilot before any operation under the provisions of this manual. 3. Be very

knowledgeable of the contents of this manual and abide by the procedures, policies and conditions contained herein. 4. Coordinate with movie and television personnel to formulate plans, routes, locations , etc. with safety of all persons involved in the primary concern. 5. Maintain their cop y of this manual in current condition and have it on site at any job or operation requiring the waiver. 6. The PI C may

delegate functions to other personnel, but retains resp onsibility
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## Appendix A

- 1 FWS List of Approved Pilots **TITLE NAME**  **FAA REGISTRATION NO. DATE ADDED**  Chief Pilot TBD TBD Pilot TBD TBD9 

## Appendix A
- 2 FWS List of Approved Aircraft Make Model Description Date Added Registration # 1. DJI Inspire Q uad

- Copter UAS <55 lbs April 7 , 2015 TBD 2. Gry phon Dy namics FZX 1400 Octo
- Copter UAS <55 lbs April 7, 2015 TBD 3. 4. 5. 6.10 

## Appendix A
- 3 FWS Permission Acquisition Form By signing this form, I agree that I have given the pilots of Flatwater Studio’s (FWS ) p ermission to operate their aircraft at less than 300 feet from property, or in some jurisdiction in which Iam responsible for or affiliated with, for the purpose of film or television production for the date(s) referenced below
. Name: Entity (if applicable): Title: Basis of Authority to Grant Permission:

Location: Date (s) of Operation:
Signature

__________________________________________________ Date __________________________

FWS Representative Receiving Permission Name: Signature: Date: 

## Appendix A

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## FWS Revision Request

Revision # Section Page Action Summary If requested revision involves modified or additional language, add language below. Attach additional sheets if necessary . Reference the revision number, date, and requestor on each additional sheet. Proposed text:

Or:Remove Section # Manual Serial Version # Revision Requestor Signature of Requestor Date Chief Pilot receipt acknowledgement:
Chief Pilot
Date