AFS

- 13

- 079

- E February 08, 2013

Exemption No. 10700 Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 20 12

- 1234

Mr. James Kirkland Trimble Navigation Limited

935 Stewart Drive Sunnyvale, Californi a 94085

Dear Mr. Kirkland :

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, including the date it ends.

The Basi s for Our Decision

By letter dated November 14, 2012 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Trimble Navigation Limited (TNL ) for an exemption from § § 21.191(f), 21.195(a), 45.23(b), 91.9(b)(s), 91.203(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary to allow TNL to operate the unmanned aircraft system (UAS) X

- 100 for missions related to research and development, crew training and market surveys associated with ground surveys.

The FAA has d etermined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to TNL

.

The FAA has issued grant s of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption Nos. 9720, 9783, and 10 1 67 (copies enclosed), the FAA found that it was unnecessary to carry and display the airworthiness,

certifi cation, and registration documents in UASs for operations described by the petitioner,

that the issuance of an Airworthiness Certificate for the purpose of market surveys was appropriate even though the prototype had not been man ufactured in the United Sta tes, and2

t hat due to the small fuselage, a very limited area existed for placing identifying marks on an aircraft. The FAA also found that relocating the identifying marks was in the public interest

.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemptio n, I find that

—

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant of Exemption Nos. 9720, 9783, and 10167 ;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption Nos. 9720, 9783, and 10167 al so apply to the situation you present; and

• a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator has delegated to me, I hereby grant Trimble Navigation Limited an exemption from

14 CFR §§ 21.191(f), 21.195(a), 45.23(b), 91.9(b)(s), 91.203(a) and (b) to the extent
necessary to allow TNL to operate the X

- 100 for missions related to research and development, crew training and market surveys associated with ground s urveys , subj ect to the

conditions and limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. This exemption is for Trimble UAS X

- 100 only.

2. The word “Expermental” must be displayed on the aircraft to inform all parties of the aircraft’s overall operating status.

3. The petitioner may use 1

- inch lettering at the location specified in the petition.

4. The documents required by § § 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the pilot in command of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating.

5. Those documents must be mad e available within 10 days to any FAA, U.S. Department of Defense, or law enforcement official on request.

This exemption terminates on January 31, 201 5 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John M. Allen Director, Flight Standards Servi ce

Enclosure