TYRMATA

Motion Picture & Television

Operations Manual 

(MPTOM)

Small Unmanned Aircraft System Flight Operations 

for The Purpose of Closed-Set Motion Picture and 

Television Filming

Tyrmata, Inc

405 El Camino Real, STE 103 

Menlo Park, CA 94025

infor@tyrmata.com

866.397.1375
TYRMATA

Table of Contents

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/Maintenance 7

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 7

K. Communications 8

L. Accident Notification 8

M. Recall/Emergency Procedures 9

N. Aerobatic Competency 9

O. Special Provisions 9

2. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot 11

B. Pilot in Command 11

Appendix A

1 Permission Form Appendix A
TYRMATA

Revision Control Page

Revision# Date Initials
TYRMATA

1. Introduction

A. Purpose

This manual has been developed by Tyrmata, Inc. for the purpose of establishing 

procedures for the use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in closed-set 

motion picture and television filming. Tyrmata pilots, operators, and other company 

personnel when applicable shall comply with the policies, procedures, and 

conditions of this manual, whenever motion picture or television flight operations are

performed.

B. Pilot/Operator Organization

David Stewart – CEO

Tyrmata, Inc.

405 El Camino Real

STE 103

Menlo Park, CA 94025

866.397.1375

C. Persons Authorized

FAR 91.119 (c) shall be 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 500 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 30 feet if an equivalent level of safety can 

be achieved and the administrator has approved it. With the advanced permission of 

the relevant FSDO, operations at closer range may be approved with appropriate 

waiver request.

An equivalent-level of safety may be determined by an 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 inthe event of an accident.

D. Area of Operations

Tyrmata's approved area of operations, as it relates to this manual, shall be inside 

the National Airspace of the United States; where applicable.
E. Plan of Activities

At least 45 days prior to any scheduled filming a Certificate of Authorization (COA) 

request shall be submitted to the Air Traffic Organization via UAS COA Online 

System.

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming1, a written plan of activities shall 

be submitted to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over that area. The planof

activities shall include the following to the max extent practicable:

(1) Dates and times for all flights.

(2) Contact information for Tyrmata along with the contact information of those 

persons responsible for the on-scene UAS operation.

(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. Thelist of 

those who gave permission shall be made available to the inspectorupon

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.

1 The three (3) day notification activities 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 commercial UAS flight operations are conducted inside the NAS under

the provisions of any approved Certificate of Waiver (COA) and this manual, 

permission to conduct these operations shall be obtain obtained 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 Agencies

(5) Air Traffic Control

The permission shall be obtained in writing whenever practical, however,
documented verbal permission is acceptable otherwise. A standard permission

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

permission. Copies of signed permission forms shall be maintained at the job site 

until flight operations are completed and shall be made available for inspection by 

the FAA or other official personnel upon request. Original signed permission 

forms shall be kept on file at Tyrmata for a minimum of six (6) months. Blank 

permission forms shall be available at the job site for use as required.

G. Security

Prior to any flight operation the operator shall 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 shall conduct a briefing of all procedures to participating personnel of the 

possible 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 all boundaries and/or time limits. The 

briefing at a minimum shall cover:

(1) Authorization/Certificate of Waiver Verification

(2) Limitations (Altitude, Minimum Safe Distances, ect...)

(3) Weather (current and forecast VMC required)

(4) Go/No-Go Criteria

(5) Plan of Activities and Flight Coordination Between Entities

(6) Flight Plan (Take-Off/Landing/In-Flight Times and Projected Flight Path)

(7) Standard Communication

(8) Filming Procedures

(9) Abort Criteria and Recall Procedures

(10) Emergency Procedures

(11) Associated Risks of Flight and Risk Mitigation

(12) Overall Security of Operation

I. Certification/Airworthiness/Maintenance

All small Unmanned Aircraft Systems used for the purpose of filming shall hold an 

approved exemption under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 

of 2012 waiving the Airworthiness Certificate requirement. The Pilot in Command 

shall deem each aircraft airworthy and safe for flight based on the appropriate 
user’s manual prior to conducting any flight operations. Maintenance shall be 

conducted in accordance with the appropriate user’s manual and technical support 

of the respective manufacturer for each aircraft. If any maintenance has been

conducted, the pilot in command shall ensure that a functional test flight was 

completed, if necessary, and that the aircraft is safe for flight prior to resuming 

normal flight operations.

Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS 

operation or flight characteristics, e.g., replacement of a flight critical component, 

must undergo a functional test flight prior to conducting further operations under this 

MPTOP. Functional test flights shall only be conducted by a PIC with a VO and shall

remain at least 500 feet from all persons and property. The functional test flight shall

be conducted in such a manner so as to not pose an undue hazard to persons and 

property. All functional test flights shall be documented and aircraft shall be signed 

off by the PIC as safe for flight.

J. Pilot/Personnel Minimum Requirements

Tyrmata will not permit the any pilot to operate the UAS for the purpose of aerial 

videography/cinematography (or similar operations), unless the PIC has 

demonstrated the ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with 

how the UAS will be operated during such operations, including evasive and 

emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate distances from people, 

vessels, vehicles and structures. Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed 

the following:

(1) Pilot in Command (PIC):

a. The designated Pilot in Command shall hold either an airline transport, 

commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC shall 

also hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s 

license and shall 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.

b. The PIC shall have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 

14 CFR 61.51(b), 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.

c. The PIC shall have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 

14 CFR 61.51(b), a minimum of 5 hours as UAS pilot operating the make 

and model of the UAS to be used in the operation.

(2) Co-Pilot:

a. The Pilot/Operator shall have accumulated and logged, in a manner 

consistent with 14 CFR 61.51(b), 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. The Pilot/Operator shall also also hold a current FAA airman 

medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license.

b. The Pilot/Operator shall have accumulated and logged, in a manner 

consistent with 14 CFR 61.51(b), a minimum of 5 hours as UAS pilot 

operating the make and model of the UAS to be used in the operation.

(3) Visual Observer:

The Visual Observer shall hold a current FAA airman medical certificate

or a valid U.S. driver’s license.

(4) Pilot Currency:

Any pilot who will assume control of the UAS for filming operations shall 

have flown a minimum of 2 hours and completed at least 3 takeoffs and 

landings within the previous 90 days of scheduled operations.

(5) Minimum Crew:

The minimum crew for flight operations shall consist of at least a PIC and

a Visual Observer. In certain cases, an extra pilot and/or camera operator 

will be utilized. All crew responsibilities shall be designated prior to flight.

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. During flight, two-way voice or radio 

communications shall be utilized between all personnel directly involved in flight 

operations.

L. Accident Notification

Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical 

boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA shall be 

reported to the FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS-80) within 24 hours. Accidents 

shall be reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per 

instructions contained on the NTSB Web site.

M. Recall/Emergency Procedures

Should any unsafe situation arise that is not an emergency the PIC shall utilize 

two-way communication to abort the mission and recall the aircraft to the 

designated landing area.

In the event of an in-flight system malfunction or emergency the following 

procedures shall be executed. Pilot at the controls shall:
(1) Maintain control of the Unmanned Aircraft (UA) to the max extent possible.

(2) Fly the UA to a safe area free of persons and property.

(3) Abort the operation.

(4) Land the aircraft as soon as practicable as determined by the PIC. 

NOTE: Flight operations shall not be resumed until the cause of the 

malfunction/emergency is identified and corrected.

N. Aerobatic Competency

Aerobatic Competency will not be applicable to the small Unmanned Aircraft

Systems by Tyrmata.

O. Special Provisions

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in Tyrmata’s Motion Picture 

and Television Operations Manual exist to ensure the safety of crew, persons, 

and/or property.

The aircraft and pilots that will participate in closed-set filming shall only be those 

specified in the associated plan of activities submitted to and approved by the 

appropriate FSDO. Each pilot’s name and certificate number shall appear on 

each daily plan of activity. All aircraft and pilot(s) participating in the activity shall

be available for inspection by all appropriate governing authorities upon request.

The Pilot in Command shall ensure that all participating persons involved in or 

affected by flight operations are thoroughly briefed on special procedures, 

communication, emergency procedures, and on the provisions of any exemption, 

authorization, and/or waiver before beginning the activities. No person may 

participate in any flight operation unless that person has received a preflight 

briefing as specified in section H of this manual.

The PIC shall ensure that the UA remains clear and gives way to all manned 

aviation operations and activities at all times.

The PIC shall ensure that the maximum in flight-weight including payload of any 

Unmanned Aircraft utilized for filming shall be no greater than 55lbs.

Documents used by Tyrmata to ensure the safe operation and flight of the UAS, 

any documents required under 14 CFR §§ 91.9 and 91.203, and any 

exemptions, permissions, and/or waivers shall be available to the PIC at the 

Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. These 

documents must be made available to the administrator or any law enforcement 

official upon request.
The PIC is prohibited from beginning a flight unless (considering wind and 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.

The UA shall be operated within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC and VO at 

all times. The VO may be used to satisfy the VLOS requirement as long as the PIC 

always maintains VLOS capability. The VO and PIC must be able to communicate 

verbally at all times; electronic messaging or texting is not permitted during flight 

operations. The PIC will be designated before the flight and cannot transfer his or her 

designation for the duration of the flight.

No UA shall be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour). The 

pilot may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed to determine compliance with 

the 87 knot speed restriction. In no case shall the UA be operated at airspeeds 

greater than the maximum UA operating airspeed recommended by the aircraft 

manufacturer.

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 FAApublished 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.

All operations shall be conducted in accordance with an ATO-issued COA. Tyrmata

may apply for a new or amended COA if intended operations cannot be conducted 

under the terms of the approved COA.
2. Company Organization

A. Chief Pilot

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Final word in the formulation of policy and procedures concerning

this manual.

• Act as liaison between Tyrmata and the FAA on matter 

concerning this manual.

• Assure that each approved pilot has access to a copy of this 

manual and has signed a statement showing that they have 

read and understand its contents.

• Maintain a current copy to include all revisions of this manual at the main base 

of operations.

• Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are distributedand

processed properly.

• Final approval authority for each proposed operation under the provisions of 

this manual. Before such approval is granted, the Chief Pilots shall ensure 

that all required exemptions and waivers are approved by FAA and other 

Appropriate Authorities.

• The chief pilot may delegate functions to other personnel butretains 

responsibility.

B. Pilot in Command

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assure that aircraft to be flown is in airworthy condition and that all 

inspections, required maintenance, and or functional test flights have been 

performed under the provisions of this manual, aircraft user manual, and 

FAA regulation.

• Acquire permission from the chief pilot 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 a copy of all operational documents, exemptions, permissions, 

and/or waivers and have them readily available at the Ground Control 

Station.

• The pilot in command may delegate functions to other personnel, but

retains responsibility.
TYRMATA

Tyrmata, Inc.

Permission Acquisition Form

In signing this form, I am giving Tyrmata, Inc. permission to operate their unmanned 

aircraft at less than 500 feet from myself or property, that in some jurisdiction I am

responsible for or affiliated with. Such operations will be for the purpose of aerial 

videography for film/televisionproduction.

Name: 

Title:

Basis of Authority to Grant Permission: 

Location:

Date of Operation:

Signature 

Date