GE Aviation

PROPRIETARY INFORMATION – GE CONFIDENTIAL 

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each page of this document shall appear in any such reproduction in whole or in part. 

GE Aviation Systems LLC

small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS)

General Operations Manual

26 June 2015

Publication No.: GE sUAS GENERAL OPERATIONS MANUAL.Docx

Point of Contact:

Mike Feldmann

GE Aviation

Telephone (616) 241-8847

GE Aviation Systems LLC

3290 Patterson Ave. SE 

Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512

geaviation.com

Copyright 2015 General Electric Company, U.S.A. 
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Contents

1. Operations Manual—1

1.1 Pre-flight test meeting

1.2 Day of flight testing

1.3 Transmitter/Payload Set-up

1.4 Operation of Unmanned Aircraft

1.5 Flight operations standards

1.6 Safety Procedures

2. Flight Manuals—3

3. Operator Training Manual—4

3.1 GE Flight Operation Observer (FOO) standards

4. Maintenance and Inspection Manual—5

4.1 Maintenance

4.2 Inspection
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1. Operations Manual

1.1 Pre-flight test meeting

 Before flight testing, assemble key team members and brief flight test plan. 

 Discuss test plan, special equipment needed, location, start time. 

 Assign responsibilities for packing, transporting, and setting-up all equipment.

1.2 Day of flight testing

 Assemble and set up all equipment. 

 Verify all equipment is operational. 

 Prep sUAS for flight. 

 Measure all flight and equipment batteries for proper charge. 

 Verify correct software loads.

 Verify correct RF Transmitter switch positions for the mission.

 Brief the test plan. 

 Run tests. 

 Download all data. 

 De-brief team. 

 Tear down and pack up all equipment. 

 Transport equipment back to the Shop.

1.3 Transmitter/Payload Set-up

 Use laptop to connect to transmitter using a terminal emulator (Putty, Teraterm, etc.) and capture pose angles (roll, 

pitch, yaw).

 Input pose angles into sUAS payload using terminal emulator.

 Verify correctness of yaw by checking x/y output from the navigation solution at known points on field.

 Verify correctness of roll/pitch by moving sUAS (with detectors facing grid) along x and y axes and ensuring that the 

values of the z output don't change.

1.4 Operation of Unmanned Aircraft

 Low battery alarm alerts Pilot in Control (PIC) and Flight Operation Observer (FOO) when approximately 30% battery 

capacity remains. Landing to be performed when Low Battery alarm is triggered.

 Navigational warning alarms alert PIC and FOO any time navigational accuracy or performance is compromised. 

Landing to be performed on this alarm.

 Command and Control (CC) link warning alarms alert PIC and FOO any time CC link is compromised. Auto-land to be 

executed any time CC is compromised.

 Landing to be performed when any other applicable alarm is triggered.

 All GE sUAS to be provisioned with an RF-activated “kill switch” that can stop the electronics and motors, terminating 

flight.

 Non-essential personnel are precluded from flight operations area during all flight activity.

 PIC and FOO shall maintain Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) to GE sUAS at all times.

 The PIC and FOO shall maintain Visual Line Of Sight (VLOS) to each other at all times.

 A “Geo Fence” shall be set up and enabled to restrict operation within the geographic boundaries of the operating area.

 GE sUAS shall not to be operated when flight visibility is less than 1 nautical mile, or with cloud clearance of less than 

500 feet below or 2000 feet horizontally, or at night.

 The airspace used shall be wholly within the underlying property owner’s boundaries and used with his consent.

1.5 Flight Operations Standards

The following procedures shall apply during flight test operations to establish an Equivalent level of safety (ELOS):

 GE sUAS shall weigh less than 55 pounds, be battery powered, and carry inert payloads.

 All GE sUAS shall be U.S. registered and display marks either in accordance with 14 CFR Part 45, Subpart C, or approved 

alternative markings.
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 GE sUAS operations shall be conducted within unaided VLOS of the PIC and at least one observer, at less than 200 feet 

AGL within Class G airspace. Operations in Class B, C, or D airspace shall not be performed.

 GE operations shall be conducted in defined regions and over property authorized for this use by the landowner. All 

operations shall remain within the geographic boundaries of the operating area.

 GE sUAS operations shall be conducted under the supervision of a designated PIC who has final responsibility for the 

operation, and in accordance with 14 CFR 91.3.

 All GE sUAS PIC and FOO shall have completed training on the normal, abnormal, and emergency flight test procedures,

and have demonstrated proficiency with the sUAS being operated.

 Operators and engineers shall maintain GE sUAS system in a condition for safe operation per associated 

manufacturer’s maintenance manuals.

 Pre-flight inspections shall be performed.

 Post-flight inspections shall be performed.

 PIC and FOO shall maintain situational awareness and perceive, process, and perform risk management prior to and 

during each flight test operation.

 PIC shall terminate operations if hazards that cannot be acceptably mitigated are observed.

 GE sUAS shall safely stop operating and either return home or auto-land if Command and Control link is lost.

 For each GE sUAS, PIC shall have the ability to force a controlled landing at any time.

1.6 Safety Procedures

 Normal: PIC executes mission with FOO observing.

 Abnormal: PIC observes or perceives a condition that requires PIC intervention to switch to a manual stabilized mode 

and executes a controlled landing.

 Emergency: PIC or FOO observes or perceives a dangerous condition and the phrase “Knock It Off” is loudly proclaimed, 

at which time PIC shall immediately end test flight.
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2. Flight Manuals

a. sUAS 01 (Nxxx1GE), sUAS 02 (Nxxx2GE), & sUAS 03 (Nxxx3GE)

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/introduction/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/introduction/quick-start-guide/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/initial-setup/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/initial-setup/assembly-instructions/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/flying-arducopter/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/configuration/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/mission-planning-and-analysis/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-optional-hardware/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-autopilots/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-use-cases-and-applications/

http://copter.ardupilot.com/wiki/common-appendix/common-table-of-contents/

b. Parrot Bebop Drone (Nxxx4GE)

http://www.parrot.com/products/bebop-drone/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VStmhGd8pys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dFJgAbXnbA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMG0w9m2M4s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRNziFTIi5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dyggq1-VXJI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzFtkCaGivI

c. (Nxxx5GE)

Reserved
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3. Operator Training Manual

a. GE Pilot in Command (PIC) standards for sUAS 01 (Nxxx1GE), sUAS 02 (Nxxx2GE), & sUAS 03 (Nxxx3GE)

 A GE PIC shall be qualified under the guidance of an FAA certificated private or commercial pilot who is current 

(operationally, medically, and bi-annually) and a GE employee with applicable experience operating the GE sUAV, 

and is a current GE PIC.

 Have flown and logged a minimum of 50 flight cycles and 10 hours of total time as a sUAS pilot for a given GE sUAS 

make and model.

 Have flown and logged a minimum of 5 hours as sUAS pilot with the make and model of the GE SUAs, as well as 

having conducted three take-offs and landings with that aircraft make and model, in the preceding 90 days.

 Each PIC shall maintain their own log showing qualification and currency that can be made available to the FAA 

upon request.

b. GE PIC standards for Parrot Bebop Drone (Nxxx4GE)

 A GE Bebop PIC shall be qualified under the guidance of a GE PIC to interface with the PIC and provide chase video 

of flight missions.

 A GE Bebop PIC shall demonstrate flight proficiency on the chosen video chase drone under the direction of a GE 

PIC.

 The GE Bebop PIC shall attend the mission preflight brief and be aware of the intended flight plan.

 The GE Bebop PIC shall take direction from the PIC during the mission and be aware of the safety procedures of: 

Normal, Abnormal, and Emergency.

 After the mission the GE Bebop PIC shall download all flight video and provide it to the team for analysis and use.

3.1 GE Flight Operation Observer (FOO) standards

 A GE FOO shall be qualified under the guidance of a GE PIC to interface with the PIC under the above safety procedures 

of: Normal, Abnormal, and Emergency.

 To remain current a FOO must have reviewed the safety procedures with a GE PIC in the preceding 90 days.

 Normal responsibility is observation only.

 Abnormal responsibility is observation and discretionary verbal input to the PIC.

 Emergency responsibility is too loudly proclaim “Knock It Off”.

 Each FOO shall maintain their own log showing qualification and currency that can be made available to the FAA upon 

request.
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4. Maintenance and Inspection Manual

4.1 Maintenance

Prior To Each Flight:

 The Pilot in Command (PIC) or Flight Operation Observer (FOO) shall perform a pre-flight visual inspection of the sUAS to 

verify flight worthiness.

 Batteries shall be checked for percent of charge.

 Transmitter shall be checked for state of charge and that the correct sUAS has been selected.

 PIC shall be responsible for sUAS arming plug, and issue it to the FOO as required.

General Maintenance

 Motors shall be monitored for excessive temperature.

 Props shall be inspected for airworthiness.

 Prop nuts shall be checked as required for proper torque.

Crash Damage

 After any hard landing or crash the entire airframe shall be inspected for damage. Any faulty parts shall be replaced.

 Pre-flight inspection shall be performed.

 Check flight shall be conducted to verify proper operation prior to any further testing.

4.2 Inspection

sUAS Pre-Flight Checklist

 Load software build onto sUAS using Mission Planner software

 Pre-check hardware and connections on sUAS

 Pre-flight battery check

 Check flight parameters (EKF_GPS_TYPE, FLOW_ENABLE, etc.)

 Check flight modes (Stabilize, Altitude Hold, Auto, etc.)

 Accelerometer Calibration (if necessary)

 Compass Calibration (if necessary)

 Ensure all necessary logs have been downloaded

 Clear Logs (before first flight ONLY)

 Ensure payload mounted on sUAS is powered (otherwise I2C bus will go down)

 Configure payload (turn on payload data recording)

 Connect to payload on sUAS to ensure detectors are receiving data

 Ensure all cameras are turned on and recording video prior to liftoff

 Connect RF receiver to laptop

 Ensure flow sensor (if being used) is uncapped so that rangefinder captures data

 Review autonomous flight plan (if applicable)

 Write autonomous flight plan to sUAS (if applicable)

 Pre-flight debriefing

 Verify LEDs are displaying as expected

sUAS Post-Flight Checklist

 Post-flight battery check

 Unplug batteries from payload (after last flight ONLY), and from sUAS

 Conduct post-flight debriefing

 Download and label logs

 Download data (typically at the end of all flights)

 Perform quick analysis of flight data and repeat test if necessary