Cwenar Photography, Pittsburgh PA - Section 333 Exemption Petition

May 12, 2015 

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. 45.23 (b); 14 C.F.R. 21; 14 C.F.R. 61.113 (a) & (b); 14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a); 14 

C.F.R. 91.9 (b) (2); 14 C.F.R. 91.103 (b); 14 C.F.R. 91.109; 14 C.F.R. 91.119; 14 C.F.R. 91.121; 14 C.F.R. 

91.151 (a); 14 C.F.R. 91.203 (a) & (b); 14 C.F.R. 91.405 (a); 14 C.F.R. 91.407 (a) (1); 14 C.F.R. 91.409 (a) 

(2); 14 C.F.R. 91.417 (a) & (b). 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

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

14 C.F.R. Part 11, Cwenar Photography, operator of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“sUASs”) 

equipped to conduct aerial videography and photography for the motion picture, television, and commercial 

videography industry for closed set filming, hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal 

Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of its sUASs, so long as such operations are 

conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required 

by Section 333. 

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

and relatively inexpensive sUAS under controlled conditions in the NAS that is 1) limited 2) predetermined 

3) controlled as to access. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the 

Secretary of Transportation’s (the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to “...establish requirements for the 

safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.” Section 333(c) of the Reform Act. 

The name and address of the applicant is: 

Cwenar Photography

Attn: Michael Herbay

Ph: 412-488-2660 

Email: herbay@bighousestudios.com, tom@cwenar.com 

Address: 1400 Breed Street 

 Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Regulations from which the exemption is requested: 

14 C.F.R. 21

14 C.F.R. 45.23 (b)

14 C.F.R. 61.113 (a) & (b)

14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a)

14 C.F.R. 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 C.F.R. 91.151 (a)

14 C.F.R. 91.203 (a) & (b) 
14 C.F.R. 91.405 (a)

14 C.F.R. 407 (a) (1)

14 C.F.R. 409 (a) (2)

14 C.F.R. 417 (a) & (b) 

 This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress’ goal in passing Section 333 (a) 

through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of Transportation to consider whether certain 

unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace system (NAS) before completion of 

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

Secretary is required to determine which types of UASs do not create a hazard to users of the NAS or the 

public or pose a threat to national security in light of the following: 

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

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

within visual line of sight of the operator. 

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

national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft in 

the national airspace system.” Id. § 333 (c) (emphasis added). 

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

authority by its terms includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under §40101 of the Act, that 

includes sUASs, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have a current airworthiness certificate. 

 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 U.S.C. § 44711 (a); 49 U.S.C. § 44704; 

14 C.F.R. § 91.203 (a) (1). 

 Cwenar Photography’s UASs are rotorcraft, weighting 55 or fewer lbs. including payload. They operate, 

under normal conditions at a speed of no more than 40 knots and have the capability to hover, and move in 

the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. They will operate only in line of sight and will operate 

only within a predetermined and closed off property area under the permission of the property 

representative. Such operations will insure that the sUAS will “not create a hazard to users of the national 

airspace system or the public” as per the Reform Act Section 333 (b). 

 Given the small size of the sUASs involved and the restricted sterile environment within which they will 

operate, the applicant falls squarely within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) in which 

Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of UASs to 

commence immediately. Also due to the size of the UASs and the restricted areas in which the relevant 

sUASs will operate, approval of the application presents no national security issue. Given the clear 

direction in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority contained in the Federal Aviation Act, as 

amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed operations, and the significant 

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

associated with allowing UASs for movie and commercial videography operations, the grant of the 

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

grant the requested exemption without delay. 

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY 

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

characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for at least an 

equivalent or even higher level of safety to operations under the current regulatory structure because the 

proposed operations are conducted on closed off property under the permission of the property owner or 

property representative. 

 These limitations and conditions to which Cwenar Photography agrees to be bound when conducting 
commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption include: 

1. The sUAS will weigh no more 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 18 minutes. Flights will 

 be terminated at 30% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 18 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. If a structure being filmed or 

photographed has a height which exceeds 400 feet AGL, the UAS will not exceed 100 feet in height 

above the highest point on that structure. 

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

6. sUAS Pilot will be Pilot in Command (PIC). The PIC will have a minimum of 40 

 hours of flight time with the specific sUAS equipment Cwenar Photography operates. The experience of 

the PIC will be certified by Cwenar Photography through background checks and, if necessary, testing. 

The PIC will also have passed the FAA Airman Knowledge Test for Private Pilots (Test Code: PAR or 

PRH). Cwenar Photography will maintain flight logs of all PICs it employs, and provide full transparency 

to the FAA regarding the logs and records of these PICs. 

7. Flights will be operated at a lateral distance of at least 100 feet from any inhabited structures, buildings, 

vehicles, vessels, or people not associated with the operation or who have not signed a waiver in advance of 

the operation. 

8. A briefing will be conducted in regard to the planned sUAS operations prior to each day’s production 

activities. It will be mandatory that all personnel involved with the operational duties of the flight within 

the boundaries of the safety perimeter be present for this briefing. 

9. The operator will file a FAA Form 7711-1, or its equivalent, as modified in light of the requested 

exemption, with the appropriate local Flight Standards District Office. 

10. The operator will obtain the consent of all persons involved in the filming and ensure that only 

consenting persons will be allowed within 100 feet of the flight operation, and this radius may be reduced 

to 30 feet based upon an equivalent level of safety determination. With the advanced permission of the 

relevant FSDO, operations at closer range can be approved. 

11. PIC and Visual Observer will have been trained in the operation of the specific sUAS equipment used 

by Cwenar Photography, and received up-to-date information on the particular sUAS to be operated. 

12. The PIC designated for any operation will have at least a Class 2 medical certificate or valid Drivers 

License. 

 

13. Visual Observer and PIC will at all times be able to communicate by voice, or radio. 

.

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

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

including local law enforcement, fire or other appropriate government agencies.

16. If the sUAS loses communication with the PIC or loses its GPS signal, the sUAS will 

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

and land autonomously. 

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

weather, 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 requirements for the issuance 

of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Given the size and limited operating area 

associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the 

requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal 

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

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

operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular sUAS. In all cases, an 

analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the sUAS operated without an airworthiness certificate, in the 

restricted environment and under the conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a 

conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the 

restrictions and conditions proposed. 

 The sUAS to be operated hereunder is 55 lbs. or less fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor passenger, 

carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclusively within a secured area. 

Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by both 

the operator 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 sUAS 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 Aircraft 

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. 

 Even though the sUAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be needed as the sUAS 

will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word “Experimental” can be 

placed. Given the size of the sUAS, 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 sUAS marked on its fuselage as required 

by §45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer, and others working with the sUAS will see the identification of the 

sUAS as “Experimental”. The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation as Exemption 

Numbers 10700, 8738, 10167 and 10167A. 

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

 Sections 61.113 (a) & (b) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. Because the sUAS will not 

carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can achieve the equivalent level of safety of current 

operations by requiring the PIC operating the aircraft to have no less than 40 hours of flight time with the 

specific sUAS equipment Cwenar Photography operates. The experience of the PIC will be certified by 

Cwenar Photography through background checks and, if necessary, testing. Cwenar Photography will 

maintain flight logs of all PICs it employs, and provide full transparency to the FAA regarding the logs and 

records of these PICs. The PIC designated for any operation will have at least a Class 2 medical certificate 

or valid Drivers License. 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 by a PIC meeting the standards of Cwenar Photography (listed above) exceeds the 

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

 Unlike a conventional aircraft that carries the pilot and passengers, the sUAS is remotely controlled with 

no living thing on board. The area of operation is controlled and restricted, and all flights are planned and 

coordinated in advance. Currently there are no pilot licenses that are specific for UAS operators, and no 

current FAA sanctioned pilot license of any type requires training with, and knowledge of, UAS equipment 

greater than the requirements Cwenar Photography uses to certify its PICs. Therefore, the requirement of 

any available FAA sanctioned pilot license to operate a sUAS does not make a PIC a more competent 

operator than one meeting the requirements of Cwenar Photography. Our company hopes the FAA 

develops a new Pilot License specific for UAS and sUAS commercial operation, one that sets high 

standards on the quality of pilots and increases the professionalism of our emerging industry. If the FAA 

does this, Cwenar Photography’s PICs will be some of the first to file for these licenses. Our company 

would also be happy to work with the FAA to help develop the standards for new licenses, and any other 

regulations the FAA is developing for UAS operation. 

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

 The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy condition. As 

there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption be granted, no FAA 

regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft for maintenance, 

and use of safety check lists prior to each flight (summaries listed below), an equivalent level of safety will 

be provided. Summarized Safety Checklists: 

 Aircraft: All adjustment points will be checked for tightness; all motors and props will be inspected; all 

wiring will be double checked; all systems will be powered up and checked for errors. 

 Battery: Confirmation will be made that batteries are fully charged and installed/connected properly. 

 Calibration: Pre-flight motor/gyro calibration followed by confirmation of no errors with the flight and 

navigation systems. 

 Transmitter: Confirm radio transmitter has sufficient charge, and is both working properly and receiving 

telemetry from the sUAS; confirm all switches are in pre-flight mode. 

 Surroundings/Flight Area: Conduct one last visual inspection of the take-off surroundings and area of 

airspace sUAS will be operating in. Confirm all people in the surrounding areas are associated with the 
filming being done. 

 Take-off Announcement: Before motors are started the PIC will announce to a designated 

Representative (person of authority) of the film crew that sUAS is ready to take-off. Only after the 

Representative has notified all persons within the surrounding areas, and confirmed to PIC that they have 

clearance to lift-off, will the motors be started and the sUAS will conduct its operation. 

 Test Flight: A test flight will be conducted: after any disassembly/reassembly; after replacement of any 

motors or flight electronics; after any pre-flight or in flight equipment errors that occur not resulting from 

environmental conditions; very first thing of any commercial operations day before filming begins; if there 

are any concerns about environmental conditions and potential issues with the flight path. 

14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft. 

Section 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 PIC flying the sUAS will have immediate access to it. The FAA has issued the following 

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

10167A, 10602, 32827, and 10700. 

14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight action 

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

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

be needed. The PIC will take all actions including reviewing weather, flight battery requirements, landing 

and takeoff distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight. 

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

 Section 91.109 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that 

is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls. sUASs and 

remotely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is 

accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio 

communications. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual 

controls for a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. See Exemption Nos. 

5778K & 9862A. The equivalent level of safety is provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers 

will be carried in the aircraft, and by the size and speed of the aircraft. 

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

 Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d) allows 

helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person operating the 

helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption is 

for a sUAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 feet 

AGL, or not more than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned, an exemption 

may be needed to allow such operations. As set forth herein, the sUAS will never operate at higher than 
400 feet AGL with the exception that in circumstances where the sUAS is used to survey or photograph a 

structure whose height exceeds 400 feet AGL, the UAS will not be operated more than 100 feet above the 

highest point on the structure. It will however be operated in a restricted area with security perimeter, 

where buildings and people will not be exposed to operations without their pre-obtained consent. 

 The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the sUAS as well as the 

location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the permission of the property owner or local 

officials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and participants in the filming activity, all 

affected individuals will be aware of the planned flight operations. Compared to flight operations with 

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

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

conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 AGL in the movie industry. In addition, the low-altitude 

operations of the sUAS will ensure separation between these 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 aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by reference to an 

altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting available 

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

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

the safety check list and live flight data monitoring, 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 no more than 30 minutes of powered flight. To meet the 30 

minute reserve requirement in 14 C.F.R. § 91.151, sUAS flights would not be possible due to the reserve 

requirement being equal to the maximum flight time. Given the limitations on the sUAS’s proposed flight 

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

in daylight or twilight VFR conditions is reasonable. 

 Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 91.151 (a) falls within the scope of prior 

exemptions. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to operate without compliance 

with FAR 91.151 (a)). Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area where only people and 

property owners or official representatives who have signed waivers will be allowed, with less than 30 

minutes of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that Section 91.151 (a) was intended to alleviate 

given the size and speed of the small UAS. Additionally, the limitations created by this requirement for 

sUAS flights would essentially make null any utility for which the exemption will be granted. 

 Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 18 minutes or 

30% 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) & (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration 

The regulation 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 aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) 

of this section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit 

entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew. 

 The sUAS fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs and is operated without an onboard pilot. As such, 

there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display them on the sUAS. 

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

where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to them, to the extent they are applicable to the 

sUAS. The FAA has issued numerous exemptions to this regulation. A representative sample of other 

exceptions includes Exemption Nos. 9565, 9665, 9789, 9789A, 9797, 9797A, 9816A, and 10700. 

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

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

prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph 

(c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter...,” and others shall 

inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. 

 Given that these sections and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these 

sections will not apply to the applicant. Maintenance and inspections will be done in accordance with the 

sUAS Manufacturer's Manual, and will be performed by employees of Cwenar Photography following the 

guidelines and practices provided to us by the sUAS Manufacturer. 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 sUAS can land immediately 

and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL. The PIC will ensure that the sUAS is in working 

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

performed. Moreover, the PIC 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. 

Additional Views and Information 

 Cwenar Photography has realized the amazing benefits sUAS equipment can provide to the film and 

television industries. It not only provides new cinematography capabilities, but also increased safety over 

current and past practices that used larger and more dangerous equipment. Our company wants to have the 

highest levels of safety and professionalism, and one thing essential to this is achieving a path to 

commercial licensing with the FAA. We believe this will help reduce unsafe practices, discourage 

improper uses, and improve public perception. The commercial manufacture and use of sUAS equipment 

will create more jobs for the United States and help boost the economies in many sectors, and we want to 

help the FAA in creating regulations that will allow incorporation of UAS devices into our country's 

airspace for commercial use. 

*********

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

should it be determined that publication is needed:

Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules:

14 C.F.R. § 21, subpart H; 14 C.F.R 45.23 (b); 14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a) & (b); 91.7 (a); 91.9 (b)(2); 91.103 

(b); 91.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.203 (a) and (b); 91.405 (a); 91.407 (a)(1); 91.409 (a)(2); 91.409 

(a)(2) and 91.417 (a) & (b) to operate commercially a small unmanned vehicle (50 lbs or less) in motion 

picture, television, and commercial videography operations. 

 Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of sUASs in the film industry will enhance 
safety by reducing risk. Conventional film operations, using jet or piston power aircraft, operate at 

extremely low altitudes just feet from the subject being filmed and in extreme proximity to people and 

structures; and present the risks associated with vehicles that weigh in the neighborhood of 4,000lbs., 

carrying large amounts of jet A or other fuel (140 gallons for jet helicopters.) Such aircraft must fly to and 

from the film location. In contrast, a sUAS weighing fewer than 55lbs. and powered by batteries eliminates 

virtually all of that risk given the reduced mass and lack of combustible fuel carried on board. The sUAS is 

carried to the film set. The sUAS will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not expose them to 

the risks associated with manned aircraft flights. 

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

above, will provide an equivalent level of safety supporting the grant of the exemptions requested herein, 

including exempting the applicant from the requirements of Part 21 and allowing commercial operations. 

These lightweight aircraft operate at slow speeds, close to the ground, and in a sterile environment and, as a 

result, are far safer than conventional operations conducted with turbine helicopters operating in close 

proximity to the ground and people. 

Privacy 

 All flights will occur over private or controlled access property with the property representative or 

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. All flights will occur in 

accordance with any state or local laws regarding privacy. 

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 sUAS equipment in the motion picture, television, and 

commercial videography industry. 

Sincerely, 

Michael Herbay

Cwenar Photography