## SkyNet Aerial Media **UAV Flight Operations Manual**

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# UAV	Flight	Operations	Manual

**Introduction** This manual describes the operations of the SkyNet Aerial Media LLC. Phantom 3 and Vulcan BW 950 . This includes roles and responsibilities, mission phases and emergency procedures. The document outlines basic procedures required during a mission. It will act as a reference point for pilot and photographer
. 

## Roles	and	Responsibilities **Pilot** ● Flying the UAV in Manual or FBW mode. This may include take off landing or during emergency procedures (when the UAV is circling Airfield Home and needs to be landed) ● Assembling the UAV (Wings, Tailplane, Hatches) and acting as a point of contact on the flight line during pre

-flight checks ● The Pilot will be the only team member on the flight line ● Monitors overall progress of the UAV through all phases of the mission ● Perfo rms pre -flight checks of the DJI WooKong Flight Controller and Phantom 3 controller
. ● Issues commands to the UAV ● Issues flight termination command ● Monitors the state of the UAV

- altitude, speed, roll, pitch, etc ● During emergency situations, ensures the UAV diverts to the correct waypoint/loiter ● Monitors the time, ensuring the UAV will finish the search pattern within the allocated time limit. ● Monitors position of UAV relative to the geo fence, particularly in Manual mode ● Ensures team is following the Procedures and Operations Manual ● Monitors the RF Link Quality 

### C**amera	and	Payload	Control** ● Confirms the Camera is capturing correcting ● Monitors the camera capture and image processing ● Makes the call as to where pilot is located

## SkyNet Aerial Media **UAV Flight Operations Manual**

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## Setup **Assembling	the	UAV** ● Check for physical damage ● Check all electronics present and connected ● Check for working flight surfaces ● Confirm all batteries charged ● No physical damage to airframe, engine, propeller or avionics ● Launch area clear of unnecessary personnel and debris 

### Setup	of	the **Ground	Station** ● Radio links active and working ● All Ground Station operators confirm ● Batteries are all checked. ● Video down link range tests are done. 

### Pre **start up	checks**  ● Verify ○ All servos and flight control surfaces responsive ○ WooKong and or Phantom 3 Flight controller running ○ RC radio link working ● Confirm GPS Lock ● Co nfir m compass enabled ● Confirm Altitude lock ● Airspeed calibration and check ● Receiver failsafe check 

### Post **start up	c** **hecks** ● Motors running nominally ● Ensure flight mode AUTO ● Confirm IMU gives the correct orientation ● Double check barometric sensor is showing 0m altitude 

## Flight	Phases **Takeoff** ● Takeoff will be in GPS or ATTI mode. ○ For automatic takeoff, the pilot switches to GPS vi a left switch and then right switch
. The UAV then takes off ○ For manual takeoff, allow the pilot to set to Manual mode. After takeoff and when the UAV is at least 5 m off the ground. On ce the UAV has stable fl ight, the pilot switches to GPS
. ● Once the UAV is in stable GPS flight, th e Pilot will disable stick mixing. ○ The UAV manoeuvres correctly (good parameters) ○ GPS has a solid lock ( check for a signal strength / # of satellites locked?) ○ Signal on both radios is acceptable ○ Camera is showing good quality images 

### Landing ● Landing may be automatic or manual, depending on weather conditions. ● By default it will automatically land

## SkyNet Aerial Media **UAV Flight Operations Manual**

Page 3 of 4 ○ In automated mode, the GPS will keep a careful eye on the speed and altitude of the UAV ○ The pilot will confirm when the UAV is in visual range ○ The pilot will switch to the RC transmitter when they are confident of Manual control. They should ensure the Transmitter is set to the right modes/switc hes before power

-on. ○ If, at any point during the landing, we are not confident in the auto landi ng the pilot will manually take over (only if the UAV is in visual range though) ○ During a manual landing, the Pilot will call out the airspeed and altitude. 

## Emergency	Procedures **Loss	of Data**  **- L** **ink** ● Occurs if the both data

- links are lost (no heartbeat) for mo re than 10 seconds ○ If combined with a loss of GPS, the UAV must terminate ○ The RC link fails during manual flight, the UAV must terminate ● The UAV will fly to the Landing Zone Hold waypoint and loiter to 2 minutes ● If the link is not re

-established in this ti me, the UAV will terminate 

### Loss	of	GPS ● If the GPS reports a loss of lock, this mode must be activated immediately ● The UAV will automatically loiter around the point of GPS lock loss (via dead reckoning) for 30 seconds. ● The UAV will navigate to the Landing Zone waypoint (via dead reckoning) ● RC control will be established and the UAV landed, otherwise flight termination 

### APM	Software	crash	(Failure	of	Autopilot	software	/	Failure	of	SAS) ● If no heartbeat is heard from the APM for more than 1 second, this mode is activated ● Flight termination must be immediately activated 

### Geofence	breach ● If the Fence is breached, flight termination will be immediately activated



### UAV **Performance	Info**
Specification Value Maximum Airspeed (35 mph Phantom 3 ) (35 MPH Vulcan BW 950) Cruise Airspeed (7 mph PHANTOM 3) (5 MPH Vulcan BW 950)

## SkyNet Aerial Media **UAV Flight Operations Manual**

Page 4 of 4 Endurance at maximum airspeed Estimated 22 minutes Phantom 3) ( 14 minutes Black Widow 950 ) Endurance at cruise airspeed Estimated 22 minutes Phantom 3) ( 14 minutes Black Widow 950 ) Maximum take off weight (1280 Grams Phantom 3)( 22.5LB Vulcan BW 950) Airframe length (590mm Phantom 3)( 950mm Vulcan BW 950) Aircraft platform and configuration (Quad, Phantom 3)( X8 Vulcan BW 950)