[SUAS IN MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION OPERATIONS] 1

SOUTHEASTERNSUAS IN MOTION PICTURE AND TELEVISION OPERATIONS 1

sUAS in Motion Picture and 

Television Operations

Flight Operations Manual

Daedalus	Aerial	Productions
TABLE	OF	CONTENTS

1. Introduction

1.1. Purpose

1.2. Scope

1.3. Authority	and	Concept	of	Operations

1.4. Flight	Operations	Manual

1.5. Company	and	Owner

1.6. Manual	Amendments

1.7. Distribution	and	Manual Availability

2. Operations

2.1. Operational	Control

2.2. Owner/Operator	Responsibilities

2.3. Pilot	in	Command	(PIC)	Responsibilities

2.4. Visual	Observer	Responsibilities

2.5. Camera	Operator	Responsibilities

2.6. Organizational	Chart
3. Operations

3.1. Area	of	Operation

3.2. Equipment

3.3. Conditions	and	Limitations	– FOM

3.4. Conditions	and	Limitations	– MPTOM

3.5. Plan	of	Activities	– FAA	Form	7711.1

3.6. Crew	Fitness

Appendices

A. FAA	Exemption No.	XXXXX

B. List	of	Aircraft – Registration	Numbers

C. sUAS	Manufacturer	Operating	and	Maintenance	Manuals

D. Insurance	Policy

E. Terms	of	Reference
SECTION	1	INTRODUCTION
SECTION	1	INTRODUCTION

1. Introduction

1.1. Purpose

The combined	Motion	Picture	and	Television Flight	Operations	Manual	

(MPTOM and	FOM)	outlines	the	FAA	accepted	policies,	procedures	and	

practices	for	conduct	of	sUAS	flight	operations	by	Southeastern	Jet	

Corporation,	Inc.	(SEJC) d/b/a	Daedalus	Aerial	Productions.

1.2. Scope

The	policies,	procedures, and	practices	outlined	herein	are	applicable	

to	all	flight	and	ground	personnel	with	responsibility	for	SEJC	sUAS	

flight	operations	activities.

1.3. Authority	and	Concept	of	Operations

The FAA	recognizes	the general	authority of	SEJC to	operate	sUAS	

flights	as provided by	FAA	Exemption	No.	XXXXX	 pertaining	to 14	CFR	

§§	Part	21,	Subpart	H,	61.23	(a)	(1)and	(2),	61.113	(a),	91.103	(b)	(2),	

91.105,	91.109,	91.119	(a)	(b)	and	(c),	91.121	(a),	91.151	(a)	(1),	

91.405	(a),	91.407	(a)	(1)	and	(2),	91.409	(a)	(1)	and	(2),	91.417	(a)	

and	(b),	to	the	extent	necessary	to	allow	the	petitioner	to	operate	

sUAS/s to	perform	aerial	closed	set	motion	picture	filming	and	

photographic	data collection. The	Exemption	Letter	is	part	of	and	

incorporated	within	this	Flight	Operations	Manual.	

		

1.4. Flight	Operations	Manual

The	Flight	Operations	Manual	provides	policies	&	procedures, and	

general	operating	information	for	Flight	and	Ground	crews.	The	FOM	is	

not	constructed	to	anticipate	every	possible	contingency	but	rather	to	

provide	operational	safety	guidance	for	the	protection	of	filming	

participants,	the	public	at	large,	surrounding	structures,	and	the	

environment.
SECTION	1	– INTRODUCTION

1.5. Company and	Owner

Southeastern	Jet	Corporation	has	been	in	business	since	1970.	For	

many	of	those	years	(1970–2000)	as	a	Part	119/135	operator.	During	

that	time the	company	and	its	pilots	performed incident,	accident, and	

violation free worldwide	small,	medium,	and	large	jet	transport	for:	

Washington	Diplomatic,	Corporate	Fortune	100,	Hollywood A -List

personalities,	and	the	rich	and	famous.

The	owner, operator,	and	pilot Pete	Loncteaux for Southeastern	Jet	

Corporation	d/b/a	Daedalus	Aerial	Productions, is an	Airline	Transport	

Pilot	with	11,000	incident/accident/violation	free	flying	hours	(CFR	

119	Air	Carrier	and	Corporate).	His	job	titles	over	the	years	with	

Southeastern	Jet	include:	Captain,	Chief	Pilot,	Director	of	Operations,	

and	Senior	Vice	President.	Aircraft	types	include:	Lear	Jet	(most	

models),	Cessna (CE	650),	and	the	Gulfstream IV,	V,	and	550.	He	is	the

interim GA	Airport	Manager (FCH), Airport	Operations	Officer	(FAT),	

Certified	Flight	Instructor Instrument, and	active (since	1997)	Screen	

Actors	Guild	(SAG–AFTRA)	member.	In	recent	years, Pete has	spent	a	

great	deal	of	time	flying	RC Model	single	rotor	helicopters,	far	more	

difficult	to	maneuver and	control than	current	four,	six,	and	eight	rotor	

propelled	drones.	

Main	Base	of	Operations

Southeastern	Jet	Corporation

P.O.	Box	256

Lake	Arrowhead,	CA	92352-0256

DaedalusAerialProductions@gmail.com

(561)	213-7151

1.6. Manual	Amendments

The	policies	and	procedures	in	this	manual	are	amendable.	As	

government (FAA),	sUAS,	and	drone	industry	change/reform takes

place,	Southeastern	Jet	Corporation d/b/a	Daedalus	Aerial	Productions

will	amend	this	manual	to	conform	to current	FAA	Regulation,	sUAS	

operational	bulletins,	and	drone	industry	best	practice.	
SECTION	1	- INTRODUCTION

1.7. Distribution	and	Manual Availability

Each	person to	whom	a	manual	is	issued	is	responsible	for	keeping	it	

up	to	date	with	the	changes	and	additions	furnished	to	them by	

management (including	bulletins).	Manuals	are	the	property	of	the	

company,	and	will	be	checked	regularly	for	accuracy.	The	manual	will	

be	made	available	to	the Administrator	and	Law	Enforcement	upon	

request.
SECTION	2	ORGANIZATION
SECTION	2	– ORGANIZATION

2. Organization

2.1. Operational	Control

The	following	individual/s	have	operational	control	for	Southeastern	

Jet	Corporation	d/b/a	Daedalus	Aerial	Productions

 Owner/Operator Pete	Loncteaux

Southeastern	Jet Corporation	d/b/a/	Daedalus	Aerial	Productions

retains	all	responsibility	for	operational	control	of	sUAS	operations,	

including	action	or	inactions	of	direct	employees	and	agents.	

Operational	control	is	not	transferable	to	any	other	person	or	entity.	

Operational	control	responsibility	supersedes	any	agreement	between	

any	person	and/or	entities.	

2.2. Owner/Operator	Responsibilities

 Responsible	for	planning,	organizing,	and	directing	Company	flight	

operations	and	related	activities

 Responsible	for	maintaining	a	working	relationship	with	the local	

Flight	Standards	District	Office	(FSDO) where	filming	is	contracted

 Responsible	for	all	Company	flight	operations	procedures	and	

Federal,	State,	Regional,	District,	and	Local	regulatory	compliance

 Establishes	operations	personnel	and	equipment	standards

 Responsible	for	the	Company	Flight	Operations	Manual

 Responsible	for	establishing	Company	training	programs,	policies	

and	procedures.

 Has	the	responsibility	for reporting	accidents	and	reportable	

incidents	to	the	appropriate	agencies

2.3. Pilot	in	Command (PIC) Responsibilities

 Authority/requirement to	operate the	sUAS in	accordance	with the	

appropriate	sUAS	Flight/Maintenance/Publications materials
SECTION	2	– ORGANIZATION

 Authority	to	delay,	discontinue	or	cancel a	flight	when	in	his	opinion	

conditions	are	unsuitable	for	the	initiation	or	continuation	of	the	

flight

 Authority	to	indicate	a	change	in	a	planned	flight	during	the	flight	

when,	in	his/her	opinion,	such	a	change	is	appropriate	for	the	safe	

operation	of	the	flight

 Responsible	for	maintaining	Visual	Line	of	Sight	(VLOS) with	the	

sUAS and the	Visual Observer (VO) who	also	has	visual	contact with	

the	sUAS, and	direct	communication	with	the	Pilot	in	Command

 Responsibility	for all operating	documents	accessibility during	sUAS	

operations	and	made	available to the	Administrator	upon	request

 Responsibility	to	determine	if	the sUAS has	undergone	maintenance	

or	alterations	that	affect	the	sUAS operation	or	flight	characteristics,	

e.g.	replacement of	a	flight	critical	component which	then	requires a	

functional	test	flight	prior	to	conducting	further	operations

 Prior	to	each	flight,	the	PIC	must	conduct	a	pre-flight	inspection	to

determine thatthe	sUAS	is	in	a	condition	for	safe	flight.	The	preflight	inspection	must	account	for all	potential	discrepancies,	e.g.

inoperable	components,	items,	or	equipment.	Ifthe	inspection	

reveals	a	condition	that	affects	the	safe	operation	of	the	sUAS,	the	

aircraftis	prohibited	from	operating	until	the	necessary	

maintenance	has	been	performed	andthe	sUAS	is	found	to	be	in	a	

condition	for	safe flight.

2.4. Visual	Observer (VO) Responsibilities

 The	Visual	Observer	is	provided	to	add	additional	safety	value	to	

sUAS	flights

 Responsibility	for	maintaining	visual, direct	line	of	sight (VLOS) with	

the	sUAS and	PIC, and maintain uninterrupted audio (not	messaging	

or	texting) communication	with	the	PIC	during	sUAS	flights

 Responsibility	to	notify	the	PIC	of	developing	hazardous	conditions	

that	may	affect	safe	sUAS	flight

 Responsibility	to	report	to	the	PIC	any	non-essential	

nonparticipating persons/vehicles entering	the	secure	flight	area

2.5. Camera	Operator (CO) Responsibilities

 Responsibility	for	sUAS	camera setup	and	operation
SECTION	2	– ORGANIZATION

 Responsibility	to	report	to	the	PIC	any	hazardous	condition viewed	

through	the	camera	viewer	during	sUAS	filming that	could	affect	the	

safety	of	flight;	presenting	hazards	to	personnel,	vessels	and	

structures

2.6. Organizational	Chart

Operator

Pilot	in	

Command	

Visual	

Observer

Camera	

Operator

Closed	Set	

Motion	

Picture

Real	Estate	

and	

Surveying
SECTION	3	OPERATIONS
SECTION	3	– OPERATIONS

3. Operations

3.1. Area	of	Operation

The	continental	United	States	including	Alaska	and	Hawaii;	excluding	

the	District	of	Columbia	No	Fly	Zone	and	FAA	Temporary	Flight	

Restricted	Areas.

3.2. Equipment

DJI	S1000+;	Phantom	3;	SenseFly	eBee;	SenseFly	eXom.

3.3. Conditions	and	Limitations – FOM

 sUAS	equipment	must	be	less	than	55	pounds	total	weight	(including	

payload)

 sUAS	must	not	exceed	87	knots	(100	mph)	or	manufacturer	

recommended	speeds

 sUAS	must	not	be	operated	at	an	altitude	of	more	than	400	feet	above	

ground	level	(AGL)	as	determined	by GPS	equipment

 sUAS	must	be	operated	within	the	visual	line	of	sight	(VLOS)	of	the	pilot	

in	command	(PIC)	at	all	times

 sUAS	operations	require	the	use	of	a	visual	observer	(VO).	PIC	and	VO	

must	at	all	times	maintain	VLOS	with	the	sUAS, and	each	other

 Communication	between	the	PIC	and	VO	must	be	audio	only	(no	

messaging	or	texting)

 PIC	cannot	transfer	PIC	designation	during	any	portion	of	a	flight	once	

initiated

 All	required	operating	documents	must	be	accessible	during	sUAS	

operations	and	made	available	to	the	Administrator or	law	enforcement	

upon	request

 Exemption	conditions	and	limitations	take	precedence	over	operating	

documents.

 Operator	may	update	and/or	revise	operating	documents.	Tracking	of	

such	updates	or	revisions	is	the	responsibility	of	the	operator

 sUAS	maintenance	that	may	affect	flight	characteristics	must	undergo a	

functional	flight	test.	Such	tests will	be	the	sole	responsibility	of	the	PIC	

and	VO	remaining	at	least	500	feet	from	non-essential persons	and	not	

create	a	hazard	to	people	or	property
SECTION	3	OPERATIONS

 Operator	is	responsible	for	manufacturer	recommended	maintenance	

and	inspections.	Additional	inspections	should	be	accomplished	looking	

for	unexpected	damage	or	wear	and	tear

 The	PIC	must	conduct	a	preflight	inspection	prior	to	any	sUAS	flight.	

Should	the	inspection	reveal	an	unsafe	condition,	the	sUAS	is	prohibited	

from	flying	until	repairs	are	performed	returning	the	sUAS	to	safe	flying	

condition

 The	operator	must	follow	all	sUAS	manufacturer	maintenance,	

overhaul,	replacement,	inspection,	and	life	limit	requirements

 Operator	must	comply	with	all	manufacturer	safety	bulletins

 The	sUAS	PIC	will	hold	one	of	the	following:	Airline	Transport,	

commercial,	private,	recreational,	or	sport	pilot	certificate.	Health

requirements	will	be	satisfied	with	a	current	FAA	Airmen Third	Class	

Medical	Certificate

 The	PIC	will	demonstrate	complete	competency	in	sUAS	operation.	This	

includes	evasive	and	emergency	maneuvers.	

 PIC	qualification	and	currency	must	be	logged	in	a	manner	consistent	

with	14	CFR	§	61.51	(b)

 PIC	must	have	100	hours	total	aircraft	flight	time	and	25	hours	in	sUAS	

make	and	model	of	which	15	hours	must	be	PIC

 sUAS	training	will	consist	of	dedicated	training	flights	only	and	will	not	

include	nonparticipants

 No	night	operations.	No	Special	Visual	Flight	Rule	(SVFR)	operation.	Day	

flights	will	only	be	conducted	during	Visual	Meteorological	Conditions	

(VMC),	as	determined	by	the	PIC.

 No	sUAS	operation	within	5	nautical	miles	of	an	airport	reference point	

(ARP)	unless	a	Certificate	of	Authorization (COA)	or	letter	of	agreement	

between the airport and operator has	been	obtained

 The	sUAS	must	not	be	operated	less	than	500	feet	below	or	2,000	feet	

horizontally	from	a	cloud	with	visibilities	of	less	than	3	statute	miles	as	

determined by	the	PIC

 sUAS	loss	of	communications	or	GPS	signal	must	result	in	a	return	to	a	

predetermined	landing	zone	within	the	confines	of	the	controlledaccess-property

 The	PIC	must	abort any flight	that	presents unpredicted	obstacles	or	

emergencies
SECTION	3	OPERATIONS

 Company	sUAS	aircraft	on	average	are	capable	of	sustaining	25	

minutes	of	flight.	The	Company	Flight	Operations	Manual	dictates	that	

sUAS	flights	must	be	discontinued	when	battery	life	reaches	25	percent	

of	total	useful	life	or	five	minutes	of	flight	time	remaining, whichever	is	

less.

 The	PIC	shall	not	begin	a	flight	knowing	that	given forecasted wind	and	

weather	conditions,	the	flight	cannot	be	completed	with	at	least

five minutes	of	reserve	power	or	the	recommended	manufacturer	

reserve.	Whichever	is	greater

 sUAS	Air	Traffic	Organization	operation	must	have	a	current	Certificate	

of	Waiver	or	Authorization	(COA).	Any	change	in	operations	that	is	not	

part	of	the	approved	COA	requires	a	new	COA	application	and	approval

 All	sUAS	aircraft	must	be	identified	by	make,	model	and	serial	number	

and	registered	in	accordance	with	14	CFR	Part	47.	All	registration	

markings	must	conform	to	14	CFR	part	45,	Subpart	C.	Marking	must	be	

reasonably	conspicuous

 During	sUAS	operations,	required	operator	documents	(14	CFR	§§	91.9	

and	91.203)	must	be	available	to	the	PIC	at	the flight operations	

Ground	Control	Station.	These	documents	must	be	made	available	to	

the	FAA	and	law	enforcement	when	requested

 sUAS	operations	must	always	remain	clear	of	all	manned	aviation	

operations	and	activities

 sUAS	operations	shall	never	be	conducted	from	a	moving	platform

 sUAS	flight	operations	must	remain	a	minimum	distance	of	500	feet	

from	all	nonparticipating	persons,	vessels,	and	structures	unless:	(a)

nonparticipants	are	sufficiently	protected	by	barriers	and	structures

(flight	operations	will	cease	immediately	should	the	nonparticipants	

leave	the	protected	areas	and	are	within	500	feet	of	flight	operations),	

and	(b) the	owner/controller	of	any	vessels,	vehicles	or	structures	has	

granted	permission	for	operations	closer	to	those	objects	and	the	PIC	

has	determined	no	hazards	exist

 All	operations	shall	be	conducted	over	private	or	controlled-access	

property	as	approved	by	the	owner/controller	or	authorized	

representative.	Each new flight operation	requires new authorization

 Any	incident,	accident,	or	flight	operation	that	transgresses the	lateral	

or	vertical	boundaries	of	the	operational	area	as	defined	by
SECTION	3	OPERATIONS

the	applicable	COA or	agreement must	be	reported	to	the	FAA’s	UAS	

Integration	Office	(AFS-80)	within	24	hours.	Accidents	must	be	

reported	to	the	National	Transportation	Safety	Board	(NTSB)	per	

instructions	contained	on	the	NTSB	Web	site:	www.ntsb.gov.

3.4. Conditions	and	Limitations	– MPTOM

All	sUAS	flight	operations	that	involve	closed-set	Motion	Picture	and	

Television	filming	must	possess	and	use	the	SEJC Motion	Picture	and	

Television	Operations	Manual	(MPTOM). This	manual	satisfies	the	

requirement.

3.5. Plan	of	Activities	– FAA	Form	7711.1

At	least	3	days	before	sUAS	aerial	filming,	the	operator	must	submit	a	

written	Plan	of	Activities	to	the	local	Flight	Standards	District	Office	

(FSDO)	with	jurisdiction	over	the	area	of	proposed	filming.	The	3-day	

notification	may	be	waived	with	the	concurrence	of	the	FSDO.	The	plan	

of	activities	must	include	at	least	the	following:

 Dates	and	times	for	all	flights;

 Name	and	phone	number	of	the	operator	for	the	sUAS	aerial	filming	

conducted;

 Name	and	phone	number	of	the	person	responsible	for	the	on-scene	

operation	of	the	sUAS;

 Make,	Model,	and	serial	or	N-Number	of	the	sUAS	to	be	used;

 Name	and	certificate	number	of	the	sUAS	PIC/s	involved	in	the	

aerial	filming;

 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	on	request;

 Signature	of	exemption	holder	or	representative;	and

 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	altitudes	essential	to	accomplish	the	operation
3.6. Crew	Fitness

Southeastern	Jet Corporation	d/b/a	Daedalus	Aerial	Productions	takes	

very	seriously	crew	fitness.	To	this	end,	the	company	strictly	adheres	to	

14	CFR	§	91.17	(a)	(1)	(2)	(3)	and	(4).
APPENDICIES
APPENDIX

FAA	Exemption	No.	XXXXX

A.
APPENDIX

List	of	Aircraft – Registration	Numbers

B.
APPENDIX B.

List	of	Aircraft:

1. DJI	S1000+

2. Phantom	3

3. SenseFly	eBee

4. SenseFly	eXom

List	of	Aircraft	Registration	Numbers:

1. N618DA

2. N619DA

3. N618SJ

4. N619SJ
APPENDIX

sUAS	Manufacturer	Operations	– Maintenance	Manuals

C.
APPENDIX C.

Maintenance Manuals	are	available	in	PDF	format	only	and	will	be	

inserted	in	this	Section	in	the	Company	hard	copy	manual.
APPENDIX

Insurance	Policy

D.
APPENDIX

Terms	of	Reference

E.
APPENDIX E.

TERMS OF REFERENCE:

1. Aircraft:	any	contrivance	invented,	used,	or	designed	to	navigate,	or	fly	

in,	the	air	(Title 49,	United	States	Code	(49	USC)	§ 40102)

2. National	Airspace	System	(NAS):	the	common	network	of	U.S.	

airspace;	air navigation	facilities,	equipment	and	services,	airports	or	

landing	areas;	aeronautical	charts,information	and	services;	rules,	

regulations	and	procedures,	technical	information,	and	manpower and	

material

3. Operational	Control:	with	respect	to	a	flight,	means	the	

exercise	of	authority over	initiating,	conducting	or	terminating	a	

flight	(14	CFR	§ 1.1)

4. Pilot	in	Command	(PIC):	the	person	who	has	final	authority	and	

responsibility	for the	operation	and	safety	of	the	flight;	has	been	

designated	as	PIC	before	or	during	the	flight;and	holds	the	appropriate	

category	class	and	type-rating,	if	appropriate,	for	the	conduct	ofthe	

flight	(14	CFR	§ 1.1)

5. Unmanned	aircraft	(UA):	any	aircraft	that	is	operated	without	the	

possibility	of direct	human	intervention	from	within	or	on	the	

aircraft	(P.L.	112-95,	Section 331)

6. Unmanned	Aircraft	System	(UAS):	an	unmanned	aircraft	and	

associated elements,	including	communication	links	and	the	

components	that	control	the	unmanned	aircraft,that	are	required	for	

the	pilot	in	command	to	operate	safely	and	efficiently	in	the	national

airspace	system	(P.L.	112-95,	Section	331)

7. UAS	Certificate	of	Waiver	or	Authorization	(COA):	an	authorization	

issued	by	the Air	Traffic	Organization	to	an	operator	for	a	specific	

unmanned	aircraft activity

8. Visual	Line	of	Sight	(VLOS):	unaided	(corrective	lenses	and/or	

sunglasses	excepted) visual	contact	between	a	pilot	in	command	and	an	

unmanned	aircraft	sufficient	to	maintain safe	operational	control	of	the
APPENDIX E.

aircraft,	know	its	location,	and	be	able	to	scan	the	airspace	inwhich	it	is	

operating	to	see	and	avoid	other	air	traffic	or	objects	aloft	or	on	the

ground.