U.S.$Department$of$Transportation

Docket$ Operations 1200$New$Jersey$Ave,$SE Washington,$DC$20590

Request$for$Section$333$Exemption ,$Revision$P rovided$14$July$2015

This$is$an$exemption$request$p ursuant$to$Section$333$of$the$FAA$Reform$Act$of$2012 for$Precision$Approach$Aerial$Photography$LLC.$$Precision$Approach$Aerial$ Photography$LLC$requests$to$perform$aerial$photography$through$the$use$of$its$ small$unmanned$aircraft$commercially$in$airspace regulated$by$the$FAA.$$The$owner and$pilot is$a$Certif ied$Flight$Instructor$with$a$Bachelor$of$Science$in$Aeronautics.$$$ Having$firsthand$knowledge$of$the$National$Airspace$System$gives$Precision$ Approach$Aerial$Photography$an$advantage$in$safely$operating$small$UAS within$our$

airspace.

Description+of+Petiti oner Christina$Martinez$is$the$owner$of$Precision$Approach$Aerial$Photography$LLC.$$ Christina$is$a$Certified$Flight$Instructor$and$has$vast$experience$operating$in$the$ National$Airspace$System.$$ She$has$experience$flying$RC$p lanes,$blimps$in$indoor$ college hockey$arenas,$and$small$quad$copters$for$pleasure.

Contact$information:

Christina$Martinez 15909$Elmwood$Way Apple$Valley,$MN$55124 paaerialphotography@gmail.com

952

Z 412

Z 3656

Commercial+Operations: Exemption$is$requested$for$commercial operations$for$ a erial$photography$and/or$ video$for$commercial$use$including$real$estate,$land$surveying,$architecture,$and$ other$related$activities.$$Aerial$photography$and/or$video$for$commercial$use$ including$public$events.$$Aerial$photography$and/or$video$for$inspecti on$of$ commercial$property$including$cell$towers$and$commercial$construction.$$ And,$the$ ability$to$offer$flight$training$to$others.

Exemptions 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.$91.10914$C.F.$R.$91.119 (c)

14$C.F.R.$91.121 14$CFR$91.151$(a) 14$CFR$91.203$(a)$&$(b) 14$CFR$91.405$(a) 14$CFR$91.407$(a)$(1) 14$CFR$91.409$(a)$(2) 14$CFR$91.417$(a)$&$(b)

Description+of+UAS and+Equivalent+L evel+of+Safety The$primary$UAS$system$that$will$be$used$is$the$DJI$Phantom$ 3.$$The$UAS$will$be$ safely$operated$in$the$NAS$by$maintaining$ line$of$sight$ visual$contact,$ flown$only$ during$daylight,$and$ less$than$400ft$above$the$ground.$$ Flights$will$be$ operated$at$a$

late ral$distance$of$no$less$than$100 feet$from$any$persons$or$property$not$associated$ with$the$operation.$$ All$flights$will$be$preplanned$and$owner$approval$will$be$ obtained$for$flights$over$personal$property.$$ Additional$safety$features$on$t he$DJI$

Phantom$3$include$return$to$home functiona lity$when$GPS$is$available$and$f ailsafe$ technology$that$return$the$aircraft$to$the$takeoff$point$if$batteries$run$low.$$

The$specifications$for$the$UAS$are$as$follows: Weight:$1280$g Diagonal$Size:$590$mm Max$Ascent$Speed:$5$m/s Max$Descent$Speed:$5$m/s Max$Speed:$16$m/s

Additionally,$the$max$flight$time$for$the$UAS$will$be$limited$to$maintain$a$reserve$of$ 25%$battery$power .$$At$all$times,$the$UAS$will$be$operated$in$accordance$with$the$ safety$and$operatio nal$requirements$of$the$manual.

UAS+Operations Preflight$would$include$checking$the$operation$of$the$UAS$to$include$the$battery$in$

both$the$transmitter$and$the$UAS,$the$condition$of$the$ body of$the$UAS$and$it’s$ propellers.$$Updates$to$the$firmware$will$be done$as$they$become$available and$ maintenance$will$be$performed$pursuant$to$the$manufacturer’s$recommendations

.$$ The$area$in$which$the$drone$will$be$flown$will$be$checked$for$powerlines,$antennas,$

and$other$obstructions.$$The$weather$conditions$will$be$ mo nitored$throughout$the$ flight .$$Wind$conditions$will$be$ reviewed and$the$UAS$will$only$be$flo wn$in$daylight during$visual$flight$rules$meteorological$conditions

.$

Regulations+from+which+an+exemption+is+requested:

14+CFR+Part+21 subpart+H An$exemption$is$requested$from$applying$for$an$ airworthiness$certificate.$$Given$the$ size$and$limited$operating$area$of$the$aircraft$to$be$used,$an$exemption$meets$the$ requirements$of$an$equivalent$level$of$safety.$$The$UAS$will$be$operating$in$an$area$and under$conditions$that$would$be$at$least$as$safe$as$a$conventional$aircraft$ operating$with$an$airworthiness$certificate.

14+C.F.R.+45.23(b)

– Display+of+Marks An$exemption$is$requested$from$displaying$the$aircraft$“N”$number on$the$aircraft$ and$from$displaying$the$words$“limited”,$“restricted”,$“light

Z sport”,$“experimental”,$ or$“provisional”$as$applicable.$$There$is$no$entrance$into$a$UAS$and$the$aircraft$is$not$ large$enough$to$display$letters$2$inches$tall.$$The$equivalent$l evel$of$safety$will$be$ provided$by$marking$“Experimental”$on$the$UAS$casing$where$the$pilot$or$other$

observer s will$see$the$identification.$

14+CFR+61.113+(a)+&+(b)

– Private+Pilot An$exemption$is$requested$from$holding$a$private$pilot$certificate$and$the requirements$for$compensation$or$hire.$$An$equivalent$level$of$safety$is$met$because$ UAS$do$not$carry$passengers,$property$or$pilots.$$The$risk$is$far$less$than$that$of$ commercial$activities$of$a$private$or$commercial$pilot.

14+C.F.R.+91.7+(a)

– Civil+Ai rcraft+Airworthiness An$exemption$is$requested$due$to$the$fact$that$an$airworthiness$certificate$will$not$

be$issued.$$

14+CFR+91.9+(b)+(2)

– Civil+Aircraft+Flight+Manual,+Marking+and+Placard+ Requirements An$exemption$is$requested$from$carrying$a$current$a nd$approved$Flight$Manual,$ markings$and$placards.$$The$UAS$is$not$large$enough$to$carry$any$of$these$items.$$An$ equivalent$level$of$safety$will$be$maintained$by$keeping$the$flight$manual$at$the$ launch$site$where$the$pilot$will$have$access$to$it.$$

14+C.F. R.+91.109

– Flight+Instruction An$exemption$is$requested$from$operating$a$civil$aircraft$for$flight$instruction$unless$ that$aircraft$has$dual$controls.$$The$UAS$is$remotely$piloted$and$control$is$ established$through$the$transmitter.$$Because$there$is$no$on e$aboard$the$aircraft$and$ the$instructor$is$able$to$handle$the$controls$at$the$same$time$as$the$pilot,$an$ equivalent$level$of$safety$is$achieved.$$

14+C.F.+R.+91.119

– Minimum+Safe+Altitude An$exemption$is$requested$from$operating$over$sparsely$populated$ areas$closer$ than$500$feet.$$An$exemption$is$requested$to$operate$up$to$400ft$AGL.$$Given$the$size$ weight,$and$controllability$of$the$UAS,$ an$equivalent$level$of$safety$will$be$met.$$No$ flight$will$operate$over$property$without$the$permission$of$the$owner.$$ All$UAS$ activities$will$be$preplanned.$

14+C.F.R.+91.121

– Altimeter+Setting An$exemption$is$requested$from$operating$by$reference$to$an$altimeter$set$to$the$ departure$elevation.$$An$equivalent$level$of$safety$is$met$by$using$an$Above$Ground$

Level$measu rement$that$is$displayed$on$the$aircraft$transmitter$held$by$the$pilot.$$14+CFR+91.151+(a)

– Fuel+Requirements+for+VFR+Conditions An$exemption$from$the$requirement$to$operate$an$aircraft$with$30$minutes$of$fuel$ reserve$is$requested.$$The$batter y power$of the$UAS$is$approximately$25$minutes$in$ length.$$An$equivalent$level$of$safety$is$met$by$the$transmitter$display.$$A$digital$ readout$of$the$batter$percentage$is$available.$$Additionally$the$aircraft$LED$lights$

flash$red$and$an$audible$ alarm is$sounded$when the$aircraft$ is$low$battery.$$If$the$ aircraft$is$not$landed,$the$return$to$home$safety$feature$is$engaged.$$ The$max$flight$ time$for$the$UAS$will$be$limited$to$maintain$a$reserve$of$25%$battery$power.$$

14+CFR+91.203+(a)+&+(b)

– Civil+Aircraft:+Certifications An$exemption$is$requested$from$carrying$an$airworthiness$certificate$that$is$ displayed$and$legible.$$ The$UAS$is$not$large$enough$to$carry$additional$items.$$ An$ equivalent$level$of$safety$will$be$met$by$storing$any$registra tion$documents$at$the$ aircraft$launch$point with$the$pilot .$$Additional,$the$UAS$will$be$marked$ “Experimental”.

14+CFR+91.405+(a)

,+ 91.407+(a)+(1)

,+ 91.409+(a)+(2)

,+ 91.417+(a)+&+(b)

– Maintenance+Inspections An$exemption$is$requested$from$having$the$UAS$ inspected$as$prescribed$in$Subpart$ E.$$These$inspections$only$apply$to$aircraft$carrying$an$airworthiness$certificate.$$ Maintenance$will$be$done$according$to$the$UAS$manual ,$manufacturer$

recommendations and$firmware$upgrades$will$be$performed$as$they$are$m ade$ available.$$In$order$to$ensure$an$equivalent$level$of$safety,$the$pilot$will$inspect$the$ aircraft$before$each$flight.

Public+Interest Precision$Approach$Aerial$Photography$will$be$using$UAS$in$applications$that$either$ required$full

Z size$aircraft,$or$w ere$unable$to$be$completed$in$the$past.$$Reducing$the$ risks$of$flying$full$sized$aircraft$at$low$altitude$and$providing$safe$operations$is$in$ the$public’s$interest.$$By$granting$an$Exemption,$Precision$Approach$Aerial$ Photography$will$provide$safe$and$comp liant$operations$while$safely$promoting$the$

UAS$business$model.$$

Conclusion Precision$Approach$Aerial$Photography ,$a$small$woman

Z owned$business, woul d$like$ to$safely$operate$a$UAS$ aerial$photography$business.$$Having$a$Section$333$ Exemption$and$entering$ into$the$NAS$legally$would$give$ the business$a$competitive$ advantage.$$The$safe and$compliant$operations$ would$discourage$illegal$ and$unsafe$ operations$and$improve$the$industry.

Thank$you$for$your$consideration.

Sincerely,

Christina$MartinezOwner/Pilot Precision$Approach$Aerial$Photography$LLC