PILOT OPERATION HANDBOOK 

MR14 

This book is offered in a format so that pilots can customize the checklists to their 

exact needs. 

Keep the required log books regarding the following: 

1)Pilot Log book 

2)Aircraft Log book 

3)Aircraft maintenance log and updates 

4)Battery log book (date in service, voltage, mAh vs time) 

Print out and make readily available the error message legend of various lashing 

lights for the specific flight controller. Refer to emergency procedures Section #3 

Aircraft specs / Performance 

Max Takeoff Weight: 55 lbs 

Empty Weight: 11.8 lbs 

Useful Load: 40 lbs 

Battery Weight X 2 : 4.25 lbs each 

Flight load/ Flight : (16000 mAh X2) 

7.5 lbs load =25 Min (20% reserve ) 

12.5 lbs load =21 Min (20% reserve ) 

17.5 lbs load =17 Min (20% reserve ) 

20.0 lbs load =15 Min (20% reserve ) 

Flight times are reference only. Must have high C rating to achieve posted flight 

time. You may get longer or shorter flight times based on weight, flying style, 

temperature and density altitude. 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

www.hotgears.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

•Section 1: Operating Check List 

•Section 2: Limitations 

•Section 3: Emergency Procedures 

•Section 4: Normal Procedures 

•Section 5: Performance 

•Section 6: Weight and Balance/Equipment List 

•Section 7: Air Vehicle and Systems Description 

•Section 8: Handling, Service and Maintenance 

Section 1 

Operating Checklist 

Before flight 

•All screws/bolts are tight 

•Timer alarm for flight time to not exceed 80% battery capacity set properly 

•Batteries are secure 

•Antennas are secure 

•Props balanced 

•Props aligned 

•Props not chipped 

•Check blades, arms, etc. for cracks/damage 

•Wiring Tight 

•No excessive flexing of motors or booms 

•Booms/motors will not twist 

•Center of gravity is correct 

•Warning lights set for low battery if used 

•Batteries charged. Replace any battery which cycles below 80% of rated 

capacity 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

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PREFLIGHT 

•Check area to fly on Google maps 

•Confirm walkie talkie and ATC coms operation 

•Inform ATC of your flight plan if required 

•Determine emergency flight plan and alternate landing zones avoiding power 

 lines and obstacles 

•Check wind direction 

•Set a perimeter of 50-100 meters – area must be clear of people 

•All antennas installed and all pointing in correct directions 

•Remove lens cap / Clean lens 

•Camera On 

•Ensure camera has recording media installed. 

•Check battery voltage 

•Install battery on copter. 

•Ensure camera has recording media installed. 

•Check battery voltage 

•Install battery on copter. 

•Check CG 

•Level copter with front pointing in correct direction for course lock – do not turn 

 on 

•On Copter TX - Set switches - Throttle Down, Return to Home switch Off, 

 Manual Flight Mode Switch On, Flight Path Switch Off – Not Course or 

 Home Lock 

•Copter Transmitter On 

•Check Model Selection on Tx 

•Check Tx battery voltage (above 7.4v) 

•On Photo Tx – set switches - HDMI switch Off, Freestyle switch On 

•Photography Transmitter On 

•Check Model Selection on Tx 

•Check Tx battery voltage (above 7.4v) 

•Plug in battery black lead first. 

•Calibrate GPS/Compass if necessary 

•If calibrated, cycle battery with correct heading for course lock. 

•Do not touch the Copter until 30 seconds after full GPS Lock. Initial 3 red blinks 

 is normal meaning no GPS lock. Wait until no flashes. Continue with 

 checklist. 

•Check Copter Voltage from GCS 

•Engage Attitude Mode – Must Achieve Double Amber Flash 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

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 (refer to flight controller man.) 

•Engage GPS Mode – Must Achieve Double Purple Flash 

 (refer to flight controller man.) 

•While in GPS mode engage “Course Lock” mode. Must achieve green Flash 

 (refer to flight controller man.) 

•Do not engage motors. Set throttle to center position. Must achieve single 

 amber flash in Attitude Mode and single purple flash in GPS mode 

 (refer to flight controller man.) 

•Freestyle switch On (FPV Off) 

•Verify camera operation 

•Verify data link 

•Upload flight plan 

•Verify altitude is about 0 

•Timers set properly 

TAKEOFF 

•Declare intentions for takeoff with ATC 

•Engage GPS mode – Double purple flash (refer to flight controller man.) 

•Engage Course Lock mode (double green flash) (refer to flight controller man.) 

•Announce loudly: “CLEAR PROP” 

•Advance throttle to 1⁄4 power for 5 seconds. Assure all motors are operating. 

•Verify that left/right and forward/back stick movement engages the proper 

 motors 

•Verify data and video links are still operational 

•Announce loudly: “TAKING OFF” 

•Ascend to 3 meters. Center throttle stick. Should be single green flash. Verify 

 wireless link, GPS hold, camera operation, gauges, etc. are working 

 properly. 

•Verify course lock is operational by rotating 90 degrees and pushing forward on 

 stick. 

•Verify copter stability. If unstable, land and reset gains, recalibrate, or retest as 

 necessary. 

•Raise landing gear 

•Proceed with manual mission 

•For autopilot operation 

•Visual observer must monitor the informational LED 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

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QUICK PREFLIGHT 

•Landing zone clear 

•Level copter with correct heading 

•Battery 4.1+ full, 3.8 depleted 

•Camera on. record media check 

•Both TX – all switches down 

•Both TX on 

•Copter on 

•Check GPS and Course lock checks 

•Video check 

•Photo check 

•Timers ready 

•Takeoff 

•Raise Landing Gear 

•Unplug 6 batteries upon landing 

LANDING CHECKLIST 

•Landing area clear 

•Lower landing gear 

•Note obstacles in flight path 

•Announce loudly: “LANDING” 

•First cut power to the aircraft 

•Note elapsed time of flight 

•Adjust any parameters (camera servo speed, exponential, etc) 

•Turn power off to transmitters, camera, goggles, monitors, Rxs, etc. 

•Touch motors to verify temperatures are similar 

•Complete flight log 

. 

ERROR MESSAGES (refer to flight controller man.) 

•White flashes 

•IMU malfunction. Land and determine cause. Possibilities: 

•GPS/Compass not pointing forward 

•IMU not pointing forward 

•Set up of X, Y, Z for location of IMU and Compass is incorrect 

•Excessive rocking/instability possible causes: 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

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•Weak motor 

•Structure flexing from fatigue or cracks 

•Motor mount 

•Main frame 

•Booms 

•Loose Bolts causing flexing or misalignment 

•Props 

•Mounts 

•Props out of balance 

•Props misaligned 

•Excessive wind speeds or gusts 

•Excessive Gains 

•Excessive motor power. Max motor power must a little more than typical ascent 

 power. 

•Red Flashes (1, 2 or 3 flashes with pauses) – GPS loss (3 is more serious). 

 Land if loss lasts for more than 30 seconds. Possible causes: Clouds 

•Structures 

•GPS mal-function 

•GPS too close to electrical components 

•GPS vibration Time of Flight 

•Contact ATC 

Section 2 

Limitations

•AIRSPEED LIMITATIONS 

•Vne – Velocity to Never Exceed: 45 MPH 

•Va – Typical Maneuvering Speed – 25 MPH 

•POWER & POWERPLANT LIMITATIONS 

•20 Amps max per motor 

•50 Amps max per speed control (refer to specific ESC) 

•320 Amps max total 

•Do not exceed 80-90% discharge of rated battery capacity 

•Do not charge batteries which are warmer than air temperature 

•Allow batteries to cool after use before charging 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

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•Leave an air gap between batteries when multiple batteries are used 

 simultaneously 

•WEIGHT LIMITS 

•Takeoff Weight Max: 55 lbs 

CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS 

MANEUVER LIMITS 

•This aircraft is intended for non-aerobatic operations 

•G-loading maximum: 2G 

•TEMPERATURE LIMITS 

•Operating Temp Range: -10°C to +40°C 

•In cold temperatures 

•WEATHER LIMITS 

•Light dust and light rain require the use of a shield for the electronics in the 

center section. 

•Light dust and light rain are acceptable for the unshielded motor and ESC. 

Section 3: 

Emergency Procedures

•MOTOR FAILURE 

•Operation is possible with one motor/ESC/propeller failure 

•The two adjacent motors/ESCs will be increased in thrust automatically by the 

flight controller to overcome the loss 

•In cases where the airframe is highly loaded the maximum rating of max amps 

may be exceeded by these two motors/ESCs 

•Operation should be terminated as soon as possible to reduce the possibility of 

damage to the remaining motors 

•COMMUNICATION FAILURE 

•TX / RX Com failure 

 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

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•GPS hold/ return to land 

•Return to home mode( must be activated prior to take off) 

•LOW BATTERY POWER 

•Fail-safes can be set such that in the event of low battery power, either due to a 

failure 

 or too long of a flight, the warning light on the AV will constantly flash 

amber. This is the first level of warning. 

•The second warning level is red flashing lights 

•Auto landing will occur when battery power is low. It may land in a tree or a lake, 

so this is not desirable. 

•Landing with 20 % reserve battery 

•Do not mix partially charged batteries. 

•GCS FAILURE 

•Takeover by the external pilot should happen ASAP using the RC link. 

•Most often happens due to a low battery. 

•Keep a spare 3 cell LiPo battery with the appropriate plug to plug into the 

charge jack for emergency use. Most chargers are 19V output which is roughly 

equivalent to a 4-cell battery. 3-cell batteries may work. 

•COMPASS CALIBRATION ERROR 

•If the compass is out of calibration the warning light will flash red. This is the 

same 

 signal as low voltage. If the voltage is correct, there is a calibration error. 

•Recalibrate the compass following the instruction manual 

•FIRE 

•Disconnect the battery ASAP. 

•Use a proper fire extinguisher to put out fires 

•FORCED LANDINGS 

•If alternate emergency landing zones should be chosen ahead of time. 

•Be sure that the LZ is clear of people to avoid any incidents. 

•Land in the nearest LZ which is clear of people. 

•Announce your intentions of landing as loud as necessary to alert people of the 

incoming UAV. 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

www.hotgears.com
Section 4 

Normal Procedures 

•Check motor temperatures by touching them with your fingers. Any motors 

which are 

 excessively hot should be further inspected and possibly replaced. 

•Check battery temperatures by touching them with your fingers. Battery 

temperatures should 

 not be hot to the touch. Battery temperatures should be slightly above 

ambient. 

•Inspect all components especially the propellers for wear. 

•Note in logbook which batteries were used to calculate life cycle. 

AIRCRAFT FLIGHT LOG BOOK (Can be purchased inexpensively) 

•Keep a log of all flights. 

•Date 

•Time of Day 

•Time in Operation (in hours) 

•Battery serial numbers 

•Mah used in flight 

•Location 

•Pilot, Observer, Sensor Operator Names 

•Flight Objective 

•Remarks 

•AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE LOG BOOK 

•Keep a log of significant inspections, tests, repairs, alterations, equipment 

changes. 

•Date maintenance is performed 

•Accumulated hours of operation 

•Remarks 

•PILOT LOG BOOK 

•Keep a log of all flights. Include the following: 

• Aircraft flown 

•Aircraft serial number 

•Date 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

www.hotgears.com
•Time of Day 

•Time in Operation (in hours) 

•Location 

•Flight Objective 

•Remarks 

SECTION 5 

PERFORMANCE 

•FLIGHT TIMES 

•The UAV is designed to hover at high efficiency. Hovering is much less efficient 

than flying on 

 a wing, thus flight times are low compared to fixed wing aircraft. 

•All the weight of the UAV is supported by power from the batteries. As the 

batteries are used in 

 a flight, the amount of power available decreases. Therefore the power 

reserve is constantly 

 decreasing as the battery is being used. Thus loading a rotorcraft above 

its limit is not 

 recommended. 

•High lateral speeds will add lift to slightly improve efficiency. The rotors act 

similar to fixed 

 wings at higher speeds. This increase in efficiency may be negated by the 

increased power 

 consumption of forward flight. 

•High winds or gusts decrease efficiency/flight time. The motors work harder to 

hold position. 

•As weight increases flight times decrease. 

•WIRELESS TRANSMISSION 

•Refer to the specific manuals for performance ratings. 

•Wireless communications utilized provide acceptable communication for LOS. 

•In general: 

•LOS is required 

•The higher the GCS antennas, the better the range 

•Any freq. at may have severe degradation due to location to other admitters 

such as cell towers 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

www.hotgears.com
•RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indication) should be monitored for indication of 

communication drop out. 

SECTION 6 

WEIGHT AND BALANCE EQUIPMENT LIST 

•CG 

•CG is critical to the efficient operation of any UAV 

•When components are shifted, the CG will be altered. 

•The main components which are moved on a regular basis are the sensors and 

the batteries. 

•The sensors are typically in the front of the UAV, and the batteries are located in 

the correct 

 position to offset all the components on the UAV. 

•The CG must be tested after any change to the components or their placement. 

•The CG should be tested by lifting the UAV with fingers on the bottom of the 

 arms. Check all 3 pairs of arms. The CG should be no more than 2mm off 

 in any on the 3 checks. The closer the CG is to the centerlines of the arms 

 the more efficient and the more stable the UAV will be. 

•WEIGHT 

•Weight is critical to the operation of any aircraft 

•Weight is especially critical to a rotor wing aircraft. At full throttle the motors 

 have a finite amount of thrust. All the weights lifted by the battery power, 

 there is no wing to assist in providing lift. 

•As the batteries are operated, they lose power. At full charge they have about 

 25v. At 20% remaining capacity they have about 21v. This is a loss of 

 8% of the power available which is significant. 

•Do not overload the aircraft or there will not be sufficient reserve power to 

 maneuver at low battery levels 

SECTION 7 

AIR VEHICLE AND SYSTEMS DESCRIPTION 

•FUEL/BATTERY REQUIRED 

•Manufacturers: Various 

•Refer to manufacturer data sheet. 

•Battery chemistry required: Lithium Polymer 

•Battery Capacity: 16,000 mah (minimum) 

•Battery cell count required: 6S(6 cells in series) 

•Battery Voltage: 21V minimum at hover, 22.2V nominal, 25.2V maximum 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

www.hotgears.com
•Battery Minimum Rated Discharge Rate: 20C minimum 

•Batteries used simultaneously: 1-4 typical 

•Recommended Battery Discharge Amount: 80-90% 

•WERELESS COMMUNICATIONS 

•Refer to the specific manuals for performance ratings. 

•Never power a video transmitter or receiver without an antenna connected or 

overload failure will •occur. 

•Wireless communications utilized provide acceptable communication for LOS. 

•In general: 

•LOS is required. 

•Lower frequencies penetrate objects suchas trees better than higher freqs. 

•Lower freqs have longer range than high freqs 

•Higher freqs can transfer more data than lower freqs 

•Higher freqs use smaller/shorter antennas 

•The higher the GCS antennas, the better the range and reception 

•Any freq at may have severe degradation due to location to other admitters such 

 as cell towers 

•Range must be constantly monitored. 

•Alternate antenna types may be utilized to improve link/range. Patch, helical, 

 omni, etc. can be substituted. They must be verified before use. 

•Alternate freqs may be utilized to improve link/range 

SECTION 8 

HANDLING, SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE 

•PROPELLER CARE 

•Propellers must be checked each flight for nicks or cracks 

•Propellers are designed to last indefinitely if they do not impact dust, dirt or 

 more. 

•BATTERY CARE AND USE 

•Refer to instruction sheet included from the battery manufacturer. Typical 

 information follows. 

•Batteries are highly flammable and can explode, especially when fully charged. 

 Improper charging, vibration, impact, high discharge, etc. can lead to 

 explosion and fire. Batteries must be charged under constant 

 supervision and using proper precautions. 

•Batteries fully charged must be handled with extreme care. 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

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•Any battery which puffs up is considered damaged and must not be used. It is in 

 a dangerous state. Never charge a puffed up battery. 

•Cycle test each battery after every 50 cycles or if a battery is suspected to have 

 lost as significant amount of its capacity to determine the current capacity. 

•Properly dispose of batteries. First discharge the battery fully using a battery 

 cycler. Bring to a recycler such as a home improvement store. 

•Always charge flight batteries under “balance” mode. 

•Flight Battery Recommended Charge Rate: 1C which takes approximately 1 

 hour to charge 

•Flight Battery Maximum Charge Rate: May exceed 5C. Charge rates higher 

 than 1C will decrease life cycles. Maximum charge rating per the 

 manufacturer will provide 300+ cycles. Use the lowest charge rate which is 

 practical. 

•Battery Rest Time between discharging and charging: 30 minutes minimum, 1 

 hour maximum. 

•Do not charge if the battery is more than 2°C warmer than ambient, especially if 

 the temperature is above 20°C. The outer surface is cooler than the inner 

 core after use. Damage will occur when charging a warm battery. 

•Recommended Battery Discharge Amount: 80%. Using more of the capacity of 

 the battery will decrease the life cycles 

•As battery temperature approaches freezing the capacity of Lithium Polymer 

 batteries decrease. Keep warmer than 5°C before installing into the UV 

 (unmanned vehicle). 

•Battery capacity decreases at higher discharge rates. Using more batteries 

 decreases the discharge rate of each battery thereby extending individual 

 battery capacity slightly. 

•Lower discharge rates improve the life cycles. 

•Batteries are rated at greater than 300 life cycles. 1,000+ life cycles are 

 possible. 

•Batteries must not be stored above 60% charged state for extended periods. 

•Batteries should be stored below 25°C for extended periods 

•Store batteries between 40% - 60% charged state. Fully charge just before use. 

•Fully charged batteries which are not to be used within 24 hours should be 

 discharged to 40% - 60% charged state using the battery discharger. 

•Using more than one battery at a time requires the proper wiring harness so that 

 the voltage is no more than 25.2V. Over voltage will cause serious 

 damage to electrical equipment. 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

www.hotgears.com
•PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE 

•ANNUAL INSPECTION 

•5 hours or 20flight cycles inspection must be completed 

 Motors (bearing ) 

 Propeller( chips and cracks) 

 ESC ( connectors /wiring/ caps/ check for updates)

 Boom Connectors ( corrosion/ cracks ) 

 Frame( inspect all hard wear, connectors DC buss) 

 Flight controller( connections /wiring/soft wear updates) 

 Battery( 50/100 cycle inspection ) 

16644 Roscoe Blvd. #34  Van Nuys, CA 91406  (818) 780-2708 

www.hotgears.com