1 

June 19, 2015 

U.S Department of Transportation 

200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Petition of KFI AM 640 for Exemption from Certain Federal Aviation Regulations 

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FMRA and 14 C.F.R. Part 11 

 Dear Sir or Madam: 

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act (“FMRA”), and in 

accordance with Part 11 of the FAA’s rules, KFI AM 640 (“KFI”) hereby petitions the FAA for 

an exemption from 14 C.F.R. §§ 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), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 

91.417(a) and (b) to the extent necessary to allow the KFI news team to operate small unmanned 

aircraft systems (“UAS”) for aerial data collection for the purpose of newsgathering. As 

discussed herein, because KFI will conduct operations and adhere to operating conditions that 

are substantially similar to those of previous Section 333 petitions that have been granted, the 

FAA should summarily grant KFI’s petition. 

I. PETITIONER, OPERATIONS, AND AIRCRAFT 

KFI AM 640 is one of the highest rated radio news outlets in the country. Over one million 

listeners tune in to KFI every week to stay connected with the latest news and topics in Southern 

California and beyond. KFI is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, a multimedia company 

reaching a quarter billion consumers every month through its Radio, Digital, Outdoor, Mobile, 

Social, and Events platforms. As a member of the iHeartMedia family, KFI also provides news 

content on all eight Los Angeles stations (reaching another 8.6 million listeners) and special 

reports to iHeartMedia's 800+ radio stations nation-wide including iHeart's 24/7 digital news 

channel. KFI’s contact information is as follows: 

Neil Saavedra Steve Gregory 

KFI Radio KFI Radio 

3400 W. Olive Ave. Suite 550 3400 W. Olive Ave. Suite 550 

Burbank, CA 91505 Burbank, CA 91505 

818-566-6442 818-441-4498 

It is KFI’s goal to use UAS technology to gather news and provide listeners with an enhanced 

perspective of breaking events and compelling content. In addition to covering events and 

stories that are generally newsworthy, KFI would like to use UAS to gather and disseminate 

crucial information during emergencies. This is particularly important as KFI is a LP1 

emergency station for Southern California with the special status of Primary Entry Point station, 

using equipment owned and provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 

(“FEMA”). In the past, KFI has had to rely on the use of planes and helicopters to get an aerial 

vantage point on a news story. The use of UAS for newsgathering would circumvent the need to 
2 

use larger, manned aircraft at higher altitudes in the National Airspace System, thereby reducing 

noise and air pollution and, even more importantly, reducing the potential for risk to life and 

property associated with flying manned aircraft. Moreover, UAS would enable KFI’s news team 

to collect information and imagery at a breaking news scene that a reporter on the ground could 

not otherwise obtain safely due to hazards, obstructions, or other safety or logistical issues that 

would make it difficult or impossible to gain a vantage point of the scene. A grant of 

authorization to conduct UAS operations will improve KFI’s ability to gather and deliver 

important news to the people of Southern California, keeping them connected, safe, and 

informed. 

KFI seeks an exemption to operate the following: Yuneec Q500 Typhoon, DJI Phantom 3, DJI 

Phantom 2 Vision+, and DJI Inspire 1. All of KFI’s UAS are rotorcraft weighing well under 55 

pounds. The specifications for each aircraft are attached to this petition. 

II. REQUEST FOR SUMMARY GRANT 

KFI requests authority to use UAS for aerial data collection, and does not propose to conduct any 

closed-set motion picture or television filming. Given the nature of KFI’s proposed operations, 

the operating parameters to which it will adhere, the public interest benefits of the operations, 

and the level of safety that KFI will achieve, KFI’s petition for exemption is similar in all 

material respects to other Section 333 petitions that have been granted. Specifically, KFI’s 

petition is substantially similar to Exemption Nos. 11062 to Astraeus Aerial, 11109 to Clayco, 

Inc., 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC, and 11213 to Aeryon Labs, Inc. In addition, the FAA has 

already granted multiple exemptions to entities for the purpose of newsgathering, including 

Exemption Nos. 11408 to ArrowData, LLC and 11406 to Stringer News Service. 

Delivering news, especially breaking information during emergencies, to KFI’s one million 

listeners generates numerous public benefits that will be significantly enhanced by the use of 

UAS. The ability to conduct UAS operations will enable KFI to gather and deliver an 

unparalleled level of news and information, and do so more quickly, safely, and cost-effectively 

than ever before. Moreover, KFI will adhere to strict operating conditions that are substantially 

similar to those that the FAA has imposed in previous grants. KFI’s operations will be 

conducted in a safe and responsible manner and ensure minimal risk to other aircraft and people 

on the ground, resulting in no adverse effects on safety. As such, KFI’s petition merits receipt of 

a summary grant.

III. OPERATING PARAMETERS 

In operating UAS for newsgathering, safety will be KFI’s top priority. KFI will adhere to the 

appropriate manufacturer’s user manual for each UAS model.1

 In addition, KFI’s operations will 

be subject to the following parameters: 

 

1

 Because KFI has not altered the manufacturer’s user manuals in any way, and because the FAA has granted 

petitions to operate UAS made by both manufacturers of KFI’s proposed UAS, see e.g. Exemption Nos. 11398 to 

Venus Wind (authorizing operation of DJI Phantom 2, DJI Phantom 2 Vision+, DJI Inspire 1, and DJI S-1000) and 

11438 to MT Real Estate, LLC (authorizing operation of the Yuneec Q500 Typhoon), KFI has not attached these 
3 

1. KFI will only operate the Yuneec Q500 Typhoon, DJI Phantom 3, DJI Phantom 2 

Vision+, and the DJI Inspire 1 pursuant to the exemption. All UAS used will be under 

55 lbs. including payload. 

2. The UAS will be operated an altitude no greater than 400 feet above ground level and a 

speed no greater than 87 knots. 

3. The UAS will be operated within visual line of sight (“VLOS”) of the pilot-in-command 

(“PIC”), and will 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. 

4. KFI’s operating documents will be made accessible during UAS operations and made 

available to the Administrator upon request. 

5. The PIC will conduct a preflight inspection prior to each flight and will assume 

responsibility for maintaining and inspecting the UAS to ensure that it is in a condition 

for safe operation. The PIC will not operate if the inspection reveals a condition that 

affects the safe operation of the UAS, and will abort the flight in the event of unpredicted 

obstacles or emergencies. 

6. The PIC will hold an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot 

certificate, and will begin conducting operations only after demonstrating the ability to 

safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under 

the exemption. including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate 

distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and structures. PIC qualification flight hours 

and currency will be logged in a manner consistent with 14 C.F.R § 61.51(b). 

7. The UA will 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 symbol as denoted on the current FAApublished aeronautical chart, unless a letter of agreement 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 will be made available to the Administrator or 

any law enforcement official upon request. 

8. The PIC will not begin a flight unless there is enough power to conduct the intended 

operation and to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power 

recommended by the manufacturer. The UAS will return to a pre-determined location in 

a lost-link scenario. 

9. KFI will register and mark its UAS in accordance with 14 C.F.R. parts 47 and 45. 

10. The PIC will yield to manned aircraft at all times, and will conduct operations so as to 

avoid flying near or over nonparticipating persons.

 

manuals to its petition. Should the FAA determine that the submission of these manuals is necessary, KFI is happy 

to provide them. 
4 

11. KFI will report accidents to the FAA’s UAS Integration Office within 24 hours and the 

National Transportation Safety Board per its instructions. 

IV. SUMMARY FOR FEDERAL REGISTER 

Petitioner: KFI AM 640 

Sections of 14 C.F.R. Affected: §§ 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), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 

91.417(a) and (b). 

Description of Relief Sought: Petitioner seeks relief from the requirements of 14 C.F.R. §§ 

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), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b) to use small 

unmanned aircraft systems to conduct aerial data collection for the purpose of newsgathering, 

under conditions that are substantially similar to those which the FAA requires for comparable 

operations. 

V. CONCLUSION 

Permitting KFI to operate UAS for newsgathering will enhance KFI’s ability to report stories of 

general interest as well as important breaking news to its more than one million listeners and 

reduce the safety risks to its employees associated with the operation of larger manned aircraft. 

KFI’s proposed operations will serve the public interest and will be conducted pursuant to 

parameters that will ensure safety and pose no hazard to users of the National Airspace System 

or the public. As such, pursuant to Section 333 of FMRA and Part 11 of the FAA’s rules, KFI 

requests exemption from 14 C.F.R. §§ 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), 91.409(a)(1) and 

(2), and 91.417(a) and (b) and other regulations as the FAA may deem appropriate, to the extent 

necessary for KFI to use UAS to conduct its newsgathering operations. Given the size, weight, 

speed, and limited operating area associated with KFI’s aircraft and operations, KFI requests to 

conduct these operations without an airworthiness certification. Finally, because KFI’s petition 

for exemption is similar in all material respects to Section 333 petitions the FAA has already 

granted, KFI requests a summary grant. 

Please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned with any questions regarding this petition. 

Respectfully Submitted, 

/s/ Neil Saavedra

Neil Saavedra 

KFI Radio 

3400 W. Olive Ave. Suite 550 

Burbank, CA 91505 

818-566-6442 
5 

Attachments 

1) Yuneec Q500 Typhoon Specifications 

2) DJI Phantom 3 Specifications 

3) DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ Specifications 

4) DJI Inspire 1 Specifications 

5) KFI Preflight Checklist 
i 

ATTACHMENT 1: YUNEEC Q500 TYPHOON SPECIFICATIONS 

o Flight Time

Up to 25 Minutes 

o Dimension

16.5x16.5x9.5in (420x420x240mm) 

o Diagonal Length Without Rotor Blades 

22.2in (565mm) 

o Propeller/Main Rotor Diameter

13.0in (330mm) 

o Weight Without Battery and Payload

40.0oz (1130g) 

o Battery

5400mAh 3S 11.1V LiPo (included) 

o Charger

3S 11.1V LiPo DC Balancing Smart Charger with AC Adapter (included) 

o Transmitter

10-channel 2.4GHz with 5.8GHz video downlink (included) 

o 3 Flight Modes

Smart, Angle and Home Modes 

o Maximum Flying Height

Default 122m (400ft) Above Ground Level (Adjustable via the Q500 GUI) 

o Maximum Rotation Rate

65°/s 

o Maximum Roll Angle

35° 

o Radio Control Frequency Band

2.4GHz 

o Operating Temperature Range

-5°C to 80°C 

 
ii 

ATTACHMENT 2: DJI PHANTOM 3 SPECIFICATIONS 

Aircraft

Weight (Including 

Battery And 

Propellers): 

1280 g 

Diagonal Size 

(Including 

Propellers): 

689 mm 

Max Ascent Speed: 5 m/s 

Max Descent Speed: 3 m/s 

Hover Accuracy: Vertical: +/- 10cm 

Horizontal: +/- 1m 

Max Speed: 16 m/s (ATTI mode, no wind) 

Max Altitude Above 

Sea Level: 6000 m 

Operating 

Temperature: 0°C to 40°C 

GPS Mode: GPS/GLONASS 

Camera

Sensor: Sony EXMOR 1/2.3” Effective pixels: 12.4 M (total pixels: 12.76 M) 

Lens: FOV 94° 20 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.8, focus at 

ISO Range: 100-3200 (video) 100-1600 (photo) 

Shutter Speed: 8s to 1/8000s 

Image Max Size: 4000 x 3000 

Still Photography 

Modes: 

• Single Shot 

• Burst Shooting: 3/5/7 shots 

• Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 

• Bracketed Frames at 0.7EV Bias 

• Time-lapse 

Video Recording 

Modes: 

UHD: 4096x2160p 24/25, 3840x2160p 24/25/30 

FHD: 1920x1080p 24/25/30/48/50/60 

HD: 1280x720p 24/25/30/48/50/60 

Supported SD Card 

Types: 

Micro SD

Max capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required 

Max Bitrate Of Video 

Storage: 60 Mbps 

Supported File 

Formats: 

• FAT32/exFAT 

• Photo: JPEG, DNG 

• Video: MP4, MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) 

Operating 

Temperature: 0°C to 40°C 
iii 

Gimbal 

Controllable Range: Pitch -90° to +30° 

Stabilization: 3-axis (pitch, roll, yaw) 

Vision Positioning 

Max Velocity: Less than 8 m/s (when 2 m above ground) 

Altitude Range: 30 cm to 300 cm 

Operating Range: 30 cm to 300 cm 

Operating 

Environment: Surface with clear pattern and adequate lighting (Lux > 15) 

Remote Controller

Operating 

Frequency: 2.400 GHz-2.483 GHz 

Max Distance: 2000m (outdoors and unobstructed) 

Video Output Port: USB 

Operating 

Temperature: 0°C to 40°C 

Battery: 6000 mAh LiPo 2S 

Mobile Device 

Holder: For tablet or phone 

Receiver Sensitivity 

(1%PER): 101 dBm ±2 dBm 

Transmitter Power 

(EIRP): 

FCC: 20 dBm 

CE: 16 dBm 

Working Voltage: 1.2 A @7.4 V 

Battery Charger

Voltage: 17.4 V 

Rated Power: 100 W 

Intelligent Flight Battery

Capacity: 4480 mAh 

Voltage: 15.2 V 

Battery Type: LiPo 4S 

Energy: 68 Wh 

Net Weight: 365 g 

Max Flight Time: Approximately 23 minutes 

Operating 

Temperature: -10°C to 40°C 
iv 

Max Charging 

Power: 100 W 

App / Live View

Mobile App: DJI Pilot 

EIRP: 100mW 

Live View Working 

Frequency: 2.4GHz ISM 

Live View Quality: 720P @ 30fps (depending on conditions and mobile device) 

Latency: 220ms (depending on conditions and mobile device) 

Required Operating 

Systems: 

iOS 8.0 or later 

Android 4.1.2 or later 

Recommended 

Devices: 

iOS: iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 2, 

iPad mini 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 3, and iPad 

mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular. This app is optimized for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus 

Android: Samsung S5, Note 3, Sony Z3 EXPERIA, Google Nexus 7 II, Google Nexus 9, 

Mi 3, Nubia Z7 mini 

*Support for additional Android devices available as testing and development continues 

 
v 

ATTACHMENT 3: DJI PHANTOM 2 VISION+ SPECIFICATIONS 

General 

Features 

• Lightweight, multi-functional integrated aircraft and camera 

• Camera remote-control by DJI VISION APP 

• Range Extender increases Wi-Fi distance to 300m 

• Anti-vibration camera platform with single axis stabilisation 

• Low-voltage protection 

• Virtual Radar aircraft locator on mobile device 

• Range of camera tilt options 

• Multiple, continuous and timed capture options 

• HD Video Recording (1080/p30 or 1080/60i) 

• RAW and JPEG picture formats 

Aircraft 

BATTERY

5200mAh LiPo 

WEIGHT (BATTERY & PROPELLERS INCLUDED)

1160g 

HOVER ACCURACY (READY TO FLY)

Vertical: 0.8m; Horizontal: 2.5m 

MAX YAW ANGULAR VELOCITY

200/s 

MAX TILT ANGLE

35

MAX ASCENT / DESCENT SPEED

Ascent: 6m/s; Descent: 2m/s 

MAX FLIGHT SPEED

15m/s (Not Recommended) 

DIAGONAL LENGTH

350mm 

TILTING RANGE OF GIMBAL

0-60

OPERATING FREQUENCY

5.728GHz5.8GHz 
vi 

Transmitter 

COMMUNICATION DISTANCE (OPEN AREA)

CE: 300m; FCC: 500m 

RECEIVER SENSITIVITY (1%PER)

-93dBm 

TRANSMITTER POWER

CE: 25mw; FCC: 125mw 

WORKING VOLTAGE

80 mA@6V 

BATTERY

4 AA Batteries 

Camera 

RESOLUTION

14 Megapixels 

FOV

120/ 110/ 85

SENSOR SIZE

1/2.3" 

FUNCTIONALITY

• Support of multi-capture, continuous capture and timed capture 

• Support of HD Recording (1080/p30 or 1080/60i) 

• Supports of both RAW and JPEG picture format 

Range 

Extender 

OPERATING FREQUENCY

2412-2462MHz 

COMMUNICATION DISTANCE (OPEN AREA)

300m 

TRANSMITTER POWER

<=17dBm 

POWER CONSUMPTION

1.5W 

SYSTEM REQUIREMENT OF MOBILE DEVICE

iOS version 6.1 or above/ Android system version 4.0 or above 

MOBILE DEVICE SUPPORT
vii 

DJI VISION 

App 

• iOS recommended: iPhone 4s, iPhone 5, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPod 

touch 5 (available but not recommended: iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini) 

• Android recommended: Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, Note 2, Note 3 or phones of similar 

configuration 

 
viii 

ATTACHMENT 4: DJI INSPIRE 1 SPECIFICATIONS 

MODEL

T600 

WEIGHT (BATTERY INCLUDED)

2935 g 

HOVERING ACCURACY (GPS MODE)

Vertical: 0.5 m 

Horizontal: 2.5 m 

MAX ANGULAR VELOCITY

Pitch: 300/s 

Yaw: 150/s 

MAX TILT ANGLE

35

MAX ASCENT SPEED

5 m/s 

MAX DESCENT SPEED

4 m/s 

MAX SPEED

22 m/s (ATTI mode, no wind) 

MAX FLIGHT ALTITUDE

4500 m 

MAX WIND SPEED RESISTANCE

10 m/s 

MAX FLIGHT TIME

Approximately 18 minutes 

MOTOR MODEL

DJI 3510 

PROPELLER MODEL

DJI 1345 

INDOOR HOVERING

Enabled by default 
ix 

OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE

-10 to 40 C 

DIAGONAL DISTANCE

559 to 581 mm 

DIMENSIONS

438x451x301 mm 

Gimbal 

MODEL

ZENMUSE X3 

OUTPUT POWER (WITH CAMERA)

Static: 9 W 

In Motion: 11 W 

OPERATING CURRENT

Station: 750 mA 

Motion: 900 mA 

ANGULAR VIBRATION RANGE

0.03

MOUNTING

Detachable 

CONTROLLABLE RANGE

Pitch: -90 to +30

Pan: 320

MECHANICAL RANGE

Pitch: -125 to +45

Pan: 330

MAX CONTROLLABLE SPEED

Pitch: 120/s 

Pan: 180/s 

Camera 

NAME

X3 

MODEL

FC350 

TOTAL PIXELS
x 

12.76M 

EFFECTIVE PIXELS

12.4M 

IMAGE MAX SIZE

4000x3000 

ISO RANGE

100-3200 (video) 

100-1600 (photo) 

ELECTRONIC SHUTTER SPEED

8s 1/8000s 

FOV (FIELD OF VIEW)

94

CMOS

Sony EXMOR 1/2.3

LENS

20mm (35mm format equivalent)f/2.8 focus at 

9 Elements in 9 groups 

Anti-distortion 

STILL PHOTOGRAPHY MODES

Single shoot 

Burst shooting: 3/5/7 frames 

Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB): 3/5 bracketed frames at 0.7EV Bias 

Time-lapse 

VIDEO RECORDING MODES

UHD (4K): 4096x2160p24/25, 3840x2160p24/25/30 

FHD: 1920x1080p24/25/30/48/50/60 

HD: 1280x720p24/25/30/48/50/60 

MAX BITRATE OF VIDEO STORAGE

60 Mbps 

SUPPORTED FILE FORMATS

FAT32/exFAT 

Photo: JPEG, DNG 

Video: MP4/MOV (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) 
xi 

SUPPORTED SD CARD TYPES

Micro SD

Max capacity: 64 GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 rating required. 

OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE

0 to 40 C 

Remote 

Controller

NAME

C1 

OPERATING FREQUENCY

922.7~927.7 MHz (Japan Only) 

5.725~5.825 GHz 

2.400~2.483 GHz 

TRANSMITTING DISTANCE (OUTDOOR AND UNOBSTRUCTED)

2 km 

EIRP

10dBm@900m, 13dBm@5.8G, 20dBm@2.4G 

VIDEO OUTPUT PORT

USB, mini-HDMI 

POWER SUPPLY

Built-in battery 

CHARGING

DJI charger 

DUAL USER CAPABILITY

Host-and-Slave connection 

MOBILE DEVICE HOLDER

Tablet or Phone 

MAX MOBILE DEVICE WIDTH

170mm 

OUTPUT POWER

9 W 

OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE

-10 to 40 C 

STORAGE TEMPERATURE RANGE
xii 

Less than 3 months: -20 to 45 C 

More than 3 months: 22 to 28 C 

CHARGING TEMPERATURE RANGE

0-40 C 

BATTERY

6000 mAh LiPo 2S 

Charger 

MODEL

A14-100P1A 

VOLTAGE

26.3 V 

RATED POWER

100 W 

Battery 

(Standard)

NAME

Intelligent Flight Battery 

MODEL

TB47 

CAPACITY

4500 mAh 

VOLTAGE

22.2 V 

BATTERY TYPE

LiPo 6S High voltage battery 

ENERGY

99.9 Wh 

NET WEIGHT

570 g 

OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE

-10 to 40 C 

STORAGE TEMPERATURE RANGE

Less than 3 months: -20 to 45 C 

More than 3 months: 22 C to 28 C 

CHARGING TEMPERATURE RANGE
xiii 

0 to 40 C 

MAX CHARGING POWER

180 W 

Battery 

(Optional)

NAME

Intelligent Flight Battery 

MODEL

TB48 

CAPACITY

5700 mAh 

VOLTAGE

22.8 V 

BATTERY TYPE

LiPo 6S 

ENERGY

129.96 Wh 

NET WEIGHT

670 g 

OPERATING TEMPERATURE RANGE

-10 to 40 C 

STORAGE TEMPERATURE RANGE

Less than 3 months: -20 to 45 C 

More than 3 months: 22 to 28 C 

CHARGING TEMPERATURE RANGE

0 to 40 C 

MAX CHARGING POWER

180 W 

Vision 

Positioning

VELOCITY RANGE

Below 8 m/s (2 m above ground) 

ALTITUDE RANGE

5-500 cm 

OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

Brightly lit (lux > 15) patterned surfaces 
xiv 

OPERATING RANGE

0-250 cm 

DJI Pilot 

App 

MOBILE DEVICE SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

iOS 8.0 or later 

Android 4.1.2 or later 

SUPPORTED MOBILE DEVICES

* Compatible with iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 2, iPad mini 2 

Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air 2, iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini 3, and iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi + Cellular. This app is 

optimized for iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus. 

* Samsung S5, Note 3, Sony Xperia Z3, Google Nexus 7 II, Google Nexus 9, Mi 3, Nubia Z7 mini 

*Support for additional Android devices available as testing and development continues 

 
xv 

ATTACHMENT 5: PREFLIGHT CHECKLIST 

• Area and Environment 

o Hazards / Site Selection 

o Check for wires / cables 

o Animals 

o People / bystanders 

• Weather considerations 

o Temperature 

o Visibility 

o Precipitation 

• Wind Speed 

o Upper winds / at altitude 

o Rotor (lee side of large objects) 

• Discuss flight plan with your visual observer (if using one) 

• Inspect your drone for any damages: Make sure everything is the way it 

should be and make sure your propellers are tight. 

• Turn the radio on: make sure all of the switches are "up, up, and away 

from you." Once they’re all up, they will be in neutral position. 

• Power up your aircraft: Double-check that the battery is fully charged. It 

also pays to have at least one backup battery on hand. 

• Calibrate the compass: make sure you have properly calibrated your 

compass, so your aircraft flies and reacts properly to your control. 

• Make sure your aircraft has a fully locked GPS signal: Most models have 

green and red flashing lights to indicate GPS signal (or lack thereof). Make 

sure there are no red flashes. 
xvi 

• Turn your camera on: If you’re carrying a camera in the drone’s payload, 

check that it’s on, has an SD card loaded and has adequate battery charge. 

If everything looks correct, hit the record button. 

• Make some space: Take a few steps back and always make sure you are

upwind from your aircraft. If something were to happen, you want to be 

sure your drone isn’t coming back at you. 

• Now you’re ready to fly!