MALC	STUDIOS

Unmanned	Aerial	System	Opera8ons	Manual

Opera8on	Manual

June	30,	2015

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Table of Contents

Preface 

Philosophy & Mission Statement 

Protec8on of Rights and Privacy 

Defini8ons 

Administra8on 

5.1. Opera8ons Manual 5.2. Organiza8on

5.3. Personnel

5.4. Scheduling 

5.5. Miscellaneous 

Safety 

6.1. Safety Policy 6.2. Safety Training 6.3. Medical Factors 

Training

7.1. Objec8ve 

7.2. Instructors

7.3. Training Plans

7.4. Recurrent Training 7.5. Miscellaneous 

General Opera8ng Procedures 8.1. Request for UAS Support 8.2. Deployment Priori8es 8.3. Flight Boundaries 

8.4. Minimum Personnel Requirements

8.5. Personnel Responsibili8es for Deployments 8.6. Personal Equipment 

Pre-Flight/Post-Flight Procedures 9.1. Inspec8ons 

9.2. Weather 11 9.3. Documenta8on and Evidence 12 9.4. Planning 12 9.5. Checklists 12 9.6. Maintenance 12 9.7. 

Other 13

1. Preface. The following procedures are intended to promote safe, efficient, and lawful opera8on of Malc Studios 

Inc's unmanned aerial systems (UAS.) Safety, above all else, is the primary concern in each and every opera8on, 

regardless of the nature of the mission.

2. Philosophy	&	Mission	Statement.	It shall be the mission of those personnel of Malc Studios Inc who are trained in 

the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), to use this resource for the purpose of aerial imaging (photography 

and video) as well as survey and inspec8ons in a safe, respec_ul and legal manner. UAS's can support the mission 

of the provided client who would benefit from an aerial perspec8ve to achieve their goal. 

It shall be the intent of every UAS operator to make reasonable effort to not invade a person's reasonable 

expecta8on of privacy when opera8ng the UAS. When opera8ng the UAS, Malc Studios Inc will abide by all FAA 

Regula8ons for flight and receive the proper authoriza8on for flight before deployment. 

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3. Protec8on	of	Rights	and	Privacy.	UAS unit operator(s) and Safety Observers (SO) will have the protec8on of 

ci8zens civil rights and reasonable expecta8ons of privacy as a key component of any decision made to the 

deployment of the UAS. UAS operators and Safety Observers will ensure and will be held accountable for ensuring 

that opera8ons of the UAS intrude to a minimal extent upon the ci8zens of Washington State. To accomplish this 

primary goal we will: 

a. When the UAS is being flown the on-board camera(s) will be adjusted so as to be facing away from occupied 

structures, etc to minimize inadvertent video or s8ll images of uninvolved persons. 

i. All video and s8ll images will be maintained in strict compliance with Malc Studios Inc policies and 

procedures.

ii. Malc Studios Inc will not under any circumstances conduct random surveillance ac8vi8es. The use of the 

UAS will be 8ghtly controlled and regulated by the PIC. 

iii.The authorized ac8vi8es of the Malc Studios Inc UAS are: Video & Photographs for client based 

opera8on. 

1. Contracted Survey missions for private client based opera8on. 

2. Inspec8on missions of structures with loca8ons provided by clients. 

3. All other requested uses will be approved by the Pilot-In-Command and CEO of Malc Studios Inc 

prior to accep8ng the opera8on/mission.

iv.The Malc Studios Inc UAS program will operate strictly within the law and FAA regula8ons. We will 

balance opera8ons with the need to accomplish the mission while maintaining public privacy and the 

freedom from intrusion upon individuals.

4.Defini8ons

a. COA (Cer8ficate of Authoriza8on) – Given by the FAA which grants permission to fly within specific boundaries 

and perimeters. Training flights cannot take place without a valid T&E (training and evalua8on) COA and 

missions cannot take place without a valid opera8onal/emergency COA. 

5.Administra8on

5.1.Opera8ons	Manual	

a. The policies and procedures contained in this manual are issued by authority of the CEO and PIC of Malc 

Studios Inc. As such it is an official document of the opera8ng procedures for the Limited Liability 

Company, Malc Studios. 

b. This manual is not intended to be all-inclusive, but as a supplement to the other documents provided by 

the manufacturers' approved documenta8on of the UAS in opera8on, Federal Avia8on Administra8on 

regula8ons, any and all state regula8ons that may apply, etc. 

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c. Manual has been wrigen to address UAS opera8ons as they existed when it was drahed. Equipment, 

personnel, environment (internal & external), etc. change over 8me. The management of change involves 

a systema8c approach to monitoring organiza8onal change and is a cri8cal part of the risk management 

process. Given this, it is essen8al that this manual be con8nually updated as necessary. The en8re manual 

will be reviewed, at a minimum, annually to assure it is up to date. Any changes to the manual will 

communicated as currently dictated by company policy. 

d.A copy of the manual (electronic and/or paper) will be issued to every person involved with UAS 

responsibili8es.

5.2.Organiza8on

a. The UAS unit shall be comprised of those personnel approved by the PIC and includes a Safety Observer 

(SO) and a camera operator.

b. Primary UAS personnel will be compensated in accordance with current Malc Studios Inc contract.

5.3.Personnel

a. The Pilot-In-Command (PIC) is responsible for the overall direc8on and performance of all involved 

par8es during UAS missions and will exercise command and control over both.

b.UAS Coordinator (Pilot-In-Command)

I. Responsibili8es: 1) Maintaining all training flight and maintenance records for each operator and 

observer as well as individual airframes, 2) Maintain contact with the FAA and regula8ons as the change, 

3) Evaluate airframes based on mission needs. 4) The UAS Coordinator must maintain a current 

proficiency on all UAS units. 5) Post a mission summary to media outlets aher first obtaining 

authoriza8on from UAS commander.

c. Operators

I. To be considered for selec8on as an operator, applicants must be physical and mentally fit in order to 

be accepted as a UAS operator. 

II. Operators must have an understanding of and comply with FAA regula8ons applicable to the airspace 

where the UAS will operate. 

III. An operator's primary duty is the safe and effec8ve opera8ons of Malc Studios Inc's UAS in 

accordance with the manufacturers' approved flight manual, FAA regula8ons and agency policy and 

procedures. Operators must remain knowledgeable of all FAA regula8ons; UAS manufacturers flight 

manual and bulle8ns and Malc Studios LLC policy and procedures. 

IV. Operators may be temporarily removed from flight status at any 8me by the UAS PIC, for reasons 

including performance, proficiency, physical condi8on, etc. Should this become necessary, the 

operator will be no8fied verbally and in wri8ng of the reason, further ac8on to be taken and 

expected dura8on of such removal. 

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V.The department UAS PIC shall maintain a file for each operator which shall include copies of FAA 

cer8fica8ons, training records, etc. This file will be reviewed in accordance with current Malc Studios 

LLC policy and procedures.

d. Observers

I. Observers must have been provided with sufficient training to communicate 

clearly to the operator any turning instruc8ons required to stay clear of conflic8ng traffic. Observers 

will receive training on rules and responsibili8es described in 14 CFR 91.111, Opera8ng Near Other 

Aircrah, 14 CFR 91.13, Right-of-Way Rules, cloud clearance, in-flight visibility, and the pilot controller 

glossary including standard ATC phraseology and communica8on.

II. An observer's primary duty is to operate the UAS's equipment including cameras, FLIR, radio 

communica8ons with operator and camera operator as well as be an observer for anything that may 

affect the operator's primary duty. 

III.To be considered for selec8on as an Observer, applicants must be physical and mentally fit in order 

to be accepted as a UAS Observer.

5.4. Scheduling

a. To facilitate the broad use of the UAS, it shall be made available to all patrol and all inves8ga8ons bureau 

personal. 

b. To maintain a level of proficiency with the UAS, operators will be required, as part of their acceptance as 

a UAS operator, to agend training every 2 months. 

5.5. Miscellaneous

a. Operators/Observers shall follow currently established department policy regarding interac8ons and 

inquiries from the media.

b. Complaints or inquiries regarding UAS opera8ons shall be referred to the company owner.

c. Operators/Observers who deploy or are contracted outside of their normal work hours shall be 

compensated per their current collec8ve bargaining agreement.

6. Safety

6.1. Safety	Policy

a. Malc Studios LLC is commiged to having a safe and healthy workplace, including: 

I. The ongoing pursuit of an accident free workplace, including no harm to people, no damage to 

equipment, the environment and property.

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II. A culture of open repor8ng of all safety hazards in which management will not ini8ate disciplinary 

ac8on against any personnel who, in good faith, disclose a hazard or safety occurrence due to 

uninten8onal conduct.

III. Support for safety training and awareness programs.

IV.Conduc8ng regular audits of safety policies, procedures and prac8ces.

V. Monitoring the UAS community to ensure the best safety prac8ces are incorporated into the 

organiza8on.

b. It is the duty of every member within the company to contribute to the goal of con8nued safe opera8ons. 

This contribu8on may come in many forms and includes always opera8ng in the safest manner 

prac8cable and never taking unnecessary risks. Any safety hazard, whether procedural, opera8onal or 

maintenance related should be iden8fied as soon as possible aher, if not before, an incident occurs. Any 

sugges8ons in the interest of safety should be made to the UAS Pilot-In-Command.

c. If any member observes, or has knowledge, of an unsafe or dangerous act commiged by another 

member, the owner and or the PIC is to be no8fied immediately so that correc8ve ac8on may be taken.

6.2. Safety	Training

a. All member shall receive training in the following subjects prior to opera8ng the UAS: 

I. Agency commitment to safety

II. Agency policy

III.UAS member's role in safety

IV.Emergency safety procedures 

b.All members shall review the department safety policy and procedures on an annual basis and that 

review shall be noted in their training history.

6.3. Medical	Factors

a. Operator and Observers shall only deploy the UAS when rested and emo8onally prepared for the tasks at 

hand.

b. Physical illness, exhaus8on, emo8onal problems, etc., can seriously impair judgment, memory and 

alertness. The safest rule is not to act as an operator or observer when suffering from any of the above. 

Members are expected to “stand down” when these problems could reasonably be expected to affect 

their ability to perform flight du8es.

c. A self-assessment of physical condi8on shall be made by all members during pre-flight ac8vi8es.

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d. Performance can be seriously hampered by prescrip8on and over the counter drugs. The UAS PIC will be 

advised any8me such drugs are being taken. If it is determined that the medica8on being taken could 

hamper an operator or observer, that member shall be prohibited from the deployment or exercise.

e. No member shall act as an operator or observer within eight hours aher consump8on of any alcoholic 

beverage, while under the influence of alcohol, or while having an alcohol concentra8on of 0.04(FAR 

91.17)

7. Training

7.1. Objec8ve

a. The key to con8nued safe opera8ons is by maintaining a professional level of competency. The first step 

in this process is establishing minimum qualifica8ons for selec8ng members, and the second step involves 

training those personnel.

7.2. Instructors

a. We will develop training courses, provide training and student evalua8on and documenta8on.

b.Du8es of instruc8ng new members shall fall upon those who have the most flight 8me and knowledge of 

UAS opera8ons. Instructors will be designated by those within the unit and approved by the UAS PIC.

7.3. Training	Plans

a. All members will have a training plan on file that outlines training objec8ves for the upcoming year. This 

training plan will be held in conjunc8on with the member's normal training file per company policy.

b. The approved training plan will be developed jointly by the supervisor, UAS employees and the company 

training unit.

c. All deployments or exercises will be documented and count toward a employee's training. 

d. It is the employee's responsibility to verify their training file contains all per8nent informa8on.

7.4. Recurrent	Training	

a. All employees within the company shall maintain proficiency in their operator/observer abili8es. 

Employees who do not have any documented training or flight 8me within a span of 90 days will have to 

show proficiency before being an operator/observer during a deployment or exercise.

b. Recurrent training is not limited to actual opera8ng/observer skills but includes knowledge of all 

per8nent UAS/avia8on mager.

c. Failure to prove proficiency can result in removal from UAS responsibili8es. 

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7.5. Miscellaneous

a. Depending on the nature of the training request, all efforts will be made to accommodate the hours of 

training so as ligle impact is made to staff scheduling.

b.All requests for training shall be approved through the employee's chain of command and 8mekeeping 

during those training hours will be marked by the employee's supervisor.

c. Employee's are encouraged to agend, and forward informa8on on FAA sponsored safety seminars and 

may do so during work hours with approval of their superior.

d.Unless approval is obtained in wri8ng in advance, over8me will not be authorized for training.

e. Training shall only be conducted at approval loca8ons and follow the provisions within the approved FAA 

COA.

8. General	Opera8ng	Procedures	8.1	Request	for	UAS	Support

8.1. Requests	for	UAS	support	

a. will be made through the PIC who will schedule out jobs based on the clients approval and/or deadline to 

finish contracted support.

b. Requests for UAS support can be made any 8me day or night via phone call and/or email, terms of the 

contract will be reviewed as soon as possible and replied to accordingly.

8.2. Deployment	Priori8es

a. The UAS shall not be used for the purpose of random surveillance.

b. If several separate requests for UAS support are received simultaneously, they shall be priori8zed 

according to available PIC schedule and client requirements.

8.3. Flight	Boundaries

a. Informa8on regarding flight boundaries can be found in the FAA COA.

b.Maximum al8tude shall not be set more the 400h per the FAA COA. 8.4 Minimum Personnel 

Requirements

8.4. Minimum	Personal	Requirements

a. Although training is not considered a mission, if required an observer shall be used or camera operator.

8.5. Personnel	Responsibili8es	for	Deployments OPEN COMMUNICATION ACHIEVES SAFE OPERATIONS

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a. Operator

I. The operator is directly responsible for, and is the final authority over the actual opera8on of the 

UAS.

II. Operators have absolute authority to reject a flight based on personnel safety or viola8on of FAA 

regula8ons. No employee of Malc Studios LLC, regardless of stature, shall order an operator to make 

a flight when, in the opinion of the operator, it poses a risk to personnel or is in viola8on of FAA 

regula8on.

III.Operators are responsible for compliance with this manual, company policy and procedure and FAA 

regula8ons.

IV.The operator's main duty during the deployment of the UAS is to operate the UAS safely while 

accomplishing the goals of the deployment.

V.Operators shall see-and-avoid any obstacle that will lessen safety during the mission. 

VI. Operators shall be responsive to the requests of the observer in order to accomplish the 

deployment.

VII. Operators shall be responsible for documenta8on for mission training and upda8ng of flight books.

b. Observer	

i. Observers shall see-and-avoid any obstacle that will lessen safety during the mission.

ii. Observers shall operate any agachments to the UAS, allowing the operator to maintain complete 

focus on the opera8on of the UAS.

iii.Observers shall monitor the radio updates.

iv.Observers shall assist the operator in the main objec8ve of safe opera8on of the UAS.

8.6. Personal	Equipment

a. Although there is no specific uniform for the UAS team or required for proper opera8on of the UAS, the 

operator/observer should take necessary measures to deploy in a professional mager and take into 

considera8on the environment which deployment will take place.

b.Operators/Observers will take into considera8on the current weather condi8ons when planning to 

deploy, and war appropriate clothing to deploy comfortably.

c. There are no documented issues with the use of the radio or cellular phones during the deployment of 

the UAS, but the operator/observer should at all 8me take into considera8on safe opera8on of the UAS 

when using the radio or another communica8on device.

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d.Operators/Observers should provide necessary equipment.

9. Pre-Flight/Post-Flight	Ac8ons	

9.1. Inspec8ons

a. Operators/Observers are both responsible for a thorough pre-flight inspec8on of the UAS.

b. Before and aher each deployment (whether an incident or training), the operator and observer shall 

conduct a thorough inspec8on of the UAS in accordance with the instruc8ons contained in the 

manufactures user's manual.

c. Any issues found that will jeopardizes the safe opera8on of the UAS shall be documented and resolved 

immediately prior to flight.

d. It has been recognized that the use of a checklist is a significant method to combat UAS accidents. A preflight and post-flight checklist is contained in the Ground Control Sta8on both electronic or paper and will 

be u8lized prior to each flight.

e. Any physical equipment that cannot be solved on-site, and which have an impact on safety or the 

mission, will override the deployment. These issues will be resolved before flight.

9.2. Weather

a. Before each deployment the operator/observer will ensure that he/she gathers enough informa8on to 

make themselves familiar with the weather situa8on exis8ng throughout the area of deployment. The 

operator shall u8lize FAA approved weather resources to obtain the latest and most current weather 

condi8ons.

b.An anemometer should be u8lized in order to beger es8mate the wind speed and determine if it is 

within the capabili8es of the airframe being flown.

c. The weather condi8ons reported for the opera8on shall be recorded in the flight log.

d. The operator shall ensure that the flight will occur within FAA VFR weather requirements.

9.3. Documenta8on	and	Evidence

a. Inspec8on and weather will be documented prior to flight within log book.

b.Aher each flight, the operator will complete a statement documen8ng the UAS opera8ons.

c. All aerial photography (s8ll and/or video) shall be stored in accordance to company policy and procedure.

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9.4. Planning

a. The operator/observer shall familiarize themselves with all available informa8on concerning the 

deployment including, but not limited to, the weather condi8ons, hazards, descrip8on of the incident, 

deployment goals, etc.

b. Operators will ensure that the loca8on for take-off and emergency landing is adequate for a safe 

deployment.

i. The take-off/landing loca8on should be clearly marked and iden8fiable with electric flares and short 

cones.

ii. At least one emergency landing area should be iden8fied per deployment.

c. Operators will ensure that they are aware of their surroundings in the event that an emergency landing is 

necessary. This includes the ability to recover the UAS.

9.5. Checklists

a. Operators shall u8lize the checklists to ensure the highest level of safety for deployment.

b. Prior to flight, the flight log shall be ini8ated.

9.6. Maintenance

a. Although there are few parts on the UAS that need servicing, it is necessary that the manufacturer's 

maintenance schedule is followed and properly documented.

b.Any issues that arise during maintenance that cannot be solved by rou8ne methods shall be forwarded to 

the manufacturer for further technical support.

9.7. Other

a. Operators/Observers will ensure that no items are agached to the UAS prior to flight that are not 

required for safe opera8on and to complete the mission goal.

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