Michael	Joseph	Indovina	VI,	ATP-CFI-MEI,	Mike	Six	Imaging,	Los	Angeles	CA	– Section	333	Exemption	Petition Page	1 of	6

Appendix	B

Safety	Protocols	&	Flight	Controls
Michael	Joseph	Indovina	VI,	ATP-CFI-MEI,	Mike	Six	Imaging,	Los	Angeles	CA	– Section	333	Exemption	Petition Page	2 of	6

Safety	Protocols

Mike	Six	Imaging	UAS	Operations

Safety	is	of	the	utmost	importance,	not	limited	to	contact	with	people,	pets,	property	

or	objects	on	the	ground	but	also	to	hazards	to	manned	aircraft	in	the	skies.		All	

precautions	are	to	be	considered	during	preflight	action	from	all	areas of	operations,	

airspace,	crowd	control	and	emergency	action	&	response,	all	of	which	will	be	

resolved	prior	to	any	flight	action.		The	following	will be	implemented	and	complied	

with	from	preflight	action	throughout	flight	operations.

Preflight	Action

Area	of	intended	flight	and	duration	of	flight	are	to	be	reviewed	and	discussed

between	all	parties	involved	with	flight	operations,	including:	all	pertinent	

information	regarding	hazards	to	the	ship	in	flight	or	objects	on	the	surface,	nearby	

airports	or	controlled	airspace	including	any	Temporary	Flight	Restrictions	over or	

around the	intended	flight	operation	site	will	be	confirmed	clear/non-applicable for	

operations;	weather	information	for	the	time	of	intended	flight	operations	including	

wind	speed	and	direction,	sunrise	and	sunset	times	for	the	nearest	airport,	and	

inclement weather,	current	and	forecasted,	which	would	produce	visible	moisture	in

the	form	of	clouds,	rain,	snow,	etc.	from	the	nearest	airport	which	would	allow	or	

prohibit	flight	operations is	to	be	carefully	reviewed.

UAS	Ship	Preflight	Inspection

Preflight	Inspection	will	consist	of	frame	construction	security	and	positive	

operations; batteries	condition	and voltages	(respectively)	checked	with	voltage	

meter	displaying	full capacity,	where	to	be	used	for	flight	operations; low	battery	

voltage	meter	properly	set	and	attached	to	one	of	the	batteries’	balance-plugs;	

powerplant	operations	in	appropriate	manner; propellers	secured	to	motors,	and	

un-cracked,	un-chipped	&	balanced	prior	to	flight;	ground	station	connection	to	UAS	

ship	and	displaying	voltage,	pitch,	roll,	airspeed,	altitude,	gps	signal,	and	other	flight	

information	to	read	appropriately; flight	modes	individually	activated	and	verified;	

compass	direction	displayed	correctly;	intended	takeoff	&	landing	area	“dronezone”	is	cleared	of	all	obstacles	and	blocked	to	access;	airspace	clear	of	birds,	power	

lines,	light	poles,	trees,	or	other	obstacles	including	manned	aircraft	or	other	RC	

controlled	devices	not	involved	with	intended	flight	operations are	clear;	and	

duration	of	flight	times is	to	be	confirmed	between	all	involved	flight	personnel.		

Warning	signs	are	to	be	posted	in	areas	where	nearby	roads	or	subdivisions	are	

within	100	feet	of	flight	operations,	reading:

“**	UAS/Drone	Activities	including	Aerial	Photography	In	Progress.		REMAIN	CLEAR	

OF	OPERATION.”
Michael	Joseph	Indovina	VI,	ATP-CFI-MEI,	Mike	Six	Imaging,	Los	Angeles	CA	– Section	333	Exemption	Petition Page	3 of	6

Flight	Protocols

Roles	of	each	of	the	members	of	the	flight	team	are	to	be	reviewed	and	accepted	by	

each	role:	pilot	in	command,	camera	and	gimbal	operator,	and	a	minimum	of	one

flight	observer.		The	flight	observer’s	primary	objective	is	to	notify	of	any	aircraft	in	

the	proximity	to	the	flight	crew	to	cease	flight activities,	and	most	importantly	for	

population	control	to	maintain	a	clear	area	in	and	around	the	flight	environment.		A	

quarantined	area	will	be	used	for	drone	departures	&	arrivals,	including	all	flight	

paths,	which	will	be	segregated	from	any	interference	as	an	added	safety	barrier.		

All	members	of	the	flight	team	are	to	remain	alert	for	birds,	aircraft,	sounds,	

vehicular	traffic,	and	the	curious	public	to prevent	distractions	of safe	operations	of	

the UAS.		Restrict	operations	to	the	minimally	reasonable	altitude	sufficient	for	

successful	flight	operations.		Remain	vigilant	to	emergency	landing	procedures	

while	ship	is	in	flight.		Flight	times	are	to	be	kept	within	the	time	frame	discussed	for	

the	operation,	and	within	appropriate	minimum	reserve	levels.		UAS	ship	motors	are	

to	be	armed	only	during	preflight	action,	when	flight	operations	are	to	be	initiated,	

and	disarmed	immediately	once	landing	is	assured.

Normal	Starting/Takeoff Protocol

 Frame	motor-arms	opened	and	locked	into	flight	position,	security	verified

 Radio	Control	Transmitter POWERED	ON

 Battery	low-voltage	alarm	properly	installed	to	battery	balance	plug

 Identical	twin	batteries	(2)	properly	fixed	to	ship,	plugged	into	adapter	and	

installed	to	power	supply,	motor	starting	sound CONFIRMED

 UAS	Ship	CG	checked	 BALANCED

 UAS	Ship	connection/communication	w/	ground	station	CONFIRMED

 GPS	&	UAS	Ship	LED	 OPERATIONAL

 Flight	Environment	 CLEAR

 Motors	 ARMED

 Throttle	 ENGAGED	SLOWLY

Emergency	or	Suspected Hazards

Flight	operations	are	to	be	ceased	at	earliest	time	feasible	determined	by	the	Pilot	In	

Command	of	the	UAS	where	the	following	exist:

 Manned-Aircraft is	heard	or	seen	in	the	vicinity	of	flight	operations;

 There	is	public	gathering	near, or	penetrating	within	the	established	safety	

barrier	boundaries;

 Pilot	is	distracted	from	flight	operations;
Michael	Joseph	Indovina	VI,	ATP-CFI-MEI,	Mike	Six	Imaging,	Los	Angeles	CA	– Section	333	Exemption	Petition Page	4 of	6

 Sudden	change	of	weather	including	wind	velocity	and	adverse	conditions	

including	visible	moisture are	present.

Normal	Landing/Shutdown	Protocol

 Landing	Site CLEAR

ONCE	LANDING	IS	ASSURED:

 Motors DISARMED

 Batteries DISCONNECTED &	REMOVED

 Battery	low-voltage	alarm DISCONNECTED

 Radio	Control	Transmitter POWERED	OFF

 Frame	motor-arms	 STOWED	&	LOCKED

 Flight	times	minutes	and	battery	pair	noted	in	the	Hex	Log	file.
Michael	Joseph	Indovina	VI,	ATP-CFI-MEI,	Mike	Six	Imaging,	Los	Angeles	CA	– Section	333	Exemption	Petition Page	5 of	6

Flight	Controls
Michael	Joseph	Indovina	VI,	ATP-CFI-MEI,	Mike	Six	Imaging,	Los	Angeles	CA	– Section	333	Exemption	Petition Page	6 of	6

Flight Procedure Form

Mike Six Imaging UAS Operations

Safety	is	of	the	utmost	importance,	not	limited	to	contact	with	people,	pets,	property	

or	objects	on	the	ground	but	also	to	hazards	to	manned	aircraft	in	the	skies.		All	

precautions	are	to	be	taken	to	avoid	any	potential	hazards	with	persons,	property,	

and	objects.

Date:	 							Location:	

Preflight	Details:		

Airports	or	Airspace	in	Vicinity:	

Phone	Number	&	Contact	Name:	

Temporary	Flight	Restrictions:	

Weather	Conditions	&	Forecast:	

Wind	Velocity:	 													 			Visibility:	 						Visible	Moisture:

Sunrise/Sunset	Time:		

Nearest	Roadway:	

Proximity	to	Congested	Population:	

Approximate	Flight	Time	of	Departure:	

Approximate	Duration	of	Flight	Operations:	

Safety	Concerns:	

Additional	Comments:	

Signed:	 											Date: