Motion Picture and Television Operations Manual

Candy Factory Productions, LLC

Saratoga Springs, New York

August 03, 2015
Table of Contents

Operating organization......................................................3

Applicant information........................................................3

List of pilots.......................................................................3

List of aircrafts...................................................................3

Distribution and Revision..................................................4

Authorized persons............................................................4

Area of operations.............................................................5

Plan of activities................................................................5

Permission to operate........................................................6

Security..............................................................................6

Briefing of pilots and production personnel......................6

Certification/airworthiness................................................7

Pilot personnel-minimum requirements............................7

Communications...............................................................8

Accident notification.........................................................8

Appendix A: Revision.......................................................9

Appendix B: Property Permission Form.........................10

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Operating Organization

Candy Factory Productions

114 Middle Avenue

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

mobile: 518-857-8468 

email: jason@candyfactoryfilms.com

Applicant information

Jason C. Ward

President, Candy Factory Films

114 Middle Avenue

Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

mobile: 518-857-8468

email: jason@candyfactoryfilms.com

List of pilots

Pending

List of aircrafts

DJI Inspire 1

Model T600

Weight 6.47 lbs.

Dimensions 17 x 17.7 x 11.8 inches

Registration number (pending)

DJI Phantom 3

Model Phantom 3

Weight 2.82 lbs.

Dimension (diagonal) 23 inches

Registration number (pending)

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Distribution and Revision

All operators, CFP management, and staff are to have read and retained a copy of this 

manual prior to any drone operation.

Only the president or CEO of CFP is authorized to make revisions to this manual. All 

revisions should be forwarded to the appropriate FSDO at least 15 days before the 

proposed effective date. See Appendix A for all proposed and approved revisions, with 

supportive documentation.

Authorized persons

With exception to those individuals employed or contracted by CFP to pilot and manage 

drone operations; and those consenting individuals under contract for on-screen 

performances and production management (be they hired by CFP or a third-party client),

all others must remain a minimum of 500 feet beyond the closed-set production area in 

compliance with FAR, Section 91.119(c).

CFP will take the following actions to ensure compliance with the above:

(1)Require and/or provide an adequate number of assistant directors and production 

assistances to stand guard at publicly accessible entrances to the closed production

area.

(2)Tape off additional entrances with a notice regarding production activities and 

schedule.

(3) Notify site/property managers 72 hours prior to production. 

In accordance with the FAA his 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 Aviation Safety 

Inspector’s (ASI) evaluation of the filming production area to note terrain features, 

obstructions, buildings, etc. Such barriers may protect nonparticipating persons (e.g., 

observers, the public, or news media) from debris in the event of an accident.

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Area of operations

Operating under the limitations of FAA's Section 333 Certificate of waiver, CFP is 

authorized for operations throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, 

and its territories.

The aforementioned waiver is issued by CFP's local FSDO. Therefore CFP must 

additionally coordinate with the regional FSDO having geographic responsibility over 

the area of the filming operations when conducted outside of CFP's local region.

Plan of activities

Three days prior to filming, a written plan of activities containing the following details 

must be submitted by CFP to the appropriate FSDO having jurisdiction over the area of 

flight/filming operation. 

At the discretion of the FSDO, the 3-day notification may be waived, however, 

justification of the exception to the 3-day requirement must be submitted and approved. 

The regionally appropriate FSDO must give acknowledgement of the plan of activities 

and grant approval prior to any filming operations. The plan of activities must include at 

least the following information:

(a) Dates and times for all flights.

(b) Name and phone number of person responsible for the filming production 

event.

(c) Make, model, and serial number or registration number of aircraft to be used 

and type of airworthiness certificate, including Category (CAT).

(d) Names and certificate numbers of pilots involved in the filming production 

event.

(e) A statement that permission has been obtained from property owners and/or 

local officials to conduct the filming production event.

(f) Signature of waiver holder or a designated representative.

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(g) A general outline or summary of the flight activity schedule, including maps 

or diagrams of the specific filming location, if necessary.

Permission to operate

CFP will deliver and procure permission forms from property owners prior to operating 

an UAS on or over their property.

See Appendix B for a sample copy of our permission form. 

Security

When appropriate CFP or a third-party client will be responsible for providing site 

security if the site and operations requires a level of safety and/or security beyond that 

provided for under the provisions of our “Authorized persons” statement above.

If at anytime safety is breached or compromised, operators will land the UAS 

immediately and cease operations.

Briefing of pilots and production personnel

Prior to the start of any operation under the provisions of this manual, the pilot in

command (PIC) 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:

(a) Plan of activities

(b) Current and hourly weather forcasts

(c) Takeoff procedures

(d) Radio communication protocols

(e) Flight pattern and activities to be conducted while filming during each flight 

(f) Approach and landing procedures

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(g) Recall procedures

(h) Emergency procedures

(i) Risks to participating personnel

(j) How to control nonparticipating persons

(k) Any additional provisions that may be issued by the local FSDO, including the 

location of boundaries or any other time/use limitations.

Certificate/Airworthiness

Each aircraft will have a flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance and 

inspections and the dates or times they must be performed. 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.

Pilot-in-command will ensure that inspections will be in accordance with Title 14 of the 

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) parts 43 and 91 and applicable operating 

limitations. The aircraft to be used may be certificated in any CAT, including 

experimental, provided the requirements of 14 CFR part 91, §§ 91.7, 91.9, and 91.203 

are met.

Pilot Personnel—Minimum Requirements

(a) A current U.S. FAA Pilot Certificate with ratings appropriate to the CAT and class 

aircraft to be used under the terms of the waiver.

(b) At least 500 hours logged as pilot in command (PIC) and 20 hours of PIC in the 

aircraft type.

(c) A minimum of 100 hours in the CAT and class of aircraft to be used.

(d) A minimum of 5 hours in the make and model aircraft to be used under the waiver.

(e) In the event that the 1,500-foot minimum standard contained in § 91.303(d) is to be 

waived, the pilot performing aerobatic maneuvers must hold an FAA Form 8710-7, 

Statement of Acrobatic Competency, for the operations to be performed. 

(f) In the event the operation to be conducted contains elements of an external-load 

operation, whether fixed-wing or rotary operations, pilots used in the operation shall be 

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qualified. This qualification may be obtained through a test of knowledge (which may be

oral or written) and/or skill. A FAA inspector will give the test(s) or another company 

pilot approved by the FSDO and who is qualified to carry loads externally. These tests 

will be similar to 14 CFR part 133 requirements and cover the following subjects: 

- Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a survey of the flight area. 

- Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the external-load.

- Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating procedures and the 

Aircraft Flight Manual (AFM).

- Proper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel.

- AFM, pilot operating handbook (POH), or a rotorcraft-load combination flight 

manual, and limitations, if appropriate

Communications 

The pilot-in-command, camera operator and 1st Assistant Director are all to remain 

within vocal range of each other at all times during UAS flight operation. 

Production assistants and 2nd and 3rd assistant directors managing production site security

will stay in communication with the Assistant Director (1st AD) through the use of radio 

communication at all times during UAS flight operation.

Accident Notification

All accidents resulting in property damage, personal injury and/or damage to the UAS 

shall be reported to the regional FSDO with jurisdiction over the production area.

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Appendix A

Candy Factory Productions - MPTOM Revisions

Date Revision Documentation

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Appendix B

Permission to Operate an UAS from and Use Photography of Property

For good and valuable consideration herein acknowledged as received, the undersigned, being the legal

owner of, or having the right to permit the full operation of an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) in 

accordance with FAA regulations and the taking of and use of photographs and video of, certain 

property designated as ________________________________________________________ (address),

does irrevocably grant to ____________________________________________________ 

(photographer/operator) of Candy Factory Productions, LLC, full perpetual rights to take and use such 

photographs in advertising, trade, or for any purpose. The undersigned also consents to the use of any 

printed matter in conjunction therewith. The undersigned hereby waives any right that he/she/it may 

have to inspect or approve the finished product or products, or the advertising copy or other published 

matter that may be used in connection therewith, or the use to which it may be applied. The 

undersigned hereby warrants that he/she is a legally competent adult and has every right to contract in 

his/her own name in the above regard. The undersigned states further that he/she has read the above 

authorization, release, and agreement, prior to its execution, and that he/she is fully familiar with the 

contents thereof. If the undersigned is signing as an agent or employee of a firm or corporation, the 

undersigned warrants that he/she is fully authorized to do so. This release shall be binding upon the 

undersigned and his/her/its heirs, legal representatives, successors, and assigns.

SIGNATURE

NAME

DATE

WITNESS's SIGNATURE

WITNESS (Print Name)

ADDRESS (Line 1)

ADDRESS (Line 2)

STATE OF _______________________ COUNTY OF ______________________

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