Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

VSI-005 UAV Operations Manual (For UAV’s under 55 lbs.)

Before any flight may commence, the Pilot in Charge (PIC) will assume responsibility for all Preflight inspections and performance of the necessary checklist.

GENERAL INSPECTION FOR POSSIBLE HAZARDS FOR PERSONELL & ENVIRONMENT

• Dangers due to electricity • Dangers due to falling objects

• Dangers due to weather • Dangers from other personnel

• Dangers from poor judgment • Dangers from lack of training

• Dangers from falls • Dangers from lack of communication

Before Every Flight, the PIC will verify that the Preflight Checklist and evaluation of all 

Environmental factors have been evaluated.

VENTUS WIND FLIGHT OPERTIONS MANUAL FOR:

 Wind Energy Facilities

 Solar Energy Power Generation Facilities

 Onshore Oil & Gas Pipelines 

 General UAV Operations in Remote/Uninhabited Areas

THIS FLIGHT OPERATIONS MANUAL DOES NOT COVER VENTUS OPERATIONS FOR:

 Offshore Oil & Gas Facilities1

 Building Facade Inspections in Urban Areas2

 Land Surveying and Mapping3

1

Flight operations in these areas are covered by Ventus UAV Operations Manual VSI-006 Revised October 2012.

2

Flight operations in these areas are covered by Ventus UAV Operations Manual VSI-007 Revised June 2014.

3

Flight operations in these areas are covered by Ventus UAV Operations Manual VSI-012 Revised December 2014.
 Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 

a) Purpose 

b) Pilot/Operator Organization 

c) Persons Authorized 

d) Area of Operations 

e) Plan of Activities 

f) Permission to Operate 

g) Security 

h) Briefing of Pilot/Production Personnel 

i) Certification/Airworthiness 

j) Pilot Personnel/Minimum Requirements 

k) Communications 

l) Accident Notification 

m) Recall/Stop Procedures 

n) Special Provisions

2. List of Approved Aircraft 

a) Phantom II

b) Inspire 1

c) S1000

3. APPENDIX A: Site Permission Form VSI-010 Rev. 3
 Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

1. Introduction

a) Purpose

This manual has been developed by "Ventus Wind LLC", hereafter referred to as 

"VENTUS", for the operation of Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft 

vehicles, hereafter referred to as (UAV) for the purpose of inspecting renewable energy, oil & 

gas facilities and onshore pipelines located in uninhabited or remote onshore locations of the 

United States. This manual has been modified from its original configuration in conjunction with 

an application for a Certificate of Waiver of Authorization of the provisions of 14 C.F.R. §§ 

91.9(b), 91.203(a), 91.203(b), 45.23(b) and 21.185 for the purposes of performing aerial UAV

flight inspection operations. 

VENTUS pilots and other company personnel when applicable will comply with the 

policies, procedures and conditions of this manual whenever aerial flight operations are 

performed that require a Waiver of Authorization as mentioned above.

b) Operator Organization:

Ventus Wind LLC

7202 Greystone Lane, Frisco, Texas 75034

Marco Zvanik

(214) 908-9444 office 

Email: info@ventuswind.com

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 provision 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 evaluation by Ventus of the 

aerial inspection area to note terrain features, obstructions, buildings, etc. 

Such barriers may protect nonparticipating persons (observers, the public, news media, 

etc.) from debris in the event of an accident.

d) Area of Operations

VENTUS's approved area of operations for onshore aerial inspections will be the

continental United States on private land and only with the approval of the land owner, 

operator or other persons authorized to grant Ventus access.
 Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

e) Plan of Activities

At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled aerial operations, VENTUS will 

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

The plan of activities shall include the following:

(1) Dates and times for all flights.

(2) Name and phone number of person responsible for the operation of the 

UAV‘s.

(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 aerial inspection.

(6) A statement that the waiver holder has obtained permission from property 

owners and/or local officials to conduct the aerial inspection. 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 aerial inspections will be conducted and 

the minimum altitudes essential to accomplish the operations. 

The three (3) day notification 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 400 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 Ventus 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. Ventus 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 
 Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

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 Ventus 

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 aerial flight operations should 

the area(s) become unsecured or for any other reason in the interest of safety.

h) Briefing of Pilot/Ventus Personnel

Prior to the start of any aerial inspections 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 by the FAA for Ventus to perform aerial inspections

 Review of the certificate of waiver and the attached special provisions 

 Operations manual

 Plan of activities 

 Aircraft parking and starting

 Taxi procedures 

 Radio Communications

 Takeoff procedures

 Aviation activities to be conducted during the aerial inspection 

 Approach and landing procedures

 Recall procedures 

 Emergency procedures

 Risks to participating personnel 

 How to control nonparticipating persons

i) Certification/Airworthiness

Each aircraft will have a flight log containing upcoming scheduled maintenance 

and inspections and the dates or times they must be performed. A section for

discrepancies is also found in the flight log. The pilot in command will assure the aircraft 

to be flown is in airworthy condition and all required inspections and maintenance has 

been completed before each flight.
 Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

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. Private pilot certificate, or airman certificate with ratings 

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

under the terms of the waiver. 

(2) At least 40 hours logged as PIC and at least 20 hours logged as the PIC

of the UAV type being operated. 

k) Communications

Prior to the start of any aerial inspection covered by this manual, the pilot in 

command will formulate a plan to provide communications capability to all participants 

during the actual operation. Oral, visual or radio communications may be used as long 

as it is effective and is 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 requirements of FAR Part 830 would comply.

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 operation.

n) Special Provisions

The controls, procedures, and conditions set forth in the VENTUS 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 VENTUS operations manual or associated plan of activities. Each 

pilot’s name and certificate number shall appear on each daily plan of activity. All UAV

aircraft and pilot(s) participating in the activity shall be available for FAA inspection 

before the scheduled aerial inspection.

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). 

UAV takeoff and landing areas will be protected in a manner that will prevent 

unauthorized persons from entering the takeoff and landing area.
 Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

VENTUS will ensure that the participating persons involved in the operations are 

thoroughly briefed on 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. APPROVED AIRCRAFT:

a) DJI Phantom II:

b) Inspire 1

c) S1000
 Doc #: VENTUS Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev 2

 Date: November 2014

 Author: Ventus Engineering

 Issued: Ventus Wind LLC

VENTUS Wind Services LLC

Dallas, Texas Email: info@ventuswind.com Tel: (214) 908-9444 

VENTUS 

DRONE INSPECTION GROUP

APPENDIX A

VENTUS SITE PERMISSION FORM VSF-010

This Site Permission Form (“Agreement”) is granted and is in effect the ____ day of __________, 2015 

(“Effective Date”), by and between VENTUS Wind Services LLC., a Texas company, having an office at 7202 

Greystone Lane Lane, Frisco, Texas 75034 (“VENTUS”) and ____________________________, a 

___________________________ corporation, having an office at _____________________________ (the 

“Company”). 

This Agreement allows Ventus Wind Services all necessary access to the described property below for the 

operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, (UAV’s) for the purpose of performing inspections. All UAV operations will 

be performed under the operating guidelines found in Ventus Wind’s Operations Manual VSI-005 Rev. 2 and per 

the FAA Section 333 Guidelines defined in the Certificate of Operation (TBD).

1. CUSTOMER CONTACT INFORMATION:

Customer Name: ____________________________ Emergency Tel:____________________________

Site Name: ____________________________

Site Manager: ____________________________

Telephone: ____________________________

Email: ____________________________

2. SITE ADDRESS:

Site Address: ____________________________ State: ____ Zip: _____________

3. LANDOWNER INFORMATION:

Name: ____________________________

Telephone: ____________________________

Email: ____________________________

VENTUS NORTH AMERICA INC. COMPANY: ___________________________

By: ____________________________

Name:____________________________

 [print name]

Title: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________

By: ____________________________

 

Name:____________________________

 [print name]

Title: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________