Motion Picture and Television

Flight Operation Manual

Copterra

Casey Lewiston

5675 Old Redwood Hwy Apt 4

Penngrove, CA 94951
1. Introduction

A. Purpose

This manual has been developed for the purpose of guiding operations and best

practices during UAS operations on closed sets. This manual is to be referenced

and kept available during any operations relating to television, motion picture and

commercial operations, in which the UAS pilot acts as part of a production team,

or in which cast and crew are utilized.

B. Persons Authorized

FAR 91.119 (c) is waived only 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 involved 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 by an evaluation of the filming

production area to note terrain features, obstructions, buildings, etc. Such barriers

may protect nonparticipating persons (observers, the public, news media, etc.)

from debris in the event of an accident.

C. Area of Operations

Approved operations will take place throughout the United States, excluding

territories.
D. Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, a written plan of activities

must be submitted to the local 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 N­number of aircraft to be used and type

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 filming production event. The

list of those who gave permission must be made available to the

inspector upon request from the waiver holder.

(7) Signature of waiver holder or 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 equipments may be waived, however, the operator

should contact the FSDO as soon as possible with this request and be prepared

to explain in detail why the three (3) day notification is not practical.

E. Permission to Operate

Before any flight operations is conducted 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

The personnel obtaining such permission will do so in writing whenever practical,

however, verbal permission is acceptable otherwise. Production 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

completed, and then turned into the operational manager to be kept on file for a

minimum of six (6) months. These forms will be made available for inspection by

the FAA or other official personnel upon request.

F. 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 immediately

discontinue operations should the area(s) become unsecured or for any other

reason in the interest of safety. It is the responsibility of the pilot in command to

ensure that any areas near the operational space is locked down from unwanted

traffic, pedestrian or otherwise.

G. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel

Prior to the start of any operation under the provisions of this manual, the pilot in

command will conduct a briefing of all procedures to participating 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

briefing shall cover:

• Authorization for motion picture and television certificate of waiver

• Operations manual

• Plan of activities

• Radio Communications

• Takeoff procedures
• Aviation activities to be conducted during the filming production event

• Approach and landing procedures

• Recall procedures

• Emergency procedures

• Risks to participating personnel

• How to control nonparticipating persons

H. Aircraft

All aircraft used in operations must be previously approved for the relevant

section 333 exemption. All maintenance and safety procedures must be followed

in accordance with the exemption certificate, aircraft flight manual or standard

operating procedures. It is the responsibility of the operator to ensure the aircraft

is fully capable of safely performing each flight mission.

I. Pilot Minimum Requirements

The pilot/operator shall establish and specify the minimum pilot

requirements. Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed the following:

(1) Be an FAA licensed airman with at least a private pilot's license.

(2) Hold at least third class medical

(3) Have flown a minimum of 20 hours on unmanned rotorcraft

(4) Have flown the sUAS to be used at least 1 hour

(5) Have undergone a familiarization briefing regarding the aircraft's

systems and ground station capabilities.

J. General Operations and Staff Requirements

(1) All operations require, at minimum, one pilot in command and one observer.

Pilot requirements are detailed above. Observers must be equivalent to a

third class medical clearance and have the ability to speak and understand

english. If necessary, an operations manager or other crew may be required

to ensure the safety of the site. It is the responsibility of the pilot in

command to ensure in that all necessary staff members are on site and

available prior to operations.

(2) Aircraft must only be flown under the provisions of the associated section

333 exemption certificate. Any requirements not explicitly stated in this
operational manual, but referenced in either the certificate or aircraft

operating manual must be followed as detailed in those sources.

(3) If other aviation teams, manned or unmanned, are to operate on the same

site they must coordinate operations with a central Flight Operations

Director to ensure separation of all operations and clear communications.

(4) The PIC must check meteorological reports, NOTAMs and other necessary

communications before each day of operations. In the event that any

potential risk is identified, flight operations are to be immediately aborted

until such time as these risks have past.

K. Communications

Prior to the start of any operation covered by this manual, the pilot in command

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 effective and is capable of keeping the participants

continuously appraised of the current status of the operation. Pilot and required

observer must be in constant contact.

L. Accident Notification

Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the NTSB occur,

the notification requirements of FAR Part 830 would comply.

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 this motion picture and

television operations manual 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 specified in the associated section 333 exemption request. Each pilot’s

name and certificate number shall be recorded on each daily plan of activity. All

civil aircraft and pilot(s) participating in the activity shall be available for FAA

inspection before the scheduled event.

Each pilot­in­command conducting operations authorized under this certificate

understands the conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes a waiver of

FAR 91.119 (b) and (c).
Rotorcraft takeoff and landing areas will be protected in a manner that will

prevent unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff and landing area.

Staff will ensure that the participating persons involved in the operations are

thoroughly briefed on special procedures, communication, emergency

procedures, and on the provisions 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.