August 10, 2015 

Southeast Aerial Media 

Terry Higdon, Owner 

6308 Pringle Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363 

U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations 

West Building Ground Floor, Room w12-140 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

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Re: Exemption Request under Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 ofthe 

Federal Aviation Regulations. 

Dear Sir or Madam, 

Pursuant to Section 333 ofthe FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012 (the Reform Act) 

and 14 C.F.R. Part 11 Southeast Aerial Media seeks an exemption from Federal Aviation 

Regulations (F ARs) detailed below for the following described Unmanned Aircraft System. 

THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM (UAS) DETAILS: 

The manufacturer is DJI. It is a model Phantom 3 Professional quad copter, weighing 2.8 lb. gross 

weight. The aircraft carries the following equipment: 

• An onboard flight computer with GPS navigation an dlocation ability that receives 

signals for flight controls from a ground based transmitter/controller. 

• An onboard camera capable of still photo or video. 

• The aircraft is equipped to send flight data from the onboard flight computer to the 

onboard radio transmitter, including altitude AGL, horizontal and vertical speed, compass 

direction of flight and direction back to its launch site. 

• A 2.483 GHz onboard radio transmitter that transmits live video from the onboard camera 

plus all the flight data from the telemetry system described above. 

The UAS Ground Station System: 

• A pilot in command (PIC) in operational control of flight operation from beginning to 

end and who controls the UAS. As the owner of the business, I will also be the 

controller/pilot in command of the aircraft at all times. I am a current licensed private 

pilot, airplane single engine land, with a current medical certificate. Additionally, I have 

over 10 years' experience flying model aeronautics. 

• A 2.483 GHz radio transmitter/controller operated by the PIC to control the UAS while in 

flight. 

• A radio receiver receiving live video and flight data from the onboard camera and 

computer, displays flight data in one screen to the PIC. 

6308 Pringle Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363 Phone: 423-693-5139 Email: Pilot1226@gmail.com 
The Unmanned Aircraft System will be operated with a PIC in accordance with the FAA 

Policy N 8900.227 Section 14, Operational Requirements for UAS. 

Southeast Aerial Media also respectfully request Exemption Request Section 333 from (but 

not limited to) the Specific Sections of Title 14 of the Code ofFederal Regulations and part 

11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations listed below: 

14 CFR 45.23(b); 14 CFR Part 21; 14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b); 91.7(a);91.9(b) (2); 91.103(b); 

91.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.201(a) and (b); 91.405(a); 91.407(a) (1); 91.409(a) (2); 

91.417(a) and (b). 

The extent of relief Southeast Aerial Media Seeks and the reason why: 

Southeast Aerial Media is seeking relief from any applicable FAR's operating to prevent 

Southeast Aerial Media from conducting low level (below 400 feet AGL) aerial video/still 

photos for the real estate, construction, surveying industries, among others. The weight of the 

VAS meets the definition of"small unmanned aircraft" as described in section 331 of"The 

Reform Act". Southeast Aerial Media seeks to operate legally as a small business that caters 

to these customers, who may not be allowed to legally use VAS's to provide aerial 

photography. Southeast Aerial Media would satisfy the need for safe and affordable 

operation of the UAS to provide video and still photography. 

Southeast Aerial Media will be using the DJI Phantom 3 Professional that is considerably less 

than 55 lbs., weighing almost 3 lbs., with all onboard systems. The UAS will be operated 

below 400 feet (AGL) and at speeds under 30 MPH and not greater than airspeeds 

recommended by the manufacturers. The UAS will only be operated in VFR conditions. 

The UAS will not operate within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point as denoted in 

the current AFD or for airports not denoted with and ARP, the center of the airport symbol as 

denoted on the current FAA published aeronautical chart, unless a letter of agreement with 

the airport's management is obtained or otherwise permitted by a COA issued to Southeast 

Aerial Media. 

The UAS will be operated within visual line of sight ofthe PIC at all times. A Visual 

Observer will be designated before the flight and used during all flights. 

Preceding each flight, the PIC will conduct a preflight inspection of the UAS to determine the 

VAS's condition for safe flight. Any discrepancies or deficiencies that prohibit safe flight, 

will be corrected before flight. 

Southeast Aerial Media will follow the manufacturer's maintenance, overhaul, replacement, 

inspection, and life limit requirements for the aircraft and aircraft components. Additionally, 

the UAS will comply with all manufacturer safety bulletins. 

The UAS in which Southeast Aerial Media will be using, only utilizes batter power and no 

combust able fuels will be used. The maximum flight time for the DJI Phantom 3 

6308 Pringle Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363 Phone: 423-693-5139 Email: Pilot1226@gmail.com 
Professional is 23 minutes. Southeast Aerial Media will not fly the UAS more than 18 

minutes at one time and location, to allow for sufficient time to safely return to the launch 

site. 

The DGI Phantom 3 Professional to be used by Southeast Aerial Media utilizes a safety 

system that includes a GPS mode that allows the UAS to hover in place if communication is 

lost. Further, the onboard GPS allows the UAS to return back to its launch site if the battery 

life of the U AS is low. 

The UAS, weighing less than 3 lbs. fully loaded, is powered by batteries and operates with no 

people onboard, which lowers the likelihood of death or serious bodily injury. With a small 

payload consisting of electronics such as a camera and GPS, the UAS's only purpose for 

Southeast Aerial Media is to take aerial photos and video. 

Current applicants have previously chartered helicopters and small airplanes for this purpose. 

The cost of fuel, time and emissions of aircraft, such as helicopters and small planes is not 

efficient enough for most customers to afford. 

Providing aerial media services using the UAS at a more affordable cost while creating less 

or no emissions than traditional aircraft will better serve the public interest. 

The name and contact information of the applicant is: 

Southeast Aerial Media 

Attn: Terry Higdon, Owner 

Phone:423-693-5139 

Email: piJ()_t 

Southeast Aerial Media thanks the FAA for its consideration and respectfully request the 

FAA grant its exemption request without delay. 

Respectfully, 

/uq/~ Terry Higdon, Owner 

Southeast Aerial Media 

423-693-5139 

6308 Pringle Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363 Phone: 423-693-5139 Email: Pilot1226@gmail.com