Aerial Media Tech

Flight Operations and Procedures Manual

v. 1.0

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Table of Contents

Abbreviations...........................................................................3

Scope of Operations..................................................................4

Qualifications of PIC, VO............................................................8

Preflight Checklist.....................................................................9

Post flight Procedures...............................................................10

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A. Abbreviations

AC – Advisory Circular

AGL – Above Ground Level

ATC – Air Traffic Control

CFI – Certified Flight Instructor

CFR – Code of Federal Regulations

COA – Certificate of Waiver or Authorization

DPE – Designated Pilot Examiner

FR – Federal Register

FOPM — Flight Operations and Procedures Manual

FSDO – Flight Standards District Office

NAS – National Airspace System

NOTAM – Notice to Airmen

NPRM – Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

NTSB – National Transportation Safety Board 

PIC – Pilot in Command

TFR – Temporary Flight Restriction

TSA – Transportation Security Administration 

UAS – Unmanned Aircraft System

VLOS — Visual Line of Sight

VO — Visual Observer

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B. Scope of Operations

Aerial Media Tech will employ the Phantom 3 Professional and Inspire 1 UASs in the 

conduct of aerial photography and videography for the purpose of aerial surveys for real 

estate marketing, film and movie production, wildlife surveys, infrastructure and 

industrial inspections, agricultural surveys, demonstration flights, and any other 

activities that can utilize the safe and efficient operation of a UAS aircraft. 

Authority for the conduct of such flights by Aerial Media Tech will be under a COA 

issued by the FAA under exemptions granted by Section 333 of the FAA Modernization 

and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA)

All flights will be conducted in accordance with the following operating limitations:

• The UAS may not be operated less than 500 ft below or less than 2,000 ft

horizontally from clouds or when visibility is less than 3 statute miles.

• The UAS will not be operated at an altitude of more than 400 ft AGL or an airspeed

in excess of 50 mph.

• The UAS must be operated within VLOS of the PIC and VO at all times.

• All operations must use a VO. The VO may be used to satisfy the VLOS

requirement as long as the PIC continues to maintain VLOS capability. The PIC

and VO must be able to communicate verbally at all times during UAS flight. The

PIC must be designated before flight and cannot transfer designation for the

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duration of the flight. The PIC is responsible for ensuring that the VO can perform 

the functions prescribed in this FOPM.

• The VO must not perform any other duties beyond assisting the PIC with the “See

and Avoid” duties of spotting and avoiding other air traffic and/or ground obstacles/

obstructions. The VO is not permitted to operate the camera or other electronic

devices while the UAS is airborne.

• The Aerial Media Tech FOPM, all UAS operating manuals and grant of exemption

will be accessible during flight operations and must be made available to the

Administrator or his designated representative. In the event of a discrepancy

between the conditions/limitations specified in this FOPM and the grant of

exemption, the conditions and limitations of the grant of exemption take

precedence.

• Prior to each flight, the UAS must be inspected by the PIC and found to be in

condition for a safe flight. If a condition exists that affects the safe operation of the

UAS, the craft is prohibited from operating until the necessary maintenance has

been performed and the UAS has been functionally checked to be in a safe

condition. This inspection includes the remote controllers and their respective

monitors. All maintenance must be documented in aircraft records.

• Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect UAS operation

or flight characteristics must undergo a functional check flight. The PIC who

conducts this flight must make an entry in aircraft records.

• Each UAS operated under the above exemption must comply with all manufacturer

safety bulletins, firmware updates and all major repairs must be done at the

manufacturer’s certified repair facilities.

• All UAS flights must be conducted in Day VFR conditions. If a night flight is

required, it must be approved by the FAA FSDO nearest to the area of operations. 

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• Proposed flights not in compliance with the “blanket” COA issued by the FAA must

apply for permission with the FSDO nearest the proposed flight operation.

• Proposed flights within 5 SM of an airport facility require coordination with the FAA

ATC facility in question, as well as a COA request with the nearest FSDO. If such

COA is granted, a NOTAM describing such flight operations must be published a t

least 48 hours prior to flight.

• In the event the UAS loses communication with the PIC or signals loss of GPS

orientation it must be programmed to Return to Home or manually flown back to its

Home Point.

• The PIC is responsible for determining the safety of a proposed flight and his

decision shall be based on UAS operability, weather conditions including wind

strength, ability to ensure safety of nearby people and animals, location of possible

sources of radio frequency interference, and any other factor which, in the opinion

of the PIC, would prevent the safe execution of a flight.

• The PIC is prohibited from beginning a flight unless there is enough battery power

(considering wind and forecast weather conditions) to fly at normal cruising speed

and land at the intended landing point with at least 25% battery power remaining.

• All UAS aircraft operated in accordance with the above exemption must be

identified by serial number, registered IAW 14 CFR part 47 and have identification

(N number) markings IAW 14 CFR part 45 subpart C. Markings must be as large as

practical.

• The UAS must remain clear of and yield the right of way to all manned aviation

operations at all times.

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

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• All operations on private property will be conducted only with the express

permission of the property owner and only after a thorough briefing of all

participating personnel (PIC, VO, essential personnel). All flight operations must be

conducted at least 500 ft from all non-participating persons, vessels, vehicles and

structures, unless barriers and structures are present that sufficiently prevent nonparticipating persons from being harmed by the UAS or debris in the event of an

accident. To this end, the PIC must designate a sterile area that includes the 

intended area of flight operations and that will ensure that the above-mentioned 

requirements are met. This sterile area will be in effect during the entire time of 

flight operations. If at any time this sterile area is violated, the PIC will immediately 

terminate flight operations until such time as those same conditions can again be 

met.

• The UAS may not be operated over any open-air assembly of people, crowded

urban area, public stadiums, busy highways or private property without permission

of the owner.

• All operations must consider the privacy of non-participating persons and will be

conducted in such a manner as to prevent violation of applicable federal, state and

local laws guarding the privacy of such persons. Aerial Media Tech will make every

effort to coordinate with residents, businesses and organizations when conducting

flight operations in their vicinity. 

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C. Qualifications of PIC, VO

• The PIC must have at minimum a Private Pilot license, a 3rd Class Medical

Certificate and a current flight review on the most recently flown aircraft for which

he holds an airman certificate.

• The PIC must have accumulated and logged, IAW 14 CFR 61.51 (b), a minimum of

100 flight cycles and 25 hours total time as a UAS rotorcraft pilot, and at least 10

hours logged as a UAS pilot with a similar UAS type.

• The PIC must log a minimum of 3 takeoffs and landings of the UAS he is currently

qualified within the last 90 days.

• ThePIC must be thoroughly familiar with the DJI Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 Flight

Manuals. He must be able to conduct flights IAW such manuals and be thoroughly

familiar with emergency procedures to prevent injury to personnel or property

damage.

• The VO requires no pilot qualifications but must be capable of performing the

duties described in Section B. Scope of Operations. The PIC will thoroughly brief

the designated VO on his duties prior to each flight. The VO must remain in verbal

communication with the PIC during the entire flight.

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D. Preflight Checklist

• Prior to flight the PIC must conduct a thorough preflight of the UAS designated

for the flight. The following checklist will be adhered to prior to takeoff and

during conduct of the mission: 

 1 CHOSE A SAFE TAKE-OFF, LANDING PLACE

 2 CHECK PROP SECURITY

 3 CHECK CAMERA FILTER 

 4 TURN ON REMOTE CONTROL

 5 CHECK TABLET BATTERY LEVEL

 6 TURN ON AIRPLANE MODE ON TABLET

 7 FLIGHT MODE SWITCH IN P POSITION ( P - ATTI)

 8 TURN ON CRAFT

 9 TURN ON PILOT APP – CONFIRM BASICS ON SCREEN

 10 FLIGHT MODE (P-ATTI)

 11 AIRCRAFT BATTERY CHARGED

12 RC BATTERY CHARGED

13 CALIBRATE COMPASS

14 CONFIRM GPS CONTROL

15 APP SCREEN - SATELLITE BARS FULL

16 APP SCREEN – SAFE TO FLY (GPS CONTROL)

17 REAR LIGHT BLINKING GREEN

18 CONFIRM GIMBAL MODE ON APP (FOLLOW, FREE)

19 MAP CHECK – AIRPLANE ICON AT HOME BASE?

20 CHECK AND CONFIRM CAMERA SETTINGS

21 STAND BEHIND CRAFT

22 TAKE OFF – HOVER – CHECK BATTERY LEVELS, GPS SIGNAL

23 RAISE LANDING GEAR, IF INSPIRE

24 FLY SAFELY, SHOOT. PERIODIC BATTERY CHECK – ALLOW 

TIME TO RETURN TO HOME WITH MIN 25% BATTERY LIFE

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E. Post Flight Procedures

• After every flight, the PIC will conduct the following post flight procedure to

ensure continued safe operation of subsequent flights:

• Ensure that the area of operation continues to be protected from proximity

to non-participating persons, structures, vehicles and obstacles.

• Ensure that weather conditions continue to support safe operations in the

area of intended flight.

• Ensure that the intended mission can be conducted safely and within the

parameters of the COA.

• Ensure that mechanical condition of the UAS has not deteriorated and that

all functions continue to operate normally. 

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