Motion Picture and Television UA Flight 

Operations Manual
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91.7

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction.............................................................................................................................4

A. Purpose..................................................................................................................................... 4

B. Operator Organization.......................................................................................................... 4

C. Flight Operations.................................................................................................................... 4

D. Area of Operations ................................................................................................................ 5

E. Plan of Activities ..................................................................................................................... 5

F. Permission to operate............................................................................................................ 6

G. Security..................................................................................................................................... 6

H. Briefing of Production Personnel....................................................................................... 6

I. Airworthiness............................................................................................................................ 6

J. Pilot requirements................................................................................................................... 7

K. Accident and Incident Notification.................................................................................... 7

Appendix A 1...........................................................................................................................8

List of approved aircraft ................................................................................................................ 8

Appendix a 2............................................................................................................................9

Permission form............................................................................................................................... 9
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Revision Control Page

Revision # Date Initials
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INTRODUCTION

A. PURPOSE

This manual has been developed in conjunction with a Petition for Exemption of 

certain provisions of 14 CFR as provided in Section 333 of Public Law 112-95 in 

reference to 49 U.S.C. § 44704 for closed set motion picture and television 

filming using an unmanned aircraft (UA). The operator and authorized personnel 

when applicable will comply with the policies, procedures, and conditions of this 

manual whenever closed set motion picture or television flight operations are 

performed. 

B. OPERATOR ORGANIZATION

Dan Garcia

DGTech

4731 Johnson Drive

Fair Oaks, CA

C. FLIGHT OPERATIONS

1. The operator shall ensure that the UA is operated at least 500 feet from 

nonparticipating persons, vessels, vehicles and structures unless:

a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect 

nonparticipating persons from the UA and/or debris in the event of an 

accident. The operator must ensure that nonparticipating persons remain 

under such protection. If a situation arises where nonparticipating persons 

leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the UA, flight operations 

must cease immediately in a manner ensuring the safety of nonparticipating 

persons; and

b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or structures has granted 

permission for operating closer to those objects and the PIC has made a 

safety assessment of the risk of operating closer to those objects and 

determined that it does not present an undue hazard.
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2. A visual observer will be present for all flights and must be able to 

communicate verbally with the PIC at all times during flight operations. 

3. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight of the PIC at all times.

4. The UA may only be operated under daytime VFR conditions.

5. The UA will be operated at an altitude at or below 400 feet AGL and at speeds 

less than 50 mph unless allowed through an approved COA. 

D. AREA OF OPERATIONS

Operations are limited to the United States of America

E. PLAN OF ACTIVITIES

At least 3 days before aerial filming, the operator of the UAS affected by this

exemption 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:

a. Dates and times for all flights;

b. Name and phone number of the operator for the UA aerial filming 

conducted under this grant of exemption;

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

operation of the UA;

d. Make, model, and serial or N−Number of UAS to be used;

e. Name and certificate number of UA PICs involved in the aerial filming;

f. A statement that the operator 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;

g. Signature of exemption holder or representative; and

h. 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.
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F. PERMISSION TO OPERATE

Before any flight is operated at less than 500 feet to persons, vessels, vehicles 

and structures, the operator will obtain permission from non-participating persons 

and property owners as necessary or appropriate. 

Permission will be obtained in writing whenever possible, however verbal 

permission is acceptable. A standard permission form will be used when obtaining 

written permission, and a sufficient number of forms will be available on site. 

Written permission forms will be kept onsite for the duration of the operation. 

G. 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.

H. BRIEFING OF PRODUCTION PERSONNEL

Prior to the start 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.

Plan of activities 

Aircraft parking, starting and takeoff procedures

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

I. AIRWORTHINESS
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The UA to be operated is exempt from airworthiness certification; the operator 

will maintain the airworthiness of the aircraft in accordance with the 

manufacturer’s specifications. The PIC is responsible for confirming the aircraft is 

in an airworthy condition before commencing operation. 

J. PILOT REQUIREMENTS

The PIC must hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or 

sport pilot certificate. The PIC must also hold a current FAA airman medical 

certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a state, the District of 

Columbia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the Federal government. The 

PIC must also meet the flight review requirements specified in14 CFR § 61.56 in 

an aircraft in which the PIC is rated on his or her pilot certificate.

The PIC must have a minimum of 50 hours of training in the make and model of 

UA used for operations. Training shall include evasive and emergency maneuvers 

and maintaining appropriate distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and 

structures.

K. ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT NOTIFICATION

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

boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA will be 

reported to the FAA UA Integration office within 24 hours. Accidents must be 

reported to the NTSB in accordance with Part 830.
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APPENDIX A 1

LIST OF APPROVED AIRCRAFT

DJI Phantom 2

3d Robotics Solo
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APPENDIX A 2

PERMISSION FORM

In signing this form I grant permission to the Operator or persons authorized by the 

Operator to operate unmanned 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. 

Name:

Title:

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission

Location

Date of Operation

Signature Date