October 23, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations

West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Petitioner:

Joshua Garcia

289 State Highway 92 Apt 6105

Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

j.garcia.1989@hotmail.com

910-787-5390

Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations from: 14 CFR 21 subpart H 

14 CFR 45.23(b) 

14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b) 

14 CFR 91.7(a) 

14 CFR 91.9(b)(2) 

14 CFR 91.103 

14 CFR 91.109 

14 CFR 91.119(c) 

14 CFR 91.121 

14 CFR 91.151(a) 

14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b) 

14 CFR 91.405 (a) 

14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 

14 CFR 91.409 (a)(1) and (2) 

14 CFR 91.417(a) and (b) 

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the “Reform Act”) and 14 CFR Part 

11, Joshua Garcia, operator of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), hereby applies for an exemption from the listed 

Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of designated UAS, provided such 

operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as 

required by Section 333. Commercial operation of an UAS, as described herein, which are equipped with camera(s) 

and sensors, would provide professional services in the following areas: 

1. Aerial photography and/or video for public and/or private use including real estate, architecture, land 

surveying, engineering and other related professional activities.

2. Aerial video and/or photography for public and/or private use including television, public events, 

cinematography and newsgathering.

3. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial structures under contract with the owners or local 

government authority.

4. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial utility infrastructure including but not limited to 

electrical power lines, wind turbines and cell towers. 

5. Aerial video/photography or providing live video feed to assist with search and rescue operations in cases 

of an emergency or natural disaster only when the local authorities or government has requested it by 

contract or donation. 

6. Training to persons individually or belonging to both private and/or public organizations to increase 

awareness and improve safety for current and future UAS operations within the NAS. 

As described fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of designated UAS as set forth in this 

document under controlled conditions in the NAS that would be a) limited b) controlled c) predetermined and d) 

safe. Approval of this exemption would increase public awareness of UAS operations and enhance safety to aid in 
fulfilling the Secretary of Transportation’s (the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to “...establish requirements 

for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.”

I plan to operate a UAS, the DJI PHANTOM 3 Professional which is comprised of an unmanned aircraft (UA or 

Phantom 3) and a transportable ground station. The Phantom 3 is referred to as a quad-copter with a maximum 

gross weight of about 3 pounds. It is equipped with four rotors that are driven by electric motors powered by 

batteries. The UA has a maximum airspeed of 16 m/s.

I also plan to operate a UAS, the DJI Inspire 1 which is comprised of an unmanned aircraft (UA or Inspire 1) and a 

transportable ground station. The Inspire 1 is referred to as a quad-copter with a maximum gross weight of about 

6.5 pounds. It is equipped with four rotors that are driven by electric motors powered by batteries. The UA has a 

maximum airspeed of 22 m/s.

Also, given the small size of the UAS’s involved and the restricted controlled environment within which they will 

operate, the applicant fits within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that 

the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of UASs to commence immediately. Also due to the size 

of the UAS and the controlled areas in which the relevant UAS will operate, approval of the application presents no 

national security issue. Given the following, the grant of the requested exemptions is clearly in the public interest: 

Joshua Garcia proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have the characteristics and 

that operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for an exceptional level of safety to 

operations. These limitations and conditions to which Joshua Garcia agrees to be bound when conducting 

commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption including:

1. The UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs. 

2. Flights will be operated within line of sight of operator. 

3. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes. 

4. Flights will be terminated at 15% battery power reserve. 

5. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL 

6. UAS operator will be trained and certified in the proper safety and operations of the UAS. 

7. The UAS will only operate within a controlled area as defined in the Procedures. 

8. The operator will post advisor notice around the controlled area. 

9. The operator will have been trained in operation of UAS generally and received up-to-date information on 

the particular UAS to be operated as required. 

10. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UAS will have capability to return to a predetermined location within the Security Perimeter and land. 

11. The UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.

Accordingly, the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested exemption and are prepared to 

modify or amend any part of this request to satisfy the need for an equivalent level of safety. We look forward to 

working with your office. Please contact me at any time if additional information or clarifications are needed. 

Very respectfully,

Joshua Garcia