May 18 , 201 5

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

Re: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations from 14 C.F.R. 45.2 3(b);14 CFR Part 21;14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b); 91.7 (a);91.9 (b) (2);91.103(b); 91.109;91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a);91.203(a) & (b);91.405 (a); 91.407(a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2);91.417 (a) & (b).

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the F AA Modernizatio n and Reform Act of 2012 (t he

Reform Act) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Unmanned Vertical Solutions LLC, operator of

Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“sUASs”) equipped to o ffer o n -d em and commercial

UAS operations for a host of industries and applications. These include:

• Research and Development

,

• Precision Agriculture

,

• Aerial Surveying

,

• Construction site inpsectioni and monitoring

,

• Wildllife and forestry monitoring

,

• Pipeline inspection and patrolling

,

• Utility-power generation system inspections and patrolling

,

• Flare stack inspection , and • Public Entity Support Operations.

her eby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of its sUASs, so long as such operations are conducted

wit hin and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333

As described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of small, unmanned and relatively inexpensive sUAS under controll ed conditions in airspace that is 1) limited 2) predetermined 3) controlled as to access and 4) would provide safety enhancements to the already safe operations using conventional aircraft. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfil l the Secretary of Transportation’s (the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to “...establish requirementsfor the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.” Section 333(c) of the Reform Act.

The name and address of the appl icant is:
Unmanned Vertical Solutions LLC

Attn: Bradley E. Baerwaldt

205 Golfview Drive Eldridge

, IA 52748

Ph: 618

- 534

- 8291

Email: brad@umvsolutions.com

Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

14 CFR Part 21 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b) 14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b)

14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a) 14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)

14 C.F.R. 91.103

14 C.F.R. 91.109

14 C.F. R. 91.119

14 C.F.R. 91.121 14 CFR 91.151 (a) 14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b) 14 CFR 91.405 (a) 14 CFR 407 (a) (1) 14 CFR 409 (a) (2) 14 CFR 417 (a) & (b)

This exemption application is e xpressly submitted to fulfill Congress’ goal in passing Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of Transportation to consider whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace system (NAS) before completion of the rulemaking required under Section 332 of the Reform Act. In making this determination, the Secretary is required to determine which types of UASs do not create a hazard to users of the NAS or the public or pose a threat to na tional security in light of the following:

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

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

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

Reform Act § 333 (a). Lastly, if the Secretary determines that such vehicles “may operate safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft in the national airspace system.” Id. §333( c) (emphasis added) Applicant interprets this provision to place the duty on the Administrator to not only process applications for exemptions under section 333, but for the Administrator to craft conditions for the safe operation of the UAS, if it should be determined that the conditions set forth herein do not fulfill the statutory requirements for approval. The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA the authority to issue exemptions. This statutory authority by its terms includes exempting civil a ircraft, as the term is

d efined under §40101 of the Act that includes sUASs, from the requirement that all civil

aircraft must have a current airworthiness certificate

.The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702

- 44716 of this title if the Administrator finds the exemption in the public interest. 49 U.S.C. §44701(f) See also 49 USC §44711(a); 49 USC §44704; 14 CFR §91.203 (a) (1).

Unmanned Vertical Solutions sUAS s are rotorcraft and/or quad copter weighting 55 or fewer lbs. inc luding payload. They operate, under normal conditions at a s peed of no

mor e t han 50 k nots and hav e the capability to hover, and move in the vertical and

horizontal plane simultaneously. They will operate only i n li ne of sight and will operat e only withi n a s terile a rea. Such operations will insur e that t he s UAS will “not creat e a hazar d t o users of t he national airspac e system or t he public.”

Reform Act Section 333 (b).

Given the small size of the sUASs i nvolved and the restricted sterile environment within which they will operate, the applicant falls squarely within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of UASs to commence immediately. Also due to the size of the UASs and the restricted areas in which the relevant sUASs will operate, approval of the application presents no national security issue. Given the clear direction

in Section 333 of the Reform Ac t, the authority contained in the Federal Aviation Act, as amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed operations, and the significant public benefit, including enhanced safety, reduction in environmental impacts, including redu ced emissions associated with allowing UASs, the grant of the requested exemptions is in the public interest. Accordingly, the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA grant the req uested exemption without delay.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

The applicant proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft that

hav e t he characteristics and that operat e wit h t he limitations list ed herein. These

limitations provide for at least an equivalent or even higher leve l of safety to operations

under t he current regulatory structur e becaus e t he propos ed operations represent a safety enhancement to the already safe operation s conducted with conventional

aircraft. These limitations and conditions to which Unmanned Vertical Solutions a grees
to b e b o und when conducting commercial operation s under an FAA issued exemption

include:

1. The sUAS will weigh less than 55 lbs. 2. Flights will be operated within line of sight of a pilot and/or observer. 3. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes. Flights will be terminated at 25% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 30 minute limit. 4. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL or, not more than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned. 5. Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS Pilot, the Visual Observer,

and /or the Camera Operator. 6. sUAS pilot will be an FAA licensed airman with at least a private pilot’s certificate

. 7. sUAS Pilot will be Pilot in Command (PIC). If a pilot certificate holder other than the sUAS Pilot, who possess the necessary PIC qualifications, is also present (i.e. the Visual

Observer ), that person can also be designated as the PIC. 8. The UAS will only operate within a confined “Sterile Area” of the flight operations area. 9. A briefing will be conducted in regard to the planned sUAS operations prior to each day’s activities. It will be mandatory that all personnel who will be performing duties

within the boundaries of the safety perimeter be present for this briefing.10 . T he operator will obtain the c onsent of all persons involved and ensure that only consenting persons will be allowed within 100 feet of the flight operation, and this radius may be reduced to 30 f eet based upon an equivalent level of safety determination

. 11 . P ilot and observer will have been trained in operation of UAS generally and received

up

- to

- date informat ion on the particular UAS to be operated.

12

. Observer

a nd p ilot will a t all ti mes be abl e t o communicat e by voic e and/or tex t.

13 . W ritten and/or oral permission from the relevant property holders will be obtained

. 14 . A ll required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, county or city jurisdictions, including l ocal law enforcement, fire, or other app ropriate governmental agencies.

15 . If th e sUAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UAS will have capability to return to a pre

- determined location within the Security Perimeter and land.

16 . T he sUAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1) Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requi rements for the issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Given the size and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate , upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular UAS. In all cases, an analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the UAS operated without an airworthiness certificat e, in the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and conditions proposed.

Th e sUAS to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor passenger, carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclusively within a secured area as set out in the Manual. Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by both the operator, pursuant to the Manual’s requirements, and under the requirements and in compliance with local public safety requirements, to provide security for the area of operation as is now done with conventional filming. The FAA will have advance notice of all operations. These safety enhancements, which already apply to civil aircraft operated in connection with motion picture and television production, provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than conventional operations conducted with airworthiness certificates issued under 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H. Lastly, application

of these same criteria demonstrates that there is no credible threat to national security posed by the UAS, due to its size, speed of operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry a substantial external

load. 14 C.F.R. § 45.23 (b). Marking of the Airc raft The regulation requires: When marks include only the Roman capital letter "N" and the registration number is displayed on limited, restricted or light

- sport category aircraft or experimental or provisionally certificated aircraft, the operator must also display on that aircraft near each entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot station, in letters not less than 2 inches nor more than 6 inches high, the words "limited," "restricted," "light

- sport," "experimental," or "provisional," as applicable.

Eve n though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be needed as the UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word “Experimental” can be placed. Given the size of the sUAV, two

- inch lettering

will be impossible. The word “Experimental” will be placed on the fuselage in compliance with §45.29 (f). The equivalent level of safety will be provided by having the sUAV marked on its fuselage as required by §45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer and others w orking with the sUAV will see the identification of the UAS as “Experimental.” The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation to Exemptions Nos. 10700, 8738, 10167 and

10167A. 14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a) & (b): Private Pilot Privileges and Limi tations: Pilot in

Command. Sections 61.113 (a) & (b) limit private pilots to non

- commercial operations

. Because the UAS will not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can achieve theequivalent level of safety of current operations by requi ring the PIC operating the aircraft to have a private pilot’s license rather than a commercial pilot’s license to operate this small UAS. Unlike a conventional aircraft that carries the pilot and passengers, the sUAS is remotely controlled with no living t hing on board. The area of operation is controlled and restricted, and all flights are planned and coordinated in advance. The level of safety provided by the requirements included in the Manual exceeds that provided by a single individual holding a commer cial pilot’s certificate operating a conventional aircraft. The risks associated with the operation of the sUAS are so diminished from the level of risk associated with commercial operations contemplated by Part 61 when drafted, that allowing operations of the sUAS as requested with a private pilot as the PIC exceeds the present level of safety achieved by 14 C.F.R. §61.113 (a) & (b). 14 C.F.R. §91.7(a): Civil aircraft airworthiness. The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unle ss it is in airworthy condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft and the requiremen ts contained in the Manual for maintenance and use of safety check lists prior to each flight, as set forth in Sections J, L and Q, an equivalent level of safety will be provided. 14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft.

Se ction 91.9 (b) (2) provides: No person may operate a U.S.

- registered civil aircraft ... (2) For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this chapter, unless there is available in the aircraft a current approved airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination

thereof. The sUAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because there is no room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping the flight manual at the ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access t o it. The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation: Exemption Nos. 8607, 8737, 8738, 9299, 9299A, 9565, 9565B, 10167, 10167A, 10602, 32827, and 10700. 14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight action This regulation requires each pilot in command t o take certain actions before flight to insure the safety of flight. As FAA approved rotorcraft flight manuals will not be provided

for the aircra ft an exemption will be needed. The PIC will take all actions including reviewing weather, flight battery requ irements, landing and takeoff distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight. 14 C.F.R. §91.109: Flight instruction : Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is being use d for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls.

s UASs and remotely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box that

commun icates with the aircraft via radio communications. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual controls for a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. See Exemption Nos.5778K & 9862A.

The equivalent level of safety provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by the size and speed of the aircraft. 14 C.F.R. §91.119: Minimum safe altitudes Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operat ion of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d) allows helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided theperson operating the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption is for a sUAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 AGL, or not more than 200 above an elevated platform from which filming is planned, an exemption may be needed to allow such operations. As set forth her ein, except for the limited conditions stated in the Manual, the UAS will never operate at higher than 400 AGL. It will however be operated in a restricted area with security perimeter, where buildings and people will not be exposed to operations without t heir pre

- obtained consent. The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, and speed of the UAS as well as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the required permission of the property owner or local off icials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and participants in the aerial activity, all affected individuals will be aware o f the planned flight operations . Compared to flight operations with aircraft or rotorcraft weighting far more than the maximum 55lbs. proposed herein and the lack of flammable fuel, any risk associated with these operations is far less than those presently presented with conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 AGL other industries

. In addition, the

low

- altitude operations of the sUAS will ensure separation between these small

- UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section

91.119. 14 C.F.R. §91.121 Altimeter Settings This regulation requires each person operating an air craft to maintain cruising altitude by reference to an altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting available before departure.” As the sUAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS alt itude read out, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the operator, pursuant to the Manual and Safety Check list, confirming the altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS altitude indicator before flight.

14 C.F. R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed

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

after that for at least 45 minutes.” The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 40 minutes of powered flight. To

meet the 30

- minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, sUAS flights would be limited to approximately 10 minutes in length. Given the limitations on the UAS’s proposed flight area and the location of its proposed operation s within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in daylight or night VFR conditions is reasonable. Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope of prior exemptions. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to operate without compliance with FAR 91.151 (a)). Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area where only people and property owners or official representatives who have signed waivers will be allowed, with less than 30 minut es of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the small UAS. Additionally, limiting sUAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the utility for which the exemption w ill be granted. Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 30 minutes or 25% of battery power whichever happens first. This restriction would be more than adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its limited operating area. Similar exemptions have been granted to other operations, including Exemptions 2689F,5745, 10673, and 10808. 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration

The re gulation provides in pertinent part: (a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following: (1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. . . . (b) No person may operate a civil airc raft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew. The UAS fully loaded weig hs no more than 55 lbs and is operated without an onboard pilot. As such, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display them on the sUAS. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these docume nts at the ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to them, to the extent they are applicable to the sUAS. The FAA has issued numerous exemptions to this regulation. A representative sample of other exceptions includ es Exemption Nos. 9565, 9665, 9789, 9789A, 9797, 9797A, 9816A, and 10700. 14 C.F.R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 409 (a) (2); 417(a) & (b): Maintenance Inspections These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner “shall have that aircraft inspec ted as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter...,” and others shall inspect or maintain the airc raft in compliance with Part 43. Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these sections will not apply to the applicant. The operator pursuant to the flight manual and operating handbook will accompli sh maintenance

. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these small UASs are very limited in size and will carry a small payload and operate only in restricted areas for limited periods of time. If

mechanical issues arise the UAS can land im mediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL. As provided in the Manual, the operator will ensure that the UAS is in working order prior to initiating flight, perform required maintenance, and keep a log of any maintenance performed. Mo reover, the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

********* Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided fo r publication in the Federal Register, should it be determined that publication is needed: Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules: 14 C.F.R. §21, subpart H; 14 C.F.R 45.23(b);14 C.F.R. §§ 61.113( a) & (b);91.7 (a); 91.9 (b) (2);91.103(b);9 1.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a);91.203(a) and (b); 91.405 (a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2); 91.409 (a) (2) and 91.417 (a) & (b) to operate commercially a small unmanned vehicle (55lbs or less)

. Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of s UASs, will enhance safety by reducing risk. Conventional operations, using jet or piston power aircraft, operate at extremely low altitudes just feet from the subject s being filmed and in extreme pro ximity to people and structures and present the risks ass ociated with vehicles that weigh in the neighborhood of 4,000lbs , carrying large amounts of jet A or other fuel

. Such aircraft must fly to and from the operational location. In contrast, a sUAS weighing fewer than 55 lbs. and powered by batteries eliminate s virtually all of that risk given the reduced mass

and lack of combustible fuel carried on board. The sUAS is carried to the operation site and not flown. The sUAS will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not exposethem to the risks associat ed with manned aircraft flights. The operation of small UASs, weighting less than 55 lbs., conducted in the strict conditions outlined above, will provide an equivalent level of safety supporting the grant of the exemptions requested herein, including exe mpting the applicant from the requirements of Part 21 and allowing commercial operations. These lightweight aircraft operate at slow speeds, close to the ground, and in a sterile environment and, as a result, are far safer than conventional operations cond ucted with turbine helicopters operating in close proximity to the ground and people. Privacy All flights will occur over private or controlled access property with the property owner’s prior consent and knowledge. Filming will be of people who have also consented to being filmed or otherwise have agreed to be in the area where filming will take place. The grant of this exemption request will provide improved safety in both day and night operations. Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 2012

-

- size, weight, speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation within visual line of sight and national security

– provide more than adequate justification for the grant of the requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of applicant’s UAS.

Sincerely,

Bradley E. Baerwaldt

Unmanned Vertical Solutions