Motion Picture and Television

Flight Operation Manual

PHANTOM AERIAL LLC Productions, Inc.

10737 South Timberlee Drive, Traverse City MI 49684

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

A. Purpose 2

B. Organization 2

C. Persons Authorized 2

D. Area of Operations 2

E. Plan of Activities 2

F. Permission to Operate 3

G. Security 4

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 4

I. Certification/Airworthiness 4

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 4

K. Communications 5

L. Accident Notification 5

M. Recall/Stop Procedures 5

N. Special Provisions 5

2. Company Organization

A. Phantom Aerial LLC Operations Manager 5

B. Pilot in Command 6

Appendix A

1 List of Approved Pilots 7

2 List of Approved Aircraft 8

3 Permission Acquisition Form (sample) 9

4 Revision Letter (sample) 10

Revision Control Page

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1. Introduction

A. Purpose

This manual has been developed by Phantom Aerial LLC, for the purpose of having a 

safe and controlled operation when operating on a closed filming set. PHANTOM 

AERIAL LLC 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.

B. Organization

Phantom Aerial LLC

10737 South Timberlee Drive

Traverse City, MI 49684

Shane Nelson – Member

Phone (231) 342-5618

C. Persons Authorized

Only Phantom Aerial LLC personnel will be operating UASs in accordance with all FAA 

Regulations, not including those we are exempt from granted to us in the Section 333 

Exemption. 

D. Area of Operations

Phantom Aerial LLC’s approved area of operations will be the continental United States, 

including Alaska and Hawaii.

E. Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, PHANTOM AERIAL LLC will 

submit a written plan of activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over that area. 

The plan of activities will 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.

(5) Name and certificate number of pilots involved in the filming production

event.

(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 equipments 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 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:

(1) Property owners

(2) Law enforcement officials

(3) Fire department officials

(4) Local, State and Federal government

(5) Air traffic control

The Phantom Aerial LLC 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. Phantom Aerial LLC 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 takeoff location

• Takeoff procedures

• Aviation activities to be conducted during the filming production event

• Approach and landing procedures

• UAS Recall procedures

• Emergency procedures

• Risks to participating personnel

• How to control nonparticipating persons

I. Certification/Airworthiness

PHANTOM AERIAL LLC will have the certificate of Exemption along with the required 

registration for all UASs in operation and have all of the flight and maintenance logs onsite. The pilot in command will assure the UAS 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. pilot holding a Sport Pilot Certificate with ratings appropriate to the

category, class and type (if applicable) of aircraft to be used under the

terms of the waiver.

(2) A minimum of 25 hours of total time as a UAS rotorcraft pilot including at least 10 

hours logged as a UAS pilot with a multi-rotor UAS.
(3) a minimum of 5 hours as UAS pilot operating the make and model of the UAS to be 

used in operations under the exemption

K. Communications

Prior to the start of any operation covered by this manual, the pilot in command

will formulate a plan to provide communications capability to all participants

during the actual operation and filming. Oral or radio communications will

be used and Pilot in Command and Visual Observer will maintain Visual Line of Sight of 

the UAS in operation.

L. Accident Notification

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

notification requirements of FAR Part 830 would comply.

M. Recall/Stop Procedures

Radio communication and/or oral will be utilized to keep the

participants continuously apprised of the current status of operation.

N. Special Provisions

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the PHANTOM AERIAL LLC

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 PHANTOM AERIAL LLC motion picture and television operations 

manual (“Appendix A”) or associated plan 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 before the

scheduled event.

2. Company Organization

A. Phantom Aerial LLC Operations Manager 

Duties and Responsibilities:

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

manual.

• Act as liaison between PHANTOM AERIAL LLC 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 PHANTOM 

AERIAL LLC.

• 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 PHANTOM 

AERIAL LLC under the provisions of this manual.

• The operations manager may delegate functions to other personnel but retains

responsibility.

B. 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 operations manager 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 pilot in command may delegate functions to other personnel, but retains

responsibility.

Appendix A .1

List of Approved Pilots and Operations Manager

Pilot

Name : 

Certificate Number : 

Grade : 

Medical Class/Date : 

Contact Number : 

Pilots

Name : 

Certificate Number : 

Medical Class/Date : 

Contact Number : 
Name : 

Certificate Number : 

Grade : 

Medical Class/Date : 

Contact Number : 

Operations Manager:

Name:

Contact Number:

Appendix A .2

List of Approved Aircraft

Make and Model Registration Number

1. 

2.

3.
4.

Appendix A .3

PHANTOM AERIAL LLC

Permission Acquisition Form
In signing this form, I am giving the pilots of PHANTOM AERIAL LLC Permission to 

operate their aircraft at less than 500 feet from property, or in some jurisdiction in which 

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

Name:

Title:

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission:

Location:

Date of Operation:

Signature __________________________________________________

Date __________________________

PHANTOM AERIAL LLC Representative Receiving Permission

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Appendix A .4

Revision Letter

Rev# Section Page Action Remarks Initials

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R Remove and Replace D Delete and Destroy N Insert New Page
Manual Serial# ___________________ Issued To ___________________________

Revised By _________________________________

Date _______________________

This form must be returned to the Operations Manager no later than 

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