Flight 4

6. Autonomous Takeoff plus Imagery

Configuration:Autonomous takeoff, imagery search and manual landing. Autonomous takeoff is the priority

Land if as soon as possible if engine run time reaches 18 min.

Note: Airspeed and altitude calls in English units (feet)

Note: Pilot has discretionary control over autopilot engagement. He has the ultimate authority to ‘click out’ under any circumstance. The pilot is responsible for ensuring the aircraft does not crash into terrain or leave prescribed operations area under autopilot control.

Test Cards.

  1. External Pilot perform startup (checklist #1)
  2. Engine Start
  3. Controls Check
  1. Flight Director: verify Piccolo is transmitting data
  1. Flight Director: confirm Altimeter setting and zero air data sensors.
  1. Flight Director: verify Flight Computer transmitting data, camera operational
  1. Flight Director: verify nominal Piccolo operation <Autopilot Check>

Autopilot Nominal: Continue to 6

Hold: Flight Director discretionary call on continued mission or abort

  1. If inertial navigation is not possible, abort mission
  1. If GPS lock is acquired, authorize external pilot to climb and maintain 300’ AGL

Autonomous Takeoff

  1. Flight Director: authorize transition to autonomous mode
  1. Flight Director: authorize autonomous takeoff
  1. Autopilot Operator: climb and maintain 300’ AGL
  1. Flight Director: verify nominal Imagery operation <Imagery Check>

Imagery Nominal: Continue to 10

Hold: Continue mission, limit mission time to 10 minutes and troubleshoot imagery on the ground

  1. Flight Director: Mission 1

Mission 1: Pre-Assigned Waypoints

  1. Autopilot Operator: Fly pre-assigned mission waypoints at 300’ AGL
  1. Flight Director: verify nominal imagery system operation during the pattern
  1. Flight Director: verify mission complete
  1. If nominal, continue to Mission 2
  1. If abnormal, instruct External Pilot to perform Mission 2

Landing (checklist #2)

  1. Flight Director: Confer with ground station coordinator to ensure all necessary tests are complete
  2. If tests complete, proceed to 2
  3. If test incomplete, hold
  4. External Pilot: When directed, land at pilots discretion