Kucera International

DJI S900

Flight Limitations and Operations Handbook
PAGE CHANGE NOTICE

UAV S900 UAV_S900_REV A

PCN (09/10/15) Sheet 1 of 1

←Changed lines have this next to them.

Initial issuance of UAV_S900 Handbook - REV A

Encl: all pages

File this PCN immediately after the front cover as a permanent record.

i
PAGE CHANGE NOTICE

UAV S900 UAV_S900_REV B

PCN (10/22/15) Sheet 1 of 1

←Changed lines have this next to them.

Incorporate the following:

UPDATED from REV A to REV B.

ALL PAGES REPLACED.

Encl: all pages

File this PCN immediately after the front cover as a permanent record.

ii
DJI-S900

OPERATIONAL FLIGHT LIMITATIONS

7-1

UAV_S900 Rev B
OPERATIONAL FLIGHT LIMITATIONS

1. The UA may not be operated at a speed exceeding 31.3 knots 

(36mph groundspeed or calibrated airspeed).

2. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of 

the PIC at all times.

3. All operations must utilize a visual observer (VO).

4. If UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that 

affect the UAS operation of flight characteristics, e.g., 

replacement of a flight critical component, must undergo a 

functional test flight prior to conducting further operations under 

this exemption. Functional test flights may only be conducted 

by a PIC with a VO and must remain at least 500 feet from 

other people. The functional test flight must be conducted in 

such a manner so as to not pose an undue hazard to persons 

and property.

5. The operator is responsible for maintaining and inspecting the 

UAS to ensure that it is in a condition for safe operation.

6. Prior to each flight, the PIC must conduct a pre-flight inspection 

and determine the UAS is in a condition for safe flight. The preflight inspection must account for all potential discrepancies, 

e.g., inoperable components, items, or equipment. If the 

inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of 

the UAS, the aircraft is prohibited from operating until the 

necessary maintenance has been performed and the UAS is 

found to be in a condition for safe flight.

7. The operator must follow the UAS manufacturer's maintenance, 

overhaul, replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements 

for the aircraft and aircraft components.

8. PIC must hold either an Airline Transport, Commercial, Private, 

Recreational, or Sport Pilot Certificate. The PIC must also hold 

a current FAA Airman Medical Certificate or a valid U.S. 

Driver's license issued by a state, District of Columbia, Puerto 

Rico, a territory, a possession, of the Federal government. The 

PIC must also meet the flight review requirements specified in 

14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is rated on his or 

her pilot certificate.

7-2

UAV_S900 Rev B
9. The operator may not permit any PIC to operate unless the PIC 

demonstrates the ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner 

consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this 

exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and 

maintaining appropriate distances from persons, vessels, 

vehicles and structures. PIC qualification flight hours and 

currency must be logged in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 

61.51(b).

10. UAS operations may not be conducted during night, as defined 

in 14 CFR § 1.1. All operations must be conducted under visual 

meteorological conditions (VMC). Flights under special visual 

flight rules (SVFR) are not authorized.

11. The UA may not operate within 5 nautical miles of an airport 

reference point (ARP) as denoted in the current FAA

Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) or for airports not denoted with 

an ARP, the center of the airport symbol as denoted on the 

current FAA-published aeronautical chart, unless a letter of 

agreement with that airport's management is obtained or 

otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption holder. 

The letter of agreement with the airport management must be 

made available to the administrator or any law enforcement 

official upon request.

12. The UA may not be operated less than 500 feet below or less 

than 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud or when visibility is 

less than 3 statute miles from the PIC.

13. If the UAS loses communications of loses GPS signal, the UA 

must return to a pre-determined location within the private or 

controlled-access property.

14. The PIC must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted 

obstacles or emergencies.

15. The PIC is prohibited from beginning a flight unless 

(considering wind an forecast weather conditions) there is 

enough available power for the UA to conduct the intended 

operation and to operate after that for at least five minutes or 

with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if 

greater.

7-3

UAV_S900 Rev B
16. Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Certificate of Waiver or 

Authorization (COA). All operations shall be conducted in 

accordance with an ATO-issued COA. The exemption holder 

may apply for a new or amended COA if it intends to conduct 

operations that cannot be conducted under the terms of the 

attached COA.

17. The UA must remain clear and give way to all manned aviation 

operations and activities at all times.

18. The UAS may not be operated by the PIC from any moving 

device or vehicle.

7-4

UAV_S900 Rev B
 DJI S900

PRE-DEPLOYMENT OPS

7-5

UAV_S900 Rev B
PRE-DEPLOYMENT OPS

SYSTEM BATTERIES CHECK

√ That these batteries have been fully recharged.

□ UAV 22.2V Batts

□ Camera BLF19PP Batts

□ iPad internal Batt

□ GS Monitor internal Batt

□ Futaba Transmitter Batt

□ GS Laptop and/or GS external Batt

UAS EQUIPMENT CHECK

√ Camera SD cards for space and stow with 

camera.

Run thru equipment checklists on PG 7-7 & 7-8 

and confirm all necessary equipment is stowed for 

mission.

7-6

UAV_S900 Rev B
AIRBORNE EQUIPMENT LIST

UAV S900

Zenmuse Z15 Camera Gimbal

Panasonic DMC-GH4 Camera w/ 12mm lens

2 Panasonic BLF19PP Batteries

SD Memory Cards

LHCP Transmitter Antenna

2 Tattu 16000mAh 22.2V Batteries

Futaba T14SG RF Transmitter

GROUND EQUIPMENT LIST

DJI 2.4g Data link w/ BTU GCS Unit / 2.8ghz Antenna

2.4gh Antenna

LCD Screen w/ screen shade w/ LHCP RX Antenna 

and 8DBI patch LHCP Antenna

Tripod

DJI USB to Mini USB cable

USB split power cable (GS PC)

GS Power Cable (GS iPad)

AVL58 5.8g Videolink Receiver (Optional)

SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

PL8 Charger

Vehicle power adapter cable

PL8 Balance Lead

PL8 Charge Lead

RF Transmitter AC Transformer

Spare 5.8 Airblade Antenna

LCD Screen Battery Charger

Tool Pack

UAV Spare parts Packs

ibcrazy Antenna Wrench

7-7

UAV_S900 Rev B
7-8

UAV_S900 Rev B
DJI S900

PRE-FLIGHT OPS

7-9

UAV_S900 Rev B
PRE-FLIGHT OPS

UAV UNPACKING / SET UP

Remove upper foam section.

Remove UAV from case and inspect for any 

damage from shipping.

Attach 5.8gh transmitter ant to UAV

Extend / Lock UVA motor arms

Extend / Lock GPS ant mast

Remove Prop protectors and stow in case

Straighten props and √ for alignment marks

√ all wires are attached and secure

√ all components for security

Install UAV 22.2V Battery into carriage

Install Battery carriage into UAV and √ latch has 

locked.

CAUTION

Do not connect battery power leads to UAV leads 

until ready and positioned for takeoff.

7-10

UAV_S900 Rev B
GROUND STATION UNPACKING / SET UP

Set up external monitor tripod with consideration 

toward signal directions and wind directions.

(See figure 7-2-1 for GS w/ laptop) 

Connect Split USB cable into laptop and Data link 

box.

Connect 2.4gh ant to Data Link box

√ internet source is on and laptop connected to wifi

√ BTU green light on.

External Monitor PWR on 

7-11

UAV_S900 Rev B

Fig 7-2-1
 

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7-12

UAV_S900 Rev B
DJI S900

FLIGHT OPS

7-13

UAV_S900 Rev B
FLIGHT OPS

PRE-TAKEOFF

√ UAV located on level ground for start up.

Remove camera Lens cap

Camera PWR ON

√ Camera settings

Mode: Shutter Speed Priority

Shutter Speed: 1/1000

ISO: AUTO

Straighten Camera gimbal for UAV PWR up

UAV POWER UP

NOTE

Always perform UAV power up on level 

ground for proper Gimbal IMU orientation.

√ all transmitter switches are forward/up, Camera 

nob centered, and throttle down

PWR on Transmitter

√ correct model is selected on transmitter

WARNING

Always √ Transmitter ON before UAV PWR up.

PWR on UAV – Negative lead first, Positive lead 

second.

√ for correct UAV system start up

√ for correct camera gimbal calibration.

Set battery Voltage alarm.

7-14

UAV_S900 Rev B
 UAV COMPASS CALIBRATION

Perform UAV compass calibration as needed.

CAUTION

Always perform compass calibration when flying at a

new Field of Operations.

DO NOT perform calibration in the presence of 

strong magnetic interference such as magnetite, car

park, and steel reinforcement under ground.

DO NOT carry ferromagnetic materials during 

calibration. 

1.Note caution block.

2.Perform calibration in open area.

3.Cycle SC switch (GPS mode) from pos 1-3-1, 6-10 

times.

4.√ AP LED blue

5.Spin UAV around horizontal axis (wings level).

6.√ AP LED Green

7.Spin UAV vertically (NOSE DOWN)

8.√ AP LED – if red, try compass cal again.

7-15

UAV_S900 Rev B
GPS LED Indicator Table

Red BLK 1 = 6 Sats BLK 2 = 5 Sats BLK 3 = 4 Sats / No GPS

Gn/Y Com Cal Needed

Purple BLK 1 = GPS ATTI BLK 2 = Stick not midpoint

Yellow BLK 1 = ATTI BLK 2 = Stick not midpoint BLK ∞ = 1st Bat

Green BLK 4 = IMU abnormal SDY = Com Cal

Blue BLK 1 = Ground station BLK ∞ = Failsafe SDY = Com Cal

GS WAYPOINT SETUP

On Laptop GS application.

Always set home point as last waypoint in plan

GS CAMERA TRIGGER TEST

select toolbox menu and open GP Action Servo 

Config.

√ Camera triggers correctly

NOTE

Camera autofocus my not allow 

exposure if an object is too close.

7-16

UAV_S900 Rev B
 FLIGHT

1.√ last waypoint in flight plan is home point.

2.Start Timer

3.Engage motors and take off

4.√ for Purple A2 condition lgt (home point set).

5.Climb manually to 100' +/-

6.√ all controls for correct response

7.Activate waypoint flight plan

monitor UAV flight and flight plan execution.

CAUTION

Always be prepared to execute manual control in 

case of erratic aircraft movement, poor/incorrect flight 

plan execution, or any other emergencies.

After flight plan executes and UAV returns home, 

engage GPS assist and land manually land.

Stop Timer

√ for motor disengagement before approaching 

UAV.

7-17

UAV_S900 Rev B
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7-18

UAV_S900 Rev B
DJI S900

FLIGHT TURN-AROUND OPS

7-19

UAV_S900 Rev B
FLIGHT TURN-AROUND OPS

1.√ motors have been disengaged.

2.PWR off UAV, unplug positive lead first, negative

Lead second.

3.PWR off Transmitter

4.√ Camera battery and memory

5.Remove UAV battery carriage.

6.Replace Spent UAV battery with fully charged batt

7.Replace UAV battery carriage.

8.If needed, begin spent batt charging using PL8.

CONTINUE WITH PRE-TAKEOFF PROCEDURE 

STARTING ON PG 7-14.

7-20

UAV_S900 Rev B
DJI S900

POST FLIGHT OPS

7-21

UAV_S900 Rev B
POST FLIGHT OPS

POST LANDING

√ motors have been disengaged.

PWR off UAV, unplug positive lead, then Negative 

Lead.

PWR off Transmitter

PWR off Camera

GS DISASEMBLY AND PACKING

PWR off External monitor

Disconnect Wifi source

Disconnect Data box from laptop/ipad

Stow GS components in case

UAV PACKING

Remove Battery carriage from UAV

Remove battery from carriage and stow batt in 

crate.

Reinstall batt carriage into UAV for stowage.

Disconnect 5.8gh ant from UAV and stow.

7-22

UAV_S900 Rev B
UAV PACKING CONT.

Retract GPS ant

Fold Propellers and attach foam prop protectors

Unlock and stow motor arms into packed positions.

Stow UAV in crate, √ prop protectors below lower 

foam level.

Stow all other UAS equipment and run equipment 

checklist to ensure all is stowed and accounted 

for.

7-23

UAV_S900 Rev B
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7-24

UAV_S900 Rev B