How to Apply for CAAM Permission to Record School Sports

What documents need to be prepared before applying?

How to determine CAAM authorization path?

CAAM explains that UAS activities are subject to Civil Aviation Regulations and Civil Aviation Directives, and the Standard Authorization to Fly route is utilized for lower risk operations that meet current operating limits, for which applicants should compare the actual school plan with the latest CAAM forms and guidelines.

If factors such as people, airspace, automated methods, event format, or operational support increase the risk, it is necessary to request that CAAM determine the appropriate route, using actual coordinates and boundaries to ensure accuracy, rather than simplifying the process by envisioning a complex scenario, like a busy sports day, as a straightforward flight over an empty field.

How to organize a consistent application file?

A standardized operational plan should be utilized for schools, pilots, and Civil Aviation Authority of Macedonia (CAAM) applications, incorporating details such as applicant information, drone serial number, pilot identification, coordinates, boundaries, date, camera purpose, observers, risk assessment, and emergency actions, ensuring consistency across all documents, including the school authorization letter and operational documents, with identical names and facts throughout.

To facilitate a clear understanding of the operation, include a map that illustrates activity areas, crowd boundaries, access routes, and alternative landing areas. In the event that the schedule, location, drone, such as the DJI Mini 5 Pro or Mavic 3, or recording method is altered, it is essential to review and update the affected documents prior to the flight. Maintaining a consistent file in this manner enables both the school and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malta, or CAAM, to comprehend the actual operation without needing to make assumptions about the applicant's intentions.

How to build a flight area plan?

Mark the field, spectator seats, entrances, nearby buildings, departure zones, and emergency landing areas, and separate non-involved people from the flight area. Appoint observers and determine who has the authority to stop the flight if conditions change.

Create a recording list from a safe vantage point, utilizing techniques such as wide shots, lateral movements from outside the field, and static angles, which can help achieve the desired footage without needing to follow the athlete from above. Establish stoppage conditions for various factors, including weather, radio interference, audience movement, and changes in school activities.

• Explain flight boundaries to teachers, coaches and event officials.
• Ensure the alternate landing area remains empty.
• Do not assign other camera duties to flight observers.
• Record the reason a recording angle was canceled or changed.

What needs to be done for student privacy and protection?

Schools must establish the purpose of recording, identify who may be recognizable, determine how notice or consent is handled, designate where files are stored, and decide who can publish them, taking into consideration areas such as dressing areas, medical incidents, and pupils who cannot be displayed, all of which should be included in the production instructions.

Limit recording to approved purposes, provide the editor with an exception list, control access to raw files, and make storage decisions. Having permission to fly does not replace privacy responsibilities, child protection, or image usage rights.

How to ensure that used drones are suitable for the task?

When selecting a drone, it is essential to match its features with the safe shooting distance, wind conditions, event duration, battery requirements, and recovery plan. A camera that can capture useful frames from further distances may be more suitable than choosing a model based solely on its maximum resolution.

When purchasing a pre-owned drone, it is essential to verify the serial number, account status, battery, gimbal, sensors, and repair history. Additionally, it is recommended to test the same kit in a controlled location and have a ground recording plan in place, so that the event does not depend entirely on the approval or success of the drone flight.