Q IMAGE 

Motion Picture and Television 

Flight Operations Manual 

Full Spectrum Photography 

Broadcast Video Production 

I mage Studios Inc. 

11 00 South Lynndale Drive 

Appleton, WI 54914 

877.738.4080 

1 
Q IMAGE 

Table of Contents 

1. Introduction 

2. 

3. 

A. Purpose 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

F. 

G. 

H. 

I. 

J. 

K. 

L. 

M. 

N. 

0. 

P. 

Pilot/Operator Organization 

Distribution and Revision Operations 

Persons Authorized 

Area of Operations 

Plan of Activities 

Permission to Operate 

Security 

Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

Certification/ Airworthiness 

Pilot Personnel - Minimum Requirements 

Communications 

Accident Notification 

Recall/Stop Procedures 

Aerobatic Competency 

Special Provisions 

Company Organization - Duties and Responsibilities 

A. Chief Pilot 

B. Pilot in Command 

Appendices 

A. List of Approved Pilots 

8: List of Approved Aircraft 

C. Revision Letter 

D. Revision Control Page 

E. Permission Acquisition Form 

F. Pilot Operations Manual Acknowledgement and Receipt 

G. Certification of Waiver (Form 7711-2) 

2 

3 

3 

3 

3 

4 

4 

4 

5 

5 

6 

6 

7 

7 

7 

7 

8 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 
9 1MAGE 

1. Introduction 

A. Purpose 

This manual has been developed by "Image Studios, Inc.", hereinafter referred to 

as "Image Studios", in conjunction with an application for a Certificate of Waiver 

of Authorization of the provisions of Section 91.119(b) and (c) for the purposes of 

filming. Image Studios' pilots and other company personnel, when applicable, will 

comply with the policies, procedures and conditions of this Operations Manual, 

whenever motion picture or television flight operations are performed that require 

a Waiver of Authorization as mentioned herein. 

B. Pilot/Operator Organization 

Pilot: 

Michael Leschisin 

N7881 Bluffside Court 

Sherwood, WI 54169 

(920) 205-2070 

C. Distribution and Revision Procedures 

Organization: 

Image Studios, Inc. 

1100 South Lynndale Drive 

Appleton, WI 54915 

(920) 738-4080 

Image Studios shall document and record all revisions made to this Motion Picture and 

Television Operations Manual to ensure that records are kept current. Image Studios 

shall forward all revisions to the Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) at least 15 days 

before the proposed effective date. All revisions shall be documented using the 

Revision Letter (Appendix C) and recorded using the Revision Control Page (Appendix 

D). 

D. Persons Authorized 

Section 91.119(c) is waived only with respect to those persons, vehicles, and structures 

directly involved in the performance of the actual filming. The Certificate Holder shall 

ensure that no persons are allowed within 500 feet of the area except those consenting 

to be involved and necessary for the filming production. This 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 evaluation of the filming production area to 

note terrain features, obstructions, buildings, etc. Such barriers may protect 

nonparticipating persons (e.g., observers, the public, news media) from debris in the 

event of an accident. 

3 
QIMAGE 

E. Area of Operations 

Image Studios' approved area of operations will be the continental United States, 

excluding Alaska and Hawaii. 

F. Plan of Activities 

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming; Image Studios will submit a written 

plan of activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over that area. The plan of 

activities should include the following: 

1. Dates and times for all flights. 

2. Name and phone number of person responsible for the filming production 

event. 

3. Name and phone number of person responsible for aircraft. 

4. Make, model, and serial or N-number of aircraft to be used and type of 

airworthiness certificate, including category. 

5. Name and certificate number of pilots involved in the filming production 

event, including any notation of external load endorsements or aerobatic 

competency, if required. 

6. A statement that the waiver holder has obtained permission from property 

owners and/or local officials to conduct the filming production event. The 

list of those who gave permission must be made available to the inspector 

upon request from the waiver holder. 

7. Signature of waiver holder or representative. 

8. A description of the flight activity including maps or diagrams of any area, 

city, town, county, and/or State over which filming will be conducted and 

the minimum altitudes essential to accomplish the operations. 

Image Studios acknowledges that the three (3) day notification may be waived; 

however, Image Studios and/or the Operator shall contact FSDO as soon as possible 

with this request and will be prepared to explain in detail why the three (3) day 

notification was not practical. 

G. Permission to Operate 

Before any flight operation is conducted at less than 500 feet under the provisions of the 

Certificate of Waiver and this Operations Manual, the operator will obtain permission to 

conduct these operations from property owners and local officials as necessary or 

appropriate. Persons from whom permission may be required are listed below: 

4 
Q IMAGE 

(1) Property Owners 

(2) Law Enforcement Officials 

(3) Fire Department Officials 

(4) Local, State, and Federal government 

(5) Air Traffic Control Officials 

The Image Studios personnel obtaining such permission will do so in writing whenever 

practical; however, verbal permission is otherwise acceptable. A standard Permission 

Acquisition Form is provided in Appendix E and may be used when obtaining written 

permission. Image Studios personnel will assure a sufficient number of Permission 

Acquisition Forms are available at the job site. Written permission forms will be 

maintained at the job site until flight operations are completed, and then turned into the 

chief pilot to be kept on file for a minimum of six (6) months. These forms will be made 

available for inspection by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or other official 

personnel upon request. 

H. Security 

Prior to any flight operation the operator will coordinate with appropriate production 

personnel to devise a plan of securing the area(s) of operation from all unauthorized 

persons and vehicles. Provisions will be made to immediately discontinue operations 

should the area(s) become unsecured or for any other reason in the interest of safety. 

I. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

Prior to the commencement of any operation under the provisions of this manual, the 

pilot in command 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: 

• Authorization for motion picture and television certificate of waiver and the 

attached special provisions, 

• Operations manual, 

• Plan of activities, 

• Aircraft parking and starting, 

• Taxi procedures, 

• Radio communications, 

• Takeoff procedures, 

5 
Q IMAGE 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Aviation activities to be conducted during the filming production event, 

Approach and landing procedures, 

Recall procedures, 

Emergency procedures, 

Risks to participating personnel, 

How to control nonparticipating persons . 

J. Certification/Airworthiness 

All image Studios aircraft used in operations requiring a waiver of Section 91.119 (b) 

and (c) for the purpose of filming will be properly certified and hold airworthiness 

certificates. However, restricted category aircraft cannot be used as the filming 

"vehicle" in motion picture and television filming. Also, aircraft in the experimental 

category must have an airworthiness certificate issued for the purpose of exhibition in 

order to be used in motion picture and television filming. The aircraft will be subject to a 

1 OOhr/annual inspection program. Other required tests and inspections (transponder, 

E. LT., etc.) will be performed as per Section 91 when necessary. Each aircraft will have 

a flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance and inspections and the dates 

or times they must be performed. A section for discrepancies is also found in the flight 

log. 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. 

K. Pilot Personnel - Minimum Requirements 

The pilot/operator shall establish and specify the minimum pilot requirements. Minimum 

requirements shall meet or exceed the following: 

1. A current U.S. Commercial pilot certificate with ratings appropriate to the 

category, class and type (if applicable) of aircraft to be used under the 

terms of the waiver. 

2. At least 500 hours logged as PIC and at least 20 hours logged as the PIC 

in the aircraft type. 

3. A minimum of 100 hours in the category and class of aircraft to be used. 

4. A minimum of 5 hours in the make and model aircraft to be used under 

the waiver. 

5. In the event that the 1,500-foot minimum standard contained in the 14 

CFR 91.303(e) is to be waived, the pilot performing aerobatic maneuvers 

must hold FAA Form 8710-7, Statement of Acrobatic Competency, to 

perform the operations. 

6 
Q IMAGE 

6. In the event the operation to be conducted contains elements of an 

external-load operation, whether fixed or rotary wing operations, pilots 

used in the operation shall be qualified. This qualification may be 

obtained through a knowledge test (which may be oral and/written) and/or 

skill. The inspector or another company pilot approved by the 

geographically responsible FSDO who is qualified to carry loads 

externally will give the test(s) which are similar to part 133 requirements 

and cover the following subjects: 

(a) Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a survey of 

the flight area. 

(b) Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the external load. 

(c) Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating 

procedures and the aircraft flight manual. 

(d) Proper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel. 

(e) Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a rotorcraft-load 

combination flight manual and limitations, if appropriate. 

L. Communications 

Prior to the start of any operation covered by this manual, the pilot in command will 

formulate a plan to provide communications capability to all participants during the 

actual operation and filming. Oral, visual, or radio communications may be used as long 

as it is effective and is capable of keeping the participants continuously apprised of the 

current status of the operation. 

M. Accident Notification 

Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the National Transportation 

Safety Board (NTSB) occur, the notification requirements of Federal Aviation 

Regulations (FAR) Part 830 would comply. 

N. Recall/Stop Procedures 

Radio communication, oral, visual, or a combination will be utilized to keep the 

participants continuously apprised of the current status of operation. 

0. Aerobatic Competency 

If the filming operations require the issuance of FAA Form 8710-7, Statement of 

Aerobatic Competency, refer to Volume 5, Chapter 9, Issue/Renew/Rescind a 

Statement of Aerobatic Competency. 

7 
-Q IMAGE 

P. Special Provisions 

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the Image Studios Motion Picture 

and Television Operations Manual is the primary assurance that persons on the surface 

will not be jeopardized. 

The aircraft and pilots used under this authorization and/or waiver will only be those 

specified in the Image Studios Motion Picture and Television Operations Manual 

(Appendix A and Appendix B) or associated plan of activities. Each pilot's name and 

certificate number shall appear on each daily plan of activity. All civil aircraft and pilot(s) 

participating in the activity shall be available for FAA inspection before the scheduled 

event. 

Each pilot in command conducting operations authorized under this certificate 

understands the conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes a waiver of Section 

91.119 (b) and (c). (Appendix G) Rotorcraft takeoff and landing areas will be protected 

in a manner that will prevent unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff and landing 

area. Image Studios will ensure that the participating persons involved in the operations 

are thoroughly briefed on special procedures, communication, emergency procedures, 

and on the provisions of the authorization and/or waiver before commencing the 

activities. No person may participate in any event unless that person has received a 

briefing on the provisions of the waiver. 

2. Company Organization - Duties and Responsibilities 

A. Chief Pilot 

• Final word in the formulation of policies and procedures concerning this manual. 

• Act as liaison between Image Studios and the FAA on matters concerning this 

manual. 

• Assure that each approved pilot is issued a copy of this manual and obtain a 

signed statement from each that they have read and understand its contents. 

(Appendix F) 

• Maintain a current copy of this manual at the main base of operations for Image 

Studios. 

• Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are distributed and 

processed properly. 

• Must approve or disapprove each proposed job or operation performed by Image 

Studios under the provisions of this manual. 

• Assume the responsibilities of pilot in command when acting as such. 

• The chief pilot may delegate functions to other personnel but retains 

responsibility. 

8 
Q IMAGE 

B. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Pilot in Command 

Assure that aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition and all inspections and 

required maintenance have been performed as per appropriate FAR's. 

Acquire permission from the chief pilot before any operation under the provisions 

of this manual. 

Be very knowledgeable of the contents of this manual and abide by the 

procedures, policies, and conditions contained herein. 

Coordinate with movie and television personnel to formulate plans, routes, 

locations, etc., with safety being the primary concern of all persons involved. 

Maintain their copy of this manual in current condition and have it on site at any 

job or operation requiring the waiver. 

The pilot in command may delegate functions to other personnel, but retains 

responsibility. 

9 
Q IMAGE 

Chief Pilot 

Name 

Certificate Number 

Grade 

Medical Class/Date 

Contact Number 

Pilots 

Name 

Certificate Number 

Grade 

Medical Class/Date 

Contact Number 

Appendix A 

List of Approved Pilots 

Brian M. Kimball 

3457979 

Airline Transport Pilot 

July 15, 2014 

(920) 205-1118 

LanceT. Hemauer 

3086624 

Private Pilot 

August 5, 2005 

(920) 202-2252 

10 
Q IMAGE 

Appendix 8 

List of Approved Aircraft 

Make Model Serial Number 

dji Phantom 2 PV331 PH645267260 

11 
Q IMAGE 

Revision# Section 

R • Remove and Replace 

D • Delete and Destroy 

N • Insert New Page 

Appendix C 

Revision Letter 

Page Action Remarks Initials 

Manual Serial# _________ Issued To ____________ _ 

Revised By _____________ _ Date _________ _ 

This form must be returned to the Chief Pilot no later than: _________ _ 

12 
Q IMAGE 

Revision Number 

Revised By 

Date Effective 

Date Forwarded to FSDO 

(15 Days in Advance) 

Proposed Revision 

Revision Number 

Revised By 

Date Effective 

Date Forwarded to FSDO 

(15 Days in Advance) 

Proposed Revision 

Appendix D 

Revision Control Page 

13 
Q IMAGE 

Appendix E 

Permission Acquisition Form 

In signing this form, I hereby grant permission to the Operators and Pilots of Image 

Studios Inc. to operate their aircraft at less than 500 feet from property, or in some 

jurisdiction in which I am responsible for or affiliated with, for the purpose of film or 

television production. 

Please indicate the basis of authority to grant permission: 

Name: 

Title: 

Location: 

Date of Operation: 

Signature: 

Date: 

Image Studios Representative Receiving Permission: 

Name: 

Date: 

14 
Q IMAGE 

Appendix F 

Motion Picture and Television Flight Operations Manual 

Pilot Acknowledgement and Receipt 

By signing below, I hereby acknowledge that I have received a copy of Image Studios' 

Motion Picture and Television Flight Operations Manual. I hereby acknowledge that I 

have read and understand the policies and procedures as outlined herein and accept to 

be subject to compliance. 

Signature 

Date 

Print Name 

Pilot Certificate Number 

15 
TEAR OFF 

BEFORE USING 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 

SUPPLEMENTAL 

INFORMATION 

CERTIFICATION OF WAIVER OR AUTHORIZATION APPLICATION- PRIVACY ACT 

The information on the accompanying form is solicited under authority of Federal Aviation Regulations 

Parts 91, 101, and 105. 

Submission of the information is mandatory. 

The purpose of this information is to establish eligibility for certificate of waiver or authorization 

The data will be used for recordkeeping and statistical purposes. 

Incomplete submission may result in delay or denial of your request. 

FAA Form 7711-2 (8/08) Supersedes Previous Edition 

DETACH THIS PART BEFORE USING 
No certificate may be Issued unless a completed application 

form has been received (14 C.F.R. 91. 101. and 105) 

~ US Department of Transportation 

Federal Aviation Administration 

APPLICATION FOR 

CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER 

OR AUTHORIZATION 

From Approved: O.M.B. No.2120-0027 10/31/2015 

APPLICANTS ·DO NOT USE THESE SPACES 

Region I Date 

Action 

OApproved 0 Disapproved- "Explain under "Remarks" 

Signature of authorized FAA representative 

INSTRUCTIONS 

Submit this application in triplicate (3) to any FAA Flight fighting equipment. The applicant may also wish to submit 

Standards district office. photographs and scale diagrams as supplemental material 

Applicants requesting a Certificate of Waiver or Authorizato assist in the FAA's evaluation of a particular site. 

Application for a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization must 

tion for an aviation event must complete all the applicable be submitted 45 days prior to the requested date of the 

items on this form and attach a properly marked 7.5 series event. 

Topographic Quadrangle Map(s), published by the U.S. 

Geological Survey (scale 1 :24,000), of the proposed operat- Applicants requesting a Certificate of Waiver or Authorizaing area. The map(s) must include scale depictions of the tion for activities other than an aviation event will complete 

flightlines, showlines, race courses, and the location of the items 1 through 10 only and the certification, item 17, on the 

air event control point, Police dispatch, ambulance, and fire reverse. 

1. Name of organization 2. Name of responsible person 

3. Permanent House number and street or route number City State and ZIP code Telephone No. 

mailing 

address 

4. Stale whether lhe applicant or any or its principal officers/owners has an application ror waiver pending at any other office of the FAA. 

5. State whether the applicant or any of its principal officers owners has ever had its application for waiver denied, or whether the FAA has ever withdrawn a waiver from lhe applicant or any of ils 

principal officers/owners. 

6. FAR section and number to be waived 

7. Detailed description of proposed operation (Attach supplement if needed) 

8. Area oT operatton (Locatton, aftttuaes, etc.) 

9a. Beginning (Date and hour) b. t:ndtng (Dale and hour) 

10. Aircraft Pilot's Name Certificate number Home address 

make and model and rating (Street, ~~ty, State) (a) (b) (c) 

FAA Form 7711 -2 (8108) Supersedes Previous Edition Page 1 
~ ITEMS 11 THROUGH 16 TO BE FILLED OUT FOR AIR SHOW/AIR RACE WAIVER REQUESTS ONLY. 

11. The air event will be sponsored by: 

12. Pennanent House number and street or route number City State and ZIP code Telephone No. 

mailing 

address 

13. Policing (Describe provisions to be made for policing the event.) 

14. Emergency facilities (Mark all that will be available at time and place of air event.) 

D Physician 0 Fire truck D Other - Specify 

D Ambulance D Crash wagon 

15. Air Traffic control (Describe method of controlling traffic, including provision for arrival and departure of scheduled aircraft.) 

16. Schedule of Events (include arrival and departure of scheduled aircraft and other periods the airport maybe open.) 

Hour Date Event 

(a) (b) (c) 

If sufficient space is not available, the entire schedule of events may be submitted on separate sheets, in the order and manner indicated above. 

PleaseRe? 

The undersigned applicant accepts full responsibility for the strict observance of the terms of the Certificate 

of Waiver or Authorization, and understands that the authorization contained in such certificate will be strictly 

limited to the above described operation. 

17. Certification- I CERTIFY that the foregoing statements are true. 

Date Signature of Applicant 

Remarks 

FAA Form 7711-2 (8108) Supersedes Previous Edition 

Page2