Safe Operating Practices

Responsible Operating Practices

Observe the following rules to avoid non-compliant behavior, serious injury, and property damage:

• Never operate the IF800 Tomcat under the influence of alcohol, drugs, fatigue, nausea, or any serious conditions that could impair your ability to operate the aircraft.

• No person may act as a remote pilot in command, visual observer, or be participant in the flight operations of the aircraft if they’re aware of someone with a physical or mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of the small unmanned aircraft system.

• Must possess a current or recurrent FAA Part 107 operator's license in hand.

• Always yield to manned aircraft.

• Never fly the aircraft over large social gatherings like sporting events or concerts without clear authorization(s) and/or waivers in hand.

• Do not fly the aircraft in prohibited locations without authorization. Airports, national borders, densely populated areas, major roadways and streets, venues for major events, first responder scenes, schools, prisons, police stations, fire stations, power plants, federal & state buildings, and military bases are included.

• Stay below the authorized maximum altitude.

• Keep your aircraft within visual line of sight (VLOS).

• Never use the aircraft as a transport for illegal or dangerous products or payloads.

• Respect people’s privacy where there is an expectation of privacy at all times.

• Keep in mind that photography and videography from certain events, performances, exhibitions, or even commercial properties may violate copyright protections even if the imagery was intended for personal usage.

Use the I.M.S.A.F.E. Checklist

• Illness- Am I sick? Illness is an obvious pilot risk.

• Medication- Am I taking any medicines that might affect my judgement or make me drowsy?

• Stress- Am I under psychological pressure from the job? Do I have money, health, or family problems? Stress causes concentration and performance problems. While the regulations list medical conditions that require grounding, stress is not among them. The pilot should consider the effects of stress on performance.

• Alcohol- Have I been drinking within 8 hours? Within 24 hours? As little as one ounce of liquor, one bottle of beer, or four ounces of wine can impair flying skills. Alcohol also renders a pilot more susceptible to disorientation and hypoxia.

• Fatigue- Am I tires and not adequately rested? Fatigue continues to be one of the most insidious hazards to flight safety, as it may not be apparent to a pilot until serious errors are made.

• Emotion- Am I emotionally upset?

FAA Commercial Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Pilot Certification

To commercially operate UAS up to 55 pounds, individuals are required by federal law to obtain a certification under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 107 Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to do so. The 14 CFR Part 107 Certification has to be renewed every 2 years to stay current. Below are some informational links that are pertinent to obtaining the 14 CFR Part 107 Certification.

FAA Certified Remote Pilot Information: https://www.faa.gov/uas/commercial_operators

14CFR Part 107 sUAS Regulations: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-F/part-107

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Environmental Limitations

Prior to flight, assess the local environment and area of operation for compliance with the following criteria, based on FAA 14 CFR Part 107 requirements and the physical limitations of the aircraft.

Local Airspace

• Check the class airspace for all flight operations.

• No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in Class B, Class C, or Class D airspace or within the lateral boundaries of the surface area of Class E airspace designated for an airport unless that person has prior authorization from Air Traffic Control (ATC).

• Check proximity to nearby airports, hospitals & heliports.

• No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in a manner that interferes with operations and traffic patterns at any airport, heliport, or seaplane base.

Special Use Airspace & Restricted Areas

• No person may operate a small unmanned aircraft in prohibited or restricted areas unless that person has permission from the using or controlling agency, as appropriate.

Temporary Flight Restrictions

• Certain temporary flight restrictions may be imposed by way of a NOTAM. Therefore, the sUAS RPIC must check for NOTAMs before each flight to determine if there are any applicable airspace restrictions.

Personnel and Property

• Ensure that all personnel in the area of operation and/or directly beneath the flight path are informed of the operation. Do not fly over large crowds.

• Ensure that all members of the remote operating crew, such as Pilot in Command, Persons Manipulating the Controls, and Visual Observers, are informed of the planned flight path, potential hazards, emergency procedures, and individual roles and responsibilities.

Ground Hazards

Prior to flight, identify hazards in the area of operation, including but not limited to:

• Utility infrastructure such as cellular or radio towers

• Tall trees, rocks, and/or vegetation

• Potential sources of high RF interference such as radio, microwave, radar, or very high-voltage infrastructure.

• The tallest object in your area of operation and its approximate height.

• Set a safe & clear RTH altitude in IGC.

Clouds & Visibility

Per FAA 14 CFR Part 107 Rules: The minimum distance of the small unmanned aircraft from clouds must be no less than:

• 500 feet below the cloud, cloud layer, or fog.

• 2,000 feet horizontally from the cloud or fog.

• Unless flying with a BVLOS waiver, the Pilot in Command must maintain visibility of the sUAS throughout the flight, either directly or via Visual Observers.

• sUAS operations must have a minimum of three miles of visibility.

Ambient Temperature

Be aware of the limitations of your sUAS under extreme hot and cold conditions to better mitigate unexpected and unwanted adverse events.

• IF800 Tomcat Safe Operating Range: -10°C ~ 45°C (14°F to 113°F).

• IB388 Battery:

  • Safe Storage Temperature, 10°C to 40°C (50°F to 104°F).

  • Allowable Ambient Operating Temperature, -10°C to 45°C (14°F to 113°F).

  • Max Internal Temperature, 70°C (158°F).

Wind

The IF800 Tomcat is rated for sustained winds up to 25 mph with gusts up to 31 mph based on the Beaufort scale, rating L6. Always be mindful of wind and wind gust’s effects on aircraft performance, proximity to objects, overall flight times, and your RTH distance. Use an anemometer on site when necessary.