Petition for Exemption

01/13/2015

Donald R. White, Jr.

2520 Delaney Avenue

Wilmington, NC 28403

Section 333 Exemption Application

I am applying for an exemption to operate an Unmanned Aircraft System for the purpose of real estate

photography.  The following application outlines the specifications of the UAS, operating procedures and

my qualifications.  My request for exemption is identical in terms of the aircraft used and the mission to

be flown, as the exemption granted to Douglas Trudeau, Docket ID FAA‐2014‐0481.

Aircraft 

SUPPORTED BATTERY

DJI 5200mAh LiPo Battery 

WEIGHT (BATTERY & PROPELLERS INCLUDED)

1242g 

HOVER ACCURACY (READY TO FLY)

Vertical: 0.8m; Horizontal: 2.5m 

MAX YAW ANGULAR VELOCITY

200°/s 

MAX TILTABLE ANGLE

35° 

MAX ASCENT / DESCENT SPEED

Ascent: 6m/s; Descent: 2m/s 

MAX FLIGHT SPEED

15m/s (Not Recommended) 

DIAGONAL MOTOR-MOTOR DISTANCE

350mm 

Gimbal WORKING CURRENT

Static : 750mA; Dynamic : 900mA 

CONTROL ACCURACY

±0.03° 

CONTROLLABLE RANGE

Pitch : -90°-0° 

MAXIMUM ANGULAR SPEED

Pitch : 90°/s 

Camera OPERATING ENVIRONMENT TEMPERATURE

0Ԩ-40Ԩ

SENSOR SIZE
1/2.3" 

EFFECTIVE PIXELS

14 Megapixels 

RESOLUTION

4384×3288 

HD RECORDING

1080p30 & 720p 

RECORDING FOV

110° / 85° 

Remote 

Control 

OPERATING FREQUENCY

5.728 GHz-5.85 GHz 

COMMUNICATION DISTANCE (OPEN AREA)

CE Compliance: 400m; FCC Compliance: 800m 

RECEIVER SENSITIVITY (1%PER)

-93dBm 

TRANSMITTER POWER

CE Compliance: 25mW; FCC Compliance: 100mW 

WORKING VOLTAGE

120 mA@3.7V 

BUILT-IN LIPO BATTERY WORKING CURRENT/CAPACITY

3.7V, 2000mAh 

Range 

Extender 

OPERATING FREQUENCY

2412-2462MHz 

COMMUNICATION DISTANCE (OPEN AREA)

500-700m 

TRANSMITTER POWER

20dBm 

POWER CONSUMPTION

2W 

DJI VISION 

App 

SYSTEM REQUIREMENT OF MOBILE DEVICE

iOS version 6.1 or above/ Android system version 4.0 or above 

MOBILE DEVICE SUPPORT

 iOS recommended: iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPod touch 

5 (available but not recommended: iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini) 

 Android recommended: Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2, Note 3 or phones of similar 

configuration 

   
Preflight Checklist (from the User Manual)

Pilot in Command   

I am a Commercial pilot with Multi‐Engine, Instrument and Seaplane Ratings (sea plane has private pilot

privileges only) and hold a 2nd Class Medical Certificate.  In addition to my flying experience I have

operated remote control hobby aircraft for many years.   

Operation of the Unmanned Aircraft

The UAS is capable of taking off and landing at a single point.  The maneuverability of the aircraft allows

for operation within a confined area.  The aircraft will be flown in a manner to obtain video of the

subject property to illustrate the property features its and proximity to nearby features.  I will obtain

written consent from the home owner’s to perform the flight, in addition to posting warning signs

alerting anyone in the area to the activity.
The motors, rotors, propellers, body/frame, landing pads, etc. for the UAV utilized in this petition are

not complicated. Engineering and design allows layman maintenance. Recording part replacement for

this UAV may prove redundant due to the simplicity of the craft. Therefore Petitioner requests waiver or

exemption for maintenance records. However, pre‐flight inspection for cracks, damage or other physical

conditions that could hamper safe flight is a reasonable expectation. As well as post flight inspection

that may aid in identifying flight conditions that may cause stress to propellers, landing gear, etc.

Thorough inspection of UAV shall be conducted and flight response tested should a hard landing or

crash occur. Insuring that the UAV can operate in a safe manner before conducting any further

video/photography.1

I am requesting exemption of 91.119 – Prohibition of Flight in Congested Areas.  I propose to use the

Phantom 2+ to obtain video or photographs from an aerial perspective of property to illustrate various

features of the property and surrounding features.  I am also requesting exemption from 91.203 (a) due

to the fact that the Phantom 2+ is a hobby grade UAV/UAS that should not require an airworthiness

certificate or registration certificate.

                                                            

1 Supplemental Response for Petition (2) Douglas Trudeau, FAA‐2014‐0481‐0010