Jonathan B. Hill

T: +1 202 776 2725

jhill@cooley.com

Via regulations.gov and Email

1299 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 700, WASHINGTON, DC 20004-2400 T: (202) 842-7800 F: (202) 842-7899 WWW.COOLEY.COM

February 5, 2015

U. S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, DC 20590

Re: Amendment to Exemption 11062 – Astraeus Aerial

Dear Sir or Madam:

This is a request for an amendment to FAA Exemption 11062, Regulatory Docket No. FAA2014-0352, granted to Astraeus Aerial. This amendment will provide for implementation of 

system upgrades, utilized during VLOS, protected-perimeter, motion picture image-capture 

operations currently covered under exemption 11062. These aggregate improvements, 

performing as an integrated system, deliver additional layers of operational safety, while 

simultaneously augmenting film set image-capture capabilities through the use of two FAAlicensed pilots, equipment upgrades to the exempted UAS platform, and additional Command 

and Control system redundancies.

Operational protocols, as well as equipment descriptions and specifications, are outlined in 

detail in the revised Astraeus Aerial V.3CS UAS Flight Operations and Procedures Manual

accompanying this submission. As with prior manuals submitted in this docket, and as noted 

below, we are asking for CONFIDENTIAL treatment of the Operations Manual: the content is 

proprietary, includes trade secrets, and is not released to the public. The “Record of Revisions” 

section lists all changes made to the original Manual accepted with the original grant of 

exemption. The entire document has been edited for language and clarity; graphics have been 

inserted where deemed beneficial. The categorical modifications are as follows:

MINOR UPDATES

Evolutionary updates have been applied to the following sections, reflecting the results of the 

ongoing flight test process, as well as engineering upgrades:

• GENERAL DEPICTION AND DIAGRAMS

• DESCRIPTIVE DATA

• KEY TERMS AND ACRONYMS

• SPECIFICATIONS

• LIMITATIONS

• WEIGHT AND BALANCE
February 5, 2015

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1299 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 700, WASHINGTON, DC 20004-2400 T: (202) 842-7800 F: (202) 842-7899 WWW.COOLEY.COM

AMPLIFICATIONS

The following sections have been amplified with practical formats, documentation and 

procedures for maintenance and flight logging:

• MAINTENANCE

• AIRCRAFT LOGS

• POST-EMERGENCY: AIRCRAFT DISCREPANCY REPORT AND LOGGING

MODIFICATIONS

The following sections have been substantially modified to reflect new operational procedures 

and protocols:

• OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW / SYSTEM FEATURES

• IN-FLIGHT EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

• EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTIONS REQUIRING ACTION

• NORMAL PROCEDURES

• APPENDIX

Astraeus Aerial requests that the FAA accept the revised Flight Operations and Procedures 

Manual, and issue an amendment to Exemption 11062 allowing operation as set forth therein.

*****

CONFIDENTIAL: Please note that the system specifications, descriptions, procedures, 

operational limitations/restrictions and methodologies provided in the accompanying Astraeus 

Aerial V.3CS UAS Flight Operations and Procedures Manual (revised) represent trade 

secrets, and are considered proprietary and confidential.
February 5, 2015

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Please contact the under signed should you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Jonathan B. Hill

Cooley, LLP

Counsel for Astraeus Aerial

John McGraw

John McGraw Aerospace Consulting, LLC 

Agent for Astraeus Aerial

cc: James Williams

Robert Pappas

Jake Troutman

Dean Griffith

Thuy H. Cooper

113761352 v1
Operations Manual

(Filed as Confidential)