Aircraft Operations Check List

Alfred Gates

1

© Alfred A. Gates, 2014

Operating Procedures
Check List, Documents, Example 

FWChameleon Fixed Wing Aircraft

Flight Near New Haven Airport 

• NOTAM in place 72 to 48hrs prior to flight

• New Haven tower phone number

• Location of where you will be flying with respect 

to New Haven tower. This does not have to be 

exact. (example 12 nautical miles North East)

• Check list for Chameleon Pro

• COA document

• FAA Pilot license

• Copy or original class II medical

• Short check list

Operating Procedures 2
3

The FWChameleon, Ultra Stick 120 or 25e is not authorized to fly over people, 

public areas, road ways, boat traffic areas or any other areas which involve flight 

over privet property and people.

Equipment

 Fixed wing aircraft

 Pilot and observer transmitters

 Video receiver and screen or goggles

 Ground control station computer

 Battery cell tester

 Tools

 Sun glasses

 Safety vests, hard hat

 VHF radio as necessary

 Fixed Wing sUAS Logbook: Flights must be recorded in the flight logbook

Operating Procecures
4

Documents

• Pilot; Current class II medical, FAA pilots license

• Observer; Current class II medical

• Fixed Wing Aircraft; FAA Registration

Contact Information

• NOTAM is active

• Contact airspace controlling authority (as necessary)

• Provide your name phone number

• Location of flight operations

• Time for start and finish time

• Maximum altitude, AGL

• Record NOTAM operator

• Record NOTAM #

• Have the phone number of the nearest airspace controlling 

authority in case of a lost link or other emergency and or VHF 

radio tuned to the proper frequency

Operating Procecures
5

Fixed Wing sUAS Preflight Procedure

Takeoff and Landing Site

• Takeoff and landing site secure

• Take off and landing surfaces must be clean and clear of sand and small particles. The debris can 

damage the motors and electronics

Aircraft

• Fully charged flight pack maximum allowed cell voltage difference .01 V

• Autopilot secure on vibration isolation mounts

• GPS secure

• Receiver secure

• Data radio secure

• Video transmitter secure

• Camera secure and camera battery charged

• Secure battery in correct location for a balance aircraft

• CG correct 

• Bolts tight (check each flight)

• Motor bolts tight (check each flight)

• Landing gear bolts tight (check each flight)

• Check for cracks in frame, arms, landing gear, and camera mounts

• Check propellers for cracks and replace as necessary

• Propellers on correctly 

• Propellers on tight (try to turn propellers while holding the motors. Check each flight)

• Motor spring clip check (Pull up on propeller, if the propeller and motor case moves up the shaft spring 

clip may be damage or disconnected. Replace motor or install a new clip. Check each flight)

Operating Procecures
6

Fixed Wing sUAS Take off Procedure

• GSC on as necessary

• All switches in correct position on transmitters

• Transmitters on (Pilot and Observer transmitters)

• Battery voltage in transmitters above 9.8 volts

• Fixed wing aircraft battery connect on

• Establish link between GSC and aircraft, as necessary

• Check aircraft battery voltage on GSC

• Range check transmitter

• Video display acceptable on observer transmitter

• Wait for acceptable GPS signal

• Arm aircraft

• Mode set to ALT or manual/stabilize

• Engage motors, start timer

• Slowly advance throttle (aircraft should take off at less than full 

throttle)

Operating Procecures
7

Fixed Wing sUAS In flight Procedure

• Control check in Semi-Auto mode (in a 50 foot or higher level flight attitude, pitch, 

roll and yaw aircraft)

• Check position hold (Set mode to LTR, the aircraft should circle a position and 

should not drift much).

• Fly the fixed wing aircraft in manual, semi-auto and auto modes. 

• Flight around obstacles. Pilot maneuvers fixed wing aircraft with in proximity of 

obstacle followed by the observer advising the pilot by using the live video feed 

and by standing at a different position relative to the structure. 

• Flight near tree canopy. Anticipate turbulence and wind shear when approaching a 

tree canopy and be ready to switch flight modes from auto to semi-auto or manual. 

In extreme cases it may be necessary to switch to manual/stabilize mode. If 

switching to manual/stabilize mode it is recommended that the flight be 

terminated.

Operating Procecures
8

Emergency Procedure

• Loss of power (land aircraft immediately)

• Loss of control (switch modes first to semi-auto second to /stabilize and land aircraft 

immediately)

• Fly away (note altitude, direction of flight and check timer. Contact airspace controlling 

authority and tell them altitude, direction of flight, airspeed and remaining flight time)

• Transmitter beeps (aircraft approaching range limit. Fly aircraft closer)

• Flight out of range (aircraft should return to land)

• Low voltage less than 10.4 volts. aircraft will return and land.

• Aircraft is being blown out of view. (Switch modes first semi-auto or Manual and fly back 

to starting point).

Landing Procedure

• Observer advised pilot around obstacles, structures

• Pilot or observer informs nearby people of landing

• At a 10 foot or higher hover switch modes to semi auto or manual/stabilize (near the 

ground and obstacles the GPS signal strength can become weak)

Operating Procecures
Quick Reference Check List

• Do not get over loaded with too many check 

list

• Develop short check list for preflight 

• Take off

• In flight

• landing

Operating Procecures 9