GA UAV Services LLC April, 2015

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Flight Operations Manual:

GA UAV Services LLC

UAS Operations
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Contents

I. Overview

II. Training Manual and Logs

III. Operations Manual

IV. Maintenance

V. Appendices
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I. Overview

GA UAV LLC intends to operate unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to aid and enhance 

its inspection services of buildings, chimneys, bridges, dams, real estate, 

industrial/manufacturing facilities and other infrastructure. UAS operations will involve a 

minimum of two (2) qualified persons: a pilot in command (PIC) and visual observer 

(VO). GA UAV Services has developed this Flight Manual to ensure the safety of its 

UAS operations and the safety of the general public.

II. Training Manual and Logs

GA UAV Services will follow a training regimen to ready its employees for potential UAS

operations. GA UAV Services will designate a PIC that is a Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) licensed airman with at least a private pilot license and a second

class medical certificate.

Prior to any official UAS operations, the PIC will have logged 25 hours of UAS flight

training. This training will include 250 flight cycles and 10 of the 25 hours will involve the 

particular UAS to be used in GA UAV Services’ UAS operations. All pilot training will be 

documented in GA UAV’ flight logs.

To ensure development of safe practices, the VO will assist the PIC during the 25 hours

of flight training. This will allow the VO to further their knowledge of safe flight practices 

and familiarize them self with UAS flight operations.

During training, the PIC and VO will follow the UAS manufacturer’s training guide(s)

provided from the aircraft manufacturer. The PIC and VO will maintain pilot, aircraft, and

maintenance logs during training. All training manuals, logs, and certifications will be

present during UAS operations and made readily available upon request. Please refer 

to the Appendices section for pilot, aircraft, and maintenance logs, as well as

manufacturer’s training manuals.

In addition to initial training, the PIC and VO will be subject to test, or currency flights, in 

between and leading up to official operations to ensure skills and safety. Currency

flights will occur on a bi-monthly basis, as needed, and require one (1) hour of flight time

and 10 take-offs and landings.
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III. Operations Manual

All GA UAV Services UAS operations are subject to an FAA Exemption under Section 

333 of the FAA Modernization and reform Act of 2012 (the Reform Act).

FAA Exemption No. __________________________

With a FAA granted exemption, GA UAV Services will obtain an Air Traffic

Organization (ATO) issued Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for each UAS 

operation. In accordance with the COA, GA UAV Services will request a Notice to 

Airmen (NOTAM) not more than 72 hours in advance, but no less than 48 hours prior to 

the operation.

All UAS operations will involve a minimum of two (2) GA UAV personnel, consisting 

of the PIC and VO.

Flights will only occur in favorable weather conditions during daylight hours.

Weather will be assessed by PIC, and flights will be postponed or immediately

suspended due to weather. Weather affecting operations include, but are not limited to, 

precipitation, wind above 15 knots, limited visibility due to fog or clouds, and lightning.

All UAS flights will remain in visual line of sight (VLOS).

When flights occur within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point, GA UAV will 

obtain a letter of agreement with the airport’s management and conduct operations in 

accordance with a NOTAM, as required by the obtained COA.

 UAS flights will be terminated at 30 minutes or when battery power is reduced to

25%, whichever occurs first.

The UAS will be programmed to not fly above 400 ft above ground level (AGL).

When necessary, the UAS may also be programmed to not fly outside of a

designated, sterile area.

PIC will be an FAA licensed airman with at least a private pilot license and a thirdclass medical certificate.

The UAS will weigh less than 55 pounds including payload.

The UAS will not operate at speeds over 27 knots.

The UAS has the capability to hover in place, and move in the horizontal and vertical 

planes simultaneously.

The PIC will routinely reference the GA UAV Services UAS Flight Checklist and

the GA UAV Services Flight Operations Manual during operations to ensure the

maintenance and airworthiness of the aircraft, and to ensure general safety during flight 

operations.

GA UAV Services will follow the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, parts 

replacement policies, inspection checklists, and end-of-life limit requirements. Please 

see Section IV Maintenance.
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IV. Maintenance

GA UAV Services will institute and follow a maintenance program to ensure the

airworthiness of its aircrafts. GA UAV Services will use the UAS manufacturer’s

recommendation and requirements whenever applicable. The GA UAV maintenance 

program and maintenance logs will work in unison with the pre-flight checklist and flight 

logs to track the use and care of the aircraft. GA UAV Services will use staff members 

with experience in the maintenance of unmanned aircraft systems to oversee the overall 

UAS maintenance program. Staff members have several years of experience building, 

maintaining, programming, and repairing an array of UAS frames, electronics, and 

programs.
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V. Appendices

Please find the attached, supporting documents as part GA UAV Services exemption 

request:

GA UAV Services Supporting Documents:

 GAUAV UAS Flight Checklist

 Unmanned Aircraft System: Site Specific Safety Plan

 GAUAV UAS Pilot Log

 GAUAV UAS Aircraft Log

 GAUAV UAS Maintenance Log

 GAUAV UAS Fixed Wing Pre-Flight Checklist

 GAUAV UAS Pilot Log

 GAUAV UAS Fixed Wing Aircraft Log

 GAUAV Fixed Wing Aircraft Maintenance Log

DJI Supporting Documents:

 DJI Phantom 1 User Manual

 DJI Phantom Advanced Manual

 DJI Phantom Pilot Training Guide

 DJI Phantom 2 User Manual

 DJI Phantom Advanced Manual D

 DJI S900 User Manual

 DJI S1000 User Manual

 SJI S1000+ Manual

 Quantum Hexa Copter/DJI Flight Controller Manual

 GAUAV Fixed Wing Flight Manual

 GAUAV Fixed Wing User Manual
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