Producing an Operations Manual
If you want to earn money with your drone then you will need a Permission for Commercial Operations (PfCO) or drone license as it is commonly called; it is a legal requirement. Before you can gain a PfCO you will need to produce an Operations Manual.
What is an Operations Manual?
Your Operations Manual details every aspect of the commercial drone operations that you plan on carrying out. It should cover the platform(s) that you plan on flying, and any procedures that you will go through to ensure a safe flight.
What goes in your Operation Manual?
The CAA provides a template for your Operations Manual in Appendix B of CAP 722. This template outlines everything that the CAA want to see included in your Operations Manual.
1. Introduction – This is where you outline the scope of the document, its intent and the overarching strategy of your company.
2.Safety Policy. Here you must detail your company’s safety policy, safety management system, safety targets etc..
3.Organisation. This section gives the full details of your organisation that is the subject of the application. You must cover all the areas detailed below as a minimum.
3.1 Structure of your organisation and the management lines. Include an organigram and brief description
3.2 Nominated personnel. These are scalable as appropriate, for example: Accountable Manager, Operations Manager, Chief Pilot, Other Pilots. Multiple functions may be filled by the same person. Each function must however be covered in brief and any internal audit/quality function must be fulfilled by a separate person, e.g. camera operator.
3.3 Responsibility and duties of the Person in Charge of the SUA. (Articles 86, 87 and 166 of the ANO may provide some useful text for this section as determined)
3.4 Responsibility and duties of support personnel in the operation of the SUA. Operators may use an assistant to help with the operation of the aircraft. Give a brief description of this person’s responsibilities and duties.
3.5 Areas of operation. Give a brief description of geographic scope and expected distance from people and structures, etc. Likely operating areas e.g. building sites, open countryside, roads etc..
3.6 Type of operation. Here you must include details of the operations e.g. VLOS, day/night, weather, etc.
3.7 Supervision of SUA operations. A description of any system to supervise the operations of the operator/operator team.
3.8 Accident prevention and Flight Safety programme. Include any reporting requirements (see CAP 722 for more detail).
3.9 Flight team composition. Who makes up your flight team depending on the type of operation, complexity, type of aircraft etc. that you will be undertaking.
3.10 Operation of multiple types of SUA. Any limitations considered appropriate to the numbers and types of SUA that a pilot may operate if appropriate.
3.11 Qualification requirements. Details of any qualifications, experience or training necessary for the pilot or support crew for the types of SUA and the roles employed by the operator.
3.12 Crew health. A statement and any requirements, procedures, guidance etc. (or references) to ensure that the operating team – the ‘crew’ – are appropriately fit, capable and able to conduct the planned operations before conducting any operations.
3.13 Logs and records. Requirements for logs and records of pilots and other data considered useful for the tracking and monitoring of the activity that will be undertaken.
3.14 Details of the operator training programme. Training and checking requirements for pilots and support crew as determined by the operator to cover initial, refresher and conversion syllabi. Include any independent assessment of pilot competency and currency requirements.
3.15 Accident/incident and investigation policy. Provide your company accident/incident response and investigation policy.
3.15 Copy of CAA Permission. This will provide immediate reference to the conditions under which the operations are to be conducted when applicable – a copy of the permission must be attached. (You can obviously only insert this information when you have a copy of your CAA Permission. When you are submitting your Operations Manual to the CAA for approval leave this section blank.
3.16 Other documents. As considered necessary. You must include a copy of your insurance document here.
4. Operations. This section must be used to give details of the operating environment and procedures subject to the application – all areas detailed below must be covered as a minimum.
4.1 Role Training and currency. Detail any training undertaken, beyond basic BNUC-S / RPQ, that prepares the pilot for flying in a particular environment, (e.g. urban). Provide details of any company minimum experience requirements, currency requirements, skills tests or manufacturer courses that support the case for an appropriate level of competency and knowledge for the proposed operations. These may include in-house or outsourced training.
4.2 Area of operation. Full detail of expected areas of geographic operations. Including operating areas (e.g. building sites, open countryside, roads etc.).|
4.3 Operating limitations and conditions. Minimum and maximum operating conditions in compliance with the ANO and conditions of any CAA Permission.
4.3 Methods to determine the intended tasks and feasibility. Process undertaken to determine feasibility of intended task
4.5 Operating site planning and assessment. Airspace operating environment considerations and procedures (e.g. Controlled Airspace), operations near other aircraft operations (local aerodromes or operating sites), operations near industrial sites or such activities as live firing, gas venting, high-intensity radio transmissions etc., local byelaw considerations, obstructions (wires, masts, buildings etc.), extraordinary restrictions such as segregated airspace around prisons, nuclear establishments, habitation and recreational activities, public access, permission from landowner, likely operating site and alternative sites, weather considerations, etc..
4.9 Communications. Awareness and links with other users, aircraft operators and air traffic service providers.
4.10 Pre-notification. If a flight is to be performed within an ATZ, or near to any aerodrome or aircraft operating site then their contact details must be obtained and notification of the intended operation must be provided prior to take-off. It may be necessary to inform the local police of the intended operation to avoid interruption or concerns from the public.
4.11 Site permissions. Procedures document to describe how to gain landowner’s or authority permission}
4.12 Weather. Methods of obtaining weather forecasts. Consideration of SUA limitations
4.13 On site procedures.
- Site Survey (Methods of surveying operating area and identifying hazards and any risk assessment
- Selection of operating area and alternate methods of identifying and selecting area including: size, shape, surrounds, surface, slope, etc.. Landing zone for an automatic ‘home’ return must be identified and kept clear
- Crew briefing (Procedures to brief crew for e.g. task, responsibilities, duties, emergencies etc.)
- Cordon Procedure (Adherence of of separation criteria)
- Communications (Procedures to maintain contact with crew, local and withadjacent air operations if appropriate)
- Weather Checks (Awareness ss of weather impacts on limitations and operating considerations
- Refuelling (to include changing/charging batteries)
- Loading of equipment (detail of procedure taken to ensure security of the loaded equipment)
4.14 Assembly and functional checks. Checks conducted on the completion of assembling the system.
4.15 Pre-flight checks. Checks conducted immediately prior to the flight.
4.16 Flight Procedures. Start, take-off, in flight, landing, shutdown.
4.17 Post flight and between flight checks. Detail the checks or inspections conducted both after flight and between consecutive flights.
4.18 Emergency Procedures. Include lost link, flyaway, fire (air vehicle and ground station), etc.. Preventative measures must also be detailed
4.19 Give details of any additional safety, training or operational requirements that individual clients specify for the proposed operations. Include any additional types of training or qualification that individual clients mandate. Also include any specific assessment, audit or quality procedures that the client imposes for sub-contractors, where these enhance or supplement those of your own organisation.