Mark E. McKinnon Mark.McKinnon@dentons.com

D 703.336.8708

Dentons US LLP

1676 International Drive • Penthouse

McLe an, VA 22102
United States

T 703.336.8800

F 703.336.8750 Salans FMC SNR Denton
McKenna Long

dentons.com

J uly 23 , 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation
Docket Management System
1200 New Jersey Ave., SE
Washington DC 20590

Re: Petition of HouseLens , Inc. for Grant of Exemption Pursuant to Section 333 of

the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012

To Who m it May Concern :

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Reform Act) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, HouseLens , Inc. (hereinafter HouseLens ) hereby applies for a Grant of Exemption from the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) ident ified below, to operate small unmanned aerial vehicles ( i.e., small unmanned aircraft systems or UAS) for the purpose of conducting aerial data collection in support of its real estate filming, marketing and videography

activities

. In particular, HouseLe ns seeks permission to operate the 3D Robotics Solo

, 3D Robotics Iris, 3D Robotics Iris+, 3D Roboti cs X8, 3D Robotics X8+, DJI Phant om 2, DJI Phantom 2 Vision, DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, and DJI Phantom 3

. HouseLens respectfully submits that this Petition for Exemption qualifies for expedited approval, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has previously issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented herein.

In addition to this Petition for Exemption, HouseLens will also submit the following operating documents under separate cover:

 HouseLens Operations Manual

HouseLens submits this manual as a confidential document under separate cover pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 11.35(b), as the manual contains confidential commercial and proprietary information that is not generally made available to the public. As a result, the information is also protected from release under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 et seq.

For your convenience, this Petition is organized as follows:U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 2 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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T ABLE OF C ONTENTS

Page

I. B ACKGROUND & D ESCRIPTION OF P ETITIONER

................................ ................................ .... 3

II. D ESCRIPTION OF P ROPOSED O PERATION

................................ ................................ ............... 3

III. R ELEVANT S TATUTORY A UTHORITY

................................ ................................ .................... 4

IV. HOUSELENS ' S P ROPOSED UAS O PERATION S M EET THE R EQUIREMENTS OF
S ECTION 333 OF THE R EFORM A CT

................................ ................................ ....................... 4

A. Approval is Warranted Based on the UAS's Size, Weight, Speed, and Operational Capability

................................ ................................ ............................. 5

B. Approval is Warranted Based on the Opera tional Restrictions in

HOUSELENS ' s Operating Documents

................................ ................................ .... 6

V. R EGULATIONS F ROM W HICH E XEMPTION I S S OUGHT

................................ ........................... 6

A. 91.9(c), 45.23(b) and 45.27(a): Aircraft Marking and Identification Requirements

................................ ................................ ................................ ........... 7

B. 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2); 91.417(a) and (b): Maintenance Inspections

................................ ................................ .......................... 8

C. 61.23(a) and (c), 61.113, 61.101(e)(4) and (5), 61.315: Private, Recreational and Sport Pilot Medical C ertificate, Privileges and

Limitations

................................ ................................ ................................ ............... 9

D. 91.7(a): Civil Aircraft Airworthiness

................................ ................................ ....... 9

E. 91.9(b)(2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft and 91.203(a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certi fication and Registration

................................ ... 10

F. 91.103: Preflight Action

................................ ................................ ......................... 11

G. 91.109(a): Flight Instruction

................................ ................................ .................. 11

H. 91.119(c): Minimum Safe Altitudes Over Other Than Congested Areas

.............. 12

I. 91.121: Altimeter Settings

................................ ................................ ..................... 12

J. 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

................................ 13

VI. D RUG AND A LCOHOL P ROGRAM

................................ ................................ ......................... 14

VII. P UBLIC I NTEREST

................................ ................................ ................................ ................ 14

VIII. P RIVACY

................................ ................................ ................................ ............................. 14

IX. F EDERAL R EGISTER S UMMARY

................................ ................................ ........................... 14

X. C ONCLUSION

................................ ................................ ................................ ....................... 15U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 3 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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I. B ACKGROUND & D ESCRIPTION OF P ETITIONER

Founded i n 2008, HouseLens has grown into the nation’s leading provider of visual marketing solutions for real estate. Our presence extends to the nation’s top real estate markets, where agents and brokers alike are harnessing the power of HouseLens visual marketi ng to help win more listings, sell homes faster, and attract better

- quality leads.

Research has shown time and again that professional visual content makes a significant difference in time on market, selling price, and lead generation:

● 52% of marketin g professionals name video as the content type with the highest

ROI ;

● Professional video is 30% more effective than DIY video as a marketing tool ;

● Properties marketed with video attract 4 times the quality leads of properties

marketed without video ;

● Properties marketed with professional photography sell up to 3 weeks faster than properties marketed with DIY photography

.

HouseLens solutions include full

- motion walk

- through video, interactive 3D models, and professional photography; agent video bios ; broker promotional videos; community videos; solutions for commercial and builder developments; and more.

In accordance with 14 C.F.R. § 11.81(a), HouseLens provides the following information in support of its Petition for Exemption.

The contact info rmation for Petitioner is as follows:

Andrew Crefeld

HouseLens , Inc.

720 Rundle Ave

Nashville TN 37210

II. D ESCRIPTION OF P ROPOSED O PERATION

HouseLens seeks an exemption pursuant to Section 333 of the Reform Act to use the 3D

Robotics Solo for aerial data col lection in support of its real estate filming and videography

business. HouseLens is committed to maintaining the highest standards of flight safety. All UAS operations will be performed in accordance with the accompanying HouseLens operating documents, and in accordance with the requirements of an applicable C ertificate of Authorization ("C OA ") . Among other things, and as detailed in the operating documents, all UAS operations will occur in uncontrolled airspace, within visual line

- of

- sight (VLOS) of theU.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 4 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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pilot and visual observer, and will be limited to daytime VFR conditions. Moreover, HouseLens ' operating documents incorporate redundant safeguards to enhance safety. The proposed operations in this Petition for Exemption are not new or novel to the FAA. The FAA has previously issued grants of exemption to use small UAS for aerial data collection in support of similar real estate activities: See e.g.

,

Exemption No. 12081 to Lewis Realty Associates, Inc. (Docket No. FAA

– 2015

– 0195)

Exemption No. 12029 to W indshear Media, LLC, (FAA Docket No. FAA

– 2015−1292)

The low

- risk UAS operations proposed by HouseLens in this Petition for Exemption fall squarely within the category of aerial data collection that has been subject to previous approval.

III. R ELEVANT S TATUTOR Y A UTHORITY

This Petition for Exemption is submitted pursuant to Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. Congress has directed the FAA "to safely accelerate the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system." Pursua nt to Section 333 of the Reform Act, the FAA Administrator is to permit unmanned aircraft systems to operate in the NAS where it is safe to do so based on the following considerations:

 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 the visual line of sight of the operator.

Additionally, the FAA Administrator has general authority to grant exemptions from the agency's safety regulations and min imum standards when the Administrator decides a requested exemption is in the public interest. See 49 U.S.C. § 106(f) (defining the authority of the Administrator); 49 U.S.C. § 44701(f) (permitting exemptions from §§ 44701(a), (b) and §§ 44702

– 44716, et seq. ). A party requesting an exemption must explain the reasons why the exemption: (1) would benefit the public as a whole, and (2) would not adversely affect safety (or how it would provide a level of safety at least equal to the existing rules). See 14 C .F.R. § 11.81 (petitions for exemption).

IV. H OUSE L ENS ' P ROPOSED UAS O PERATIONS M EET THE R EQUIREMENTS OF S ECTION
333 OF THE R EFORM A CT

HouseLens' proposed operations in this Petition for Exemption qualify for expedited approval under Section 333 of the Reform Act, as each of the statutory criteria and relevant factors are satisfied and the FAA has previously issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar to those presented in this Petition for Exemption.U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 5 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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A. Approval is Warranted Based on the UAS's Size, Weigh t, Speed, and Operational Capability

The FAA is familiar with and has already determined that the following vehicles chosen by U

- M

meet the requirements of Section 333 of the Reform Act due to their weight, speed and operational
capabilities : DJI Phant om 2, DJI Phantom 2 Vision, DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, DJI Phantom 3, 3D

Robotics Iris, 3D Robotics Iris+, 3D Robotics X8, 3D Robotics X8+, and the 3D Robotics Solo

. See

e.g.,

 DJI Phantom 1 : Exe mption No. 11577 to HAZON Solutions, LLC; Exemption No. 11650 to Trinity Aeroimaging; and Exemption No. 11318 to MicroDrone Vision, Inc.

 DJI Phantom 2 : Exemption No. 11315 to The Climate Corporation and Precision Planting, LLC; Exemption No. 11784 to Prec ision Unmanned Aerial LLC; Exemption No. 11785 to CinemaCapture Videography; Exemption No. 11786 to Tabitha Femmer; Exemption No. 11767 to Brett Baker; Exemption No. 11770 to Crosstimbers Video Partners LLC

 DJI Phantom 2 Vision : Exemption No. 11768 to Cop per City Aviation Services LLC; Exemption No. 11267 to ETAK Systems Inc.; Exemption No. 11310 to Colin Hinkle; Exemption No. 11624 to Vertical Information Services Inc.; Exemption No. 11556 to Sydor Aerial Photography, LLC

 DJI Phantom 2 Vision+: Exemption No. 11224 to NextEra Energy, Inc.; Exemption No. 11230 to Montico, Inc.; Exemption No. 11228 to Steven Zeets ; Exemption No. 11218 to Saratoga Aerial Vehicle; and Exemption No. 11215 to Mike Johnson

 DJI Phantom 3 : Exemption No. 11783 to Precision Design and Drafting, Inc.; Exemption No. 11788 to Birds Eye Aerial Photography, Inc.; Exemption No. 11696 to Midwest UAV Imagining; Exemption No. 11335A to Voler, Inc.; Exemption No. 11267A to ETAK Systems, Inc.; Exemption No. 11306A to Hawk Aerial, LLC

 3D Rob otics Iris: Exemption No. 11521 to SkyWard IO, Inc.

 3D Robotics Iris+ : Exemption No. 11273 to AIG PC Global Services, Inc.; Exemption No. 1141 to Douglas R. Dorrer; and Exemption No. 11204 to Build Imagery, LLC

 3D Robotics X8 : Exemption No. 11521 to SkyW ard IO, Inc.; Exemption No. 11446 to Trumbull Unmanned, LLC; and Exemption No. 11335 to Voler, Inc.

 3D Robotics X8+: Exemption No. 11626 to Olssson Associates; Exemption No. 11617 to Aerial Precision SurveyU.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 6 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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 3D Robotics Solo: Exemp tion No. 11778A to Cloud 9Drones

B. Approval is Warranted Based on the Operational Restrictions in HouseLens ' Operating Documents

The operating documents for the selected UAS contain all the procedures and limitations necessary to safely and successfully perform the proposed operatio ns. To expedite the FAA's safety

assessment of HouseLens ' proposed UAS operations, HouseLens has tailored its operating documents to comply with the conditions and limitations imposed on similarly situated petitioners seeking to use small UAS for aerial da ta collection. See e.g., Grant of Exemption No. 11761 issued to Dronair Solutions, Docket No. FAA

- 2015

- 0648. In particular, the operating documents contain systems and procedures to permit HouseLens to comply with the conditions and limitations in the

FAA' s Grant of Exemption. Id.

V. R EGULATIONS F ROM W HICH E XEMPTION I S S OUGHT

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

un der § 40101 of the Act, including UAS, from its safety regulations and minimum standards when the Administrator decides a requested exemption is in the public interest. 1

HouseLens seeks an exemption from several interrelated provisions of 14 C.F.R. Parts 45, 61 and 91 for purposes of conducting the requested operations using small UAS, including:

FAR Description

91.9(c); 45.23(b) and
45.27(a) Aircraft Marking and Identification Requirements

91.405(a); 91.407(a)(1);
91.409(a)(1) and (2);
91.417(a) and ( b) Maintenance and Inspection Requirements

61.23(a) and (c); 61.113;
61.101(e)(4) and (5); 61.315 Private, Recreational and Sport Pilot Medical Certificate
Privileges and Limitations

91.7(a) Civil Aircraft Airworthiness

1 See 49 U.S.C. § 44701(f) (authorizing the grant of exemptions from requirements of re gulations prescribed
pursuant to Sections 44701(a) and (b) and Sections 44702

- 44716).U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 7 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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91.9(b)(2); 91.203(a) and
(b ) Carrying Aircraft Flight Manual, Certification and Registration in

the Aircraft

91.103 Preflight Action

91.109(a) Flight Instruction

91.119(c) Minimum Safe Altitudes Over Other than Congested Areas

91.121 Altimeter Settings

91.151(a) Fuel Requirem ents for Flight in VFR Conditions

Listed below are the specific sections of 14 C.F.R. for which an exemption is sought, and the operating procedures and safeguards that Petitioner has established which will ensure a level of safety better than or equal to the rules from which exemption is sought. 2

A. 91.9(c), 45.23(b) and 45.27(a): Aircraft Marking and Identification Requirements

HouseLens seeks an exemption from the aircraft marking and identification requirements contained in 14 C.F.R. §§ 91.9(c), 45.23( b) and 45.27(a).

● 14 C.F.R. § 91.9(c), Civil Aircraft Flight Manual, Marking and Placard Requirements, provides that:

No person may operate a U.S.

- registered civil aircraft unless that aircraft is identified in accordance with Part 45 of this chapter.

● 14 C. F.R. § 45.23(b), Markings of the Aircraft, states:

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," a s applicable.

● 14 C.F.R. § 45.27(a), Rotorcraft, states:

2 See 14 C.F.R. § 11.81(e), which requires a petition for exemption to include:

The reasons why granting the exemption would not adversely affect safety, or how the exe mption would provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the rule from which you seek exemption.U.S. Department of Transpor tation

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Each operator of a rotorcraft must display on that rotorcraft horizontally on both surfaces of the cabin, fuselage, boom, or tail the marks required by § 45.23.

In prior grants of exemption under Sec tion 333 of the Reform Act, the FAA determined that exemption from these requirements was warranted provided that the aircraft "have identification (N

- Number) markings in accordance with 14 C.F.R Part 45, Subpart C if the markings are as large as practicab le." 3 All UAS flown by HouseLens will bear N

- number markings that are as large as practicable in accordance with 14 C.F.R. Part 45, Subpart C. 4

B. 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2); 91.417(a) and (b): Maintenance Inspections

HouseLens seeks an exemption from the maintenance inspection requirements contained in 14 C.F.R. § 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2); 91.417(a) and (b). These regulations specify maintenance and inspection standards in reference to 14 C.F.R. Part 43. 5 An exemptio n from these regulations is needed because Part 43 and these sections only apply to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, which the UAS to be operated under this grant of exemption will not have.

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved becau se maintenance and inspections will be performed in accordance with the operating documents and any required manufacturer Safety or Service Bulletins. Further, as required by the operating documents, the Pilot in Command (PIC) will conduct a pre

- flight ins pection of the UAS and all associated equipment to account for all discrepancies and/or inoperable components. Maintenance will be performed and verified to address any conditions potentially affecting safe operation of the UAS and no flights will occur

un less, and until, all flight critical components of the UAS have been found to be airworthy and in a condition safe for operation. A functional test flight will be conducted following the replacement of any flight

- critical components. As required by the ope rating documents, the PIC who conducts the functional test flight will make an entry in the UAS aircraft records of the flight.

The operating documents also include requirements to follow the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspec tion, and life limit requirements for the aircraft and aircraft components. Moreover, the operating documents also include procedures to document and maintain a record of the UAS maintenance, preventative maintenance, alterations, status of replacement/ove rhaul component parts, and the total time in service of Petitioner's UAS. As a

3 FAA Docket No. FAA

- 2014

- 0352.

4 See, e.g., FAA Docket No. FAA

- 2014

- 0352, at 14.

5 See, e.g., 14 C.F.R. § 91.405(a) (stating that each owner or operator of an aircraft "[s]hall have the aircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections ...have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter.").U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 9 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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whole, the maintenance and inspection procedures required by Petitioner's operating documents ensure that an equivalent or higher level of safety will be achieved.

C. 61.23(a) and (c), 61.113, 61.101(e)(4) and (5), 61.315: Private, Recreational and Sport Pilot Medical Certificate, Privileges and Limitations

HouseLens seeks exemption from these sections, which restricts private, recreational or sport pilot certificate holders from fl ying aircraft for compensation or hire, and would also require a Class II Medical Certificate. The purpose of Part 61 is to ensure that the skill and competency of any PIC matches the airspace in which the PIC will be operating, as well as requiring certif

ications if the private pilot is carrying passengers or cargo for hire. In this case, while the UAS will be operated as part of a commercial operation, it carries neither passengers

nor cargo.

In the Grant of Exemption No. 11062 to Astraeus Aerial 6 , the FAA determined that the unique characteristics of UAS operation outside of controlled airspace did not warrant the additional cost and restrictions attendant with requiring the PIC to have a Commercial Pilot

Certificate and Class II Medical Certificate. Th e fulfillment of the additional requirements for a private pilot to become qualified as a commercial pilot would not lead to any additional safety benefits when UAS operations are involved.

More recently, the FAA determined that holders of recreational and sport pilot certificates would also have adequate aeronautical knowledge to pilot a UAS. Accordingly, because these individuals would also be subject to security screening by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the FAA determined that holders of recreational and sport pilot certificates would be qualified to serve as the PIC for UAS operations. 7

D. 91.7(a): Civil Aircraft Airworthiness

Inasmuch as there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the UAS, HouseLens seeks an exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 91.7(a), which requires that a civil aircraft be in an airworthy condition to be operated. While Petitioner’s UAS will not have an airworthiness certificate, the FAA has determined that for the purposes of this exemption the pilot may

determine th e aircraft is in an airworthy condition prior to flight. The operating documents contain procedures, which allow the PIC to determine whether the aircraft is in a condition safe for flight, and an exemption from § 91.7(a) is therefore warranted.

6 FAA Docket No. FAA

- 2014

- 0352.

7 See Grant of Exemption No. 11213 to Aeryon Labs, Inc. (Docket No. FAA

- 2014

- 0642 at pgs. 8

- 9).U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 10 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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E. 91.9(b )(2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft and 91.203(a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration

Title 14 C.F.R. § 91.9(b)(2) and § 91.203(a) and (b) require the operator to carry

airworthiness documents and other aircraft m anuals onboard the aircraft.

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 91.9(b)(2):

(b) No person may operate a U.S.

- registered civil aircraft

–

... (2) For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is required by § 21.5 of this chapter, unless there is available in the a ircraft a current approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any

combination thereof.

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 91.203(a) and (b):

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil airc raft unless it has within it the following:

(1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate...

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorizatio n issued under § 91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.

Given the small size and configuration of the UAS, it would be impossible to keep

airworthiness documents and other aircraft manuals on board the UAS because there is simply no room and the UAS has no cabin or cockpit.

In an FAA Office of Chief Counsel's Opinion dated August 8, 2014, and prepared by Dean E. Griffith, Attorney, AGC

- 220, it was acknowledged that the intent of 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)

a nd 91.203(a) and (b) is met if the pilot of the unmanned aircraft has access to the UAS flight manual, registration certificate, and other required documents from the ground control station from which he or she is operating the aircraft. 8 As this FAA Offic e of Chief Counsel Opinion clarifies, the intent of the rule is to ensure the pilot has access to these key documents during

8 Memorandum from Mark Bury, FAA Assistant Chief Counsel for International Law, Legislation and Regulation, to John Duncan, FAA Flight Standards Service (Aug. 8, 2014 ); see also Docket No. FAA

- 2014

- 0352 at 16

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flight. Therefore, an equivalent level of safety will be achieved by ensuring that the pilot has access to the documents at the gro und control station from which he or she is piloting the UAS. 9

F. 91.103: Preflight Action

Petitioner seeks an exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 91.103, which requires a PIC to become familiar with specific information before each flight, including information c ontained in the

FAA

- approved Flight Manual on board the aircraft. While the PIC will be familiar with all information necessary to safely conduct the flight, an exemption is requested to the extent that an

FAA

- approved Flight Manual is required.

Adherence to the requirements in the operating documents will ensure that the UAS is in an airworthy condition prior to flight. The PIC will perform a series of checklists designed to identify any defects or inoperable components, which cover pre

- flight, take

- off, l anding and

post

- flight procedures. The PIC will also be required to review weather, flight requirements, battery charge, landing and takeoff distance, UA performance data, and contingency landing

areas

— before initiation of flight. Petitioner's operating do cuments will be kept at the ground control station and will be accessible to the PIC at all times while operating the UAS.

G. 91.109(a): Flight Instruction

Petitioner seeks an exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 91.109(a), which provides in pertinent part that "[n]o p erson 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." UAS and remotely piloted aircraft, by their design, do not have functional dual controls. Instead, flight control is accomplished through the use of a device that communicates with the aircraft via radio communications. Accordingly, an exemption will be required for the flight instruction requirements of 14 C.F.R. § 91.109(a).

Given the size and speed of the UAS that Petitioner intends to use, an equivalent level of safe training can still be achieved without dual controls because no pilot or passengers are aboard the UAS, and as required by the operating documents, all persons will be a safe distance away in the event that the UAS experiences any difficulties during flight instruction. Moreover, all flight training will be conducted in controlled and sterile environment. As a whole, the procedures provided for in the operating documents ensure that UAS flight instruction can be performed safely.

9 See also Exemption No. 11213 to Aeryon Labs, Inc. at pg. 11:

The petitioner requested relief from 14 CFR § 91.9(b)(2): Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and
placard requirements and § 91.203(a) and (b) : Civil aircraft: Certifications required. The FAA has
previously determined that relief from these sections is not necessary. See Exemption No. 11062.
Relevant materials may be kept in a location accessible to the PIC in compliance with the regulations.U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 12 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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H. 91.119(c): Minimum Safe Altitudes Over Other Than Congested Areas

HouseLens requests an exemption from the minimum safe altitude requirements of 14 C.F.R. § 91.119(c). 10 Section 91.119 prescribes the min imum safe altitudes under which aircraft may not operate, including 500 feet above the surface and away from any person, vessel, vehicle,

or structure in non

- congested areas. See 14 C.F.R. § 91.119(c).

An exemption is required because the proposed UAS ope rations will normally need to occur below 400 feet AGL. Additionally, due to the nature of the proposed operations, the PIC and/or Observers may need to be less than 500 feet away from the UAS. Compared to flight operations with rotorcraft weighing far mor e than the maximum weights proposed herein, and given the lack of flammable fuel with the UAS, any risk associated with these operations is far less than those that presently exist with conventional aircraft.

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, and speed of the UAS, as well the controlled location where the operations will occur. In order to avoid any risk to manned aircraft, flight operations will be restricted to below 400 feet AGL. As set forth in the operating documen ts, the UAS will be operated in a controlled environment, and all flights will occur at a lateral distance of at least 500 feet from nonparticipating persons, unless that person is in a position where he or she is shielded from the UAS and any possible deb ris resulting from UAS failure. Procedures will be in place to ensure flight operations can be safely terminated if a nonparticipating person within 500 feet of the UAS leaves a shielded position. Further, UAS operations will occur at least 500 feet away from vehicles or structures unless the property owner/controller has granted permission and the PIC has made a safety assessment of the risk of operating closer to those objects, and operations near the PIC or Observer will not present an undue hazard per § 91.119(a). Adherence to these restrictions in HouseLens ' operating documents will ensure the proposed operations can be conducted without compromising safety to persons or property on the ground.

I. 91.121: Altimeter Settings

To the extent necessary for HouseLens to conduct the proposed operations, Petitioner requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 91.121, which requires a person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude or flight level by reference to an altimeter that is set to the elevation of the departure airport or barometric pressure.

The FAA has stated that an equivalent level of safety to the requirements of 14 C.F.R. § 91.121 can be achieved in circumstances where: (1) the UAS will be operated 400 feet AGL or

10 Relief from § 91.119(a) will not be necessary because Petitioner will be able to perform an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the ground in the event of a failure. Petitioner's proposed UAS operations will not occur over co ngested areas, and therefore an exemption from § 91.119(b) will not be

necessary. See e.g ., Grant of Exemption No. 11157 to Slugwear, Inc., dba Likeonatree Aerial at pg. 15 (Docket No.

FAA

- 2014

- 0534 ).U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 13 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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below, (2) within VLOS, (3) where GPS based altitude information is relayed in real time to the operator at a ground

- based on

- screen display and, (4) where prior to each flight, a zero altitude initiation point is established for the PIC to confirm accuracy of the onboard GPS.

The U AS that Petitioner intends to use for performing the proposed operations meet all these operational characteristics. Moreover, the operating documents require the PIC to calibrate the aircraft's GPS compass prior to each flight operation. As the FAA has de termined in circumstances similar to this Petition for Exemption, Petitioner's UAS and the safety mitigation procedures contained in the operating documents, ensure that an equivalent level of safety will be achieved, and a grant of exemption to the requir ements of § 191.121 is therefore appropriate.

J. 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

HouseLens requests an exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a)'s fuel requirements for flight in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions. Section 91.151 state s:

(a) No person may begin 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.

Here, the technological limitations on UAS battery power means that no meaningful flight operations can be conducted while still maintaining a 30

- minute battery reserve. An exemption from the fuel requirements of 14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a) is therefore required.

The FAA has previously granted relief from the fuel requirements of § 91.151(a) for flight in daytime VFR conditions in circumstances similar to those presented in this Petition for Exemption. 11 In Exemption No. 11213 to Aeryon Labs, Inc. 12 , the FAA determined that a requirements prohibiting the PIC from beginning a UAS flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there was enough avai lable power for UAS to operate for the intended operational time and to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if greater, would ensure an equivalent level of safety to the fuel requirements o f § 91.151(a). 13 Petitioner's operating documents impose this same requirements and an exemption from § 91.151(a)'s fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions is therefore appropriate.

11 See e.g., Exemption Nos. 8811, 10808, and 10673.

12 Docket No. FAA

- 2014

- 0642.

13 Exemption No. 11213 at pg. 12.U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 14 Salans FMC SNR Denton
McKenna Long

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VI. D RUG AND A LCOHOL P ROGRAM

HouseLens has established policies to ens ure that no person may participate in UAS flight operations if they are under the influence of alcohol or any drug.

VII. P UBLIC I NTEREST

The public interest will be served by granting HouseLens ' Petition for Exemption. Congress has established a national poli cy that favors early integration of UAS into the National Air Space (NAS) in controlled, safe working environments such as those proposed in this Petition. Granting this Petition for Exemption helps fulfill Congress' goal in passing Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act

— the FAA Administrator's assessment of whether certain UAS may operate safely in the NAS before completion of the statutorily required rulemaking.

The proposed UAS operations in this Petition for Exemption significantly improve safety and reduce risk by alleviating the public's exposure to danger associated with traditional aerial data collection methods, namely, full size fixed

- wing aircraft and rotorcraft. The UAS that

HouseLens intends to use are light weight, are battery powered, a nd create no emissions. Moreover, in the unlikely event that one of Petitioner's UAS crash, there is no fuel to ignite and explode. Any accident involving Petitioner's small lightweight UAS will present significantly less danger to the pilot and other ind ividuals on the ground than one involving a full size helicopter.

VIII. P RIVACY

The proposed operations will be conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, or local laws regarding privacy. HouseLens will not conduct flight operations over property that it does not own or control without the prior consent and knowledge of the property owner.

IX. F EDERAL R EGISTER S UMMARY

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

F EDERAL R EGISTER , should it be determined th at publication is needed:

Petitioner seeks an exemption from the following rules in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

45.23(b); 45.27(a); 61.23(a) and (c); 61.113; 61.101(e)(4) and (5); 61.315; 91.7(a); 91.9(b)(2); 91.9(c); 91.103; 91.109(a); 91 .119(b); 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.203 (a) & (b); 91.405(a); 91.407(a)(1); 91.409(a)(1) & (2); 91.417 (a) & (b).

The exemption will enhance safety by reducing risk to the general public and property

owners from the substantial hazards associated with usin g conventional fixed

- wing aircraft or

rotorcraft for aerial data collection.U.S. Department of Transpor tation July 23, 2015 Page 15 Salans FMC SNR Denton
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X. C ONCLUSION

The proposed operations in this Petition for Exemption satisfy the criteria articulated in Section 333 of the Reform Act and the FAA has issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar in all respects to those presented by HouseLens in this Petition for Exemption. In consideration of the foregoing, this Petition for Exemption provides the FAA with all the necessary justification for granting the requested exemptions allowing HouseLens to operate small UAS for the purpose of aerial data collection.

We thank you for your prompt consideration of our requested exemptions. Should you have any questions, or if you need additional information to support the requested e xemptions, please do not hesitate to contact us

.

Very Truly Yours,

Mark E. McKinnon
Counsel for HouseLens, Inc.

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