1 U N I T ED S T A T ES O F A M E R I C A

D E PAR T ME N T O F T RAN S POR T A T I O N

F ED E RA L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T RA T I O N

WA SH I NG T ON

, DC

R e g u l a t o r y D oc k

et N o.

IN T H E MA T TE R O F T H E P ET IT I O N FOR E X E M P T I O N O F :

AERO APERTURE

FOR A N EXE M P T I O N S EE K ING REL IEF F R O M THE RE Q U IR E ME N T S OF

T IT L E 14 O F T H E C O D E O F F EDERA L REG U LAT I O N S

S ECT I O N S 61.11 3 ( a ) & ( b), 91. 7 ( a )

, 91.1 2 1, 91. 1 5 1 ( b), 9 1.40 5 ( a )

, 91.40 7 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 91.4 0 9 ( a )( 1 ) &

( a ) ( 2 )

, AN D 91. 4 17 ( a ) & ( b) CON C ERN ING C O M ME R C IAL O P ERAT I O N O F T H E D JI

PHA N T O M 3 UN MA N NE D A IR C RA F T S Y S TEM

P UR S UAN T T O S ECT I O N 333 OF

T H E F A A M O DERN I Z AT I O N AN D RE FORM A C T O F 2012

( P U B L IC LA W 112 • 95)

Sub m itt ed o n M a y 29, 20 1 5

Ryan Masterson

of

Aero Aperture

5101 Xerxes Ave nue S outh

Minneapolis, MN 554102

TA B L E O F C O NTENT S

G L O S SAR Y O F ABBR E V I A T I ON S........................

. ................. . ........... . ........ . ... ............. . 3

S U M M AR Y

............................... . .......................................................................................... 4

I N T RODUC T I O N AN D I N T E R E S T S O F P E T I T I O N E R S

........................... . .....................4

BAC K GROUND

................................. . ......... . ... ............................................................... . .. 5

BA S I S FO R P E T I

T I O N

............................... . ............................................................. .......... 5

NA ME AN D ADDR E S S O F P E T I T I ON E R S

........................................................... .......... 6

T H E S P E C I

F I C S EC T I ON S O F 14 C .F. R

. F RO M W H I C H AERO APERTURE S E E K S

E X E M P T I O N

............................... . ................................... .................................................. . . 7

T H E E X T E N T O F R E L I

E F AERO APERTURE SEEK AN D T H E R E A S O N AERO

APERTURE S E E K S T H E R E L I E F

....................... ....................................... ...9

T H E R E A S ON S W H Y GRAN T I N G R E QU E S T W O U LD B E I N T H E PUB L I C

I N T E R E S T

..................................................................................... . . ...........11

T H E R E A S ON S W H Y GRAN T I N G T H E E X EM P T I O N WO U LD NO T AD V E R S E LY

A F F E C T S A F E T Y

.................... ................................ ........... . ....................................... .... . . 12

CONC L U S I O N

............................... . .................................................. ................................ . 22

APPENDICIES

............................... . ............................................................................... . ... 243 GL O S SAR Y O F AB B R EV IA T I O N S

AG L A bo v e Ground Le v el

A O I A r ea o f I n t e r e st

A T C A i r T r a f

fi c C o n tr o l

A T O A i r T r a f

fi c O r g an i z a t i on

A V A e ri a l V e h i c l e

C FR C ode of F ed e r al R e g u l a t i o ns

CO A C e r t i f

i c a t e o f A u t h o ri z a t i o n

F A A Fede r al A v i a ti on A d m i n i s t r a t i on

F A R Fede r al A v i a ti on R e g u l a t i o n

GC S G r ound C o n tr o l S t a t i on

G PS G l obal Po s i t i o n i ng S y s t em

L O L Loss o f Link

NA S N a ti o n al A i r sp a c e S y s t em

NO T A M N o ti c e t o A ir m an

P I C Pi l o t I

n C o m m and

Sec t i on 333 F A A Mod er n i z a t i on a nd R e f o r m A ct o f 2012 ( FM R A ) Se c ti o n 333

SO Sa f

e t y O bs er v er

S O P St a nd a

r d O p e r a t i ng Pro c e d

u r es

U A U n m anned A ir c r a f t

UA S U n m anned A ir c r a f t S y s t e m

V FR V i su a l F l i g ht R u l es

V L O S V i su a l Li n e of S i t e

V MC V i su a l M e t e o r o l o g i c a l C o nd i t i o n s

V T O L V e r t i c a l T a k eo f f and Lan d i ng4 S U MM AR Y

Ryan Masterson, under t he co m pany ti tl e, Aero Aperture

, see ks exe m p ti on fr om t he r eq u i r e m en t s

o f 1 4 C .F.R §§ 61.1 1 3 ( a ) & ( b )

, 91

. 7 ( a )

, 9 1.121, 91.1 5 1 ( b )

, 9 1 .405 ( a ) , 91.407 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a ) ( 1)

& ( a ) ( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a) & ( b )

, t o o p e r a t e an Un m anned A i r c r a f t S y s t em pu r su a nt t o Sec t i on 3 3 3 of

t he F A A M ode r n i z a t i on a n d R e f o r m A ct o f 2012 ( FM RA )

. T h i s e xe m p ti on wi l l p e r m

i t Aero

Aperture t o ope r a t e an U n m anned A i r c r a f t S y s t em ( UA S) f

or t he co m m

e r c i al pu r pose of

c ondu c t i ng ae r i al v i d eo and ph o t o g r aphy t o b e u s ed i n t e l e v i s i on and web b a se d media

,

educ a ti o nal v i de o s, docu men t a r i es and news r ep o rt s, training

, w o r k p l ace s a f e t y

, a g ri c u l t u r e, and

sp o r t i ng e v en t s o v er ce r t a i n a r e a s of t he U n it e d St a t e s

.

IN TR O DUCT I O N AN D IN TERE S T S OF T H E P ET ITI O NER S

Ryan Masterson i s t h e owner / operator o f Aero Aperture l o c a t ed i n Minneapolis

, MN

. Aero Aperture w a s

f ou n ded i n 2015 and i n c l udes r e a l t o r s, wed d i ng v i deo g r aph y

, w eb s i t e s

, and na t i on a l co r p o r a ti o ns a m o ng

our c l i e n t s. T h e o b

je c t ive o f Aero Aperture i s t o p r o v i de h i g h q u a l it y i m a g i ng f or a v a r i e t y of

co m m e r c i a l and pu b l i c u s e s, s p e c i f i c a l l y t a r g e ti n g :

● C r ea t i on of c o m m

e r c i al m e s s a g es f o r t e l e v i s i o n and w eb s i t es

● D ocu m en t a r i es

● Educa t i o n al and training v i deos

● Sa f e t y and t r a i n i ng

● A g ri cu l t u r e

● R eal E s t a t e

● 

### I n c re a sed p u bl i c knowl e d g e o f U AS and p r omo t e s a fe U A S op e r a t i ons5 B AC K GR O UN D

U n m anned A ir c r a f

t S y s t e m s: D J I Phan t om 3 UAS

Aero Aperture s e e k s an exe m p ti on t o o pe r a t e D J I s y s t e m s f or c o m pen s a t i on or h i r e wi t h i n t he NA S. T he

D J I Phan t om 3 i s a v e r t i c a l t a k eo f f and l an d i ng ( V T O L) U n m anned A i r c r a f t ( UA ) wi t h a G r ound C on t r ol

S t a ti on ( GC S) u t i li z i ng e l e c t r on i c t a b l et o r s m a r t phone s y s t e m s. T he D J I Phan t om 3 has a m ax i m u m

g r oss w e i g ht of 2 pound s 1 3.1 ou n c e s, a l e n g t h of 16.2 i n c he s

, w i d t h o f 16.6 i nc h e s , he i g ht o f 10.5

i n che s

, and a m ax i m

u m sp e ed of app r ox i m a t e l y 31.1 k no t s. T h e D JI Phan t om 3 U A is equ i p p ed w i t h f o u r

m a i n r o t o r s ; d ri v en by Li t h i um Poly m er ba tt e r y po w e r ed e l e c t ri c m o t o r s. T he D J I Ph a n t o m 3 U A t hat

wi l l b e ope r a t ed by Aero Aperture a nd wi l l be reg i s t e r ed i n a c co r d ance w it h 49 U .S. C

. 44103,

r e g i s t r a t i on of Ai r

c ra f t

, as w e l l as 14 C .F.R P a r t 47, A i r c r a f t Re g i s t r a ti o n

, and m a r k

ed in acc o r da n ce

wi t h 14 C .F. R

. Pa r t 45, I

de n t i fi c a t i on a n d Reg i s t r

a t i on M ar k i ng

.

B A SIS FOR P ET IT I O N

Pe t i t i on e r s, Ryan Masterson of Aero Aperture Produ c t i ons p u r s ua n t t o t he p r o v i s i ons o f t h e Fede r al

A v i a t i on R e g u l a t i o ns ( 14 C .F. R

. § 11.6 1 ) a nd t h e F A A Mod e r n i za ti on a nd R e f o r m A ct of 20 1 2 ( FM RA )

,

S e c t i on 333, S

p e c i a l Rul e s f

o r C e r t a i n U

n m anned A i r

c r a f t Sy s t ems

, h e r eby pe t it i on t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r t o

co m m e r c i a ll y op e r a t e t he D J I Phan t o m 3 UA S i n t he N a t i on a l A ir s p ace S y s t em ( NA S), and f o r an

e x e m p ti on fr om t he r eq u i r e m en t s o f 14 C .F.R §§ 61.113 ( a) & ( b )

, 91

. 7 ( a )

, 91.12 1

, 91.151 ( b ) , 9 1 .40 5 ( a )

,

91.4 0 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 91.4 0 9 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 ) , and 91.41 7 ( a ) & ( b )

.

I n con si d e r a ti on o f t he s p e ed, w e i g h t

, s i z e, and li m it e d ope r a ti ng a r e a a s s o c i a t e d w it h t he un m anned

a i r c r a f t and i t s op e r a ti o n

, Aero Aperture’s op e r a t i on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 U AS m ee t s t he con d i ti o n s o f

F MRA Se c ti on 333 and t h er e f o r e, wi l l n o t r equ i r e an a ir w o r t h i ne s s c e r t i fi c a t e i n a c co r dan c e w i t h 14

C .F

. R . Pa r t 21, Sub p a

r t H. A cco r d i n g l y

, Aero Aperture r eque s t s r e l i e f f r om Sec ti ons 9 1 .40 5 ( a )

,

9 1 .407 ( a )( 1 )

, 91.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91

. 417 ( a) & ( b )

, as t he s e s e c t i ons s e t f o rt h r eq u i r e m en t s f

o r

m a i n t e nance t h a

t o n l y app l y t o a ir c r a f

t w it h an a ir w o rt h i ne s s ce r t i f i c a t e.

Aero Aperture s u b m

it s t h a t t he r equ e s t ed r e l i ef i s p r o p er s i n c e an eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y w il l be

en s u r e d

. Aero Aperture w i l l u s e ex pe ri e n ced pe r sonn e l o r t ech n i c i a n s t o pe r f o r m m a i n t enan c e,

a l t e r a t i ons, o r p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce on t he U A S u s i ng t he m e t ho d s, t e chn i que s , and p r a c t i ces

p r e s c r i b e d i n t he ope r a t i ng docu men t s ( i .e., Mon t h l y M a i n t e n a n ce Lo g , and D J I Phan t om 3

I ns tr uc t i on M a nu a l)

. F u rt h e r m o r e, Aero Aperture wi l l d o cu m ent and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i n t ena n ce r ec o r ds

f or t he Pha n t om 3 UA S.

R e l i ef fr om ce r t a i n r e qu i r e m en t s of Se c t i on 61. 1 13 ( a) and ( b ) , e n t i t l ed P r i v a t e p il ot p r i v il e ges and

li mi t a ti o n s: P i l ot i n com ma n d

, i s r e q ue s t ed by Aero Aperture t o t he ex t ent n ec e s s a r y t o a l l ow a P i l ot i n

C o mm and ( P I C ) ho l d i ng an a i r m an m ed i cal ce r t i fi c a t e, and w h o has d e m ons tr a t e d, by m

ee ti ng m i n i m u m

fli g h t hour and cu r r ency r eq u ir e men t s, t hat t h e P I C i s ab l e t o s a f e l y o pe r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S in a

m anner co n s i s t ent wi t h t h i s e x e m p ti on, i n c l ud i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s a nd m a i n t a i n i ng

app r o p r i a t e d i s t an c es fr om peop l e, v e s s e l s

, v eh i c l e s a n d s t r u c t u r e s

.6

Aero Aperture seeks relief from Section 91.7(a), entitled Civil aircraft airworthiness, because the DTI

Phantom 3 UAS does not require an airworthiness certificate in accordance with 14 C.P.R. Part 21, Sub p a r t

H

. A s su c h, Aero Aperture su b m it s t h at t h ey w i l l e ns u r e t hat t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i s i n an a ir w o rt hy

co n d i t i on, p ri o r t o e v e r y fli g h t

, by de t e r m i n i ng t h a t t h e UA S a r e i n co m p li a n ce w it h t h e o pe r a t i ng

docu me n t s (i

. e., Mo n t h l y M a i n t e na n ce Lo g

, a nd D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a n ua l ) , and t h a t t he a i r c r a f t is

i n a co n d i t i on f

or s a f e f li g h t

.

Aero Aperture a l s o s e e k s a n exe m p ti on f r om t he r eq u i r e m en t s of S ec t i on 91.121, e n t i t l ed Al t i m e t er

S e t t i n g s , as t h e D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l not h a v e a t y p i c a l b a r o m e t r i c a l ti m

e t er onbo a

r d. H o w e v e r

,

a l t i t ude i n f

o r m a t i on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l be p r o v i ded t o t he PI C v i a Global Pos i ti o n i ng

S y s t em ( G P S ) equ i p m

ent a n d r a d i o co m m

un i ca ti o ns t e l e me tr y da t a li n k

, w h i ch do w n l i n k s fr om t he

U A S t o t h e GC S f

o r a c ti v e m

on it o r i ng of t he f

li g ht p a t h. T h i s a l t i t ude i n f

o r m a ti on, co m

b i n e d w it h Aero

Aperture ’ s op e r a t i on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S wi t h i n v i su a l l i ne of s i g h t

, a t or be l ow 500 f e e t AG L,

w i l l e nsu r e a l e v el of s a f

e t y eq u i v a l ent t o S e c t i on 9 1.121.

A dd i t i on a ll y

, Aero Aperture s ee k s an exe m p ti o n fr om t he r eq u i r e men t s of Sec t io n 91

. 151 ( b ) , en t i t l ed

Fu e l r e q u i r

emen t s f or f li g ht i n VF

R co n d i ti on s

. Aero Aperture sub m it s t h a t s a f e t y w il l not b e a f

f e c t ed

by ope r a t i on of t he Pha n t om 3 U A S du ri ng da y li g ht hou r s i n v i su a l m e t e o r o l o g i c al cond i t i ons ( V MC)

u nd e r v i su a l f

l i g ht r u l e s ( V F R )

, w i t h enou g h ba t t e r y po w er t o fl y f or a t o t a l d u r a ti on of ap p r o x i m a t e l y

15 m i nu t e s t o t he f

i r s t p o i nt o f i n t en d ed l a nd i ng and, a s s u m i ng n o r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed, t o f l y a f t er t h a t f o r

a t l ea s t 4.5 m

i nu t e s

.

I n acco r d a nce wi t h 14 C .F

. R

. § 11.81, Aero Aperture p r o v i de s t h e f o ll o w i ng i n f

o r m a ti o n in suppo r t

o f t h e i r p e t i t i on f

or exe m p ti o n :

A

. N a m e A n d A d d r e ss O f T he P e t i t i oner.

T he na m e and ad d r e ss o f t h e Pe t i t i on e r a nd p o i nt of co n t a c t i s:

Ryan Masterson

Aero Aperture

5101 Xerxes Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55410

E m a il : ryan@aeroaperture.com7

B

. T he S p ec i f

i c Se c t i ons O f 1 4 C

. F

. R

. F r om Wh i ch Aero Aperture S ee ks E x e m pt i on.

1. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p t i on F r om T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 61.11 3 ( a) A nd ( b).

Sec t i on 61. 1 13, e n t i t l ed P r i v a t e p i l ot p ri v i l e g es and li m it a ti o n s: P il o t i n com m a n d

, sub s e c t i ons ( a) and

( b) P r e s c r i be t he f

o l l o wi n g

, i n r e l e v a n t p a

r t :

( a) N o pe r s o n w ho h o l ds a p r i v a t e p i l ot ce r t i f i c a t e m ay act as a p il o t i n co m m and ( P I C ) of an a ir c r a f t t hat

i s c a rr y i ng pa s s e n g e r s or p r op e rt y f or co m pen s a ti o n or h i r e; n o r m a y t hat pe r so n

, f or co m pen s a t i on o r

h ir e , a c t a s P I C of an a i r c r a ft

. ( b) A p ri v a t e p il o t m a y

, f or c o m pen s a ti on o r h ir e, act as P I C of an a i r c r a f t i n c onn e c t i o n w i t h any

bus i n e s s or e m

p l o y m ent i f

—

( 1) T he f li g ht i s o n l y i n c i de n t a l t o t hat bu s i ne s s or e m p l o y m en t ; and

( 2) T he a i r c r a f

t d o es n o t c a

r r y pa s s e n g e r s o r p r o pe r t y f or c o m pen s a ti o n or h i r e.

2. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91. 7 ( a )

.

Sec t i on 9 1 .7, e n t i t l ed Ci v i l a i r c ra f t a i rwo r t h i ne s s , su bs ec t i on ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o l l o w i n g :

( a) N o pe r son m ay ope r a t e a c i v i l a i r c r a f t u n l e ss i t i s i n an a i r w o r

t hy con d i t i on.

3. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91.121.

Sec t i on 9 1 .121, e n t i t l ed A l t i m e t er s e t ti n g s, s u bs e c t i on ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o ll o w i n g

, i n pa r t :

( a) Each p e r son op e r a t i ng an a ir c r a f t sh a l l m a i n t a i n t he c r u i s i ng a l t i t ude o r f li g ht l e v el o f t h at a i r c r a f

t

,

as t h e c a se m ay be, by r e f e r ence t o an a l ti m

e t e r t h at i s s e t

, w hen o p e r a t i ng ;

( 1) B e l ow 18,0 0 0 f

e et MSL, t o

(i ) T he c u r r ent r epo r t ed a l t i m e t er s e t ti ng of a s t a t i on a l o n g t he r ou t e and w it h i n 100 nau t i c a l m il e s of

t he a ir c r a f

t ;

(ii ) I f t he r e i s no s t a ti on wi t h i n t h e a r ea p r e s c r i bed i n p a

r ag r aph ( a ) ( 1 ) ( i ) o f t h i s s e c t i on, t he cu r r e n t

r ep o rt e d a l t i m

e t er s e t ti ng of an ap p r o p ri a t e a v a il a b l e s t a t i on; or

(iii ) I n t he case of a

n a i r c r a f t n ot eq u i pp e d w i t h a r a d i o, t he e l e v a ti on o f t he de p a r t u r e a ir p o r t o r an

app r o p r i a t e a l t i m

e t er s e t ti n g a v a il ab l e be f

o r e dep a r t u r e.

4. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91.151 ( b )

.

Sec t i on 9 1 .151, e n t i t l ed F u el r equ i r e m e n t s f or f l i g h t i n V F R cond i t i on s

, su b s e c ti o n

( b )

, s t a t e s t h e f

o l l o wi n g :

( b) N o pe r son m ay b eg i n a f

l i g h t i n a r o t or c ra

f t u n d e r VF

R con d i t i o n s un l e s s ( con si d e r i ng w i n d and

f or e ca s t w ea t h er co n d i ti on s) t he r e i s enou g h f u e l t o f l y t o t h e f i r s t p o i n t of i n t en d

ed l an d i ng and,

as s u m i n g norm a l c ru i s i ng s peed, t o f l y a f t er t h a t f o r a t l ea s t 20 m i n u t e s

.

5. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m ent O f S e c t i o n 91.405 ( a )

.

Sec t i on 91. 4 05, e n t i t l ed M a i n t enan c e r e q u i r

e d

, su b s e c t i on ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o l l o wi n g : Each o w ner or

ope r a t o r of an a i r c r a f

t

—

( a) Sh a l l ha v e t h a t a i r c r a f t i nsp e c t ed as p r e s c r i b e d i n s ubpa r t E of t h i s p a

r t a n d sh a l l b e t w een r eq u ir e d

i nsp e c t i o n s, ex c ept as p r o v i ded i n pa r a g r aph ( c) of t h i s s e c t i on, ha v e d i s c r epa n c i e s r ep a i r ed as

p r e s c r i bed i n p a

r t 43 o f t h i s ch a

p t e r[

. ]

6. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91.407 ( a ) ( 1)

. Se c t i on 91. 40 7, en t i t l ed O p e r a ti o n a f t e r m a i n t e n an c e, p r

eve n t i ve m a i n t enan c e, r e bu i l d i ng, o r a l t e r a t i on

,

s ubs e c ti o n ( a ) ( 1 )

, s t a t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g :

( a) N o pe r s o n m ay ope r a t e any a i r c r a f t t h at h as u n de r g one m a i n t ena n ce, p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce,

r eb u il d i n g , or a l t e r a t i on u n l e s s ;1

( 1) I t has been a p p r o v ed f

or r e t u r n t o s e r v i ce by a p e r s o n a u t ho r i z ed un d er § 43.7 o f t h i s c ha p t e r

.

7. Aero Aperture Seek E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i ons 91.40 9 ( a )( 1 ) A nd

91.409 ( a ) ( 2 )

.

Sec t i on 9 1 .409, e n t i t l ed I n s pec t i on s , su b s e c ti o n ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o l l o wi n g :

( a) Except as p r o v i ded i n p a r ag r aph ( c ) of t h i s s e c ti on, n o pe r son m ay ope r a t e an a i r c r a f t u n l e s s

, w i t h i n

t he p r e c ed i ng 12 ca l end a

r m on t hs, i t has h ad

( 1) A n ann u al i n sp e c t i on i n a c co r d a nce wi t h p a r t 4 3 o f t h i s cha p t e r a nd h as been a p p r o v ed f or r e t u r n to

s er v i ce by a pe r s on a u t h o r i z ed by § 43.7 of t h i s cha p t e r ; or

( 2) A n i ns p ec t i on f

or t he i s su a nce of an a

ir w o r t h i n e s s ce r t i fi c a t e i n acc o r d a nce w it h pa r t 21 o f t h i s

chap t e r

.

8. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p t i on F r om T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i ons 91.41 7 ( a ) A nd

91.417 ( b).

Sec t i on 9 1 .417, e n t i t l ed M a i n t enan c e r e co r

d s , su b s e c t i ons ( a) a nd ( b )

, s t a t e t he f o ll o w i n g :

( a) Except f

or w o r k pe r f

o r m ed i n acc o r da n ce w i t h §§ 91

. 411 and 91.413, e ach r e g i s t e r ed o w ner or

ope r a t o r sh a l l k

eep t h e f o l l o w i ng r ec o r ds f

or t he pe r i o ds sp e c i f

i ed i n pa r a g r aph ( b) of t h i s s e c ti o n :

( 1) R eco r d s of t he m a i n t e n an c e, p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce, and a l t e r a t i on a n d r e co r d s of t he 1 0 0

- hou r

,

annu a l , p r o g r e s s i v e, and o t her r eq u ir e d or ap p r o v ed i n sp e c ti o n s, a s a p p r o p ri a t e, f or e a ch a i r c r a f

t

(i n c l u d i ng t h e a i r f

r a me) a n d e a ch en g i ne, p r o p e l l e r

, r o t o r

, and a p p l i an c e o f an a i r c r a ft

. T he r e co r ds

m ust i nc l u d e ;

(i ) A de s c r i p ti o n ( o r r e f

e r e n ce t o d a t a a cc e p t a

b l e t o t he A d m

i n i s t r a t o r ) o f t he w o r k pe r f o r m ed; a n d

(ii ) T he d a t e o f co m

p l e t i on o f t he work pe r f

o r m ed; and

(iii ) T he s i g n a t u r e, and ce r t i f i c a t e n u m ber o f t h e p e r son a p p r o v i ng t he a i r c r a f t f o r r e t u r n t o s e r v i ce.

( 2) R eco r d s c o n t a i n i ng t he f o ll o w i ng i n f

o r m a ti o n :

(i ) T he t o t a l t i m

e i n s e r v i ce o f t he a i r f

r a me, each en g i n e, e ach p r op e l l e r

, a nd e a ch r o t o r

. (ii ) T he c u rr e n t s t a t us o f l i f e

- li m it ed pa r t s o f e ach a i r f

r a m e, en g i ne, p r o p e l l e r

, r o t o r

, a nd app l i a n ce.

(iii ) T he ti m

e s i n ce l a s t o v e r h a ul of a l l i t e m s i ns t a l l ed on t he a i r c r a f t w h i ch a r e r eq u i r ed t o be

o v e r hau l ed on a s p e c i f

i ed ti m e ba si s.

( i v ) T he c u rr e n t i ns p ec t i on s t a t us of t he a i r c r a f

t

, i nc l ud i ng t he ti m

e s i n ce t he l a s t i ns p ec t i on r eq u i r ed by

t he i ns p ec t i on p r o g r am under w h i ch t he a i r c r a f t and i t s app l i a n ces a r e m a i n t a i n e d.

( v ) T he cu r r e n t s t a t u s of a pp li cab l e a i r w o r t h i ne s s d i r e c t i v es ( AD ) and s a f e t y d i r e c t i v es i nc l u d i n g

, f or

each, t h e m

e t hod o f c o m

p l i ance, t h e A D or s a f

e t y d ir e c ti v e n u m

ber and r e v i s i on da t e. I

f t he A D or

s af e t y d i r e c ti v e i n v o l v es re cu r r i ng a c ti on, t h e t i m e and da t e w h en t he n ext ac t i on i s r eq u ir e d.

( v i ) C op i es of t he f

o r m s p r e s c ri bed by § 43. 9 ( d) of t h i s c h ap t e r f or e ach m a

j o r a l t e r a t i on t o t h e a i r f

r a me

and c u rr e n t l y i ns t a l l ed en g i ne s

, r o t o r s, p r o p e l l e r s, a nd app l i an c e s

. ( b) T he o w ner or o pe r a t o r s h a l l r e t a i n t he f o ll o w i ng r ec o r d s f

o r t h e p e ri o d s p r e s c r i be d :

( 1) T he r ec o r ds sp e c i f

i ed i n p a r a g r aph ( a )( 1 ) of t h i s s e c t i o n sh a l l be r e t a i n ed u n t i l t h e w o r k i s r ep e a t e d

or su p e r s eded by o t h e r w o r k or f or 1 y e a r a ft e r t he wo r

k i s pe rf o r m ed.

( 2) T he r e co r d s s p ec i f

i ed i n p a r a g r aph ( a ) ( 2) of t h i s s ec t i o n sh a l l b e r e t a i n e d and t r a n s f e rr e d w i t h t h e

a i r c r a f t at t he t i m

e t he a ir cr a f

t i s s o l d.

( 3) A li s t of d e f

e c t s f u r n i sh e d t o a r e g i s t e r ed o w n e r or o pe r a t o r un d er § 4 3 .11 of t h i s chap t er s h a l l be

r e t a i n ed u n t i l t he d e f

e c t s a r e r e p a i r ed and t he a i r c r a f t i s a p p r o v ed f

o r r e t u r n t o s e r v i ce.9

C

. T he E x t ent O f R e l i e f Aero Aperture S e e ks A nd T he R e a son Aero Aperture S eek T he R e l i e f

.

1. E x t ent O f Aero Aperture A nd T h e Reason Aero Aperture Se e ks R e l i e f Fr o m

Sec t i on 61. 1 13 ( a ) A nd ( b).

R e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 61

. 11 3 ( a) and ( b) en t i t l ed P r i va t e p il o t p r i v i l eges and li m it a t i ons: P il o t i n

com m and

, i s r e que s t ed t o t he e x t e n t ne c e s s a r y t o a l l o w a P I C h o l d i ng a v a li d a i r m an m ed i cal

ce r t i fi c a t e, a n d w ho h as met c e r t a i n f li g h t hour a nd c u rr e ncy r eq u i r e men t s, t o c onduct t h e p r opo s ed

UA S f li g ht o p e r a t i ons f

or c o m pen s a ti o n or h i r e.

T h i s r e l i ef i s r equ e s t ed s i n ce t he l i m it a t i ons s et f

o rt h i n S ec t i on 61.1 1 3 ( a ) and ( b ) s t a t e t h a t a p ri v a t e

p il o t m a y

, f

or co m pen s a ti o n or h i r e, a c t a s P I C of an a i r c r a f t i n con n ec t i on w it h any bus i n e ss or

e m p l oy m ent i f : ( 1) T he f

l i g ht i s o n l y i n c i de n t a l t o t h at bu s i ne s s o r e m p l oy m en t ; and ( 2 ) T h e a i r c r a f

t

does n o t c a

r r y pa s s e n g e r s o r p r o pe r t y f or co m pen s a t i o n or h i r e.

A s s e t f o r t h m o r e f u ll y b e l o w

, Aero Aperture sub m i t s t h a t a n e qu i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y wi l l be

m a i n t a i n ed b eca u se no P I C w il l be a l l o w ed t o op e r a t e t he D J I Phan t om UA S un l e ss t h a t P I C has m

et

ce rt a i n f l i g h t hour and cu r r ency r e q u i r e men t s, de m ons tr a t i ng t h a t t h e P I C i s ab l e t o s a f e l y op e r a t e t he

D J I Phan t om UA S in a m anner con s i s t e n t w i t h t h e ope r a t i ons sp e c i f i c a t i ons as de s c ri b ed i n t h i s

exe m p ti on, i n c l u d i ng e v a s i v e and e me r g ency m aneuve r s, as w e l l as m a i n t a i n i ng ap p r op r i a t e d i s t a n ces

fr om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es and s tr u c t u r e s

.

Fur t h e r

, Aero Aperture sub m it s t h a t a l l f

li g h t s of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, conduc t ed by t h e P I C

pu r su a nt t o t he g r ant of t h i s Pe t i t i o n : ( 1) wi l l be i nc i d en t al t o Aero Aperture’s b u s i n e s s ; and ( 2 ) wi l l

not ca r r y pa s se n g e r s o r p r o p e r t y f or co m pen s a ti on or h i r e.

2. E x t ent O f R e l i e f Aero Aperture Seeks A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture Seeks R e l i e f F r o m Se c t i on

91.7 ( a )

.

R e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 91

. 7 ( a ) en t i t l ed C i v i l a i r c ra f t a i r w or t h i n e s s

, i s r equ e s t ed t o t he e x t e n t r e qu i r ed to

a l l ow Aero Aperture t o de t e r m i ne t h a t t he D J I Phan t om UA S a r e i n a i r w o rt hy co n d i ti o n p ri o r t o e v e r y

f l i g ht by e n su r i ng t h a t t he UA S i s i n c o m p li a nce w it h t h e o pe r a t i ng do c u m en t s ( i .e., t h e Aero Aperture

A e r i a l O pe r a ti o n s M anu a l

, Mo n t h l y M ai n t e n an c e Lo g

, and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a n ua l )

.

Aero Aperture s e e k s t he r eq u e s t ed r e l i ef b e c au s e t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A does not r equ i r e a n

a ir w o rt h i n e ss c e r t i fi c a t e i n acc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R

. Pa r t 21, S u bp a r t H

. T h e r e f

o r e, Aero Aperture

wi l l en s u r e t h a t t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i s i n a ir w o rt hy con d i t i on b a s e d upon i t s co m p li ance w it h t he

op e r a t i ng doc u m

en t s ( i .e., M o n t h l y M ai n t e n ance Lo g

, and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a n ua l ) p r

i or t o

e v e r y fli g h t

, and f

u rt h e r

, de t e r m

i ne t h a t t h e a i r c r a f

t a r e i n con d i t i on f

o r s a f e f l i g h t

, as s t a t ed i n t he

con d i ti o n s a nd l i m

it a t i ons be l o w

.

3. E x t ent O f Aero Aperture S eeks A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture S e eks R e li e f F r o m Se c t i on

91. 12 1.

R e l i ef f r om Sec t i on 9 1.12 1

, e n t i tl e d Alt i m e t er s e t t i n g s, m ay be r eq u i r ed t o a l l ow f l i g ht o p e r a t i ons of

t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, w h i ch u t il i z e a b a r o m e tr i c p r e s s u r e s en s o r

, G PS eq u i p m en t

, a nd a r a d i o10

co m m un i ca t i ons t e l e me tr y da t a l i nk t o do w n l i nk a l t i t u de i n f o r m a ti on fr om t he U A S t o t he P I C at t he

g r ound co n tr o l s t a t i on ( G C S). Si n ce t he F A A r equ i r e s t h a t any a l t i t ude i n f o r m a t i on con c e r n i ng UAS

ope r a t i ons be r ep o rt e d t o a i r t r a f f i c co n tr o l ( A T C ) i n f

e e t abo v e g r ound l e v el ( A G L), Aero Aperture

s e e k s t he r eq u e s t ed r e l i e f b ecau s e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA ’ s a l ti m e t e r m ay be se t on t he g r ound t o

z e r o f e e t AG L, r a t h e r t h an t he l ocal ba r o m e tri c p r e s s u r e o r fi e l d a l t i t ude, be f o r e each f

l i g h t

.

C ons i d e r i ng t he l i m

it ed a lti t ude of t h e p r op o s e d op e r a t i ons, r e l i ef f

r om 14 C FR 9 1.121 i s sou g ht t o t h e

ex t e n t n ec e s s a

r y t o co m p l y w it h t he app l i c ab l e con d i t i ons and l i m it a t i ons s t a t e d b e l o w

. A s m o r e f u l l y

se t f o rt h h e r e i n, an eq u i v a l ent l e v el of s a f e t y w i l l be m a i n t a i n ed s i n ce t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S is

equ i p p ed w i t h a ba

r o m e tri c p r e s s u r e s en s o r a nd G PS equ i p m en t

, w h i ch a u t o m a t i ca l l y en s u r es t h a t a

g r ound l e v el p r e s su r e s e t ti n g w il l be e s t a b l i sh e d p r i or t o e a ch f

l i g h t

, and p r o v i d e s t he P I C w it h a l t it u de

i n f o r m a ti on of t he UA on t h e hea d s up d i sp l ay of t h e GC S.

4. Aero Aperture Seeks A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture S eeks R e l i e f F r o m Se c t i on 91.15 1 ( b).

R e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 91

. 15 1 ( b) e n t i t l ed F uel r e q u i r e men t s f or f l i g ht i n V FR con d i ti o n s, i s r equ e s t e d to

t he ex t ent r e qu i r ed t o a l l ow f l i g h t s of t he b a t t e r y po w e r ed D J I Phan t om 3 U A S du r i ng da y li g ht h o u r s

in v i su a l m

e t eo r o l o g i c a l con d i t i ons ( V M C )

, und e r v i s u al f l i g ht r u l es ( V F R )

, f

or a t o t al d u r a ti on of 13

. 5

m i nu t es t o t he f

i r st p o i nt o f i n t ended l and i ng and, a s s u m i ng no r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed, t o fl y a f t er t h at f o r

at l e a st 4.5 m

i nu t e s

. Aero Aperture s ee k s t h e r equ e s t e d r e l i e f b eca u se w it ho u t an exe m p ti on fr om

Sec t i on 91

. 151 ( b )

, t h e f

l i g ht t i m e du r a ti on of t h e ba t t e r y po w e r ed D J I Ph a n t om 3 U A S w il l s e v e r e l y

con s tr a i n t he p r a c t i c a l i t y of any ae ri a l v i deo or s t i l l pho t o f l i g ht ope r a ti ons t h a t Aero Aperture

p r op o s e s t o c o n duct p u r s ua n t t o t h i s P e t i ti on.

Si g n if i ca n tl y

, a s s et f

o r t h b e l o w

, t he t ech n i c al sp e c i fi c a t i ons of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, t he D J I

Phan t om 3 ope r a t i ng doc u m en t s, a nd Aero Aperture’s p r op o s e d o pe r a ti ng li m it a t i ons, en s u r e Aero

Aperture w i l l s a f

e l y ope r a t e t he ba t t e r y po w e r ed D J I Phan t om 3 U A du ri ng da y li g ht hou r s i n v i s u al

m e t e o r o l og i cal c ond i t i ons ( V MC )

, u nder v i s ual f li g ht r u l es ( V F R )

, wi t h e n ou g h ba t t e r y po w er t o fl y f or

a t o t a l d u r a ti on of 1 3.5 m i nu t e s t o t he f

ir s t p o i nt of i n t end e d l and i n g and, as s u m i ng no r m al c r u i s i ng sp e e d,

t o f l y a ft e r t hat f

o r a t l ea s t 4.5 m

i nu t e s

.

5. E x t ent O f R e li e f Aero Aperture See k s A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture Seeks R e l i e f F r o m

Se c t i o n s 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91.40 7 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a )( 2 )

, A nd 91.417 ( a) & ( b )

.

Sin c e S e c ti o n s 91. 4 05 ( a )

, 9 1.407 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 9 1.40 9 ( a ) ( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 ) , and 9 1.41 7 ( a) & ( b) on l y app l y t o

a i r c r a f t wi t h an a i r w o r t h i n e ss c e r t i f i ca t e, Aero Aperture r e q ue s t r e li e f f r om t he s e S e c t i ons beca u se t he

D J I Phan t om 3 UA S does not r eq u i r e an a ir w o r t h i ne s s c e r t i f i c a t e. A s se t f

o r t h m o r e f

u l l y be l o w

, t he

D J I Phan t om 3 UA S m

ee t s t he co n d i ti o n s of FM R A S e c ti on 333 f o r ope r a t i on wi t ho u t an

a ir w o rt h i n e ss c e r t i f

i ca t e. A cco r d i n g l y

, Aero Aperture w i l l u s e t r a i ned t echn i c i ans to pe r f o r m

m a i n t en a nce, a lt er a t i ons, or p r e v en ti v e m a i n t enan c e on t h e UA S u s i ng t he m e t hods, t ech n i q u e s

, and

p r a c t i ces p r e s c r i bed i n t h e UA S ope r a t i ng docu m en t s (i .e

. , t he Aer o Aperture A e r i a l O pe r a ti o n s

M a n ua l

, Mo n t h l y M ai n t ena n ce Lo g , and D JI Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on Ma nua l ) . Fu r

t h e r m o r e, Aero

Aperture wi l l do c u m

ent and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i n t e n an c e r ec o r ds f or t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S.11

D

. T he R ea s ons Why G ra n t i ng Aero Aperture’s Req u e s t Wo u l d B e I n T he P u bl i c In t e r e s t ; T h a t I s , H o w It Would B e ne fi t T he P u b l i c A s A Wh o l e.

G r an t i ng t he p r e s e n t P e t i ti o n w i l l f u r t her t he pub l i c i n t e r e s t by a l l o w i ng Aero Aperture t o s af e l y

,

e f f i c i en t l y

, and ec o no m

i ca ll y p e rf

o r m ae r i al v i deo and ph o t o g r aphy of c ons t r u c ti o n s i t e s

, c l o s e d f i l m i ng

s et s, r eal e s t a t e, a n d l an d s c a p e o v er c e r t a i n a r e a s of t he U n i t ed S t a t e s

.

A dd i t i on a ll y

, u se o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w i l l d ec r e a s e con g e s ti o n o f t he NA S, r edu c e p o l l u t i on

,

and p r o v i de s i g n i f

i ca n t b e ne f

i t s t o t he e cono m

y

. N o t a b l y

, t he ben e f

i t s of Aero Aperture’s p r opo s ed

op e r a ti on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l b e r e a l i z ed w it h out i m p li c a t i ng any p ri v acy i s s ue s

.

1. T he P u b l i c W i l l B en e f i t From D e cre a s e d C on g e s t i o n O f T h e NA S.

T he D J I Phan t om 3 UA s ar e b a t t e r y po w e r ed and s e r v e as a s a f e, e f f i c i en t

, a n d e cono m

i cal a lt e r n a ti v e

t o t he m anned a i r c r a f

t t r a d i ti o n a l l y u t i li z ed t o o b t a i n a e r i al i m a g e r y

. B y r educ i ng t he a m ount of

m anned a i r c r a f

t n ee d ed t o pe r f

o r m ae r i al a cq u i s i t i ons, an exe m p ti on a l l o w i ng t he use of a D J I Phan t om

3 UA S w ou l d r e duce t he a m ount of m anned a ir c r a f

t i n t he NA S, r ed u ce no i se a n d a i r p o l l u t i on, as w e l l

as i n c r e a s e t he s a f

e t y of l i f e and p r op e rt y i n t he a i r and on t he g r ou n d. Fur t h e r m o r e, by r ed u c i ng t he

nu m ber of m anned a i r c r a f

t op e r a t i ng i n t he N A S, c on g e sti o n a r ound a ir p o r t s ca u s e d by a r ri v i ng and

d ep a r t i ng a i r c r a f

t w i l l be r edu c ed. The D J I Phan t om 3 UA S do es n o t r eq u ir e a n a i r p o r t t o t a k eo f f or

l and. L i k ewi s e, a r e du c t i on o f m anned a i r c r a f t c on d uc t i ng ae r i al v i d eo a n d pho t o g r aphy m i s si o n s w ou l d

r e s u l t i n f ewer a i r c r a f

t t h at m ust be ha n d l e d by a i r t r a f f i c co n tr o l d u ri ng t he g r ound, t a k eo f f

, d ep a rt u r e,

a r r i v a l , a n d l a nd i ng ph as es of f l i g ht o p e r a t i ons.

2. T he P u b l i c W i l l B en e f i t From T he S a f

e t y A nd E ff

i c i ency O f T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 UA S.

C onduc t i ng ae r

i a l a c qu i s i t i ons w i t h the D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, in s t ead o f m anned a i r c r a f t

, wi l l g r e a t l y

bene f i t t he p u b l i c by d r a s t i ca l l y r ed u c i ng t h e l e v e l s of a i r a n d n o i se p o ll u t i on g e n e r a t ed du r i ng

tr a d i ti o n al ae r i a l v i deo and s t i l l ph o t o g r aphy f l i g ht op e r a t i on s

. B y us i ng ba t t e r y p o w er and e l ec t r i c

m o t o r s, t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S produ c e s no a i r po l l u t i on, a n d i s t h e m ost v i ab l e en v ir on m en t a ll y

con s c i ous a l t e r n a t i v e t o t he cab i n c l a s s, s i x c y l i nd e r i n t e r n al co m bus t i on en g i ne a ir c r a f

t t h at a r e

t y p i c a ll y u t i li z ed f

or a e r i al v i deo and ph o t o g r ap h y

, w h il e b u r n i ng app r o x i m a t e l y 20 to 30 g a ll ons p e r

ho u r of l ea d ed a v i a t i on f

u e l

. T h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S

, w h i l e r edu c i ng t h e c a r b on f oo t p ri n t of a e ri a l

acqu i s i t i ons, a l so e li m

i n a t e s no i se p o l l u t i on, as t he U A S a r e p r op e ll e d by ba t t e r y po w e r e d e l e c t r i c

m o t o r s, r a t h e r t han a

n i n t er nal c o m bus ti on en g i ne.

B y us i ng t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S t o pe r f o r m ae r i al a c qu i s i t i on s

, t he sub s t a n t i al r i sk t o l i f e and p r o p e r t y

i n t h e a i r and on t he g r o u n d

, w h i ch i s u su a ll y a s s oc i a t e d w it h t r ad i t i on a l m anned a ir c r a f t f l i g ht ope r a t i on s

,

wi l l be su b s t a n t i a l l y r e duced o r c o m p l e t e l y e l i m

i na t e d. A s i de f

r om t h e l ack of f

li g ht c r ew m

e m be r s

l oc a t ed onbo a

r d t he a i r c r a f

t

, t he D J I Phan t o m 3 U A ( w e i g h i ng app r ox i m a t e l y 2 pounds 13

. 1 ounces

r e s p ec t i v e l y

, at i t s m ax i m u m g r oss w e i g ht wit h a l en g t h of 16

. 2 i nc h es a nd w i d t h of 16.6 i nch e s, and

w i t h no f u el on bo a

r d )

, h a s l e s s ph y s i c a l p o t e n t i al f o r c o l l a t e r al da m a g e t o l i f e and p r o pe r t y on t he

g r o u nd, a n d i n t he a ir

, c o m pa r ed t o t h e m anned a i r c r a f t t h at t y p i c a ll y co n duct s i m il a r op e r a ti o ns

( w e i g h i ng ap p r o x i m a t e l y 6 ,000 p o unds wi t h a wi n g sp a n o f a pp r o x i m a t e l y 42 f

e e t

, a l en g t h o f 34 f

e e t

,

and a f u e l ca p a c it y of 1 8 0 g a ll on s )

.12

3. P er f o r m i ng A e r i al V i deo and P h o t ogra p hy O p era t i ons W i t h T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 UAS

W i l l B en e f

i t T he E co n o m y.

I n add iti on t o b e i ng s af

e a n d e f f i c i e n t

, t h e D J I Phan t o m 3 U A S i s a l so an e c on o m i cal a l t e r na t i v e to

us i n g m anned a ir c r a f

t t o c o nduct s i m

il a r a e ri a l o p e r a t i ons. A s su c h, op e r a ti on of t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S w il l a l l ow U n it e d St at es ba s ed co m pan i e s, l i k

e Aero Aperture

, t o r e m a i n co m pe t i ti v e

and co n t r i bu t e t o g r o w t h of t he U .S. econo m y

. Spec i f i ca l l y

, w it h t he r i s i ng co s t o f a v i a t i on f u e l a n d t h e

En v ir on m en t a l P r o t e c ti o n A g ency ( “EP A ”) r e g u l a t o r y ac t i ons p h a s i ng out l ea d ed av i a ti on f u e l s, U. S

.

o w ned and o p e r a t ed co m pan i e s m ust adopt n ew and a l t e r n a t i v e t ech n o l o g y i n o r der t o r e m a i n

co m pe ti t i v e.

O pe r a ti ng t h e b a tt e r y po w e r ed D J I Phan t om 3 UA S is one s u ch t echn o l o g y t hat n ot o n l y a ll o w s

co m pan i es g r e a t e r op e r a t i o nal f l e x i b i l it y co m

pa r ed t o m anned a ir c r a ft

, b ut p r o v i des s u ch f l e x i b il it y

w it ho u t t he h i g h ope r a t i on a l co s t o f a tr a d i ti o nal m an n ed a i r c r a ft

.

B y ope r a ti ng t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, c o m pan i es s uc h as Aero Aperture

, can r e m a i n co m pe ti t i v e and

p r o f it a b l e, and t h e r e f

o r e, p r o v i de g r e a t er j ob s t a b i l it y t o e m p l o y ees a nd c on t r a c t o r s

, w h i ch w i l l u l t i m a t e l y

con t r i bu t e t o g r o w t h o f t h e U. S

. econo m y

. I m p r o v ed fi na n c i al p e r f

o r m ance of U .S. co m

pan i e s

, t h r ou g h

co mm e r c i al u se of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, p r o v i des a s t a b l e w o r k f o r ce t h a t i nc r ea s es co n su mer

sp e n d i n g ; i m

p r o v es l oca l

, s t a t e, a nd f

ed e r a l t ax r e v enue s ; a n d a ll o w s c o m pan i es to i n v e s t i n r e s e a r c h

and de v e l op m

ent i n o r d er t o r e m a i n co m pe ti t i v e bo t h i n t he U n i t ed S t a t e s a n d a b r oad.

4. T here A re N o Pr i v acy I s s ues.

Si m il ar t o t h e m anned a e r i al acq u i s i t i on f li g ht op e r a ti ons t h a t h a v e be e n c ondu c t ed f or de c ade s

, Aero

Aperture ’ s p r op o s e d o pe r a t i on of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S wi l l not i m p l i c a t e any p r i v acy i s s u e s

. S p e c i f i c a ll y

, t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l be o pe r a t ed o n l y i n co m p li ance w it h ope r a t i ng docu m en t s ( i .e.,

t h e Aero Aperture A e r i a l O pe r a ti o ns M a nu a l

, Mo n t h l y M a i n t e nan c e Lo g , and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr u c ti on

M a nu a l ) w h i ch r e qu i r es p r o pe rt y o w n e r i n v o l v e ment as w e l l as l oc a l l aw en f o r ce m ent n o t i f

i c a ti o n, a nd i n

ac c o r d ance w i t h t he Fede r al A v i a ti o n R e g u l a ti o ns, i nc l ud i ng t h e m i n i m u m a ltit u d e r e qu i r e m en t s of 14

C .F. R . § 91.1 1 9.

E

. T he R ea s o n s Why G ran t i ng T he E x e m p t i on Wou l d N ot A dv e r s e l y A ff e c t S a f e t y, O r H o w T he

E x e m pt i on Wo u l d P r o v i d e A L ev e l O f S a f e t y A t L ea s t E q u al T o T hat P ro v i ded B y T he R ule

F r o m w h i ch Aero Aperture S eeks E x e m p ti on.

1. R ea s ons Why T he D JI P h antom 3 U A Mee t s T he C on d i t i ons O f T he F A A Moder n i z a ti on

and R e f o r m A ct o f 20 1 2 ( F MR A ) Se c ti on 33 3

.

I n con si de r a

t i on o f t h e s i z e, w e i g h t

, s p eed, and l i m it e d ope r a t i ng a r e a a s so c i a t ed w it h t he u n m anned

a i r c r a f t and i t s op e r a ti o n

, Aero Aperture’s o p e r a ti on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S mee t s t he cond i t i ons o f

F MRA Se c t i on 333, and w i l l n o t r eq u i r e an a i r w o r t h i n e s s c e r t i f i c a t e i n a cc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R . Pa r t

21, S ubp a r t H.13

Sec t i on 333 p r o v i des a u t h o r i t y f or a UA S t o ope r a t e w it ho u t a i r w o r t h i ne s s ce r t i fi c a t i on and s e t s f o r t h

r eq u ir e m en t s f or con s i d e r i n g w he t her a UA S w i l l c r e a t e a ha z a r d t o u s e r s o f t h e NA S or t he pu b l i c, or

o t h e r w i s e p o se a t h r e a

t t o na t i on a l s e c u r i t y

. Spe c i f i ca ll y

, FM R A S e c ti on 333 s t a t es t h e f o l l o wi n g

, in

pa r t :

( a ) I n G en e ra l

. N

o t wi t h s t an d i ng any o t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h i s sub t i t l e, and n o t l a t er t han 1 8 0 d a ys a f t er

t he d a t e o f e na c t m ent of t h i s A c t

, t he Se c r e t ary o

f Transp o r t a t i on sh a l l d e t e r m i ne i f c e r t a i n un m anned

a i r c r a f t s y s t ems m ay op e ra t e s a

f e l y i n t he na t i onal a i r

s p a ce s y s t em b e

f o r e com p l e ti o n of t h e p l an and

r u l ema k i ng r e q u i r e d b

y s e c ti o n 3 3 2 o

f t h i s Act or t

he g u i dan c e r e q u i r

ed by s ec t i on 334 of t

h i s

Ac t

. ( b ) Ass e s sment of U

n m an n ed Ai r

c r a f t S y s t em s

. I n m a k i ng t he d

e t e r m i n a t i on un d

er sub s e c t i on ( a )

, t he

Secr e t a r y s h a l l d e t e r

m i ne, at a m i n i m u m

( 1 ) w h i ch t

yp e s o f un m an n ed a i r c r

a f t s y s t ems, i f a n y, as a r e s u l t o

f t h e i r s i z e

, w e i g h t

, sp e ed,

ope r a ti o nal c apa b i l it

y

, pr o x i mi t y t o a i r po r t s and p op u l a t ed ar e as, and o pe r a t i o n w it h i n v i su a l l i ne of

s i g h t do n o t c r e a t e a haz ar d t o us e rs o

f t he n a ti o n al a i r

s p ace s y s t em or t he pu b l i c or pose a t h r eat to

na t i onal s e c ur i t

y ; and

( 2 ) w he t h e r a c e r t i

f i c a t e of w a i ve r

, c e r ti fi c a t e of a u t ho r i z a ti o n, o r a i rwo r t h i ne s s c e r t i fi c a t i on und e r

s e c t i on 44704 o

f t i t l e 49, U

n i t ed S t a t es C o de, i s r e q u i r ed f o r t he ope r

a t i on o f u n m anned a i r c ra

f t

s y s t ems i de n t i

f i ed un d er p a rag r aph ( 1 )

.

( c ) Requ i r

eme n t s f or S a f e O p e ra t i on. If t he S ecr e t a ry d e t e r m i n e s un d

er t h i s s e c t i on t hat c e r t a i n

un m anned a i r c ra

f t s y s t ems m ay ope r

a t e s a f e l y i n t h e n a ti o nal a i r

s pace s y s t em, t h e Sec r

e t a ry s h a l l

e st a b l i sh r e q u i r e m en t s f

o r t he sa f e op e ra t i on of su c h a i r c ra f t s y s t ems i n t

he na ti onal a i r

spa c e s y s t em.

I n s e e k i ng t h i s exe m

p ti on, Aero Aperture s u b m it s t h a t t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S can op e r a t e s af e l y i n t h e

NA S pu r su a n t t o FM R A S e c ti on 333, a s de m ons tr a t ed b y : ( a) t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i cs of t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S; ( b) t he p i l ot c e r t i f

i c a ti o n r eq u ir e men t ; and ( c) t h e s p e c i f i c o p e r a t i ng li m

it a ti o n s.

a. T he S p ec i f

i ca t i ons O f T he D JI P h ant o m 3 UA S D e m on s t r a t es I t s Sa f e C ha r ac t e r i s t i c s

. T he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S does n o t c r e a t e a ha z a r d t o u s er s of t h e NA S o r t he p u b li c, or o t he r w i se po s e

a t h r e at t o n a t i on a l s ecu r

i t y con s i de r i ng i t s s i z e, wei g h t

, sp e ed, and o pe r a t i on a l c a pab i l i t y

.

i

. T ech n i c al S p e c i f

i ca t i ons O f T he D JI P ha n t om 3 UA S.

T he t ech n i c al sp e c i f

i ca t i o n s of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S a r e s et f o r t h by t he D J I Phan t om 3

Spec i f i ca t i o n s and D a t a S h ee t

, a t t ac h ed h e r e t o a s Ex h i b it

.

ii

. T he D JI P ha nt om 3 UA S A utono m o u s Fl i g h t A nd N av i ga t i on Mod e s E na b l e T he UAS

T o R e m a i n W i t hin A D e f i ned Op e ra t i on a l A rea.

T he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S m a y be op e r a t ed i n b o t h m anual a n d f u l l y au t ono m

ous f li g ht m ode s

. A

co m p l e t e de s c r i p t i on of t h e f

l i g ht and na v i g a ti o nal m

odes o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i s p r o v i d e d at

pa g es 12 • 16 and 45 • 50 of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U s e r M a nua l

, a t t ac h ed h e r e t o a s E x h i b i t B.

iii

. T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 UA S I s D e s i g n ed F o r A u t o m at i c R e t urn T o H o m e P o i n t O r H ov e r In

T he E vent O f L o s s O f T h e Co n t r o l L i nk O r N a v i g a ti on.

When t he C o n tr o l Link i s l os t

, t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A w il l r e m a i n s t a t i on a r y

, i n f li g h t

, f or 3 s econ d s

or m o r e. I f

, a ft e r 3 s e cond s

, D J I Phan t om 3 U A do not r e a cq u ir e co n t r ol l i nk da t a fr om t he GC S, t he

U A w il l a s su me t hat t h e C o n tr o l Link i s l ost a nd t h e U A w il l r e t u r n t o t he ho m e pos i ti on (i

. e., f

a i l s a f e

m ode) v i a G P S, and wi l l de s c end t o t he t a k eo f f po s i t i o n and s hu t d o w n. A co m p l e t e de s c r i p t i on o f t he

Fa i l s a f e Fu n c t i ons of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S a r e se t f o r t h a t pa g es 13 t h r ou g h 15 o f t he D J I Phan t om14

3 U s e r M a n u a l

, a t t ac he d he r e t o as Ex h i b i t A.

i v. T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 GC S A nd I t s O pe r a t i on.

A co m p l e t e d e s c ri p ti o n of t he op e r a ti on and s pe c i f i c a t i ons o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 GC S and f l i g ht

con t r ol s o ft w a r e i s p r o v i d e d at p a g es 40 t h r ou g h 47 of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U s e r M anua l

. D J I Phan t om 3

U s e r M a n u al i s a t t ac h ed h e r e t o as E x h i b i t A.

b. Fl i g h t O p e ra t i ons O f D J I P ha n t o m 3 UA S i s L i m i t ed T o T h e L i n e O f S i ght O f A

C er t i f i ca t ed Pi l ot i n C o m m and W it h A S a f e t y O b s erver.

Aero Aperture w i l l on l y u t i li z e c e r t i f i c a t ed p il o t s t o a c t as a p i l ot i n c o m m and ( P I C ) of t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S. A dd i t i on a ll y , a s a f

e t y obs e r v er w i l l a s s i s t a l l p i l o t s d u ri ng f l i g ht ti m e.

c. Fl i g h t s O f T h e D JI P ha n t om 3 UA S W i l l B e Co n d u c t ed P u r s ua n t T o S p e c i fi c

O per a t i ng L i m it a t i ons.

I n s e e k i ng t h i s e x e m

p ti o n, Aero Aperture p r o pos e s t o co m m e r c i a ll y op e r a t e t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S f or t he s pec i al p u r

p o se o f cond u c t i ng ae r i al v i d e o and p ho t o g r aphy o v er ce r t a i n a r e a s of

U n i te d S t a t e s , pu rs uant t o t he f o l l o w i ng sp e c i f

i c o p e r a t i ng li m

it a t i on s :

1. O pe r a ti o n s a u t h o ri z ed by t h i s g r a n t of exe m p ti on w i l l b e li m

i t ed t o t h e f

o ll o w i ng a i r c r a f

t d e s c ri b ed

i n t he o pe r a t i ng docu men t s

, r o t o r c r a f t UA Ss w e i g h i ng l e s s t han 55 po u nds m ax i m u m g r o s s w e i g h t : D J I

Phan t om 3 U n m anned A ir c r a f t S y s t e m s. P r op o s e d o p e r a t i ons of any o t h e r a ir c r a f t w il l r e q u i r e a new

pe t i t i on o r a p e t i t i on t o a mend t h i s g r a n t

.

2. UA S ope r a t i ons u n der t h i s exe m p ti on wi l l be l i m

it ed t o condu c ti ng ope r a t i ons fo r t he p u r po s e of

ae r i al v i deo a n d ph o t o g r a p h y

.

3. T he UA s m ay not be fl o w n at an i n d i c a t ed a i r s p eed ex c eed i ng 20 k no t s.

4. T he U A m

ust be op e r a t ed a t an a l t i t ude o f no m o r e t h a n 500 f

eet abo v e g r ound l ev el ( AG L), as

i nd i c a t ed by t he p r o c ed u r e s sp e c i f i ed i n t he op e r a ti ng docu m en t s un l e ss a sp e c i a l r eq u e s t i s m ade and

app r o v ed by A T C

. A l l a l t it udes r ep o rt e d t o A T C m ust be i n f e e t AG L.

5. T he UA s m

ust b e o p e r a t ed w it h i n v i s ual l i ne of s i g ht (V L O S ) o f t he P I C at a l l ti m e s

. T h i s r eq u i r es

t he P I C t o be a b l e t o use h u m an v i s i on u na i ded by a n y de v i ce o t h e r t han c o rr e c ti v e l en s e s

, as sp e c i f i ed

on t he P I C ’ s F A A i s s ued a i r m an m ed i c a l c e r t i f

i c a t e.

6. T he use of f

i r st p e r son v i e w ( F PV ) by t he P I C or s a fe t y obs er v er ( S O ) i s n o t p e r m itt ed.

7. A l l o p e r a t i ons m

ust u t i li z e a s a f

e t y ob s e r v er ( S O )

. T he SO m a y be u s ed t o s a t i s f y t he V L O S

r eq u ir e m ent as l ong as t h e P I C a l w a y s m a i n t a i ns V L O S cap a b i l i t y

. T h e SO and P I C m ust be a b l e to

co m m un i ca t e v e r b a l l y at a l l ti m e s . El e c t r o n i c me s s a g i n g or t ex t i ng i s not p e r m i t t ed du r i ng fli g ht

ope r a t i ons. T h e P I C m

ust be de s i g na t e d b e f

o r e t h e f l i g ht and ca n not t

r an s f er h i s or h e r d e s i g na t i on f or

t he du r a t i on of t h e f

l i g h t

. The P I C m

ust en s u r e t h a t t h e SO c an pe r f o r m t h e f un c t i ons p r e s c ri b ed i n t h e

ope r a t i ng docu m

en t s.

8. T he SO m

ust not p e r f

o r m any o t her d u t i es be y ond a s s i s ti ng t he P I C w it h s e e i ng and a v o i d i ng o t h er

a i r tr a f f i c a nd o t h er g r ound ba s ed o b s t a c l e s / ob s tr u c t i o ns and i s not p e r m it t ed t o ope r a t e t he c a m e r a or

o t h e r i n s tr u m

en t s.

9. T he op e r a ti ng docu men t s a nd t he g r a nt o f e x e m p ti on m ust be ac c e s s i b l e d u ri ng UA S ope r a ti o n s a n d

m ade a v a il ab l e t o t he A d m i n i s t r a t or up o n r e q ue s t

. I

f a d i s c r ep a ncy ex i s t s b e t w ee n t he c o nd i t i ons a n d15

li m it a ti o ns c on t a i n ed i n t he g r ant o f e x e m p ti on and t h e p r o ced u r es o u t l i ned i n t h e op e r a ti ng docu m en t s

,

t he c ond i t i ons and l i m

it a ti o ns c o n t a i ned i n t he g r a n t o f exe m p ti on t a k e p r e ce d ence and m

ust be f o l l o w ed.

O t h e r wi s e

, t h e o pe r a t or m ust f o l l ow t he p ro cedu r es as o u t l i ned i n i t s o pe r a ti ng d o cu m en t s. T he ope r a t or

m ay upda t e o r r e v i se i t s op e r a ti ng doc u m en t s. I t i s t h e op e r a t o r ’ s r e s pon s i b i l it y t o t r a ck s uch r e v i s i ons

a nd p r e s e nt upda t ed a n d r e v i s ed d o cu m en t s t o t he Ad m i n i s t r a t o r u pon r e que s t

. T he ope r a t o r m ust a l so

p r e s e nt upda t ed a n d r e v i s ed d o cu m en t s i f i t p e t i ti o ns f or e x t en s i on o r a m end ment to t he g r ant o f

exe m p ti o n. I f t he ope r a t o r d e t e r m

i nes t h a t any upda t e or r e v i s i o n w ou l d a f f e c t t h e ba s i s upon w h i ch t h e

F A A g r a n t ed t he exe m

p ti o n

, t hen t h e ope r a t o r m ust p e t i t i on f

o r a m en d m ent t o i t s g r ant of e x e m

p ti on.

T he F A A ’ s UA S I

n t e g r a ti on O f

f i ce ( A F S

- 80) m ay be con t a c t ed i f que s t i o n s a ri s e r e g a r d i ng upda t e s o r

r e v i s i ons t o t h e op e r a ti ng do c u m en t s.

1 0

. Pr i o r t o e ach f

l i g ht t he P I C m

ust i n s pe c t t he UA S t o e nsu r e t h at i t i s i n a c o nd i ti o n f o r s a f e f li g h t

. If

t he i nsp e c t i on r e v ea l s a c o nd i t i on t h a t a f f e c t s t he s a f

e ope r a t i on of t he UA S, t h e a i r c r a f t i s p r o h i b i t ed

fr om ope r a t i ng un t i l t h e n e ces s a r y m a i n t enan c e has be en pe r f o r m ed and t h e UA S i s f

ound t o be i n a

cond i t i on f

or s a f e f li g h t

. The G r o und C o n t r ol S t a t i on m ust be i n c l ud e d i n t he p re f l i g ht i nsp e c t i on. Al l

m a i n t enan c e a n d a l t e r a ti o n s m ust be p r o p e r l y docu m en t ed i n t he a i r c r a f t r ec o r ds.

1 1

. A ny UA S th a t has und e r g one m a i n t e n ance or a l t e r a t i o ns t h at a f f e c t t h e U A S op er a t i on or f li g ht

cha r ac t e r i s ti c s, e. g

. r ep l ac e m ent of a f l i g ht c r i t i c a l c o m

ponen t

, m

ust und e r g o a f

unc t i on a l t e s t f

l i g h t

.

T he P I C w ho conduc t s t he f un c ti o n al t e st f

l i g ht m ust m a k e an en t r y i n t h e a ir c r af

t r e c o r d s.

1 2

. T he p r e fli g ht i ns p e c ti on m ust accou n t f

o r a l l p o t e n t i al d i s c r e pan c i e s, e. g

. i no p e r a b l e c o m ponen t s,

it e m s, or equ i p m

en t , not a l r eady co v e r ed i n t h e r e l e v a n t s e c t i ons of t he o p e r a t i ng docu m en t s.

1 3

. T he op e r a t or m

ust f o l l ow t he U A S m anu f

ac t u r e r’ s a i r c r a f

t / co m ponen t

, m a i n t en a nce, o v e r h au l

,

r ep l ace m en t

, i ns p e c ti o n , a n d l i f

e li m i t r e q u i r e m en t s.

1 4

. T he op e r a t or m

ust c a r r y out it s m a i n t e n ance, i n sp e c t i o n s, a nd r ec o r d k ee p i ng r eq u i r e men t s, in

acc o r da n ce wi t h t he o p e r a ti ng docu men t s. M a i n t ena nc e, i n s pe c ti o n, a l t e r a t i ons, an d s t a t us of

r ep l ace m en t / o v e r ha u l c o m

ponent p a r t s m ust be no t ed i n t he a i r c r a f t r ec o r ds, i n c l ud i ng t o t al t i m e in

s er v i c e

, d e s c r i p ti on of w o r k acco m p li sh e d, and t h e s i g na t u r e of t he a u t ho r i z ed p e r son r e t u r n i ng t he

UA S to s e r v i ce.

1 5

. Each UA S op e r a

t ed u n der t h i s e xe m

p ti on m ust co m p l y w it h a l l m anu f

a c t u r er S a f

e t y B u ll e ti n s.

1 6

. T he a u t ho r i z ed p e r son m u s t m a k e an en tr y i n t he a i r c r a f

t r e c o r d of t he c o r

r e c ti v e ac t i on t a k

en

a g a i nst d i s c r epan c i e s d i s c ov e r e d b e t w een i n s pe c ti o ns.

1 7

. T he P I C m

ust m eet po s s e s s at l ea s t a cu r r e n t m ed i c a l c e r t i f

i c a t e.

1 8

. T he op e r a t or m ay not pe r m i t a ny P I C t o ope r a t e un l e s s t he P I C m ee t s t he o p e r a t or ’ s qu a l i f i c a ti on

c r i t e ri a and de m ons t

r a t es t he ab i l i t y t o s a f

e l y ope r a t e t he UA S i n a m anner con s i s t e n t w i t h how t he

UA S w il l b e op e r a t ed u nd e r t h e exe m p t i on, i nc l ud i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m a neu v e r s a n d

m a i n t a i n i ng app r o p r i a t e d i s t an c es f r om pe r son s

, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es and s t r u c t u r e s. P I C qua li f i c a t i on

f l i g ht hou r s m

ust be l o gg ed i n a m anner c o ns i s t ent w it h 14 C .F. R

. § 61.5 1 ( b )

. F li g h t s f or t he p u r p o s e s

of t r a i n i ng t h e op e r a t o r ’ s P I C s ar e pe r m i t t ed u nder t h e t e r m s of t h e exe m p t i on. H o w e v e r

, t r a i n i ng

ope r a t i ons m ay on l y be c o nduc t ed d u r i ng ded i c a t ed t r a i n i ng s e s s i ons. D u r i ng t r a i n i n g

, p r o fi c i e n c y

,16

and expe r i e n ce bu il d i ng f l i g h t s, a l l pe r sons not e s s en t i a l fo r f li g ht o p e r a

t i ons a r e con s i de r ed

n on

- pa rti c i pa n t s, a n d t he P I C m ust ope r a t e t h e U A w i t h app r o p r i a t e d i s t a n ce f ro m nonpa r t i c i pa n t s in

acc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R

. § 91.119.

1 9

. UA S ope r a t i ons m ay not b e co n du c t ed du r i ng n i g h t

, a s d e fi n ed i n 14 C .F. R

. § 1

. 1. Al l o p e r a t i ons

m ust be co n du c t ed und e r v i su a l m e t e o r o l o g i cal co n d it i ons ( V M C )

. I f f l i g ht a t n i g ht i s r eq u i r ed, a

sp e c i al r e q ue s t w i l l be m ade at t he F A A o f fi c e c l os e st t o p r o p os e d a r e a of o pe r a t i ons. F li g h t s und e r

sp e c i al v i su a l f

li g ht r u l es ( S V F R ) a r e not a u t h o ri z ed.

2 0

. T he U A m a y not op e r a t e w it h i n 5 n au t i c al m il e s of an a ir p o r

t r e f e r e n ce p o i nt as d eno t e d on a

cu r r ent F AA pub li sh e d a er onau t i c a l ch a r t u n l e ss a l e tt er o f a g r ee m ent w it h t h a t a

ir p o r t ’ s m ana g e ment

i s o b t a i ned, and t he o pe r a ti on i s cond u c t e d i n ac c o r da nce wi t h a N O T A M as r e q u ir e d by t he o pe r a t o r ’ s

COA

. T he l e t t er of a g r ee ment w it h t h e a ir p o r t m ana g e ment m

ust be m ade a v a i l a b l e t o t he A d m i n i s t r a t o r

upon r e que s t

.

2 1

. T he U A m ay not be ope r a t ed l e ss t h an 500 f e e t b e l ow or l e ss t han 2, 0 00 f e et h or i z on t a ll y fr om a

c l oud or w h e n v i s i b i l it y i s l e s s t han 3 s t a t u t e m il e s f r o m t he P I C

.

2 2

. I f t he U A l os e s co m m

un i c a t i ons o r l os e s i t s G PS s i g na l

, i t m ust r e t u r n t o a p r ede t e r m

i ned l o c a ti on

w it h i n t h e p l anned o pe r a t i n g a r ea and l and o r be r eco v e r ed i n a c co r dan c e w i t h t h e ope r a t i ng docu men t s.

2 3

. T he P I C m

ust abo r t t he f

l i g ht i n t h e e v ent of u n p r e d i c t ed ob s t a c l es or e me r g en c i es i n a cc o r da n ce

w it h t he o pe r a t i ng docu men t s.

2 4

. T he P I C i s p r oh i b i t ed fr om be g i nn i ng a f li g ht u n l e ss ( c ons i d e r i ng w i nd and f o r e ca st w e a t her

cond i t i on s ) t he r e i s enou g h po w er t o fl y a t n o r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed t o t he i n t e n ded l an d i ng po i nt and l and

t he UA wi t h 2 5 % b a

t t e r y p o w er r e m a i n i n g

.

2 5

. T he op e r a t or m

ust o b t a i n a n A i r Tra f

f i c Or g an i z a t i on ( A T O ) i s s u ed C e r t i f i c a t e o f Wa i v er or

A u t ho r i z a t i on ( COA ) p r i o r t o condu c t i ng any ope r a t i ons un d er t he g r ant of ex e m p ti on. T h i s CO A w i l l

a l so r equ i r e t h e o pe r a t o r t o r e q ue s t a N o ti c e t o A ir m an ( N O T A M) n o t m o r e t h a n 72 h ou r s i n ad v ance,

but n o t l e ss t han 48 h ou r s p ri o r t o t he o pe r a t i on. Al l ope r a t i ons s ha l l be condu c t ed i n a cc o r da n ce wi t h

a i r sp a c e r eq u ir e men t s i n t h e A T O i s su e d CO A i n c l u d i ng c l a s s of a i r s p ace, a l t i t u d e l e v el and po t en t i a l

tr a n spon d er r eq u ir e men t s.

2 6

. A l l a i r c r a f

t op e r a t ed i n a cc o r da n ce w i t h t he e xe m p ti on m ust be i d e n t i f

i ed by s e r i al nu m

be r

,

r e g i s t e r e d i n a c co r d ance wi t h 14 C .F. R

. pa r t 4 7

, and h a v e i den t i f i c a t i on ( N • N u m

be r ) m a r k i n g s in

acc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R

. pa r t 45, Su b pa r t C

. M a r k

i ng s m ust be a s l a

r g e as p r a c t i ca b l e.

2 7

. B e f o r e co n du c ti ng op e r a ti o ns, t he r a d i o f r e q uency s pe c tr um us e d f o r o p e r a t i on a nd co n tr o l o f t he

U A m ust co m p l y w it h t h e Fede r al C o mm un i ca ti o n s C o m m

i s si on ( F CC ) or o t h e r app r o p r i a t e

g o v e r n m ent o v e r s i g ht a g e n cy r equ i r e m en t s.

2 8

. T he d o cu men t s r eq u i r ed f e w er t han 14 C .F. R

. 91

. 9 an d 91.2 0 3 m ust b e a v a il a

b l e t o t h e P I C at t he

G r ound C o n tr o l St at i on of t he UA S any ti m e t he UA S i s op e r a ti n g

. The s e docu men t s m ust be m ade

a v a il a b l e t o t he Ad m

i n i s t r a t or or any l aw e n f

o r ce m ent o f f i c i al upon r e que s t

.

2 9

. T he U A m

ust r e m a i n c l e ar and y i e l d t he r i g ht o f w ay t o a l l m anned a v i a ti o n o p e r a t i ons and17

ac t i v it i es a

t a l l ti m e s

.

3 0

. T he UA S m a y not be o p e r a t ed by t he P I C fr om any m o v i ng de v i ce or v eh i c l e.

3 1

. Fl i g ht o p e r a t i ons m

ust be c onduc t ed a

t l ea s t 5 0 0 f

e et f r om a l l nonp a

r t i c i p a ti ng p er sons ( p e r s ons

o t h e r t han t he P I C

, S O

, ope r a t or t r a i nees or e s s e n ti a l pe r s o ns )

, v e s s e l s, v e h i c l e s

, and s t r uc t u r e s u n l e s s:

a. B a r r i e r s or s t r u c t u r es a r e p r e s e n t t h at su f f i c i e n t l y p r o t e ct no n pa

r t i c i p a t i ng pe r s ons fr om t he UA

and / o r d eb r i s i n t he e v ent of an a c c i d en t

. T he o pe r a t or m ust e n su r e t h at non p a

r ti c i p a t i ng pe r s o ns r e m a i n

under s uch p r o t e c ti on. I

f a s it u a t i on a

r i s e s w h e r e n o n

pa r t i c i p a t i ng pe r so n s l e a v e su c h p r o t e c t i on a n d a r e

w it h i n 500 f

e e t o f t h e U A

, f

li g ht o p e r a t i ons m

ust c ea s e i m m

ed i a t e l y and / o r ;

b. T he a i r c r a f

t i s o p e r a t ed ne a r v e s s e l s, v eh i c l e s or s t r u c t u r es w h e r e t he o w ne r / c o n t r o l l er o f su c h v e s s el s,

v e h i c l es o r s tr u c t ur es h a s g r an t ed p e r m i s si on and t h e P I C has m ade a s a f e t y a s s e s s m

ent of t he ri sk of

o p e r a t i ng c l os e r t o t hose o b j e c t s a nd d e t e r m

i n e d t h a t i t does not p r e s ent a n undue ha za r d, an d ;

c. O pe r a ti o n s n e a r e r t o t h e P I C

, S O

, ope r a t o r t r a i ne e s or e s s e n t i al pe r sons do n o t p r e s e n t an u ndue

ha z a r d t o t h o se p e r s ons p er § 91.119 ( a )

.

3 2

. A l l op e r a ti o n s sh a l l be co n duc t e d o v er p r i v a t e or c on t r o l l ed acce s s p r o p e r t y w it h pe r m i s si o n fr om

t he l and ow n e r

/ co n t r o l l er o r a u t ho r i z ed r ep r e s e n t a ti v e. Pe r m i s si o n f r om l and own e r/ c o n t r o l l e r or

au t h o ri z ed r e p r e s en t a t i v e wi l l be o b t a i n e d f o r e a ch fl i g ht t o be c o ndu c t ed.

3 3

. A ny i nc i den t

, ac c i de n t

, or f l i g ht ope r a

t i on t h at t r a n s g r e s s e s t he l a t e r a l or v e r t i c al bound a ri e s of t h e

ope r a t i on a l a

r ea as d e fi n ed by t he a p p l i ca b l e CO A m u st b e r ep o rt e d t o t he F AA ' s UA S I n t e g r a ti on

O ff i ce ( A F S • 80) w it h i n 24 hou r s. A c c i de n t s m ust be r epo r t ed t o t h e N a t i on a l Tr a nspo r t a ti o n S a f

e t y

B oa r d ( N T S B ) p e r i n s t r u c t i ons c o n t a i ned on t he N T SB Web s i t e: www .n t sb. g o v

.

2. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R equi r e m e nts O f Se c ti on 6 1.11 3 ( a) A nd ( b) Would

N o t A dver s e l y A ff

e c t S a f e t y.

Aero Aperture s u b m

it s t h a t t he eq u i v a l e n t l ev el of s a f e t y e s t a b l i sh e d by Sec t i on 61.11 3 ( a ) a nd ( b) wi l l b e

m a i n t a i ned b ec a use no P I C w il l be a ll o w ed t o op e r a t e t h e D J I Phan t o m 3 UA S un l e s s t hat P I C has

de m ons tr a t ed, by m

ee ti ng m i n i m u m fli g h t h our and cu r r e n cy r eq u i r e m en t s, t hat t he P I C i s a b l e t o s a f e l y

o p e r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i n a m ann e r con s i s t ent wi t h t he e x e m p t i on, i nc l ud i ng e v a s i v e an d

e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s a nd m a i n t a i n i ng ap p r op r i a t e d i s t an c es fr om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es a nd s tr u c t u r e s.

C ons i d e r i ng Aero Aperture’s p r opo s ed a r e a of o p e r a t i ons and t he op er a t i ng li m it a t i ons s e t f

o r t h

abo v e; t he p a r a l l el n a t u r e o f p r i v a t e p i l ot ae r ona u t i c a l k no w l ed g e r e qu i r e men t s t o t ho s e of co m m e r c i al

p i l ot r e q u i r e men t s ( See E x e m p ti on N o. 11 062 ) ; and t he a i r m an s h i p s k i l l s n e ce s s a

r y t o s af e l y ope r a t e

t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, Aero Aperture sub m it s t h a t t he add i ti o nal m anned a ir m an s h i p exp e r i en c e of

a co m m e r c i a l l y ce r t i f

i c a t ed p il o t w ou l d not c o r r e l a t e t o t he a ir m an s h i p s k i l l s nece s s a

r y Aero

Aperture s p ec i f

i c p r op o s e d f

li g ht op e r a t i o n s.

T he F A A has p r e v i ou s l y g r an t ed r e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 6 1.113 ( a) a nd ( b ) s p e c i f i c t o UA S, in

c i r cu m s t anc e s s i m

i l a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e s p e c t s, t o t ho s e p r e s en t ed h e r e i n ( e. g

. E x e m p ti on N os. 11062,

11063, 110 6 4, 11065, 1 1 0 66, 11067, 11 0 80, 111 0 9, 11110, 111 1 2, 11136, 1 1 1 38, 11150, 11 1 53,

11156, 11 1 58, 11 1 59, 11 16 0, 1116 1 )

.18

Aero Aperture wi l l n o t a ll ow any P I C t o ope r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 U A S un l e s s t h at P I C ha s

d e m ons tr a t e d

, by m

ee t i ng m i n i m u m fli g h t hour r e qu i r e men t s or t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S tr a i n i ng and

cu r r ency r equ i r e m

en t s, t h a t t he P I C i s a b l e t o s a f

e l y ope r a t e t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i n a m anner

con s i s t ent w it h t h i s e xe m p ti on, i n c l ud i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s a nd m a i n t a i n i ng

app r o p r i a t e d i s t anc e s f

r om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es a n d s tr u c t u r e s

.

Spec i f i ca l l y

, t he P I C m

ust ha v e accu m

u l a t ed a n d l o gg ed, i n a m anner c o ns i s t ent w it h 14 C .F. R . §

61.51 ( b )

, 2 5 ho u r s of t o t a l ti m e as a UA S r o t o r c r a f

t p i l ot ( wi t h a m

i n i m u m of 5 h ou r s of t h o se h ou r s as

a U A S pi l o t o p e r a

t i ng t he s a m e m a k

e and m odel of U A S to be u s e d f

or op e r a t i o n s und e r t h e

exe m p ti on )

. I n add i t i on t o t he hour r eq u ir e men t s, t he P I C m ust acco m

p li s h 3 t a k

eo f f s and l a n d i n g s in

t he p r e c ed i ng 90 da y s (f

o r cu r r ency pu r p os e s )

.

A s i n E x e m

p ti on N o s. 11 0 62, 1113 8

, and 111 5 3, p r i o r do c u m en t ed f li g ht ex p e ri ence t h a

t w a s o b t a i ned

i n co m p li a nce w it h a p p li ca

b l e r e g u l a ti o n s w i l l en s u r e an eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y du ri ng Aero Aperture

p r opo s ed o pe r a t i on s

. T he Ad m i n i s t r a t o r has h e l d t h a t p r i o r docu m e n t ed f l i g ht ex p e r i en c e t h a t w as

ob t a i n ed i n co m

p l i an c e wi t h a pp l i c a

b l e r e g u l a t i ons w o u l d en s u r e sa f e o pe r a ti o ns, s t a t i ng as f

o l l o w s :

I n Ex e m p ti on N o. 11062, t he F A A r equ i r ed t h at p r i or t o cond u c t i ng ope r a t i ons f or t he p u r p o se of

m o ti on p i c t u r e f

il m i ng ( or s i m

il ar op e r a t i o n s )

, t he P I C m ust ha v e accu m

u l a t e d and l o gg ed, i n a m anner

con s i s t ent wi t h 14 C FR 61

. 51 ( b )

, 25 hou r s o f t o t al t i m e as a UA S r o t o r c r a f t p i l ot i n c l ud i ng at l e a st 10

hou r s l o gg ed as a UA S p i l ot w i t h a m u lti r o t or UA S. Pr i o r t o o pe r a t i ons u nder E xe m p ti on N o. 11062,

t he P I C m

ust a l so ha v e ac c u m

u l a t ed and l o gg ed a m

i n i m u m of 5 hou r s as a UA S p il o t op e r a t i ng t he

s a m e m a k e and m odel of UA S t o be u s e d f or o pe r a ti ons un d er t he e xe m p ti on. F or c l a

r i f i c a t i on, t he

F A A con si d e r s t h e s e m

i n i m u m hour r equ i r e men t s t o be i n c l u s i v e r a t h er t h an a d d i t i v e; i .e. 5 ho u r s m a k e

and m odel ti m e m a y be i n c l uded i n t he 10 h o u r s o f m u l t i r o t or t i m

e and t he 10 h ou r s m ay be i nc l u d ed i n

t h e t o t a l 25 hou r s of U A S ro t o r c r a f t ti m e. I n add iti o n t o t he h o ur r eq u i r e men t s, t he P I C m ust a cco m

p li sh 3

t a k eo f f s and l an d i n g s i n t he p r e c ed i ng 90 da y s (f or c u rr e ncy pu r p o s e s )

. T h e F A A fi nds t h a t at a

m i n i m u m

, t he fli g h t hour r equ i r e men t s i n Exe m p ti on N o. 11062 a r e a

p p r op r i a t e t o p r a c t i c e and

bu i l d p r o f

i c i ency i n t h e s k

i ll s ne c e s s a r y t o s a f

e l y c on duct t he p e t i ti o ne r ’ s p r o p o s e d op e r a ti o ns. T h e

F A A a l so fi n ds t h at p r i o r docu men t ed f l i g ht exp e r i en c e t h a t w as ob t a i n e d i n co m p l i ance wi t h app l i ca b l e

r e g u l a ti o n s w o u l d s a t i s f

y t h i s r eq u i r e m en t

. T r a i n i n g

, p r o f i c i e n c y

, and expe r i e n ce bu il d i ng f l i g h t s c a n

a l so b e con d uc t ed und e r t he g r a n t of exe m p ti o n t o acco m

p l i sh t he r e q u ir e d f

li g ht ti m e. D u ri ng t r a i n i n g

,

p r o f i c i en cy

, and exp e r i ence bu il d i ng f l i g h t s t he P I C i s r eq u ir ed t o o p e r a t e t he U A S w i t h app r o p r i a t e

d i s t anc e s i n ac c o r da n ce wi t h 14 C

. F .R 91

. 119 Exe m p ti on N o. 11 1 38 a t p ag e 15.

A cco r d i n g l y

, Aero Aperture wi l l en s u r e s a f e ope r a ti o n s by not a l l o w i n g a n y P I C t o ope r a t e t he D J I

Phan t om 3 UA S u n l e s s t h a t P I C has de m ons t r a t ed, by m ee ti ng m i n i m u m fli g h t hour and cu r r ency

r equ i r e m en t s, t h at t he P I C i s a b l e t o s a f e l y o pe r a t e t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i n a m anner con s i s t ent

wi t h t h e exe m

p t i on, i n c l u d i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s and m a i n t a i n i ng app r o p r i a t e

d i s t a n ces f

r om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es a n d s t r u c t u r e s

.19

3. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r om T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f Se c t i on 91

. 7 ( a ) W ould N o t A dv e r s e l y

A ff e c t S a f e t y.

T he eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s af e t y e s t ab l i s h ed by Sec t i on 91.7 ( a ) wi l l be m a i n t a i n e d beca u se p ri o r t o e v e r y

f l i g h t

, Aero Aperture wil l e nsu r e t h a t t he D JI Phan t om 3 UA S i s i n an a ir w o rt hy c ond i t i on ba s ed up o n

t he UA S’s co m

p l i a nce wi t h i t s o pe r a t i ng d ocu m en t s a nd as s t a t e d i n t he c o nd i t i ons and li m it a ti o ns

h e r e i n.

A dd i t i on a ll y

, t h e F A A has p r e v i ou s l y g r an t ed r e li e f fr om Sec ti on 91

. 7 ( a ) s p e c i f i c t o UA S, in

c i r cu m s t anc e s s i m

i l a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e s p e c t s, t o t ho s e p r e s en t ed h e r e i n ( e. g

. E x e m p ti on N os. 11062,

11063, 110 6 4, 11065, 1 1 0 66, 11067, 11 0 80, 111 0 9, 11110, 111 1 2, 11136, 1 1 1 38, 11150, 11 1 53,

11156, 11 1 57, 11 1 58, 11 15 9, 11160, 1 116 1 )

.

4. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r om T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f Se c t i on 91

. 121 W o uld N ot A dve r s e l y

A ff e c t S a f e t y.

T he e q u i v a l e nt l e v el o f s a f e t y e s t a b l i sh e d by Se c ti o n 91.121 w i l l b e m a i n t a i n ed beca u se t he a l t it u de

i n f o r m a ti on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l be p r o v i de d t o t he P I C v i a G P S equ i p m ent and a r ad i o

co m m un i ca t i ons t e l e m e tr y da t a l i n k

, w h i ch do w n l i n k s fr om t he U A S t o t he GC S f or a c t i v e

m on it o r i ng of t h e f

li g ht p a t h and a l t i t u de. T h i s a l t it u d e i n f o r m a ti o n, co m

b i ned w i t h Aero Aperture’s

ope r a t i on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w it h i n v i s u al l i ne of s i g h t

, at or b e l ow 500 f eet AG L, w i l l en s u r e

a l e v el of s a f

e t y eq u i v a l e n t t o Sec t i on 91.121. The a l t i t u de i n f o r m a t i on wi l l b e g en e r a t ed by G PS

equ i p m ent i n s t a l l e d onb o a

r d t he a i r c r a f

t . P r i o r t o ea c h f

l i g h t , a z e r o a l t i t ude i n i t i a t i on p o i nt i s

au t o m a t i ca l l y e s t ab l i s h ed b y t he U A S at g r ound l e v e l

.

T he F A A has p r e v i ous l y g r an t ed r e li e f fr om Sec t i on 91.121 s pe c i f i c t o UA S, i n c i r cu m s t an c es s i m il a r

,

i n a l l m a t e r i a l r e s pe c t s, t o t hose p r e s e n t ed h e r e i n ( e. g

. Exe m p ti on N o s

. 1 1 062, 1 1 063, 1 1 064, 11065,

11066, 110 6 7, 11080, 1 1 1 09, 11112, 11 1 36, 111 3 8, 11150, 111 5 3, 11156, 1 1 1 57, 11158, 11 1 59,

11160, 1116 1 )

.

5. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f S e c t i on 91

. 151 ( b ) Would N ot

A dver s e l y A ff

e c t S a f e t y.

A g r ant of t h i s exe m

p ti o n w ou l d en s u r e an eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y e s t a b l i sh e d by 14 C .F. R

. S e c t i on

91.151 ( b) as a r e s u l t o f ( 1 ) t h e t ech n i c al sp e c i f i ca t i o n s of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S; ( 2) t h e li m it a ti o ns on

t he p r op o s e d f

l i g ht op er a t i on s ; and ( 3) t he l oc a ti o n of t he p r o p os e d f

l i g ht op er a t i ons. A c c o r d i n g l y

, Aero

Aperture wi l l e n su r e t h a t i t w i l l s a f e l y ope r a t e t he b a t t e r y po w e r e d D J I Phan t om 3 UA du ri ng d a y li g ht

h ou r s i n V FR con d i t i ons, wi t h enou g h b a t t e r y po w e r t o fl y f or a t o t a l d u r a ti o n o f 15 m i nu t es t o t he f

i r st

p o i nt o f i n t ended l and i ng and, a s s u m i ng no r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed, t o fl y a f t er t h at f o r at l ea s t 4.5 m

i nu t e s

.

H e r e, as i n Exe m

p ti o n N o. 11109, t he t ech n i c al sp e c i f i c a t i ons of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S; t he

li m it a ti o n s on t he p r op o s e d f l i g ht ope r a

t i on s ; and t h e l oca t i on of t he p r opo s ed o p e r a ti o n s, w i l l en s u r e an

equ i v a l e nt l e v el of s a f

e t y e st a b l i sh e d by 14 C .F. R

. S e c t i on 91.1 5 1 ( b )

. Fu r t h e r m o r e, s a f e t y w il l be

en s u r ed as t he D J I Phan t o m 3 UA S p r o v i des au d i b l e and v i su a l w a r n i n g s t o t he P I C at t he GC S w hen20

t he U A exp e r i enc e s l ow b a t t e r y v o l t a g e, t h e f i r s t w a r n i ng occu r

ri ng a t ap p r ox i m a t e l y 33% r e m a i n i ng

ba t t e r y po w e r

, and a g a i n at app r o x i m a t e l y 10% r e m a i n i ng ba t t e r y po w e r

. A t t he c r i t i c a ll y l ow ba t t e r y

l e v e l

, t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l de s c end a nd l and a u t o m a ti c a l l y

.

Si g n if i ca n tl y

, p r e v i o u s ex e m

p ti ons g r an t e d by t he F A A conce r n i ng Sec t i on 91 .1 51 e s t ab l i sh t h a t s a f e t y

i s n ot ad v e r s e l y a f

f e c t ed w hen t he t e c hn i cal c h a r a c t e ri s t i cs and o pe r a t i ng l i m it a ti ons o f t he UA S a r e

con s i de r ed. R e l i e f has b ee n g r an t ed f o r m anned a ir cr a f

t t o ope r a t e at l e s s t han t he m i n i m u m s p r e s c ri b ed

i n Se c ti on 91

. 151, i n c l u d i n g Ex e m p ti on N os. 2689, 5 745, and 10650. Mo r eo v e r

, t he F A A has p r e v i ou s l y

g r an t ed r e l i ef fr om Sec ti on 91.151 s p ec i f i c t o UA S, i n c ir c u m s t ances s i m il a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e s p ec t s, t o

t ho s e p r e s e n t ed he r e i n ( e. g

. Exe m p ti on N o s. 8811, 108 0 8, 10673, 1 1 0 42, 11062, 11 0 63, 11064, 110 6 5,

11066, 1 1 0 67, 11080, 11 1 09, 111 1 0, 11136, 111 3 8, 11150, 1 1 1 53, 11156, 11 1 57, 11158, 11 1 59, 11 1 60,

11 1 61 )

.

6. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f Se c t i ons

91.405 ( a )

, 91.40 7 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1 .409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, A nd 9 1.417 ( a ) & ( b) Wo u l d N o t A dve r s e l y A ff e ct

S a f e t y.

I n s e e k i ng t h i s e x e m

p ti on, Aero Aperture s u b m it s t h a t t h e eq u i v a l e n t l ev el of s a f e t y w i t h r e g a r d t o

t he r e g u l a t o r y m a i n t ena n ce and a l t e r a ti on r equ i r e men t s e s t a b li s hed by Se c ti o n s 9 1.40 5 ( a )

,

91.407 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 91.40 9 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91.41 7 ( a ) & ( b) w i l l be m et Aero Aperture w il l u se t r a i ned

t ec h n i c i a n s t o pe r f

o r m m a i n t enan c e, a lt e r a ti o ns, or p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce on t he UAS us i ng t he

m e t hods, t ech n i q ue s , a n d p r ac t i c es p r e s c r i b e d i n t he o p e r a t i ng docu men t s ( i .e., t h e Aero Aperture A e ri a l

O p e r a ti o ns M a nu a l , M o n t h l y M ai n t enan c e Lo g , and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a nu a l )

. Fu r t h e r m o r e,

Aero Aperture w i l l d ocu ment and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i n t enan c e r ec o r ds f o r t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S.

Sin c e t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l be i nsp e c t ed as p r e s c r i bed by t he op e r a ti ng d o cu men t s, Aero Aperture

wi l l m a i n t a i n t he eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y e st ab l i s h ed by Se c ti o n s 9 1.405 ( a )

, 91. 4 09 ( a ) ( 1 ) , and

91.4 0 9 ( a ) ( 2 )

. A c o py of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 U s e r M a nu a l s a r e a t t a ched h e r e t o as Ex h i b i t C and D ; a

copy of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S M ai n t ena n ce L O G i s a t t ach e d he r e t o as Ex h i b i t C. Li k ewi s e, t he

exe m p ti o n s ou g ht w i l l n o t a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t s a f e t y beca u se Aero Aperture w i l l use t r a i n ed t e c hn i c i a ns t o

p e rf o r m m a i n t enan c e, a l t e r a ti o n s o r p r e v en t i v e m a i n t e nance on t he UAS us i ng t he m e t hod s

, t e ch n i qu e s,

a n d p r a c t i c e s p r e s c ri b ed by t h e op e r a t i ng docu men t s. Fur t h e r m o r e, t he e x e m

p ti o n sou g ht w ou l d m a i n t a i n

a n equ i v a l ent l e v el o f s a f

e t y e st a b l i sh e d by Sec t i ons 91

. 407, 91.4 1 7 ( a ) and 91.417 ( b )

, b e cau s e a l l

m a i n t e n ance o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l be pe r f o r m ed by tr a i ned t ec hn i c i an s

.

M a i n t en a nce w i l l be docu men t e d and m a i n t a i ned u t i l i z i ng t he m on t h l y m a i n t en a nce l o g . Si g n if i ca n tl y

,

p r e v i ous e x e m

p ti ons g r an t ed by t h e F A A conc e r n i ng Sec t i ons 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91. 4 0 7 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 91

. 409 ( a ) ( 1) &

( a ) (2 )

, a n d 91. 4 17 ( a) & ( b) e s t a b l i sh t h a t s a f e t y is not a d v e r s e l y a f

f e c t ed w he n t he t e c hn i cal

ch a r a c t e r i s ti cs and op e r a t i ng li m it a t i ons of t h e U A S a

r e con s i de r ed.

I n con si de r a t i on of Aero Aperture’s p r o pos e d op e r a ti ng l i m it a t i o n s, t he op e r a t i ng docu m en t s, a nd t he

t ech n i c al a s p e c t s o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, Aero Aperture s u b m it s t h a t s af e t y w i l l not be ad v e r s e l y

a f f ec t ed by g r an t i ng exe m

p ti o n f r om 14 C .F. R . Sec t i o ns 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91.407 ( a ) ( 1) and ( a )( 2 )

,

9 1.409 ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91

. 417 ( a) and ( b )

. T he F A A has p r e v i ou s l y g r an t ed r e l i e f sp e c i f i c t o UA S i n

c i r cu m s t ances s i m

il a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e sp e c t s, t o t h o se p r e s e n t ed h e r e i n ( e. g . Exe m p ti on N os. 11062,

1 1 063, 11064, 1 1 065, 11 0 66, 11067, 11080, 1 1109, 1 11 10, 11112, 11 1 36, 11138, 111 5 0, 11153,21

11156, 11 1 57, 11 1 58, 11 15 9, 11160, 1 116 1 )

.

7. T he F A A M ay P r e s c r i be A ny O t h er C on di ti ons F o r S a f e O p e ra t i on.

I n acco r dan c e w i t h Se c t i on 333 of t he F A A Mod e r n i z a t i on and R e f o r m A ct of 2 012 ( F MR A ) and 14

C

. F

. R

. § 21.16 e n t i t l ed S p e c i al C o nd i t i o n s, Aero Aperture r eq u e s t t h a t t he F A A p r e s c r i be sp e c i al

con d i t i o n s f

o r t he i n t end e d op e r a ti o n of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, w h i ch c o n t a i n s u ch s a f

e t y s t an d a r d s

t hat t he A d m

i n i s t r a t o r fi n d s n e ce s s ar y t o e s t a b l i sh a l e v el o f s a f

e t y equ i v a l e n t t o t h at e st a b l i sh e d by

14 C .F. R . P a

r t 21, Subp a

r t H

, and 14 C .F.R §§ 61.11 3 ( a ) & ( b ) , 91

. 7 ( a ) , 91.1 2 1, 91.151 ( b )

,

91.40 5 ( a )

, 9 1

. 4 07 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1.40 9 ( a ) ( 1) & (a )( 2 )

, a nd 9 1 .417 ( a) & ( b )

. Such s pe c i a l c o nd i t i ons w il l

pe r m i t s a f e op e r a ti o n o f t h e U A s f

o r t he l i m it ed pu r pose of cond u c t i ng ae r i al v i deo and pho t o g r aphy

o v er c e r t a i n a

r eas o f t he U n i t ed St a t e s f o r co m pen s a t i on o r h i r e. F MRA Se c ti o n 3 3 3 s e t s f o r t h t he

r e q u i r e m en t s f

or c ons i d e r i ng w he t h er a UA S w il l c r e a t e a ha za r d t o u s e r s of t h e NA S o r t he pub l i c,

o r o t he r w i se pose a t h r eat t o n a t i on a l s ec u r i t y ; and f u r t he r

, p r o v i d es t he a u t ho r i t y f or s u ch UAS t o

op e r a t e w i t ho u t a ir w o r t h i ne s s c e r t i f i c a t i on i n a c co r d ance w it h any r eq u ir e men t s t h a t m ust be

e st a b l i sh e d f o r t he s a f e op e r a t i on o f t he U A S in t h e NA S.

Li k ewi s e, t he Ad m

i n i s t r a t o r m ay p r e s c r i be s p e c i al co n d i t i ons pu r su a n t t o 14 C

. F

. R .§ 21.16, f o r op e r a ti o n

of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, s i n ce t h e a i r w o r t h i ne s s r e g u l a t i ons o f 14 C .F. R

. P a r t 21 do n o t co n t a i n

a d equ a t e or ap p r o p r i a t e s a f e t y s t an d a r ds, due t o t he no v el or u nusu a l d e s i g n f e a t u r es of t h e a ir c r a ft

. S e c ti on 21. 1 6, en t i t l ed S pe c i a l C on d i t i o ns, s t a t es t he f o ll o w i n g :

I f t he F A A fi nds t h at t he a i r w o rt h i ne s s r e g u l a t i o n s of t h i s s u bch a p t e r do n ot con t a i n adeq u a t e or

app r o p r i a t e s a f

e t y s t a n da r d s f

or an a i r c r a ft

, a i r c r a f

t eng i ne, or p r op e l l er b e ca u se of a no v el or unu s ual

de si g n f ea t u r e of t he a

i r c r a f t

, a ir c r a f t e n g i ne o r p r o pe ll e r , he p r e s c ri b es s p e c i al c o nd i t i o n s a nd

a m en d m en t s t h e r e t o f

or t h e p r o d uc t

. T h e s pe c i al c o nd i ti o n s a r e i s s u e d i n acc o r d a nce w it h P a

r t 11 of

t h i s c ha p t er and c o n t a i n s u ch s a f e t y s t and a

r ds f o r t he a i r c r a ft

, a i r c r a f

t en g i n e o r p r op e l l er as t h e F A A

fi n d s n e ces s a r y t o e s t ab l i sh a l e v el of s a f e t y equ i v a l e n t t o t h a

t e s t a b l i sh e d i n t h e r e g u l a t i ons. See 14

C. F

. R . § 21

. 16.

T h e r e f o r e, i n a c co r d ance w it h F MRA Se c ti o n 333 and 14 C

. F. R . § 21.1 6

, t h e F A A m a y p r e s c r i be sp e c i al

con d i t i o n s f

o r Aero Aperture i n t e n d e d ope r a t i on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, w h i ch con t a i n su c h s a f e t y

s t and ar ds t h at t he Ad m

i n i s t r a t o r f

i nds n e ces s a r y t o e s t ab l i sh a l e v el o f s a f e t y equ i v a l e nt t o t hat

e s t a b l i s h ed by 14 C .F. R

. P a

r t 21, S ubpa

r t H

, and 14 C .F.R S e c t i ons 61.11 3 ( a ) & ( b )

, 91.7 ( a )

, 91. 1 21,

91. 1 51 ( b )

, 91.405 ( a )

, 9 1.40 7 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 9 1.417 ( a) & ( b )

.

● A S u mm a ry T h at C an B e P u b li s h ed In T he F ede r al R eg i s t er, s t a t i ng:

● T he R ul e s From Wh i ch Aero Aperture S eeks E x e m p t i on:

Aero Aperture se eks exem p ti o n f rom t he r e q u i r e m e n t s o

f 14 C .F.R S ec t i ons 61.113 ( a ) & ( b )

,

91.7 ( a )

, 91.121, 91.1 5 1 ( b )

, 91.405 ( a )

, 91.407 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a )( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91.417 ( a) & ( b )

.

A B r i e f D e s c r i p ti on O f T he N a t ure O f T he E x e m p t i on Aero Aperture S e ek s :

This e x emp t i on wi l l p e rmit Aero Aperture t o com m e r c i a l l y op e ra t e an U

n m anned Ai r c ra

f t Sy s t em

( U AS) f or t h e pur

p ose o f con d uc t i ng ae r i al v i deo and p ho t o grap h y o v er cer t

a i n ar e a s of t h e U

n it ed

S t a t e s

.22

● A ny A d d it i onal I n f

o r m a t i on, V i e w s, O r A r gu m en t s A va il a b l e To S u p p ort Aero Aperture

R eq u e st

.

T h i s P e t it i on i s m ade pu r s u ant t o t he F A A Mo d e r n i z a ti on and R e f o r m A ct o f 2 0 12 ( FM RA ) S e c ti on 333,

w h i c h d i r e c t s t he Se c r e t a r y of T r an s p o r t a t i on t o de t e r m i n e i f c e r t a i n UA S m ay ope r a t e s a f e l y i n t h e NA S.

A s su c h, Aero Aperture’s r e q ue s t f or e x e m p ti o n m ay be g r an t ed pu r s u ant t o t he a u t h o r i t y of FM R A

Sec t i on 333 and 1 4 C .F. R

. Pa r t 1 1, as s et f o r t h abo v e.

FM R A Sec t i on 333 s e t s f o rt h t he r eq u ir e m

e nt s f or c o ns i d e r i ng w he t her a UA S w il l c r e a t e a ha z a r d to

us e r s o f t he NA S or t he p u b l i c, o r o t h e r wi se pose a t h r e a t t o n a t i on a l s e c u r it y ; a n d f u rt h e r

, p r o v i des t h e

au t h o r i t y f

or su c h UA S t o o pe r a t e w it h o ut a ir w o r t h i n e s s c e r t i f i c a t i on.

A s d i s c us s e d i n d e t a

i l abo v e, Aero Aperture w il l o pe r a t e t he D J I Phan t o m 3 U A S s af e l y in t he NA S,

w it h out c r e a t i ng a ha z a r d t o u s e r s of t he N A S, or t he pu b l i c, o r o t he r w i s e po s e a t h r e at t o na t i on a l

s ec u r i t y

.

C O NCLU SI O N

A s se t f o r t h he r e i n, Aero Aperture s ee k s an e xe m p ti on pu r su a n t t o 14 C

. F. R

. § 11.61 and Sec t i on 3 3 3 of

t he F A A M ode r n i z a t i on a n d R e f o r m A ct o f 2012 ( FM RA )

, w h i c h w il l pe r m i t s a f e ope r a t i on o f t he D J I

Phan t om 3 UA S co m m

e r c i a l l y

, w it ho u t an a i r w o r t h i n e s s c e r t i f i c a t e, f or t he li m it ed pu r po s e of

co n du c ti ng ae r

i al v i deo and ph o t o g r aphy o v er ce r t a i n a r e a s of t h e U n i t ed St a t e s

. B y g r an ti ng t h i s

Pe ti ti on, t h e F A A A d m i n i s t r a t or wi l l be f

u l f i l l i ng t he Con g r e s s i on a l m anda t e of t h e F A A Mod e r n i z a t i on

and R e f o r m A ct of 2 0 12, w h i l e a l so adv an ci ng t he i n t e r e s t s o f t h e pub l i c, by a l l o w i ng Aero Aperture t o

s af e l y , e f fi c i e n tl y , and eco n o m

i ca ll y ope r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA Ss co m m e r c i a l l y w it h i n t he N A S.

W H ER E F O R E

, i n ac c o r d ance w i t h t he F ed e r al A v i a ti on R e g u l a ti o ns and t he F A A Mod e r n i z a t i on and

R e f o r m A ct of 2012, S ec ti on 333, Aero Aperture r e s p e c tf u ll y r e q ue s t s t h a t t h e A d m i n i s tr a t or g r ant t h i s

P e t i t i on f or an e x e m

p ti on f r om t he r e qu i r e m en t s of 14 C .F.R Se c ti o ns 6 1.113 ( a) & ( b )

, 91.7 ( a )

, 9 1.121,

91.1 5 1 ( b )

, 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91

. 407 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 9 1.417 ( a) & ( b )

, a nd pe r m i t Aero Aperture

t o o p e r a t e t he D J I Ph a n t om 3 UA Ss co m m e r c i a ll y f or t he pu r p ose of condu c ti ng a e r i al v i d e o and

p ho t o g r a p hy o v er ce r t a i n a r eas of t he U n i t ed S t a t e s

.23

D a t e d : May 2 9

, 2 015

R e s pe c tf u ll y sub m

i t t ed,

Ryan Masterson

Ryan Masterson

Aero Aperture

5101 Xerxes Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 5541024

A ppend i ce s :

A

– D J I Phan t om 3 Spec i f i ca t i ons D a t a S he e t

A P P E N D I

X

– A

D JI P H ANTO M 3 TECHN IC A L S P EC I F IC A T I O N S

h t t p : / / www

. d j i

. co m / p r odu c t/ p ha n t o m

- 3 / sp e c

Aero Aperture o n l y u t i li z es s a f e and r e li a

b l e UA Ss. D J I i s an i n d

us t r y l ead e r i n s m a l l UAS p r odu c t i on.

D J I UA Ss a

r e l oaded w i t h g r ound b r ea k i n g so ft w a

r e ena b l i ng t he u se r t o s et p a r a m e t e r s w h i ch wi l l n o t

a l l ow f li g ht i n t o c on t r o l l ed a i r sp a ce. P a r a me t e r s c an a l so be s et t o li m i t f li g ht t o no h i g her t han a

p r ed e t e r m

i ned and s e t a l t i t u d e a s w e l l a s l i m i t f l i g ht t o a p r ed e t er m

i ned and s e t d i s t an c e. I

n add i t i on,

D J I so ft w a r e p r o v i des r ea l

- ti m e a l t it u d e a nd l oc a t i on i n f o r m a ti o n t o t he P I C v i a t he li n k ed m on it or

( s m a r t pho n e / t a b l e t de v i ce s )

D JI P H ANTO M 3 U S E R MA N UA L

h t t p : / / w w w

. d ji

. c o m/ p r o du ct / ph a n t o m

- 3/ d o wn l o ad25

APPENDIX

- B

DJI PHANTOM 3 Maintenance Log

Month:______________ Year:____________________

UAS#

______ Date Issue

Discovered Date Issue

Addressed Issue Description & Maintenance Conducted Maintenanc e

Performed by:

Initials

Software

Updates

Airframe

Engines

Propellers

Camera Gimbal

Landing Gear

Vibration

Dampening

Other: