November 16, 2015

1215

- 1245 EST
Record of telephone conversation AeroCine, LLC RFI

Attendees:
Joshua Parker, Program Analyst ARM Joseph Hexter, Senior Regulatory Analyst, AFS

- 80/SAIC Brian Streem , CEO AeroCine, LLC Jon Ollwerther, AeroCine, LLC

• Introductions

• Joe Hexter

o Stating Exemption 11150B to add the DJI Phantom and Inspire 1 was done to help AeroCine conduct operations while the seven precedent setting items were being reviewed

o Review of RFI e

- mail for night operations and UA lighting

 Requ est: List of all models to be used

 Request: Description of lighting

• Brian asked about lighting intensity and if other UA had been approve d with a particular type/intensity: Joe Hexter, none that I can speak to

• Brian asked if there was any specific requirem ent such as distance lights would be visible: Joe Hexter, since this is closed set there should not be a problem, just provide as much engineering or test data you can to support your case for use

 Joe Hexter mentioned AeroCine should provide a Safety Case outlining training, and other issues listed in the RFI that are consistent with what the FAA has requested of others petitioning night operations, e.g. dark adaptation, interference with lighting used in filming, and lighting for ground control station

• Bri an spoke to CNN and his lack of understanding what the Pathfinder Program is all about

o Joe Hexter provided a basic overview of formal safety panels and FAA involvement in the pathfinder process such as R&D. Also, in many instances, the pathfinders pave th e way for others such as AeroCine and we can leverage the results of their work

• Brian then went through the specific conditions/limitations in the AeroCine petition asking if there was anything they needed to support their request:

o Condition 1: revise to r eflect the weight of the Aerobo X12, which will be in excess of 55 pounds including payload

 Joe Hexter: you r petition referenced Yamaha and the R

- Max which has thousands of hours operating time and reams of engineering data. You should supply as much engineering and flight data as you can to support your position. The Yamaha is in the process of certification so they s upplied quite a lot of data.o Condition 13: revise to allow approval to fly with experienced UAS operators in direct control of the craft, while under direct supervision of, and in direct communication with an FAA

- licensed private, recreational or sport pil ot as a VO . Joe Hexter:

 We don’t require any additional information. There are others ahead of you and we can leverage the analysis that has already been accomplished

o Condition 15: revise to permit night flight operations for closed set filmmaking

 Brian Streem : we’ve already discussed this

o Condition 21: revise to permit contemporaneous issuance of NOTAM for breaking news instead of the current requirement for 24 hour advanced notification

 Joe Hexter: In the past we would not have approved this; however, t he small UAS rule proposed does not require NOTAMs. I hope to leverage the proposed small UAS rule

o Condition 25: revise to permit the PIC to operate the UAS from a moving platform for closed set filmmaking

 Joe Hexter: We can leverage others that have subm itted similar requests ahead of AeroCine; we do not need additional supporting documentation

o Condition 26: revise to permit operations over non

- participating persons for breaking news flights with a UAS weighing no more than 4.4 pounds

o Condition 27: revise to permit operations over persons in the airspace that is not above private, or controlled access property, only with permission from the owner/controller or authorized representative

 Joe Hexter: I must be honest in that it would not be proper for me to p romise anything. You mentioned CNN so you are aware they are participating in the pathfinder program. I’m not sure if management will allow AeroCine to get ahead of the pathfinder program. The R&D being accomplished will provide the basis for future gr ants of exemption. In the meantime feel free to provide as much engineering data and possibly include this in your safety case and we will review it.

 Brian Streem: Mentioned if AeroCine could participate in the pathfinder programs, stating conditions 26 a nd 27 were critical to AeroCine’s operations

. Joe Hexter stated this was not in his “swim lane” but certainly AeroCine c ould submit a proposal to the FAA requesting participation in the pathfinder program.

 Mr. Streem also mentioned PreNav and the drone th ey were using to conduct tower inspections. The PreNav drone weighs less than 55 pounds and has been approved by the FAA. Joe Hexter asked Joshua Parker if there would be any issues and Joshua stated that as long as the UAS was on the FAA’s approved list AeroCine could use it.

• Brian Streem asked about his request to use pilots that were not US Nationals; then commented AeroCine had not yet petitioned the FAA for this relief.• Joe Hexter thanked AeroCine for their time and stated no one in the FAA wanted t o delay their request; however, we were leveraging several petitions that were submitted in advance of the AeroCine petition.

• General thanks and it was agreed that Joshua would be the POC for contact with AeroCine