UAS OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS AND CONDITIONS

In accordance with the grant of exemption as requested herein, Petitioner shall comply with all of the 

following conditions and limitations on the operation of the UAS: 

1. The UAS will weigh less than 6.5 pounds, including batteries and/or power source(s) and equipment. 

2. The UAS will not be flown at a ground speed exceeding 50 mph. 

3. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 500 feet above ground level (AGL), as indicated 

by the procedures specified in the operator's manual. 

4. The UAS will be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. This allows the PIC to 

be able to rely on human vision, aided only by corrective lenses if necessary to monitor the UAS. 

5. All operations will utilize a visual observer (VO). The UAS will be operated within the visual line of 

sight (VLOS) of the VO at all times. The VO and PIC will be able to communicate verbally at all times. The 

PIC will be designated before the flight and will not transfer his or her designation for the duration of 

the flight. The PIC will ensure that the VO can perform the functions prescribed in the operating 

documents. 

6. The operating documents will be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the 

Administrator upon request. Any revisions to the operating documents will be presented to the 

Administrator upon request. 

7. Prior to each flight, the PIC will inspect the UAS to ensure it is in the proper condition for safe flight. If 

the inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the UAS, the UAS will not be 

operated until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the UAS is found to be in a condition 

for safe flight. The Ground Control Station will be included in the preflight inspection. All maintenance 

and alterations will be properly documented in the aircraft records. 

8. Any UAS maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS operation or flight characteristics (for 

example, replacement of a flight critical component) will undergo a functional test flight. The PIC who 

conducts the functional test flight will record this information in the aircraft records. 

9. The pre-flight inspection section in the operating documents will account for all discrepancies, i.e. 

inoperable components, items, or equipment, not already covered in the relevant sections of the 

operating documents. 

10. Petitioner will follow the UAS manufacturer's aircraft/component, maintenance, overhaul, 

replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements. 

11. Petitioner will carry out maintenance, inspections, and record keeping requirements, in accordance 

with the operating documents. Maintenance, inspection and alterations will be noted in the aircraft 

records, including total flight hours, description of work accomplished, and the signature of the 

authorized person returning the UAS to service. 
12. Each UAS operated will comply with all manufacturer Safety Bulletins. 

13. An authorized person will make an entry in the aircraft record of the corrective action taken against 

discrepancies discovered between inspections. 

14. UAS operations will be conducted by a PIC possessing at least a private pilot certificate and at lease a 

current third-class medical certificate. The PIC will also meet the flight review requirements specified in 

14 C.F.R. 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is rated on his or her pilot certificate. 

15. Prior to operations, the PIC will have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 C.F.R. 

61.51(b), a minimum of25 hours of total time as a UAS rotorcraft pilot including at least 10 hours logged 

as a UAS pilot with multi-rotor UAS. 

16. Prior to operations, the PIC will have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 C.F.R. 

61.51(b), a minimum of 5 hours as UAS pilot operating the make and model of the UAS to be used in 

operations. The PIC will accomplish 3 takeoffs and landings in the preceding 90 days. 

17. The PIC will not operate the UAS unless the PIC has demonstrated and logged in a manner consistent 

with 14 C.F.R. 61.51(b), the ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with the operating 

documents, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate distances from 

people, vessels, vehicles and structures. 

18. UAS operations will not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 C.F.R. 1.1. All operations will be 

conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). 

19. The UAS will not operate within five (5) nautical miles of an airport reference point as denoted on a 

current FAA-published aeronautical chart. 

20. The UAS 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 from the PIC. 

21. If a UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, it will return to a predetermined location 

within the planned operating area and land or be recovered in accordance with the operating 

documents. 

22. The PIC will abort a flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies in accordance with 

the operating documents. 

23. The PIC will not being a flight unless (considering wind and weather forecast conditions) there is 

enough battery charge/power to fly the UAS at normal cruising speed to the intended landing point and 

land the UAS with at least 25% battery power remaining. 

24. Petitioner will obtain an Air Traffic Organization (ATO) issued Certificate of Waiver or Authorization 

(COA) prior to conducting any operations, and also request a Notice to Airman (NOT AM) not more than 

72 hours in advance nor less than 48 hours prior the operation. 
25. Before conducting operations, the radio frequency spectrum used for operation and control of the 

UAS will comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or other appropriate governmental 

oversight agency requirements. 

26. The documents required under 14 C.F.R. 91.9 and 91.202 will be available to the PIC at the Ground 

Control Station of the UAS any time the UAS is operating. These documents will be made available to the 

Administrator or any law or regulatory enforcement official or body upon request. 

27. The UAS will remain clear and yield the right of way to all manned aviation operations and activities 

at all times. 

28. The UAS will not be operated by the PIC from any moving device or vehicle. 

29. The UAS will not be operated over congested or densely populated areas. 

30. Flight operations will be conducted at least 500 feet from all non-participating persons, vessels, 

vehicles and structures unless: 

a.) Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect non-participating persons from the 

UAS and/or debris in the event of an accident. Petitioner will ensure that non-participating 

persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises where non-participating persons 

leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the UAS, flight operations will cease 

immediately, and/or: 

b.) The aircraft is operated near vessels, vehicles or structures where the owner/controller of 

such vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission and the PIC has made a safety 

assessment of the risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not 

present an undue hazard, and: 

c.) Operations nearer to the PIC, VO, operator trainees or essential persons do not present an 

undue hazard to those persons per §91.119(a). 

31. All operations will be conducted over private or controlled access property with permission from the 

land owner, controller or authorized representative. Permission from the land owner, controller or 

authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be conducted. 

32. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries of the 

operational areas as defined by the applicable COA will be reported to the FAA's UAS Integration Office 

(AFS-80) within 24 hours of the occurrence of such an incident. Accidents will be reported to the 

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions contained on the NTSB website: 

www.ntsb.gov.