To: Whom it may concern:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the Reform Act) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Paul M. Hem, Jr., an employee of Block Communications Inc. a media company employee and operator of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“sUASs”) equipped to conduct aerial photography and videography, hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of his sUASs, so long as such operations are conducted within and under the

conditio ns outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section

333.1

As described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of small, unmanned and relatively inexpensive sUAS under controlled conditions in airspac e that is 1) limited 2) predetermined and 3) controlled. The proposed exemption, if granted, would allow Paul M. Hem, Jr. to conduct commercial news operations of small unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”) meeting or exceeding all of the operational and safety req uirements Congress has set

forth in Section 333.

Paul M. Hem, Jr. is a news

- media/technology professional who plans to exploit the capabilities of Unmanned Aerial Systems to offer a multitude of services, including:

- News reporting

- Remote sensing

- Event Photography /V ideography

- Aerial filmmaking and photography

- Educational and research operations

Statutory Authority Section 333, titled “Special Rules for Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems”, provides a mechanism for seeking expedited FAA authorization of safe civil UAS operations in the NAS. Section 333(a) states that the FAA “shall determine if

cert ain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace system before completion of the (comprehensive) plan and rulemaking required by section 332(b)(1) of this Act or the guidance required by section 334 of this Act.” In Section 332(b)(1), Congress made it clear that Section 333 provides a mechanism for “expedited operation authorization” if several factors are met. Petitioner meets all requirements to permit FAA approval of commercial UAS operations.

The Petitioner Requests Relief From the Following: Regulations from which the exemption is requested: 14 C.F.R. Part 21 14 C.F.R. 45.23 (b) 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) and (b) 14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a) 14 C.F.R. 91.9 (b) (2) 14 C.F.R. 91.109 14 C.F.R. 91.119 14 C.F.R. 91.121 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a) 14 C.F.R. 91.203 (a) & (b) 14 C.F.R. 91.205 (b) 14 C.F.R. 91.21514 C.F.R. (91.401 - 91.417)

The specifications, above and on previous pages, meet with the Model Aircraft Operating Standards as set below:

• Mr. Hem will only operate his sUAS in line of sight of a pilot and/or observer and will operate at sites that are a 'sufficient distance' fr om populated areas within the sterile area described in the FOPM. Such operations will insure that the sUAS will "not create a hazard to users of the national airspace system or the public."

• When flying sUAV within 3 miles of an airport, airport operato rs will be notified and the operator will give the right of way to avoid flying in the proximity of full

- scale aircraft.

• Maximum flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes.

• Flights will be terminated at no less than 2 5% battery power reserve shoul d that occur prior to the 30 minute limit.

• T he sUAV will be programmed so that it will be operated at an altitude not exceed 400 feet AGL, and not more than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned.

• Minimum crew for each comm ercial news operation will consist of the sUAS Pilot, and Visual Observer.

• The sUAS operated by the petitioner weighs less than 55 pounds, including the payload (i.e. camera, lens, and gimbal).

• The sUAV will operate at speeds of no more than 50 knots , can hover, and can simultaneously move vertically and horizontally.

• Given the small size of the sUAS and the restricted sterile environment within which he will ope rate, his sUAS operations adhere to the Reform Act's safety requirements.

The sUAS equipment that Mr. Hem will operate are small multi

- rotor helicopters manufactured by DJI, 3D Robotics and others. Any sUAS used will be strictly limited to those sUAS having a Gross weight exceeding 55 pounds.

The sUAV Mr. Hem flies have a built - in capability to limit the height that they fly above the groun d, to limit the radius of the distance it flies from the operator and to exclude it from Class B, C and D airspace including a no fly zone feature. All sUAS flown will also has the failsafe function of the autopilot system which means when the communication between the Main Controller and the transmitter is disconnected, the outputs of all command sticks from controller will go to the center position. If the GPS signal is good enough, the system will automatically trigger Return to Home and will and safely.

Paul M. Hem, Jr. (hereinafter, Mr. Hem) is an employee of Block Communications, Inc., a holding company that owns newspaper, radio and television properties. Mr. Hem will be acting as th e program leader for Block Communications, Inc. to evaluate the news reporting potential for sUAS devices. If the sUAS technology is useful for news reporting

purposes , Mr. Hem will train and assist each television station, radio station, newspaper, or other news organization, owned by Block Communications, Inc. Each newsorganization will be trained to abide by f ederal regulations regarding the safe use of sUAS and the submission to the FAA all federal licensing applications, and exemption requests from

ce r tain Code of Federal Regulations, is necessary. Each news organization will make

the ir requests for exemption or licensing separately. This application only applies to Mr.

Hem.

News organizations currently are limited to the use of manned helicopters that use a

tremendous amou nt of energy as compared with a battery

- powered sUAS. A

catast rophic failure of a full

- sized helicopter would cause much more harm to the public and property than the sUA S . The public wil l benefit from better, more complete news coverage through the use of these sUAS multi

- rotor helicopters. sUAS provide views of

new s events unattainable without them. A more informed citizenry is the goal of all First

Amendment

- protected organizations. The sUAS will allow more complete information to appear in newspapers, television news, radio, social media and yet

- to

- be

- developed

fo rms of the Press.

Th e Small, Unmanned Aerial System

The UA, powered by batteries, is smaller, lighter and more maneuverable than larger aircraft running on combustible fuel, it operates at lower altitudes with no people on board and will thereby redu ce current risk levels and thereby enhance safety and diminish the likelihood of death or serious bodily injury. With a small payload and maximum flight time of only 30 minutes, this is offers little or no risk to national security.

Low level oblique photos and video from several angles are far more effective than ground based imagery for displaying the characteristics of news event. The applicant in the past have chartered 2

- seat full

- sized helicopters for this purpose, which has proven more costly than m any small news organizations can afford . The benefits of reduced cost and improved quality of presentation from the UA will be valuable to and benefit many buyers and sellers of real property.

Additionally, I request that I be allowed to use our system to benefit first responders nearby who might require assistance, including fire fighters, the police, the sheriff, et al., while remaining subject to all limitations cited in this application as I do so.

(a) No flight will be made with a Gross weight exceed ing 55 pounds; (b) All operations must occur in FAA Class G airspace at no more than 400 ft AGL, at an airspeed of no more than 25 knots and no further than 3/4 NM from the PIC; (c) All news operations must utilize a visual observer (VO). The VO and PIC m ust be

able to communicate by voice at all times during a flight operation; (d) Operations will be restricted to flights over private property with the permission of the property owner; (e) All required permits will be obtained from state and local governm ent prior to operation; (f) Mr. Hem will not be operate over densely populated areas;(g) Mr. Hem will not be operating over any open

- air assembly of people; (h) Mr. Hem will not be operating over heavily trafficked roads; (i) Mr. Hem will not be operating within 5 NM of an airport or heliport;

Mr

. Hem is a member in good standing of the Academy of Model

Aeronautics ( AMA # 10 45758 ) the largest model aviation association in the world. The

AMA is a world class association consists of more than 170,000 modelers and 2 394 clubs throughout the United States. The AMA offers numerous competitions, educational programs, advocacy, liability protection, o utstanding publications and the world’s largest model

aviation museum.

I respectfully request exemption under Section 333 to enable Mr. Hem to operate efficient, limited, low

- risk commercial sUAV operations for the activities stated respecting at all times the space and privacy of citiz ens and property and dedicated to
the safe use of the National Airspace.

Sincerely,

Paul M. Hem, Jr

.