Customizing FlyFreely's Operations Manual Templates

FlyFreely has created templated versions of the CASA operations manual documents to assist Australian ReOC clients

For customers operating under a remote operators certificate (ReOC), it is important that your methods of record keeping, flight authoritisation and other operational matters are accurately reflected in your operations manual. This is the duty of the organization's Chief Remote Pilot (CRP) for flight operations and administration, and the Maintenance Controller for all maintenance procedures.

Using the 2023 Version Template (recommended)

Using the 2020 Version Template

Using the 2017 Version Template

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Submitting your Changes to CASA

Updating your manuals in FlyFreely

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Using the 2023 Version Template

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Our 2023 version makes use of custom fields which can be easily updated in Microsoft Word.

1. Open the document and select File > Info > Properties > Advanced Properties > Custom
2. Click on each property and update it by inserting text into the Value field. Note that you must click 'modify' after each entry to save it. 
   
   
   
3. Once your edits are complete, navigate back to the document view and select all (CTRL-A)
4. Right-click on any highlighted text and select Update field > Update entire table
   
   
5. Double click on the page header and select all (CTRL-A)
   
6. Repeat step 4 to update the header text
7. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for the document footer.
8. On page 1, replace <tradingas> with your business trading name (if different from the registered name - otherwise delete this text).
9. On page 38, Insert your ReOC certificate into appendix A.
10. On page 39, complete the table with any RPAS types you currently operate.
11. On page 40, copy the complete text of this page and paste it once for each RPAS type listed in appendix B. Update the <My Drone Type> heading for each make/model. You can also insert any type-specific information or procedures here, as appropriate.
12. On page 8, update the amendment record to include your previous amendment history (if required).

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Using the 2020 Version Template

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Similarly to the 2020 template, our 2020 template version makes use of custom fields which can be easily updated in Microsoft Word.

1. Open the document and select File > Info > Properties > Advanced Properties > Custom
2. Click on each property and update it by inserting text into the Value field
   
3. Once your edits are complete, navigate back to the document view and select all (CTRL-A)
4. Right-click on any highlighted text and select Update field > Update entire table
   
   
5. Double click on the page footer and select all (CTRL-A)
   
6. Repeat step 4 to update the footer text
7. Populate the table/s in Appendix A (Schedule 1) with your operational RPAS types.
8. Insert your  ReOC certificate into Appendix B, and enter any permissions, exemptions or approvals into Appendix C.
9. Populate Appendix F to align with your RPAS types in the schedule 1 (appendix A)
10. Update revision history to include the above changes and give the document a new version number

Using the 2017 Version Template

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Operations Manual

Using the table below, perform a 'find and replace' in the template document. Replace the terms in the left 'Search for' column with the details outlined in the right 'Replace With' column.

You'll also need to update/populate the following sections:

• p45 - RPAS Operating Types and Nominated Personnel
• p8 - Revision Log:

Operational Procedures Library

Using the table below, perform a 'find and replace' in the template document. Replace the terms in the left 'Search for' column with your details.

• Enter your RPA types into section 2
• Update section 0.4 - Revision log, and give the document a new version number

Submitting Your Changes to CASA

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The inclusion of FlyFreely into your operations manual constitutes a non-significant change to your ReOC. Amended manuals can therefore be submitted to CASA without the need for payment and assessment.

1. Complete the relevant CASA form and include this with your submission
2. Check your manuals and any supporting documents
3. Email all documents to rpas.pac@casa.gov.au

You'll receive an auto-reply confirming receipt of your email. You should later receive an email from CASA stating that your new manuals have been accepted.

(Please note that if you make changes other than those outlined in this article, your manuals may be subject to further review by CASA. FlyFreely are unable to assist with such reviews).

Updating your manuals in FlyFreely

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On acceptance of your new manuals, you should update them in the FlyFreely platform. 

To do this, follow the procedures below:

• From the profile menu, select Organization Admin.
• Click the Authorities tab, and locate your ReOC authority.
• Click EDIT
• Update each document using the button shown below. This creates a new version of the document in the system, and will trigger a compliance declaration for each remote pilot listed on the authority.