Motion Picture and Television

Flight Operation Manual

SkyNet Aerial Media

Table of Contents

• Introduction

• Purpose 3

• Pilot/Operator Organization 3

• Persons Authorized 3

• Area of Operations 3

• Plan of Activities 3

• Permission to Operate 4

• Security 4

• Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 5

• Certification/Airworthiness 5

• Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 5

• Communications 6

• Accident Notification 6

• Recall/Stop Procedures 6

• Special Provisions 6

• Company Organization

• Chief Pilot 7

• Pilot in Command 7

Appendix A

• List of Approved Pilots 8

• List of Approved Aircraft 9

• Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 10

• Revision Request (sample) 11

• FAA Application for Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (Link) 

http://www.faa.gov/documentlibrary/media/form/faa7711-2.pdf
SkyNet Aerial Media

Flight Operations Manual Revision Control Page

Complete a new page for each revision. The Chief Pilot must approve all revisions.

Revision No. 

Date 

Name of Reviser 

Chief Pilot Approval: 

Initials 

Date 

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

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• Introduction

• Purpose

This manual has been developed by “SkyNet Aerial Media”, hereby 

referred to as “SAM”, in conjunction with an application for a Certificate 

of Waiver and Authorization (“COA”) of the provisions of Federal 

Aviation Regulations (“FAR”) parts 91.119 (b) and (c) for the purposes of 

closed-set motion picture and television filming. SAM pilots and other 

company personnel will, when applicable, comply with the policies, 

procedures and conditions of this manual whenever motion picture or 

television flight operations are performed that require a COA as 

mentioned above.

• Pilot/Operator Organization.

SAM 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 

• Persons Authorized

FAR 91.119 (c) shall be 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 Aviation Safety Inspector’s evaluation of the 

filming production area to note terrain features, obstructions, buildings, 

etc. Such barriers may protect nonparticipating persons (e.g. observers, the 

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

• Area of Operations

Sclera’s approved area of operations will be the continental United States

• Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming SAM will submit a 

written plan of activities to the local Flight Standards District Office 

(“FSDO”) having jurisdiction over that area. The plan of activities should 

include the following:

• Dates and times for all flights.

• Name and phone number of person responsible for the filming 

production event.

• Name and phone number of person responsible for aircraft.

• Make, model, and serial or N-number of aircraft to be used and type of 

airworthiness certificate, including category.

• Name and certificate number of pilots involved in the filming 

production event, including any notation of external load 

endorsements or aerobatic competency, if required.

• 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 upon request to the FAA Administrator by Sclera.

• Signature of an authorized SAM representative.

• 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 requirement may be waived with the consent 

of the FSDO. However, the operator should contact the FSDO as soon as 

possible with any waiver request and be prepared to explain in detail why
the three (3) day notification is not practical.

• Permission to Operate

Before any flight operations is conducted at 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: 

• Property owners

• Law enforcement officials

• Fire department officials

• Local, State and Federal government

• Air traffic control

Although verbal permission is acceptable, the SAM personnel obtaining 

such permission should attempt to obtain permission in writing whenever 

practical. If permission is obtained verbally, the SAM personnel obtaining 

verbal permission shall record the details of the verbal grant of permission. 

A standard permission form is provided in Appendix A and may be used 

when obtaining written permission or recording grants of verbal 

permission. SAM 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. The 

FAA, or other official personnel, upon request, shall have access to all 

available forms for inspection.

• 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.

• Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel

Prior to the start of any operation under the provisions of this manual, the 

pilot in command (“PIC”) will conduct a briefing of all procedures to 

participating SAM 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

• Aircraft parking and starting

• Taxi procedures

• 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

• Certification/Airworthiness

All SAM aircraft used in operations requiring a waiver of FAR 91 .119 (b) 

and (c) for the purpose of filming will be properly certified and hold 

airworthiness certificates.

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 

PIC will assure the aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition and all 

required inspections and maintenance has been completed before each 

flight.

• Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements

Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed the following:

• Successful completion of an FAA-approved ground school that meets 

the requirements of Part 61 of the FAR and passage of the an 

attendant knowledge test as specified by that part. 

• At least 400 hours logged as PIC and at least 20 hours logged as the PIC 

in the aircraft type.

• A minimum of 100 hours in the category and class of aircraft to be used.

• 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:
• Steps to be taken before starting operations, including a survey

of the Flight area.

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

• Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating 

procedures and the aircraft flight manual.

• Proper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel.

• Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a 

rotorcraft-load combination flight manual and limitations, 

if appropriate.

• Communications

Prior to the start of any operation covered by this manual, the PIC 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.

• Accident Notification

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

the notification requirements of FAR Part 830 would comply.

• 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.

• Special Provisions

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the SAM Motion 

Picture and Television Operations Manual is the primary assurance that 

persons on the surface will not be jeopardized.

The aircraft and pilots used under this authorization and/or waiver will 

only be those specified in the SAM MPTOM and/or associated plans of 

activities. 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.

Each PIC conducting operations authorized under this certificate 

understands the conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes a waiver of 

FAR 91.119 (b) and (c). Takeoff and landing areas will be protected in a 

manner that will prevent unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff 

and landing area. SAM 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.

• Company Organization

• Chief Pilot

Duties and Responsibilities:

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

manual.

• Act as liaison between SAM 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 Sclera.

• 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 SAM under the provisions of this manual.

• Assume the responsibilities of PIC when acting as such.

• The chief pilot may delegate functions to other personnel but retains 

responsibility.

• 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 PIC may delegate functions to other personnel, but retains 

responsibility.
Appendix A-1

List of Approved Pilots

TITLE NAME

FAA 

REGISTRATION 

NO.

DATE ADDED

Chief Pilot TBD TBD

Pilot TBD TBD
Appendix A

-2

List of Approved Aircraft

Make Model Description Date Added Registration #

1. Vulcan 

UAV 

1200mm 

Octocopter

Octocopter 

small UAS 

(<55 lbs.)

2. Vulcan 

UAV 950MM x8

Octocopter 

small UAS 

(<55 lbs.)

3. DJI

PHANTOM 

3 

PROFESSI

ONAL

Quadcopter

small UAS 

(<55 lbs.)

4.

5.

6.
Appendix A-3

Permission Acquisition Form

By signing this form, I agree that I have given the pilots of SAM permission to operate 

their aircraft at less than 300 feet from property, or in some jurisdiction in which I am 

responsible for or affiliated with, for the purpose of film or television production for the 

date(s) referenced below.

Name: 

Entity (if applicable): 

Title: 

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission:

Location: 

Date(s) of Operation: 

Signature __________________________________________________

Date __________________________

SAM Representative Receiving Permission

Name: 

Signature: 

Date: 

Appendix A-4

Revision Request

Revision # Section Page Action Summary

If requested revision involves modified or additional language, add language below. 

Attach additional sheets if necessary. Reference the revision number, date, and requestor 

on each additional sheet.

Proposed text:
Or:

 Remove Section # 

Manual Serial Version # 

Revision Requestor 

Signature of Requestor 

Date 

Chief Pilot receipt acknowledgement:

Chief Pilot

Date