What does the syllabus require me to know about running the operation?

Know what TP 15263 Section 6 asks a candidate to be able to do about performance, weight and balance, site and crew preparation, and the three operating regimes an RPA can be flown in.

• You know that the examinations are built on TP 15263, so its sections are the syllabus. TP15263 area6
• You know that Section 6 carries the extended VLOS and sheltered operation categories as advanced work. TP15263 area6

The general objectives are about the environment rather than the aircraft: the hazards that occur in different geographic or topographical areas, the normal flow of traditional aircraft traffic at an aerodrome — the circuit and taxiing — and how local and portable devices might be controlled to reduce interference. TP15263 area6

Aircraft performance asks for the effect of density altitude on launch and climb performance, the effect of airspeed on radius of turn, and operating limitations taken from the aircraft flight manual. TP15263 area6

Performance charts turn the same subject into equipment: the effect of temperature on elasticized cord, pneumatic or hydraulic launchers, crosswind limits, and — from the performance data — the maximum altitude at which an RPA can hover. TP15263 area6

Weight and balance asks for methods of determining the centre of gravity, and for how to return a centre of gravity to within limits — a repair question, not only a measurement one. TP15263 area6

The VLOS category is the longest list in the section, and it is a site plan: typical functional areas (launch, observer), desirable characteristics of alternate recovery areas, the requirements of visual observer locations, access routes for normal and emergency operations, public access and crowd control, typical emergency contacts for flyaways and EMS, the safety equipment the operation needs, the typical items in a crew briefing, and emergency procedures. TP15263 area6

Read as a whole, it is the site survey turned into a requirement list — which is why the pre-flight lesson and this one are neighbours. TP15263 area6

The EVLOS category is written as a list of things to identify, and it is worth reading as such: EVLOS is permitted in uncontrolled airspace away from aerodromes; it must be conducted more than 100 feet from people not involved in the operation; it must remain within two nautical miles of the pilot and the visual observer; the observer should be positioned in a quiet area with an unobstructed view of the sky; the pilot and observer must have a means of communication; it is permitted only with small RPA; and it places additional stress on the crew. TP15263 area6

Sheltered operations can take place in controlled and uncontrolled airspace; the category asks you to identify what constitutes an obstacle; sheltered operations in controlled airspace need an airspace authorization, and the RPA flying them needs a safety assurance declaration against Standard 922.04. TP15263 area6

It also asks for two consequences that are easy to miss: structures such as buildings affect C2 link performance, and lost-link behaviour and return-to-home altitude must be programmed correctly for this kind of flying. And it repeats the separation rule — people not involved must be more than 100 feet from the RPA at all times. TP15263 area6

The last category is about the crew as workers: the safety equipment the operation needs, weather threats assessed against ground control station operations, access routes, emergency contacts, and legal site access issues such as trespass and insurance. TP15263 area6

You are ready for Section 6 questions when you can:

• Describe the hazards of a geographic area, and the traffic flow at an aerodrome TP15263 area6
• Explain density altitude against launch and climb performance, and find the manual's limits TP15263 area6
• State the effect of temperature on each launcher type, and the crosswind limits TP15263 area6
• Determine the maximum hover altitude from performance data TP15263 area6
• Determine the centre of gravity, and bring it back within limits TP15263 area6
• Plan a VLOS site: areas, observer positions, access, crowd control, contacts, equipment and briefing TP15263 area6
• State the EVLOS conditions and the sheltered-operation conditions TP15263 area6
• Assess weather against the control station, and identify legal site-access issues TP15263 area6

Symptom	Likely cause	What to do
EVLOS is treated as a variant of VLOS with a longer leash	The category states its conditions as facts to identify	Learn the list: airspace, people, distance, observer position, communications, aircraft class TP15263 area6
Sheltered operations are assumed to need no authorization	In controlled airspace they need an airspace authorization and a 922.04 declaration	Check the airspace first TP15263 area6
Lost-link behaviour is left at the factory default	The category requires it to be programmed correctly for sheltered work	Set the return-to-home altitude deliberately TP15263 area6
A topic has no objective beside it	Objectives are printed once per category	Read the category's list TP15263 area6

Practise: Pilot-in-command responsibilities Practise: Effects of density altitude and humidity Practise: Temperature) Factors affecting launcher performance (e.g., ice, Practise: Hover ceiling, maximum altitude Practise: Locating centre of gravity (C of G)  Practise: Landowner authorizations Practise: Where EVLOS is permitted Practise: Where sheltered operations are permitted Practise: Charging areas

• TP 15263E, Section 6 — Flight operations (the sample learning objectives table)