Running head : FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 1

Independent Droneography 

# Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual

UAS 333 Exemption for Motion Pictures

Michael Duncan 12/7/2015FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 2

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original

Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual

By

Michael Duncan

Independent Film UA S Operator

Petition for FAA 333 Exemptions

07.13. 2015

ID: FAA

- 2015

- 2757

- 0001FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 3

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

### Revision Control Page

Revision : # Date : I nitials :FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 4

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

### Contents

1. Introduction

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 5

A. Purpose

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 5

B. Pilot/Operator Organization

................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 5

C. Persons Authorized

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 5

D. Area of Operations

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 6

E. Plan of Activities

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 6

F. Permission to Operate

................................ ................................ ................................ ............................... 6

G. Security

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .................... 7

H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel

................................ ................................ ................................ .... 7

I. Certification/Airworthiness

................................ ................................ ................................ ...................... 8

J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements

................................ ................................ ................................ .. 9

K. Communicat ions

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 9

L. Accident Notification

................................ ................................ ................................ ............................. 10

M. Recall/Stop Procedures

................................ ................................ ................................ .......................... 10

N. Aerobatic Competency

................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 10

O. Special Provisions

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 10

2. Company Organization

................................ ................................ ................................ ........................... 11

Appendix A .1

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 13

Appendix A .2

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 14

Appendix A .3

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 15

Appendix A .4

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 16

Appendix B .1

................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............. 17FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 5

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

# 1. Introduction

A. Purpose

T his manual has been developed by Michael Duncan, an independent film Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Op erator, h ereafter referred to as “Independent UAS Operator”, in conjunction with an application for a Certificate of Waiver o r Authorization of the provision of the Ge neral Operating and Flight Rules of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c) for the pur pose of filming. Independent
UAS Operators pilots and other company personnel when applicable will co mply with the policies, procedures and conditions of this manual, whenever motion picture or television flight operation are performed that require a Waiver of Authorization as mentioned above.



## B. Pilot/Operator Organization

Michael Duncan

– Airli ne Tran sport Pilot, Certificate

Independent UA S Operator

224 Curtiss Park Way

, Suite 1

Miami Springs, FL 33166

Michael Duncan

– Director of Operations 404.663.4389



## C. Persons Authorized

FAR 91.119 (c) is 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 pr ovision may be reduced to no less than 200 feet if an equivalent level of safety can be achieved and the Administrator has approved it. For example, an equivalent level of safety may be determined by an ASI’s evaluation of the filming production

area to note terrain featu res, obstructions, building, etc. Suc h barriers may protect nonparticipating persons (observers, the public, news me dia, etc.) from debris in the event of an
accident.FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 6

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## D. Area of Operations

Michael Duncan, Independent UAS Operation, shall conduct approved areas of operation and
activities thr oughout the continental United States, excluding Alaska and Hawaii. While the waiver is issued by the pilot/operator’s local Flight Standards District Officers ( FSDO ) , the pilot/operator must coordinate with FSDO having geographic respon sibility over the a rea of the filming operations.



## E. Plan of Activities

Michael Duncan, pilot/operator shall submit 3 days before scheduled filming a written plan of activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over the area of proposed filming. The plan of
activities wi ll 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 pers on responsible for UAS aircraft

. 4. Make, model, and ser ial or N

- number of UAS aircraft to be used and type of airworthiness certificate, including category.
5. Name and certificate number of pilots involved in the filming production event, including any notation of external load endorsements or aerobatic competency, if required.

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 waiv er 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 equipment 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 operation is conducted at less than 500 feet under the provision s of the certificate of waiver and this manual, the operator will obtain permission to conduct theseFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 7

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original operations from property owners and local officials as necessary or appro priate. 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

Michael Duncan, Independent UA S operator, and 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 wri tten permission. Indepen dent UAS operators will ensure that a sufficient number of those forms are available at the job site. Written permission forms will be maintained at the job site until the flight operations are completed, and then turned into the pilot/UA S flight operation s manager to be kept on file for a minimum of six (6) months. These forms will be made available for inspection to the FAA or other official personnel upon request.



## G. Security

Prior to any flight the operator will coordinate with the appropriate production personnel to devise a plan of action for 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 t he interest of safety.



## H. Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel

Prior to the start of any operation under the provision s of this manual, the pilot/ UAS Operator 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 the following:

 Authorization for motion picture and television certificate of waiver and the attached special provisions

 Operation manual

 Plan of activitiesFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 8

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original  Aircraft parking and starting

 Taxi procedures

 Radio communications

 Takeoff procedures

 Aviation activities to be conducted duri ng the filming production event

 Approach and landing procedures

 Recall procedures

 Emergency procedures

 R isks to participating personnel

 How to c ontrol nonparti cipating persons



## I. Certification/Airworthiness

All of Michael Duncan’s, UAS a ircraft s, will be used in operations requiring a waiver of FAR 91.119 (b) and (c) for the purpose of filming will be property certified and hold airworthiness
certificates. However, restricted category aircraft cannot be used as the filming “vehicles” in motion picture and television filming. Also, aircraft in the experimental category must have an airworthiness certificate issued for the purpose of exhibition in order to be used in motion picture and television filming. The aircraft will have a 100hr/annual inspection program

. Other required tests and inspections (transponder, emergency locator transmitter, (EL T ), etc., will be performed as per Part 91 when necessary. Each ai rcraft will have a flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance and inspections and the dates or time they must be performed. A section
for discrepancies is also found in the flight log. The pilot/operator in command will assure that
the aircraft t o be flown is in airworthy condition and all required inspections and maintenance has been completed before each flight.

Additionally, the aircraft may be certificated in any category, including experimental, provided the requirement of 14 CFR 91.313, 91.3 19 and 91.203 are met. Procedures shall be included to ensure that aircraft inspections will be in accordance with the applicable part 43, 91, or the assigned operating limitation. Michael Duncan, Independent film UAS pilot/operator has requested an exempt ion from 14 CFR 21(h). This exemption meets the requirement s for an equivalent level of safety pursuant to Section 333 based on the small size, light weight, relatively slow speed, and use in controlled environment on private land, as described in the peti tioner, petition for a n FAA 333 E xemption. In Exemption No. 11138, the FAA stated that the Secretary of Transportation has determined that a member of the DJI Phantom 2 family, the Phantom 2 Vision+ meets the statutory conditions of Section 333, considerin g the size, weight , speed , and limited operating area associated with the aircraft and its operation.FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 9

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original Equivalent level of safety : Mi chael Duncan’s proposed exemption meets the requirements for an equivalent level of safety of this section, pursuant to Section 333, based on the following
factors: reference petitioner’s petition for FAA 333 exemption date d 07/13/2015, ID: FAA

- 2015

- 2757

- 0001.



## J. Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements

The pilot/operator shall establish and specify the minimum pilot requireme nts. Minimum requirements shall meet or exceed the following:

1. A Current U.S. Commercial pilot certificate with ratings appropriate to the category, class and type (if applicable) of aircraft to be used under the terms of the wa i ver. 2. At least 500 hours logged as Pilot

- in

- Command ( PIC ), and at least 20 hours logged as the PIC in the aircraft type.
3. A minimum of 100 hours in the category and class of aircraft to be used.

4. A minimum of 5 hours in the make and model aircraft to be used under the waiver.
5. In the event that the 1,500

- foot minimum standard contained in the 14 CFR 91.303 (e) is to be waived, the pilot performing aerobatic maneuvers must hold FAA form 8710

- 7, Statement of Aerobatic Competency, to perform the operation s

. 6. In the even t the operation to be conducted contains elements of an external

- load operation, whether fixed or rotary wing operations, pilots used in the operation shall be qualified. This qualification may be obtained through a knowledge test (which may be
oral and/wr itten) and/or skill. The inspector or another company pilot approved by the geographically responsible FSDO who is qualified to carry loads externally will give the test(s) which are similar to P art 133 requirements and cover the following subjects: a) Steps to be taken before starting operati ons, including a survey of the f light area. b) Proper method of loading, rigging, or attaching the external load, c) Aircraft performance capabilities under motion picture operating procedures and the aircraft flight manual. d) Pr oper instructions for flight and ground crew personnel. e) Aircraft flight manual, pilot operations handbook, or a rotorcraft

- load combination flight manual and limitations, if appropriate.



## 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 andFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 10

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original filming. Oral, visual or radio communication may be used as long as it is effective and capable of keeping the participants continuously appraised of the current status of the operation.



## L. Accident Notification

Should an accident or incident requiring notification of the NTSB occur, the notification and reporting of accidents notifying the National Transportation Safety Board 14 CFR part 830, and protection of the accident scene will be comply with.



## M. Recall /Stop Procedures

Radio communication, oral, visual or a combination will be utilized to keep the participants continuously apprised of the current status of the operation.



## N. Aerobatic Competency

If the filming operation requires the issuance of FAA Form 8710

- 7, Statement of A erobatic Competency, refer to Volume 5, Chapter 9, Issue/Renew/Rescind a Statement of Aerobatic Competency.



## O. Special Provisions

T he controls, procedures, and conditions set f orth in the Independent film UAS , motion picture and television operations manual is the primary assurance that persons on the surface will not be jeopardized.

The aircraft UAS and pilots under this authorization and/or waiver will only be those specified in the Independent film UAS motion picture and television operations manual (“Appendix A” page

12 ) 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 s cheduled event.

Each pilot

- in

- command conducting operations authorized under this certificate understands the conditions of issuance, and that it constitutes a waiver of FAR 91,119 (b) and (c) (see attached
document under “ Appendix B ” page 16 ).FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 11

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original Rotorcraft takeoff and landing areas will be protected in a manner that will prevent unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff and landing area.

Independent UAS Films will ensure that the participating persons involved in the operations are thoroughly briefed o n special procedures

, communication, emergency procedures, and on the provisions of the authorization and/or waiver before beginning the activities. No person may participate in any event unless that person has received a briefing on the provisions of the
waiver.



## 2. Company Organization

A. Chief UAS Operator/Pilot

Duties and Responsibilities :

 Final word in the formulation of policy and procedures concerning this Motion Picture and Television Operation Manual.

 Will act as liaison between Independent UAS Films and the FAA on matters 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 mai n base o f operations for Independent

UAS Films.

 Responsible for assuring that all revisions to this manual are dist ributed and processed properly.

 Must approve or disapprove each proposed job or operat ion performed by Independent
UAS Films, under the provisions of this manual.

 Assume the responsibilities of pilot in command when acting as such.

 The UAS operator/pilot may delegate functions to other personnel but retains the responsibility.

B. Pilot in Command

Duties and Responsibilities :

 Assure that aircraf

t to be flown is in an airworth y condition and all inspection s and required maintenance have been performed as per the appropriate FAR’s.

 Acqu ire permission from the chief UAS operator/pilot before any operation under t he provisions of this manual.FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 12

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original  Be very knowledgeable of 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.

,

w ith the safety of all persons involved as the primary concern.

 Maintain the ir copy of this manual in current condition and have it on site at any job or operation requiring the waiver.

 The PIC may delegate functions to other personnel, but retains responsibility.FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 13

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## Appendix A .1

List of Approved Pilots/ UAS Operators

Chief UAS Operator/Pilot

Name Michael Duncan
Certificate Number 2 1 5 9 9 4 Grade Airline Transport Pilot

- Multi Engine L Medical Class/Date First Class 07/2015 Contact Number 404 .663. 4389FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 14

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## Appendix A .2

List of Approved Aircraft

Make and Model Registration Number
Tarot FY680

- Hexacopter N 5 6 6 U D Walkera QR X800

- Quadcopter N 5 6 4 Q DFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 15

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## Appendix A .3

Independent UAS Films

Permission Acquisition Form

In signing this form, I am granting the pilot of Independent UA S Films, Permission to operate their aircraft UAS at less than 500 feet from the 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 : _________________________________

Independent UAS Films Reprehensive Receiving PermissionFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 16

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## Appendix A .4

Revision Letter

Revision# Section Page Action Remarks Initials

(R) Remove and Replace (D) Delete and Destroy (N) Insert New Page

Manual Serial# Issued T o

Revised by Date

This form must be returned to the Chief no later than 3 days from receipt.FLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 17

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## Appendix B

. 1



# APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF WAIVER OR AUTHORIZATIONFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 18

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: OriginalFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 19

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: OriginalFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 20

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## NotesFLIGHT OPERATION MANUAL 21

Date: 12.05. 2015 Revision: Original 

## Notes