UNI TE D S T A TE S OF AM E RI CA D E P A R T M E NT OF T RANSPO R T A T IO N F E D E RAL A

VI A T IO N ADMINIS T RA

T IO N W ASHI NG T ON, DC

**IN T**  **H E M**  **A**

**TTER O**  **F T**  **H E**  **P ETITI**  **O N**  **FO R EXE**  **MP TI**  **O N**  **OF :**  **John Robert West II FO**  **R AN EXE**  **MP TI**  **O N SEE**  **K ING**  **RELIEF F**  **R O**  **M T**  **H E RE**  **Q UIRE**  **M ENTS**  **O F** 

**TITLE 14**  **O F**  **T H**  **E C O**  **DE O**  **F F**  **EDERAL RE**  **G UL**  **A TI**  **O NS**  **SECTI O**  **NS 61. 1**  **13(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2),**  **AND 91.417(a) & (b) C O**  **NCERNING C**  **O MMERCIAL**  **OP ER**  **A TI**  **O N**  **O F**  **CARB O**  **N C O**  **RE O**  **C T**  **O C**  **OP TER**  **/ DJI PHANTOM 3 PROFESSIONAL QC**  **UNMANNED AIRCRA F**  **T SYSTE**  **M S**  **P URSUANT**  **T O**  **SECTI O**  **N 333 O**  **F T**  **H E**  **F AA**  **M O**  **DERNIZ A** 

**TI O**  **N AND**  **RE FO**  **RM ACT**  **O F**  **2012 (**  **P UBLIC**  **L A** 

**W 1**  **12 -**  **95)**

Sub mitt ed on May

28, 2015 John Robert West II 44 Old Country

Road Westhampton NY, 119772 **T ABLE**  **O F**  **C O**  **NTENTS** Page G L OSSA R

Y OF ABBR E VI A

T IO NS....................................................................................3 SUMMA R

Y ............................................................................................................................4 IN T RODUC T IO N AND IN TE R E S T S OF P ET I T ION E R....................................................4 BACKGROUND................................................................................................................... .4 BASI S FOR P ET I T IO N.........................................................................................................5 N AME AND ADDR E SS OF P ET I T IO N E R.............................................................7 T HE SP E CIFIC S E C T IO NS OF 14 C. F .R. FROM WHI CH John Robert West II S EE KS E X E MP T IO N...............................................................................................8 T HE E X TE NT OF R EL I E F John Robert West II S EEKS AND T HE R E ASON John Robert West II SEEKS T HE R EL I E F.......................................................... 1 1 T HE R E ASONS WHY GRAN T ING John Robert West II 's R E QU E ST WOU L D BE IN T HE PUB L IC IN TE R E ST .........................................................15 T HE R E ASONS WHY GRAN T ING T HE E X E MP T IO N WOU L D NOT ADV E RS E L

Y AFF E CT SAF ET Y

..........................................................................19 SUMMA R

Y T H A T CAN BE PUB L ISH E D IN T HE F E D E RAL R E GI S TE R......34 ANY ADDI T IONAL IN FORM A T ION, VI E WS, OR ARGUM E N T S AV AI L AB L E T O SUPPO R

T John Robert West II 's R E QU E S T ......................34 CONC LUSION....................................................................................................................35 APP E NDI C E S.........................................................................................363 **G L**  **O SSA**  **R**

**Y O**  **F ABBREVI**  **A**

**TI O**  **NS** AGL Above Ground L evel AOI Area of In t errst A T C A i r T ra f f i c Con trol A T O A i r T ra f f i c O r gan i za ti on A V Aer i al V eh i c l e CFR Code of Federal R e gu l a ti ons COA C e rti f i cat e Of Au thor i za ti on F AA Federal A v i a ti on Admi n i s tra ti on F AR Federal A v i a ti on R e gu l a ti on GCS Ground Con trol S t a ti on GPS G l obal Pos iti on i ng Sys t em HH Hor i zon Hobby B l ade 350QX2AP L OL L oss Of Li nk NAS Nati onal A i rspace Sys t em NO T AM No ti ce T o A i r m an PI C P il ot InCo mm and Sec ti on 333 F AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012 (FMRA) Sec ti on 333 SO Safe t y Observer SOP S t andard Operati ng Pro cedures UA Un m anned A i rcraft UAS Un m anned A i rcraft Sy s t em VFR V i sual F li ght Ru l es V L OS V i sual Li ne Of S it e VMC V i sual Me t eoro l og i cal Cond iti ons V T OL V erti cal T ake
- O f f and L and i ng4 **SUMMA R** 

**Y** John Robert West seeks exe mp ti on from the requ i re m en t s of 14 C. F .R §§ 61. 1 13(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a) (2), and 91.417(a) & (b), t o operat e an Un m anned A i rcraft Sy s t em pursuant t o Sec ti on 333 of the F

AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012 (FMRA). T h i s exe mp ti on w il l per mi t t o operat e an Un m anned A i rcraft Sy s t em (UAS) for the co mm erc i al purpose of conduc ti ng aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y of cons truc ti on s it es, real es t a t e and l andscape
over cert a i n areas of the Un it ed S t a t es.

**INTR O**  **DUCTI O**  **N AND**  **INTERESTS O**  **F T**  **H E**  **P ETITI**  **O NER**  John Robert West II prov i des h i s c li en t s w ith a unique perspective on the
s ervices that they

provide and knowledge in drone safet y i n advanced pho t ograph y and v i deo so l u ti ons t o i ncrease e f f i c i enc y , produc ti v it y and
e f fec ti veness. John Robert West II has over 4 y ears of exper i ence i n Pho t ograph i c and V i deo T echno l og y

. He has over 4 ye ars recreati onal and hobby exper i ence i n a l l aspec t s of aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y

. T he ob j ec ti ve of John Robert West II 's aer i al v i deo and Pho t ograph y operati ons i s t o prov i de h i gh qua lit y im ag i ng for a var i e t y of co mm erc i a l , pub li c, and res i den ti al uses, spec i f i ca ll y t ar ge ti ng: Cons truc ti on s it es before, af t er and dur i ng Appra i sa l s R e a l
- es t a t e m arke ti ng Aer i al acqu i s iti ons used for i nspec ti ons of pub li c and pr i va t e s truc tures. Search and R e scue opera ti ons5 **BAC KG**  **R O**  **UND** Un m anned A i rcraft Sy s t e m s: , DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's John Robert West II seeks an exe mp ti on t o operat e DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC for co mpensa ti on or h i re w ith i n the NAS. T he DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC is a verti cal t akeof f and l and i ng (V T O L ) Un m anned A i rcraft (UA) U tili z i ng a 2. 4g hz R em o t e Control sy s t e m . T he DJ I Phantom 3 Professional has a m ax imum gross we i ght of approx im a t e l y 1280 g , wh il e hav i ng a diagonal size of 590mm , and a m ax imum speed of approx im a t e l y 16 kno t s. The DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's that w il l be operat ed by John Robert West II w il l be reg i s t ered i n accordance w ith 49 U.S.C. 44103, R eg is tra ti on of Ai r

cra f t , as we l l as 14 C. F .R Part 47, Ai r cra f t R eg i s t ra ti o n , and
m arked i n accordance
w ith 14 C. F .R. Part 45, Iden tifi ca ti on and R eg i s tra ti on Mark

i ng .

**BASIS FO**  **R P**  **ETITI O**  **N** Pe titi one r, John Robert West II , pursuant t o the prov i s i ons of the Federal A v i a ti on R e gu l a ti ons (14 C. F .R. § 1 1.61) and the F AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012 (FMRA), Sec ti on 333, Spec i al R u l es f or C e r t a i n Unmanned Ai r

cra f t Sys t em s , hereb y pe titi ons the Admi n i s tra t or t o
co mm erc i a ll y operat e the And DJIP hantom 3 Professional QC UAS's i n t he Na ti onal A i rspace Sy s t em (NAS), and for an exe mp ti on from t he requ i re m en t s of 14 C. F .R §§ 61. 1 13(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b).6

In cons i derati on of the speed, we i gh t , s i ze, and limit ed operati ng area assoc i a t ed
w ith the un m anned a i rcraft and it s opera ti on, John Robert West II opera ti on of and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's m ee t s the cond iti ons of FMRA Sec ti on 333 and therefore, w il l not requ i re an a i rworth i ness certi f i cat e i n ordnance w ith 14 C. F .R. Part 21, Subpart H. Accor d in g ly

, John Robert West II requests re li ef from Sec ti ons 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b), as these sec ti ons set forth requ i re m en t s for m a i n t enance that on l y app l y t o a i rcraft w ith an a i rworth i ness certi f i ca t e. John Robert West II submits that the reques t ed re li ef i s proper s i nce an equivalent l evel of safe t y w il l be ensured. John Robert West II w il l use exper i enced personnel or t echn i c i ans t o perform m a i n t enance, a lt era ti ons, or preven ti ve m a i n t enance on the UAS's
us i ng the m e thods, t echn i ques, and prac ti ces prescr i bed i n the operati ng docu m en t s ( i .e., Mon th l y Ma i n t enance L og, and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC I ns truc ti on Manua l ). Further m ore, John Robert West II w il l docu m ent and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i nt enance records for the and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's. R eli ef from cert a i n requ i re m en t s of Sec ti on 61. 1 13(a) and (b), en titl ed P r i va t e p il ot pr i v il eges and li m ita ti ons: Pil ot i n comman d , i s reques t ed b y John Robert West II t o the ex t ent necessar y t o a ll ow a P il ot i n Co mm and (PI C) ho l d i ng a pr i va t e p il ot or h i gher l evel cer ti f i cat e, as we l l as an a i r

m an m ed i cal
certi f i ca t e, and who has de m ons tra t ed, by m ee ti ng mi n imum f li gh t - hour and current requ i re m en t s, that the PIC i s ab l e t o safe l y operat e the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's i n a m anner cons i s t ent w ith th i s ex e mp ti on, i nc l ud i ng evas i ve and e m e rgency
m aneuvers and m a i n t a i n i ng appropr i a t e d i s t ances from peop l e, vesse l s, veh i c l es and
s truc tures.7 John Robert West II seeks re li ef from Sec ti on 91.7(a), en titl ed C i v i l a i r cra f t
a i rwor th i nes s , because the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's do not requ i re an
a i rworth i ness certi f

i cat e i n ordnance w ith 14 C. F .R. Part 21, Subpart H. As such, John Robert West II sub mit s t hat he w il l ensure that the Phantom 3 UAS's is i n an a i rworthy cond iti on, pr i or t o every f li gh t , by de t er mi n i ng that the UAS's are i n co mp li ance w ith the operati ng docu m en t s ( i .e., Mon th l y Ma i n t enance L og, and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC In s truc ti on Manua l ), and that the a i rcraft are i n a cond iti on for safe f li gh t . John Robert West II a l so seeks an exe mp ti on from the requ i re m en t s of Sec ti on 91.121, en titl ed Alti me t er Se tti ng

s , as the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l not have a t yp i cal baro m e tr i c a ltim e t er onboard. Howeve r, a ltitude i nfor m a ti on of the and DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l be prov i ded t o the PIC v i a G l obal Pos iti on i ng Sy s t em (GPS) equ i p m ent and rad i o co mmun i cati ons t e l e m e try da t a li nk, wh i ch down li nks from the UAS t o the GCS for ac ti ve m on it or i ng of the f li ght pa th. T h i s a ltitude i nfor m a ti on,
co mb i ned w ith John Robert West II 's opera ti on of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w ith i n v i sual li ne of s i gh t , at or be l ow 400 feet AG L , w il l ensure a l evel of safe t y equ i va l ent t o Sec ti on 91.121. Add iti ona ll y

, John Robert West II seeks an exe mp ti on from the requ i re m en t s of Sec ti on 91.151(b), en titl ed F uel r equ i r emen t s f or fli ght i n VF R cond iti on s . John Robert West II's sub mit s that safe t y w il l not be a f fec t ed by opera ti on of the and DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's dur i ng dayli ght hours i n v i sual m e t eoro l og i cal cond iti ons (VMC)
under v i sual f

li ght ru l es (VFR), w ith enough batt ery power t o f

l y for a t o t al dura ti on of approx im a t e l y 10 mi nu t es for the i n t ended pho t o shoot and, assu mi ng nor m al cru i s i ng speed, t o f

l y af t er that for at l east 2.5 mi nut es for recovery and l and i ng. In accordance w ith8

14 C. F .R. § 1 1.81, John Robert West II prov i des the fo ll ow i ng information i n support of it s pe titi on for exe mp ti on: **A. Name And**  **Add r**  **ess O**  **f The**  **P et**  **i t**  **i oner**  T he nam e and address of the Pe titi oner and po i nt of con t act i s: John Robert West II 44 Old Country

Road Westhampton NY 11977 Email: jrwpics1@gmail.com **B. The**  **Spec i**  **f**

**i c Sect**  **i ons**  **O f**  **14 C. F** 

**.R. F**  **r om**  **Wh i**  **ch John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **1. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ements O**  **f Sect**  **i on**  **61. 1**  **13(a) And (b).**  Sec ti on 61. 1 13, en titl ed Pr i va t e p il ot pr i v il eges and limit a ti ons: Pil ot i n command , subsec ti ons (a) and (b) prescr i be the fo ll ow i ng, i n re l evant part : (a) No person who ho l ds a pr i va t e p il ot certi f i cat e m ay act as a p il ot i n co mm and (PI C) of an a i rcraft that i s carry i ng passengers or propert y for co mpensa ti on or h i re; nor m ay that person, for co mpensa ti on or h i re, act as PI C of an a i rcraf t . (b) A pr i va t e p il ot m a y

, for co mpensa ti on or h i re, act as PI C of an a i rcraft i n connec ti on w ith any

bus i ness or e mp l oy

m ent i f

— (1) T he f li ght i s on l y i nc i den t al t o that bus i ness or e mp l oy m en t ; and (2) T he a i rcraft does not carr y passengers or proper t y for co mpensa ti on or h i re.
**2. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ements O**  **f Sect**  **i on**  **91.7(a).**9 Sec ti on 91.7, en titl ed C

i v i l a i r cra f t a i rwor th i nes s , subsec ti on (a), s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng: (a) No person m ay

opera t e a c i v i l a i rcraft un l ess i t i s i n an a i rworthy cond iti on. **3. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ements O**  **f Sect i**  **on 91.121.**  Sec ti on 91.121, en titl ed A ltim e t er se tti ngs, subsec ti on (a), s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng, i n part : (a) E ach person operati ng an a i rcraft sha l l m a i n t a i n the cru i s i ng a ltitude or f li ght l evel of that a i rcraf

t , as t he case m ay

be, by reference t o an a ltim e t er that i s se t , when operati ng -- (1) B el ow 18,000 feet MS L , t o -- ( i ) T he current report ed a ltim e t er s ett ing of a s t a ti on a l ong the rou t e and w ith i n 100 nau ti cal mil es of the a i rcraf t ; ( ii ) I f there i s no s t a ti on w ith i n the area prescr i bed i n paragraph (a)(1)( i ) of th i s sec ti on, the current report ed a ltim e t er se tti ng of an appropr i a t e ava il ab l e s t a ti on ; or ( iii ) In the case of an a i rcraft not equ i pped w ith a rad i o, the e l evati on of the departure a i rport or an appropr i a t e a ltim e t er se tti ng ava il ab l e before departure. **4. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ements O**  **f Sect**  **i o**  **n 91.151(b).**  Sec ti on 91.151, en titl ed F uel r equ i r emen t s f or fli ght i n VF R conditi on s , subsec ti on (b), s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng: (b ) No person may beg i n a fli ght i n a r o t o r cra f t under VF

R conditi ons un l ess (cons i der i ng w i nd and f

o r ecast w e a ther conditi ons) the r e is enough f

uel t o fl y t o the fi rst po i nt of i n t ended landi ng and, assum i ng normal cru is i ng speed, t o fl y a ft er that f or at l east 20 m i nu t es. **5. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ement O**  **f Sect**  **i o**  **n 91.405(a).** 10 10 Sec ti on 91.405, en titl ed Ma i n t enance r equ i r e d , subsec ti on (a), s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng: E ach owner or operat or of an a i rcraf t

— (a) Sha l l have that a i rcraft i nspec t ed as prescr i bed i n subpart E of th i s part and sha l l be tween requ i red i nspec ti ons, except as prov i ded i n paragraph (c) of th i s sec ti on, have d i screpanc i es repa i red as prescr i bed i n part 43 of th i s chap t er[.] **6. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ements O**  **f Sect**  **i on**  **91.407(a)(1)** Sec ti on 91.407, en titl ed Opera ti on a ft er ma i n t enance, p r

even ti ve ma i n t enance,
r ebu ildi ng, or a lt era ti o n , subsec ti on (a)(1), s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng: (a) No person m ay

opera t e an y a i rcraft that has unde r gone m a i n t enance, preven ti ve m a i n t enance, rebu il d i ng, or a lt erati on un l ess -- (1) It has been approved for re turn t o serv i ce b y a person au thor i zed under § 43.7 of th i s chap t e r. **7. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ements O**  **f Sect**  **i ons**  **91.409(a)(1) And 91.409(a)(2).**  Sec ti on 91.409, en titl ed Inspec ti on s , subsec ti on (a), s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng: (a) E xcept as prov i ded i n paragraph (c) of th i s sec ti on, no person m ay opera t e an a i rcraft un l ess, w ith i n the preced i ng 12 ca l endar m on ths, i t has had
-- (1) An annual i nspec ti on i n a cco rdance w ith part 43 of th i s chap t er and has been approved for re turn t o serv i ce by a person au thor i zed by § 43.7 of th i s chap t er or (2) An i nspec ti on for the i ssuance of an a i rworth i ness certi f i cat e i n a ccor dance w ith part 21 of th i s chap t e r. **8. John Robert West**  **II seeks Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **F r**  **om The Requ**  **i r**  **ements O**  **f Sect**  **i ons**  **91.417(a) And**  **91.417(b).** Sec ti on 91.417, en titl ed Ma i n t enance r eco r d s , subsec ti ons (a) and (b), s t a t e the fo ll ow i ng: (a) E xcept for work perfor m ed i n accordance w ith §§ 91.4 1 1 and 91.413, each reg i s t ered owner or operat or sha l l keep the fo ll ow i ng records for the per i ods spec i f i ed i n paragraph (b) of th i s sec ti on:11 11 (1) R e cords of the m a i n t enance, preven ti ve m a i n t enance, and a lt erati on and records of the 100
- hour, annua l , progress i ve, and o ther requ i red or approved i nspec ti ons , as appropr i a t e, for each a i rcraft ( i nc l ud i ng the a i rfram e) and each eng i ne, prope ll e r, ro t o r, and app li ance of an a i rcraf t . T he records m ust i nc l ude
-- ( i ) A descr i p ti on (or reference t o da t a accep t ab l e t o the Admi n i s tra t or) of the work perfor

m ed; and ( ii ) T he dat e of co mp l e ti on of the work perfor m ed; and ( iii ) T he s i gna ture, and certi f i cat e nu mber of the person approv i ng the a i rcraft for re turn t o serv i ce. (2) R e cords con t a i n i ng the fo ll ow i ng i nfor m a ti on: ( i ) T he t o t al tim e i n serv i ce of the a i rfram e, each eng i ne, each prope ll e r, and each ro t o r. ( ii ) T he current s t a tus of li fe
- limit ed part s of each a i rfram e, eng i ne, prope ll e r, ro t o r, and app li ance. ( iii ) T he tim e s i nce l ast overhaul of a l l it e m s i ns t a ll ed on the a i rcraft wh i ch are requ i red t o be overhau l ed on a spec i f i ed tim e bas i s. ( i v) T he current i nspec ti on s t a tus of the a i rcraf t , i nc l ud i ng the tim e s i nce the l ast i nspec ti on requ i red by the i nspec ti on program under wh i ch the a i rcraft and it s app li ances are m a i n t a i ned. (v) T he current s t a tus of app li cab l e a i rworth i ness d i rec ti ves (AD) and safe ty d i rec ti ves i nc l ud i ng, for each, the m e thod of co mp li ance, the AD or Safe t y d i rec ti ve nu mber and rev i s i on da t e. If the AD or safe t y d i rec ti ve i nvo l ves recurr i ng ac ti on, the tim e and dat e when the next ac ti on i s requ i red. (v i ) Cop i es of the for

m s prescr i bed b y § 43.9(d) of th i s chap t er for each m a j or a lt erati on t o the a i rfram e and curren tl y i ns t a ll ed eng i nes, ro t ors, prope ll ers, and app li ances. (b) T he owner or operat or sha l l re t a i n the fo ll ow i ng records for the per i ods prescr i bed: (1) T he records spec i f

i ed i n paragraph (a)(1) of th i s sec ti on sha l l be re t a i ned un ti l the work i s repeat ed or superseded by o ther work or for 1 ye ar af t er t he work i s perfor

m ed.12 12 (2) T he records spec i f

i ed i n paragraph (a)(2) of th i s sec ti on sha l l be re t a i ned and transferred w ith the a i rcraft at the tim e the a i rcraft i s so l d. (3) A li st of defec t s furn i shed t o a reg i s t ered owner or opera t or under § 43. 1 1 of th i s chap t er sha l l be re t a i ned un ti l the defec t s are repa i red and the a i rcraft i s approved for re turn t o serv i ce. **C. The Ext**  **e nt**  **O f Re**  **li ef**  **John Robert West II seeks**  **And The Reason**  **John Robert West II seeks**  **The Re li**  **ef. 1. Ext**  **e nt**  **O f Re**  **li ef**  **John Robert West II seeks**  **And The**  **John Robert West**  **II seeks Re**  **li ef**  **F r**  **om Sect**  **i on 61.**  **1 13(a)**  **And (b).** R eli ef from Sec ti on 61. 1 13(a) and (b) en titl ed P r i va t e p il ot pr i v il eges and li m ita ti ons: Pil ot i n comman d , i s reques t ed t o the ex t ent necessary t o a ll ow a PI C ho l d i ng a pr i va t e p il ot or h i gher l evel certi f i cat e, as we l l as a current and va li d a i r m an m ed i cal
certi f i ca t e, and who has m et cert a i n f li gh t - hour and currency

requ i re m en t s, t o conduct the proposed UAS f

li ght opera ti ons for co mpensa ti on or h i re. T h i s re li ef i s reques t ed s i nce the limit a ti ons set forth i n Sec ti on 61
. 1 13(a) and (b) s t a t e that a pr i va t e p il ot m a y , for co mpensa ti on or h i re, act as PI C of an a i rcraft i n
connec ti on w ith any

bus i ness or e mp l oy

m ent i f: (1) T he f

li ght i s on l y i nc i den t al t o that bus i ness or e mp l oy

m en t ; and (2) T he a i rcraft does not carr y passengers or propert y for
co mpensa ti on or h i re. As set forth m ore fu ll y be l o w, John Robert West II sub mit s that an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y w il l be m a i nt a i ned because no PIC w il l be a ll owed t o operat e the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's un l ess that PI C has m et cert a i n f li gh t - hour and current requ i re m en t s, de m ons tra ti ng that the PI C i s ab l e t o safe l y operat e the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's i n a m anner cons i s t ent w it h the operati ons spec i f

i cati ons as descr i bed i n th i s exe mp ti on, i nc l ud i ng evas i ve and e m e r gency m aneuvers, as we l l as
m a i n t a i n i ng appropr i a t e d i s t ances from peop l e, vesse l s, veh i c l es and s truc t ures.13 13 Furthe r, John Robert West II sub mit s that a l l f li gh t s of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, conduc t ed b y the PI C pursuant t o the grant of th i s Pe titi on: (1) w il l be i nc i den t al t o John Robert West II bus i ness; and (2) w il l not carry passengers or proper t y for co mpensa ti on or h i re. **2.Ext e**  **nt O**  **f Re li**  **ef John Robert West**  **II seeks And**  **The Reason John Robert West**  **II seeks**  **Re li**  **ef F**  **r om**  **Sect i**  **on 91.7(a).** R eli ef from Sec ti on 91.7(a) en titl ed C i v i l a i r cra f t a i rwor th i nes s , i s reques t ed t o the
ex t ent requ i red t o a ll ow John Robert West II t o de t er mi ne that the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's are i n a i rwort hy cond iti on pr i or t o every f li ght by ensur i ng that the UAS i s i n
co mp li ance w ith the operati ng docu m en t s ( i .e., the Mon th l y Ma i n t enance L og and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC m anua l s. John Robert West II seeks the reques t ed re li ef because the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's do not requ i re an a i rworth i ness certi f i cat e i n accordance w ith 14 C. F .R. Part 21, Subpart H. T herefore, John Robert West II w il l ensure that the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's are i n a i rworthy cond iti on based upon it s co mp li ance w ith the operati ng docu m en t s ( i .e., Mon th l y Ma i n t enance L og, and DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC In s truc ti on Manua l ) pr i or t o every

f li gh t , and furthe r, de t er

mi ne that the a i rcraft are i n cond iti on for safe f li gh t , as s t a t ed i n the cond iti ons and limit a ti ons be l o w .
**3. Ext**  **e nt**  **O f Re**  **li ef**  **John Robert West II seeks**  **And The Reason**  **John Robert West II**  **seeks Re**  **li ef**  **F r**  **om Sect**  **i on 91.121.**  R eli ef from Sec ti on 91.121, en titl ed A ltim e t er se tti ngs, m ay be requ i red t o a ll ow f li ght operati ons of the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, wh i ch u tili ze a baro m e tr i c pressure senso r, GPS equ i p m en t , and a rad i o co mmun i cati ons t e l e m e try da t a li nk t o down li nk
a ltitude i nfor

m a ti on from the UA t o the PI C at the controller . S i nce the F AA requ i res that any a ltitude i nfor

m a ti on concern i ng UAS opera ti ons be report ed t o a i r tra f f i c con trol ( A

T C) i n feet above ground l evel (AG L ), John Robert West II seeks the reques t ed re li ef because the DJI14 14 Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS ’ s a ltim e t er m ay be set on the ground t o zero feet AG L , ra ther than the l ocal baro m e tr i c pressure or f i e l d a ltitude, before each f li gh t . Cons i der i ng the limit ed a ltitude of the proposed operati ons, re li ef from 14 CFR 91.121 i s sought t o the ex t ent necessary t o co mp l y w ith the app li cab l e cond iti ons and limit a ti ons s t a t ed be l o w . As m ore fu ll y set forth here i n, an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y w il l be m a i n t a i ned s i nce the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's are equ i pped w ith a baro m e tr i c pressure sensor and GPS equ i p m en t , wh i ch au t o m a ti ca ll y ensures that a ground l evel pressure
se tti ng w il l be es t ab li shed pr i or t o each f li gh t , and prov i des the PI C w ith altitude i nfor m a ti on of the UA on the heads
- up d i sp l ay of the controller
. **4. Ext e**  **nt O**  **f Re li**  **ef John Robert West**  **II seeks And**  **The Reason John Robert West**  **II seeks**  **Re li**  **ef F**  **r om**  **Sect i**  **on 91.151(b).** R eli ef from Sec ti on 91.151(b) en titl ed Fuel requ i re m en t s for f li ght i n VFR cond iti ons, i s reques t ed t o the ex t ent requ i red t o a ll ow f li gh t s of the batt ery

powered DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's dur i ng dayli ght hours i n v i sual m e t eoro l og i cal cond iti ons (VMC), under v i sual f li ght
ru l es (VFR), for a t o t al dura ti on of 10 mi nut es t o t he f i rst po i nt of i nt ended l and i ng and, assu mi ng
nor m al cru i s i ng speed, t o f

l y af t er that for at l east 2.5 mi nut es. John Robert West II seeks the reques t ed re li ef because w ithout an exe mp ti on from Sec ti on 91.151(b), the f li ght tim e durati on of the batt ery

powered and DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l severe l y cons tra i n the prac ti ca lit y of an y aer i al v i deo or s til l pho t o f li ght operati ons that John Robert West II proposes t o conduct pursuant t o th i s Pe titi on. S i gn i f i can tl y , as set forth be l o w, the t echn i cal spec i f i ca ti ons of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, and the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC opera ti ng docu m en t s and John Robert West II proposed opera ti ng limit a ti ons, ensure that John Robert West II w il l safe l y opera t e the batt ery

powered DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's dur i ng dayli ght hours i n v i sual
m e t eoro l og i cal cond iti ons (VMC), under v i sual f li ght ru l es (VFR), w ith enough batt er y power t o f l y15 15 for a t o t al dura ti on of 10 mi nut es t o the f i rst po i nt of i n t ended l and i ng and, assu mi ng nor m al
cru i s i ng speed, t o f

l y af t er that for at l east 2.5 mi nu t es.
**5.Ext e**  **nt O**  **f Re li**  **ef John Robert West**  **II seeks And**  **The Reason John**  **Robert West II seeks**  **Re li**  **ef F**  **r om**  **Sect i**  **ons 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2),**  **And 91.417(a) & (b).** S i nce Sec ti ons 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b) on l y app l y t o a i rcraft w ith an a i rworth i ness certi f i cat e, John Robert West II reques t s re li ef from these Sec ti ons because the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's do not requ i re a i rworth i ness
certi f i ca t es. As set forth m ore fu ll y be l o w, the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's m eet the cond iti ons of FMRA Sec ti on 333 for operati on w ithout an a i rworth i ness certi f i cat e. A cco rd i ng l y

, John Robert West II w il l use tra i ned t ech n i c i ans t o perform m a i n t enance, a lt erati ons, or preven ti ve
m a i n t enance on the UAS's us i ng the m e thods, t echn i ques, and prac ti ces prescr i bed i n the UAS operati ng docu m en t s ( i .e., the Aer i al Opera ti ons Manua l , Mon th l y Ma i n t enance L og, and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC In s truc ti on Manua l ). Further m ore, John Robert West II w il l docu m ent and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i nt enance records for the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's.
**D. The Reasons**  **Why G**  **rant i**  **ng John Robert West II**  **Request W**  **ou l**  **d Be In**  **The Inte**  **r est;**  **That Is, H**  **ow It W**  **ou l**  **d B e**  **nef**

**i t**  **The P**  **ub li**  **c As**  **A Who**  **l e.**  Gran ti ng the present Pe titi on w il l further the pub li c i n t erest by a ll ow i ng Jo hn Robert West II t o safe l y , e f f i c i en tl y , and econo mi ca ll y perform aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y of cons truc ti on s it es, real
es t a t e, and l andscape over cer t a i n areas of the Un it ed S t a t es. Add iti ona ll y

, use of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l decrease conges ti on of the NAS, reduce po ll u ti on, and prov i de s i gn i f i cant benef

it s t o the ec ono m y

. No t ab l y , the benef

it s of John Robert West II’s proposed operati on of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l be rea li zed w ithout imp li cati ng any pr i vacy i ssues.16 16 **1. The**  **P ub**  **li c**  **W il**  **l B**  **e nef**  **i t**  **F r**  **om Dec**  **r eased Congest**  **i on**  **O f**  **The NAS.** T he DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's are ba tt ery powered and serve as a safe,
e f f i c i en t , and econo mi cal a lt ernati ve t o the m anned a i rcraft trad iti ona ll y u tili zed t o ob t a i n aer i al im ager y . By reduc i ng the am ount of m anned a i rcraft needed t o perform aer i al acqu i s iti ons, an
exe mp ti on a ll ow i ng the use of the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's wou l d reduce the
am ount of m anned a i rcraft i n the NAS, reduce no i se and a i r po ll u ti on, as we l l as i ncrease the safe t y of li fe and proper

ty i n the a i r and on the ground. Further m ore, b y reduc i ng the nu mber of m anned a i rcraft opera ti ng i n the NAS, conges ti on around a i rpor t s caused by arr i v i ng and depar ti ng a i rcraft w il l be reduced. T he DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's do not requ i re an a i rport t o t akeo f f or l and. Li kew i se, a reduc ti on of m anned a i rcraft conduc ti ng aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y mi ss i ons
wou l d resu l t i n fewer a i rcraft that m ust be hand l ed by a i r tra f f i c con trol dur i ng the ground, t akeo f f, departure, arr i va l , and l and i ng phases of f li ght operati ons. **2. The**  **P ub**  **li c**  **W il**  **l B**  **e nef**  **i t**  **F r**  **om The Safety**  **And Eff i**  **c i**  **ency O**  **f The DJI**  **Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS**  **' s.**  Condu cti ng aer i al acqu i s iti ons w ith the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's i ns t ead of m anned a i rcraf t , w il l greatl y benef

i t the pub li c by dras ti ca ll y reduc i ng the l eve l s of a i r and no i se po ll uti on generat ed dur i ng t rad iti onal aer i al v i deo and s til l pho t ograph y f

li ght opera ti ons. By

us i ng ba tt ery

power and e l ec tr i c m o t ors, t he DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's produce no a i r po ll uti on, and i s the m ost v i ab l e
env i ron m en t a ll y consc i ous a lt ernati ve t o the cab i n c l ass, s i x cyli nder i n t ernal
co mbus ti on eng i ne a i rcraft that are t yp i ca ll y u tili zed for ae r ial v i deo and pho t ograph y wh il e burn i ng approx im a t e l y 20
- 30 ga ll ons per hour of l eaded av i a ti on fue l
. T he DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, wh il e reduc i ng the carbon foo t pr i nt of aer i al17 17 acqu i s iti ons, a l so e limi na t es no i se po ll uti on, as the UA's are prope ll ed by ba tt ery powered e l ec tr i c m o t ors, ra ther than an i n t ernal co mbus ti on eng i ne. By us i ng the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's t o perform aer i al acqu i s iti ons, the subs t an ti al r i sk t o li fe and proper t y i n the a i r and on the ground, wh i ch i s usua ll y assoc i a t ed w ith trad iti onal m anned a i rcraft f li ght operati ons, w il l be subs t an ti a ll y reduced or co mp l e t e l y
e limi na t ed. As i de from the l ack of f li ght crew m e mbers l ocat ed onboard the a i rcraf t , the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's (we i gh i ng approx im a t e l y 1280g with Battery and Propellers respec ti ve l y

, at the i r m ax im um gross we i gh t s w ith respec ti ve l y (and w ith no fuel on board) has l ess phy s i cal po t en ti al for co ll a t eral dam age t o li fe and proper t y on the ground, and i n the a i r, co mpared t o the m anned a i rcraft that t yp i ca ll y conduct s imil ar operati ons (we i gh i ng approx im a t e l y 6,000 pounds, and a fuel capac it y of 180 ga ll ons. **3. P**  **erform i**  **ng Aer**  **i al**  **V**

**i deo and**  **P hotography**  **O perat**  **i ons**  **W i**  **th The**  **DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC**  **UAS '**  **s W**  **il l**  **B e**  **nef i**  **t The E**  **c onom**  **y**

**.** In add iti on t o be i ng safe and e f f i c i en t , the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's are
a l so an econo mi cal a lt ernati ve t o us i ng m anned a i rcraft t o conduct s imil ar aer i al operati ons. As such, operati on of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l a ll ow Un it ed S t a t es based
co mpan i es, li ke John Robert West II t o re m a i n co mpe titi ve and con tr i bu t e t o grow th of the U.S.
econo m y . Spec i f i ca ll y , w ith the r i s i ng cost of av i a ti on fuel and the E nv i ronm en t al Pro t ec ti on Agency (“ E P A”) regu l a t ory

ac ti ons phas i ng out l eaded av i a ti on fue l s, U.S. owned and operat ed
co mpan i es m ust adopt new and a lt ernati ve t echno l ogy i n order t o re m a i n co mpe titi ve. Opera ti ng the batt er y powered DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's i s one such t echno l ogy that not on l y a ll ows co mpan i es great er operati onal f l ex i b ilit y co mpared t o m anned a i rcraf t , but prov i des such f

l ex i b ilit y w ithout the h i gh operati onal cost of a trad iti onal m anned a i rcraf t .18 18 By opera ti ng the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, co mpan i es such as John Robert West II’s can re m a i n co mpe titi ve and prof it ab l e and therefore, prov i de great er j ob
s t ab ilit y t o e mp l oy ees and con trac t ors, wh i ch w il l u ltim a t e l y con tr i bu t e t o grow th of the U.S.
econo m y . I mproved f

i nanc i al perfor

m ance of U.S. co mpan i es, through co mm erc i al use of the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, prov i des a s t ab l e workforce that i ncreases consu m er spend i ng, improves l oca l , s t a t e, and federal t ax revenues and a ll ows co mpan i es t o i nvest i n research and deve l op m ent i n order t o re m a i n co mpe titi ve bo th i n the Un it ed S t a t es and abroad. **4.The r**  **e A**  **r e No**  **P r**  **i vacy Issues.**  S imil ar t o the m anned aer i al acqu i s iti on f li ght operati ons that have been conduc t ed for decades, John Robert West II’s proposed opera ti on of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l not imp li ca t e any

pr i vacy i ssues. Spec i f

i ca ll y , the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l be operat ed on l y i n co mp li ance w ith operati ng docu m en t s ( i .e. Aer i al Opera ti ons Manua l , Mon th l y Ma i n t enance L og, and the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC In s truc ti on Manua l 's) wh i ch requ i res propert y owner in vo l ve m ent as we l l as l ocal l aw enforce m ent no ti f i cati on, and i n accordance w ith the Federal A

v i a ti on R e gu l a ti ons, i nc l ud i ng the mi n im um a ltitude requ i re m en t s of 14 C. F . R. § 91. 1 19.

**E. The Reasons**  **Why G**  **rant i**  **ng The Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on**  **W ou**  **l d Not**  **Adverse l**  **y Affect Safet**  **y ,**  **O r**  **H ow**  **The Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on W**  **ou l**  **d P**  **r ov**  **i de**  **A L**  **e vel**  **O f Safety**  **At L e**  **ast Equal T**  **o That**  **P r**  **ov i**  **ded By**  **The Ru l**  **e F**  **r om**  **Wh i**  **ch John Robert West II**  **Seeks Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on. 1. Reasons**  **Why The**  **DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS**  **' s Meet**  **The Cond i**  **t i**  **ons O**  **f The**  **F AA**  **Modern i**  **zat i**  **on and Reform Act of 2012 (**  **F MRA) Sect**  **i on 333.**  In cons i derati on of the s i ze, we i gh t , speed, and limit ed operati ng area assoc i a t ed
w ith the un m anned a i rcraft and it s opera ti on, John Robert West II’s opera ti on of the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's m eet the cond iti ons of FMRA Sec ti on 333, and w il l not requ i re an a i rworth i ness certi f i cat e i n accordance w ith 14 C. F .R. Part 21, Subpart H.19 19 Sec ti on 333 prov i des au t

hor it y for a UAS t o operat e w ithout a i rworth i ness
certi f i ca ti on and se t s fort

h requ i re m en t s for cons i der i ng whe ther a UAS w il l creat e a hazard t o users of the NAS or the pub li c, or o therw i se pose a threat t o na ti onal secur it y . Spec i f i ca ll y , FMRA Sec ti on 333 s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng, i n part : (a ) In Genera l

. --No t

w iths tandi ng any o ther r

equ i r ement of th i

s sub titl e, and not la t er than 180 days a

ft er the da t e of enac t

ment of t h i s A c t , the Sec r e tary of T ranspor ta ti on sha l l de t erm i ne i f cer ta i n unmanned a i r

cra f t sys t ems may opera t e sa f e l y i n the na ti onal a i rspace sys t em be f o r e comp l e ti on of the p lan and ru l emak

i ng r equ i r ed by sec ti on 332 of th i

s A ct or the gu i dance r

equ i r ed by sec ti on 334 of th i

s A c t
.20 20 (b ) A ssessment of Unmanned Ai r cra f t Sys t ems. --In mak

i ng the de t erm i na ti on under subsec ti on (a), the Sec r e tary sha l l de t erm i ne, at a m i n i mum -- (1 ) Which t ypes of unmanned a i r

cra f t sys t ems, i

f an y , as a r esu l t of the i r s i ze, w ei gh t , speed, opera ti onal capab ilit y , p r ox i m it y t o a i rpor t s and popu la t ed a r

eas, and opera ti on w ith i n v isual li ne of s i ght do not c r

ea t e A haza r d t o users of the na ti onal a i rspace sys t em or the pub li c or pose a th r

eat t o na ti onal secur it

y; and (2 ) Whether a cer tifi ca t e of wa i ve r , cer tifi ca t e of au thor i

za ti on, or a i rwor th i ness cer tifi ca ti on under sec ti on 44704 of titl e 49, Un it ed S ta t es Cod e, is r equ i r ed f or the opera ti on of unmanned a i r cra f t sys t ems i den tifi ed under paragraph (1). (c) R equ i r emen t s f or Sa f e Opera ti on. --If the Sec r

e tary de t erm i nes under th i s sec ti on that cer ta i n unmanned a i r cra f t sys t ems may opera t e sa

f e l y i n the na ti onal a i rspace sys t em, the Sec r e tary sha l l es tab li

sh r equ i r emen t s f or the sa f e opera ti on of such a i r

cra f t sys t ems i n the na ti onal a i rspace sys t em. In seek i ng th i s exe mp ti on, John Robert West II sub mit s that the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's can operat e safe l y i n the NAS pursuant t o FMRA Sec ti on 333, as de m ons tra t ed by : (a) the charac t er i s ti cs of the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's; (b) the p il ot certi f

i ca ti on requ i re m en t ; and (c) the spec i f i c operati ng limit a ti ons.

**a. The Spec**  **i f** 

**i cat**  **i ons**  **O f**  **The DJI P**  **hantom 3 Professional QC UAS**  **' s**  **Demonstrate Its Safe Character i**  **st i**  **cs.** The DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC do not creat e a hazard t o users of the NAS or the pub li c, or o therw i se pose a threat t o na ti onal secur it y cons i der i ng it s s i ze, we i gh t , speed, and operati onal capab ilit y . **ii .**  **The DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC**  **UAS '**  **s Autonomous**  **Fli ght**  **And Nav i**  **gat i**  **on Modes Enab l**  **e The UAS**  **' s**  **T o Rema**  **i n**  **W i**  **th i**  **n A Def** 

**i ned**  **O perat**  **i onal**  **A r**  **ea.** T he m ay be operat ed i n bo th m anual and fu ll y au t ono m ous f li ght m odes. T he DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC m ay be operat ed i n m anual f

li ght m ode on l y

. A co mp l e t e d e scr i p ti on of the f

li ght and nav i ga ti onal m odes of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC21 21 UAS's i s prov i ded at pages 23
- 32 of the DJ I and pages 8 & 1 1 of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC User Manua l s, a tt ached here t o as E xh i b i t C and D.

**I ii**  **. The**  **DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS**  **is Des**  **i gned**  **F or**  **Automat i**  **c Return T** 

**o H**  **ome P**  **o i**  **nt O**  **r H**  **over In**  **The Ev e**  **nt O**  **f Loss**  **O f The Cont**  **r ol**  **L i**  **nk O**  **r Nav**  **i gat**  **i on.**  When the Con trol Li nk i s l os t , the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC w il l re m a i n
s t a ti onary i n f

li gh t , for 3 seconds or m ore. If, af t er 3 seconds, the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC due not reacqu i re con trol li nk da t a from the GCS, the UAS w il l assu m e that the Control Li nk i s l ost and the UAS w il l re turn t o the ho m e pos iti on ( i .e., fa il safe
m ode) v i a GPS, and w il l descend t o the t akeo f f pos iti on and shu t down.
A co mp l e t e descr i p ti on of the Fa il safe Func ti ons of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC AP UAS's are set fort h at pages 23 through 32 and for the B l ade 350QX2 AP at pages 8 and 1 1 of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC User Manua l s, a tt ached here t o as E xh i b i t C and D. **i v** 

**. The DJI**  **Phantom 3 Professional QC G**  **CS And Its** 

**O perat**  **i on.**  A co mp l e t e descr i p ti on of the operati on and spec i f i cati ons of the and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC GCS and f li ght con trol sof

tware i s prov i ded at pages 23 through 32 of the DJI User Manual and pages 8 and 1 1 of the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC AP User Manua l
. The DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC User Manua l s are a tt ached here t o as E xh i b it s C and D. **b. Fli**  **ght O**  **perat i**  **ons O**  **f and**  **DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS**  **' s A**  **r e** 

**L i**  **m i**  **ted T** 

**o The L**  **i ne**  **O f S**  **i ght**  **O f**  **A Cert**  **i f**  **i cated**  **Pil ot**  **i n Command**  **W i**  **th A**  **Safety O**  **bserve r**  **.** John Robert West II w il l on l y u tili ze certi f i cat ed p il o t s who possess a current and
va li d a i r m an m ed i cal certi f

i cat e t o act as a p il ot i n co mm and (PI C) of the DJI Phantom 322 22 Professional QC UAS's. Add iti ona ll y , a safe t y observer w il l ass i st a l l p il o t s dur i ng f li ght tim e.
**c. Fli**  **ghts O**  **f and**  **DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS**  **' s**  **W il**  **l Be**  **Conducted**

**P ursuant**  **T**

**o Spec i**  **f i**  **c O**  **perat i**  **ng L i**  **m i**  **tat i**  **ons.** In seek i ng th i s exe mp ti on, John Robert West II proposes t o co mm erc i a ll y operat e the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's for the spec i al purpose of conduc ti ng aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y over cert a i n areas of Un it ed S t a t es, pursuant t o the fo ll ow i ng spec i f

i c operati ng limit a

ti ons: 1. Operati ons au thor i zed by th i s grant of exe mp ti on w il l be limit ed t o the fo ll ow i ng a i rcraft descr i bed i n the operati ng docu m en t s, ro t orcraft UAS's we i gh i ng l ess than 55 pounds m ax imum gross we i gh t : the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC Un m anned A i rcraft Sy s t e m s. Proposed opera ti ons of an y o ther a i rcraft w il l requ i re a new pe titi on or a pe titi on t o am end th i s gran t . 2. UAS opera ti ons under th i s exe mp ti on w il l be limit ed t o conduc ti ng operati ons for the purpose of aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y . 3. T he UA m ay

not be f l own at an i nd i cat ed a i rspeed exceed i ng 20 kno t s. 4. T he UA m ust be opera t ed at an a ltitude of no m ore than 400 feet above ground l evel (AG L ), as i nd i cat ed by the procedures spec i f i ed i n the operati ng docu m en t s un l ess a spec i al request i s m ade and approved b y A T C. A l l a ltitudes report ed t o A T C m ust be i n feet AG L
. 5. T he UA's m ust be operat ed w ith i n v i sual li ne of s i ght (V L OS) of the PIC at a l l tim es. T h i s requ i res the PIC t o be ab l e t o use hu m an v i s i on una i ded by an y dev i ce o ther than correc ti ve l enses, as spec i f i ed on the PI C ’ s F

AA
- i ssued a i r m an m ed i cal certi f

i ca t e. 6. T he use of f

i rst person v i ew (FPV) b y the PI C or safe t y observer (SO) i s not per mitt ed. 7. A l l operati ons m ust utili ze a safe t y observer (SO). T he SO m ay be used t o sa ti sfy the V L OS requ i re m ent as l ong as the PI C a l way s m a i n t a i ns V L OS capab ilit y . T he SO and PI C m ust be ab l e t o co mm un i cat e verba ll y at a l l tim es. El ec tron i c m essag i ng or t ex ti ng i s not per mitt ed dur i ng f

li ght operati ons. T he PI C m ust be des i gna t ed before the f

li ght and cannot transfer h i s or her des i gna ti on for the dura ti on of the f

li gh t . T he PI C m ust ensure that the SO can perform the functions prescr i bed i n the operati ng docu m en t s. 8. T he SO m ust not perform an y o ther du ti es beyond ass i s ti ng the PI C w it h see i ng and avo i d i ng o ther a i r tra f f i c and o ther ground based obs t ac l es / obs truc ti ons and i s not per mitt ed t o operat e the cam era or o ther i ns t ru m en t s.23 23 9. T he operati ng docu m en t s and the grant of exe mp ti on m ust be access i b l e dur i ng UAS opera ti ons and m ade ava il ab l e t o the Admi n i s tra t or upon reques t . If a d i screpancy

ex i s t s be tween the cond iti ons and limit a ti ons con t a i ned i n the grant of exe mp ti on and the procedures ou tli ned i n the operati ng docu m en t s, the cond iti ons and limit a

ti ons con t a i ned i n the grant of exe mp ti on t ake precedence and m ust be fo ll owed. O t herw i se, the operat or m ust fo ll ow the procedures as ou tli ned i n it s opera ti ng docu m en t s. T he operat or m ay upda t e or rev i se it s operati ng docu m en t s. I t i s the operat o r ’ s respons i b ilit y t o track such rev i s i ons and present upda t ed and rev i sed docu m en t s t o the Admi n i s tra t or upon reques t . T he operat or m ust a l so present upda t ed and rev i sed docu m en t s i f i t pe titi ons for ex t ens i on or am endm ent t o the grant of exe mp ti on. If the operat or de t er mi nes that any upda t e or rev i s i on wou l d a f fect the bas i s upon wh i ch the F AA gran t ed the exe mp ti on, then the operat or m ust pe titi on for am endm ent t o it s grant of exe mp ti on. T he F

A A ’ s UAS I n t egra ti on O f

f i ce (AFS
- 80) m ay

be con t ac t ed i f ques ti ons ar i se regard i ng upda t es or rev i s i ons t o the operati ng docu m en t s. 10. Pr i or t o each f

li ght the PI C m ust i nspect the UAS t o ensure that i t i s i n a cond iti on for safe f

li gh t . If the i nspec ti on revea l s a cond iti on that a f fec t s the safe operati on of the UAS, the a i rcraft i s proh i b it ed from operati ng un ti l the necessary m a i n t enance has been perfor m ed and the UAS i s found t o be i n a cond iti on for safe f

li gh t . T he Ground Con trol S t a ti on m ust be i nc l uded i n the pref li ght i nspec ti on. A l l m a i n t enance and a lt erati ons m ust be proper l y docu m en t ed i n the a i rcraft records. 1 1. Any UAS that has unde r gone m a i n t enance or a lt erati ons that a f fect the UAS operati on or f

li ght charac t er i s ti cs, e.g. rep l ace m ent of a f li ght cr iti cal co mponen t , m ust unde rgo a func ti onal t est f li gh t . T he PI C who conduc t s the func ti onal t est f

li ght m ust m ake an en try i n the a i rcraft records. 12. T he pre
- f

li ght i nspec ti on m ust aunt for a l l po t en ti al d i screpanc i es, e.g. i noperab l e co mponen t s, it e m s, or equ i p m ent , not a l ready covered i n the re l evant sec ti ons of the operati ng docu m en t s. 13. T he operat or m ust fo ll ow the UAS m anufac ture r ’ s a i rcraf t/ co mponen t , m a i n t enance, overhau l , rep l ace m en t , i nspec ti on, and li fe limi t requ i re m en t s. 14. T he operat or m ust carry out it s m a i nt enance, i nspec ti ons, and record keep i ng requ i re m en t s, i n accordance w ith the operati ng docu m en t s. Maintenance , i nspec ti on, a lt erati ons, and s t a tus of rep l ace m en t/ overhaul co mponent part s m ust be no t ed i n the a i rcraft records, i nc l ud i ng t o t al tim e i n serv i ce, descr i p ti on of work a cco mp li shed, and the s i gna ture of the au thor i zed person re turn i ng the UAS t o serv i ce. 15. E ach UAS's operat ed under th i s exe mp ti on m ust co mp l y w ith a l l m anufac turer Safe t y Bu ll e ti ns. 16. T he au thor i zed person m ust m ake an en try i n the a i rcraft record of the correc ti ve ac ti on t aken aga i nst d i screpanc i es d i scovered be tween i nspec ti ons.24 24 17. T he PI C m ust possess at l east a pr i va t e p il ot certi f i cat e and at l east a current th i rd
- c l ass m ed i cal certi f

i cat e. 18. T he operat or m ay

not per mi t any PI C t o opera t e un l ess the PI C m ee t s the operat o r ’ s qua li f

i cati on cr it er i a and de m ons tra t es t he ab ilit y t o safe l y operat e the UAS i n a m anner cons i s t ent w ith how the UAS w il l be operat ed under the exe mp ti on, i nc l ud i ng evas i ve and e m e r gency m aneuvers and m a i n t a i n i ng appropr i a t e d i s t ances from persons, vesse l s, veh i c l es and s truc tures. PI C qua li f i cati on f li ght hours m ust be l ogged i n a m anner cons i s t ent w ith 14 C. F .R. §61.51(b). F li gh t s for the purposes of tra i n i ng the operat o r ’ s PI C' s are per mitt ed under the t er

m s of the exe mp ti on. Howeve r, tra i n i ng operati ons m ay on l y be conduc t ed dur i ng ded i cat ed tra i n i ng sess i ons. Dur i ng tra i n i ng, prof i c i enc y , and exper i ence - bu il d i ng f

li gh t s, a l l persons not essen ti al for f li ght operati ons are cons i dered nonpar

ti c i pan t s, and the PI C m ust operat e the UA w ith appropr i a t e d i s t ance from nonparti c i pan t s i n accordance w ith 14 C. F .R. § 91. 1 19. 19. UAS opera ti ons m ay

not be conduc t ed dur i ng n i gh t , as def i ned i n 14 C. F .R. § 1.1. A l l operati ons m ust be conduc t ed under v i sual m e t eoro l og i cal cond iti ons (VMC). If f

li ght at n i ght i s requ i red, a spec i al request w il l be m ade at the F AA o f f i ce c l osest t o proposed area of operati ons. F li gh t s under spec i al v i sual f li ght ru l es (SVFR) are not au thor i zed. 20. T he UA m ay

not opera t e w ith i n 5 nau ti cal mil es of an a i rport reference po i nt as deno t ed on a current F

AA pub li shed aeronau ti cal chart un l ess a l e tt er of agree m ent w ith that a i rport ’ s m anage m ent i s ob t a i ned, and the operati on i s conduc t ed i n accordance w ith a NO T AM as requ i red by the operat o r ’ s COA. T he l e tt er of agree m ent w ith the a i rport m anage m ent m ust be m ade ava il ab l e t o the Admi n i s tra t or upon reques t . 21. T he UA m ay

not be operat ed l ess than 500 feet be l ow or l ess than 2,000 feet hor i zont a ll y from a c l oud or when v i s i b ilit y i s l ess than 3 s t a tut e mil es from the PI C. 22. If the UA l oses co mm un i cati ons or l oses it s GPS s i gna l , i t m ust re turn t o a pre de t er mi ned l ocati on w ith i n the p l anned operati ng area and l and or be recovered i n accordance w ith the operati ng docu m en t s. 23. T he PI C m ust abort t

he f li ght i n the event of unpred i c t ed obs t ac l es or e m e r genc i es i n accordance w ith the operati ng docu m en t s. 24. T he PI C i s proh i b it ed from beg i nn i ng a f li ght un l ess (cons i der i ng w i nd and forecast wea ther cond iti ons) there i s enough power t o f l y at nor m al cru i s i ng speed t o the i n t ended l and i ng po i nt and l and the UAS w ith 25% ba tt ery power re m a i n i ng. 25. T he operat or m ust ob t a i n an A i r T ra f f i c O r gan i za ti on ( A

T O) i ssued C e r

ti f i cat e of W a i ver or Au thor i za ti on (COA) pr i or t o conduc ti ng an y operati ons under the grant of exe mp ti on. T h i s COA w il l a l so requ i re the operat or t o request a No ti ce25 25 t o A i r m an (NO T

AM) not m ore than 72 hours i n advance, but not l ess than 48 hours pr i or t o the operati on. A l l operati ons sha l l be conduc t ed i n accordance w ith a i rspace requ i re m en t s i n the A T O i ssued COA i nc l ud i ng c l ass of a i rspace, a ltitude l evel and po t enti al transponder requ i re m en t s. 26. A l l a i rcraft operat ed i n accordance w ith the exe mp ti on m ust be i den ti f i ed by ser i al nu mbe r, reg i s t ered i n accordance w ith 14 C. F .R. part 47, and have i den ti f i cati on (N
- Nu mber) m ark i ngs i n accordance w ith 14 C. F .R. part 45, Subpart C. Mark i ngs m ust be as l arge as prac ti cab l e. 27. B e fore conduc ti ng operati ons, the rad i o frequency spec trum used for operati on and con trol of the UAS m ust co mp l y w ith the Federal Co mm un i cati ons Co mmi ss i on (FCC) or o t

her appropr i a t e govern m ent overs i ght agency requ i re m en t s. 28. T he docu m en t s requ i red fewer than 14 C. F .R. 91.9 and 91.203 m ust be ava il ab l e t o the PI C at the Ground Con trol S t a ti on of the UAS an y tim e the UAS i s opera ti ng. T hese docu m en t s m ust be m ade ava il ab l e t o the Admi n i s tra t or or any l aw enforce m ent o f f i c i al upon reques t . 29. T he UAS m ust re m a i n c l ear and y i e l d the r i ght of way t o a l l m anned av i a ti on operati ons and ac ti v iti es at a l l tim es. 30. T he UAS m ay

not be operat ed b y the PI C from any m ov i ng dev i ce or veh i c l e. 31. F li ght operati ons m ust be conduc t ed at l east 500 feet from a l l nonparti c i pa ti ng persons (persons o ther than the PI C, SO, opera t or tra i nees or essen ti al persons), vesse l s, veh i c l es, and s truc tures un l ess:
a. B arr i ers or s truc tures are present that su f f i c i en tl y pro t ect nonparti c i pa ti ng persons from the UAS and / or debr i s i n the event of an acc i den t . T he operat or m ust ensure that nonparti c i pa ti ng persons re m a i n under such pro t ec ti on. I f a s itua ti on ar i ses where nonparti c i pa ti ng persons l eave such pro t ec ti on and are w ith i n 500 feet of the UA, f li ght operati ons m ust cease imm ed i a t e l y and

/ or; b. T he a i rcraft i s opera t ed near vesse l s, veh i c l es or s truc tures where the owner / con tro ll er of such vesse l s, veh i c l es or s truc t ures has gran t ed per mi ss i on and the PI C has m ade a safe t y assess m ent of the r i sk of operati ng c l oser t o those ob j ec t s and de t er

mi ned t hat i t does not present an undue hazard, and; c. Opera ti ons neare r t o the PI C, SO, opera t or tra i nees or essen ti al persons do not present an undue hazard t o those persons per § 91. 1 19(a). 32. A l l operati ons sha l l be conduc t ed over pr i va t e or con tro ll ed
- access propert y w ith per

mi ss i on from the l and owner / con tro ll er or au thor i zed26 26 represen t a ti ve. Per

mi ss i on from l and owner

/ con tro ll er or au thor i zed represen t a ti ve w il l be ob t a i ned for each f li ght t o be conduc t ed. 33. Any i nc i den t , acc i den t , or f li ght operati on that transgresses the l a t eral or verti cal boundar i es of the operati onal area as def i ned by the app li cab l e COA m ust be report ed t o the F

AA's UAS In t egrati on O f f i ce (AFS
- 80) w ith i n 24 hours. Acc i den t s m ust be report ed t o the Na ti onal T ransport a ti on Safe t y Bo ard (N T SB) per i ns truc ti ons con t a i ned on the N T SB W eb s it e: ww w .n t sb.go v . **2. Reasons Why**  **An Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on F**  **r om**  **The Requ i**  **r ements**  **O f Sect**  **i on**  **61. 1**  **13(a) And (b) W** 

**ou l**  **d Not Adverse**  **l y**  **Affect Safet y**  **.** John Robert West II sub mit s that the equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y es t ab li shed by Sec ti on 61. 1 13(a) and (b) w il l be m a i nt a i ned because no PI C w il l be a ll owed t o operat e the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's un l ess that PI C has de m ons tra t ed, by m ee ti ng mi n im um f

li gh t - hour and currency

requ i re m en t s, t

hat the PI C i s ab l e t o safe l y opera t e the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS i n a m anner cons i s t ent w ith the exe m p ti on, i nc l ud i ng
evas i ve and e m e r genc y m aneuvers and m a i n t a i n i ng appropr i a t e d i s t ances from peop l e,
vesse l s, veh i c l es and s truc tures. Cons i der i ng John Robert West II’s proposed area of operati ons, and the operati ng limit a

ti ons set forth
- above; the para ll el na ture of pr i va t e p il ot
aeronau ti cal know l edge requ i re m en t s t o those of co mm erc i al p il ot requ i re m en t s (See E xe mp ti on No. 1 1062); and the a i r m ansh i p sk ill s necessary t o safe l y operat e the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC AP UAS, John Robert West II sub mit s that the add iti onal m anned a i r m ansh i p exper i ence of a co mm erc i a ll y certi f i cat ed p il ot
wou l d not corre l a t e t o the a i r m ansh i p sk ill s necessary

for John Robert West II’s spec i f i c proposed f

li ght operati ons. T he F AA has prev i ous l y gran t ed re li ef from Sec ti on 61. 1 13(a) and (b) spec i f i c t o UAS, i n c i rcu m s t ances s imil ar, i n a l l m a t er i al respec t s, t o those presen t ed here i n (e.g.27 27 E xe mp ti on Nos. 1 1062, 1 1063, 1 1064, 1 1065, 1 1066, 1 1067, 1 1080, 11 109, 111 10, 111 12, 11 136, 11 138, 11 150, 11 153, 11 156, 11 158, 11 159, 11 160, 11 161).
John Robert West II w il l not a ll ow any PIC t o opera t e the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS un l ess that PI C has de m ons tra t ed, by m ee ti ng m i n im um f li gh t - hour requ i re m en t s of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS tra i n i ng and currency requ i re m en t s, that the PIC i s ab l e t o safe l y operat e the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS i n a m anner cons i s t ent w ith th i s exe mp ti on, i nc l ud i ng evas i ve and e m e r gency m aneuvers and
m a i n t a i n i ng appropr i a t e d i s t ances from peop l e, vesse l s, veh i c l es and s truc t ures. Spec i f i ca ll y , the PIC m ust have accu m u l a t ed and l ogged, i n a m anner cons i s t ent
w ith 14 C. F .R. § 61.51(b), 25 hours of t o t al tim e as a UAS ro t orcraft p il ot (w ith a mi n im um of 5 hours of t

hose hours as a UAS p il ot operati ng the sam e m ake and m odel of UAS t o be used for operati ons under the exe mp ti on). In add iti on t o the hour requ i re m en t s, the PI C m ust a cco mp li sh 3 t akeo f fs and l and i ngs i n the preced i ng 90 day s (for currency

purposes). As i n E xe mp ti on Nos. 1 1062, 11 138, and 11 153, pr i or docu m en t ed f

li ght exper i ence that was ob t a i ned i n co mp li ance w ith app li cab l e regu l a ti ons w il l ensure an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y dur i ng John Robert West II’s proposed operati ons. T he Admi n i s tra t or has he l d t hat pr i or docu m en t ed f

li ght exper i ence that was ob t a i ned i n co mp li ance w ith app li cab l e regu l a ti ons wou l d ensure safe operati ons, s t a ti ng as fo ll ows: In E xe mp ti on No. 1 1062, the F AA requ i red that pr i or t o conduc ti ng operati ons for the purpose of m o ti on p i c ture f ilmi ng (or s imil ar operati ons), the PI C m ust have
accu m u l a t ed and l ogged, i n a m anner cons i s t ent w ith 14 CFR 61.51(b), 25 hours of t o t al tim e as a UAS ro t orcraft p il ot i nc l ud i ng at l east 10 hours l ogged as a UAS p il ot w ith a28 28 m u lti
- ro t or UAS. Pr i or t o operati ons under E xe mp ti on No. 1 1062, the PI C m ust a l so have accu m u l a t ed and l ogged a mi n imum of 5 hours as a UAS p il ot operati ng the sam e
m ake and m odel of UAS t o be used for operati ons under the exe mp ti on. For
c l ar i f i ca ti on, the F

AA cons i ders these mi n imum hour requ i re m en t s t o be i nc l us i ve rather than add iti ve; i .e. 5 hours m ake and m odel tim e m ay be i nc l uded i n the 10 hours of
m u lti
- ro t or tim e and the 10 hours m ay be i nc l uded i n the t o t al 25 hours of UAS
ro t orcraft tim e. In add iti on t o the hour requ i re m en t s, the PI C m ust a cco mp li sh 3 t akeo f fs and l and i ngs i n the preced i ng 90 day s (for currency purposes). T he F

AA f i nds that at a mi n im u m , the f

li gh t - hour requ i re m en t s i n E xe mp ti on No. 1 1062 are appropr i a t e t o prac ti ce and bu il d prof

i c i ency i n the sk ill s necessary t o safe l y conduct the pe titi one r ’ s proposed operati ons. T he F AA a l so f i nds that pr i or docu m en t ed f li ght exper i ence that was ob t a i ned i n co mp li ance w ith app li cab l e regu l a ti ons wou l d sa ti sfy th i s requ i re m en t . T ra i n i ng, prof

i c i enc y , and exper i ence - bu il d i ng f li gh t s can a l so be conduc t ed under the grant of exe mp ti on t o a cco mp li sh the requ i red f li ght tim e. Dur i ng tra i n i ng, prof i c i enc y , and exper i ence - bu il d i ng f li gh t s the PI C i s requ i red t o operat e the UA w ith appropr i a t e d i s t ances i n accordance w ith 14 C. F .R 91. 1 19. E xe mp ti on No. 11 138 at page 15. Accordingl y , John Robert West II w il l ensure safe operati ons by not a ll ow i ng any PIC t o operat e the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS un l ess that PIC has de m ons tra t ed, by m ee ti ng mi n imum f li gh t - hour and currency

requ i re m en t s, that the PI C i s ab l e t o safe l y operat e the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC UAS i n a m anner cons i s t ent w ith the exe mp ti on, i nc l ud i ng evas i ve and e m e r genc y m aneuvers and m a i n t a i n i ng appropr i a t e d i s t ances from peop l e, vesse l s, veh i c l es and s truc t ures.29 29 **3. Reasons Why**  **An Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on F**  **r om**  **The Requ i**  **r ements**  **O f Sect**  **i on 91.7(a)**  **W ou**  **l d Not**  **Adverse l**  **y Affect Safet**  **y .**  T he equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y es t ab li shed by Sec ti on 91.7(a) w il l be m a i nt a i ned because pr i or t o every

f li gh t , John Robert West II w il l ensure that the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS i s i n an a i rworthy cond iti on based upon the UAS ’ s co mp li ance
w ith it s opera ti ng docu m en t s and as s t a t ed i n the cond iti ons and limit a ti ons here i n. Add iti ona ll y

, the F AA has prev i ous l y gran t ed re li ef from Sec ti on 91.7(a) spec i f i c t o UAS, i n c i rcu m s t ances s imil ar, i n a l l m a t er i al respec t s, t o those presen t ed here i n (e.g. E xe mp ti on Nos. 1 1062, 1 1063, 1 1064, 1 1065, 1 1066, 1 1067, 1 1080, 11 109, 111 10, 111 12, 11 136, 11 138, 11 150, 11 153, 11 156, 11 157, 11 158, 11 159, 11 160, 11 161). **4. Reasons Why**  **An Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on F**  **r om**  **The Requ i**  **r ements**  **O f Sect**  **i on 91.121**  **W ou**  **l d Not**  **Adverse l**  **y Affect Safet**  **y .**  T he equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y es t ab li shed by Sec ti on 91.121 w il l be m a i nt a i ned because the a ltitude i nfor m a ti on of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS w il l be prov i ded t o the PI C v i a GPS equ i p m ent and a rad i o co mm un i cati ons t e l e m e try da t a li nk, wh i ch down li nks from the UA t o the GCS for ac ti ve m on it or i ng of the f li ght pa th and a ltitude. T h i s
a ltitude i nfor

m a ti on, co m b i ned w ith John Robert West II’s opera ti on of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UA w ith i n v i sual li ne of s i gh t , at or be l ow 400 feet AG L , w il l ensure a l evel of safe t y equ i va l ent t o Sec ti on 91.121. T he a ltitude i nfor m a ti on w il l be generat ed b y GPS equ i p m ent i ns t a ll ed on board the a i rcraf t . Pr i or t o each f

li gh t , a zero a ltitude i n iti a ti on po i nt i s
au t o m a ti ca ll y es t ab li shed by the UAS's at ground l eve l
. T he F AA has prev i ous l y gran t ed re li ef from Sec ti on 91.121 spec i f i c t o UAS, i n circumstances s imil ar, i n a l l m a t er i al respec t s, t o those presen t ed here i n (e.g. E xe mp ti on Nos. 1 1062, 1 1063, 1 1064, 1 1065, 1 1066, 1 1067, 1 1080, 11 109, 111 12, 11 136, 11 138, 11 150, 11 153, 11 156, 11 157, 11 158, 11 159, 11 160, 11 161).30 30 **5. Reasons Why**  **An Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on F**  **r om**  **The Requ i**  **r ements**  **O f Sect**  **i on 91.151(b)**  **W ou**  **l d Not**  **Adverse l**  **y Affect Safet**  **y .**  A grant of th i s exe mp ti on wou l d ensure an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y es t ab li shed by 14 C. F .R. Sec ti on 91.151(b) as a resu l t of (1) the t echn i cal spec i f i cati ons of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's; (2) the limit a ti ons on the proposed f

li ght operati ons; and (3) the l ocati on of the proposed f li ght opera ti ons. Accordingl y , John Rob e rt West II
w il l ensure that he w il l safe l y operat e the batt ery powered DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UA's dur i ng day li ght hours i n VFR cond iti ons, w ith enough batt ery power t o f

l y for a t o t al dura ti on of 10 mi nut es t o the f i rst po i nt of i nt ended l and i ng and, assu mi ng nor m al
cru i s i ng speed, t o f

l y af t er that for at l east 2.5 mi nu t es. Here, as i n E xe mp ti on No. 11 109, the t echn i cal spec i f i cati ons of the DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's the limit a ti ons on the proposed f

li ght operati ons and the l oca ti on of the proposed operati ons, w il l ensure an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y es t ab li shed by 14 C. F .R. Sec ti on 91.151(b). Further m ore, safe t y w il l be ensured as the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's prov i de aud i b l e and v i sual warn i ngs t o the PI C at the controller when the UA's exper i ences l ow ba tt ery vo lt age, the f

i rst warn i ng occurr i ng at approx im a t e l y 33% re m a i n i ng ba tt ery powe r, and aga i n at approx im a t e l y 10% re m a i n i ng ba tt ery powe r. At the cr iti ca ll y l ow ba tt ery l eve l , the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's w il l descend and l and au t o m a ti ca ll y . S i gn i f i can tl y , prev i ous exe mp ti ons gran t ed b y the F AA concern i ng Sec ti on 91.151
es t ab li sh that safe t y i s not adverse l y a f fec t ed when the t echn i cal charac t er i s ti cs and operati ng limit a

ti ons of t he UAS are cons i dered. R eli ef has been gran t ed for m anned
a i rcraft t o operat e at l ess than the mi n imu m s prescr i bed i n Sec ti on 91.151, i nc l ud i ng E xe mp ti on Nos. 2689, 5745, and 10650. Moreove r , the F AA has prev i ous l y gran t ed re li ef31 31 from Sec ti on 91.151 spec i f i c t o UAS i n c i rcu m s t ances s imil ar i n a l l m a t er i al respec t s t o those presen t ed here i n (e.g. E xe mp ti on Nos. 88 1 1, 10808, 10673, 1 1042, 1 1062, 1 1063, 1 1064, 1 1065, 1 1066, 1 1067, 1 1080, 11 109, 111 10, 11 136, 11 138, 11 150, 11 153, 11 156, 11 157, 11 158, 11 159, 11 160, 11 161). **6. Reasons Why**  **An Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on F**  **r om**  **The Requ i**  **r ements**  **O f Sect**  **i ons**  **91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), And 91.417(a) &(b)**  **W ou**  **l d Not**  **Adverse l**  **y Affect Safet**  **y .**  In seek i ng th i s exe mp ti on, John Robert West II sub mit s that the equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y w ith regard t o the regu l a t ory m a i n t enance and a lt era ti on requ i re m en t s es t ab li shed by Sec ti ons 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b) w il l be m et because John Robert West II w il l use tra i ned t echn i c i ans t o perform m a i nt enance, a lt era ti ons, or preven ti ve m a i n t enance on the UAS's us i ng the m e thods, t echn i ques, and prac ti ces prescr i bed i n the operati ng docu m en t s i .e., the Opera ti ons Manua l , Mon th l y Ma i n t enance L og, and and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC Ins truc ti on Manua l . Further m ore, John Robert West II w il l docu m ent and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i n t enance records for the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's. S i nce the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS w il l be i nspec t ed as prescr i bed by the operati ng docu m en t s, John Robert West II w il l m a i n t a i n the equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y es t ab li shed by

Sec ti ons 91.405(a), 91.409(a)(1), and 91.409(a)(2). A cop y of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC User Manua l s are a tt ached here t o as E xh i b i t C and D; a copy of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS Ma i n t enance L OG i s a tt ached here t o as E xh i b i t E
. Li kew i se, the exe mp ti on sought w il l not adverse l y a f fect safe t y because John Robert West II w il l use tra i ned t echn i c i ans t o perform m a i nt enance, a lt erati ons or preven ti ve m a i n t enance on the UAS us i ng the m e thods, t echn i ques, and prac ti ces prescr i bed b y the operati ng docu m en t s.32 32 Further m ore, the exe mp ti on sought wou l d m a i nt a i n an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y E s t ab li shed by

Sec ti ons 91.407, 91.417(a) and 91.417(b), because a l l m a i n t enance of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS w il l be perfor m ed by tra i ned t echn i c i ans. Ma i n t enance w il l be docu m en t ed and m a i n t a i ned u tili z i ng the m onth l y m a i n t enance l og. S i gn i f i can tl y , prev i ous exe mp ti ons gran t ed b y the F AA concern i ng Sec ti ons 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b) es t ab li sh that safe t y i s not adverse l y a f

fec t ed when the t echn i cal charac t er i s ti cs and operati ng limit a ti ons of the UAS are cons i dered. In cons i derati on of John Robert West II’s proposed operati ng limit a ti ons, t he operati ng docu m en t s, and the t echn i cal aspec t s of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC AP UAS's, John Robert West II sub mit s that safe t y w il l not be adverse l y a f fec t ed by gran ti ng
exe mp ti on from 14 C. F .R. Sec ti ons 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1) and (a)(2), 91.409(a) (2), and 91.417(a) and (b). T he F

AA has prev i ous l y gran t ed re li ef spec i f i c t o UAS i n c i rcu m s t ances
s imil ar, i n a l l m a t er i al respec t s, t o those presen t ed here i n (e.g. E xe mp ti on Nos. 1 1062, 1 1063, 1 1064, 1 1065, 1 1066, 1 1067, 1 1080, 11 109, 111 10, 111 12, 11 136, 11 138, 11 150, 11 153, 11 156, 11 157, 11 158, 11 159, 11 160, 11 161).
**7. The**  **F AA**  **May P**  **r escr**  **i be**  **Any O**  **ther Cond**  **i t**  **i ons**  **F or**  **Safe O**  **perat i**  **on.** In accordance w ith Sec ti on 333 of the F AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012 (FMRA) and 14 C. F .R. § 21.16 en titl ed Spec i al Cond iti ons, John Robert West II reques t s that the F AA prescr i be spec i al cond iti ons for the i n t ended operati on of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, wh i ch con t a i n such safe t y s t andards that the admi n i s tra t or f i nds necessary t o es t ab li sh a l evel of safe t y equ i va l ent t o that es t ab li shed by 1 4 C. F .R. Part 21, Subpart H, and 14 C. F .R §§ 61. 1 13(a) & (b), 91.7 (a), 91.121,33 33 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b). Such spec i al cond iti ons w il l per mi t safe operati on of the UA's for the limit ed purpose of conduc ti ng aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y over cert a i n areas of the Un it ed S t a t es for
co mpensa ti on or h i re. FMRA Sec ti on 333 se t s forth the requ i re m en t s for cons i der i ng whe ther a UAS w il l creat e a hazard t o users of the NAS or the pub li c, or o therw i se pose a threat t o na ti onal secur it y and furthe r, prov i des the au thor it y for such UAS t o operat e
w ithout a i rworth i ness certi f i ca ti on i n accordance w ith any requ i re m en t s that m ust be
es t ab li shed for the safe operati on of the UAS i n the NAS. Li kew i se, the Admi n i s tra t or m ay prescr i be spec i al cond iti ons pursuant t o 14 C. F .R. §21.16, for operati on of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's, s i nce the a i rworth i ness regu l a ti ons of 14 C. F .R. Part 21 do not con t a i n adequat e or appropr i a t e safe t y s t andards, due t o the novel or unusual des i gn features of the a i rcraf t . Sec ti on 21.16, en titl ed Spec i al Cond iti ons, s t a t es the fo ll ow i ng: If the F AA f i nds that the a i rworth i ness regu l a ti ons of th i s subchap t er do not con t a i n adequat e or appropr i a t e safe t y s t andards for an a i rcraf t , a i rcraft eng i ne, or prope ll er because of a novel or unusual des i gn feature of the a i rcraf t , a i rcraft eng i ne or prope ll e r, i t m ay prescr i be spec i al cond iti ons and am endm en t s there t o for the produc t . T he spec i al cond iti ons are i ssued i n accordance w ith Part 1 1 of th i s chap t er and
con t a i n such safe t y s t andards for the a i rcraf t , a i rcraft eng i ne or prope ll er as the F AA f i nds necessary t o es t ab li sh a l evel of safe t y equ i va l ent t o that es t ab li shed i n the regu l a ti ons. See 14 C. F .R. § 21.16.
T herefore, i n accordance w ith FMRA Sec ti on 333 and 14 C. F .R. § 21.16, the F AA m ay prescr i be spec i al cond iti ons for John Robert West II’s i n t ended operati on of the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS , wh i ch con t a i n such safe t y s t andards that the admi n i s tra t or f i nds necessary t o es t ab li sh a l evel of safe t y equ i va l ent t o that es t ab li shed by 14 C. F .R. Part 21,34 34 Subpart H, and 14 C. F .R Sec ti ons 61. 1 13(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b).
**F .**  **A Summary**  **That Can Be P**  **ub li**  **shed In The**  **F ederal**  **Reg i**  **ster stat**  **i ng:**  **The Ru l**  **es F**  **r om**  **Wh i**  **ch John Robert West II**  **Seeks Ex e**  **mpt i**  **on:** John Robert West II seeks exemp ti on f r om the r equ i r emen t s of 14 C. F

.R Sec ti ons 61. 1 13(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a )(2), and 91.417(a) & (b). **A B**  **ri ef Descr**  **i pt**  **i on**  **O f**  **The Natu r**  **e O**  **f The Ex**  **e mpt**  **i on John**  **Robert West II**  **Seeks:** Th is exemp ti on w il l perm i t John Robert W est II t o comme r

c i a ll y opera t e an Unmanned Ai r

cra f t Sys t em (U

A S) f or the purpose of conduc ti ng aer i al v i deo and pho t ography over cer ta i n a r eas of the Un it ed S

ta t es. **G .**  **Any Add**  **i t**  **i onal**  **Informat i**  **on, V**  **i ews,**  **O r**  **Arguments A** 

**va il**  **ab l**  **e T** 

**o Support John**  **Robert West II’s**  **Request.** T h i s Pe titi on i s m ade pursuant t o the F AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012 (FMRA) Sec ti on 333, wh i ch d i rec t s the Secre t ary of T ransport a ti on t o de t er

mi ne i f cert a i n UAS
m ay opera t e safe l y i n the NAS. As such, John Robert West II request for exe mp ti on m ay be gran t ed pursuant t o the au thor it y of FMRA Sec ti on 333 and 14 C. F .R. Part 1 1, as set forth above. FMRA Sec ti on 333 se t s forth the requ i re m en t s for cons i der i ng whe ther a UAS w il l
creat e a hazard t o users of the NAS or the pub li c, or o therw i se pose a threat t o na ti onal secur it y and furthe r, prov i des the au thor it y for such UAS t o operat e w ithout a i rwort h i ness certi f

i cati on. As d i scussed i n de t a i l above, John Robert West II w il l operat e the M and DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS's safe l y i n the NAS, w ithout creati ng a hazard t o users of the NAS, or the pub li c, or o therw i se pose a threat t o na ti onal secur it y . **C O**  **NCLUSI O**  **N**
As set forth here i n, John Robert West II seeks an exe mp ti on pursuant t o 1435 35 C. F .R. § 1 1.61 and Sec ti on 333 of the F AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012 (FMRA), wh i ch w il l per

mi t safe operati on of the DJIPhantom 3 Professional QC U AS
co mm erc i a ll y

, w ithout an a i rworth i ness certi f i cat e, for the limit ed purpose of conduc ti ng
aer i al v i deo and pho t ography over cert a i n areas of the Un it ed S t a t es. By gran ti ng th i s Pe titi on, the F

AA Admi n i s tra t or w il l be fu l f illi ng t he Congr e ss i onal m andat e of the F AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012, wh il e a l so advanc i ng the i n t eres t s of the pub li c, by a ll ow i ng John Robert West II t o safe l y , e f f i c i en tl y , and econo mi ca ll y operat e the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS co mm erc i a ll y w ith i n the NAS.
**W H**  **ERE FO**  **R E**  , i n accordance w ith the Federal A v i a ti on R e gu l a ti ons and the F AA Modern i za ti on and R e form Act of 2012, Sec ti on 333, John Robert West II respec t fu ll y reques t s that the Admi n i s tra t or grant th i s Pe titi on for an exe mp ti on from the requ i re m en t s of 14 C. F .R Sec ti ons 61. 1 13(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b), and per mi t John Robert West II t o operat e the DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC UAS co mm erc i a ll y for the purpose of conduc ti ng aer i al v i deo and pho t ograph y over cert a i n areas of the Un it ed S t a t es. Da t ed: May

28, 2015 Thank You for your Consideration,

John Robert West II36 36 APP E NDI C E S:

A
- DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC Spec i f i cati ons B

– DJ I Phantom 3 Professional QC User Manual C
- Mon th l y Ma i n t ance L og37 37 APP E NDI X

–A **DJI Phantom 3 Professional QC TEC**  **H NICAL** 

**S P**  **ECI F**  **IC A** 

**TI O**  **NS** John Robert West II on l y u tili zes safe and re li ab l e UAS's. DJ I i s an i ndus try l eader i n s m a l l UAS produc ti on. DJIUAS's are l oaded w ith ground break i ng sof tware enab li ng t he user t o set param e t ers wh i ch w il l not a ll ow f

li ght i nt o con tro ll ed a i rspace. Param e t ers can a l so be set t o limi t f li ght t o no h i gher than a prede t er

mi ned and set a ltitude as we l l as limi t f li ght t o a prede t er

mi ned and set d i s t ance. In add iti on, DJIsof

tware prov i des rea l
- tim e a ltitude and l ocati on i nfor m a ti on t o the PI C. 1.1 1.1.1 A i rcraft 1.1.1.1 B att er i es
– ( 4) Intelligent Flight Battery 4480 mAh 1.1.1.2 W e i gh t , F li ght

– 1280 g 1.1.1.3 Hover Accuracy

– V erti ca l : + /
- . 1 m ; Hor i zon t a l : + /
- 2m 1.1.1.4 Max T il t Angel
- 90° to +30° 1.1.1.5 Max Ascen t/ Descent Speed +5 m/ s - 3m/s 1.1.1.6 Max F li ght Speed

– 16 m/s (ATTI mode, no wind) 1.1.2 G imbal 1.1.2. 1 G imbal 3Ax i s (Pitch, Roll, Yaw) 1.1.2.2 P it ch
- Con tro ll ab l e - 90 ° to +30° 1.1.3 T rans mitt er FPV (CAM E RA OP E RA T OR ON L

Y) 1.1.3.1 Controller 2.400 GHz - 2.483 GHz 1.1.3.2 Power Ou t - put 600 m W 28dBm + /
- 1dBm 1.1.3.3 Frequenc i es 5740, 5760, 5780, 5800, 5820, 5840 and 5860MHz 1.1.4 C am era 1.1.4.1 Son y EXMOR 1/2.3” Effective pixels: 12.4 M (total pixels: 12.76 M) 1.1.4.2 FOV 94° 20 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.8, focus at ∞ 1.1.4.3 IS O Range
- 100 - 3200 (video) 100 - 1600 (photo) 1.1.4.4 Opera ti ng Te mpera ture R ange 0°C to 40°C 1.1.5 T rans mitt er 1 A i rcraft 1.1.5.1 Opera ti ng Frequency 2.400GHz

– 2.4835GHz 1.1.5.2 Co mmun i cati on D i s t ance 2000m (outdoors and unobstructed) 1.1.5.3 T rans mitt er Power FCC Co mp li ance FCC: 20 dBm 1.1.5.4 B att ery 6000 mAh LiPo 2S 1.1.5.5 Opera ti ng Te mperature 0°C - 40°38 38 APPE N D I X

– B DJI Phantom 3 Professional

– Ma nu f a c tu re r' s User Ma nu a l

http://download.dji
- innovations.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Safety_Guidelines_Disclaimer_en.pdf http://download.dji
- innovations.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.0_en.pdf http://download.dji
- innovations.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Prof essional_In_the_Box_en.pdf http://download.dji
- innovations.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Professional_Quick_Start_Guide_en.pdf

APP E NDI X
- C John Robert West II Mon th l y Ma i n t ance and R e pa i r L og A i rcraf t : Hours: Da t e: Da t e Issue D i scove r ed Da t e Issue

R e so l ved Issue Decr i p ti on / Ma i nt ance Condu ct ed R e pa i r / Ma i nt ance P erfor m ed By A i rfram e Mo t ors Prope ll ers F li ght Con trol Upda t e G imbal M i sc