Version 1.2
Introduction

This Standard Operating Procedures Manual was designed to outline a framework of safe operating procedures to 

promote the highest levels of safety when flying Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS). The procedures outlined

in this manual are to be followed at all times by any person or persons operating a sUAS. Any operator or visual 

observer involved in the flight of a sUAS by O’Sullivan Studios will comply with the policies and procedures outlined in 

this manual.

Flight Team

The onsite flight team is composed of a Pilot in Command (PIC) and a Visual Observer (VO). The PIC is responsible

for the safe operation of the sUAS in accordance with the operating procedures and checklists outlined in this 

manual as well as the applicable FAA regulations. The VO is responsible to maintain visual contact with the sUAS and 

to provide constant communication with the PIC regarding aircraft status and surrounding conditions within the Area of 

Operations. Prior to flight, the PIC will ensure that the VO understands and can perform all the duties required of the 

VO.

Operating Limitations and Conditions

Operational Ceiling = 400 feet from ground level

MAX Air Speed of UAS = 20 knots

Operational Temperature Ranges = -10 degrees F to 110 degrees F

MAX Operational Wind Speed = 11 MPH

Do not fly at night or take off in high fog or rain

Typical Flight Altitude = 150 feet

Typical Flight Duration = 15 minutes

Typical Flight Speed = 5-10 knots

Maintenance Procedures

Before and after every flight, checklists are followed and completed by the PIC. Additional checks are performed 24 

hours before any scheduled flight or flights. If any non-cosmetic issues are identified then the aircraft is grounded

until the issue has been corrected. Any type of repair that is not considered “cosmetic” will require a test flight in a 

controlled, unpopulated area away from airports, heliports and vehicular traffic. Additionally, any firmware update to 

any component of the sUAS should be treated as a major repair or alteration to the sUAS and will require a test flight.

*An example of a cosmetic repair would be the replacement of a propeller, sticker, rubber landing foot, tape or identifying markings.

*An example non-cosmetic repair would include but is not limited to the functionality of the motors, batteries, GPS, compass, FPV system, or

remote control.

Logs and Records

Every flight, repair or firmware update must be documented. Please see the sample log page at the end of 

this document.
Appendix A - Checklists

Pre Flight “Day” Checklist

1. If required, secure permission from the property owner and or any participants

2. Prepare 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.

3. Are there any special flight restrictions for the area? Is special insurance required?

4. Make sure the proposed flight is more than 5 miles from the nearest airport.

5. The PIC should check the weather report to see if the conditions are favorable for a flight. Flights cannot take 

place if the wind, precipitation, and/or visibility limit the PIC’s ability to safely pilot a sUAV.

6. If required, notify local law enforcement and or airports of proposed flight(s).

7. Make sure all required documentation, authorization, model releases, operations manuals are packed with the 

sUAS before transport.

8. Check to see if Firmware is up to date.

9. Make sure to have performed any sort of advanced calibrations with any new cameras or gimbals.

10. Make sure to have everything needed for flight (check pack-list).

11. No batteries should be transported within the UAS.

Crew Briefing

Make sure people involved with the flight know:

- The desired duration and flight plan

- Takeoff and landing procedures

- Role of PIC and visual observer

- Recall procedures

- Emergency procedures

- Risks to participating personnel

- How the “return to home” feature works

- Not to try and catch, grab or go near the sUAS while in flight
Pre-Flight Checklist

! PIC and VO will put on outerwear that will identify them in their respective roles

! If more than 1 UAV is airborne make sure you are on a different channel!

! Check how many WiFi networks are in the area (you might not want to fly if there are a lot)

! Check to see if all the screws are in the body and the motors spin by hand

! Look for any cracks in the plastic frame

! Check the battery to see if it’s swollen or has any puncture marks

! Check to see if the video transmitter antenna(e) are secure

! Check battery levels on remote

! Check battery levels on FPV monitor

! Check battery levels on the drone batteries

! Check gimbal and connections / camera connections

! Check prop lengths (look for broken tips)

! Look for obstacles in the area

! Will your minimum “return to home" height clear the obstacles in the area

! Check wind speed 

Startup Checklist

! Set all toggle switches to their startup positions

! Turn on transmitter

! Make sure camera is on

! Is an ND / Polarizer filter required

! Make sure camera has a formatted SD card

! Place drone in an area that has a clear line of sight to the sky

! Turn Phantom on

! Check video signal

! Look for compass calibration signal (calibrate if needed)

! Point camera up

! Wait for adequate GPS connectivity

! Start camera recording

! Verbally notify participants in the area that you are about to take off

! Scan for nearby cars / people / animals

! Start motors, and establish functional pre-take-off motor rotation

Flight Time

! Hover for 20 - 30 seconds (look and listen for problems)

! Look at the FPV monitor to check if the camera is recording

! Check the voltage levels after takeoff

! Check to see if the GPS can maintain position

! Maintain situational awareness of changes in weather, visibility, or cloud avoidance at all times

! During flight check aircraft battery levels, signal strength and FPV monitor battery

! Always maintain a visual light of sight operation. (Do not rely 100% on the FPV monitor for navigation.)

! If visual contact is lost, hold UAV position until VO or PIC re-establishes visual contact

Post Flight

! Stop the motors

! Turn off video monitor

! Stop the recording

! Turn off remote

! Check to see if the camera captured images

! Turn camera off

! Turn off drone battery

! Turn off GPS locator

! Examine sUAS for cracks or excessive heat

! Log Flight
Emergency Procedures

If the failsafe “return-to-home" feature is activated for any reason, the PIC should be ready to switch the controller to 

“altitude” mode to regain control of the UAS.

Inflight Malfunction - If any malfunction or irregular flight characteristics are noticed during flight, the PIC will 

immediately land the sUAS and end the flight. The PIC will verbally call out to anyone in the immediate area and 

inform them that the flight is ending.

In the event of a dramatic loss of lift or control, every effort will be made to guide the sUAS away from any people or 

personal property even if the safest emergency landing spot maximizes the potential damage and/or loss of the 

sUAS.

Pilot Incapacitation - If the pilot-in-command becomes incapacitated to the extent that control of the sUAS becomes 

unviable, the sUAS will hover in a stationery position until the battery's second level low-voltage protection is 

triggered. At this point, the sUAS will descend and land in a steady, controlled manner. If an observer is present, he or 

she will have been briefed on the sUAS's failsafe (return-to-home) mode and its activation.

Aircraft Incursion - If another aircraft should enter or appears to be entering the Visual Line of Sight Operating 

Envelope VLOS, PIC will operate the sUAS to immediately maintain safe visual separation; or preferably land sUAS, 

and give way to any manned flight operation.

Fly Away - A "fly away" is defined as the loss of control transmission link where the PIC no longer has control or the 

ability to command the sUAS to remain within the bounds of the intended operation area. In the unlikely event that this 

should occur, the PIC will observe and record the direction of flight heading, speed, and altitude of the sUAS, and 

then follow the Incident Response Procedure as outlined below.

Crash & Incident Response in the event of a “Fly Away":

While John O’Sullivan takes extreme caution in its flight procedures to prevent a loss of control or crash, any incident, 

accident, or operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries of the planed flight will be reported to the 

FAA's sUAS Integration Office (AFS-80) within 24 hours.

The FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS-80)

The FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS-80) is the Agency's single point of contact for everything UAS. It was 

established in 2013 with a vision for safe, timely, and efficient integration of UAS into the National Airspace System 

(NAS). The UAS Integration Office collaboratively develops operating concepts, policies, requirements, criteria, and 

procedures for new system evaluations, integration, and implementation of emerging UAS technologies.

Aviation Safety Hotline website or call 1-866-835-5322, Option 4 or 9-AFS-UAS-Inquiries@faa.gov

Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO)

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/field_offices/fsdo/

Local Flight Standards District Offices

Office Address Phone

Farmingdale 7150 Republic Airport

Farmingdale, NY 11735

(631) 755-1300

New York City 990 Stewart Avenue

Garden City, NY 11530

(516) 228-8029

Albany 7 Airport Park Boulevard

Latham, NY 12110

(518) 785-5660

Rochester 1 Airport Way

Rochester, NY 14624

(585) 436-3880

Teterboro Park 80 West

Saddle Brook, NJ 

07663

(201) 556-6600
Terms and Abbreviations

AGL - Above Ground Level - An altitude measured with respect to the underlying ground surface.

Aircraft - Any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air (Title 49, United States Code (49 

USC) § 40102).

AMA - Academy of Model Aeronautics - A US based, non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of model 

aviation as a recognized sport as well as a recreational activity. It is the largest organization of its kind with a current 

membership of more than 140,000 members.

Anemometer - An instrument to measure the velocity of the wind in the Area of Operations.

AO - Air Traffic Organization

AOI - Area of Interest

Area of Operations - Defined as the area where sUAS operations will be carried out for a specific flight or series of 

flights on a given mission.

ATC - Air Traffic Control

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations

Checklists - Procedural checklists used by the PIC to verify proper and safe procedures during all phases of sUAS 

operations.

COA - Certificate of Authorization - Exemption with a civil Certificate of Waiver or Authorization for civil aircraft to 

perform commercial operations in low-risk, controlled environments.

Designated Safety Zone - Defined and marked area of ground operations used for safe takeoffs and landings of the 

sUAS at a given Area of Operations.

FAA - Federal Aviation Administration

FAA - Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA)

FAR - Federal Aviation Regulation

Flight Control Systems - The combination of telemetry, PIC operated controls, and on board control mechanisms that 

are employed to control the flight of the sUAS.

Frequency Analyzer - A device used to scan the Area of Operations for possible interference from radio waves.

GCS - Ground Control Station

GPS - Global Positioning System

Handheld Radio - A radio transceiver capable of communication with other Pilots or FAA personnel in the Area of 

Operations.

Return To Home - A default recovery mode the DJI Phantom goes into when communications are lost from the PIC.

LOL - Loss of Link

Maintenance Recommendations - Periodic maintenance recommendations for each of the sUAS components that 

have a usable life.

Manual - This flight manual that combines the Operator specific procedures with the sUAS manufacturers' manual.
Manufacturers Recommendations - Written recommendations provided by the manufacturers of the various 

components of the sUAS.

NAS - National Airspace System - The common network of U.S. airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment and 

services, airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts, information and services; rules, regulations and procedures, 

technical information, and manpower and material

Non-Participants - Persons who have not agreed to participate in sUAS operations.

NOTAM or NoTAM - A Notice to Airmen - A notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential 

hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight.

Operational Control - With respect to a flight, this means the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or 

terminating a flight (14 CFR § 1.1).

Operator - The entity submitting as the applicant on this waiver request to the FAA who will be responsible for all 

sUAS operations and procedures.

Participants - Persons who have agreed to participate in sUAS operations

PIC - Pilot In Command - Person who will fly the UA during sUAS operations and who is responsible for all safety 

related or operational decisions under the direction of the Operator in accordance with this Manual and FAA 

requirements.

SO - Safety Observer

SOP - Standard Operating Procedures

sUAS - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems as contemplated under the FAA guidelines, not to exceed 55 pounds in 

weight or 100 miles per hour in speed.

Telemetry - Electronically transmitted data that provides control and information transmissions to and from the PIC 

and the sUAS.

The FAA's sUAS Integration Office (AFS-80) - The Agency's single point of contact for everything sUAS. It was 

established in 2013 with a vision for safe, timely, and efficient integration of sUAS into the National Airspace System 

(NAS). The sUAS Integration Office collaboratively develops operating concepts, policies, requirements, criteria, and 

procedures for new system evaluations, integration, and implementation of emerging sUAS technologies.

UA - Unmanned aircraft - Any aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within 

or on the aircraft (P.L. 112-95, Section 331).

UAS - Unmanned Aircraft System - An unmanned aircraft and associated elements, including communication links 

and the components that control the unmanned aircraft, that are required for the pilot in command to operate safely 

and efficiently in the national airspace system (P.L. 112-95, Section 331).

VFR - Visual Flight Rules - A set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally 

clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.

VLOS - Visual Line of Sight - Unaided (corrective lenses and/or sunglasses excepted) visual contact between a pilot 

in command and an unmanned aircraft sufficient to maintain safe operational control of the aircraft, know its location, 

and be able to scan the airspace in which it is operating to see and avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the 

ground.

VMC - Visual Flight Rules Meteorological Conditions - Conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly 

the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft.

VMC - Visual Meteorological Conditions - An aviation flight category in which visual flight rules (VFR) flight is 
permitted—that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation 

from terrain and other aircraft.

VO - Visual Observer - An individual who is designated to observe flight operations and to maintain visual contact with 

the UA during flight operations while maintaining communications and coordination with the PIC.

VTOL - Vertical Takeoff and Landing