18, August 2015

U. S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590

Re: ExemptionRequestSection333oftheFAAReformActandPart11oftheFederal

 AviationRegulationsfrom14C.F.R.45.23(b);14CFRPart21;14CFR61.113(a)&(b); 91.7(a);91.9(b)(2);91.103(b);91.109;91.119;91.121;91.151(a);91.203(a)&(b);91.405 (a);

 91.407(a)(1);91.409(a)(2);91.417(a)&(b).

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the Reform 

Act) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Helivision, LLC (hereinafter “Helivision”) developer and operator of 

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“sUASs”) equipped to conduct aerial photography for the 

motion picture and television industry for scripted closed set filming, hereby applies for an 

exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation 

of its sUASs, so long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions 

outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333.1

As described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of 

small, unmanned and relatively inexpensive sUAS under controlled conditions in airspace 

that is 1) limited 2) predetermined 3) controlled as to access and 4) would provide safety 

enhancements to the already safe operations in the film and television industry presently 

using conventional aircraft. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and 

fulfill 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.” Section 333(c) of the Reform Act.

The name and address of the applicant is:

Helivision, LLC

9000 Aviation Blvd. Suite 219

Concord, NC 28027

Contact: Kevin Knotts

Phone: 704-792-1807

Fax: 704-792-1907

Email: kevin.knotts@helivision.com

1 The conditions proposed by the applicant are drawn from Order 8900.1 CHG 0, Volume 3, Chapter 8- 

Issue a Certificate of Waiver for Motion Picture and Television Filming.

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

14 CFR Part 21

14 C.F.R. 45.23(b)

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b)

14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a)

14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)

14 C.F.R. 91.103

14 C.F.R. 91.109

14 C.F. R. 91.119

14 C.F.R. 91.121

14 CFR 91.151 (a)

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b)

14 CFR 91.405 (a)

14 CFR 407 (a) (1)

14 CFR 409 (a) (2)

14 CFR 417 (a) & (b)

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress’ goal in passing 

Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of 

Transportation to consider whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate 

safely in the national airspace system (NAS) before completion of the rulemaking 

required under Section 332 of the Reform Act. In making this determination, the 

Secretary is required to determine which types of UASs do not create a hazard to

users of the NAS or the public or pose a threat to national security in light of the 

following:

• The UAS’s size, weight, speed, and operational capability;

• Operation of the UAS in close proximity to airports and populated areas; and

• Operation of the UAS within visual line of sight of the operator.

Reform Act § 333 (a). Lastly, if the Secretary determines that such vehicles “may operate 

safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe 

operation of such aircraft in the national airspace system.” Id. §333(c) (emphasis added)2.

The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA the authority to issue exemptions. This 

statutory authority by its terms includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under

§40101 of the Act, that includes sUASs, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have 

a current airworthiness certificate.

2 Applicant interprets this provision to place the duty on the Administrator to not only process applications for 

exemptions under section 333, but for the Administrator to craft conditions for the safe operation of the UAS, if it 

should be determined that the conditions set forth herein do not fulfill the statutory requirements for approval.

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation 

prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702-44716 of this title 

if the Administrator finds the exemption in the public interest. 49 U.S.C. §44701(f) See also 49

USC §44711(a); 49 USC §44704; 14

CFR §91.203 (a) (1).

Helivision’s sUASs are rotorcraft, weighting 55 or fewer lbs. including payload. They 

operate, under normal conditions at a speed of no more than 50 knots and have the capability 

to hover, and move in the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. They will operate only 

in line of sight and will operate only within the sterile area described in the “Helivision MP&TV 

sUAS Operations Manual”, attached as Exhibit 1 (hereinafter “the Manual”)3. Such operations 

will insure that the sUAS will “not create a hazard to users of the national airspace system or 

the public.”4

Given the small size of the sUASs involved and the restricted sterile environment 

within which they will operate, the applicant falls squarely 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 

UASs and the restricted areas in which the relevant sUASs will operate, approval of the 

application presents no national security issue. Given the clear direction in Section 333 of the 

Reform Act, the authority contained in the Federal Aviation Act, as amended; the strong 

equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed operations, and the significant public 

benefit, including enhanced safety, reduction in environmental impacts, including reduced 

emissions associated with allowing UASs for movie and television operations, the grant of the 

requested exemptions is in the public interest. Accordingly, the applicant respectfully requests 

that the FAA grant the requested exemption without delay.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

The applicant 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 at least an equivalent or even higher level of safety to operations under the current

regulatory structure because the proposed operations represent a safety enhancement to the

already safe movie and television filming operations conducted with conventional aircraft.

3 Applicant submits this manual as a Confidential document under 14 CFR 11.35 (b) as the entire manual contains 

proprietary information that the applicant has not and will not share with others. The manual contains operating 

conditions and procedures that are not available to the public and are protected from release under the Freedom of 

Information Act 5 USC 552 et.seq.

 4 Reform Act Section 333 (b).

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
These limitations and conditions to which Helivision agrees to be bound 

when conducting commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption 

include:

1. The sUAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.

2. Flights will be operated within line of sight of a pilot and/or observer.

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

will be terminated at 25% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 

30 minute limit.

4. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL or, not more 

than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned.

5. Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS Pilot, the Visual 

Observer and/or the Camera Operator.

6. sUAS pilot will be an FAA licensed airman with at least a private pilot’s certificate 

and third class medical. The observer will hold at least a third class medical.

7. sUAS Pilot will be Pilot in Command (PIC). If a pilot certificate holder other than 

 the sUAS Pilot, who possess the necessary PIC qualifications, is also present on 

 set (i.e. the Aerial Coordinator), that person can also be designated as PIC.

8. The UAS will only operate within a confined “Sterile Area” as defined in the 

 Manual. Page 15 of the Manual requires the establishment of a “Security 

 Perimeter” for the flight operations area.

9. A briefing will be conducted in regard to the planned sUAS operations prior to each 

day’s production activities. It will be mandatory that all personnel who will be 

performing duties within the boundaries of the safety perimeter be present for this 

briefing.

10. The operator will submit a “Plan of Activities, in addition to the requested 

exemption, with the appropriate Flight Standards District Office.

11. The operator will obtain the consent of all persons involved in the filming and 

ensure that only consenting persons will be allowed within 100 feet of the flight

operation, and this radius may be reduced to 50 feet based upon an equivalent 

level of safety determination, as required on page 11 of the Manual. With the 

advanced permission of the relevant FSDO, operations at closer range can be 

approved.

12. Pilot and observer will have been trained in operation of UAS generally and 

received up-to- date information on the particular UAS to be operated as required 

on page 19 of the Manual.

13. Observer and pilot will at all times be able to communicate verbally.

14. Written and/or oral permission from the relevant property holders will be obtained.

15. All required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, county 

or city jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, fire, or other appropriate 

governmental agencies.

16. If the sUAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UAS will have 

capability to return to a pre-determined location within the Security Perimeter and 

land.

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

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)

Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural 

requirements for the issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) 

(1). Given the size and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the 

Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an equivalent 

level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act 

(49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both authorize the FAA to exempt 

aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size, 

weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the 

particular UAS. In all cases, an analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the UAS 

operated without an airworthiness certificate, in the restricted environment and under the 

conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing 

or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and 

conditions proposed.

The sUAS to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a 

pilot nor passenger, carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates 

exclusively within a secured area as set out in the Manual. Unlike other civil aircraft, 

operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by both the operator, 

pursuant to the Manual’s requirements, and under the requirements and in compliance with 

local public safety requirements, to provide security for the area of operation as is now done 

with conventional filming. The FAA will have advance notice of all operations. These safety 

enhancements, which already apply to civil aircraft operated in connection with motion picture 

and television production, provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners 

than conventional operations conducted with airworthiness certificates issued under 14 C.F.R. 

Part 21, Subpart H. Lastly, application of these same criteria demonstrates that there is no 

credible threat to national security posed by the UAS, due to its size, speed of operation, 

location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry 

a substantial external load.

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
14 C.F.R. § 45.23 (b). Marking of the Aircraft

 When marks include only the Roman capital letter "N" and the registration number is 

displayed on limited, restricted or light-sport category aircraft or experimental or provisionally 

certificated aircraft, the operator must also display on that aircraft near each entrance to the 

cabin, cockpit, or pilot station, in letters not less than 2 inches nor more than 6 inches high, the 

words "limited," "restricted," "light-sport," "experimental," or "provisional," as applicable.

 Even though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be 

needed as the UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word

“Experimental” can be placed. Given the size of the sUAV, two-inch lettering will be impossible. 

The word “Experimental” will be placed on the fuselage in compliance with §45.29 (f) The 

equivalent level of safety will be provided by having the sUAV marked on its fuselage as 

required by §45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer and others working with the sUAV will see the 

identification of the UAS as “Experimental.” The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this 

regulation to Exemptions Nos. 10700, 8738, 10167 and 10167A.

14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a) & (b): Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations: Pilot in Command.

Sections 61.113 (a) & (b) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. 

Because the UAS will not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can 

achieve the equivalent level of safety of current operations by requiring the PIC operating the 

aircraft to have a private pilot’s license rather than a commercial pilot’s license to operate this 

small UAS. Unlike a conventional aircraft that carries the pilot and passengers, the sUAS is 

remotely controlled with no living thing on board. The area of operation is controlled and 

restricted, and all flights are planned and coordinated in advance as set forth in the Manual. 

The level of safety provided by the requirements included in the Manual exceeds that provided 

by a single individual holding a commercial pilot’s certificate operating a conventional aircraft. 

The risks associated with the operation of the sUAS are so diminished from the level of risk 

associated with commercial operations contemplated by Part 61 when drafted, that allowing 

operations of the sUAS as requested with a private pilot as the PIC exceeds the present level 

of safety achieved by 14 C.F.R. §61.113 (a) & (b).

14 C.F.R. §91.7(a): Civil aircraft airworthiness.

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in 

airworthy condition.

As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this 

exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. 

Given the size of the aircraft and the requirements contained in the Manual for maintenance 

and use of safety check lists prior to each flight, as set forth on page 18 of the manual, an 

equivalent level of safety will be provided.

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft.

 No person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft (2) For which an Airplane or 

Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this chapter, unless there is available in 

the aircraft a current approved airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, 

markings, and placards, or any combination thereof.

The sUAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight 

manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because there is no 

room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be 

maintained by keeping the flight manual at the ground control point where the pilot flying the 

sUAS will have immediate access to it. The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this 

regulation: Exemption Nos. 8607, 8737, 8738, 9299, 9299A, 9565, 9565B,10167, 10167A, 

10602, 32827, and 10700.

14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight action

This regulation requires each pilot in command to take certain actions before flight to 

insure the safety of flight.

As FAA approved rotorcraft flight manuals will not be provided for the aircraft an 

exemption will be needed. An equivalent level of safety will be provided as set forth on page 

18 of the Manual. The PIC will take all actions including reviewing weather, flight battery 

requirements, landing and takeoff distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of 

flight.

14 C.F.R. §91.109: Flight instruction:

Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned 

free balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning 

dual controls.

sUASs and remotely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual 

controls. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates 

with the aircraft via radio communications. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight 

training without fully functional dual controls for a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in 

experimental aircraft. See Exemption Nos.5778K & 9862A. The equivalent level of safety 

provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by 

the size and speed of the aircraft.

14 C.F.R. §91.119: Minimum safe altitudes

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 

(d) allows helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the 

person operating the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters 

by the FAA.

As this exemption is for a sUAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests 

authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 AGL, or not more than 200 above an elevated 

platform from which filming is planned, an exemption may be needed to allow such operations. 

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
As set forth herein, except for the limited conditions stated in the Manual, the UAS will never 

operate at higher than 400 AGL. It will however be operated in a restricted area with security 

perimeter, where buildings and people will not be exposed to operations without their preobtained consent.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the UAS 

as well as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the permission of the 

property owner or local officials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and 

participants in the filming activity, all affected individuals will be aware of the planned flight 

operations as set forth in Section H of the Manual. Compared to flight operations with aircraft 

or rotorcraft weighting far more than the maximum 55lbs proposed herein and the lack of 

flammable fuel, any risk associated with these operations is far less than those presently 

presented with conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 AGL in the movie industry. In 

addition, the low-altitude operations of the sUAS will ensure separation between these smallUAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with

 Section 91.119.

14 C.F.R. §91.121 Altimeter Settings

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude 

by reference to an altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an 

appropriate altimeter setting available before departure.

As the sUAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS altitude read out, 

an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the operator, 

pursuant to the Manual and Safety Check list, confirming the altitude of the launch site shown 

on the GPS altitude indicator before flight.

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane under 

VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel 

to fly to the first point of intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed – (1) During 

the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 

minutes.”

The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 40 minutes of powered flight. 

To meet the 30 minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, sUAS flights would be limited 

to approximately 10 minutes in length. Given the limitations on the UAS’s proposed flight area 

and the location of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame 

for flight in daylight or night VFR conditions is reasonable.

Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope 

of prior exemptions. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to 

operate without compliance with FAR 91.151 (a)). Operating the small UAS, in a tightly 

controlled area where only people and property owners or official representatives who have 

signed waivers will be allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does not 

engender the type of risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size 

and speed of the small UAS. Additionally, limiting sUAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly 

reduce the utility for which the exemption will be granted.

Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting 

flights to 30 minutes or 25% of battery power whichever happens first. This restriction would 

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
be more than adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its 

limited operating area. Similar exemptions have been granted to other operations, including 

Exemptions 2689F, 5745, 10673, and 10808.

14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it 

the following:

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by 

paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is 

displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.

The UAS fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs and is operated without an onboard 

pilot. As such, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to 

display them on the sUAS.

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the 

ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to them, to the 

extent they are applicable to the sUAS. The FAA has issued numerous exemptions to this 

regulation. A representative sample of other exceptions includes Exemption Nos. 9565, 9665, 

9789, 9789A, 9797, 9797A, 9816A, and

10700.

14 C.F.R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 409 (a) (2); 417(a) & (b): Maintenance Inspections

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner “shall have that aircraft 

inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, 

except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed 

in part 43 of this chapter...,” and others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with 

Part 43.

Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness 

certificate, these sections will not apply to the applicant. Maintenance will be accomplished by 

the operator pursuant to the flight and operating handbook as referenced in the Manual. An

equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these small UASs are very limited in size 

and will carry a small payload and operate only in restricted areas for limited periods of time. If 

mechanical issues arise the UAS can land immediately and will be operating from no higher 

than 400 feet AGL. As provided in the Manual, the operator will ensure that the UAS is in 

working order prior to initiating flight, perform required maintenance, and keep a log of any 

maintenance performed. Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft 

and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level 

of safety.

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
*********

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided for publication in the 

Federal Register, should it be determined that publication is needed:

Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules:

14 C.F.R. §21, subpart H; 14 C.F.R 45.23(b);14 C.F.R. §§ 61.113( a) & (b);91.7 (a); 

91.9 (b) (2);91.103(b);91.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a);91.203(a) and (b); 91.405 

(a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2); 91.409 (a) (2) and 91.417 (a) & (b) to operate

commercially a small unmanned vehicle (55lbs or less) in motion picture and 

television operations.

Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of sUASs in the film industry will 

enhance safety by reducing risk. Conventional film operations, using jet or piston power 

aircraft, operate at extremely low altitudes just feet from the subject being filmed and in 

extreme proximity to people and structures; and present the risks associated with vehicles that 

weigh in the neighborhood of 4,000lbs., carrying large amounts of jet A or other fuel. Such 

aircraft must fly to and from the film location. In contrast, a sUAS weighing fewer than 55 lbs. 

and powered by batteries eliminates virtually all of that risk given the reduced mass and lack 

of combustible fuel carried on board. The sUAS is carried to the film set and not flown. The 

sUAS will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not expose them to the risks 

associated with manned aircraft flights.

The operation of small UASs, weighting less than 55 lbs., conducted in the strict 

conditions outlined above, will provide an equivalent level of safety supporting the grant of 

the exemptions requested herein, including exempting the applicant from the requirements of 

Part 21 and allowing commercial operations. These lightweight aircraft operate at slow 

speeds, close to the ground, and in a sterile environment and, as a result, are far safer than 

conventional operations conducted with turbine helicopters operating in close proximity to the 

ground and people.

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027
Privacy

All flights will occur over private or controlled access property with the property owner’s 

prior consent and knowledge. Filming will be of people who have also consented to being 

filmed or otherwise have agreed to be in the area where filming will take place.

 Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 2012--size, 

weight, speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation 

within visual line of sight and national security – provide more than adequate justification for the 

grant of the requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of applicant’s UAS in the 

motion picture and television industry pursuant to the Manual appended hereto.

Sincerely,

Kevin Knotts

Chief Operation Officer

Helivision, LLC

9000 Aviation Blvd, Suite 219 Concord, NC 28027