From:	From	Above	Rc	(Solomon	Nieves)	

24511	Daisy	Run	San	Antonio,	TX	78255

Date:	7/29/15

U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket,Operations

West Building Ground Floor, Room w12-140

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590

Docket No. FAA-2015-1289

Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual

From Above Rc. 

24511 Daisy Run

San Antonio, TX 78255 

(210) 833-2022 

Date: 7.28.2015

1. Introduction 

A. Purpose 4

B. Pilot/Operator Organization 4 

C. Persons Authorized 4 

D. Area of Operations 4 

E. Plan of Activities 5 

F. Permission to Operate 5 

G. Security 6 

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 6 

I. Certification/Airworthiness

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements
Company Organization 

A. Chief Pilot 9

B. Pilot in Command 10 

Appendix 

A 1 List of Approved Pilots 11 

2 List of Approved Aircraft 12 

3 Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 13 

4 Revision Letter (sample) 14

Revision: 

Original Page 3 of 15 Revision Control Page Revision# Date Initials 

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1. Introduction 

A. Purpose This manual has been developed by "From Above Rc.", hereafter referred to as "From Above 

Rc", in conjunction with an application for a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization of the provisions of 

ORDER 8900.1, VOLUME 3, CHAPTER 8, SECTION1 (b) and (c) for the purposes of filming. From

Above Rc 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 Waiver of Authorization as mentioned above. 

B. Pilot/Operator Organization - From Above Rc. 24511 Daisy Run San Antonio, TX 78255 (210) 833-

2022 cell C. Persons Authorized ORDER 8900.1, VOLUME 3, CHAPTER 8, SECTION1 (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 200 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 100 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 ASI’s evaluation 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.
D. Area of Operations From Above Rc’s approved area of operations will be the continental United States. 

E. Plan of Activities At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, From Above Rc will submit a 

written plan of activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over that area. The plan of 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 or N-number of aircraft to be used and type of airworthiness certificate, 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 holder. (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 equipment may be waived, however, 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.

F. Permission to Operate Before any flight operations is conducted at less than 400 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 The From Above Rc personnel obtaining such permission will 

do so in writing whenever practical, however, verbal permission is acceptable otherwise. A standard 

permission form is provided in Appendix A and may be used when obtaining written permission. From

Above Rc 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. These forms will be made available 

for inspection by the FAA or other official personnel upon request. 

G. 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. 

H. 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 all procedures to participating 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 
I. Certification/Airworthiness All From Above Rc Aircraft aircraft used in operations requiring a waiver for 

the purpose of filming will be properly certified. The aircraft will be 100hr/annual inspection program. 

Other required tests and inspections when necessary. 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 to be flown is 

in airworthy condition and all required inspections and maintenance has been completed before each flight. 

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements The pilot/operator shall establish and specify the minimum pilot 

requirements. Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed the following:

(1) A current U.S. Light Sport Aircraft pilot certificate with ratings appropriate to the category, class and 

type (if applicable) of aircraft to be used under the terms of the waiver. 

From Above Rc

Solomon Nieves

24511 Daisy Run, San Antonio TX 78255