Rev 1.3 March 10th, 2015

Motion Picture and Television Operation Manual 

(MPTOM)

SkySight LLC

1035 Pearl Street, Suite 311

Boulder, CO 80302

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Rev 1.3 March 10th, 2015

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction 

A. Goal of Manual

B. Company Organization

C. Persons Authorized

D. Area of Operations

E. Plan of Activities

F. Permission to Operate

G. Security

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

I. Certification/Airworthiness

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements

K. Communications

L. Accident Notification

M. Recall/Stop Procedures

N. Special Provisions

II. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot

B. Pilot in Command 

Appendix A 

List of Approved Pilots 

Appendix B 

List of Approved Aircraft 

Appendix C 

Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 

Appendix D 

Revision Letter (sample) 

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I. Introduction 

A. Goal of Manual 

This manual has been developed by SkySight LLC in conjunction with 

an application for a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization of the 

provisions of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c) for the purposes of filming. 

SkySight pilots and other company personnel when applicable will 

comply with the policies, procedures and conditions of this manual, 

whenever motion picture or television flight operations are performed 

that require a Waiver of Authorization as mentioned above. 

B. Company Organization

James Jensen- Co-Owner and CEO 

Soren Jensen - Co-Owner, Production Manager, and Chief Pilot 

SkySight LLC 

1035 Pearl Street, Suite 311

Boulder, CO 80302

303.385.7286

C. 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 ASI’s 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. 

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D. Area of Operations 

SkySight’s approved area of operations will be the United States of 

America and its territories. 

E. Plan of Activities 

Prior to any scheduled filming, SkySight will submit a written plan of 

activities 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 N-number of aircraft to be used.

(5) Name and contact information of pilots involved in the filming 

production event.

(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/maximum altitudes essential to accomplish 

the operations. 

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: 

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(1) Property owners

(2) Law enforcement officials

(3) Fire department officials

(4) Local, State and Federal government (5) Air traffic control 

SkySight personnel obtaining such permission will do so in writing 

whenever practical, however, verbal permission is acceptable otherwise. 

A standard permission form is provided in Appendix C and may be used 

when obtaining written permission. SkySight 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 chief pilot 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. 

G. Security 

Prior to any flight operation, SkySight 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. 

H. 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 and the 

attached special provisions

• Operations manual

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• Plan of activities 

• Aircraft parking and starting

• 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 

I. Certification/Airworthiness 

All sUAS aircraft operated by SkySight and used in operations requiring 

a waiver of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c) for the purpose of filming, will not 

be required to hold airworthiness certificates per our petition for 

exemption from 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H (issuance of Airworthiness 

Certificates required by 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)). All sUAS aircraft 

will have their make/model/serial information registered with the FAA, 

and when the FAA issues registration numbers for the sUAS aircraft they 

will be displayed as large as practically possible to be viewed from both 

above and below. 

Each sUAS 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 pilot in command will assure the aircraft to be flown is in airworthy 

condition, and all required inspections and maintenance has been 

completed before each flight. 

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J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 

The pilot/operator shall establish and specify the minimum pilot 

requirements. Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed the 

following: 

(1) A minimum of 40 hours of flight time with the specific sUAS 

equipment SkySight LLC operates.

(2) The experience of the pilot will be certified by SkySight through 

background checks and, if necessary, testing. 

(3) Have hold an FAA approved ASEL (Aircraft, Single Engine, Land) 

certificate. 

(4) Hold a current U.S. issued driver’s license

(5) Maintains up-to-date flight logs, and provides SkySight with copies 

of all logs that pertain to operation for SkySight. 

(6) Be at least 21 years old. 

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. 

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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 the SkySight 

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 SkySight motion picture and television 

operations manual (see Appendixes A and B) or associated plan of 

activities. Each pilot’s name shall appear on each daily plan of activity. 

All sUAS and pilot(s) participating in the activity shall be available for 

FAA inspection before the scheduled event. 

Each pilot-in-command conducting operations authorized under this 

certificate understands the conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes 

a waiver of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c). Takeoff and landing areas for sUAS 

equipment will be protected in a manner that will prevent unauthorized 

persons from entering the takeoff and landing area. SkySight 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. 

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II. Company Organization 

A. Chief Pilot 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Final word in the formulation of policy and procedures concerning this 

manual.

• Act as liaison between SkySight and the FAA on matter concerning this 

manual.

• 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.

• Maintain a current copy of this manual at the main base of operations 

for SkySight.

• Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are 

distributed and processed properly.

• Must approve or disapprove each proposed job or operation performed 

by SkySight under the provisions of this manual.

• Assume the responsibilities of pilot in command when acting as such.

• The chief pilot may delegate functions to other personnel but retains 

responsibility. 

B. Pilot in Command 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assure that aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition, and all 

inspections and required maintenance have been performed as per the 

requirements of SkySight and any appropriate FAR's.

• Acquire permission from the chief pilot before any operation under the 

provisions of this manual.

• Be very knowledgeable of the contents of this manual and abide by the 

procedures, policies and conditions contained herein. 

• Coordinate with movie and television personnel to formulate plans, 

routes, locations, etc. with safety of all persons involved in the primary 

concern.

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• Maintain their copy of this manual in current condition, and have it on 

site at any job or operation requiring the waiver. 

• The pilot in command may delegate functions to other personnel, but 

retains responsibility. 

Appendix A 

List of Approved Pilots:

Chief Pilot 

Name: Soren Jensen - Co-Owner of SkySight LLC 

FAA issued ASEL certificate number: 3101173 

U.S. Issued Driver’s License number: 10-175-0334 (Colorado) 

Contact Number: 541.326.9700

Appendix B 

List of Approved Aircraft 

Make and Model 

1. Freefly Systems Cinestar 8 Octocopter, DJI A2 Flight Controller 

Registration Number 

The above aircraft will be designated with FAA approved registration 

number N6717F, and a copy of the completed form AC8050-1 will be 

made available on request. 

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Appendix C 

Permission Acquisition Form: 

In signing this form, I am giving the pilots of SkySight LLC permission 

to operate their aircraft at less than 500 feet from property, or in some 

jurisdiction in which I am responsible for or affiliated with, for the 

purpose of film or television production. 

Name:

Title:

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission:

Location:

Date of Operation:

Signature __________________________________________________

Date __________________________

SKYSIGHT LLC Representative Receiving Permission: 

__________________________________________________________

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Appendix D 

Revision Letter 

Rev#:

Section:

Action: 

Remarks:__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________ 

 Remove and Replace Delete and Destroy Insert New Page 

Manual Version# ___________________ 

Issued To ___________________________ 

Revised By _________________________________

SkySight LLC approval by: _________________________________ 

Signature: _________________________________

Date _______________________

This form must be returned to the Chief Pilot no later than two days after 

signature date. 

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