### June 2, 2015

Exemption No. 11732 Regulatory Docket No. FAA

– 20 15

– 0007

Mr. Richard Harberts Terraplane, LLC
148 Colchester Drive Iowa City, IA 52245

Dear Mr. Harberts :

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, including the date it ends.

By letter dated December 31, 2014

, 1 

### you pet itioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Terraplane, LLC ( hereinafter petitioner or operator ) for an exemption

. The petitioner requested to operate an unmanned ai rcraft system (UAS) to conduct aerial acquisition and research

.

See Appendix A for the petition submitted to the FAA des cribing the proposed operations and
the regulations that the petitioner seeks an exemption

.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition
in the Federal R egister because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the petitioner

.

1 On May 11, 2015, the petitioner responded to the FAA’s request for information.

### 2

Airworthiness Certification

The UAS proposed by the petitioner are the R itewing Z3 Spade 47”, R itewing Z3 Spade 70”,

R itewing Z4 Spade 52”, DJI Phantom 2, DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, DJI Spreading Wings S1000, and ARF

- MikroKopter OktoXL

. 2



### The petitioner requested relief from 14 CFR part 21, C ertification procedures for products and parts, Subpart H

— Airworthiness Certificates

. In accordance with the statutory criteria provided in Section 333 of P ublic Law 112

− 95 in reference to 49 U

. S

. C

. § 44704, and in consideration of the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the
aircraf t and its operation, the Secretary of Transportation has determined that this aircraft
meets the conditions of Section 333. Therefore, the FAA finds that the requested relief from

14 CFR part 21 and any associated noise certification and testing requirements of part 36, is

not necessary.

The Basis for Our Decision

You have requested to use a UAS for aerial data collection 3



### . The FAA has issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petiti on. In Grants of Exemption No s

. 11062 to Astraeus Aerial ( see Docket No. FAA−2014−0352), 11109 to Clayco, Inc. ( see Docket No. FAA

− 2014

− 0507), 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC ( see Docket No. FAA−2014−0382), and 11213 to Aeryon Lab s , Inc. ( see Docket No. FAA−2014−0642), the FAA found that the enhanced safety achieved using an unmanned aircraft (UA) with the specifications described by the petitioner and carrying no passengers or crew, rather than a manned aircraft of significantly greater propo rtions, carrying crew in addition to flammable fuel, gives the FAA good cause to find that the UAS operation enabled by this exemption is in the public interest.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that

—

 They are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in Grant of Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and 11213 ;

 The reasons stated by the FAA for granting Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and
11213 also apply to the situation you pre sent; and

 A grant of exemption is in the public interest.

2 The petitioner also proposed to operate the Ritewing Drak 60” UAS

. The FAA must conduct an assess ment

on th is aircraft, which also includes a finding that the proposed UAS meet the conditions in Section 333 of
Public Law 112

− 95

. When the FAA completes it s review, we will proceed accordingly and no further action will be required by the petitioner.

3 Aerial data collection includes any remote sensing and measuring by an instrument(s) aboard the UA. Examples include imagery (photography, video, infrared, etc.), electronic measurement (precision surveying, RF analysis, etc.), chemical measurement (part iculate measurement, etc.), or any other gathering of data by
instruments aboard the UA.

### 3

Our Decision

In consideration of the foregoing, I find that a grant of exemption is in the public interest. Therefore, pursuant to the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, and 44701,
d elegated to me by the Administrator, Terraplane, LLC is granted an exemption from 14 CFR §§ 61.23(a) and ( c ), 61.101(e)(4 ) and (5), 61.113(a), 61.315(a) , 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b), to the extent necessary to allow the petitioner to operate a UAS to perform aerial data collection

. This exemption is subject to the conditions and limitations listed below.

Conditions and Limitations

In this grant of exemption, Terraplane, LLC is hereafter referred to as the operator.

Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption.

1. Operations authorized by this grant of exe mption are limited to the the R itewing Z3 Spade 47”, R itewing Z3 Spade 70”, R itewing Z4 Spade 52”, DJI Phantom 2, DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, DJI Spreading Wings S1000, and ARF

- MikroKopter OktoXL when weighing less than 55 pounds including payload. Proposed operations of any other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this exemption

.

2. Operations for the purpose of closed

- set motion picture and television filming are

not permitted.

3. The UA may not be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour). The exemption holder may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed to determine compliance with the 87 knot speed restriction. In no case will the UA be operated at airspeeds greater than the maximum UA operat ing airspeed recommended by the
aircraft manufacturer.

4. The UA must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL). Altitude must be reported in feet AGL.

5. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, as specified on the PIC’s FAA

- issued airman medical certificate or
U.S. driver’s license.

6. All operations must utilize a visual observe r (VO). The UA must be operated within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC and VO at all times. The VO may be used to satisfy the VLOS requirement as long as the PIC always maintains VLOS capability. The VO and PIC must be able to communicate ver bally at all times ;

### 4

e lectronic messaging or texting is not permitted during flight operations. The PIC must be designated before the flight and cannot transfer his or her designation for the duration of the flight. The PIC must ensure that the VO can pe rform the duties required of the VO.

7. This exemption and all documents needed to operate the UAS and conduct its operations in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this grant of exemption, are hereinafter referred to as the operating do cuments. The operating
documents must be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the Administrator upon request. If a discrepancy exists between the conditions and limitations in this exemption and the procedures outlined in the operating documents, the conditions and limitations herein take precedence and must be followed. Otherwise, the operator must follow the procedures as outlined in its operating documents. The operator may update or revise its operating documents. It is the
operat or’s responsibility to track such revisions and present updated and revised documents to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. The operator must also present updated and revised documents if it petitions for extension
or amendmen t to this grant of exemption. If the operator determines that any update or revision would affect the basis upon which the FAA granted this exemption, then the operator must petition for an amendment to its grant of exemption. The FA A’s UAS Integration O ffice (AFS− 80) may be contacted if questions arise regarding updates or revisions to the operating documents.

8. Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS operation or flight characteristics, e.g.

, replacement of a flight crit ical component, must undergo a functional test flight prior to conducting further operations under this exemption. Functional test flights may only be conducted by a PIC with a VO and must remain at
least 500 feet from other people. The functional test flight must be conducted in such a manner so as to not pose an undue hazard to persons and property.

9. The operator is responsible for maintaining and inspecting the UAS to ensure that it is in a condition for safe operation.

10. Prior to each flight, the PIC must conduct a pre

- flight inspection and determine the UAS is in a condition for safe flight. The pre

- flight inspection must account for all potential discrepancies, e.g.

, inoperable components, items, or equipment. If the inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the UAS, the aircraft is prohibited from operating until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the UAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight.

11. The operator must follow the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance , overhaul, replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements for the aircraft and
aircraft components.

### 5

12. Each UAS operated under this exemption must comply with all manufacturer safety bulletins.

13. Under this grant of exemption, a PIC must hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC must also hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a state, the District of Col u mbia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a po ssession, or the Federal government. The PIC must also meet the flight revi ew requirements specified in

14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is rated on his or her pilot certificate.

14. The operator may not permit any PIC to operate unless the PIC demonstrates the ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and structure s. PIC qualification flight hours and currency must be logged in a manner consistent with

14 CFR § 61.51(b). Flights for the purposes of training the operator’s PICs and VOs (traini ng, proficiency, and experience

- building) and determining the PIC’s abili ty to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption are permitted under the terms of this exemption. However, training operations may only be conducted during dedicated training sessions. During
trai ni ng, proficiency, and experience

- building flights, all persons not essential for flight operations are considered nonparticipants, and the PIC must operate the UA with appropriate distance from nonparticipants in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.119.

15. UAS oper ations may not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. All operations must be conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Flights under special visual flight rules (SVFR) are not authorized.

16. The UA may not operate within 5 nau tical miles of an airport reference point (ARP) as denoted in the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) or for airports not denoted with an ARP, the center of the airport symbo l as denoted on the current

FAA

- published aeronautical chart, unless a le tter of agreement with that airport’s management is obtained or otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption holder. The letter of agreement with the airport management must be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upo n request.

17. The UA may not be operated less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud or when visibility is less than 3 statute miles from the PIC.

18. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS sign al, the UA must return to a

pre

- determined location within the pr ivate or controlled

- access property.

19. The PIC must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.

### 6

20. The PIC is prohibited from beginning a flight unless (considering wind and forecast
weather co nditions) there is enough available power for the UA to conduct the intended operation and to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if greater.

21. Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). All operations shall be cond ucted in accordance with an ATO

- issued COA. The exemption holder may apply for a new or amended COA if it intends to conduct operations that cannot be conducted under the terms of the attached COA

.

22. All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification (N− Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. Markings must
be as large as practicable.

23. Documents used by the operator to ensure the safe operation and flight of the UAS and any documents required under 14 CFR §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the PIC at the Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. These documents must be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request.

24. The UA must remain clear a nd give way to all manned aviation operations and
activities at all times.

25. The UAS may not be operated by the PIC from any moving device or vehicle.

26. All Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet from all nonparticipating persons, vessels, v ehicles, and structures unless:

a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect nonparticipating persons
from the UA and/or debris in the event of an accident. The operator must ensure that nonparticipating persons remain under such protectio n. If a situation arises where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the UA, flight operations must cease immediately in a manner ensuring the safety of nonparticipating persons ; and
b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission for operating closer to those objects and the PIC has made a safety assessment of the risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not present an undue hazard.

The PIC, VO, operator t rainees or essential persons are not considered nonparticipating persons under this exemption.

27. All operations shall be conducted over private or control led

- access property with permission from the property owner/controller or authorized representative.

### 7

P ermission from property owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be conducted.

28. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA must be reported
to the FA A's UAS Integration Office (AFS− 80) within 24 hours. Accidents must be reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions
contained on the NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov

.

If this exemption permits operations for the purpose of closed

- set motion picture and television filming and production, the following additional conditions and limitations apply.

29. The operator must have a motion picture and television operations manual (MPTOM) as documented in this grant of exemption.

30. At least 3 days before aerial filming, the operator of the UAS affected by this exemption must submit a written Plan of Activities to the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) wi th jurisdiction over the a rea of proposed filming. The 3

- day notification may be waived with the concurrence of the FSDO. The plan of activities must include at least the following:

a. Dates and times for all flights;
b. Name and phone number of the operator f or the UAS aerial filming conducted under this grant of exemption;

c. Name and phone number of th e person responsible for the on

- scene operation of the UAS;
d. Make, model, and serial or N− Number of UAS to be used;

e. Name and certificate number of UAS PICs involve d in the aerial filming;
f. A statement that the operator has obtained permission from property owners and/or local officials to conduct the filming production event; the list of those who gave permission must be made available to the inspector upon request;

g. Signature of exemption holder or representative; and
h. A description of the flight activity, including maps or diagrams of any area, city, town, county, and/or state over which filming will be conducted and the altitudes essential to accomplish the operation

.

31. Flight operations may be conducted closer than 500 feet from participating persons consenting to be involved and necessary for the filming production, as specified in the exemption holder’s MPTOM.

Unless otherwise specified in this grant of exemption, the UAS, the UAS PIC, and the UAS operations must comply with all applicable parts of 14 CFR including, but not limited to,
parts 45, 47, 61, and 91.

### 8

This exemption terminates on May 31, 2017 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/
John S. Duncan Director, Flight Standards Service

EnclosuresDecember 31

, 2014

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

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the “ Reform Act”), Terraplane, LLC (the “Applicant”)

, planned operator of an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“UAS”) seeks an exemption from Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) listed below and di scussed in Appendix A. Attached, as Appendix C, is a summary of this request.

The requested exemption would allow the Applicant to sa fely, efficiently, and economically use commercial UAS in the National Airspace System (NAS), so long as su ch 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 authorize the Applicant to perform commercial operations with UAS that will provide the following benefit s :

1. Commercial use of UAS to perform aerial acquisi tion and research in support of government entities, agriculture industry, utility companies , local infrastructure, scientific studies, wildlife monitoring, mining, surveying, forestry, and much more. All of which ar e critical to the well-being of the general public.
2. The use of UAS will decrease congestion in the NAS al ong with reducing the noise and air pollution generated during traditional m anned aircraft flight operations. 3. When using UAS to complement field personnel, they reduce safety concerns when gathering data from
inaccessible or unstable/unsafe areas and in extreme weather or terrain. 4. Operation of UAS will substantially reduce the risk to life and property in the air, and on the ground, which is commonly associated with traditional manned aircraft flight operations. 5. Similar to the current manned aircraft flight operati ons that have been conducted for many decades, UAS used for similar tasks will not generate any new privacy issues.

Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation ’s ( the FAA Administrator's) responsibilities under Section 333(c) of the Reform Act to " establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system."

The name and address of the applicant are:

Terraplane, LLC
Attn: Richard Harberts
Ph: 319-621-1158
Email: ruharberts@gmail.com
Address: 148 Colchester Drive Iowa City, Iowa, 52245

The regulations from which the exem ption is requested are as follows:

14 C.F.R. Part 21;
14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) & (b);
14 C.F.R. 61.133(a);
14 C.F.R. 91.7(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2) & (c);14 C.F.R. 91.103;
14 C.F.R. 91.109(a);
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)

Appendix A discusses each rule listed above and expl ains why exemptions pursuant to the proposal set forth in this letter are appropriate, provide an equiva lent level of safety, and are in the public interest.QUALIFICATION FOR APPROVAL UNDER SECTION 333 OF THE REFORM ACT

The proposed operations in this petition for exemption qualify for expedited approval under Section 333 of the Reform Act. Each of the statutory crit eria and other potentially relevant factors are
satisfied.

The proposed operations would permit the use of small and relatively inexpensive UAS under controlled conditions in airspace that is: (1) limited; (2) predetermined; (3) controlled as to access, and; (4) would provide an increased level of safety beyond that existing when fixed or rotor wing aircraft are used to accomplish the same purpose.

The UAS's planned to be operated are rotorcraft and fixed wing aircraft, each weighing
t ypically less than 15 lbs., and always less than 55 lbs., including payload. They would operate

, under normal conditions

, at a speed of no more than 50 knots

. The principal construction material of the UAS aircraft would typically be foam and/or plastic

. Operations will be performed by a qualified UAS Pilot in Command (PIC), as outlined below, to insure that the UAS
will "not create a hazard to users of the nationa l airspace system or the public." Given the
small size of the UAS involved and th e pre-planned environment within which they will operate, the applicant believes that thes e operations fall squarely within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that t he FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of UAS to commence immediately. Also, due to the size of the UAS and the pre-defined, restricted area in which th e UAS will operate, approval of the application presents no national security issue

. Th e operation of UAS by knowledgeable professi onals
will serve to enhance safety

, add to the public benefit, and reduce environmental impact s related to current methods of manned aircraft flight operations

.

These limitations and conditions to whic h the operator, or its employees, acting as UAS PIC agrees to be bound when conducting commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption:

1. Safety will be the first and foremost consideration in any UAS operation. 2. The UAS pilot will be considered Pilot in Command (PIC), whether flying or supervising, and will be responsible for safe operation of the flight. 3. Flights will be operated within line of sigh t of the PIC and/or an observer, which will be at a distance of less than one (1) mile. 4. The UAS will weigh typically less than 15 lbs., and always less than 55 lbs. 5. The UAS will operate at a maximu m speed of no greater than 50 knots. 6. Flights will be operated in Class G airspace whenever possible. If operation in other airspace is required, the relevant contro lling agency will be notified at least 24 hours prior to the operation and, if required, any necessary permission obtained. 7. Aircraft shall not be operated within 3 miles of an airport without prior approval of, and establishing a line of communication for the duration of the flight operation with, the controlling authority of that airport.

8. Aircraft shall avoid areas where manne d aircraft can be expected to be descending through 400ft. 9. Aircraft shall maintain a minimum horizontal separation of no less than one (1) mile

from all other manned or unmanned airborne aircraft unless that other aircraft is maintaining level flight or climbing at an altitude above 8000ft AGL. 10. If at any time the operator see or hea rs another aircraft and it appears that aircraft may come within one (1) mile of the operat or’s system, or it is questionable whether or not it will do so, the operator shall im mediately descend the system to 100 ft. AGL or less and direct the system on a heading toward it’s designated landing area, or alternate landing area if necessary, until the system has landed or it is determined the other aircraft has maintained a separation of one (1) mile. 11. Flights will be operated under visibility a nd cloud clearance requirements equivalentto Visual Flight Rules (VFR). 12. The UAS will at all times give way to any aircra ft carrying persons. 13. Minimum crew for each operation will co nsist of the UAS PIC. An observer will be utilized if the Risk Assessment, as detailed in Section 5.5 of the General Operations Manual, determines the need. The observer and PIC will at all times be able to communicate by voice. 14. Prior to a UAS flight, an area of operation will be established. This area of operation will include a defined lateral and vertical area, where the UAS will operate. Safety procedures will be established for persons, property and applicable airspace within the area of operation. 15. The UAS shall operate from on-site tako ff/landing locations directly next to the PIC

and/or Observer. 16. Flight planning will include flight completion with at least 20% battery power remaining as measured by the UAS or appropriate timing. 17. The UAS will be equipped with an autopilot system which will be equivalent to or better than a Pixhawk, Mikrokopter, WooK ong, Sensefly, or Gatewing system. For example, the UAS will utilize GPS navigation, failsafe’s, return-to-home (RTH), and flight abort safety features, among other built-in safety features.

18. A Ground Station will be co nnected, by radio communication, to the UAS during the entire flight, which will give the PIC flight information such as GPS Position, Altitude, Battery Remaining, and other telemetry information. 19. A briefing will be conducted in regard to the planned UAS operations prior to operation at each new location. All perso nnel who will be performing duties within the boundaries of the area of operation will be present for this briefing.
20. All required permissions and permits will be obtained from appropriate state, county or city jurisdictions, including local la w enforcement, fire, or other appropriate governmental agencies. 21. Written, to include electronic, and/or oral permission from the relevant property owners will be obtained prior to an operation. 22. The UAS pilot will be trained in advance for the safe operation of the UAS to be operated. This will include operation of the UAS both in normal and emergency modes of operation, and will include fam iliarization with the operation manual (or similar) if published by the UAS manufacturer. Training will also include types of maneuvers to be performed and the safe operat ion in relation to persons, property and applicable airspace.

It is the applicant ' s belief that the size, weight, speed, operating environment, and operating capabilities provide an " equivalent level of safety " or better when operating a UAS for the public
interest as outlined in Section 333 of the Reform Act

. It is requested that the FAA i ssue an exemption to permit safe

, legal

, commercial UAS operation by the applicant as soon as possible.

Respectfully submitted,

Richard Harberts Terraplane, LLC
148 Colchester Drive Iowa City, Iowa, 52245
319-621-1158Appendix A

EXEMPTION REQUESTS AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

The applicant requests an exemption from the following regulations as well as any additional regulations that may technically apply to the operation of UAS’s :

14 CFR Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates
14 CFR § 91.203(a)(1) Section 91.203(a)(1) requires all civil aircraft to have a certificate of ai rworthiness. Part 21, Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establ ishes the procedural requirements for the

issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR § 91.203(a)(1). Given the size of the aircraft (typically less than 15 lbs., and always less than 55 lbs.) and the limited operating area associated with its utilization, it is unnecessary to go through the certificate of airworthiness process under Part 21 Subpart H to achieve or exceed current safety levels.

Such an exemption meets the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and
Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act and Section 333 of the Reform Act
both authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the require ment for an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the UAS involved.

In this case, an analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the UAS operated without an airworthiness certificate, under the conditions pr oposed herein, will be at least as safe, or safer,

than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) with an airworthiness certificate. The UAS weighs typically less than 15 lbs., and always less than 55 lbs. fully loaded. It will not carry a pilot or passenger, will not carry flammable fuel, and will operate exclusively within an area pre-disclosed and in compliance with conditions set forth herein. Operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and moni tored by both the operator, pursuant to the conditions set forth above, and by local public safety requirements. The FAA will have

advance notice of all operations through the filing of NOTAMs. Receipt of the prior permission of the land owner, the size of the aircraft, the lack of flammable fuel, and the fact
that the aircraft is carried to the location and not flown there all establish the equivalent level of safety. The UAS provides at least an equivalent, and most likely exceeds, level of safety to that of such operations being conducted with conventional aircraft that would be orders-ofmagnitude larger and would be carrying passengers, cargo, and flammable fuel.

14 CFR. § 45.23 & 91.9(c): Marking of the Aircraft Regulation 45.23 provides: (a) Each operator of an aircraft mu st display on that aircraft marks consisting of the Roman capital letter “N” (denoting United States registration) followed by the registration number of the aircraft. Each suffix letter used in the marks displayed must also be a Roman capital letter. (b) 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 ai rcraft, 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.

Regulation 91.9(c) provides: No person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft unless that aircraft is
identified in accordance with part 45 of this chapter.The UAS has no entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot station on which the markings can be placed. Given the size of the UAS, tw o-inch lettering will be impossible. Of fi cial marking systems for UAS have not yet been established for operations inside the NAS. The applicant is prepared to mark the UAS with the name of the organization and location or origin and ful fi ll any other request by the FAA to this topic in accordance to § 45.29(f) where the pilot, observer, and others working with the UAS will see the identification of the UAS.

The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation; see Exemption Nos. 8738, 10167, 10167A and 10700.

14 CFR § 61.113(a) & (b); 61.133(a): Private P ilot Privileges and Limitations; Pilot in Command; Commercial Pilot Privileges and Limitations. Section 61.113(a) & (b) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. Unlike a conventional
aircraft that carries a pilot, passengers, and cargo, the UAS in this case is remotely controlled

with no passengers or property of others on board. Se ction 61.133(a) requires an individual with

a commercial pilot’s license to be pilot in command of an aircraft for compensation or hire. The applicant respectfully proposes that operator r equirements should take into account the
characteristics of the particular UAS. Most UAS autopilot’s have a high degree of pre-programmed control and various built-in technical capabilities that strictly limit the potential for operation outside of the operating conditions set forth in the exemption application. Hands-on experience with the UAS are a far more effective guarantee of flight safety than a commercial pilot certificate would be, until the FAA Pilot Certificate requirements catch up to the UAS technology.

The UAS autopilots have an all-digital software pl atform with advanced features previously

restricted to full size unmanned aircraft. Automated feat ures and advanced fly-safe controls enable safe, reliable operation, as well as advanced netw orking capabilities and system extensibility.

● The system can autonomously fl y a programmed flight path or fly in manual mode

● Flight time and battery minutes are displayed at all times. The system will return home and land automatically if user-configurable limits are reached.

Flight safety is a priority, no matter t he operating environment or project. UAS offer superior safety over manned aircraft by removing the need for people to be onboard in potentially dangerous situations. With multiple built -in safety features, UAS platforms lead manned operations with respect to safety.

● The UAS automatically detects potential issues - with configurable automated response behavior such as a return-home-and-land routine

● The UAS self-calibrate all of their sensors and perform required failsafe pre-flight tests prior to takeoff to check for errors

● The UAS have the ability to set up visual no-fly zones or create a virtual fence so the UAS can’t fly horizontally or vertically beyond the pre-planned flight area

● The UAS have battery minutes and flight time displayed at all times. The system will return home and land automatically if user-configurable limits are reached

● The UAS auto detect a lost GPS, warns the pilot and initiates an immediate landing.

● Low battery on the UAS triggers a Non- Fatal Warning alarm to return home, land
and replace the battery

● If UAS detect a lost-link to the Groun d Station the vehicle will perform its pre-defined
Non-Fatal Condition Response.

Given these safety features, the applicant pr oposes that operators of UAS with these
features should not be required to hold a commercial or private pilot certification. Instead,operators should be required to:

● have successfully completed, at a minimu m, FAA private pilot ground instruction and passed the FAA Private Pilot written examination or FAA-recognized equivalents including ICAO issued commercial, private license and ground school; operators will

therefore receive instruction in aeronautic al navigation, meteorology, and aviation regulations prior to conduc ting commercial UAS operations.

● have completed a training program for operation of the UAS, if available.

● have completed 4 hours (25 f lights) of training on the UAS and/or simulator before commencing commercial operations.

The applicant notes that the FAA has found that safety factors permitted operation of UASs by operators with these qualifications in the case of operations pursuant to public COAs

where the mandatory operating conditions specified above are present. See Federal Aviation Administration, Notice N-8900.227 , Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Operational Approval, at 20-21 (July 30, 2013). The FAA has the statutory authority, granted at 49 U.S.C.§44701(f) to waive the pilot requirements for commercial operations.

The applicant notes that the FAA has required a private pilot’s certificate on prior Section 333 exemptions due to the statutory requirement to hold an airman certificate as prescribed in 49 U.S.C.§44711 . The applicant feels that if a private pilot’s certificate is requested, the FAA should consider a student pilot’s certificate as an alternative. The only difference between the two is that a private pilot’s certificate requires flyi ng hours in a manned aircraft. The FAA and the applicant both agree that hours in a manned aircraft add no benefit to the safe operation of a
UAS.

The applicant notes that the FAA has mentioned that a pilot certificate subjects the pilot to a security screening by th e Department of Homeland Security. To satisfy this requirement, while not obtaining a pilot certificate, the applicant will require a ll UAS pilots to unde rgo an equivalent or better security screening by the Department of Homeland Security at the pilot’s expense.

Given these conditions and restrictions, an equivalent level of safety will be provided by allowing operation of the UAS without a private pilot’s certificate or a commercial pilot’s certificate, under the conditions set forth herein.

The risks associated with the operation of the UAS (given its size, speed, operational capabilities, and lack of combustible fuel ) are so diminished from the level of
risk associated with private pilot operations or commercial operations contemplated by Part
61 with conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft), that a llowing operations of the UAS as
set forth above meets or exceeds the present level of safety provided under 14 C.F.R. § 61.113(a) & (b) and does not rise to the level of requiring a commercial pilot to operate the aircraft under § 61.133(a).

14 CFR § 91.7(a): Civil aircraft airworthiness. This regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy

condition. Should the exemption be granted allowing commercial operation of UAS without an airworthiness certificate, no st andard will exist for airworthines s of the UAS. Given the size
of the UAS and the previous COAs issued for similar UAS, an equivalent level of safety will be achieved by ensuring compliance with the gi ven UAS manuals and use of safety checklists prior to each flight.

14 CFR § 91.9(b)(2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft. The regulation provides: No person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft

...(2) For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft F light Manual is not required by §21.5 of

this chapter, unless there is available in t he aircraft a current approved airplane

or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination thereof.

Given the size of UAS, they have no ability or place to carry such a flight manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilo t 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 achiev ed by keeping the flight manual at the ground control point where the pilot flying the UAS will have i mmediate access to it. The FAA has issued to others the following exemptions to this regulation: Exemption Nos. 8607, 8737, 8738, 9299, 9299A, 9565, 9565B, 10167, 10167A, 10602, 32827, and 10700.

14 CFR § 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. An equivalent level of safety will be provided by following a comprehensive preflig ht checklist. 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 CFR § 91.109(a) & 91.319(a)(1): Flight Instruction These regulations provide that no person may ope rate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is being used for flight instruction un less that aircraft has fully functioning dual
controls.

The UAS are remotely piloted aircraft and by design, do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is accomplished through the us e of a control box that communicates with the
aircraft via radio communications. The flight plan is either manually controlled through pointand-click navigation or preprogrammed as way points into the auto pilot before or during flight and only in unusual circumstances will the p ilot input control functions to alter the pre-programmed flight. Given the size and speed of the U AS, an equivalent level of safe training can still be performed without dual controls beca use no pilot or passengers are aboard the UAS, and all persons will be a safe distance away should the UAS experience any difficulties during flight instruction. 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.

14 CFR § 91.119: Minimum Safe Altitudes Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for oper ation of civil aircraft. Specifically, 91.119(c)

limits aircraft flying over areas other than conges ted areas to an altitude of 500 feet above

the surface, except over open water or sparsely popul ated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any per son, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

Because aerial survey, mapping and inspection wo rk must be accomplished at relatively low

altitudes and at altitudes less than 500 feet AGL, an exemption from Section 91.119(c) is

needed.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size , weight, speed, and material

with which UAS are built. Also, no flight will be taken without the permission of the land owner

or those who control the land. Because of the adv ance notice to the landowner, all affected

individuals will be aware of the flights. Compared to aerial survey operations conducted
with aircraft or rotorcraft weighing far more than 55 lbs. and carrying flammable fuel, any riskassociated with these operations will be far less than thos e currently allowed with conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 feet AGL. Indeed, the low-altitude operations of the UAS will maintain separation between these UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119.

14 CFR § 91.121: Altimeter Settings Section 91.121 requires a person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude or flight level by reference to an altimeter that is set to t he elevation of the departur e airport or barometric pressure. Some UAS have a barometric pre ssure sensor, while others only use GPS for elevation or altitude. When a barometric pressure sensor is on the UAS, it is typically “zeroed” at the point of take-off; this is right next to the PI C and not at a departure airport. The altitude reading will be relative to that point (on the ground) and not a known elevation.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the PIC confirming the el evation or altitude of
the launch site. The altitude of the UAS will also be displayed via teleme try on the Ground Station and will be constantly monitored by the PIC during the entire flight operation.

14 CFR § 91.151(a): Fuel Require ments for Flight in VFR Conditions This regulation prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane under VFR

conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weat her 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 different UAS batteries provide a va riety of powered flight times. An exemption from § 14 CFR 91.151 is therefore required

.

The applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR § 91.151(a) is safe and within the scope of a prior exemption. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to operate without compliance with 91.151(a)). Oper ating the UAS, without 30 minutes of reserve
fuel does not engender the type of risks that Section 91. 151(a) was meant to prevent given the size and speed at which the UAS operates. The fact that it carries no pilot, passenger, or cargo also enhances its safety. In the unlikely event that the UAS should run out of fuel, it would simply land. Given its weight and construction material, the risks are less than contemplated by the current regulation.

The applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by maintaining 20% of

reserve fuel (or battery), which would be more than adequate to return the UAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its operating area.

The FAA has granted similar ex emptions to others, including Exemptions 2689F, 5745,
10673 and 10808.

14 CFR § 91.203 (a) & (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration This regulation provides as follows:

(a) ... no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has ... an appropriate

and current airworthiness certificate. (b) No person may operate a civil aircra ft 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 weigh typically less than 15 lbs., and always less than 55 lbs. As such, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display themon the UAS. In addition, there is no pilot on board the aircraft.

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

control point where the pilot flying the UAS will hav e immediate access to them. 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 CFR § 91.405(a); 407(a)(1); 40 9(a)(2); 417(a): Maintenance Inspections Section 91.405(a) requires that an aircraft operator or owner “s hall 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, hav e discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter ...” Section 91.407 similarly makes reference to requi rements in Part 43; Section 91.409(a)(2) requires an annual inspecti on for the issuance of an air worthiness certificate. Section 91.417(a) requires the owner or operator to keep records showing certain maintenance work that has been accomplished by certificated mechanics, under Part 43, or licensed pilots and records of approval of the aircraft for return to service.

The UAS are nearly maintenance fr ee, they perform automatic pre- fl ight checks and the failure
of any check will prevent take-off. Checks whic h cannot be done by the system will be performed by a quali fi ed person prior to each fl ight and at predefined intervals as part of a

maintenance schedule

.

Pre- fl ight checklist includes: 1. Visual inspection of the airframe 2. Visual inspections of rotor integrity 3. Check charge of all batteries (aerial vehicle, command station, radio repeater station)

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved be cause the UAS is small in size, will carry no external payload, will operate only in restrict ed predetermined areas and is not a complex mechanical devise. The operator of aUAS will ensu re that it is in working order prior to initiating flight, perform required maintenance, and keep a log of any maintenance that is performed. Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and is best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition and to ensure an equivalent level of safety.

If mechanical issues arise, the UAS can land im mediately due to the pre-determined area of operation. Moreover, the UAS's small size, carrying capacity, and the fa ct that flight operations will only take place in restricted areas for limited perio ds of time, create less risk than the same factors
associated with conventional fi xed-wing aircraft and rotorcraft performing the same operation.APPENDIX C

SUMMARY OF SECTION 333 EXEMPTION REQUEST

Terraplane, LLC hereby provides pursuant to Part 11 a summary of its exemption application to

allow commercial operation of UAS for aerial acquisition and research in support of government entities, agriculture industry, utility companies, local infrastructure, scientific studies, wildlife monitoring, mining, surveying, fore stry, and much more. All of which are critical to the well-being of the general public. An exemption is requested from the following regulations:

14 C.F.R. Part 21;
14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) & (b);
14 C.F.R. 61.133(a);
14 C.F.R. 91.7(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2) & (c);
14 C.F.R. 91.103;
14 C.F.R. 91.109(a);
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).