Operations

As remote pilot in command, you are fully responsible for ensuring a safe operation.

Develop a preflight inspection routine to be carried out before each flight, even if the flights are one after the other.  It should include all components of the Umcrewed Aircraft System, including aircraft, controllers, batteries, cameras, antennas, and so forth.  

Use the manufacturer's recommendations, if they have any, and develop your own guidelines to ensure that all components are safe to use.  

Use checklists like the Flight Risk Assessment Tool to evaluate the mission itself.

Gather as much information as you can about the site where you'll be flying, the weather, who to call in an emergency, and so forth.

Make sure you and your crew are qualified and fit for the mission - see Human Factors & Aviation Decision Making.

There are several example checklists in the Resource Library.  

Learn about aviation communications by reading the text and listening in on liveatc.net.  Some small airports - like Raleigh Executive Jetport (KTTA) that we visited - have observation areas with radios so that you can hear the pilots talking.

The Airspace & Airports page of this website has some sample communications (for a landing pattern).

Monitor the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) if you are operating near an airport. You can find the CTAF on aeronautical charts, chart supplements, or through AirNav.  The default frequency if none are published for the airport is 122.9 MHz.

Remember that ATC permission is required before flying in controlled airspace in almost all circumstances.  Even if you're going to operate near a Class G airport, I highly recommend contacting the airport manager to talk with them about your operation before beginning - it can save you all sorts of headaches.  Aviation is NOT an endeavor in which it is better to seek forgiveness than permission.

Most small remote aircraft operte at 2.4 GHz (to transmit video and photos) and 5.8 GHz (for control), both of which are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission.  Both of these frequencies are also used for wireless computer networks (WiFi).  Thus, your aircraft is subject to interference from these networks and can also be blocked by buildings and other structures between the control station and the aircraft.

For very simple uncrewed aircraft operations, you may only have a single pilot who is taking care of everything.  As missions become more complex, you may add one or more visual observers, people to manage onlookers, people to help preflight aircraft, and so forth.  Regardless, as pilot in command, you are responsible ... but you don't have to do everything yourself.

You may have multiple pilots and multiple aircraft flying; in such situations there is typically an "air boss," a pilot overseeing the entire operation.  The air boss usually is not flying an aircraft, instead focusing on coordinating the mission.

For training missions, an uncertificated person may be manipulating the controls.  

As remote pilot in command, it is your responsibility to brief everyone associated with a mission and make sure everyone knows their role and how to communicate with everyone else.

Here's FAA Advisory Circular AC120-51E, Crew Resource Management Training, current as of inclusion on this page 2024 Mar 24.  Always check for upates.