Horizons Video and Film Inc.

William Scholik

4000 Horizons Drive

Columbus, OH 43220

(614) 481-7200

bills@horizonscompanies.com

June 27, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE.

Washington, DC 20590

Exemption Request Under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform

Act of 2012 and 14 C.F.R. Part 11

Dear Sir or Madam:

This petition for exemption is being filed by William Scholik, of Horizons Video and Film 

Inc.,(hereinafter "HC"), producer of TV and motion picture

films.

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and 14

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

equipped to conduct aerial photography for the motion picture and television industry

for scripted closed set filming, hereby applies for an exemption from the listed

Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of its sUASs, so

long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined

herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333.

The conditions proposed by the applicant are drawn from Order 8900.1 CHG 0,

Volume 3, Chapter 8-Issue a Certificate of Waiver for Motion Picture and Television

Filming, AC 91-57, as well as existing exemptions for similar operations.

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

of small, unmanned and relatively inexpensive sUAS under controlled conditions in

airspace that is 1) limited 2) predetermined 3) controlled as to access and 4) would

provide safety enhancements to the already safe operations in the film and television

industry presently using conventional aircraft. Approval of this exemption would

thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation’s (the FAA

Administrator’s) responsibilities to “...establish requirements for the safe operation of

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

Act.
The name and address of the applicant is:

Horizons Video and Film Inc.

Attn: William Scholik

4000 Horizons Drive

Columbus, OH 43220

Ph: (614) 481-7200

Email: bills@horizonscompanies.com

website: www.horizonscompanies.com

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. 91.103

14 C.F.R. 91.109

14 C.F. R. 91.119

14 C.F.R. 91.121

14 CFR 91.151 (a)

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b)

14 CFR 91.405 (a)

14 CFR 407 (a) (1)

14 CFR 409 (a) (2)

14 CFR 417 (a) & (b)

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress’ goal in passing

Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of

Transportation to consider whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate

safely in the national airspace system (NAS) before completion of the rulemaking

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

Secretary is required to determine which types of UASs do not create a hazard to

users of the NAS or the public or pose a threat to national security in light of the

following:

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

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

• Operation of the UAS within visual line of sight of the operator.

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

operate safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish

requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft in the national airspace system.”

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

This statutory authority by its terms includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is

defined under §40101 of the Act, that includes sUASs, from the requirement that all

civil aircraft must have a current airworthiness certificate.
The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation

prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702-44716 of

this title if the Administrator finds the exemption in the public interest. 49 U.S.C.

§44701(f) See also 49 USC §44711(a); 49 USC §44704; 14 CFR §91.203 (a) (1).

HC’s sUASs are multi-rotor aircraft, weighting 55 or fewer lbs. including payload. They

operate, under normal conditions at a speed of no more than 35 knots and have the

capability to hover, and move in the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously.

They will operate only in line of sight and will operate only within the sterile area

described in the Motion Picture and Television Operations Manual, (hereinafter “the

Manual”). Such operations will insure that the sUAS will “not create a hazard to users

of the national airspace system or the public.”

Given the small size of the sUASs involved and the restricted sterile environment

within which they will operate, the applicant falls squarely within that zone of safety

(an equivalent level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by

exemption, allow commercial operations of UASs to commence immediately. Also

due to the size of the UASs and the restricted areas in which the relevant sUASs will

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

clear direction in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority contained in the

Federal Aviation Act, as amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding

the proposed operations, and the significant public benefit, including enhanced

safety, reduction in environmental impacts, including reduced emissions associated

with allowing UASs for movie and television operations, the grant of the requested

exemptions is in the public interest.
AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

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

have the characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein. These

limitations provide for at least an equivalent or even higher level of safety to

operations under the current regulatory structure because the proposed operations

represent a safety enhancement to the already safe movie and television filming

operations conducted with conventional aircraft.

These limitations and conditions to which HC agrees to be bound when conducting

commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption include:

1.The sUAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.

2. Flights will be operated within line of sight of a pilot and/or observer.

3. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes. Flights will

be terminated at 25% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 30 minute

limit.

4. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 200 feet AGLpermission of

the relevant FSDO, operations at closer range can be approved.

12. The operator will submit a written Plan of Activities to the FSDO three days before

the proposed shoot as required in the Manual.

13. Pilot and observer will have been trained in operation of UAS generally and

received up-to-date information on the particular UAS to be operated as required in

the Manual.

14. Observer and pilot will at all times be able to communicate by voice, either

directly or via handheld VHF radios.

15. Written and/or oral permission from the relevant property holders will be obtained.

16. All required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, county

or city jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, fire, or other appropriate

governmental agencies.

17. If the sUAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UAS will have

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

land.

18. The sUAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted

obstacles or emergencies.
14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)

Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requirements

for the issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1).

Given the size and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by

the Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an

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

Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both

authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness

certificate, upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, and

proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular UAS. In all cases, an

analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the UAS operated without an

airworthiness certificate, in the restricted environment and under the conditions

proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or

rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and

conditions proposed.

The sUAS to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a

pilot nor passenger, carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and

operates exclusively within a secured area as set out in the Manual. Unlike other civil

aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by

both the operator, pursuant to the Manual’s requirements, and under the requirements

and in compliance with local public safety requirements, to provide security for the

area of operation as is now done with conventional filming. The FAA will have

advance notice of all operations. These safety enhancements, which already apply to

civil aircraft operated in connection with motion picture and television production,

provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than conventional

operations conducted with airworthiness certificates issued under 14 C.F.R. Part 21,

Subpart H. Lastly, application of these same criteria demonstrates that there is no

credible threat to national security posed by the UAS, due to its size, speed of

operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels,

and inability to carry a substantial external load.

14 C.F.R. § 45.23 (b). Marking of the Aircraft

The regulation requires:

When marks include only the Roman capital letter "N" and the registration number is

displayed on limited, restricted or light-sport category aircraft or experimental or

provisionally certificated aircraft, the operator must also display on that aircraft near

each entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot station, in letters not less than 2 inches

nor more than 6 inches high, the words "limited," "restricted," "light-sport,"

"experimental," or "provisional," as applicable.

Even though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be

needed as the UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which

the word “Experimental” can be placed. Given the size of the sUAV, two-inch lettering

will be impossible. The word “Experimental” will be placed on the fuselage in

compliance with §45.29 (f).

The equivalent level of safety will be provided by having the sUAV marked on its

5

fuselage as required by §45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer and others working with

the sUAV will see the identification of the UAS as “Experimental.”
14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a) & (b): Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations: Pilot in

Command.

Sections 61.113 (a) & (b) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. Because

the UAS will not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can achieve the

equivalent level of safety of current operations by requiring the PIC operating the

aircraft to have a private pilot’s license rather than a commercial pilot’s license to

operate this small UAS. Unlike a conventional aircraft that carries the pilot and

passengers, the sUAS is remotely controlled with no living thing on board. The area

of operation is controlled and restricted, and all flights are planned and coordinated in

advance as set forth in the Manual. The level of safety provided by the requirements

included in the Manual is at least equivalent to that provided by a single individual

holding a commercial pilot’s certificate operating a conventional aircraft. The risks

associated with the operation of the sUAS are so diminished from the level of risk

associated with commercial operations contemplated by Part 61 when drafted, that

allowing operations of the sUAS as requested with a private pilot as the PIC is at

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

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

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in

airworthy condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft,

should this exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for

determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft and the requirements

contained in the Manual for maintenance and use of safety check lists prior to each

flight, an equivalent level of safety will be provided.

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

Section 91.9 (b) (2) provides:

No person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft ...

(2) For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this

chapter, unless there is available in the aircraft a current approved airplane or

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

combination thereof.

The sUAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a

flight manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because

there is no room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft.

The equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping the flight manual at the

ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to it.

14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight action

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

insure the safety of flight. As FAA approved rotorcraft flight manuals will not be

provided for the aircraft an exemption will be needed. An equivalent level of safety

will be provided as set forth in the Manual. The PIC will take all relevant actions

including reviewing weather, flight battery requirements, landing and takeoff

distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight.

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

Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned
free balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully

functioning dual controls.

sUASs and remotely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual

controls. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box that

communicates with the aircraft via radio communications. The FAA has approved

exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual controls for a number of

aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. The equivalent level of safety

provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft

and by the size, weight and speed of the aircraft.

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

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119

(d) allows helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided

the person operating the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for

helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption is for a sUAS that is a helicopter and the

exemption requests authority to operate at altitudes up to 200 AGL, an exemption

may be needed to allow such operations. As set forth herein, except for the limited

conditions stated in the Manual, the UAS will never operate at higher than 200 AGL.

It will however be operated in a restricted area with security perimeter, where

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

consent.

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

the UAS as well as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without

the permission of the property owner or local officials. Because of the advance notice

to the property owner and participants in the filming activity, all affected individuals

will be aware of the planned flight operations as set forth in the Manual. Compared to

flight operations with aircraft or rotorcraft weighting far more than the maximum 55lbs.

proposed herein and the lack of flammable fuel, any risk associated with these

operations is far less than those presently presented with conventional aircraft

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

operations of the sUAS will ensure separation between these small-UAS operations

and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119.

14 C.F.R. §91.121 Altimeter Settings

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude

by reference to an altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or

an appropriate altimeter setting available before departure.” As the sUAS may not

have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS altitude read out, an exemption may

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

the Manual and Preflight Check list, confirming the altitude readout of the sUAS is set

to 0ft (QFE operations) on the GPS altitude indicator before flight.

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane under

VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is

enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising

speed – (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to

fly after that for at least 45 minutes.”
The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 40 minutes of powered flight.

To meet the 30 minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, sUAS flights would

be limited to approximately 10 minutes in length. Given the limitations on the UAS’s

proposed flight area and the location of its proposed operations within a

predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in daylight or night VFR conditions

is reasonable.

Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope

of prior exemptions. Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area where only

people and property owners or official representatives who have signed waivers will

be allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of

risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the

small UAS. Additionally, limiting sUAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the

utility for which the exemption will be granted.

Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights

to 30 minutes or 25% of battery power whichever happens first. This restriction would

be more than adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from

anywhere in its limited operating area.

14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and

Registration

The regulation provides in pertinent part:

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it

has within it the

following:

(1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. . . .

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required

by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under

§91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to

passengers or crew.

The UAS fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs and is operated without an onboard

pilot. As such, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration

documents or to display them on the sUAS.

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

ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to

them, to the extent they are applicable to the sUAS.

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

Inspections

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

inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required

inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies

repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter...,” and others shall inspect or

maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43.

Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness

certificate, these sections will not apply to the applicant. Maintenance will be

accomplished by the operator pursuant to the flight manual and operating handbook
as referenced in the Manual.(See Sections L and Q) An equivalent level of safety will

be achieved because these small UASs are very limited in size and will carry a small

payload and operate only in restricted areas for limited periods of time. If mechanical

issues arise the UAS can land immediately and will be operating from no higher than

400 feet AGL. As provided in the Manual, the operator will ensure that the UAS is in

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

of any maintenance performed. Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar

with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to

provide the equivalent level of safety.

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Summary

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

the Federal Register, should it be determined that publication is needed:

Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules:

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

91.9 (b) (2);91.103(b);91.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a);91.203(a) and (b); 91.405

(a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2); 91.409 (a) (2) and 91.417 (a) & (b) to operate

commercially a small unmanned vehicle (55lbs or less) in motion picture and

television operations.

Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of sUASs in the film industry

will enhance safety by reducing risk. Conventional film operations, using jet or piston

power aircraft, operate at extremely low altitudes just feet from the subject being

filmed and in extreme proximity to people and structures; and present the risks

associated with vehicles that weigh in the neighborhood of 4,000lbs., carrying large

amounts of jet A or other fuel (140 gallons for jet helicopters shown below). Such

aircraft must fly to and from the film location. In contrast, a sUAS weighing fewer than

55 lbs. and powered by batteries eliminates virtually all of that risk given the reduced

mass and lack of combustible fuel carried on board. The sUAS is carried to the film

set and not flown. The sUAS will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not

expose them to the risks associated with manned aircraft flights.

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

conditions outlined above, will provide an equivalent level of safety supporting the

grant of the exemptions requested herein, including exempting the applicant from the

requirements of Part 21 and allowing commercial operations.

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

environment and, as a result, are far safer than conventional operations conducted

with turbine helicopters operating in close proximity to the ground and people.

Privacy

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

owner’s prior consent and knowledge. Filming will be of people who have also

consented to being filmed or otherwise have agreed to be in the area where filming

will take place.

Safety Culture

By adhering to established best practices, and utilizing procedures from modern Risk

Management programs, such as TEM/CRM and SMS, Compass Light's operations

will provide at least an equivalent level of safety to existing FAR's, and further will

help promote and spread a robust safety culture in the nascent commercial sUAS/

civilian UAV industry.

Sincerely,

William Scholik

Horizons Video and Film Inc.

bills@horizonscompanies.com