UAS	Operating	Instruction

Engineering	Systems	Incorporated

October 2015

OVERVIEW

ESI	leadership	authorizes	and	encourages	the	use	of	unmanned	aviation	

systems	to	support the	mission	of	providing	world-class	analysis	and	engineering	

support	to	our	customers	across	all	engineering	disciplines	represented	within	the	

company.		As	a	company	operating	unmanned	systems,	we	are	asking	the	public	

sector	to	accept	the	risk	of	our	operations	and	thus	it	is	incumbent	upon	us	to	

provide	a	well	planned	and	documented	approach	to	ensure our	UAS	operations	are	

at	all	times	in	support	of	public	safety.

PURPOSE

This	operating	instruction	provides	instructions	for	the	safe	and	effective	

operation	of	UAS	(Unmanned	Aviation	Systems)	for	all	ESI	employees	that	wish	to	

conduct	commercial	UAS	operations	on	behalf	of	the	company.		Note	that	no	portion	

of	this	instruction supersedes	any	FAA	or	State	regulation/operating	procedure.			

Any	portion	of	this	instruction,	which	contradicts	these	regulations, will	be	

disregarded.		In	addition,	all	operations	will	be	conducted	within	the	constraints	set	

forth	in	the	approved	ESI	FAA	Part	333	Exemption	once	it	is	received.		

ROLES	AND	RESPONSIBILITIES

• The	Aviation	Practice	Group	Director	will:

o Maintain	primary	responsibility	for	oversight	of	the	UAS	program.		

o Ensure	PIC/Operator/Observer	training	and	certification	standards are	

being	met	for	each	ESI	office	that	is	conducting	UAS	operations

o Act	as	a	point	of	contact	with	the	ESI	leadership	and	the	FAA	for	all	UASrelated	operations	and	issues

o Identify	and	maintain	a	list	of	individuals	qualified	to	conduct	UAS	

training	operations.

o Conduct	an	annual	safety	review of	ESI	UAS	operations	in	accordance	

with	the	ESI	Aviation	Safety	Management	System.

o Review	and	update	this	document	annually	to	ensure	it’s	relevance.

• Each	owning	ESI	office	manager	for	a	given unmanned	system	will:

o Maintain	an	aircraft	folder	for	each	UAS	operated	by	their	office	which	

contains	the	information set	forth	in	the	maintenance	section	of	this	

instruction.

o Maintain	operator	folders	for	each	qualified	operator, (or	operator	in	

training) per	the	operator	folder	section	of	this	instruction.

o Ensure	PIC,	Operator	and	Observer	qualifications	are	met	for	each	UAS	

flight in	accordance	with	this	instruction.

o Identify	a	maintenance	POC	for	their	unmanned	systems.

• The	PIC,	operators,	and	observers	for	each	mission	will:

o Maintain	qualification	standards	for	the	UAS	being	flown
o Ensure	safety	during	the	UAS	flight

o Maintain	two-way	communication	with	all	participants	and	each	other	at

all	times	during	UAS	operation

o Specifically	the	Observer	and	Operator	for	a	given	mission	must:

§ Maintain	visual	contact	with	the	UAS	at	all	times	during	the	flight

§ Ensure	safe	separation	distances	between	the	UAS	and	all	other	

aircraft	or	personnel	within the	designated	mission	area.		Nonparticipants	must	be	kept	at	least	500	feet	from	the	mission	area.

TRAINING

Training	required	to	operate	unmanned	aircraft	systems	on	behalf	of	ESI	will	

be	conducted	according	to	the	ESI	Operator	Training	Instruction	document.		

CERTIFICATIONS

There	are	four	positions	that	one	can	be	certified	in	the	area	of	UAS	operations	in	

ESI.		They	are	as	follows:

• PIC	(Pilot	In	Command):	This	person	is	the	approval	authority	and	holds	the	

responsibility	for	a	given	UAS	mission	that	is	conducted.		

• OBSERVER:	This	person	holds	the	responsibility	for	de-confliction	from	

airborne	and	ground	hazards	for	the	duration	of	the	mission.	This	position	is	

used	to	maintain	visual	contact	with	the	UAS	and	clear	the	expected	

operations	from	potential	hazards	during	the	mission.		

• MANUAL	OPERATOR:		This	is	the	manual	operator	of	the	UAS	aircraft	

whereby	manual	inputs	control	the	pitch,	roll,	yaw,	and	power	state	of	the	

aircraft.		It	assumes	visual	awareness	of	the	aircraft	whether	it	is	by	

observing	the	aircraft	from	the	ground	or	by	observing	the	outputs	of	a	video	

transmission	system	from	a	ground	station.

• AUTO	PILOT	OPERATOR:		This	is	the	autopilot	operator	of	an	unmanned	

aircraft	system.		This	position	manages	the	location/attitude/speed	of	the	

aircraft	over	the	ground	through	the	use	of	an	autopilot	system.	

DOCUMENTATION

• All	training	and	certifications	for	each	position	will	be	documented	in	each	

individual’s	Operator	Folder.			

• Following	the	successful	completion	of	training	for	a	given	position,	the	trainer	

will	sign	off	the	training	as	complete	and	each	office	manager	will	sign	off	the	

certification	letter	approving	the	individual	to	operate	in	the	new	capacity.		

• Each	office’s	training	and	certification	letters	will	be	tracked	and	reviewed	

annually	by	the	Aviation	Practice	Group	Director	to	ensure	oversight	and	proper	

insurance	requirements	are	maintained.

FLIGHT	OPERATIONS
• PREFLIGHT	BRIEFING

o Preflight	briefings	should	be	given	by	the	PIC	and	include	the	basic	

briefing	topics	as	found in	Appendix	A,	and	any	additional	items	deemed	

necessary	by	the	PIC.		All	participants,	(those	who	remain	within	500	feet	

of	the	mission	aircraft),	must	be	briefed	about	the	mission	and	all	safety	

precautions	of	the	flight.		

• EQUIPMENT	PREFLIGHT

o Safety	equipment,	to	be	available	during	a	given	mission.

§ Safety	goggles	will	be	worn	when	touching	or	working	on	the	

aircraft	with	motor	power	connected.

§ Gloves	for	emergency	retrieval of	crashed	aircraft

§ An	orange	caution	vest	will	be	worn	by	the	PIC	during	the	mission

§ A	coach	type	whistle	will	be	worn	by	the	PIC	during	mission	

execution	to	get	the	attention	of	all	participants.

§ A	shovel	must	be	available	to	handle	potential	fires	and	to	secure	

overheated	batteries.

§ A	first	aid	kit	must	be	located	near	the	mission area	to	support	

emergency	situations.

§ A	fire	extinguisher	must	be	located	near	the	mission	area	to	fight	

any	fires	that	may	occur	as	a	result	of	the	mission.

• SAFE	OPERATING	ZONES

o The	PIC	is	expected	to	ensure	the	operating	area	for	the	mission	remains	

clear	of	Non-participating	personnel	and	that	a	reasonable	expectation	of	

this	can	be	expected	for	the	duration	of	the	mission.		If	not,	the	PIC	must	

be	ready	to	cancel	operations	and	attempt	to	secure	the	mission	area	

prior	to	launch.

• PARTICIPANT	DOCUMENTATION

o All	participants,	if	not	employees	of	ESI, must	sign	a	release	from	liability	

waiver	form	to	be	allowed	to	remain	within	500	feet	of	the	mission.

• PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS	

• As	a	minimum,	every	UAS	mission	will	require	two	personnel	dedicated	to	

the	conduct	of	the	mission.		

• Each	mission	must	include	a	PIC	(Pilot	In	Command)	who	acts	as	the	

authority	for	the	flight	to	insure	safe	and	effective	operations.

• Each	mission	must	include	an	Observer	to	provide	for	the	safety	and	effective	

de-confliction	from	non-participant	aircraft	and	personnel.		

• Each	mission	must	include	a	trained	operator	of	some	form(autopilot	or	

manual	operator).	

• The	PIC	may	act	as	either	the	observer	or	the	operator	on	a	given	mission,	

but	may	not	assume	both	of	these	duties.		It	is	for	this	reason	that	each	

mission	requires	two	dedicated	personnel.

EQUIPMENT	

• TRACKING
o All	ESI	equipment,	to	include	aircraft	and	batteries	will	be	tracked	

according	to	normal	ESI	equipment	tracking	procedures.		In	addition	an	

aircraft	folder	will	be	maintained	on	each	flying	system	to	ensure	timely	

maintenance	is	performed.		Each	aircraft	will	be	given	a	unique	ESI	tail	

number.		Flight	hours, per	tail	number, will	be	reported	annually	by	each	

office	that	is	operating	an	unmanned	system.

• MAINTENANCE

o Maintenance	on	all	aircraft	systems	and	batteries	will	be	conducted	

according	to	the	manufacturer’s	recommendations.		Each	office	will	

appoint	a	UAS	maintainer	to	ensure	aircraft	are	properly	serviced	and	

maintained.

o Each	Aircraft	folder	will	contain:

§ ESI	Aircraft/System	ID	Form,	(Make,	model,	and	year	of	aircraft)

§ Aircraft/System	Flight	Log

§ Aircraft/System	Description,	(manufacturer	supplied	docs)

§ Aircraft/System	Checklists	and	Operations	Manuals,	

(manufacturer	supplied	docs)

EMERGENCY/NON-STANDARD	PROCEDURES	

• The	following	procedures	represent	the	minimum	set	of	emergency	procedures	

that	must	be	followed	for	a	given	emergency.		PICs	are	encouraged	to	add	steps	

to	the	EPs	as	necessary	for	a	given	mission	as	required	to	enhance	safety	for	all	

parties.

• Critical	battery/low	fuel	or	fast	battery	discharge:		The	aircraft	operator	

must	be	ready	to	land	the	aircraft	at	an	alternate	landing location	in	the	event	of	

rapid	battery	loss.		

• Non-Participant	Encroachment:		If	non-participants	cannot	be	cleared	500	feet	

from	the	mission	aircraft,	then	the	mission	aircraft	must	land	and/or	the	aircraft	

operator	must	make	corrections	to	the	flight	path	to	ensure	the	safety	of	all	

parties.

• Aircraft	separation incidents:		If	a	non-participating	aircraft	flies	into	the	UAS	

operations	area,	the	observer	must	notify	the	pilot	immediately	and	provide	

necessary	actions	to	avoid	collision	between	the	UAS	and	the	non-participating	

aircraft.		To	the	best	extent	possible,	the	UAS	should	fly	no	closer	than	1000	feet	

of	non-participating	aircraft.		After	evasive	actions	have	been	successfully	taken,	

the	operator	must	notify	the	PIC	of	the	near	miss	to	include	a	description	of	the	

other	aircraft	if	possible.		The	PIC	will	determine	if	contact	should	be	made	to	

aviation	authorities	regarding	the	situation.		If	the	safety	of	either	aircraft	or	any	

personnel	were	at	risk	during	the	incident,	the	situation	must	be	reported	to	the	

Aviation	Practice	Group	Director	and	subsequently	to	the	local	FAA	authorities.
• Lost	Link:		The	aircraft	is	expected	to	return	to	the	original	launching	point,	or	

to	a	pre-determined	location	that	has	been	deemed	safe	for	an	emergency	

landing. All	personnel	should	be	immediately	warned	of	the	returning	UAS	so	

that	the	landing	area	can	be	maintained	clear.		Subsequent	control	of	the	aircraft	

should	be	attempted	during	the	automatic	RTB(return	to	base)	of	the	system	so	

that	emergency	maneuvering or	subsequent	issues	can	be	handled	with	a	“man	

in-the-loop”.

• Loss	of	visual	contact:		If	an	observer	loses	visual	contact	with	the	aircraft,	

he/she	should	report	the	situation	to	the	pilot	immediately.		The	operator will	

command	the	aircraft	to	return	to	a	pre-designated	point	and	attempt	to	help	the	

observer	regain	visual	contact	by	calling	out	position	and	heading.		If	the	

observer	cannot	regain	visual	contact,	the	operator	will	notify	the	PIC	of	the	last	

known	position	of	the	aircraft	and	intentions,	attempt	to	clear	the	area	for	any	

other	aircraft or	personnel and	land	the	vehicle	as	soon	as	practicable.

• Downed	Unmanned	Aircraft:		If	the	vehicle	is	observed	to	crash,	or	if	it	has	

been	determined	that	the	aircraft	is	no	longer	airborne,	the	operator	will	ensure	

the	propulsive	aircraft	system	has	been	disabled	to	the	best	of	their	ability	and	

will	note	the	last	known	location	of	the	vehicle	either	visually	or	with	GPS	

coordinates.		The	PIC	will	notify	all	participants	of	the	situation	and	begin	a	

search	for	the	downed	vehicle	in	the	last	known	location.		If	a	fire,	dangerous	

situation,	or	injuries	are	observed	or	suspected,	the	PIC	will	notify	the	

appropriate	emergency	services	(911	call).		Emergency	equipment,	to	include	

fire	extinguisher,	gloves,	and	a	shovel	will	be	carried	when	commencing	a	search	

for	a	downed	aircraft.		Be	alert	for	overheated	batteries	due	to	impact	damage	

and	subsequent	grass	fires	that	may	erupt.