Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual 

Flatwater Studios

709 West Park Ave

Suite D

Edgewater, Florida 32132

Table of Contents 

1. Introduction 

1. Purpose 

2. Pilot/Operator Organization 

3. Persons Authorized 

4. Area of Operations 

5. Plan of Activities 

6. Permission to Operate 

7. Security 

8. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

9. Certification/Airworthiness 

10. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 

11. Communications 

12. Accident Notification 

13. Recall/Stop Procedures 

14. Special Provisions

2. Company Organization 

1. Chief Pilot 

2. Pilot in Command 

Appendix A

1. List of Approved Pilots Form

2. Permission Acquisition Form (sample)
Introduction 

1. Purpose 

This manual has been developed by "Flatwater Studios” hereafter referred to as 

"FWS", in conjunction with an application for a Certificate of Waiver of 

Authorization in accordance with the FAA’s 333 exemption rules, for the 

purposes of filming. FWS pilots and other company personnel when applicable 

will comply with the policies, procedures and conditions of this manual, whenever 

motion picture or television flight operations are performed that require a Waiver 

of Authorization as mentioned above. 

2. Pilot/Operator Organization

FWS will provide pilot information on an “as need” basis per project/flight. We 

employ various pilots due to differentiating geographical locations.

See appendix A-1 

3. Persons Authorized 

FAR 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 evaluation of 

the filming production area to note terrain features, obstructions, buildings, etc. 

Such barriers may protect nonparticipating persons (observers, the public, news 

media, etc.) from debris in the event of an accident. 

4. Area of Operations 

FWS approved area of operations will be within the United States. 

5. Plan of Activities 

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, FWS 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 number of UAV to be used, 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. 

The three (3) day notification equipments may be waived, however, if the 

operator should contact the FSDO as soon as possible with this request and be 

prepared to explain in detail why the three (3) day notification is not practical. 

6. Permission to Operate 

Before any flight operations is conducted at, or less than 500 feet under the 

provisions of the certificate of waiver and this 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: 

(1) Property owners

(2) Law enforcement officials

(3) Fire department officials

(4) Local, State and Federal government 

(5) Air traffic control 

FWS personnel obtaining such permission will do so in writing whenever 

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

permission form (see appendix A-2) is provided and may be used when obtaining 

written permission. FWS personnel will assure a sufficient number of those 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 FAA and/or other official personnel upon request. 

7. 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. 

8. Briefing of Pilot/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. 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

• UAV starting locations

• Radio Communications

• 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 

9. Certification/Airworthiness 

All FWS FAA preapproved UAV’s can be used as the filming "vehicle" in motion 

picture and television filming. The aircraft will undergo a daily inspection 

program. 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. 

10. 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 100 hours logged as PIC and at least 20 hours logged as the PIC 

in the aircraft type. 

3. A minimum of 20 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.

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:

1. Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a survey of the 

Flight area. 

2. Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the external load. 

3. Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating 

procedures and the aircraft flight manual. 

4. Proper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel. 

5. Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a rotorcraft-load 

combination flight manual and limitations, if appropriate. 

11. 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 appraised of the current status of the operation. 

12. Accident Notification 

Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the NTSB occur, the 

notification requirements of FAR Part 830 shall comply. 

13. 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. 

14. Special Provisions 

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the FWS motion picture and 

television operations manual is the primary assurance that persons on the 

surface will not be jeopardized. 

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

in the FWS motion picture and television operations manual (“Appendix A.1”). 

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. UAV takeoff and landing areas 

will be protected in a manner that will prevent unauthorized persons from 

entering the takeoff and landing area. FWS 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 beginning 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 

A. Chief Pilot 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

 Final word in the formulation of policy and procedures concerning this 

manual.

 Act as liaison between FWS and the FAA on matter 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.

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

FWS.

 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 

FWS 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.

B. Pilot in Command 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

 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 of all persons involved in the primary concern. 

 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. 
Appendix A.1

Flatwater Studios

List of Approved Pilots 

Chief Pilot 

Name____________________________________________________

Certificate Number Grade ____________________________________

Medical Class _____________________________________________

Date _________________

Contact Number ________________________

Pilot

Name ____________________________________________________

Certificate Number Grade_____________________________________

Medical Class_______________________________________________

Date __________________

Contact Number ________________________
Appendix A .2

Flatwater Studios

Permission Acquisition Form

In signing this form, I am giving the pilots of FWS. Permission 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. 

Name: _________________________________________________

Title: __________________________________________________

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission: _______________________

Location:________________________________________________

Date of Operation: _______________

Signature ________________________________________________

Date __________________________ 

FWS Representative Receiving Permission______________________

Date _____________________________