## 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. Octocopter . 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 takeoff, 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 p hases of the mission ● Perfo rms pre -flight checks of the DJI WooKong Flight Controller. ● Issues commands to the UAV ● Issues flight termination command ● Monitors the state of the UAV

- altitude, speed, roll, pitch, etc ● Monitors the UAV’s progress through the mission waypoints ● Ensures that the correct waypoints have been loaded ● 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. ● Mo nitors position of UAV relative to the geofence, 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 ca mera 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 controller running ○ RC radio link working ● Confirm GPS Lock ● Co nfir m compass enabled ● Confirm Altitude lock ● Ensure flight mode AUTO ● 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 automatic or manual mod e. ○ For automatic takeoff, the pilot switches to AUTO via 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 sta ble flight, the pilot switches to AUTO. ● Once the UAV is in stable AUTO 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.

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

Page 3 of 4 ● By default it will automatically land ○ In automated mode, the GCS will keep a careful eye on the speed and alti tude 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 landing 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 more 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 time, 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 l ock 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	/	Failu**re	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 (50 mph ) Cruise Airspeed (7 mph ) Endurance at maximum airspeed Estimated 10 minutes

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

Page 4 of 4 Endurance at cruise airspeed Estimated 30 minutes Maximum take off weight 33.5 pounds Airframe length 55.1” Aircraft platform and configuration Octocopter