Drones of Prey/DOP Media LLC Operators Manual

Contents

Introduction

Day prior to actual flight operations

Preflight

Flight procedures
Introduction

This manual is to be followed as a guideline to safe operation but does not replace common

sense as well as local, state and federal laws. It is to be carried with all DOP team members

during any flight operations. Upon receipt of this manual each team member will sign a

statement validating that they have studied and understand said manual. Aircrafts mentioned

will be the DJI S1000 Octocopter, DJI PHANTOM and DOP1 (proprietary heavy lift x8

configured aircraft)
Day prior to actual flight operations

-All team members must have minimal of 8 hrs sleep prior to flight operations and no alcohol

12 hrs prior to flight operations

-COA in hand

-Waivers signed by anyone participating in production or 500ft from outer boundaries of

flight operations

-Weather conditions of the shoot location checked via NOAA and the National Weather

Service (predicted wind speeds, precipitation, temperature, predicted cloud base level, fog

predictions, solar activity, cloud coverage prediction)

-All team members must have proper attire for weather conditions

-Prescout via Google Earth and on foot if possible checking terrain, population density and

locations of full scale airports or heliport

-Water and food packed

-All screws, nuts and bolts on aircraft have appropriate sized tool inserted and checked for

tightness

-Connections checked for proper insertion and polarity

-Battery plugs on aircraft checked for carbon buildup and secure solder

-Battery wires leading to PCB board on aircraft checked for nicks in insulation and secure

solder at PCB

-Retractable landing gear operated manually noting smooth operation and symmetry in legs

-GPS antenna checked for proper orientation (arrow points towards nose of aircraft) and

securly fastened

-GPS antenna mount secure with no pinching of GPS wires during folding up and down

-Flight controller IMU checked for proper orientation and that it is secured

-Flight controller checked to make sure firmware is matches latest from manufacturer by

connecting to computer or via bluetooth to application

-Motors checked by manually turning them. Looking for free motion and any grinding that

may indicate worn bearings

-Leading edge of all props on aircraft checked for any nicks by rubbing hand back and forth

across them

-Props flexed from tips upward and downward checking for any cracks or wear

-Screws holding props checked for proper torque

-Any folding props should be equal in the amount of force needed to fold them

-Motor dampners checked for wear and replaced every 16hrs (only replace these all at once

and record in log book)

-Camera gimbal mounting balls checked to make sure all are secure

-Video transmitter antenna mounted to transmitter (mount antenna with "tx" written on it)
-All flight batteries checked for any swelling or puffing

-Internal resistance and voltage checked on every cell (all cells should be closely matched and

no cells below 3.3 volts)

-Flight battery connections checked for carbon buildup, secure solder joints, proper

heatshrink and connectors polarity is correct

-Flight transmitter batteries checked for proper voltage

-Flight transmitter gimbal sticks operated in their full range of motion checking for

smoothness

-Flight transmitter switches operated and their functions confirmed in the servo monitor

screen of flight transmitter

-Flight transmitter antenna checked for any abnormalities

-Video downlink receiver antenna attached (attach one that says "rx")

-Video downlink receiver power and A/V wires plugged into receiver and checked for any

nicks in the insulation

-Field monitor/screen cleaned and powered on making sure composite is selected for input

-Field kit packed (DC power supply, lipo charger, assorted cable bag, spare video rx and tx,

spare video rx and tx antennas, spare counter and clockwise rotating arms with esc, motor and

props attached, spare props, toolkit, roll of velcro, spare battery tray with battery straps,

laptop computer, spare camera batteries, camera battery chargers, spare sd cards, wind meter

etc)

-Velcro on flight batteries checked to make sure secure and proper side facing battery tray

-Camera lens, filters and sensor cleaned

-Camera battery checked by turning camera on and checking status indicator

-Camera mounted to camera gimbal and properly balanced

-Contact client and confirm all required permits are in hand

-Motion Picture and Television operations manual in gearbag if applicable

-Plan of activities filed with FSDO (to be done 3 days prior to planned operations)
Preflight (Day of operations)

**NO FLY CONDITIONS LISTED BELOW**

-Pilot in charge health prohibits safe operations

-Winds exceeding the flight controller's listed wind limits

-Precipitation

-Dense fog

-Full scale aircraft performing operations in airspace to be

occupied by UAV

-Uncontrolled crowds in area

-Flight controller LED health indicator showing error

-Lift aircraft's arms and lock into place

-Attach flight batteries and check aircraft's center of gravity adjusting batteries until center of

gravity is center of the aircraft's frame

-Power flight controller transmitter and camera gimbal transmitter

-Ensure switches on flight controller are in correct position for GPS flight mode with no OIC

or RTH engaged

-Check that correct model is selected on transmitter screen.

-Check voltage on flight controller transmitter and ensure its at a safe level to complete

mission

-Set aircraft on level ground and power up

-Range test the link between aircraft and aircraft controller by following manufacturers

operators manual

-Calibrate compass per manufacturers procedure then power aircraft down

-Secure safe landing zone that is free of overhead obstructions and away for any persons

-Secure safe secondary landing zone meeting the same requirements as the primary landing

zone should primary be compromised (should be within approximately 100ft)

-Designate and assign member of the days events to secure both landing zone during takeoff

and while aircraft is in flight

-Have safety meeting with anyone participating in the event of the day present

-Plan flight path and scout for any overhead obstructions and clear of any persons or property

not involved

-Ensure releases and waivers are present on site and signed by property owners that will be
affected by flight path

-Ensure motion picture and television operations manual is present on site

-Check camera exposure, focus, white balance, format set to clients choice

-Unfold folding props if using folding props

-Check to make sure flight controller transmitter is powered on and switches are in correct

position for GPS flight (IOC and RTH in off position)

-Power aircraft on level ground in center of primary landing zone

-Power video receiver, camera and monitor and ensure video feed is up and clear

-Ensure On Screen Display is functional and all parameters are not erroneous (artificial

horizon level)

-Watch LED indicator on aircraft and wait for GPS lock (confirm satellite count on OSD)

-Reconfirm there are no overhead obstructions such as birds or full size aircraft that have

moved into area since last check

-Listen for sounds of any approaching aircraft and if any are heard, locate and reassess

launching

-Have camera operator check camera gimbal controls

-Advise participants that aircraft is launching

-Scan 360 degrees around landing zone with eyes and launch aircraft
Flight procedures

-No flights are to exceed 400 ft agl

-Pilot and spotter are to stand within 10 ft of each other and communicate as needed

-Pilot and spotter are to stand in a position as to not allow any obstructions between them and

the aircraft at any time

-Spotter will communicate any safety concerns to pilot and constantly watch for full size

aircraft

-Should full size aircraft come into area UAV is landed immediately

-Battery voltage monitored via OSD and aircraft is landed with 25% capacity leftover

-Spotter to advise if health status LED on aircraft indicates a warning

-Upon landing spotter is to check landing zone for any obstructions that may have appeared

during flight

-Spotter is to verbalize to participants that aircraft is landing

-Gently land aircraft in center of landing zone

-Always power aircraft off first then flight controller transmitter

-Power video transmitter and monitor off

-Feel all motors and electronic speed controller checking for excess heat

-Check flight batteries for swelling or excessive heat

-Check flight battery voltage