ESI	UAS	OPERATIONS TRAINING INSTRUCTION

October 2015

PURPOSE

The	purpose	of	this	document is	to	outline	the	requirements	and	documentation	for	operators	of	ESI

UAS	aircraft.		Each	of	the	paragraphs	below	identifies	the qualifications,	initial	training,	and	currency	

requirements for	each	of	UAS	mission	position.		Documentation	of	the	training	and	certification	for	each	

position	below will	be	maintained	in	each	individual’s UAS	Operator	Folder.		

OPERATIONS	POSITIONS

• PIC	(Pilot	in	Command)

o Description:		Responsible	for	the	safe	conduct	of	a	given	UAS mission.

o Approved	Trainers:		PICs	approved	by the	Aviation	PGD	to	provide	PIC training.

o Qualifications:		

§ Must	currently	hold	a	pilot	rating	(Sport	Pilot	Rating	is	acceptable).	

§ Must	have	appropriate	medical	in	accordance	with	the	pilot	rating	held.

o Training	Requirements:

§ Trainer	will	discuss	and	review	the	ESI	UAS	Operating	Instruction,	review	the	ESI	FAA	

approved	Part	333	Exemption	documentation,	as	well	as	all	current	FAA	airspace	

regulations.		The	trainer	will	discuss	and	demonstrate	NOTAMs	review,	weather	

tracking,	awareness	of	non-participant	personnel	clearance	requirements,	manned	

aircraft	flight	pattern	and	nearby	airport	awareness.

§ Trainee	will	observe	two flying	UAS	missions,	of	at	least	10	minutes	in	length,	with	

the	qualified	trainer	PIC.

o Performance	Requirement:

§ Trainee	will	demonstrate	safe	and	effective	leadership	of	a	UAS	mission	with	a	

duration	of	greater	than	10	minutes.		The	trainee	will	not	be	the	aircraft	operator	

during	this	initial	training	mission.		Real	or	simulated	mission	tasks	(training	flight	

patterns,	training	structural	inspections,	etc...)	must	be	accomplished	on	this	

checkout	mission.

o Currency	Requirement:	Currency	mission	every	180	days

• OBSERVER

o Description:	This	position	is	used	to	maintain	visual	contact	with	the UAS	and	clear	the	

expected	operations	from	potential	hazards	during	the	mission.		

o Approved	Trainer:	Any	Observer-qualified	PIC.		

o Training	Requirement:	

§ Trainer	will	discuss	applicable airspace	issues,	NOTAMs,	weather,	manned	aircraft	

flight	patterns,	locations	of	nearby	airports,	and	any	other	known	possible	airborne	

or	ground	based	conflicts.		The	trainer	will	discuss	communication	requirements	

with	operator(s)	to	identify	hazards	and provide	timely	de-confliction	to	the	UAS	

mission.		The	trainer	will	also	discuss	UAS	flight	capabilities,	speeds,	and	altitudes	

for	observer	awareness.

o Performance	Requirement:		
§ Trainee	will	demonstrate	the	ability	to	properly	support	the	visual	de-confliction	of	

the	UAS	mission	from	airborne	and	ground	hazards	during	an	actual	flying	mission.

o Currency	Requirement:	None

• MANUAL	OPERATOR

o Description:		This	is	the	manual	operator	of	the	UAS	aircraft	whereby	manual	inputs	control	

the	pitch,	roll,	yaw,	and	power	state	of	the	aircraft.		It	assumes	visual	awareness	of	the	

aircraft	whether	it	is	by	observing	the	aircraft	from	the	ground	or	by	observing	the	outputs	

of	a	video	transmission	system	from	a	ground	station.	

o Approved	Trainers:		Aviation	PGD	approved	trainers

o Training Requirements:

§ The	trainee	will	conduct	a minimum	of	2	training	flights	under	the	supervision	of	an	

approved	trainer.

§ A	simulated	low	battery	situation	will	be	demonstrated	by	the	trainer.

§ A	simulated,	non-participant	encroachment	resulting in	an	alternate	landing	zone	

recovery	will	be	demonstrated	by	the	trainer.

o Performance	Requirement:

§ Trainee	will	demonstrate	the	safe	conduct	of	a	UAS	flying	mission

§ This	mission	will	be	at	least	10	minutes	in	length	and	consist	of	at	a	minimum:

• A	successful	take-off,	level	flight control,	circular	racetrack	flight	patterns	in	

both	directions,	mission	performance	events	(inspection,	positioning	for	

photography,	etc...)	and	a	successful	approach	and	landing	to	the	desired	

landing	zone.		

§ In	addition, a	simulated	low	battery	situation	and	a	non-participant	encroachment,	

will	be	demonstrated	to	successful	recoveries.

o Currency	Requirement: Currency	flight	180	days

• AUTO	PILOT	OPERATOR

o Description:		This	is	the	autopilot	operator	of	an	unmanned	aircraft	system.		This	position	

manages	the	location/attitude/speed	of	the	aircraft	over	the	ground	through	an	autopilot	

system.	

o Approved	Trainers:		Aviation	PGD	approved	trainers

o Training Requirements:		

§ The	trainee	will	conduct	a	minimum	of	one	trainer	supervised	mission	during	which	

the	autopilot	system	is	utilized	for	control	during	a	portion	of	the	flight.		During	this	

flight,	all	major	autopilot	modes,	to	include	RTB(Return	to	Base)	safety	modes	will	

be	discussed	and	demonstrated.

o Performance	Requirements:		

§ The	trainee	will	successfully	conduct	autopilot	operations	during	an	actual	flying	

mission	in	which	autopilot	control	of	the	vehicle	is	utilized.		The	successful	use	of	all	

main	autopilot	modes,	to	include	RTB(Return	to	Base)	safety	modes	must	be	utilized	

during	this	demonstration	flight.		

o Currency	Requirement: Currency	flight	180	days