# LORBORN Energy Company, LLC’s Standard Operating

Procedures (SOP) for sUAS Flight Operation s

Enclosed are mandatory

guide lines to be used during all sUAS operations conducted b y LORBORN Energy

Company, LLC. This guide may be more stringent than the guidelines received via the FAA 333 Exemption. In the case of conflict between two guidelines, the more restrictive of the two must be used.



### 1. **The sUAS will**  **we ig**  **h less**  **than 35 pounds.**  The DJ I Phantom 3 Pro weighs 1280 grams (approximately 3lbs) with camera payload. If a difference piece of equipment is to be added to the “fleet” of sUAS ’s that LORBORN Energy Company plans on operating then a new Exemption, or Amendment to the current Exemption, will be applied for to ensure that the Exemption stays as up to date as possible.



### 2. **Flights will**  **be operated**  **within line**  **of sight of the**  **Operator.**
All sUAS operations that are conducted b y LORBORN Energy Company

personnel will do so with a minimum of two people. One being a li censed pilot to operate the sUAS , and the other to be a Visual Observer. The sUAS shall not be operated outside of unaided (other than corrective lenses or contacts) visual line of sight of the Pilot in Command of the sUAS . Operating outside of visual line of sight of the PIC will result in reprimand for failing to follow LORBORN Energy Company ’s Standard Operating Procedures.



### 3. **M aximum**  **total flight**  **time for**  **each operational**  **flight will**  **be limited**  **to the**  **amount of**  **time the**  **sUAS can**  **be flown**  **and still**  **maintain a**  **reserve battery**  **power of**  **no less than**  **25%.** When calculating flight time the PIC will use the approximate flight time listed for the battery f or the sUA S in use, multiply that number by

2 5%, subtract that total from the approximate battery

l ife of the sUAS in use to determine flight time allowed. For the DJ I Phantom 3 Pro the approximate battery time is 23 minutes. 23 minutes multiplied by 2 5% is 5.75 minutes. Subtracted from the original 23 minutes leaves 17 minutes and 15 seconds of flight time is allowed. The sUAS must be landed prior to that time. Any operation outside of that timeframe can onl y be done under “Emergency S ituations”. Intentional operations in the “reserve” time is forbidden

.

### 4. **Flights will**  **be operated**  **at an**  **altitude of no more**  **than 500 feet**  **above ground level**  **("AGL").** In order to avoid any potential manned aircraft sUAS operations are prohibited at an altitude higher than 500 feet above the ground.



### 5. **Flights will**  **be operated**  **at a**  **safe lateral**  **distance from,**  **and not**  **directly above, any**  **inhabited structures,**  **buildings, vehicles,**  **vessels, or people**  **not associated with**  **the operation**  **or w ho have**  **not signed**  **a waiver**  **in advance**  **of the operation.** Any sUAS operations conducted b y LORBORN Energy Company

will be done so in a way

that provides the least distraction or disruption from people and property. Any property that is to be flown over must have permission from the landowner prior to sUAS operati ons via a signed sUAS Operations Permissions Form prior to operations taking place.



### 6. **The sUAS Pilot**  **will be**  **an FAA licensed**  **airman with**  **at least**  **a private**  **pilot's certificate.** At no time will anyone other than the PIC operate the sUAS unless said person is also an FAA licensed airman with, at least, a private pilot’s certificate.



### 7. **The sUAS Pilot**  **with Pilot**  **in Command**  **responsibilities for the**  **flight wi** **ll be the**  **designated Operator**  **("Operator").** At no time during sUA S operations will the PIC and Visual Observer change roles mid operation. The sUAS pilot designated at the beginning of the operation will be the PIC for the duration of the operation.



### 8. The **sUAS will operate**  **only within**  **a confined**  **area as**  **described in**  **this Flight Operations**  **Guideline .**  Unless discussed with, and approved b y, the landowners operating outside of the agreement in the signed sUAS Operations Permission Form is forbidden.



### 9. **A briefing will**  **be conducted**  **in regard**  **to the**  **planned sUAS operations**  **pri or**  **t o each**  **day's missions.**  **It will**  **be mandatory**  **that all**  **personnel who will**  **be performing duties**  **within the**  **boundaries of the**  **safety perimeter**  **be present**  **for this briefing.** No sUAS operation will be allowed to commence without a briefing prior to operations. All

personnel involved in the operation must be present for the briefing. The briefing will include the designated roles of the individuals, the flight path/plan, any obstacles that may be incurred, plans for emergency

procedures and any

safety issues involved. 

### 10. **The Operator**  **will have**  **been trained**  **in operations**  **of sUAS**  **generally and**  **received up**  **- to**  **- date**  **information on**  **the particular**  **sUAS to**  **be operated**  **as required in**  **the Standard**  **Operating Procedures .**  All pilots involved in sUAS operations will undergo training prior to beginning operations. Training will consist of familiarization with the SOP’s for LORBORN Energy C ompany, reading of the Operators Manual for the sUAS to be used for the specific operation and show proficiency

in operating the sUAS in a safe manner prior to operating in the field. 

### 11. **Written and/or**  **oral permission**  **from the**  **relevant property**  **holders will**  **be obtained.** Prior to operating in the field LORBORN Energy Co must receive written permission, via a “sUAS Operations Permission Form” that shall be signed b y at least one owner of the property to be traversed , signed b y a representative of LORBORN Energy Co and by

one witness. The Form will consist of a date, approximate time, duration and location of operations so that the landowners are fully aware of the operations that are taking place. If, while in the field, it is found that a piece of property must be flown over that was not known prior to operations beginning in the field, oral permission from said landowner will suffice. At no time will any

representative of LORBORN Energy Co fl y over any property without approval from the landowner first. Doing so will result in immediate termination without the ability

to be rehired.

### 12 **. If the sUAS loses**  **transmission signal,**  **the sUAS will** 

**have the**  **capability to return**  **to a**  **pre -**  **determined location**  **and land.** 

Prior to taking off, the sUAS will have it s home location marked in accordance with the Operators Manual so that, in the event there is a loss of transmission signal or in the event the PIC has lost visual sight of the sUAS, the sUAS will return to original designated point. There are capabilities to override the GPS function, which controls the “Return Home” function, but using any mode other than the GPS mode is prohibited. Also, the PIC will confirm the altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS altitude indicator before flight. The PIC will use the GPS altitude indicator to constantly monitor the sUAS's height, thus ensuring operation at safe altitudes during all operations.

### 13. **The PIC of the**  **sUAS will have**  **the capability**  **to abort**  **a flight**  **in case**  **of unpredicted obstacles or**  **emergencies.** Emergency

procedures will be discussed in the Pre

- Operations Brief with all parties involved. If, at any time, anyone on station during the operation sees an unsafe situation that person will call “Abort” without fear of repercussions. Safety is the number one priority and safety is everyone’s responsibility, not just the PIC.