## Motion Picture and Telev **ision 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

**O rganization**  1. Chief Pilot 2. Pilot in Command 

## Ap **pendix A** 1. List of Approved Pilo ts 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 Wa iver of Authorization in accordance with the FAA’s 333 exemption rules, for the purposes of filming. FW S 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 W aiver of Authorization as mentioned above. 

### 2 **. Pilot/Operator Organization** FW S will provide pilot information on an “as need” basis per project/flight. W e employ various pilots due to differentiating geographical locations. See appendix A

- 1


### 3 **. Persons A uthorized**  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 involv ed 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 safe ty may be determined by an e valuation 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 **. A rea of Operations**  FW S approved area of op erations will be within the United Sta tes

. 

### 5 **. Plan of A ctivities**  At least three (3) days pr ior to any scheduled filming, F WS will submit a written plan of activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over that area. The plan o f 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 holde r. 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 **. Permiss ion to Operate**  Before any fl ight 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 FW S personnel obtaining such permission will do so in writing whenever practical, however, verbal permission is acceptable otherwise. A standard permissio n form (see appendix A

- 2) is provided and may be used when obtaining written permission. F WS personnel wi ll assure a sufficient number of those forms are available at the job site. Wr itten 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 al l procedures to participating personnel of the risks involved, emergency procedures, and safeguards to be followed duringthe filming production event. Personnel will also be briefed on additional

provisions that may be issued by the FSDO that has geograph ic 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 p articipating personnel • How to control nonparticipating persons 

### 9 **. Certification/A irwo**  **rthiness** All F WS FAA pre approved UAV’s can be used as the filming "vehicle" in motion picture and television filming. T he aircraft will undergo a daily inspection pro gram. 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 t o 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 requ irements 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 1 00 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 an d/written) and/or skill. The inspector or another company pilot approved by the geographically responsible FSDO who is qualified to carryloads 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 lon g as it is effective and is capable of keeping the participants continuously appraised of the current status of the operation. 

### 12 **. A ccident**  **Notification** Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the NTSB occur, the notification re quiremen ts of FAR Part 830 sha ll 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, an d 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 o nly be those specified in the F WS 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 ins pection 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. FW S 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 t he 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 F WS 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 th e main bas e of operations for FW S

.  Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are distributed and processed properly.

 Must approve or disapprove each proposed job or opera tion performed by FW S under the provisions of this manual.

 Assume the responsib ilities 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 ver

y 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 pri mary 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.

## Ap **pendix A .1** 

**Flatw ater Studios**  **List of A pproved Pilots** 

**Chief Pilot** Name

____________________________________________________ Certificate Number Grade

____________________________________ Medical Class

_____________________________________________ Date

_________________ Contact Number

________________________

**Pilot** Name

____________________________________________________ Certificate Number Grade

_____________________________________ Medical C lass_______________________________________________ Date

__________________ Contact Number

________________________

## Ap **pendix A .2**  **Flatw ater Studios**  **Permission A cquisition Form**  In signing this for m, I am giving the pilots of FW S . 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 __________________________

FW S Representative Receiving P ermission______________________ Date _____________________________