July 21, 2015
Exemption No. 11307A Regulatory Docket No. FAA

- 20 14

- 1018
Mr. Christopher Lawler Price Aviation Group 422 Blossom Lane Frederick, MD 21701
Dear Mr. Lawler: This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition for an amendment. It explains the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists any changes to the original conditions and limitations. By letter dated April 26, 2015 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of Price Aviation Group (hereinafter petitioner or operator) for an amendment to your current exemption . That exemption from §§ 61.23(a) and (c), 61.101(e)(4) and (5), 61.113(a), 61.315(a), 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 9 1.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows the petitioner to operate a UAS to perform aerial data collection

. You requested an amendment to add the PAG X4. In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption. The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition in the Federal Register because the requested amendment to the exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this pe tition would be detrimental to the petitioner

. T he unmanned aircraft authorized in the original grant are comparable in type, size, weight, speed and operating capabilities to those in this petition

. Airworthiness Certification In accordance with the statutory criteria provided in Section 333 of Public Law 112

− 95 in reference to 49 U.S.C. § 44704, and in consideration of the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the aircraft and its operation, the Secretary of Transportation has determined that this aircraft meets the conditions of Sect ion 333. Therefore, the FAA2 finds that relief from 14 CFR part 21, C ertification procedures for products and parts, Subpart H

— Airworthiness Certificates , and any associated noise certification and testing requirements of part 36, is not necessary.
Our De cision The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 11307 remains valid and is in the public interest. Therefore, under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C

. 106(f), 40113, and 44701, delegated to me by the Administrator, the operator is granted an amendment to add new aircraft to its UAS operations. The operator shall add this amendment to its original exemption.
Conditions and Limitations All conditions and limitations within Gr ant of Exemption No. 11307 remain in effect except as follows. Condition No. 1 has been updated to reflect the additional aircraft

. Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption.
1. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption are limited to the 3DR X8+ and PAG X4 when weighing less than 55 pounds including payload. Proposed operations of any other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this exemption.
T his exemption terminates on April 30, 2017 , unless sooner superseded or rescinded. Sincerely,
/ s/ John S. Duncan Director, Flight Standards Service
Enclosures1 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**
**BASIS FOR THE AMENDMENT TO EXEMPTION #11307** Price Aviation Group (PAG) recei ved a 333 Exemption #11307 to operate a 3DR X8+ for aerial data collection. T he aircraft is appropriate for missions that require a heav y pay load. P AG is requesting an amendment to Exemption #11307 to operate a smaller UAS for missions that require a sma ller pay load capacit y. PAG will continue to use 3DR X8+ technology when necessary o r until this amendment is approved

. PAG is requesting this amendment to operate a smaller UAS. The small UAS is a proprietary design that utilizes the same 3DR command and control functions as the X8+. T he technology that is available from this company i ncludes the necessary restrictions on performance to compl y with FAA requirements:

Maximum Altitude* 200ft Range* 984ft from launch point

GPS Lock GPS lock required at all times Maximum estimated flight time 15 min Payload capacity 300 g (.66 lbs. ) PAG’s design utilizes the same flight controller and R/C sy stem as the X8+. The change involves the frame and motor configuration. The frame is carbon fiber to reduce gross weight and increase strength. The frame utilizes the same X configuration as the 3DR X8+, with the removal of the additional motor capacity to reduce payload. The reduced pay load capacity allows this vehicle to reduce its gross takeoff weigh t to 4.2 pounds. All operations manuals approved for the 3DR X8+ will con tinue to be followed for the X4 including recommended safet y and maintenance checks. Modified checkli st and design information is included in the Appendix. **Summary for Federal Register publication.**  **The Rules From Which PAG Seeks Exemption:** Conditions and L imitations #1 of Exemption #11307. **A. Brief Description Of The Nature Of The Amendment PAG Seeks:**  Price Aviation Group (PAG) seeks an amendment to exemption #11307 to operate a small UAS with an equivalent level of safety

. The amendment requests use of a proprietary design to perform aerial data collection.2 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**

**CONCLUSION** PAG is requesting an amendment to #1 of the Conditions and L imitatio ns issued with Exemption #1 1307 included as an appendix to this document which states PA G will only operate a 3DR X8+. Allowing PAG to operate a PAG X4 will allow an equivalent level of safety

b y d ecreased the UAS gross weight, but maintaining the reliability of proven 3DR technolo gy
.

Submitted By :
Christopher Lawler Price Aviation Group April 26, 20153 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**

**APPENDIX**
**Conditions and Limitations**  In this grant of exemption, Price Aviation Group is hereafter referred to as the operator. Failure to compl y with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption.
1. Operations authorized b y this grant of exemption are limited to the 3DR X8+ when weighing less than 55 pounds including pay load. Proposed operations of an y other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this exemption.
2. Operations for the purpose of closed

- set motion picture and television filming are not permitted.
3. The UA may

not be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour). The exemption holder may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed to determine compliance with the 87 knot speed restriction. In no case will the UA be operated at airspeeds greater than the maximum UA operatin g airspeed recommended by the aircraft manufacturer.
4. The UA must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL). Altitude must be reported in feet AGL.
5. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by an y device other than corrective lenses, as specified on the PI C’s FAA

- issued airman medical certificate or U.S.	driver’s license.
6. All operations must utilize a visual observer (V O). The UA must be operated within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PI C and VO at all times. The VO may be used to satisfy

the VLOS requirement as long as the PI C alway s maintains VL OS capability . The VO and PIC must be able to communicate verball y at all times; electronic messaging or texting is not permitted during flight operations. The PIC must be designated before the flight and cannot transfer his or her designation for the duration of the flight. The PI C must ensure that the VO can perform th e duties required of the VO.
7. This exemption and all documents needed to operate the UAS and conduct its operations in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this4 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** grant of exemption, are hereinafter referred to as the operating documents. The operating documents must be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the Administrator upon request. If a discrepancy exists between the conditions and limitations in this exemption and the procedures outlined in the operating documents, the conditions and limitations herein take precedence and must be followed. Otherwise, the operator must follow the procedures as outlined in its operating documents. The operator may update or revise its operating documents. I t is the operator’s responsi bility to track such revisions and present updated and revised documents to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. The operator must also present updated and revised documents if it petitions for extension or amendment to this gran t of exemption. If the operator determines that any update or revision would affect the basis upon which the FAA granted this exemption, then the operator must petition for an amendment to its grant of exemption. The FAA’s UAS Integration Office (AFS

- 80) m ay be contacted if questions arise regarding updates or revisions to the operating documents.
8. Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS operation or flight characteristics, e.g. replacement of a flight critical component, must undergo a functional test flight prior to conducting further operations under this exemption. Functional test flights may onl y be conducted b y a PI C with a VO and must remain at least 500 feet from other people. The functional test flight must be con ducted in such a manner so as to not pose an undue hazard to persons and propert y. 9. The operator is responsible for maintaining and inspecting the UAS to ensure that it is in a condition for safe operation.
10. Prior to each flight, the PIC must conduct a pre - flight inspection and determine the UAS is in a condition for safe flight. The pre

- flight inspection must account for all potential discrepancies, e.g. inoperable components, items, or equipment. If the inspection reveals a condition that affects the s afe operation of the UAS, the aircraft is prohibited from operating until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the UAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight.
11. The operator must follow the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements for the aircraft and aircraft components.
12. Each UAS operated under this exemption must comply with all manufacturer safet y bulletins.
13. Under this grant of exemption, a PI C must hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC must also5 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, a territory , a possession, or the Federal government. The PI C must also meet the flight review requirements specified in 14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PI C is rated on his or her pilot certificate.
14. The operator may

not permit any

PI C to operate unless the PI C demonstrates the ability to safel y operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and structures. PI C qualification flight hours and currency must be logged in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 61.51(b). Flights for the purposes of training the operator’s PI Cs and VOs (training, proficiency , and experience

- building) and determining the PIC’s ability to sa fel y operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption are permitted under the terms of this exemption. However, training operations may onl y be conducted during dedicated training sessions. During training, prof iciency , and experience

- building flights, all persons not essential for flight operations are considered nonparticipants, and the PI C must operate the UA with appropriate distance from nonparticipants in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.119.
15. UAS operations may not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. All operations must be conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Flights under special visual flight rules (SVFR) are not authorized.
16. The UA may

not operate within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point (ARP) as denoted in the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory

(AFD) or for airports not denoted with an ARP, the center of the airport s ymbol as denoted on the current FAA

- published aeronautical chart, unless a letter of agr eement with that airport’s management is obtained or otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption holder. The letter of agreement with the airport management must be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. 17. The UA may

not be operated less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet horizontally

from a cloud or when visibility is less than 3 statute miles from the PI C.
18. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UA must return to a pre - determined location within the private or controlled

- access propert y. 19. The PI C must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or6 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** emergencies.
20. The PI C is prohibited from beginning a flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough available power for the UA to conduct the intended operation and to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if greater. 21. Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Certificate o f Waiver or Authorization (COA). All operations shall be conducted in accordance with an ATO

- issued COA. The exemption holder may appl y for a new or amended COA if it intends to conduct operations that cannot be conducted under the terms of the attached CO A.
22. All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification (N

- Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. Markings must be as large as practicable. 23. Documents used b y the operator to ensure the safe operation and flight of the UAS and an y documents required under 14 CFR §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the PI C at the Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. These documents must be made available to the Administrator or an y law enforcement official upon request. 24. The UA must remain clear and give way to all manned aviation operations and activities at all times.
25. The UAS may

not be operated b y the PI C from any moving device or vehicle.
26. All Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet from all nonparticipating persons, vessels, vehicles, and structures unless: a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect nonparticipating per sons from the UA and/or debris in the event of an accident. The operator must ensure that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the UA, flight operations must cease immediatel y in a manner ensuring the safety of nonparticipating persons; and b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission for operating closer to those objects and the PI C has made a safet y assessment of the risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not present an undue hazard. The PI C, VO, operator trainees or essential persons are not considered nonparticipating persons under this exemption.7 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**
27. All operations sha ll be conducted over private or controlled

- access propert y with permission from the property owner/controller or authorized representative. Permission from propert y owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be conduc ted.
28. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA must be reported to the FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS

- 80) within 24 hours. Accidents must be reported to the National Transportation Safet y Board (NTSB) per instructions contained on the NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov

.8 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**
**PAG X4 Checklist After completion of exemption #11307 requirements.**  

### T/O Checklist

1. Propellers are attached tightly to the mo tors in the correct order and the GPS ma st is oriented vertically. 2. The X4 is pow ered with the battery secured

. 3. The controller is set to CH 7 OFF, standard (STD) mo de, and RTL OFF. 4. The status LED displays blinking green, indicating that the X4 has acquired GPS lock. 5. The X4 is situated at a safe, unobstructed launch point, facing aw ay from yo u. 

### Flight Checklist 1. Continuously monitor GPS system integrity. 2. Battery monitoring for voltage and capacity. 3. Traffic mo nitoring through use of visual observer 4. Mission monitoring. 

### Landing/Post flight 1. Secure area. 2. Return to launch point. 3. Ensure proper disarm of system. 4. Post flight maintenance.9 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**

**Failsafes**
The PAG X4 is programmed with a set of failsafe behaviors to prevent a crash in the event of a loss of one of the data or communication channels required for flight. Although certain failsafes have assigned LED indicators and tones, it is unlikely that you will be able to see these at a distance. Monitor the ground station for failsafe indications. If a failsafe is triggered, the assigned behavior will activate. To override the failsafe behavior, use the controller to switch to standard mode and regain manual control. RC Controller Signal Failsafe Phy sical obstructions and interference from nearb y wireless signals can affect the X8’s connection with the controller. If the X4 loses contact with the controller, it will return to the launch point auto

matically and land, indicated by a blinking yellow status LE D.

Low Battery Failsafe Environmental conditions, pay load, and fl yi ng sty le can affect power consumption. Use the controller’s flight data display to monitor the voltage of the battery during flight. If the battery reaches 14 V, the X4 will land automatically at the current position, indicated by a blinking yellow status LED and a quick repeating tone.

GPS Failsafe The X4requires GPS lock before takeoff. Enclosed areas, phy sical obstructions, and lack of available satellites can affect GPS strength. If the X8 loses GPS lock in flight, it will trigger a GPS failsafe, indicated by a blinking blue and ye llow LED with a high

- high

- high

- low tone, and automaticall y switch to manual control (standard

- altitude hold mode). Alway s be prepared to regain manual control at any time while fl yi ng and choose an unobstructed fly ing area to improve GPS signal strength. When fly ing a mission, we recommended changing the GPS failsafe behavior to land. (Visit 3DR.com/X8/info for more information about configuring the GPS failsafe.)10 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**

400 f t (120 m) Altitude Failsafe The X4 has a 100 m (328 ft) altitude geofence enabled by default. If the geofence is breached, the X4 will automatically RTL.

Range Failsafe The X4 has a 300 m (984 ft) horizontal geofence enabled by default. If the X8 travels farther than 300 m from the launch point, it will automatically return to the launch point and land. If you plan to fl y a mission that ex ceeds this range, you will need to disable the horizontal geofence. The range failsafe will be disabled in the event of a GPS failsafe. 10011 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**
PAG X4 550mm Carbon Fiber Frame using aircraft grade materials. Weight at max payload 4.2 lbs. Electronics 3DR

- Pixhawk Flight Controller/GPS 3DR Failsafes enabled T

- Motor

- Motors and ESCs Spektrum R/C Equipment Proprietary

L anding gear design

- available upon request

Bare Frame