Specific category Operations Manual contents

The Operations Manual should contain at least the information listed below

0. Cover and contact.

• 0.1 Cover identifying the UAS operator with the title ‘Operations Manual’, contact information and OM revision number.
• 0.2 Table of contents.

1. Introduction

• 1.1 Definitions, acronyms and abbreviations.
• 1.2 System for amendment and revision of the OM (list the changes that require prior approval and the changes to be notified to the competent authority).
• 1.3 Record of revisions with effectivity dates.
• 1.4 List of effective pages (list of effective pages unless the entire manual is re-issued and the manual has an effective date on it).
• 1.5 Purpose and scope of the OM with a brief description of the different parts of the documents.
• 1.6 Safety statement (include a statement that the OM complies with the relevant requirements of Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and with the authorisation or the terms of approval of the light UAS operator certificate (LUC), in the case of a LUC holder, and contains instructions that are to be complied with by the personnel involved in flight operations).
• 1.7 Approval signature (the accountable manager must sign this statement).

2. Description of the UAS operator’s organisation (include the organigram and a brief description thereof).

3. Concept of operations (ConOps) For each operation, please describe the following:

• 3.1 Nature of the operation and associated risks (describe the nature of the activities performed and the associated risks).
• 3.2 Operational environment and geographical area for the intended operations (in general terms, describe the characteristics of the area to be overflown, its topography, obstacles etc., and the characteristics of the airspace to be used, and the environmental conditions (i.e. the weather and electromagnetic environment); the definition of the required operation volume and risk buffers to address the ground and air risks).
• 3.3 Technical means used (in general terms, describe their main characteristics, performance and limitations, including UAS, external systems supporting the UAS operation, facilities, etc.)
• 3.4 Competency, duties and responsibilities of personnel involved in the operations such as the remote pilot, UA observer, visual observer (VO), supervisor, controller, operations manager, etc. (initial qualifications; experience in operating UAS; experience in the particular operation; training and checking; compliance with the applicable regulations and guidance to crew members concerning health, fitness for duty and fatigue; guidance to staff on how to facilitate inspections by competent authority personnel).
• 3.5 Risk analysis and methods for reduction of identified risks (description of methodology used; bow-tie presentation or other).
• 3.6 Maintenance (provide maintenance instructions required to keep the UAS in a safe condition, covering the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance instructions and requirements when applicable).

4. Normal procedures; (The UAS operator should complete the following paragraphs considering the elements listed below. The procedures applicable to all UAS operations may be listed in paragraph 4.1.)

• 4.1 General procedures valid for all operations
• 4.2 Procedures peculiar to a single operation

5. Contingency procedures (The UAS operator should complete the following paragraphs considering the elements listed below. The procedures applicable to all UAS operations may be listed in paragraph 5.1).

• 5.1 General procedures valid for all operations
• 5.2 Procedures peculiar to a single operation

6. Emergency procedures (The UAS operator should define procedures to cope with emergency situations.)

7. Emergency response plan (ERP) (optional)

8. Security (security procedures referred to in UAS.SPEC.050(a)(ii) and (iii); instructions, guidance, procedures, and responsibilities on how to implement security requirements and protect the UAS from unauthorised modification, interference, etc.]

9. Guidelines to minimise nuisance and environmental impact referred to in UAS.SPEC.050(a)(v);

10. Occurrence reporting procedures according to Regulation (EU) No 376/2014.

11. Record-keeping procedures (instructions on logs and records of pilots and other data considered useful for the tracking and monitoring of the activity).