W i l l C o o p e r

3 7 0 3 I n g l e w o o d B l v d

A p t

. 2 0 4

L o s A n g e l e s

, C A 9 0 0 6 6

T e l

. 7 2 7

­ 4 0 3

­ 8 5 0 5

w i l l c o o p e r

. c o m

U

. S

. D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n M a y 2 6

, 2 0 1 5

D o c k e t M a n a g e m e n t S y s t e m

1 2 0 0 N e w J e r s e y A v e S

. E

.

W a s h i n g t o n

, D

. C

. 2 0 5 9 0

R e : R e q u e s t f o r E x e m p t i o n u n d e r S e c t i o n 3 3 3 o f t h e F A A M o d e r n i z a t i o n a n d R e f o r m A c t o f 2 0 1 2

a n d P a r t 1 1 o f t h e F e d e r a l A v i a t i o n R e g u l a t i o n s f r o m C e r t a i n P r o v i s i o n s o f 1 4 C

. F

. R

.

R i c h t e r S t u d i o s

D e a r S i r o r M a d a m :

P u r s u a n t t o S e c t i o n 3 3 3 o f t h e F A A M o d e r n i z a t i o n a n d R e f o r m A c t o f 2 0 1 2 ( t h e R e f o r m

A c t ) a n d 1 4 C

. F

. R

. P a r t 1 1

, A n t o n e l l i L a w f i l e s t h i s p e t i t i o n f o r e x e m p t i o n o n b e h a l f o f R i c h t e r

S t u d i o s ( “ R i c h t e r ” )

, a n o p e r a t o r o f S m a l l U n m a n n e d A i r c r a f t S y s t e m s ( “ U A s ” ) f o r a e r i a l

c i n e m a t o g r a p h y

. S p e c i f i c a l l y

, p e t i t i o n e r s e e k s a n e x e m p t i o n f r o m t h e F e d e r a l A v i a t i o n

R e g u l a t i o n s ( “ F A R s ” ) l i s t e d i n A p p e n d i c e s A a n d B t o a l l o w c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n o f i t s U A s

, s o

l o n g a s s u c h o p e r a t i o n s a r e c o n d u c t e d w i t h i n a n d u n d e r t h e c o n d i t i o n s o u t l i n e d h e r e i n o r a s m a y

b e e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e F A A i n a g r a n t o f t h i s p e t i t i o n

. T h i s r e q u e s t i s s u b s t a n t i a l l y s i m i l a r t o o t h e r

d a t a c o l l e c t i o n p e t i t i o n s p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d

, a n d s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d u n d e r t h e e x p e d i t e d

s u m m a r y g r a n t p r o c e d u r e

.

A p p r o v a l o f t h e e x e m p t i o n f o r p e t i t i o n e r w i l l a l l o w c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n o f t h e D J I

I n s p i r e 1 i n C l a s s G a i r s p a c e n a t i o n w i d e u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e p r e s c r i b e d b y a n A i r T r a f f i c

O r g a n i z a t i o n ( A T O ) i s s u e d C O A

. T h i s U A h a s b e e n p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d f o r c o m m e r c i a l

o p e r a t i o n s i n E x e m p t i o n N o s

. 1 1 2 0 4

, 1 1 2 2 4

, 1 1 2 5 4

, 1 1 2 7 9

, 1 1 2 8 0

, 1 1 2 8 8

, 1 1 2 9 5

, 1 1 3 0 1

, 1 1 3 0 3

,

1 1 3 1 3

, 1 1 3 1 4

, 1 1 3 1 8

, 1 1 3 2 3

, 1 1 3 2 7

, 1 1 3 3 6

, 1 1 3 4 2

, 1 1 3 5 9

, 1 1 3 7 7

, 1 1 3 8 4

, 1 1 3 8 5

, a n d 1 1 3 9 4

. T h e

U A c o v e r e d b y t h i s p e t i t i o n i s a s m a l l b a t t e r y

­ p o w e r e d c r a f t

, w e i g h i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6

. 5 l b s

. ,

i n c l u s i v e o f b a t t e r y a n d p a y l o a d

. O p e r a t i o n o f t h e U A u n d e r t h e s t r i c t c o n d i t i o n s p r o p o s e d b e l o w

w i l l p r o v i d e a n e q u i v a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f e t y

, a s C o n g r e s s i n t e n d e d

, w h i l e s t i l l a l l o w i n g c o m m e r c i a l

o p e r a t i o n s

. O p e r a t i o n s u s i n g t h e s e U A s a r e f a r s a f e r t h a n c o n v e n t i o n a l o p e r a t i o n s c o n d u c t e d w i t h

h e l i c o p t e r s a n d f i x e d

­ w i n g a i r c r a f t t h a t w e i g h t h o u s a n d s o f p o u n d s

, c a r r y h i g h l y f l a m m a b l e f u e l

,

a n d o p e r a t e i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e g r o u n d

, t r e e s

, i n f r a s t r u c t u r e

, a n d p e o p l e

.

C o n g r e s s d i r e c t e d t h e F A A t o c o n s i d e r s e v e n f a c t o r s i n d e c i d i n g w h e t h e r t o a p p r o v e

S e c t i o n 3 3 3 e x e m p t i o n p e t i t i o n s

­ s i z e

, w e i g h t

, s p e e d

, o p e r a t i o n a l c a p a b i l i t y

, p r o x i m i t y t o a i r p o r t s

,

p r o x i m i t y t o p o p u l a t e d a r e a s

, a n d o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n v i s u a l l i n e o f s i g h t

. I n t h i s c a s e

, e a c h f a c t o r

s u p p o r t s t h e e x e m p t i o n r e q u e s t

. I n p a r t i c u l a r

, t h e U A i s s m a l l

, a n d w i l l o p e r a t e a t s l o w s p e e d s a n d

c l o s e t o t h e g r o u n d

. I t w i l l b e a b l e t o m o r e s a f e l y a n d e f f i c i e n t l y c o n d u c t o p e r a t i o n s t h a t w o u l d o t h e r w i s e i n v o l v e

i n v o l v e r i s k o f i n j u r y o r d e a t h

. T h e s u b s t a n t i a l i n c r e a s e o f s a f e t y a n d d e c r e a s e o f r i s k t o h u m a n l i f e a n d p r o p e r t y

w e i g h s h e a v i l y i n f a v o r o f g r a n t i n g t h e e x e m p t i o n

.F o r y o u r e a s e i n r e v i e w i n g t h i s p e t i t i o n

, p l e a s e r e f e r t o t h e t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s w h i c h b e g i n s o n p a g e 3

. I f w e c a n

p r o v i d e a n y a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n t o a s s i s t y o u r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o r r e v i e w o f t h i s d o c u m e n t

, p l e a s e d o n n o t h e s i t a t e t o

c o n t a c t u s a t 7 2 7

­ 4 0 3

­ 8 5 9 5 o r v i a e m a i l a t i n f o @ w i l l c o o p e r

. c o m

T h a n k y o u

,

W i l l C o o p e r

P h o t o g r a p h e r * C i n e m a t o g r a p h e r

O f C o u n s e l

W i l l C o o p e r

S p o r t P i l o t

T y p e R a t e d i n :

D i a m o n d D A

­ 2 0

T h i r d C l a s s M e d i c a l C e r t i f i c a t eT a b l e o f C o n t e n t s

I

. P u b l i s h a b l e S u m m a r y

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

I I

. P e t i t i o n e r ’ s C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n

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

I I I

. P r o p o s e d O p e r a t i o n s

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

A

. T h e U A s

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

B

. T h e C r e w

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

C

. F l i g h t C o n d i t i o n s

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

D

. F l i g h t O p e r a t i o n s

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

I V

. A i r c r a f t a n d E q u i v a l e n t L e v e l o f S a f e t y

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

V I

. P r o p o s e d C o n d i t i o n s o f t h e E x e m p t i o n

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

V I

. P r i v a c y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2

V I I

. P u b l i c I n t e r e s t a n d S a f e t y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2

V I I I

. R e g u l a t i o n s f r o m W h i c h E x e m p t i o n i s R e q u e s t e d

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3

A p p e n d i x A : F A R s a s t o w h i c h R i c h t e r w i s h e s t h e s a m e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o b e m a d e a s h a s

b e e n m a d e p r e v i o u s l y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3

A p p e n d i x B : R i c h t e r ’ s a r g u m e n t f o r e x e m p t i o n f r o m 1 4 C F R § § 6 1

. 2 3 ( a ) a n d ( c )

,

6 1

. 1 0 1 ( e ) ( 4 ) a n d ( 5 )

, 6 1

. 1 1 3 ( a )

, 6 1

. 3 1 5 ( a )

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8

1

. T h e F A A a n d f o r e i g n r e g u l a t o r s r e c o g n i z e t h a t o b t a i n i n g a m a n n e d a i r c r a f t p i l o t

l i c e n s e i s u n n e c e s s a r y f o r s a f e o p e r a t i o n o f a U A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8

2

. T h e F A A d o e s h a v e

, a n d h a s a l r e a d y

, e x e r c i s e d t h e a u t h o r i t y t o e x e m p t p e t i t i o n e r s

f r o m t h e a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e r e q u i r e m e n t

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0E x h i b i t L i s t

E x h i b i t 1 : P h a n t o m 3 Q u i c k S t a r t G u i d e

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S u b m i t t e d s e p a r a t e l y d u e t o u p l o a d c o n s t r a i n t s

E x h i b i t 2 : P h a n t o m 3 U s e r M a n u a l

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . S u b m i t t e d s e p a r a t e l y d u e t o u p l o a d c o n s t r a i n t s

E x h i b i t 3 : S a f e t y G u i d e l i n e s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1

E x h i b i t 4 : D i s c l a i m e r a n d W a r n i n g

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 1

E x h i b i t 5 : I n t e l l i g e n t F l i g h t B a t t e r y S a f e t y G u i d e l i n e s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 0

E x h i b i t 6 : P h a n t o m 3 M a i n t e n a n c e M a n u a l

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4

E x h i b i t 7 : P h a n t o m 3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 6

E x h i b i t 8 : P h a n t o m 3 F e a t u r e s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 4

E x h i b i t 9 : P h a n t o m 3 S p e c i f i c a t i o n s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 8I

. P u b l i s h a b l e S u m m a r y

P u r s u a n t t o 1 4 C

. F

. R

. § 1 1

, t h e f o l l o w i n g s u m m a r y i s p r o v i d e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e

F e d e r a l R e g i s t e r

, s h o u l d i t b e d e t e r m i n e d t h a t p u b l i c a t i o n i s n e e d e d :

P e t i t i o n e r s e e k s a n e x e m p t i o n f r o m t h e f o l l o w i n g r u l e s :

1 4 C

. F

. R 2 1 ( h ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 4 3

. 7 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 4 3

. 1 1 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 4 5

. 1 1 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 4 5

. 2 7 ; 1 4

C

. F

. R

. 4 5

. 2 9 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 6 1

. 2 3 ( a ) a n d ( c ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 6 1

. 1 0 1 ( e ) ( 4 ) a n d ( 5 ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

.

6 1

. 1 1 3 ( a ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 6 1

. 3 1 5 ( a ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 7 ( a ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 9 ( b ) ( 2 ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

.

9 1

. 9 ( c ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 1 0 3 ( b ) ( 2 ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 1 0 5 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 1 0 9 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

.

9 1

. 1 1 3 ( b ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 1 1 9 ( c ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 1 2 1 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 1 5 1 ( a ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

.

9 1

. 2 0 3 ( a ) a n d ( b ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 2 1 5 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 4 0 3 ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 4 0 5 ( a ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

.

9 1

. 4 0 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) ; 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 4 0 9 ( a ) ( 1 ) a n d ( 2 ) ; a n d 1 4 C

. F

. R

. 9 1

. 4 1 7 ( a ) a n d ( b ) t o o p e r a t e

c o m m e r c i a l l y s m a l l u n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t s y s t e m s ( U A s ) ( 6

. 5 l b s

. o r l e s s )

.

A p p r o v a l o f t h e e x e m p t i o n r e q u e s t e d b y p e t i t i o n e r w i l l a l l o w c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n o f

t h e D J I P h a n t o m 3 f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f a e r i a l c i n e m a t o g r a p h y i n C l a s s G a i r s p a c e

n a t i o n w i d e

, u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e p r e s c r i b e d b y a n A T O

­ i s s u e d C O A

. T h e r e q u e s t e d

e x e m p t i o n s h o u l d b e g r a n t e d b e c a u s e o p e r a t i o n o f a s m a l l U A w e i g h i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y

6

. 5 l b s

. ( 2

. 9 k g

. )

, i n c l u s i v e o f b a t t e r y a n d p a y l o a d

, c o n d u c t e d i n t h e s t r i c t c o n d i t i o n s

o u t l i n e d b e l o w

, w i l l p r o v i d e a n e q u i v a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f e t y

, w h i l e s t i l l a l l o w i n g

c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s

. T h e l i g h t w e i g h t a i r c r a f t c o v e r e d b y t h e e x e m p t i o n a r e f a r s a f e r

t h a n c o n v e n t i o n a l o p e r a t i o n s c o n d u c t e d w i t h h e l i c o p t e r s a n d f i x e d

­ w i n g a i r c r a f t

w e i g h i n g t h o u s a n d s o f p o u n d s a n d c a r r y i n g h i g h l y f l a m m a b l e f u e l

, a n d o p e r a t i n g i n

c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e g r o u n d a n d p e o p l e

. T h e s e v e n f a c t o r s C o n g r e s s d i r e c t e d t h e F A A

t o c o n s i d e r w h e n a p p r o v i n g S e c t i o n 3 3 3 e x e m p t i o n p e t i t i o n s

­ s i z e

, w e i g h t

, s p e e d

,

o p e r a t i o n a l c a p a b i l i t y

, p r o x i m i t y t o a i r p o r t s

, p r o x i m i t y t o p o p u l a t e d a r e a s

, a n d

o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n v i s u a l l i n e o f s i g h t

– e a c h s u p p o r t t h e r e q u e s t

. I n p a r t i c u l a r

, t h e a i r c r a f t

a r e s m a l l

, a n d w i l l o p e r a t e a t s l o w s p e e d s

, a n d c l o s e t o t h e g r o u n d

. T h e s u b s t a n t i a l

i n c r e a s e o f s a f e t y a n d d e c r e a s e o f r i s k t o h u m a n l i f e

, c o u p l e d w i t h t h e l o w r i s k u s e o f

U A s t o c o n d u c t t h e s e o p e r a t i o n s

, w e i g h h e a v i l y i n f a v o r o f g r a n t i n g t h e e x e m p t i o n

.

I I

. P e t i t i o n e r ' s C o n t a c t I n f o r m a t i o n

W i l l C o o p e r

C E O

W h i s k e y C h a r l i e A e r i a l s

3 7 0 3 I n g l e w o o d B l v d

L o s A n g e l e s

, C A 9 0 0 6 6

T e l : 3 1 2

­ 2 0 1

­ 8 3 1 0

E m a i l : i n f o @ w i l l c o o p e r

. c o mI I I

. P r o p o s e d O p e r a t i o n s

A

. T h e U A s

T h e r e q u e s t e d e x e m p t i o n w i l l p e r m i t p e t i t i o n e r t o o p e r a t e t h e D J I P h a n t o m 3 ( P r o f e s s i o n a l )

. T h e P h a n t o m 3

( P r o f e s s i o n a l )

h a s b e e n p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d f o r c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n i n E x e m p t i o n N o s

. 1 1 2 0 4

, 1 1 2 2 4

, 1 1 2 5 4

,

1 1 2 7 9

, 1 1 2 8 0

, 1 1 2 8 8

, 1 1 2 9 5

, 1 1 3 0 1

, 1 1 3 0 3

, 1 1 3 1 3

, 1 1 3 1 4

, 1 1 3 1 8

, 1 1 3 2 3

, 1 1 3 2 7

, 1 1 3 3 6

, 1 1 3 4 2

,

1 1 3 5 9

, 1 1 3 7 7

, 1 1 3 8 4

, 1 1 3 8 5

, a n d 1 1 3 9 4

.

T h i s p e t i t i o n

, a l o n g w i t h E x h i b i t s 1

­ 9 w h i c h i n c l u d e t h e s u p p o r t i n g d o c u m e n t a t i o n o f t h e

U A

, a r e h e r e i n a f t e r r e f e r r e d t o a s t h e “ o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

. ” T h e s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e

p r o p o s e d e x e m p t i o n t h a t r e l a t e t o t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e U A s a r e n u m b e r s 1

, 5

, a n d 1 6

­ 2 0 i n

S e c t i o n V I b e l o w

. E a c h h a s b e e n a d o p t e d o r i m p o s e d b y t h e F A A i n n u m e r o u s p r e v i o u s g r a n t s o f

S e c t i o n 3 3 3 e x e m p t i o n p e t i t i o n s

. T h e I n s p i r e 1 h a s t h e a b i l i t y t o h o v e r a n d m o v e i n t h e v e r t i c a l

a n d h o r i z o n t a l p l a n e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

.

T h e P h a n t o m 3 h a s t h e f o l l o w i n g s p e c i f i c a t i o n s o r e q u i v a l e n t :

A i r f r a m e : D J I P h a n t o m 3

­ P r o f e s s i o n a l

C o n t r o l s y s t e m : i n t e r n a l t o t h e P h a n t o m 3

. T h i s i n c l u d e s t h e m a i n c o n t r o l l e r ( M C )

, w h i c h r e c e i v e s

t h e b a t t e r y v o l t a g e

, c a p a c i t y

, a n d c u r r e n t

, t h e i n t e r n a l m e a s u r e m e n t u n i t ( I M U )

, w h i c h r e c e i v e s

t e l e m e t r y d a t a

, c o m p a s s

, a n d G P S

.

M a x i m u m s p e e d : 4 3 k n o t s

W e i g h t

, i n c l u s i v e o f b a t t e r y a n d t e c h n i c a l p a y l o a d : 6

. 5 l b s

. ( 2

. 9 k g

. )

T r a n s m i t t e r ( T x ) : D J I P h a n t o m R e m o t e C o n t r o l

R e c e i v e r ( R x ) : i n t e r n a l t o t h e c o n t r o l s y s t e m

M o t o r s : D J I 3 5 1 0

P r o p e l l e r s : 1 3 ” x 4

C o m b i n e d d a t a a n d v i d e o l i n k : H D L i g h t b r i d g e

G i m b a l : Z e n m u s e X 3

B a t t e r i e s : L i t h i u m P o l y m e r 6 S H i g h v o l t a g e b a t t e r y w i t h 4 5 0 0

­ 5 7 0 0 m A h c a p a c i t y

T e l e m e t r y d i s p l a y : D J I G O A p p

A u t o m a t i c r e t u r n t o h o m e p r o c e d u r e : I f T x s i g n a l i s l o s t f o r m o r e t h a n t h r e e s e c o n d s a n d t h e U A

i s u n d e r 6 5 f t

. ( 2 0 m

. ) A G L

, t h e U A w i l l r i s e t o 6 5 f t

. A G L

, t r a v e l h o r i z o n t a l l y t o t h e p r e d e s i g n a t e d

h o m e s p o t

, h o v e r f o r 1 5 s e c o n d s

, t h e n l a n d

. I f t h e U A i s a b o v e 6 5 f t

. A G L

, t r a v e l

h o r i z o n t a l l y t o t h e p r e

­ d e s i g n a t e d h o m e s p o t

, h o v e r f o r 1 5 s e c o n d s

, t h e n l a n d

.

B

. T h e C r e w

T h e c r e w w i l l c o n s i s t o f a p i l o t i n c o m m a n d ( P I C ) a n d a v i s u a l o b s e r v e r ( V O )

. T h e P I C

a n d V O w i l l h a v e b e e n t r a i n e d i n o p e r a t i o n o f U A s g e n e r a l l y a n d r e c e i v e d u p

­ t o

­ d a t e i n f o r m a t i o n

o n t h e U A t o b e o p e r a t e d p u r s u a n t t o t h i s g r a n t

. T h e P I C w i l l r e c e i v e I n s p i r e

­ s p e c i f i c t r a i n i n g t o

e n s u r e p r o f i c i e n c y o n t h e p l a t f o r m

.

T h e s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e p r o p o s e d e x e m p t i o n t h a t r e l a t e t o t h e t r a i n i n g a n d

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e c r e w a r e n u m b e r s 3 a n d 6

­ 9 i n S e c t i o n V b e l o w

. E a c h h a s b e e n a d o p t e d o r

i m p o s e d b y t h e F A A i n n u m e r o u s p r e v i o u s g r a n t s o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3 e x e m p t i o n p e t i t i o n s

.C

. F l i g h t C o n d i t i o n s

T h e U A w i l l b e u s e d f o r a e r i a l c i n e m a t o g r a p h y i n C l a s s G a i r s p a c e ( u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e

p r e s c r i b e d b y a n A T O

­ i s s u e d C O A ) u n d e r 2 0 0 f e e t a b o v e g r o u n d l e v e l ( “ A G L ” ) a n d u n d e r

c o n t r o l l e d c o n d i t i o n s o v e r r e s t r i c t e d p r o p e r t y

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l w o r k w i t h t h e l o c a l F S D O w h e n

p l a n n i n g o p e r a t i o n s

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l o n l y o p e r a t e i t s U A i n v i s u a l m e t e o r o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s

( V M C )

. T h e U A w i l l a t a l l t i m e s b e n o l e s s t h a n 5 0 0 f e e t b e l o w a n d n o l e s s t h a n 2

, 0 0 0 f e e t

h o r i z o n t a l l y f r o m a c l o u d

, a n d p e t i t i o n e r w i l l n o t c o n d u c t o p e r a t i o n s u n l e s s v i s i b i l i t y i s a t l e a s t 3

s t a t u t e m i l e s f r o m t h e P I C

. T h e f l i g h t c r e w w i l l a l w a y s m a k e a s a f e t y a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e r i s k o f

e v e r y o p e r a t i o n

, a n d w i l l o n l y o p e r a t e w h e n i t i s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t n o h a z a r d s a r e p r e s e n t

.

A d d i t i o n a l l y

, p e t i t i o n e r w i l l f o l l o w D J I ’ s g u i d e l i n e s f o r f l i g h t c o n d i t i o n s

. T h e s e a r e f o u n d

i n E x h i b i t 2

, b e g i n n i n g o n p a g e 4 5 o f t h a t d o c u m e n t

.

T h e s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e p r o p o s e d e x e m p t i o n t h a t r e l a t e t o t h e f l i g h t c o n d i t i o n s i n

w h i c h t h e U A w i l l b e o p e r a t e d a r e n u m b e r s 2

, 4

, 1 6

, a n d 2 8

­ 2 9 i n S e c t i o n V b e l o w

. E a c h h a s b e e n

a d o p t e d o r i m p o s e d b y t h e F A A i n n u m e r o u s p r e v i o u s g r a n t s o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3 e x e m p t i o n p e t i t i o n s

.

D

. F l i g h t O p e r a t i o n s

T h e p u r p o s e o f t h e U A f l i g h t s f o r w h i c h e x e m p t i o n i s r e q u e s t e d w i l l b e f o r a e r i a l

c i n e m a t o g r a p h y

. E v e r y U A f l i g h t w i l l u s e a t m i n i m u m a t w o p e r s o n f l i g h t c r e w : a P I C a n d a V O

.

P e t i t i o n e r w i l l l i m i t f l i g h t s t o 2 0 0 f t

. A G L

, a n d r e q u e s t s t h e F A A t o a l l o w i t t o o p e r a t e n o

c l o s e r t h a n 1 7 5 f t

. f r o m n o n p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n d i v i d u a l s w h e n o p e r a t i n g a t o r b e l o w 6 5 f t

. A G L

.

P e t i t i o n e r w i l l b e a b l e t o m a i n t a i n t h e s a f e t y o f n o n p a r t i c i p a n t s w h i l e d e c r e a s i n g t h e n o n p a r t i c i p a n t

p a r a m e t e r

, b y a p p l y i n g t h e s a m e r a t i o t h e F A A h a s p r e v i o u s l y d e t e r m i n e d t o b e s a f e

.

P e t i t i o n e r a n t i c i p a t e s t h a t e v e r y f l i g h t

, e v e n o n e t h a t i s p l a n n e d t o b e a t 3 0 f t

. A G L

, m a y

r i s e t o 6 5 f t

. A G L i f t h e a u t o m a t i c r e t u r n

­ t o

­ h o m e p r o g r a m i s a c t i v a t e d

.

P e t i t i o n e r h a s s e l e c t e d t h e 1 7 5 f t

. “ n o n p a r t i c i p a n t p a r a m e t e r ” b y l o o k i n g a t t h e F A A ’ s

“ s a f e t y r a t i o ” f o r p r e v i o u s S e c t i o n 3 3 3 a p p r o v a l s

. U n d e r t h e n e w “ b l a n k e t 2 0 0 f t

. C O A ” p r o c e d u r e

,

a n a p p r o v e d o p e r a t o r m a y o p e r a t e t h e i r U A u p t o 2 0 0 f t

. A G L w h i l e k e e p i n g n o n p a r t i c i p a n t s 5 0 0

f t

. a w a y f r o m o p e r a t i o n s

, g i v i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g r a t i o :

N o n p a r t i c i p a n t p a r a m e t e r

M a x i m u m h e i g h t A G L = S a f e t y R a t i o

B y m u l t i p l y i n g t h e m a x i m u m h e i g h t A G L o f a n o p e r a t i o n b y 2

. 5

, p e t i t i o n e r w i l l m a i n t a i n

t h i s s a m e “ s a f e t y r a t i o ” p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d b y t h e F A A

. F o r e x a m p l e

, i f a n o p e r a t i o n w i l l h a v e

a m a x i m u m A G L o f 1 0 0 f t

. , p e t i t i o n e r w i l l r e q u i r e n o n p a r t i c i p a n t s t o r e m a i n a t l e a s t 2 5 0 f t

. f r o m

t h e o p e r a t i o n a l a r e a

.F o r o p e r a t i o n s t h a t w i l l t a k e p l a c e a t o r b e l o w 6 5 f t

. A G L

, a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e “ s a f e t y r a t i o ” w o u l d r e q u i r e

n o n p a r t i c i p a n t s t o r e m a i n a t l e a s t 1 6 2

. 5 f t

. f r o m t h e o p e r a t i o n a l a r e a

. I n a n

a b u n d a n c e o f c a u t i o n

, p e t i t i o n e r w i l l i n c r e a s e t h i s d i s t a n c e a n a d d i t i o n a l 1 2

. 5 f t

. t o m a i n t a i n a 1 7 5

f t

. p e r i m e t e r f r o m t h e o p e r a t i o n a l a r e a

. R e g a r d l e s s o f t h i s m i n i m u m

, p e t i t i o n e r w i l l r e q u i r e a

g r e a t e r p e r i m e t e r s h o u l d i t d e t e r m i n e o n e i s n e c e s s a r y f o r a g i v e n o p e r a t i o n

.

B e f o r e c o n d u c t i n g a n o p e r a t i o n

, t h e f l i g h t c r e w w i l l e x a m i n e t h e o p e r a t i o n a l a r e a t o

i d e n t i f y a t l e a s t t w o p o t e n t i a l s a f e e m e r g e n c y l a n d i n g a r e a s

, s h o u l d n o n p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n d i v i d u a l s

e n t e r i n t o t h e f l i g h t a r e a

.

A d d i t i o n a l l y

, p e t i t i o n e r w i l l f o l l o w D J I ’ s g u i d e l i n e s f o r f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s

, i n c l u d i n g D J I ’ s

p r e f l i g h t c h e c k l i s t

. P l e a s e r e f e r t o t h e f o l l o w i n g e x h i b i t s :

E x h i b i t 2 b e g i n n i n g o n p a g e 4 9 o f t h a t d o c u m e n t

E x h i b i t 3

P e t i t i o n e r w i l l f o l l o w D J I ’ s m a i n t e n a n c e g u i d e l i n e s f o u n d i n E x h i b i t 6

. O n l y i n d i v i d u a l s

w h o h a v e e x p e r i e n c e a n d t r a i n i n g o n t h e P h a n t o m 3 s y s t e m w i l l b e a p p r o v e d t o c o n d u c t i n s p e c t i o n

a n d m a i n t e n a n c e

. I f i t i s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e U A r e q u i r e s m o r e s p e c i f i c m a i n t e n a n c e t h a n c a n b e

c o n d u c t e d i n

­ h o u s e

, p e t i t i o n e r w i l l s e n d t h e U A t o t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r o r m a n u f a c t u r e r

­ c e r t i f i e d

r e p a i r c e n t e r t o b e r e p a i r e d

.

T h e s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e p r o p o s e d e x e m p t i o n t h a t r e l a t e t o f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s a r e

n u m b e r s 1 1

­ 1 2

, 1 7

­ 2 5

, a n d 3 2

­ 3 5 i n S e c t i o n V b e l o w

. E a c h h a s b e e n a c c e p t e d o r i m p o s e d b y t h e

F A A i n n u m e r o u s p r e v i o u s g r a n t s o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3 e x e m p t i o n p e t i t i o n s

.

I V

. A i r c r a f t a n d E q u i v a l e n t L e v e l o f S a f e t y

P e t i t i o n e r p r o p o s e s t h a t t h e e x e m p t i o n a p p l y t o U A s t h a t h a v e t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d t h a t

o p e r a t e w i t h t h e l i m i t a t i o n s p r o p o s e d h e r e i n

. T h e s e l i m i t a t i o n s p r o v i d e f o r a l e v e l o f s a f e t y a t l e a s t

e q u i v a l e n t t o o r h i g h e r t h a n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t o p e r a t i o n s u n d e r t h e c u r r e n t r e g u l a t o r y s t r u c t u r e

.

S e c t i o n V b e l o w i d e n t i f i e s t h e l i m i t a t i o n s a n d c o n d i t i o n s t o w h i c h p e t i t i o n e r a g r e e s t o b e b o u n d

w h e n c o n d u c t i n g c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s u n d e r a g r a n t o f t h i s p e t i t i o n

. A p p e n d i x A c o n t a i n s a

m a t r i x c o n n e c t i n g ( i ) t h e s p e c i f i c p r o p o s e d c o n d i t i o n w i t h ( i i ) t h e F A R p r o v i s i o n f o r w h i c h i t

p r o v i d e s e q u i v a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f e t y a n d ( i i i ) o n e o r m o r e r e c e n t S e c t i o n 3 3 3 e x e m p t i o n g r a n t s i n

w h i c h t h e F A A r e c o g n i z e d t h i s e q u i v a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f e t y

.

A p p r o v a l o f t h e c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s o u t l i n e d i n t h i s p e t i t i o n p r e s e n t s n o n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y

i s s u e

. P e t i t i o n e r i s w i l l i n g t o r e q u i r e i t s P I C s t o u n d e r g o a b a c k g r o u n d c h e c k

, i n c l u d i n g t h e

p r o p o s e d T r a n s p o r t a t i o n S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n V e t t i n g p r o c e s s

, t o e n s u r e t h a t n o n a t i o n a l

s e c u r i t y t h r e a t i s p r e s e n t

. O p e r a t i o n a n d C e r t i f i c a t i o n o f S m a l l U n m a n n e d A i r c r a f t

, 8 0 F e d

. R e g

.

9 5 4 3 a t 9 5 7 2 ( p r o p o s e d F e b

. 2 3

, 2 0 1 5 ( t o b e c o d i f i e d a t 1 4 C

. F

. R

. P a r t s 2 1

, 4 3

, 4 5

, e t a l

. )

.

V

. P r o p o s e d C o n d i t i o n s o f t h e E x e m p t i o n

1

. T h e U A s

, i n c l u d i n g b a t t e r y a n d t e c h n i c a l p a y l o a d w i l l w e i g h n o m o r e t h a n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2

. 8

l b s

. ( 1

. 2 k g

. )

.

2

. U A o p e r a t i o n s u n d e r t h i s e x e m p t i o n w i l l b e l i m i t e d t o c o n d u c t i n g o p e r a t i o n s f o r t h e p u r p o s e

o f u t i l i t y a n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n s p e c t i o n s i n C l a s s G a i r s p a c e n a t i o n w i d e

, u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e

p r e s c r i b e d b y a n A T O i s s u e d C O A

.3

. F l i g h t s w i l l b e o p e r a t e d w i t h i n l i n e o f s i g h t o f a P I C a n d V O

.

4

. F l i g h t s w i l l b e o p e r a t e d a t a n a l t i t u d e o f n o m o r e t h a n 2 0 0 f e e t A G L

, a s i n d i c a t e d b y t h e

p r o c e d u r e s s p e c i f i e d i n t h e o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

. A l l a l t i t u d e s r e p o r t e d t o A T C m u s t b e i n f e e t

A G L

.

5

. T h e U A w i l l n o t b e f l o w n a t a n i n d i c a t e d a i r s p e e d e x c e e d i n g 4 3 k n o t s

.

6

. M i n i m u m f l i g h t c r e w f o r e a c h o p e r a t i o n w i l l c o n s i s t o f t h e U A P I C a n d a V O

.

7

. T h e P I C w i l l h a v e c o m p l e t e d U A

­ s p e c i f i c t r a i n i n g p r o v i d e d b y t h e m a n u f a c t u r e r p r i o r t o

c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s

.

8

. T h e p e t i t i o n e r w i l l n o t p e r m i t a n y P I C t o o p e r a t e u n l e s s t h e P I C m e e t s i t s q u a l i f i c a t i o n c r i t e r i a

a n d d e m o n s t r a t e s t h e a b i l i t y t o s a f e l y o p e r a t e t h e U A i n a m a n n e r c o n s i s t e n t w i t h h o w t h e U A

w i l l b e o p e r a t e d u n d e r t h i s e x e m p t i o n

, i n c l u d i n g e v a s i v e a n d e m e r g e n c y m a n e u v e r s a n d

m a i n t a i n i n g a p p r o p r i a t e d i s t a n c e s f r o m p e r s o n s

, v e s s e l s

, v e h i c l e s a n d s t r u c t u r e s

. P I C

q u a l i f i c a t i o n f l i g h t h o u r s a n d c u r r e n c y w i l l b e l o g g e d i n a m a n n e r c o n s i s t e n t w i t h 1 4 C F R

§ 6 1

. 5 1 ( b )

. A r e c o r d o f t h e P I C t r a i n i n g w i l l b e d o c u m e n t e d a n d m a d e a v a i l a b l e u p o n r e q u e s t

b y t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r

. T r a i n i n g o p e r a t i o n s w i l l o n l y b e c o n d u c t e d d u r i n g d e d i c a t e d t r a i n i n g

s e s s i o n s

. D u r i n g t r a i n i n g

, p r o f i c i e n c y

, a n d e x p e r i e n c e

­ b u i l d i n g f l i g h t s

, a l l p e r s o n s n o t e s s e n t i a l

f o r f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s w i l l b e c o n s i d e r e d n o n p a r t i c i p a n t s

, a n d t h e P I C w i l l o p e r a t e t h e U A w i t h

a p p r o p r i a t e d i s t a n c e f r o m n o n p a r t i c i p a n t s i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h 1 4 C F R § 9 1

. 1 1 9

.

9

. T h e V O w i l l n o t p e r f o r m a n y o t h e r d u t i e s b e y o n d a s s i s t i n g t h e P I C w i t h s e e i n g a n d a v o i d i n g

o t h e r a i r t r a f f i c a n d o t h e r g r o u n d b a s e d o b s t a c l e s / o b s t r u c t i o n s

, a n d w i l l n o t b e p e r m i t t e d t o

o p e r a t e t h e c a m e r a o r o t h e r i n s t r u m e n t s

.

1 0

. T h e P I C w i l l b e d e s i g n a t e d b e f o r e t h e f l i g h t a n d w i l l n o t b e a l l o w e d t o t r a n s f e r h i s o r h e r

d e s i g n a t i o n f o r t h e d u r a t i o n o f t h e f l i g h t

. T h e P I C w i l l e n s u r e t h a t t h e V O c a n p e r f o r m t h e

f u n c t i o n s p r e s c r i b e d i n t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s a n d t h e o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

.

1 1

. A b r i e f i n g w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d i n r e g a r d t o t h e p l a n n e d U A o p e r a t i o n s p r i o r t o e a c h d a y ’ s

a c t i v i t i e s

. I t w i l l b e m a n d a t o r y t h a t a l l p e r s o n n e l w h o w i l l b e p e r f o r m i n g d u t i e s i n c o n n e c t i o n

w i t h t h e o p e r a t i o n s b e p r e s e n t f o r t h i s b r i e f i n g

.

1 2

. P r i o r t o e a c h f l i g h t

, t h e P I C w i l l i n s p e c t t h e U A

, i n c l u d i n g t h e G r o u n d C o n t r o l S t a t i o n

, t o

e n s u r e i t i s i n a c o n d i t i o n f o r s a f e f l i g h t

. I f t h e i n s p e c t i o n r e v e a l s a c o n d i t i o n t h a t a f f e c t s t h e

s a f e o p e r a t i o n o f t h e U A

, t h e P I C w i l l n o t o p e r a t e t h e U A u n t i l t h e n e c e s s a r y m a i n t e n a n c e h a s

b e e n p e r f o r m e d a n d t h e U A i s f o u n d t o b e i n a c o n d i t i o n f o r s a f e f l i g h t

. A l l m a i n t e n a n c e a n d

a l t e r a t i o n s w i l l b e p r o p e r l y d o c u m e n t e d i n t h e a i r c r a f t r e c o r d s

.

1 3

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l c o n d u c t a f u n c t i o n a l f l i g h t t e s t o n a n y U A t h a t h a s u n d e r g o n e m a i n t e n a n c e o r

a l t e r a t i o n s t h a t a f f e c t t h e U A o p e r a t i o n o r f l i g h t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

, e

. g

. r e p l a c e m e n t o f a f l i g h t

c r i t i c a l c o m p o n e n t

. T h e P I C w h o c o n d u c t s t h e f u n c t i o n a l t e s t f l i g h t w i l l m a k e a n e n t r y i n t h e

a i r c r a f t r e c o r d s

.

1 4

. T h e p e t i t i o n e r w i l l c a r r y o u t i t s m a i n t e n a n c e

, i n s p e c t i o n s

, a n d r e c o r d k e e p i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s

, i n

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e U A m a n u f a c t u r e r ’ s a i r c r a f t / c o m p o n e n t

, m a i n t e n a n c e

, o v e r h a u l

,

r e p l a c e m e n t

, i n s p e c t i o n

, a n d l i f e l i m i t r e q u i r e m e n t s s e t f o r t h i n t h e o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

.

M a i n t e n a n c e

, i n s p e c t i o n

, a l t e r a t i o n s

, a n d s t a t u s o f r e p l a c e m e n t / o v e r h a u l c o m p o n e n t p a r t s w i l lb e n o t e d i n t h e a i r c r a f t r e c o r d s

, i n c l u d i n g t o t a l t i m e i n s e r v i c e

, d e s c r i p t i o n o f w o r k

a c c o m p l i s h e d

, a n d t h e s i g n a t u r e o f t h e a u t h o r i z e d p e r s o n r e t u r n i n g t h e U A t o s e r v i c e

. T h e

a u t h o r i z e d p e r s o n w i l l m a k e a n e n t r y i n t h e a i r c r a f t r e c o r d o f t h e c o r r e c t i v e a c t i o n t a k e n a g a i n s t

d i s c r e p a n c i e s d i s c o v e r e d b e t w e e n i n s p e c t i o n s

.

1 5

. T h e U A w i l l b e o p e r a t e d w i t h i n v i s u a l l i n e o f s i g h t ( V L O S ) o f t h e P I C a n d V O a t a l l t i m e s

.

T h i s r e q u i r e s t h e P I C t o b e a b l e t o u s e h u m a n v i s i o n u n a i d e d b y a n y d e v i c e o t h e r t h a n

c o r r e c t i v e l e n s e s

. P I C a n d V O w i l l a t a l l t i m e s b e a b l e t o c o m m u n i c a t e v e r b a l l y

. T h e y w i l l n o t

b e p e r m i t t e d t o u s e e l e c t r o n i c m e s s a g i n g o r t e x t i n g t o c o m m u n i c a t e d u r i n g f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s

.

1 6

. T h e P I C w i l l n o t b e g i n a f l i g h t u n l e s s ( c o n s i d e r i n g w i n d a n d f o r e c a s t w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s ) t h e r e

i s e n o u g h p o w e r t o f l y a t n o r m a l c r u i s i n g s p e e d t o t h e i n t e n d e d l a n d i n g p o i n t a n d p r e p a r e t o

l a n d w i t h a t l e a s t 2 5 % b a t t e r y p o w e r r e m a i n i n g

.

1 7

. A c t u a l t o t a l f l i g h t t i m e f o r e a c h o p e r a t i o n a l f l i g h t w i l l r e s u l t i n n o l e s s t h a n a 2 5 % b a t t e r y

r e s e r v e

.

1 8

. T h e U A w i l l h a v e t h e c a p a b i l i t y t o a b o r t a f l i g h t i n c a s e o f u n e x p e c t e d o b s t a c l e s o r

e m e r g e n c i e s

.

1 9

. T h e U A w i l l b e p r o g r a m m e d s o t h a t i f i t l o s e s c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o r l o s e s i t s G P S s i g n a l

, i t w i l l

r e t u r n t o a p r e

­ d e t e r m i n e d l o c a t i o n w i t h i n t h e p l a n n e d o p e r a t i n g a r e a a n d l a n d o r b e r e c o v e r e d

i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

2 0

. I f t h e U A a n d i t s r a d i o c o n t r o l l i n k d i s c o n n e c t d u r i n g f l i g h t

, t h e s y s t e m ’ s f a i l s a f e p r o t e c t i o n

w i l l b e t r i g g e r e d a n d t h e m u l t i r o t o r w i l l r e t u r n t o h o m e a n d l a n d a u t o m a t i c a l l y

, r a t h e r t h a n

f l y i n g o f f u n c o n t r o l l a b l y o r l a n d i n g a t a n u n k n o w n l o c a t i o n

.

2 1

. T h e o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s r e q u i r e d u n d e r 1 4 C F R § § 9 1

. 9 a n d 9 1

. 2 0 3 w i l l b e m a i n t a i n e d a n d

a v a i l a b l e t o t h e P I C a t t h e G r o u n d C o n t r o l S t a t i o n o f t h e U A a n y t i m e t h e U A i s o p e r a t i n g

.

T h e s e d o c u m e n t s w i l l b e m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r o r a n y l a w e n f o r c e m e n t o f f i c i a l

u p o n r e q u e s t

. I f a d i s c r e p a n c y e x i s t s b e t w e e n t h e c o n d i t i o n s a n d l i m i t a t i o n s i n t h e e x e m p t i o n

g r a n t a n d t h e p r o c e d u r e s o u t l i n e d i n t h e o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

, t h e g r a n t c o n d i t i o n s a n d

l i m i t a t i o n s w i l l t a k e p r e c e d e n c e a n d w i l l b e f o l l o w e d

. O t h e r w i s e

, t h e p e t i t i o n e r w i l l f o l l o w t h e

p r o c e d u r e s o u t l i n e d i n i t s o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

. I f i t u p d a t e s o r r e v i s e s i t s o p e r a t i n g d o c u m e n t s

,

i t w i l l p r e s e n t u p d a t e d a n d r e v i s e d d o c u m e n t s t o t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r u p o n r e q u e s t

. I f t h e

p e t i t i o n e r d e t e r m i n e s t h a t a n y u p d a t e o r r e v i s i o n w o u l d a f f e c t t h e b a s i s u p o n w h i c h t h e F A A

g r a n t e d t h e e x e m p t i o n

, t h e n t h e P e t i t i o n e r w i l l p e t i t i o n f o r a n a m e n d m e n t t o t h e g r a n t o f

e x e m p t i o n

.

2 2

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l o b t a i n w r i t t e n a n d / o r o r a l p e r m i s s i o n f r o m t h e l a n d o w n e r s / a u t h o r i z e d a g e n t s o f

t h e l a n d o w n e r s o v e r w h i c h f l i g h t s w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d

.

2 3

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l o b t a i n a l l r e q u i r e d p e r m i s s i o n s a n d p e r m i t s f r o m t e r r i t o r i a l

, s t a t e

, c o u n t y o r c i t y

j u r i s d i c t i o n s

, i n c l u d i n g l o c a l l a w e n f o r c e m e n t

, f i r e

, o r o t h e r a p p r o p r i a t e g o v e r n m e n t a l

a g e n c i e s

.

2 4

. U A o p e r a t i o n s w i l l n o t b e c o n d u c t e d d u r i n g n i g h t

, a s d e f i n e d i n 1 4 C F R § 1

. 1

. A l l o p e r a t i o n s

w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d u n d e r v i s u a l m e t e o r o l o g i c a l c o n d i t i o n s ( V M C )

. F l i g h t s w i l l n o t b e

c o n d u c t e d u n d e r s p e c i a l v i s u a l f l i g h t r u l e s ( S V F R )

.2 5

. T h e p e t i t i o n e r w i l l o b t a i n a n A i r T r a f f i c O r g a n i z a t i o n ( A T O ) i s s u e d C e r t i f i c a t e o f W a i v e r o r

A u t h o r i z a t i o n ( C O A ) p r i o r t o c o n d u c t i n g a n y o p e r a t i o n s u n d e r t h e g r a n t o f e x e m p t i o n

.

P e t i t i o n e r w i l l r e q u e s t a N o t i c e t o A i r m a n ( N O T A M ) n o t m o r e t h a n 7 2 h o u r s i n a d v a n c e

, b u t

n o t l e s s t h a n 2 4 h o u r s p r i o r t o t h e o p e r a t i o n

. A l l o p e r a t i o n s w i l l b e c o n d u c t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e

w i t h a i r s p a c e r e q u i r e m e n t s i n t h e A T O i s s u e d C O A

, i n c l u d i n g c l a s s o f a i r s p a c e

, a n d a l t i t u d e

l e v e l

.

2 6

. T h e U A w i l l n o t b e o p e r a t e d w i t h i n 5 n a u t i c a l m i l e s o f t o w e r

­ c o n t r o l l e d a i r p o r t r e f e r e n c e p o i n t

a s d e n o t e d o n a c u r r e n t F A A

­ p u b l i s h e d a e r o n a u t i c a l c h a r t u n l e s s a l e t t e r o f a g r e e m e n t w i t h

t h a t a i r p o r t ’ s m a n a g e m e n t h a s b e e n o b t a i n e d

, a n d t h e o p e r a t i o n i s c o n d u c t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e

w i t h a N O T A M a s r e q u i r e d b y t h e o p e r a t o r ’ s C O A

. A n y l e t t e r o f a g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e a i r p o r t

m a n a g e m e n t w i l l b e m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r u p o n r e q u e s t

.

2 7

. T h e U A w i l l n o t b e o p e r a t e d l e s s t h a n 5 0 0 f e e t b e l o w

, o r l e s s t h a n 2

, 0 0 0 f e e t h o r i z o n t a l l y f r o m

,

a c l o u d o r w h e n v i s i b i l i t y i s l e s s t h a n 3 s t a t u t e m i l e s f r o m t h e P I C

.

2 8

. A l l o p e r a t i o n s s h a l l b e c o n d u c t e d i n C l a s s G a i r s p a c e o r a s o t h e r w i s e p r e s c r i b e d i n a n A T O

i s s u e d C O A

.

2 9

. A l l a i r c r a f t o p e r a t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h i s e x e m p t i o n w i l l b e i d e n t i f i e d b y s e r i a l n u m b e r

,

r e g i s t e r e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h 1 4 C F R p a r t 4 7

, a n d h a v e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ( N

­ N u m b e r ) m a r k i n g s

i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h 1 4 C F R p a r t 4 5

, S u b p a r t C

. M a r k i n g s w i l l b e a s l a r g e a s p r a c t i c a b l e

.

3 0

. B e f o r e c o n d u c t i n g o p e r a t i o n s

, p e t i t i o n e r w i l l e n s u r e t h a t t h e r a d i o f r e q u e n c y s p e c t r u m u s e d

f o r o p e r a t i o n a n d c o n t r o l o f t h e U A c o m p l i e s w i t h t h e F e d e r a l C o m m u n i c a t i o n s C o m m i s s i o n

( F C C ) o r o t h e r a p p r o p r i a t e g o v e r n m e n t o v e r s i g h t a g e n c y r e q u i r e m e n t s

.

3 1

. T h e U A w i l l r e m a i n c l e a r a n d y i e l d t h e r i g h t o f w a y t o a l l m a n n e d a v i a t i o n o p e r a t i o n s a n d

a c t i v i t i e s a t a l l t i m e s

.

3 2

. T h e U A w i l l n o t b e o p e r a t e d b y t h e P I C f r o m a n y m o v i n g d e v i c e o r v e h i c l e

.

3 3

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l c o n d u c t a l l f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s a t l e a s t 1 7 5 f e e t f r o m a l l n o n p a r t i c i p a t i n g p e r s o n s

,

v e s s e l s

, v e h i c l e s

, a n d s t r u c t u r e s u n l e s s o n e o f t h e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e c o n d i t i o n s i s m e t :

a

. B a r r i e r s o r s t r u c t u r e s a r e p r e s e n t t h a t s u f f i c i e n t l y p r o t e c t n o n p a r t i c i p a t i n g p e r s o n s f r o m t h e

U A a n d / o r d e b r i s i n t h e e v e n t o f a n a c c i d e n t

. T h e p e t i t i o n e r w i l l e n s u r e t h a t

n o n p a r t i c i p a t i n g p e r s o n s r e m a i n u n d e r s u c h p r o t e c t i o n

. I f a s i t u a t i o n a r i s e s w h e r e

n o n p a r t i c i p a t i n g p e r s o n s l e a v e s u c h p r o t e c t i o n a n d a r e w i t h i n 1 7 5 f e e t o f t h e U A

, t h e P I C

w i l l e n s u r e t h a t f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n s c e a s e i m m e d i a t e l y

.

b

. T h e a i r c r a f t i s o p e r a t e d n e a r v e s s e l s

, v e h i c l e s o r s t r u c t u r e s w h e r e t h e o w n e r / c o n t r o l l e r o f

s u c h v e s s e l s

, v e h i c l e s o r s t r u c t u r e s h a s g r a n t e d p e r m i s s i o n a n d t h e P I C h a s m a d e a s a f e t y

a s s e s s m e n t o f t h e r i s k o f o p e r a t i n g c l o s e r t o t h o s e o b j e c t s a n d d e t e r m i n e d t h a t i t d o e s n o t

p r e s e n t a n u n d u e h a z a r d

.

c

. O p e r a t i o n s n e a r e r t o t h e P I C

, V O

, o p e r a t o r t r a i n e e s o r e s s e n t i a l p e r s o n s d o n o t p r e s e n t a n

u n d u e h a z a r d t o t h o s e p e r s o n s p e r § 9 1

. 1 1 9 ( a )

.3 4

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l r e p o r t a n y i n c i d e n t

, a c c i d e n t

, o r f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n t h a t t r a n s g r e s s e s t h e l a t e r a l o r

v e r t i c a l b o u n d a r i e s o f t h e o p e r a t i o n a l a r e a a s d e f i n e d b y t h e a p p l i c a b l e C O A t o t h e F A A ' s U A S

I n t e g r a t i o n O f f i c e ( A F S

­ 8 0 ) w i t h i n 2 4 h o u r s

. P e t i t i o n e r w i l l r e p o r t a c c i d e n t s t o t h e N a t i o n a l

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n S a f e t y B o a r d ( N T S B ) p e r i n s t r u c t i o n s c o n t a i n e d o n t h e N T S B W e b s i t e :

w w w

. n t s b

. g o v

.

V I

. P r i v a c y

T h e r e i s l i t t l e c o n c e r n t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d f l i g h t s w i l l c a u s e i n v a s i o n s o f p r i v a c y

. A l l f l i g h t s

w i l l o c c u r o v e r e i t h e r ( a ) p u b l i c r i g h t s o f w a y w h e r e t h e r e i s n o e x p e c t a t i o n o f p r i v a c y ; o r ( b ) o v e r

p r i v a t e p r o p e r t y w i t h p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e l a n d o w n e r / a u t h o r i z e d a g e n t a n d c o n s e n t o f p a r t i c i p a t i n g

i n d i v i d u a l s

.

I f d a t a c o l l e c t e d i s m a d e a v a i l a b l e f o r p u b l i c v i e w

, a l l i m a g e s c o n t a i n i n g u n i n v o l v e d

p e r s o n s w i l l b e b l u r r e d o r b l a c k e d

­ o u t

. N o a t t e m p t w i l l b e m a d e t o i d e n t i f y a n y i n d i v i d u a l s f i l m e d

d u r i n g t h e f l i g h t s e x c e p t i n c a s e s w h e r e t h e y a r e t r e s p a s s i n g u p o n o r d a m a g i n g c u s t o m e r p r o p e r t y

,

o r i n t e r f e r i n g w i t h t h e p e t i t i o n e r ’ s o r i t s c u s t o m e r s ’ o p e r a t i o n s

.

V I I

. P u b l i c I n t e r e s t a n d S a f e t y

T h e p l a n n e d U A u s e w i l l i n c r e a s e g r o u n d s a f e t y f o r a e r i a l c i n e m a t o g r a p h y o p e r a t i o n s

. T h i s

t y p e o f d a t a c o l l e c t i o n h a s p r e v i o u s l y b e e n d o n e b y m a n n e d a i r c r a f t o r b y i n d i v i d u a l s o n t h e

g r o u n d

. B o t h a r e m o r e t i m e c o n s u m i n g a n d a r e m o r e e x p e n s i v e t h a n u s i n g a U A

. U s e o f m a n n e d

a i r c r a f t p o s e s e n h a n c e d r i s k t o t h e p i l o t a n d o n b o a r d c r e w

, w h o w o u l d b e s e v e r a l h u n d r e d f e e t i n

t h e a i r

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, m a n n e d a i r c r a f t c a r r y h i g h l y f l a m m a b l e f u e l

.

T h e e n h a n c e d s a f e t y a n d r e d u c e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t a c h i e v e d u s i n g a U A a n d c a r r y i n g

n o p a s s e n g e r s o r c r e w

, r a t h e r t h a n a m a n n e d a i r c r a f t o f s i g n i f i c a n t l y g r e a t e r p r o p o r t i o n s

, c a r r y i n g

c r e w i n a d d i t i o n t o f l a m m a b l e f u e l

, g i v e s t h e F A A g o o d c a u s e t o f i n d t h a t t h e U A o p e r a t i o n

e n a b l e d b y t h i s e x e m p t i o n i s i n t h e p u b l i c i n t e r e s t

.

S a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e c r i t e r i a p r o v i d e d i n S e c t i o n 3 3 3 o f t h e R e f o r m A c t o f 2 0 1 2

– s i z e

,

w e i g h t

, s p e e d

, o p e r a t i n g c a p a b i l i t i e s

, p r o x i m i t y t o a i r p o r t s a n d p o p u l a t e d a r e a s a n d o p e r a t i o n

w i t h i n v i s u a l l i n e o f s i g h t a n d n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y

– p r o v i d e m o r e t h a n a d e q u a t e j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h e

g r a n t o f t h e r e q u e s t e d e x e m p t i o n a l l o w i n g c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n o f p e t i t i o n e r ’ s U A i n t h e u t i l i t y

a n d i n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n s p e c t i o n i n d u s t r i e s

, p u r s u a n t t o W h i s k e y C h a r l i e ' s r u l e s o f o p e r a t i o n

.

T h e F A A h a s p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d t h e I n s p i r e 1 f o r s i m i l a r c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e f o l l o w i n g E x e m p t i o n s :

1 1 2 7 9 ( a e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h y ) ;

1 1 2 8 8 ( a e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h y ) ;

1 1 3 1 3 ( a e r i a l c i n e m a t o g r a p h y a n d p h o t o g r a p h y ) ; 1 1 3 5 9 ( p h o t o g r a p h y ) ;

1 1 3 3 6 ( a e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h y ) ;

1 1 3 7 7 ( a e r i a l v i d e o g r a p h y a n d c i n e m a t o g r a p h y ) ; a n d 1 1 3 8 5 ( a e r i a l v i d e o g r a p h y a n d c i n e m a t o g r a p h y )

.V I I I

. R e g u l a t i o n s f r o m W h i c h E x e m p t i o n i s R e q u e s t e d

A p p e n d i x A : F A R s a s t o w h i c h R i c h t e r w i s h e s t h e s a m e d e t e r m i n a t i o n t o b e m a d e a s h a s b e e n m a d e

p r e v i o u s l y

.A p p e n d i x B : R i c h t e r ’ s a r g u m e n t f o r e x e m p t i o n f r o m 1 4 C F R § § 6 1

. 2 3 ( a ) a n d ( c )

,

6 1

. 1 0 1 ( e ) ( 4 ) a n d ( 5 )

, 6 1

. 1 1 3 ( a )

, 6 1

. 3 1 5 ( a )

.

R i c h t e r r e q u e s t s a n e x e m p t i o n f r o m 1 4 C F R § § 6 1

. 2 3 ( a ) a n d ( c )

, 6 1

. 1 0 1 ( e ) ( 4 ) a n d ( 5 )

,

6 1

. 1 1 3 ( a )

, 6 1

. 3 1 5 ( a )

, s o t h a t t h e P I C o f t h e U A w i l l n o t b e r e q u i r e d t o p o s s e s s a n y p i l o t l i c e n s e

( s p o r t s

, r e c r e a t i o n a l

, p r i v a t e o r c o m m e r c i a l )

. A s t h e F A A a n d n u m e r o u s o t h e r n a t i o n a l a i r s p a c e

r e g u l a t o r s h a v e r e c o g n i z e d

, U A o p e r a t i o n s c o n d u c t e d b y p e r s o n s w h o d o n o t h o l d a p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e

c a n s t i l l a c h i e v e t h e e q u i v a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f e t y o f c u r r e n t o p e r a t i o n s b y m a n n e d a i r c r a f t w i t h p i l o t s

h o l d i n g a n y l e v e l o f p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e

.

A l t h o u g h i t r e c o g n i z e s t h a t a p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e i s u n n e c e s s a r y f o r s a f e U A o p e r a t i o n

, t h e F A A

h a s t o d a t e d e c l i n e d t o a l l o w g r a n t e x e m p t i o n s u n d e r S e c t i o n 3 3 3 t h a t w o u l d p e r m i t i n d i v i d u a l s

w h o p o s s e s s a n y p i l o t l i c e n s e ( s p o r t s

, r e c r e a t i o n a l

, p r i v a t e o r c o m m e r c i a l ) t o c o n d u c t c o m m e r c i a l

U A o p e r a t i o n s

. I t h a s s p e c i f i e d t w o r e a s o n s f o r d e c l i n i n g t o d o s o

. F i r s t

, i t h a s s t a t e d t h a t i t d o e s

n o t p o s s e s s t h e a u t h o r i t y u n d e r S e c t i o n 3 3 3 t o e x e m p t i n d i v i d u a l s f r o m t h e r e q u i r e m e n t u n d e r 4 9

U

. S

. C

. § 4 4 7 1 1 t o h o l d a n a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e a u t h o r i z i n g t h e a i r m a n t o s e r v e i n t h e c a p a c i t y f o r

w h i c h t h e c e r t i f i c a t e w a s i s s u e d

. E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 1 1 0 a t 1 4

. S e c o n d

, t h e F A A h a s c o n c l u d e d t h a t

t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f H o m e l a n d S e c u r i t y ( D H S ) s e c u r i t y s c r e e n i n g r e q u i r e d o f a l l c e r t i f i e d a i r m e n

m e e t s t h e s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t i n S e c t i o n 3 3 3 t h a t o p e r a t i o n s n o t p o s e a t h r e a t t o n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y

.

E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 1 1 0 a t 1 5

.

R i c h t e r r e s p e c t f u l l y r e q u e s t s t h a t t h e F A A r e c o n s i d e r i t s p o s i t i o n

. T h e r e i s n o d i s p u t e t h a t

i t i s u n n e c e s s a r y f o r a n o p e r a t o r o f a U A t o g o t h r o u g h t h e r i g o r o u s p r o c e s s o f b e c o m i n g a c e r t i f i e d

p i l o t i n o r d e r t o s a f e l y o p e r a t e a U A

. I n a d d i t i o n

, t h e F A A d o e s h a v e t h e a u t h o r i t y t o e x e m p t U A

o p e r a t o r s f r o m t h e r e q u i r e m e n t i n 4 9 U

. S

. C

. § 4 4 7 1 1 t o h o l d a n a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e f o r “ s e r v [ i n g ] i n

t h e c a p a c i t y f o r w h i c h t h e c e r t i f i c a t e w a s i s s u e d

. ” I n d e e d

, i t h a s e x e r c i s e d t h a t a u t h o r i t y r e p e a t e d l y

i n t h e S e c t i o n 3 3 3 p r o c e s s

. F i n a l l y

, t h e F A A ’ s s e c u r i t y c o n c e r n s c a n b e a d d r e s s e d b y a v a r i e t y o f

m e t h o d s i n v o l v i n g o p e r a t o r b a c k g r o u n d c h e c k s t o b e c o n d u c t e d b y g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s

.

1

. T h e F A A a n d f o r e i g n r e g u l a t o r s r e c o g n i z e t h a t o b t a i n i n g a m a n n e d a i r c r a f t

p i l o t l i c e n s e i s u n n e c e s s a r y f o r s a f e o p e r a t i o n o f a U A

.

T h e F A A

, l i k e t h e o t h e r n a t i o n a l a i r s p a c e r e g u l a t o r s t h a t h a v e c o n s i d e r e d t h e i s s u e

, h a s

c o n c l u d e d t h a t U A o p e r a t i o n s c o n d u c t e d b y p e r s o n s w h o d o n o t h o l d a p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e c a n s t i l l

a c h i e v e t h e e q u i v a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f e t y o f c u r r e n t o p e r a t i o n s b y m a n n e d a i r c r a f t w i t h p i l o t s h o l d i n g

a n y l e v e l o f p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e

. I n i t s r e c e n t U A S N P R M

, t h e F A A s t a t e d :

“ W h i l e t h e s e a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e n e c e s s a r y f o r m a n n e d a i r c r a f t

o p e r a t i o n s

, t h e y i m p o s e a n u n n e c e s s a r y b u r d e n f o r m a n y s m a l l U A S o p e r a t i o n s

.

T h i s i s b e c a u s e a p e r s o n t y p i c a l l y o b t a i n s a p r i v a t e o r c o m m e r c i a l p i l o t c e r t i f i c a t e

b y l e a r n i n g h o w t o o p e r a t e a m a n n e d a i r c r a f t

. M u c h o f t h a t k n o w l e d g e w o u l d n o t

b e a p p l i c a b l e t o s m a l l U A S o p e r a t i o n s b e c a u s e a s m a l l U A S i s o p e r a t e d d i f f e r e n t l y

t h a n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t

. I n a d d i t i o n

, t h e k n o w l e d g e c u r r e n t l y n e c e s s a r y t o o b t a i n a

p r i v a t e o r c o m m e r c i a l p i l o t c e r t i f i c a t e w o u l d n o t e q u i p t h e c e r t i f i c a t e h o l d e r w i t h

t h e t o o l s n e c e s s a r y t o s a f e l y o p e r a t e a s m a l l U A S

... T h u s

, r e q u i r i n g p e r s o n s

w i s h i n g t o o p e r a t e a s m a l l U A S t o o b t a i n a p r i v a t e o r c o m m e r c i a l p i l o t c e r t i f i c a t e

i m p o s e s t h e c o s t o f c e r t i f i c a t i o n o n t h o s e p e r s o n s

, b u t d o e s n o t r e s u l t i n a s i g n i f i c a n t

s a f e t y b e n e f i t b e c a u s e t h e p r o c e s s o f o b t a i n i n g t h e c e r t i f i c a t e d o e s n o t e q u i p t h o s e

p e r s o n s w i t h t h e t o o l s n e c e s s a r y t o m i t i g a t e t h e p u b l i c r i s k p o s e d b y s m a l l U A S

o p e r a t i o n s

. ” O p e r a t i o n a n d C e r t i f i c a t i o n o f S m a l l U n m a n n e d A i r c r a f t

, 8 0 F e d

. R e g

.9 5 4 3 a t 9 5 5 0 ( p r o p o s e d F e b

. 2 3

, 2 0 1 5 ( t o b e c o d i f i e d a t 1 4 C

. F

. R

. P a r t s 2 1

, 4 3

, 4 5

,

e t a l

. )

.

T h e F A A ’ s c o n c l u s i o n t h a t m a n n e d a i r c r a f t f l y i n g e x p e r i e n c e i s u n n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e

o p e r a t i o n o f a U A i s s u p p o r t e d b y r e s e a r c h b y t h e F A A a n d t h e A r m y R e s e a r c h L a b o r a t o r y

. T h e y

d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t U A s

, e v e n t h o s e m u c h l a r g e r t h a n t h e U A s p r o p o s e d b y p e t i t i o n e r

, c a n b e s a f e l y

f l o w n b y n o n

­ c e r t i f i c a t e d p i l o t s w i t h a s m a l l a m o u n t o f t r a i n i n g

. F o r e x a m p l e

, o n e A r m y R e s e a r c h

L a b o r a t o r y s t u d y c o n c l u d e d :

" [ T ] h e s p e c i f i c m o t o r s k i l l s n e e d e d t o c o n t r o l t h e r a d i o

­ c o n t r o l l e d U A V w o u l d h a v e

t o b e l e a r n e d b y a v i a t o r s i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f t h e m o t o r s k i l l s l e a r n e d i n f l y i n g a n

a i r c r a f t

. I n p a r t i c u l a r

, t h e s o m a t i c a n d v i s u a l c u e s t h a t p i l o t s u s e d u r i n g a i r c r a f t

l a n d i n g s w o u l d n o t b e u s e f u l ( a n d p e r h a p s e v e n c o u n t e r p r o d u c t i v e ) f o r t h e

d i f

f e r e n t s k i l l s e t s a n d p e r c e p t u a l v i e w p o i n t n e c e s s a r y f o r r a d i o

­ c o n t r o l l e d

l a n d i n g s

. ”

A d d i t i o n a l r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s l e n d f u r t h e r s u p p o r t f o r t h e e x c l u s i o n r e q u e s t e d

. F o r e x a m p l e

,

a r e p o r t s p o n s o r e d b y t h e F A A c o n c l u d e d t h a t " W e k n o w t h a t c e r t a i n s y s t e m s

, l i k e t h e U

. S

. A r m y

H u n t e r a n d S h a d o w s y s t e m s

, a r e s u c c e s s f u l l y f l o w n b y p i l o t s w i t h n o m a n n e d a i r c r a f t

e x p e r i e n c e

. " 2

I n a d d i t i o n

, f o r e i g n g o v e r n m e n t a i r s p a c e r e g u l a t o r s t h a t h a v e e x a m i n e d t h e i s s u e h a v e

c o n s i s t e n t l y r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e s k i l l s r e q u i r e d t o f l y a m a n n e d a i r c r a f t a r e i r r e l e v a n t t o o p e r a t i n g

a U A

. F o r t h a t r e a s o n

, t h e y h a v e c o n c l u d e d t h a t U A o p e r a t o r s d o n o t n e e d t o h a v e a p r i v a t e o r

c o m m e r c i a l p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e

. C a n a d a

, f o r e x a m p l e

, d o e s n o t r e q u i r e a p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e t o o p e r a t e a

U A

. T r a n s p o r t C a n a d a r e q u i r e s t r a i n i n g o f U A o p e r a t o r s

, b u t t h a t t r a i n i n g i s l i m i t e d t o p i l o t g r o u n d

s c h o o l a n d f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n t r a i n i n g o n U A s

, n o t m a n n e d a i r c r a f t

. 3 M o r e o v e r

, C a n a d a a l l o w s t h i s

t r a i n i n g t o b e “ p r o v i d e d b y o t h e r p i l o t s

, m a n u f a c t u r e r s

, [ U A ] f l i g h t t r a i n i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r

. . .

s e l f t a u g h t

. ” 4

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1 M i c h a e l J

. B a r n e s

, B e v e r l y G

. K n a p p

, B a r r y W

. T i l l m a n

, B r e t t A

. W a l t e r s & D a r l e n e V e l i k i

,

C r e w s y s t e m s a n a l y s i s o f u n m a n n e d a e r i a l v e h i c l e ( U A V ) f u t u r e j o b a n d t a s k i n g e n v i r o n m e n t s

,

T e c h n i c a l R e p o r t A R L

­ T R

­ 2 0 8 1

, A b e r d e e n P r o v i n g G r o u n d

, M D : A r m y R e s e a r c h L a b o r a t o r y

,

p a g e 1 2 ( 2 0 0 0 )

, a v a i l a b l e a t h t t p : / / w w w

. d t i c

. m i l / d t i c / t r / f u l l t e x t / u 2 / a 3 7 4 2 3 0

. p d f

.

2 K e v i n W

. W i l l i a m s

, U n m a n n e d A i r c r a f t P i l o t M e d i c a l C e r t i f i c a t i o n R e q u i r e m e n t s

, R e p o r t

D O T / F A A

/ A M

­ 0 7 / 3

, F A A C i v i l A e r o s p a c e M e d i c a l I n s t i t u t e

, p a g e 2

, ( 2 0 0 7 )

, a v a i l a b l e a t

h t t p : / / f a s

. o r g / i r p / p r o g r a m / c o l l e c t / u a

­ p i l o t

. p d f

. W h i l e t h e a u t h o r s s p e c u l a t e d t h a t U A u s e i n

p o p u l a t e d a r e a s m a y c h a n g e t h i s a s s e s s m e n t

, i n d i c a t i n g f u r t h e r r e s e a r c h w a s n e e d e d t o a d d r e s s

t h i s c o n c e r n

, t h i s c o n c e r n i s i n a p p l i c a b l e a s p e t i t i o n e r ’ s f l i g h t s w i l l n o t b e i n c o n g e s t e d a r e a s

. S e e

a l s o J a s o n S

. M c C a r l e y & C h r i s t o p h e r D

. W i c k e n s

, H u m a n F a c t o r s I m p l i c a t i o n s o f U A V s i n t h e

N a t i o n a l A i r s p a c e

, I n s t i t u t e o f A v i a t i o n

, A v i a t i o n H u m a n F a c t o r s D i v i s i o n

, U n i v e r s i t y o f I l l i n o i s

a t U r b a n a

­ C h a m p a i g n

, 1 3 ( 2 0 0 4 )

, a v a i l a b l e a t

h t t p : / / w w w

. t c

. f a a

. g o v / l o g i s t i c s / g r a n t s / p d f / 2 0 0 4 / 0 4

­ G

­ 0 3 2

. p d f

.

3 S e e C i v i l A v i a t i o n

, S t a n d a r d s

, T r a n s p o r t C a n a d a

, A d v i s o r y C i r c u l a r : G u i d a n c e M a t e r i a l f o r

O p e r a t i n g U n m a n n e d A i r V e h i c l e S y s t e m s u n d e r a n E x e m p t i o n a t 1 4 a n d 1 8

­ 2 2

, ( N o v

. 2 7

, 2 0 1 4 )

a v a i l a b l e a t h t t p : / / w w w

. t c

. g c

. c a / m e d i a / d o c u m e n t s / c a

­ o p s s v s / a c

­ 6 0 0

­ 0 0 4

. p d f

.

4 I d

. a t 1 4

.S i m i l a r l y

, t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m ’ s C i v i l A v i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y ( C A A ) r e c o g n i z e d t h a t

d e t e r m i n i n g “ R e m o t e P i l o t q u a l i f i c a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s o n t h e s a m e b a s i s a s m a n n e d a i r c r a f t m a y

y i e l d r e q u i r e m e n t s t h a t a r e t o o i n f l e x i b l e

, t o o o n e r o u s a n d i n a p p r o p r i a t e f o r U A S o p e r a t i o n s

. ” 5 A s

a r e s u l t

, t h e C A A o n l y r e q u i r e s U A o p e r a t o r s t o d e m o n s t r a t e U A o p e r a t o r c o m p e t e n c e

. 6 W h i l e

t h e r e a r e a v a r i e t y o f w a y s t o d e m o n s t r a t e c o m p e t e n c e

, t h e m o s t c o m m o n i s t o c o m p l e t e a c o u r s e

t h a t w i l l l e a d t o a g r o u n d e x a m a n d f l i g h t t e s t

. A u s t r a l i a

, t o o

, r e q u i r e s o n l y p a s s a g e o f a U A s p e c i f i c

g r o u n d s c h o o l p r o g r a m i n l i e u o f a m a n n e d a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e

. 7 F i n a l l y

, m o r e t h a n a d o z e n

c o u n t r i e s

, i n c l u d i n g G e r m a n y

, I t a l y

, F r a n c e

, S p a i n a n d t h e N e t h e r l a n d s

, h a v e a d o p t e d t h e N a t i o n a l

U A S C e r t i f i c a t e f o r S m a l l U n m a n n e d A i r c r a f t ( B N U C

­ S ) S t a n d a r d f o r U A p i l o t c e r t i f i c a t i o n

. 8

T h i s s t a n d a r d r e s u l t s i n a t y p e

­ s p e c i f i c U A c e r t i f i c a t e a n d d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e o p e r a t o r t o h a v e a

p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e

. T h e p r o c e s s i n v o l v e s t a k i n g a s h o r t g r o u n d s c h o o l c o u r s e

, p a s s i n g a g r o u n d s c h o o l

t e s t a n d t h e n p a s s i n g a p r a c t i c a l t e s t o n c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n o f t h e s p e c i f i c U A p e r t h e U A

m a n u f a c t u r e r ’ s o p e r a t i o n s m a n u a l

.

A l l o f t h i s e x p e r i e n c e a n d e v i d e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d e x e m p t i o n w i l l p r o v i d e a

g r e a t e r l e v e l o f s a f e t y t h a n o p e r a t i o n s u n d e r 1 4 C

. F

. R

. § 6 1

. 1 1 3

. I n t h i s i n s t a n c e

, t h e P I C s w i l l h a v e

g o n e t h r o u g h t r a i n i n g a s d e s c r i b e d a b o v e i n S e c t i o n I I I B

. T h i s t r a i n i n g a n d e d u c a t i o n i s f o c u s e d

o n U A s g e n e r a l l y

, a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r o n t h e a i r c r a f t t o b e o p e r a t e d

, r a t h e r t h a n t a k i n g a d d i t i o n a l

t i m e a n d r i s k t o t r a i n o n a m a n n e d a i r c r a f t

, w e i g h i n g s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d p o u n d s a n d c a r r y i n g h i g h l y

f l a m m a b l e f u e l

.

T h e F A A h a s c o n c l u d e d i n t h e N P R M t h a t s u c h U A

­ s p e c i f i c t r a i n i n g i s m o r e t h a n

s u f f i c i e n t t o p r o v i d e a n e q u i v a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f e t y f o r U A o p e r a t i o n s

. S o m e t i m e i n t h e n e x t 1 8

­ 2 4

m o n t h s

, t h a t p o s i t i o n w i l l b e e n s h r i n e d i n a v a l i d r e g u l a t i o n

. H o w e v e r

, i n t h e m e a n t i m e

, t h e F A A

c l a i m s i t l a c k s t h e a u t h o r i t y t o r e l a x t h e r e q u i r e m e n t t o p o s s e s s a p i l o t c e r t i f i c a t e

. A s w e s h o w i n

t h e n e x t s e c t i o n

, t h a t p o s i t i o n i s b o t h i n c o r r e c t a n d c o n t r a d i c t e d b y t h e F A A ’ s r e c e n t d e c i s i o n s

.

2

. T h e F A A d o e s h a v e

, a n d h a s a l r e a d y

, e x e r c i s e d t h e a u t h o r i t y t o e x e m p t p e t i t i o n e r s

f r o m t h e a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e r e q u i r e m e n t

.

T h e F A A c l a i m s t h a t i t l a c k s a u t h o r i t y t o e x e m p t U A o p e r a t o r s f r o m t h e r e q u i r e m e n t o f 4 9

U

. S

. § 4 4 7 1 1 t o h o l d a n a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e a u t h o r i z i n g t h e a i r m a n “ t o s e r v e i n t h e c a p a c i t y f o r w h i c h

t h e c e r t i f i c a t e w a s i s s u e d

. ” S e e

, e

. g

. , E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 1 1 0 a t 1 4

. T h i s c l a i m i s i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h

b o t h ( i ) t h e s t a t u t o r y l a n g u a g e o f t h a t s e c t i o n a n d S e c t i o n 3 3 3

, a n d ( i i ) n u m e r o u s r e c e n t F A A

d e c i s i o n s

.

T h e o p e r a t i v e p a r t o f 4 9 U S C § 4 4 7 1 1 p r o v i d e s t h a t a “ p e r s o n m a y n o t

. . . s e r v e i n a n y

c a p a c i t y a s a n a i r m a n w i t h r e s p e c t t o a c i v i l a i r c r a f t

, . . . u s e d

, o r i n t e n d e d f o r u s e

, i n a i r c o m m e r c e

— ( A ) w i t h o u t a n a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e a u t h o r i z i n g t h e a i r m a n t o s e r v e i n t h e c a p a c i t y f o r w h i c h t h e

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

5 C i v i l A v i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y

, S a f e t y R e g u l a t i o n G r o u p

, U n m a n n e d A i r c r a f t S y s t e m O p e r a t i o n s i n

U K A i r s p a c e

– G u i d a n c e

, S e c t i o n 2

, C h a p t e r 5

, P a g e 2 ( A u g

. 1 0

, 2 0 1 2 )

, a v a i l a b l e a t

h t t p s : / / w w w

. c a a

. c o

. u k / d o c s / 3 3 / C A P 7 2 2

. p d f

.

6 C i v i l A v i a t i o n A u t h o r i t y

, U n m a n n e d A i r c r a f t a n d A i r c r a f t S y s t e m s

, a v a i l a b l e a t

h t t p : / / w w w

. c a a

. c o

. u k / d e f a u l t

. a s p x ? c a t i d = 1 9 9 5 & p a g e t y p e = 9 0

.

7 A u s t r a l i a n G o v e r n m e n t C i v i l A v i a t i o n S a f e t y A u t h o r i t y

, a v a i l a b l e a t

h t t p : / / w w w

. c a s a

. g o v

. a u / s c r i p t s / n c

. d l l ? W C M S : S T A N D A R D : : p c = P C

_ 1 0 0 3 7 4

.

8 S e e E u r o U S C I n t e r n a t i o n a l

, “ P i l o t Q u a l i f i c a t i o n

, ” a v a i l a b l e a t h t t p : / / e u r o u s c

. c o m / s e r v i c e s / p i l o t

­ q u a l i f i c a t i o n s /

.c e r t i f i c a t e w a s i s s u e d

. . . “ I f t h e F A A ’ s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n w e r e c o r r e c t

, t h i s l a n g u a g e w o u l d r e q u i r e

t h a t a n y p e r s o n w i s h i n g t o o p e r a t e a U A f o r c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s h a v e a n a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e

a u t h o r i z i n g t h e p e r s o n t o s e r v e a s a n a i r m a n i n c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s

.

H o w e v e r

, i n a l l o f i t s r e c e n t g r a n t s o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3 p e t i t i o n s

, t h e F A A h a s

– w i t h o u t

e x p l i c i t l y a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h e f a c t

­ e x e m p t e d c o m m e r c i a l U A o p e r a t o r s f r o m t h e § 4 4 7 1 1 ( A )

r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t t h e y h o l d a n a i r m a n c e r t i f i c a t e a u t h o r i z i n g t h e m “ t o s e r v e i n t h e c a p a c i t y f o r

w h i c h t h e c e r t i f i c a t e w a s i s s u e d

. ” I t h a s d o n e s o b y a l l o w i n g t h e m t o o p e r a t e U A s o l o n g a s t h e y

h o l d a p r i v a t e p i l o t ’ s o r s p o r t p i l o t ’ s a u t h o r i z a t i o n

, e v e n t h o u g h s u c h a c e r t i f i c a t e d o e s n o t p e r m i t

c o m m e r c i a l o p e r a t i o n s

. E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 0 6 2 a t 1 5

­ 1 8 ; E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 1 1 0 a t 1 4

­ 1 6 ;

E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 1 9 1 a t 3

­ 5 ; a n d E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 2 2 9 a t 3 a n d 8

.

T h e F A A a r g u e s t h a t i t c a n n o t e x e m p t p e t i t i o n e r s f r o m t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f § 4 4 7 1 1

b e c a u s e

, w h i l e t h e s p e c i f i c l a n g u a g e o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3 g r a n t s i t l i m i t e d s t a t u t o r y f l e x i b i l i t y r e l a t i v e

t o 4 9 U

. S

. C

. § 4 4 7 0 4 f o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f a i r w o r t h i n e s s c e r t i f i c a t i o n

, S e c t i o n 3 3 3 d o e s n o t p r o v i d e

f l e x i b i l i t y r e l a t i v e t o § 4 4 7 1 1 a n d o t h e r s e c t i o n s o f T i t l e 4 9

. E x e m p t i o n N o

. 1 1 1 1 0 a t 1 4

. T h i s

a r g u m e n t i g n o r e s t h e p l a i n l a n g u a g e o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3

. T h e r e l e v a n t l a n g u a g e o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3 i s :

( a ) I N G E N E R A L

. — N o t w i t h s t a n d i n g a n y o t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h i s s u b t i t l e

, a n d

n o t l a t e r t h a n 1 8 0 d a y s a f t e r t h e d a t e o f e n a c t m e n t o f t h i s A c t

, t h e S e c r e t a r y o f

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n s h a l l d e t e r m i n e i f c e r t a i n u n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t s y s t e m s m a y o p e r a t e

s a f e l y i n t h e n a t i o n a l a i r s p a c e s y s t e m b e f o r e c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e p l a n a n d r u l e m a k i n g

r e q u i r e d b y s e c t i o n 3 3 2 o f t h i s A c t o r t h e g u i d a n c e r e q u i r e d b y s e c t i o n 3 3 4 o f t h i s

A c t

.

( b ) A S S E S S M E N T O F U N M A N N E D A I R C R A F T S Y S T E M S

. — I n m a k i n g t h e

d e t e r m i n a t i o n u n d e r s u b s e c t i o n ( a )

, t h e S e c r e t a r y s h a l l d e t e r m i n e

, a t a m i n i m u m

—

( 1 ) w h i c h t y p e s o f u n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t s y s t e m s

, i f a n y

, a s a r e s u l t o f t h e i r s i z e

,

w e i g h t

, s p e e d

, o p e r a t i o n a l c a p a b i l i t y

, p r o x i m i t y t o a i r p o r t s a n d p o p u l a t e d a r e a s

, a n d

o p e r a t i o n w i t h i n v i s u a l l i n e o f s i g h t d o n o t c r e a t e a h a z a r d t o u s e r s o f t h e n a t i o n a l

a i r s p a c e s y s t e m o r t h e p u b l i c o r p o s e a t h r e a t t o n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y ; a n d

( 2 ) w h e t h e r a c e r t i f i c a t e o f w a i v e r

, c e r t i f i c a t e o f a u t h o r i z a t i o n

, o r a i r w o r t h i n e s s

c e r t i f i c a t i o n u n d e r s e c t i o n 4 4 7 0 4 o f t i t l e 4 9

, U n i t e d S t a t e s C o d e

, i s r e q u i r e d f o r t h e

o p e r a t i o n o f u n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t s y s t e m s i d e n t i f i e d u n d e r p a r a g r a p h ( 1 )

.

( c ) R E Q U I R E M E N T S F O R S A F E O P E R A T I O N

. — I f t h e S e c r e t a r y d e t e r m i n e s

u n d e r t h i s s e c t i o n t h a t c e r t a i n u n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t s y s t e m s m a y o p e r a t e s a f e l y i n t h e

n a t i o n a l a i r s p a c e s y s t e m

, t h e S e c r e t a r y s h a l l e s t a b l i s h r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r t h e s a f e

o p e r a t i o n o f s u c h a i r c r a f t s y s t e m s i n t h e n a t i o n a l a i r s p a c e s y s t e m

.

T h e l a n g u a g e o f S e c t i o n 3 3 3 ( b ) i s p e r m i s s i v e : i t r e q u i r e s t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y “ d e t e r m i n e

, a t

a m i n i m u m

. . . w h e t h e r a c e r t i f i c a t e o f w a i v e r

, c e r t i f i c a t e o f a u t h o r i z a t i o n

, o r a i r w o r t h i n e s s

c e r t i f i c a t i o n u n d e r s e c t i o n 4 4 7 0 4 o f t i t l e 4 9

, U n i t e d S t a t e s C o d e

, i s r e q u i r e d f o r t h e o p e r a t i o n o f

u n m a n n e d a i r c r a f t s y s t e m s i d e n t i f i e d u n d e r p a r a g r a p h ( 1 )

. ” N o t h i n g i n ( b ) p r e c l u d e s t h e S e c r e t a r y

f r o m d e t e r m i n i n g w h e t h e r o r n o t a p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e i s r e q u i r e d f o r o p e r a t i o n o f a U A i d e n t i f i e d u n d e r

p a r a g r a p h ( b ) ( 1 )

.I n d e e d

, t h e F A A h a s i m p l i c i t l y c o n c e d e d t h e p o i n t b y g r a n t i n g e x e m p t i o n s f r o m t h e

r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t c o m m e r c i a l U A o p e r a t o r s h o l d a c o m m e r c i a l p i l o t c e r t i f i c a t e

. F r o m a n a n a l y t i c a l

s t a n d p o i n t

, t h e r e i s n o d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n g r a n t i n g a n e x e m p t i o n f r o m t h e c o m m e r c i a l p i l o t ’ s

l i c e n s e r e q u i r e m e n t a n d g r a n t i n g a n e x e m p t i o n f r o m t h e p r i v a t e o r s p o r t p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e

r e q u i r e m e n t

. B o t h a r e c l e a r l y e x e m p t i o n s f r o m a s p e c i f i c s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t i n 4 9 U

. S

. C

. § 4 4 7 1 1

. I f t h e F A A h a s t h e s t a t u t o r y a u t h o r i t y u n d e r S e c t i o n 3 3 3 ( b ) t o d o t h e f o r m e r

, i t h a s t h e

s a m e a u t h o r i t y t o d o t h e l a t t e r

. 9

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

_

9 T h e F A A h a s n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y i d e n t i f i e d t h e s t a t u t o r y p r o v i s i o n t h a t u n d e r p i n s i t s a u t h o r i t y t o

g r a n t t h e e x e m p t i o n s f r o m t h e c o m m e r c i a l p i l o t ’ s l i c e n s e r e q u i r e m e n t

. W h e t h e r t h e s t a t u t o r y b a s i s

i s S e c t i o n 3 3 3 o r s o m e o t h e r p r o v i s i o n m a k e s n o d i f f e r e n c e

. I f t h e r e i s a b a s i s f o r a p a r t i a l

e x e m p t i o n f r o m i n 4 9 U

. S

. C

. § 4 4 7 1 1

, t h a t b a s i s a l s o j u s t i f i e s a n e x e m p t i o n f r o m t h e e n t i r e

p r o v i s i o n

.

# SAFETY GUIDELINES

AND DISCLAIMER

PROFESSIONAL ADVANCED 

# PHANTOM 3

2015.9 V1.2Searching for Keywords

Search for keywords such as “battery” and “install” to fnd a topic. If you are using Adobe Acrobat

Reader to read this document, press Ctrl+F on Windows or Comman d+F on Mac to begin a search.

Navigating to a Topic

View a complete list of topics in the table of contents. Click on a topic to navigate to that section.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 1 

## Contents

Safety At a Glance 2

NOTICE 4

Glossary 4

Pre-fight Checklist 4

Disclaimer and Warning 5

FCC Compliance and Advisory 6

IMPORTANT NOTE: FCC Radiation Exposure Statement 6

FCC Class B Information 6

Before You Begin 7

Individual Parts 7

Regarding Genuine and Functional Parts 7

Remote Controller 7

Camera 8

Gimbal 8

Compass 8

Propulsion Systems 9

App 10

Firmware 10

Product Care 1 2

Storage and Transportation 12

Maintenance and Upkeep 12

Flight Condition Requirements 13

Weather Conditions and Surrounding Environment 13

Interference with Flight Controller, Communications, and Positioning Systems 13

Operating the Aircraft Responsibly 13

Flight Modes, Functions and Warnings 15

Flight Modes 15

Failsafe and Return to Home 15

Low Battery 16

Vision Positioning System 16

Compliance with Regulations & No-Fly Zones 17

Regulations 17

No-Fly Zones 182 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## Safety At a Glance

1. Environmental Considerations

• Always fy at locations that are clear of building and other

obstacles

.

•  DO NOT fy above or near large crowds

.

• Avoid fying at altitudes above 400 feet (120 m).

• Be very careful when fying 19,600 feet (6,000 m) or more

above sea level.

• Fly in moderate weather conditions with temperatures between

0° to 40° C (32° to 104° F)

.

2. Pre-fight Checklist

• Ensure the remote controller and aircraft batteries are fully charged

.

• Ensure the propellers are in good condition and securely tightened

.

• Ensure there is nothing obstructing the motors

.

• Be sure to calibrate the compass at every new fight location or if the app prompts you.

• Check that the camera lens is clean and free of stains

.

3. Operation

• Stay away from the rotating propellers and motors

.

• Maintain line of sight of your aircraft at all times

• DO NOT perform the Combination Stick Command when the aircraft is in midair

.

• DO NOT answer incoming calls during fight.

• DO NOT fy under the infuence of alcohols or drugs

.

• During the Return-to-Home procedure, you can adjust the altitude to avoid obstacles

.

• DO NOT fy closely above refective surfaces such as water or snow , as these terrain may affect

the performance of the Vision Positioning System.

• In the instance of a Low Battery Warning , land the aircraft at a safe location

.

• After landing, frst turn off the Intelligent Flight Battery , then turn off the remote controller

.

4. Maintenance and Upkeep

• DO NOT use aged, chipped or broken propellers

.

• Recommended storage temperature: between 71° and 82° F (22° and 28° C)

.

• Refer to the Phantom 3 Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines for more information about the

safe use of the battery.

5. Observe Local Laws and Regulations

• DO NOT fy in the No Fly Zones. You can fnd a complete list of these a reas at http://fysafe.dji.com/

• The DJI No Fly Zone is not a replacement for local government regulations or good judgment

.

•  Avoid fying in areas where rescue teams are actively using the airspace

. The Phantom 3 is

NOT a toy and is not

suitable for children

under the age of 18.

Note that ‘Safety at a Glance’ only

provides a quick overview of the

safety tips. Make sure you read

and understand the remaining

sections of the Phantom 3 Safety

Guidelines and Disclaimer.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 3 Fly in Open Areas Calibrate the Compass Maintain Line of Sight Fly Below

400 feet (120 m)

Avoid fying over or near obstacles, crowds, high voltage power lines, trees or bodies of water.

DO NOT fy near strong electromagnetic sources such as power lines and base stations as it may affect the onboard

compass.

≥ 10m/s

DO NOT use the aircraft in adverse weather conditions such as r ain, snow, fog and

wind speeds exceeding 10 m/s or 22 mph.

Stay away from the rotating

propellers and motors. No Fly

Zone

Learn more at:

http://fysafe.dji.com/no-fy4 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## NOTICE

All instructions and other collateral documents are subject to change at the sole discretion of SZ DJI

TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. For up-to-date product information, visit http://www.dji.com and click on the

Phantom 3 product page.



## Glossary

The following terms are used throughout the product literature to indicate various levels of potential harm

when operating this product:

NOTICE: Procedures, which if not properly followed, create a possibility of physical property

damage AND a little or no possibility of injury.

CAUTION: Procedures, which if not properly followed, create the probability of physical property

damage AND a possibility of serious injury.

WARNING: Procedures, which if not properly followed, create the probability of property damage,

collateral damage, and serious injury OR create a high probabil ity of superfcial injury.

Read the ENTIRE user manual to become familiar with the features of

this product before operating. Failure to operate the product correctly

can result in damage to the product or personal property and ca use serious injury.

This is a sophisticated product. It must be operated with caution and common sense and

requires some basic mechanical ability. Failure to operate this product in a safe and responsible

manner could result in injury or damage to the product or other property. This product is not

intended for use by children without direct adult supervision. Do not use with incompatible

components or alter this product in any way outside of the documents provided by SZ DJI

TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. These Safety Guidelines contain instructions for safety, operation and

maintenance. It is essential to read and follow all of the instructions and warnings in the user

manual, prior to assembly, setup or use, in order to operate the product correctly and avoid

damage or serious injury.

Age Recommendation: Not for children under the age of 18. This is not a toy.



## Pre-fight Checklist

1) Ensure that you are using only genuine parts and that all parts are in mint condition.

2) Ensure the remote controller, Intelligent Flight Battery, and m obile device are fully charged.

3) Ensure that there is no foreign object stuck to the camera lens, the micro-SD card has been inserted into

the camera, and the gimbal can rotate freely before powering it on.

4) Ensure the propellers are securely mounted onto the motors, and the motors can start and function normally.

5) Follow the on-screen instructions to calibrate the compass.

6) Ensure the app and aircraft's frmware have been upgraded to the latest version.

7) Ensure that your flight area is outside the No-Fly Zones and flight conditions are suitable for flying the

aircraft.

8) Be sure that you are NOT fying under the infuence of alcohol, drugs or any substance that may impair

your cognitive abilities.

9) Be familiar with the selected fight mode and understand all saf ety functions and warnings.

10) Be sure to observe all local regulations, obtain appropriate authorizations, and understand the risks.

REMEMBER: It is solely your responsibility to comply with all f ight regulations.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 5 

## Disclaimer and Warning

This product is NOT a toy and is not suitable for children under the age of 18. Adults should keep the

Phantom 3 out of the reach of children and exercise caution when operating this aircraft in the presence of

children.

This product is a fying camera that offers easy fight when in good working order as set forth below. Visit

http://www.dji.com for the most current instructions and warnings and http://knowbeforeyoufy.org/ for more

information about fight safety and compliance.

The information in this document affects your safety and your legal rights and responsibilities. Read

this entire document carefully to ensure proper configuration before use. Failure to read and follow the

instructions and warnings in this document may result in product loss, serious injury to you, or damage to

your aircraft.

By using this product, you hereby signify that you have read this disclaimer carefully and that you

understand and agree to abide by the terms and conditions herein. You agree that you are solely

responsible for your own conduct while using this product, and for any consequences thereof. You agree

to use this product only for purposes that are proper and in accordance with all applicable laws, rules, and

regulations, including international and domestic airspace regulations, and all terms, precautions, practices,

policies and guidelines DJI has made and may make available.

DJI accepts no liability for damage, injury or any legal responsibility incurred directly or indirectly from the

use of this product. The user shall observe safe and lawful practices including, but not limited to, those set

forth in these Safety Guidelines.

Data Storage and Usage

When you use our mobile app or our products or other software, data regarding the use and operation of

the product, such as fight telemetry data (e.g., speed, altitud e, battery life, and information about the gimbal

and camera) and operations records, may be automatically or manually uploaded to and maintained on a

DJI-designated server. The internal storage device incorporated into the product stores various types of

data, including fight telemetry data. You may also provide fight telemetry data and other data to us when

you manually transmit that information from the internal storag e device to us.

The information that is automatically uploaded or manually uploaded to us does not include personal data

(i.e., your name, address, email, or other information that specifcally identifes you), but personal data, such

as your user name, may become associated with, used to identify, or tagged to such uploaded information

when we store it. We separately describe how we use your user name and other personal data on our

privacy policy at http://www.dji.com/policy. By using the product, the mobile app or other software we

distribute, or by manually providing data to us, you consent to the following:

• Our storage of any flight telemetry data and other data uploaded or provided to us, including in

combination with your user name;

• Our use of any such data uploaded or provided (including your user name) in connection providing

support and services to you and to improve our products;

• Our disclosure of such data uploaded or provided (including your user name) to our agents and/or

contractors who may use it on our behalf or in connection with their relationship with us; and

• Our disclosure of such uploaded or provided data (including your user name) as required by law, in a

matter of public safety or policy, as needed in connection with the transfer of our business assets, or if we

believe in good faith that sharing the data is necessary to pro tect our rights or property.6 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## FCC Compliance and Advisory

This device complies with part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1)

this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received,

including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Any changes or modifcations not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void

the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

IMPORTANT NOTE: FCC Radiation Exposure Statement

This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This

equipment should be installed and operated with a minimum distance of 20 cm between the radiator and

your body. This transmitter must not be co-located or operate in conjunction with any other antenna or

transmitter.

FCC Class B Information

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant

to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful

interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency

energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference

to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular

location. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be

determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by

one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna;

Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver;

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different fro m that to which the receiver is connected;

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for he lp;

DJI hereby declares that this product is in compliance with the essential requirements and other relevant

provisions of Directive 1995/5/EC.

DJI reserves the right to update this disclaimer and the Safety Guidelines. Please visit www.dji.com and check your email

periodically for the latest version. This disclaimer is made in various language versions; in the event of divergence among

different versions, the English version shall prevail.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 7 

## Before You Begin

The following documents have been produced to help you safely operate and make full use of your

Phantom 3:

In the Box

Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Safety Guidelines and Disclai mer

Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Intelligent Flight Battery Sa fety Guidelines

Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Quick Start Guide

Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced User Manual

Check all of the included parts listed in the Phantom 3 In the Box document and read the Phantom 3 Safety

Guidelines before fight. Then prepare for your frst fight by using the Phantom 3 Quick Start Guide and

watching all of the tutorial videos on DJI’s offcial website (http://www.dji.com). If you have questions, refer

to the Phantom 3 User Manual in the app or on DJI’s offcial website for more comprehensive information.

Make sure you fully understand the functionality of each individual part, the fight condition requirements, the

key contingency warning functions/systems, and all government regulations before each fight. If you have

any questions or problems during the assembly, maintenance or use of this product, please contact DJI or

a DJI authorized dealer.



## Individual Parts

Regarding Genuine and Functional Parts

To avoid component malfunction, serious injury, and property damage, observe the following rules:

1) Use only genuine DJI parts or parts certified by DJI. Unauthorized parts or parts from non-DJI

certifed manufacturers may cause system malfunctions and compro mise safety.

2) Ensure there are no foreign objects (such as water, oil, soil, sand, etc.) inside of the aircraft or its

components.

3) Ensure the aircraft and its components – including but not limited to the remote controller, camera,

gimbal, compass, propulsion system, and battery – are all in good working order, damage-free,

and functioning well. Refer to the remaining sections in this document for more details on how to

ensure the functionality of these components.

Remote Controller

1) Ensure the remote controller is fully charged before each fight

. 2) If the remote controller is powered on and has NOT been used for 5 minutes, it will sound an alert. After 10

minutes it will automatically power off. Move the sticks or per form some other action to cancel the alert.

3) Adjust the clamp of the mobile device holder to allow a frm gri p on your mobile device.

4) Ensure the mobile device holder is frmly in place and does not slip.

5) Ensure the antennas of the remote controller are unfolded and adjusted to the proper position to achieve

optimal transmission quality.

6) Repair or replace the remote controller if damaged. A damaged remote controller antenna will greatly8 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. decrease performance.

7) Linking is required if you wish to replace your remote controller or receiver or add a new remote controller.

Refer to the User Manual for details.

Camera

To avoid possible serious injury and property damage, observe t he following rule:

1) Do NOT block any ventilation holes on the camera as the heat generated may hurt you and damage the

device.

1) Check camera settings before use to make sure you can adjust th em to ft your needs.

2) Test the camera by shooting a few test images and check that it is operating correctly before shooting

important pictures or videos.

3) Do NOT remove the micro-SD card from the camera when it is powe red on.

4) Photos or videos cannot be transmitted or copied from the camera if the Intelligent Flight Battery is

powered off.

5) Be sure to power off the Intelligent Flight Battery correctly, otherwise your camera parameters will NOT

be saved and any recorded videos may be damaged. NOTE: Regardless of the reason, DJI will not be

responsible for any failure of an image or video to be recorded or having been recorded in a way that is

not machine readable.

Gimbal

1) Precision elements in the gimbal may be damaged in a collision or impact, which may cause the gimbal

to function abnormally.

2) Do NOT apply external force to the gimbal after the gimbal is p owered on.

3) Do NOT add any payloads to the gimbal, as this may cause the gimbal to function abnormally or even

lead to motor damage.

4) Remove the gimbal clamp before powering on the gimbal. Re-install the gimbal clamp to secure the

gimbal’s position if you are going to store the aircraft for an extended period.

Compass

To avoid possible serious injury and property damage, observe t he following rule:

1) Land immediately when severe drifting occurs in fight, i.e., th e aircraft does NOT fy in straight lines.

1) Ensure the compass is calibrated before every flight. Failure to calibrate may lead to poor flight

performance or a crash.

2) Do NOT attempt to calibrate your compass where there is a chance of strong magnetic interference.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 9 This includes areas where there are massive metal objects, parking structures, steel reinforcements

underground, or under bridges.

3) Do NOT carry ferromagnetic materials with you during calibratio n, such as keys or mobile phones.

4) The compass should always be calibrated when moving from indoor spaces to outdoor spaces.

5) If the rear LEDs show a solid red light, compass calibration ha s failed. Please recalibrate.

6) After successful calibration, the compass may become abnormal when you place the aircraft on the

ground. This may be because of underground magnetic interference. Move the aircraft to another location

and try again.

7) When to recalibrate

a) When compass data is abnormal, and the Aircraft Status Indicato r is blinking red and yellow.

b) When fying in a new location, or a location that is different f rom your last fight.

c) When the mechanical structure of the aircraft has changed, i.e. new mounting position of the compass.

d) When severe drifting occurs in fight, i.e. the aircraft does NO T fy in straight lines.

Propulsion Systems

To avoid serious injury to yourself or others, which may be caused by the rotating propellers and

motors, observe the following rules:

Propellers

1) Do NOT use aged, chipped, or broken propellers.

2) Always power off the aircraft before touching the propellers.

3) Be aware of the sharp edges of the propellers when mounting or removing the propellers. Wear

gloves or take other protective measures when touching the prop ellers.

4) Whenever necessary, use tools (e.g., wrench, screwdriver, pliers, etc.) to remove or install the

propellers.

5) Ensure the propellers are securely mounted to prevent them from falling off the motors.

6) Do NOT turn on the motors when propellers are mounted and there are other people or animals in

the immediate vicinity.

Motors

1) Ensure the motors are securely mounted and rotating smoothly.

2) Do NOT attempt to modify the structure of the motors.

3) Do NOT touch or let your hands or body come in contact with the motors after fight as they may

be hot.

To avoid possible serious injury and property damage, observe t he following rules :

1) Do NOT block any of the ventilation holes on the motors.

2) Do NOT block any of the ventilation holes on the frame arm of t he aircraft.

Motors

1) Keep the motors free of dust.

2) If a motor is stuck and unable to rotate freely, execute the CSC (Combination Stick Command) to stop the

motors immediately.10 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. Electronic Speed Controllers

1) Ensure the ESCs sound a normal tune when powered on.

App

1) Be sure to fully charge your tablet or mobile device before launching the app. A tablet is recommended

for a better user experience.

2) If you are using a phone as your mobile display device, be sure to continue fying safely when the phone

receives an incoming call. Do NOT accept phone calls during fig ht.

3) Read all prompted safety tips, warning messages, and disclaimers carefully. Be familiar with the related

regulations in your area. You are solely responsible for being aware of all relevant regulations and fying in

a way that is compliant.

a) Read and understand the warning messages before using the Auto-take off and Auto-landing features.

b) Read and understand the warning message and disclaimer before setting the altitude beyond the

default limit.

c) Read and understand the warning messages and disclaimer before switching between fight modes.

4) Land your aircraft immediately if there is an alert shown on th e app.

5) Examine and check all warning messages on the checklist display ed in the app prior to each fight.

6) Use the in-app simulator to practice your fight skills if you have never operated the aircraft or if you do not

have suffcient experience to be comfortable operating the aircr aft.

7) Beginner Mode is enabled by default when you launch the app for the frst time. The aircraft’s altitude and

fight distance is restricted when fying in Beginner Mode. We recommend you fy in Beginner Mode to

perfect your fight skills. Operate the actual aircraft only after you are confdent that you have mastered

adequate fight skills.

8) Cache the map data of the area where you intend to fy the aircraft by connecting to the Internet before

each fight.

Firmware

To avoid serious injury to children and animals, observe the following rule:

1) Keep children and animals at a safe distance during any frmware upgrade, system calibration, and

parameter setting procedures.

1) For safety, always update the frmware to the latest version when an upgrade notifcation is shown in the

app.

2) Firmware upgrade notifications will prompt you to proceed with an update immediately or to update

the frmware within three days. If you choose to ignore the current frmware update, you are required

to accept the prompted disclaimer. You further understand and agree that the data including but not

limited to fight telemetry data and user selection records may be uploaded to and maintained on a DJIdesignated server.

3) Be sure to download the frmware package fle from the offcial DJI website. Verify the frmware package

fle’s integrity before upgrading.

4) Be sure to update the remote controller’s firmware to the latest version after you update the aircraft’s© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 11 frmware.

5) The remote controller may become unlinked from the aircraft after updating. Re-link the remote controller

and aircraft.

6) Be sure to check all connections and remove the propellers from the motors before performing the

frmware update.

7) Ensure there is only one frmware package fle stored on your SD card.

8) Only storage devices that are formatted for FAT32 and exFAT fle systems are supported for aircraft and

remote controller frmware updates.

9) Delete any automatically generated .txt fles on the SD card when updating multiple remote controllers.12 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## Product Care

Storage and Transportation

To avoid serious injury to children and animals, observe the following rule:

1) Small parts, such as cables and straps, are dangerous if swallowed. Keep all parts out of reach of

children and animals.

1) Store the Intelligent Flight Battery and remote controller in a cool, dry place away from direct

sunlight to ensure the built-in LiPo battery does NOT overheat. Recommended storage temperature:

between 71° and 82° F (22° and 28° C) for storage periods of more than three months. Never store in

environments outside the temperature range of -20° C to 45° C ( -68° to 113° F).

2) Do NOT allow the camera to come into contact with, or become immersed in, water or other liquids. If it

gets wet, wipe dry with a soft, absorbent cloth. Turning on an aircraft that has fallen into water may cause

permanent component damage. Do NOT use substances containing alcohol, benzene, thinners or other

flammable substances to clean or maintain the camera. Do NOT store the camera in humid or dusty

areas.

3) Do NOT connect this product to any USB interface that is older than version 2.0. Do NOT connect this

product to any "power USB" or similar devices.

Maintenance and Upkeep

1) Check every part of the aircraft after any crash or violent impact. If you have any problems or questions,

please contact a DJI authorized dealer.

2) Regularly check the Battery Level Indicators to see the current battery level and overall battery life. When

the battery life reaches 0%, it can no longer be used.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 13 

## Flight Condition Requirements

Weather Conditions and Surrounding Environment

The aircraft is designed to operate in good to moderate weather conditions. To avoid collision, serious

injury and property damage, observe the following rules:

1) Do NOT use the aircraft in severe weather conditions. These include wind speeds exceeding 10 m/s,

snow, rain, smog, heavy wind, hail, lightning, tornadoes or hurricanes.

2) Keep the aircraft at least 30 feet (10 meters) away from obstacles, people, animals, buildings, public

infrastructure, trees, and bodies of water when in fight. Stay even further away from the above

objects as your altitude increases.

3) Be EXTRA cautious when operating the aircraft indoors.

1) Aircraft and battery performance is subject to environmental fa ctors such as air density and temperature.

a) Be very careful when fying 20,000 feet (6,000 meters) or more above sea level as battery and aircraft

performance may be reduced.

b) It is not recommend to operate the aircraft store in environments outside the temperature range of

-20° C to 45° C (-68° to 113° F).

2) Do NOT use the aircraft near accidents, fire, explosions, floods, tsunamis, avalanches, landslides,

earthquakes, dust, or sandstorms.

Interference with Flight Controller, Communications, and Positioning Systems

1) Fly in open areas. Tall buildings or steel structures may affect the accuracy of the on-board compass and

block the GPS signal.

2) Avoid interference between the remote controller and other wireless equipment. Make sure to turn off the

Wi-Fi on your mobile device.

3) Do NOT fy near areas with magnetic or radio interference. These include but are NOT limited to: high

voltage lines, large scale power transmission stations or mobile base stations and broadcasting towers.

Failing to do so may compromise the transmission quality of this product or cause remote controller and

video transmission errors which may affect flight orientation and location accuracy. The aircraft may

behave abnormally or go out of control in areas with too much i nterference.

Operating the Aircraft Responsibly

To avoid serious injury and property damage, observe the following rules:

1) Make sure you are NOT drunk, taking drugs, under the infuence of anesthesia, or suffering from

dizziness, fatigue, nausea or any other conditions, whether physical or mental, that could impair

your ability to operate the aircraft safely.14 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 2) Do NOT perform the Combination Stick Commands when aircraft is in midair, otherwise the motors

will stop.

3) Upon landing, power off the aircraft frst, then switch off the remote controller.

4) Do NOT drop, launch, fre or otherwise project any dangerous payloads on or at any buildings,

persons or animals, or which could cause personal injury or pro perty damage.

1) Make sure you have been sufficiently trained and are fully aware of any contingency plans before

accidents happen.

2) Make sure you have a fight plan and never fy the aircraft reckl essly.

3) Respect the privacy of others when using the camera. Make sure you comply with local privacy laws,

regulations, and moral standards.

4) Do NOT use this product for any reason other than general personal use. Do NOT use it for any illegal or

inappropriate purpose (such as spying, military operations, or unauthorized investigations).

5) Do NOT use this product to defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threat en or otherwise violate the legal rights (such

as the right of privacy and publicity) of others.

6) Do NOT trespass into private property of others.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 15 

## Flight Modes, Functions and Warnings

Flight Modes

To avoid serious injury and property damage, observe the following rule:

1) Do NOT switch from P mode to either A mode or F mode unless you are suffciently familiar with

the aircraft’s behavior for each fight mode, since disabling GPS may result in being unable to land

the aircraft safely.

P mode is preferred for most flying scenarios. Users can switch to A mode where and when P mode is

unavailable. Be aware that some features are NOT available for A mode, and therefore be EXTRA cautious

when fying in A mode.

1) P mode (Positioning): P mode works best when the GPS signal is strong. There are three different states

of P mode, which will be automatically selected by the Phantom 3 depending on GPS signal strength and

Vision Positioning sensors:

a) P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning are both available, and the a ircraft is using GPS for positioning.

b) P-OPTI: If GPS is NOT available, the aircraft will use the Vision Positioning System to hover accurately.

Note that the Vision Positioning System may NOT work properly when the Phantom 3 is fying over

water, over surfaces without a clear pattern, or in a low light environment.

c) P-ATTI: When neither GPS nor Vision Positioning is available, the aircraft is using only its barometer for

positioning, so only altitude is controlled.

2) A mode (Attitude): The GPS and Vision Positioning System are NOT used for positioning. The aircraft only

uses its barometer to maintain altitude. If it is still receiving a GPS signal, the aircraft can automatically

return home if the Remote Controller signal is lost and if the Home Point has been recorded successfully.

3) F mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. Ensure you are familiar

with IOC functions before use.

If you intend to switch to modes that disable GPS assistance (e.g., A mode), you are required to accept the

prompted disclaimer to enable this function. If this function is enabled, you further understand and agree

that data including but not limited to fight telemetry data and function records could be uploaded to and

maintained on a DJI designated server.

Failsafe and Return to Home

1) The Return to Home feature will NOT work if the GPS signal is i nsuffcient or if GPS is not active.

2) Press the RTH (Return to Home) Button on the remote controller to bring the aircraft back to the Home

Point instead of turning off the remote controller.

3) Tall buildings may adversely affect the Failsafe function. Please adjust the aircraft location, altitude and

speed while returning home to avoid obstacles.

4) Make sure to always fy the aircraft within the transmission ran ge of the remote controller.

5) Only use the Failsafe and Return to Home functions in case of emergency, as they may be affected by the

weather, the environment, or any nearby magnetic felds.16 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 6) The aircraft cannot avoid obstacles during the Failsafe RTH; therefore it is important to set an appropriate

Failsafe altitude before each fight.

7) When fying indoors, the aircraft cannot perform precision hover ing when fying above the surfaces that do

not have a clear pattern. Refer to the “Vision Positioning Syst em” section for complete indoor fying criteria.

Low Battery

1) When the Critical Battery Level Warning activates and the aircraft is descending automatically, you may

push the throttle up to maintain the aircraft's altitude and navigate it to a more appropriate location for

landing.

2) When battery warnings are triggered, promptly bring the aircraft back to the Home Point or land to avoid

losing power during fight and causing damage to the aircraft, p roperty, animals, and people.

Vision Positioning System

1) The Vision Positioning System cannot work properly over surfaces that do NOT have pattern variations.

The effective altitude for the Vision Positioning System to function correctly is less than 8.2 feet (2.5

meters) above ground level (AGL).

2) The Vision Positioning System may NOT function properly when th e aircraft is fying over water.

3) Keep your pets away from the aircraft when the Vision Positioning System is activated, as the sonar

sensors emit a high frequency sound that is only audible to som e pets.

4) Note that the Vision Positioning System may NOT function proper ly when the aircraft is fying too fast or too

low.

5) Operate the aircraft cautiously when in any of the following si tuations:

a) Flying over monochrome surfaces (e.g., pure black, pure white, pure red, pure green).

b) Flying over highly refective surfaces;

c) Flying at high speeds (over 8m/s at 2 meters or over 4m/s at 1 meter);

d) Flying over water or transparent surfaces;

e) Flying over moving surfaces or objects;

f) Flying in an area where the lighting changes frequently or dras tically;

g) Flying over extremely dark (lux < 10) or bright (lux > 10,000) surfaces;

h) Flying over surfaces that can absorb sound waves (e.g., thick c arpet).

i ) Flying over surfaces without clear patterns or texture;

j ) Flying over surfaces with identical repeating patterns or textu res (e.g. tiles with same design);

k) Flying over inclined surfaces that will defect sound waves away from the aircraft

6) In the event of loss of the remote controller’s signal, the air craft will hover for 8 seconds and then auto-land

if it is in “P” mode.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 17 

## Compliance with Regulations & No-Fly Zones

Regulations

To avoid non-compliant behavior, serious injury and property damage, observe the following rules:

1) Do NOT operate in the vicinity of manned aircraft, regardless of altitude. (Land immediately if

necessary)

2) Do NOT fy the aircraft in densely populated areas, including cities, sporting events, exhibitions,

performances, etc.

3) Do NOT fy the aircraft above the authorized altitude. Remain well clear of and do NOT interfere

with manned aircraft operations. Be aware of and avoid other ai rcraft and obstacles at all times.

To avoid non-compliant behavior, serious injury and property da mage, observe the following rules:

1) Do NOT fy the aircraft near or inside no-fy zones specifed by local laws and regulations. The no-fy zone

list includes: airports, borders between two sovereign countries or regions, major cities/regions, etc., and

is continuously updated.

2) Do NOT fy the aircraft above the authorized altitude

3) ALWAYS keep your aircraft within visual line of sight (VLOS), a nd use an observer to assist if needed.

4) NEVER use the aircraft to carry illegal or dangerous goods/payl oads.

1) Make sure you understand the nature/type of your fight operation (such as for recreation, for public use, or for

commercial use) and have obtained corresponding approval and clearance from the related government

agencies before flight. Consult with your local regulators for comprehensive definitions and specific

requirements. For users operating their aircraft in the United States, please first visit http://www.

knowbeforeyoufy.org/ and take action appropriate to your circum stances.

2) Please note that remote controlled aircraft may be banned from conducting commercial activities in

certain countries and regions. Check and follow all local laws and ordinances before fying as those rules

may differ from those stated here.

3) Do NOT fy around sensitive infrastructure or property such as power stations, water treatment facilities,

correctional facilities, heavily traveled roadways, government facilities, military zones, etc.

4) Respect the privacy of others when using the camera. Do NOT conduct surveillance operations such

as image capture or video recording on any person, entity, event, performance, exhibition, and property

without authorization or where there is an expectation of privacy, even if the image or video is captured for

personal use.

5) Please be advised that in certain areas, the recording of images and videos from events, performances,

exhibitions, or commercial properties by means of a camera may contravene copyright or other legal

rights, even if the image or video was shot for personal use.18 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. No-Fly Zones

DJI always stresses safety during fight, and has therefore developed various aids to help users comply with

local rules and regulations while fying. We strongly recommend that you update the frmware to the latest

version to ensure the following features are fully updated:

No-Fly Zones

1) No-Fly Zones include but are not limited to major airports around world, borders between two sovereign

countries or regions, major cities/regions, etc.

2) The complete list of No-Fly Zones is listed on the offcial DJI website at http://fysafe.dji.com/no-fy and is

subject to periodic updates in line with the latest regulatory requirements without prior notice.

3) Some No-Fly Zones are comprised of several zones. Each zone features circles of various sizes. The

aircraft will NOT be able to take off in the inner most zone of the No-Fly Zone, and will descend to the

specifed altitude when it approaches the edge of the inner most zone. Ground station functionality is

disabled when the aircraft is within a No-Fly Zone.

4) Users are NOT able to set up waypoints within No-Fly Zones.

Altitude Limit

1) Fly NO higher than 400 feet (120 meters) above ground level and stay away from any surrounding

obstacles.

If you intend to fy above the default altitude limit, you are required to accept the prompted disclaimer to

enable the new altitude limit. If a new altitude limit is set, you further understand and agree that data including

but not limited to fight telemetry data and altitude limit changes could be uploaded to and maintained on a

DJI-designated server.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. This content is subject to change.

Download the latest version from

www.dji.com/support

If you have any questions about this document, please contact DJI by

sending a message to DocSupport@dji.com

.