Appendix E E-1 APPENDIX E. SAMPLE PREFLIGHT ASSESSMENT AND
INSPECTION CHECKLIST E.1 Sample Preflight Assessment and Inspection Checklist. Remote pilots may choose to use this checklist or develop their own for the operation of their specific small UAS.
Preflight Assessment
1. Operating Environment:
a. Local Weather Conditions;
b. Local Airspace, ATC coordination/communication requirements, and any flight restrictions;
c. Identify the location of persons and property on the surface; and
d. Other ground hazards.
2. Crew Briefings:
a. Operating Conditions,
b. Purpose of Flight,
c. Potential Hazards,
d. Emergency Procedures,
e. Contingency Procedures,
f. Crewmember Roles and Responsibilities, and
g. Human Factors (I.M.S.A.F.E).
3. Ensure all required documentation is available for inspection.
4. Verify all the manufacturer-required components that make up the small UAS are present and operating as designed.
5. Review Remote Pilot Operating Instructions (if applicable).
6. Complete Certificate of Waiver (CoW) review (if applicable). Review risk assessment and required mitigations.
7. Verify that the control station (CS) location, take-off and landing site(s), including emergency or alternate landing areas are suitable.
8. For operations that will not occur over human beings:
a. Consider whether lateral and vertical off-sets from human beings will be necessary to maintain safety of the operation.
b. Review and adjust the flightpath to ensure it accounts for any movement of human beings.
Appendix E E-2
9. For operations that will occur over human beings:
a. Verify the small unmanned aircraft is eligible to conduct the intended category of operations over human beings.
b. Verify the small unmanned aircraft is clearly labeled for the intended category of operations over human beings.
c. If the small unmanned aircraft has undergone any modification, verify the manufacturer allowed such modifications as described in the remote pilot operating instructions.
d. Verify the small unmanned aircraft is properly configured and mode selected for the category of operations over human beings.
e. Consider whether the operational area can be considered an open-air assembly of persons.
f. For Category 3 operations:
i. Ensure the small unmanned aircraft flightpath of the operation does not go over an open-air assembly of people.
ii. Not within or over a closed- or restricted-access site: May only operate the small unmanned aircraft above any human being if the operation does not maintain sustained flight over any person, unless the person is directly participating in the operation or located under a covered structure or inside a stationary vehicle.
iii. Within or over a closed- or restricted-access site: May only operate the small unmanned aircraft above any human being if the operation is within or over a closed- or restricted-access site and any human being located within the closed- or restricted-access site is on notice that a small unmanned aircraft may fly over them.
10. Evaluate and use mitigations to prevent the remote pilot from becoming distracted or losing VLOS during flight operations.
11. Review small unmanned aircraft performance capabilities, considering density altitude and wind, to ensure positive control of the small unmanned aircraft can be maintained and at a safe distance over people, if applicable. The review should also include maintaining a clear flightpath while operating the small unmanned aircraft.
12. Visual condition inspection of the small UAS components.
13. Airframe structure (including undercarriage), all flight control surfaces, and linkages.
14. Registration markings, for proper display and legibility.
15. Moveable control surface(s), including airframe attachment point(s).
16. Servo motor(s), including attachment point(s).
17. Propulsion system, including powerplant(s), propeller(s), rotor(s), ducted fan(s), etc.
18. Check fuel for correct type and quantity.
19. Check that any equipment, such as a camera, is securely attached.
20. Verify all systems (e.g., aircraft and control unit) have an adequate power supply for the intended operation and are functioning properly.
Appendix E E-3
21. Verify adequate communication between CS and small unmanned aircraft exists; check to ensure the small UAS has acquired GPS location from the minimum number of satellites specified by the manufacturer.
22. Verify correct indications from avionics, including control link transceiver, communication/navigation equipment, and antenna(s).
23. Check the display panel, if used, is functioning properly.
24. Check ground support equipment, including takeoff and landing systems, for proper operation.
25. Check for correct movement of control surfaces using the CS.
26. Check flight termination system, if installed (if applicable).
27. Check the anti-collision light is functioning and can be seen for at least 3 sm (for operations that will occur at civil twilight or night).
28. Calibrate small UAS compass, if required, prior to any flight.
29. Verify controller operation for heading and altitude.
30. Start the small unmanned aircraft propellers to inspect for any imbalance or irregular operation.
31. At a controlled low altitude, fly within range of any interference and recheck all controls and stability.
______________________________________________________________________________ Post-Flight
1. Evaluate small UAS to determine whether repairs are required prior to subsequent flights.
2. Conduct a review of the flight to include any crewmember(s) utilized. This review should consist of items, such as:
• Remote pilot and crewmember performance of assigned duties;
• Equipment malfunctions and anomalies;
• Whether the planned risk mitigation measures were effective or require revision;
• Unanticipated risks and hazards encountered during flight operations, and mitigations used; and
• Crewmember concerns and feedback to improve the safety of future flight operations.
Advisory Circular Feedback Form If you find an error in this AC, have recommendations for improving it, or have suggestions for new items/subjects to be added, you may let us know by contacting the General Aviation and Commercial Division (AFS-800) at 9-AFS-800-Correspondence@faa.gov or the Flight Standards Directives Management Officer at 9-AWA-AFB-120-Directives@faa.gov.
Subject: AC 107-2A, Small Unmanned Aircraft System (Small UAS) Date: _____________________ Please check all appropriate line items:
An e rro r (pro cedural or typographical) has been noted in paragraph ____________ on page _______.
Recommend paragraph _____________ on page __________ be changed as follows:
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ In a future change to this AC, please cover the following subject:
(Briefly describe what you want added.)
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ Other comments:
______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ I would like to discuss the above. Please contact me.
Submitted by: Date: ______________________