1

Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

Brett!Covington

14280!Half!Moon!Bay

Del!Mar,!CA!92014

November!4,!2015

U.S.!Department!of!Transportation

Docket!Management!System!1200

New!Jersey!Ave.,!SE!Washington!DC!20590

Re:!Exemption!Request!Pursuant!to!Section!333!of!the!FAA!Reform!Act!and!Part!11!

of!the!Federal!Aviation!Regulations!from:!14!CFR!21!subpart!H;!14!CFR!45.23(b);!14!

CFR!61.113(a);!14!CFR!91.7(a);!14!CFR!91.9(b)(2);!14!CFR!91.103;!14!CFR!91.109;!

14!CFR!91.119(c);!14!CFR!91.121;!14!CFR!91.151(a);!14!CFR!91.203!(a)!and!(b);!14!

CFR!91.405 (a);!14!CFR!91.407!(a)!(1)!14!CFR!91.409!(a)(1)!and!(2);!14!CFR!

91.417(a)!and!(b)

To!whom!it!may!concern:

Pursuant!to!Section!333!of!the!FAA!Modernization!and!Reform!Act!of!2012!and!14!

CFR!Part!11,!Brett!Covington,!operator!of!small!Unmanned!Aerial!Systems!(UAS),!

hereby!applies!for!an!exemption!from!the!listed!Federal!Aviation!Regulations!to!

allow!commercial!operation!of!a!small!UAS,!so!long!as!such!operations!are!

conducted!within!and!under!the!conditions!outlined!herein!or!as!my!be!established!

by!the!FAA!as!required!by!Section!333.

Commercial!operation!small!UAS,!as!described!herein,!which!are!equipped!with!

cameras!and!sensors,!would!operate!in!the!following!manner:

1.!Aerial!photography!and/or!video!for!public!and/or!private!use!including!

real!estate, architecture,!agriculture,!land!surveying,!engineering!and!other!

related!professional!activities.

2.!Aerial!video!and/or!photography!for!public!and/or!private!use!including!

television,!public!events,!and!cinematography.

3.!Aerial!inspection/photography!of residential/commercial!structures!under!

contract!with!the!owners!or!local!government!authority.

4.!Aerial!video/photography!or!providing!live!video!feed!to!assist!with!search!

and!rescue!operations!in!cases!of!an!emergency!or!natural!disaster!only!

when!the local!authorities!or!government!has!requested!it!by!contract!or!

donation.

As!described!fully!below,!the!requested!exemption!would!permit!the!operation!of!

small!UAS!under!controlled!conditions!in!the!NAS!that!would!be!a)!limited!b)!

controlled!c)!predetermined!and!d)!will!provide!safety!enhancements!to!the!already!

safe!operations!in!the!industry!presently!using!conventional!aircraft.!Approval!of!

this!exemption!would!thereby!enhance!safety!and!fulfill!the!Secretary!of!
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

Transportation's!(the!FAA!Administrator's)!responsibilities!to!"....establish!

requirements!for!the!safe!operation!of!such!aircraft!systems!in!the!national!airspace!

system."!

The!name,!phone,!email!and!address!of!the!applicant:

Name:!Brett!Covington

Phone:!(858)!334_3693

Email:!covington.brett1@gmail.com

Address:!14280!Half!Moon!Bay,!Del!Mar,!CA!92014

Regulations!from!which!the!exemption!is!requested:

14!CFR!Part!21!subpart!H

14!CFR!45.23!(b)

14!CFR!61.113(a)

14!CFR!91.7!(a)

14!CFR!91.9!(b)!(2)

14!CFR!91.103

14!CFR!91.109

14!CFR!91.119(c)

14!CFR 91.121

14!CFR!91.151!(a)

14!CFR!91.203!(a)!&!(b)

14!CFR!91.405!(a)

14!CFR!91.407!(a)!(1)

14!CFR!91.409!(a)!(2)

14!CFR!91.417!(a)!&!(b)

The!small!UAS!I!will!be!using!are multi_rotor!craft!weighing!no!more!than!55

pounds,!including!payload.!Under!normal!conditions!they will!operate!at!speeds!of!

no!more!than!35!Mph!or!30!Knots!and!have!the!ability!to!hover!and!move!along!a!

vertical!and!horizontal!plane!simultaneously.!They will!operate!in!line!of!sight!only!

and!by!the!exempted!person!only!obeying!all!other!local!and!federal!laws.

Given!the!small!size!of!the!UAS!and!the!controlled!environment provided,!the!

proposed!operations!will!adhere!to!the!Reform!Act's!safety!requirements.!The!

approval!of!this!application!presents!no!national!security!issues.!Regarding!the!level!

of!safety!surrounding!the!proposed!operations!and!the!public!benefit,!reduction!in!

environmental!impacts,!including!but!not!limited!to!reduced!emissions!and!noise,!

the!grant!of!the!requested!exemption!is!in!the!public!interest.!Accordingly!the!

applicant!requests!that!the!FAA!grant!the!requested!exemption!with!minimum!

delay.

AIRCRAFT'AND'EQUIVALENT'LEVEL'OF'SAFETY

The!operation!limitations!proposed!for!an!equivalent!or!higher!level!of!safety!

because!operations!will!further!enhance!the!safety!of!the!persons!and/or!property!

using!conventional!aircraft.!These!limitations!and!conditions to!which!the!applicant!
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

agrees!to!adhere!to!when!conducting!commercial!operations!under!the!FAA!issued!

exemption!as!set!forth!in!the!Flight!Operations!Manual!(FOM}!include:

1.!The!small!UAS!will!weigh!less!than!55 lbs.

2.!Flights!will!be!operated!within!line!of!sight!of!a!pilot!and/or!observer.

3.!Maximum!flight!time!for!each!operational!flight!will!be!30!minutes.!Flights!

will!be!terminated!at!25%!battery!power!reserve!or!30!minutes!of!flight!time;!

whichever!occurs!first.

4.!Flights!will!be!operated!at!an!altitude!of!no!more!than!400!feet!Above!

Ground!Level!(AGL}!(max!height!of!400!feet!AGL!is!programmed!into!small!

UAS!and!will!not!exceed!this!height),!and!not!more!than!200!feet!above!an!

elevated!platform!from!which!filming!is!planned.

5.!Minimum!crew!for!each!operation!will!consist!of!the!small!UAS!Pilot!in!

Command

(PIC},!the!Visual!Observer!(VO}!when!needed!and!may!include!but!not!

limited!to!a

Camera!Operator.

6.!The!small!UAS!pilot!will!be!Brett!Covington ONLY, not!allowing!any!other!

person!to operate!the small!UAS!in!a!commercial!capacity.

7.!A!briefing!will!be!performed!regarding!the!planned!small!UAS!operations!

prior!to!each!day's!flight!consisting!of!all!the!days'!production!activities.

8.!The!PIC!will!obtain!verbal/written!consent!of!all!persons!involved!with!the!

planned!operation!and!ensure!that!only!consenting!persons!will!be!allowed!

within!100!feet!of the!flight!operation,!and!the!radius!may!be!reduced!to!30!

feet!based!upon!an!equivalent level!of!safety!determination,!as!required!

under!the!FOM.!With the!advanced permission!or!direction!of!the!FSDO,!

operations!at!closer!range!may!be!approved.

9.!The!PIC!and!VO!will!have!been!trained!in!operation!of!small!UAS!and!

receive!up_to!date!information!for!the!particular!small!UAS!to!be!operated!

and!will!be!able!to!show upon!request!their!competent!ability!to!operate!the!

small!UAS!and/or!Camera.

10.!The!PIC!and!VO!will!be!able!to!communicate!by!voice,!radio,!and/or!text!

at!all!times.

11.!Written!and/or!verbal!permission!and!permits!will!be!obtained!from!

territorial,!state,!county!or!city!jurisdictions,!including law!enforcement,!fire!

or!other!appropriate governmental!agencies!when!needed.

12.!If!the!small!UAS!loses!communications!or!loses!GPS!signal,!the!small!UAS!

will!have!the!capability!to!return!to!a!pre_determined!location!within!a!

designated!location!and land!autonomously.

13.!The!small!UAS!will!have!the!capability!to!abort!a!flight!in!case!of!

unpredicted!obstacles,!weather,!or!emergencies.

14'C.F.R.'Part'21,'Subpart'H:'Airworthiness'Certificates'14'C.F.R.'§91.203'(a)'

(1}
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

Subpart!H,!entitled!Airworthiness!Certificates,!establishes!the!procedural!

requirements!for!the!issuance!of!airworthiness!certificates!as!required!by!FAR!

§91.203!(a)!(1).!Given!the!size!and limited!operating!area!associated!with!the!

aircraft!to!be!utilized!by!the!Applicant,!an!exemption from!Part!21!Subpart!H!meets!

the!requirements!of!an!equivalent!level!of!safety!under!Part!11 and!Section!333!of!

the!Reform!Act.!The!Federal!Aviation!Act!(49!U.S.C.§44701!(f))!and!Section

333!of!the!Reform!Act both!authorize!the!FAA!to!exempt!aircraft!from!the!

requirement!for!an airworthiness!certificate,!upon!consideration!of!the!size,!weight,!

speed,!operational!capability, and!proximity!to!airports!and!populated!areas!of!the!

particular!small!UAS.!In!all!cases,!an analysis!of!these!criteria!demonstrates!that!the!

small!UAS!operated!without!an!airworthiness certificate,!in!the!restricted!

environment!and!under!the!conditions!proposed!will!be!at!least!as safe,!or!safer,!

than!a!conventional!aircraft!(fixed!wing!or!rotorcraft)!operating!with!an

airworthiness!certificate!without!the!restrictions!and!conditions!proposed.

The!small!UAS!to!be!operated!hereunder!is!less!than!55!lbs.!fully!loaded,!carries!

neither!a!pilot!nor!passenger,!carries!no!explosive!materials!or!flammable!liquid!

fuels,!and!operates exclusively!within!a!secured!and!designated!area.!Unlike!other!

civil!aircraft,!operations!under this!exemption!will!be!tightly!controlled!and!

monitored!by!both!the!operator!and!under!the requirements!and!in!compliance!with

local!public!safety!requirements.!These!safety enhancements!provide!a!greater!

degree!of!safety!to!the!public!and!property!owners!than conventional!operations!

conducted!with!airworthiness!certificates!issued!under!14!C.F.R.!Part

21,!Subpart!H.!Lastly,!application!of!these!same!criteria!demonstrates!that!there!is!

no!credible!threat!to!national!security!posed!by!the!small!UAS,!due!to!its!size,!speed!

of!operation,!location of!operation,!lack!of!explosive!materials!or!flammable!liquid!

fuels,!and!inability!to!carry!a substantial!external!load.

14'C.F.R.'§'45.23'(b).'Marking'of'the'Aircraft

The!regulation!requires:!When!marks!include!only!the!Roman!capital!letter!"N"!and!

the registration!number!is!displayed!on!limited,!restricted!or!light_sport!category!

aircraft or experimental!or!provisionally!certificated!aircraft,!the!operator!must!also!

display!on!that aircraft!near!each!entrance!to!the!cabin,!cockpit,!or!pilot!station,!in!

letters!not!less!than!2 inches!nor!more!than!6!inches!high,!the!words!"limited,"!

"restricted,"!"light_sport," "experimental,"!or!"provisional,"!as!applicable.

Even!though!the!small!UAS!will!have!no!airworthiness!certificate,!an!exemption!may!

be!needed!as!the!small!UAS!will!have!no!entrance!to!the!cabin1!cockpit!or!pilot!

station!on!which!the!word "Experimental"!can!be!placed.!Given!the!size!of!the!small!

UAS,!two_inch!lettering!will!be impossible.!The!word!"Experimental"!will!be!placed!

on!the!fuselage!in!compliance!with!§45.29 (f).!The!equivalent!level!of!safety!will!be!

provided!by!having!the!small!UAS!marked!on!its fuselage!as!required!by!§45.29!(f)!

where!the!pilot,!observer!and!others!working!with!the!small UAS!will!see!the!

identification!of!the!small!UAS!as!"Experimental."
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

14'C.F.R.'§'61.113(a):'Private'Pilot'Privileges'and'limitations:'Pilot'in'

Command.

Pursuant!to!14!CFR!61.113!(a), no!person!who!holds!a!private!pilot!certificate!may!

act!as!a!pilot in!command!of!an!aircraft!that!is!carrying!passengers!or!property!for!

compensation!or!hire. Because!the!small!UAS!will!not!carry!a!pilot!or!passengers,!the!

proposed!operations!can achieve!the!equivalent!level!of!safety!of!current!operations!

by!requiring!the!Pilot!operating!the aircraft!to!be!an!experienced!aviator!with!a!

detailed!knowledge!of!the!National!Airspace System.!The!FAA!has!acknowledged in!

prior!grants!of!exemption!under!Section!333!that!a commercial!pilot's!certificate!

was!not!necessary!to!operate!a!small!UAS,!and!deemed!that!a Sport!Pilot!or!

Recreational!Pilot!certificate!was!adequate!to!address!the!FAA's!requirement!that

the!Pilot!In!Command!have!the!requisite!training!and!understanding!of!the!National!

Airspace System,!to!ensure!that!the!Pilot!is!registered!with!the!FAA,!and!that!the!

flight!operation!will!not pose!a!risk!to!national!security.

14'C.F.R.'§91.7(a):'Civil'Aircraft'Airworthiness.

The!regulation!requires!that!no!person!may!operate!a!civil!aircraft!unless!it!is!in!

airworthy!condition.!As!there!will!be!no!airworthiness!certificate!issued!for!the!

aircraft,!should!this exemption!be!granted,!no!FAA!regulatory!standard!will!exist for!

determining!airworthiness. Given!the!size!of!the!aircraft!for!maintenance!and!use!of!

safety!checklists!prior!to!each!flight!an equivalent!level!of!safety!will!be!provided.

14'C.F.R.'§'91.9'(b)'(2):'Civil'Aircraft'Flight'Manual'in'the'Aircraft.

Section!91.9!(b)!(2)!provides:!No!person!may!operate!a!U.S._registered!civil!aircraft!

...!(2)!For which!an!Airplane!or!Rotorcraft!Flight!Manual!is!not!required!by!§21.5!of!

this!chapter,!unless;!there!is!available!in!the!aircraft!a!current!approved!airplane!or!

Rotorcraft!Flight!Manual, approved!manual!material,!markings,!and!placards,!or!any!

combination!thereof.!The!small!UAS, given!its!size!and!configuration!has!no!ability!

or!place!to!carry!such!a!flight!manual!on!the aircraft,!not!only!because!there!is!no!

pilot on!board,!but!because!there!is!no!room!or!capacity to!carry!such!an!item!on!the!

aircraft.!The!equivalent!level!of!safety!will!be!maintained!by keeping!the!flight!

manual!at!the!ground!control!point!where!the!pilot!flying!the!small!UAS!will have!

immediate!access!to!it.

14'C.F.R.'§'91.103:'Preflight'Action.

This!regulation!requires!each!pilot!in!command!to!take!certain!actions!before!flight!

to!insure!the!safety!of!flight.!As!FAA!approved!rotorcraft!flight!manuals!will!not!be!

provided!for!the aircraft!an!exemption!will!be!needed.!The!OPERATOR!will!take!all!

actions!including!reviewing weather,!flight!battery!requirements,!landing!and!

takeoff!distances!and!aircraft!performance data!before!initiation!of!flight.

14'C.F.R.'§91.109:'Flight'Instruction.
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

Section!91.103!provides!that!no!person!may!operate!a!civil!aircraft!(except!a!

manned!free balloon)!that!is!being!used!for!flight!instruction!unless!that!aircraft!has!

fully!functioning!dual controls.!Small!UAS!and!remotely!piloted!aircraft,!by!their!

design!do!not!have!fully!functional dual!controls.!Flight!control!is!accomplished!

through!the!use!of!a!control!box!that communicates!with!the!aircraft!via!radio!

communications.!The!FAA!has!approved!exemptions for!flight!training!without!fully!

functional!dual!controls!for!a number!of!aircraft!and!for!flight instruction!in!

experimental!aircraft.!The!equivalent!level!of!safety!is!provided!by!the!fact!that

neither!a!pilot!nor!passengers!will!be!carried!in!the!aircraft!and!by!the!size!and!

speed!of!the aircraft.

14'C.F.R.'§91.119:'Minimum'Safe'Altitudes.

Section!91.119!establishes!safe!altitudes!for!operation!of!civil!aircraft.!Section!

91.119!(d)!allows!helicopters!to!be!operated!at!less!than!the!minimums!prescribed,!

provided!the!person operating!the!helicopter!complies!with!any route!or!altitudes!

prescribed!for!helicopters!by!the FAA.!As!this!exemption!is!for!a!small!UAS!that!is!a!

helicopter!and!the!exemption!requests authority!to!operate!at!altitudes!up!to!400!

AGL,!or!not!more!than!200!above!an!elevated platform!from!which!filming!is!

planned,!an!exemption!may!be!needed!to!allow!such!operations.

As!set!forth!herein,!the!small!UAS!will!never!operate!at!higher!than!400!AGL!with!

the!exception!that!in!circumstances!where!the!small!UAS!is!used!to!survey!or!

photograph!a!structure!whose height!exceeds!400!feet!AGL,!the!small!UAS!will!not!

be!operated!more!than!100'!above!the highest!point!on!the!structure.!It!will!

however!be!operated!in!a!restricted!area!with!security perimeter,!where!buildings!

and!people!will!not!be!exposed!to!operations without!their!pre obtained consent.!

The!equivalent!level!of!safety!will!be!achieved!given!the!size,!weight and!speed!of!

the!small!UAS!as!well!as!the!location!where!it!is!operated.!No!flight!will!be!taken!

without!the permission!of!the!property!owner!or!local!officials.!Because!of!the!

advance!notice!to!the property!owner!and!participants!in!the!filming!activity,!all!

affected!individuals!will!be!aware!of the!planned!flight!operations.!Compared!to!

flight!operations!with!aircraft!or!rotorcraft weighting!far!more!than!the!maximum!

551bs.!proposed!herein!and!the!lack!of!flammable!fuel, any!risk!associated!with!

these!operations!is!far!less!than!those!presently!presented!with conventional!

aircraft!operating!at!or!below!500!AGL.!In!addition,!the!low_altitude!operations!of

the!small!UAS!will!ensure!separation!between!these!small!UAS!operations!and!the!

operations!of conventional!aircraft!that!must!comply!with!Section!91.119.

14'C.F.R.'§91.121'Altimeter'Settings.

This!regulation!requires!each!person!operating!an!aircraft!to!maintain!cruising!

altitude!by!reference!to!an!altimeter!that!is!set!"!...!to!the!elevation!of!the!departure!

airport!or!an appropriate!altimeter!setting!available!before!departure."!As!the!small!

UAS!may!not!have!a barometric!altimeter,!but!instead!a!GPS!altitude!read!out,!an!

exemption!may!be!needed.!An equivalent!level!of!safety!will!be!achieved!by!the!
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

operator,!pursuant!to!the!safety!check!list!and live!flight!data!monitoring,!

confirming!the!altitude!of!the!launch!site!shown!on!the!GPS!altitude indicator!before!

flight.

14'C.F.R.'§'91.151{a):'Fuel'Requirements'for'Flight'in'VFR'Conditions

Section!91.151!(a)!prohibits!an!individual!from!beginning!"a!flight!in!an!airplane!

under!VFR!conditions!unless!(considering!wind!and!forecast!weather!conditions)!

there!is!enough!fuel!to!fly to!the!first!point!of!intended!landing,!and,!assuming!

normal!cruising!speed_ (1)!During!the!day, to!fly!after!that!for!at!least!30!minutes;!or!

(2)!At!night,!to!fly!after!that!for!at!least!45!minutes." The!battery!powering!the!small

UAS!provides!approximately!30!minutes!of!powered!flight.!To meet!the!30!minute!

reserve!requirement!in!14!CFR!§91.151,!small!UAS!flights!would!be!limited to!

approximately!10!minutes!in!length.!Given!the!limitations!on!the!small!UAS's!

proposed!flight area!and!the!location!of!its!proposed!operations!within!a!

predetermined!area,!a!longer!time frame!for!flight!in!daylight!or!twilight!VFR!

conditions!is!reasonable.!Applicant!believes!that!an exemption!from!14!CFR!

§91.151(a)!falls!within!the!scope!of!prior!exemptions.!Operating!the small!UAS,!in!a!

tightly!controlled!area!where!only!people!and!property!owners!or!official

representatives!who!have!signed!waivers!will!be!allowed,!with!less!than!30!minutes!

of!reserve fuel,!does!not!engender!the!type!of!risks!that!Section!91.151(a)!was!

intended!to!alleviate!given the!size!and!speed!of!the!small!UAS.!Additionally,!limiting!

small!UAS!flights!to!10!minutes!would greatly!reduce!the!utility!for!which!the!

exemption!will!be!granted.!Applicant!believes!that!an equivalent!level!of safety!can!

be!achieved!by!limiting!flights!to!30!minutes!or!25%!of!battery power_ whichever!

happens!first.!This!restriction!would!be!more!than!adequate!to!return!the small!UAS!

to!its!planned!landing!zone!from!anywhere!in!its!limited!operating!area.

14'C.F.R.'§91.203'(a)'and'(b):'Carrying'Civil'Aircraft'Certification'and'

Registration

The!regulation!provides!in!pertinent!part:

(a)!Except!as!provided!in!§!91.715,!no!person!may!operate a!civil!aircraft!

unless!it!has!within!it!the!following:

(1)!An!appropriate!and!current!airworthiness!certificate....

(b)!No!person!may!operate!a!civil!aircraft!unless!the!airworthiness!certificate!

required!by!paragraph!(a) of!this!section!or!a!special!flight!authorization!

issued!under!§91.!715!is displayed!at!the!cabin!or!cockpit!entrance!so!that!it!

is!legible!to!passengers!or!crew.

The!small!UAS!fully!loaded!weighs!no!more!than!55!lbs.!and!is!operated!without!an!

on!board!pilot.!As!such,!there!is!no!ability!or!place!to!carry!certification!and!

registration!documents!or!to display!them!on!the!small!UAS.
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

An!equivalent!level!of!safety!will!be!achieved!by!keeping!these!documents!at!the!

ground!control!point!where!the!pilot!flying!the!small!UAS!will!have!immediate!

access!to!them;!to!the extent!they!are!applicable!to!the!small!UAS.

14 C.F.R.'§91.405'(a);'407'(a)'(1);'409'(a)'(2);'417(a)'&'(b):'Maintenance'

Inspections.

These!regulations!require!that!an!aircraft!operator!or!owner!"shall!have!that!aircraft!

inspected!as!prescribed!in!subpart!E!of!this!part!and!shall!between!required!

inspections,!except!as provided!in!paragraph!(c)!of!this!section,!have!discrepancies!

repaired!as!prescribed!in!part!43!of this!chapter...", and!others!shall!inspect!or!

maintain!the!aircraft!in!compliance!with!Part!43.!!Given!that!these!section!and!Part!

43!apply only!to!aircraft!with!an!airworthiness!certificate, these!sections!will!not!

apply!to!the!applicant.!The!operator!pursuant!to!the!flight!manual!and!operating!

handbook!will!accomplish!maintenance.!An!equivalent!level!of!safety will!be!

achieved!because!these small!UASs!are!very!limited!in!size!and!will!carry!a!small!

payload and!operate!only!in!restricted!areas!for!limited!periods!of!time.!If!

mechanical!issues!arise!the small!UAS!can!land!immediately!and!will!be!operating!

from!no!higher!than!400!feet!AGL.!The operator!will!ensure!that!the!small!UAS!is!in!

working!order!prior!to!initiating!flight,!perform required!maintenance,!and!keep!a!

log!of!any!maintenance!performed.!Moreover,!the!operator is!the!person!most!

familiar!with!the!aircraft!and!best!suited!to!maintain!the!aircraft!in!an airworthy!

condition!to!provide!the!equivalent!level!of!safety.

An!equivalent!level!of!safety!will!be!achieved!because!maintenance!and!inspections!

will!be!performed!in!accordance!with!the!small!UAS!Manufacturer's!Manual,!as!

referenced!in!the Aircraft!Operations!Manual!(AOM).!As!provided!in!the!FOM1!the!

operator!will!ensure!that!the small!UAS!is!in!working!order!prior!to!initiating!flight!

and!perform!required!maintenance needed.

Small'UAS'Information

Small!UAS's!to!be!used!are!as!follows!but!not!limited!to!providing!they!are!within!

the!scope!of!the!exemption!granted!by!the!FAA:

Main%UAS%to%be%Used:

1.!DJI!Phantom!3!Pro/Adv

• Weight!(Including!Battery!And!Propellers)!1280!g

• Diagonal!Size!(Including!Propellers)!590!mm

• Max!Ascent!Speed!5!m/s

• Max!Descent!Speed!3!m/s

• Hover!Accuracy

o Vertical:!+/_ 0.1!m!(when!Vision!Positioning!is!active)!or!

+/_ 0.5!m

o Horizontal:!+/_ 1.5!m

• Max!Speed!16!m/s!(ATTI!mode,!no!wind)
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

• Max!Service!Ceiling!Above!Sea!Level

o 6000!m!(Software!altitude!limit:!120!m!above!takeoff!point)

• Operating!Temperature!0°C!to!40°C

• GPS!Mode!GPS/GLONASS

• Camera!Sensor

o Sony!EXMOR!1/2.3”!Effective!pixels:!12.4!M!(total!pixels:!

12.76!M)

• Lens

! FOV!94 20!mm!(35!mm!format!equivalent)!f/2.8,!focus!at!



o ISO!Range!100_3200!(video)!100_1600!(photo)

o Shutter!Speed!8s!_1/8000s

o Image!Max!Size!4000!x!3000

o Still!Photography!Modes

! Single!Shot

! Burst!Shooting:!3/5/7!shots

! Auto!Exposure!Bracketing!(AEB):!3/5

! Bracketed!Frames!at!0.7EV!Bias

! Time_lapse

o Video!Recording!Modes

! Phantom!3!Professional

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

• FHD:!1920x1080p!24/25/30/48/50/60

• HD:!1280x720p!24/25/30/48/50/60

! Phantom!3!Advanced

• 2.7K:!2704!x1520p!24/25/30!(29.97)

• FHD:!1920x1080p!24/25/30/48/50/60

• HD:!1280x720p!24/25/30/48/50/60

o Supported!SD!Card!Types

! Micro!SD

! Max!capacity:!64!GB.!Class!10!or!UHS_1!rating!required

o Max!Bitrate!Of!Video!Storage

! Phantom!3!Professional

• 60!Mbps

! Phantom!3!Advanced

• 40!Mbps

o Supported!File!Formats FAT32/exFAT

o Photo:!JPEG,!DNG

o Video:!MP4,!MOV!(MPEG_4!AVC/H.264)

o Operating!Temperature!0°C!to!40°C

o Gimbal

o Controllable!Range

! Pitch!_90°!to!+30°

o Stabilization

! 3_axis!(pitch,!roll,!yaw)
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

! Vision!Positioning

!

Other%UAS%Options%to%be%Used:

2.!Walkera!QR!X350!Pro

•!Weight!(Battery!Included):!2.17!lbs

•!Takeoff!Weight:!<2.98!lbs

•!Main!Rotor!Diameter:!22.91!inches

•!Main!Rotor!Blade!Length:!9.13!inches

•!Length:!11.38!inches

•!Width:!11.38!inches

•!Height:!8.07!inches

•!Brushless!Motor!Spec:!WK_WS_28_008C

•!Brushless!ESC!Spec:!WST_15A(G/R)

•!Receiver:!Devo!RX703A

•!Walkera!QR!X350!Pro!Battery

o!11.1!volt!5200mAH!LiPo!Battery

•!G_2D!Brushless!Gimbal

o!Maximum!Angular!Rate:!2000!deg/sec

o!Maximum!Acceleration:!16g

o!Control!Frequency:!1000Hz

o!Accuracy:0.1°

o!Control!Range:!Roll:!_45°!to!45°

Pitch:!_135°!to!90°

•!Devo!10!Transmitter

o!Encoder:!10!Channel!Micro!Computer!System

o!Frequency:!2.4!GHz!Direct!Sequence!Spread!Spectrum

o!Output!Power:!::;10mW

o!Current!Drain:!200mA

o!Transmitter!Power!Supply:!12V!1600mAh!NiMH!Battery

o!Output!Noise:!1000_2000ms

3.!DJI!Flame!Wheel!F550

•!Takeoff!Weight:!<5.29!lbs

•!Brush!less!Motor!Type:!DJI!E300!2212!920kv

•!Brush!less!ESC!Type:!DJI!E300!15!amp

•!Receiver:!NAZA_M!V2!with!GPS!Module

•!Battery

o!11.1!volt!3S!LiPo!Battery

•!Zenmuse!H3_3D!Gimbal

o!Operating!Current:!Static:!400mA,!Dynamic:!600mA

o!Controllable!Range:!Tilt:!_130deg!to!+45deg

o!Max!Controllable!Speed: Tilt+/_ 130deg/sec

4.!DJIInspire

•!Weight!(Battery!Included)!6.4!7!lbs.

•!Hovering!Accuracy!{GPS!Mode)!Vertical1.5!ft,!Horizontal!7.5!ft

•!Max!Angular!Velocity!Pitch:!300deg/s;!Yaw!ISOdeg/s

•!Max!Tilt!Angle!30deg/s
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

•!Max!Ascent!Speed!15!ft/s

•!Max!Decent!Speed!12!ft/s

•!Max!Speed!66!ft/s

•!Diagonal!Distance!22.0!in.!(Landing!gear!lowered),!22.9!in.!(Landing!

gear!raised)

•!DJI!Inspire!Battery

o!Model!(Standard)!TB4!7

o!Voltage!22.2v

o!Capacity!4500mAh

o!Energy!99.9Wh

o!Net!Weight!1.26!lbs.

•!DJI!Inspire!Gimbal

o!Operating!Current:!Station:!750mA,!Motion:!900mA

o!Controllable!Range:!Pitch:!_90deg!to!+30deg

o!Max!Controllable!Speed:!Pitch:!120deg/s,!Pan:!180deg/s

•!DJI!Inspire!Remote!Controller

o!Frequency

•!5.725GHr5.850GHz!(Remote!Controller!to!Remote!Controller)

•!2.400GHr2.483GHz!(Remote!Controller!to!Aircraft)

o!Battery!Capacity!6000mAh

o!Working!Current/Voltage!1.2A@7.4V

Thank!you!for!the!consideration!of!these!exemptions.

Sincerely,

Brett!Covington
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

Appendix'A

14'C.F.R.'§'61.97'Recreational'Pilots.'Aeronautical'knowledge.

(a)!General.!A!person!who!applies!for!a!recreational!pilot!certificate!must!

receive!and log!ground!training!from!an!authorized!instructor!or!complete!a!home_

study!course!on!the aeronautical!knowledge!areas!of!paragraph!(b)!of!this!section!

that!apply!to!the!aircraft category!and!class!rating!sought.

(b)!Aeronautical!knowledge!areas.!(1)!Applicable!Federal!Aviation!

Regulations!of!this chapter!that!relate!to!recreational!pilot!privileges,!limitations,!

and!flight!operations;

(2)!Accident!reporting!requirements!of!the!National!Transportation!Safety!

Board;

{3}!Use!of!the!applicable!portions!of!the!"Aeronautical!Information!Manual"!

and!FAA advisory!circulars;

(4)!Use!of!aeronautical!charts!for!VFR!navigation!using!pilotage!with!the!aid!

of!a magnetic!compass;

(5)!Recognition!of!critical!weather!situations!from!the!ground!and!in!flight,!

wind!shear!avoidance,!and!the!procurement!and!use!of!aeronautical!weather

reports!and!forecasts;

{6)!Safe!and!efficient!operation!of!aircraft,!including!collision!avoidance,!and

recognition!and!avoidance!of!wake!turbulence;

(7)!Effects!of!density!altitude!on!takeoff!and!climb!performance;

(8)!Weight!and!balance!computations;

{9)!Principles!of!aerodynamics,!powerplants,!and!aircraft!systems;

(10)!Stall!awareness,!spin!entry,!spins,!and!spin!recovery!techniques,!if!

applying!for!an airplane!single_engine!rating;

(11}!Aeronautical!decision!making!and!judgment;!and

(12)!Preflight!action!that!includes_

(i)!How!to!obtain!information!on!runway!lengths!at!airports!of!intended!use,!

data!on takeoff!and!landing!distances,!weather!reports!and!forecasts,!and!fuel!

requirements;!and

(ii)!How!to!plan!for!alternatives!if!the!planned!flight!cannot!be!completed!or!

delays are!encountered.

Appendix'B

14'C.F.R.'§'65.55'Aircraft'Dispatchers.'Knowledge'requirements.

(a)!A!person!who!applies!for!an!aircraft!dispatcher!certificate!must!pass!a!

knowledge test!on!the!following!aeronautical!knowledge!areas:

(1)!Applicable!Federal!Aviation!Regulations!of!this!chapter!that!relate!to!

airline transport!pilot!privileges,!limitations,!and!flight!operations;

(2)!Meteorology,!including!knowledge!of!and!effects!of!fronts,!frontal!

characteristics, cloud!formations,!icing,!and!upper_air!data;
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

(3)!General!system!of!weather!and!NOT!AM!collection,!dissemination,!

interpretation, and!use;

(4)!Interpretation!and!use!of!weather!charts,!maps,!forecasts,!sequence!

reports, abbreviations,!and!symbols;

(5)!National!Weather!Service!functions!as!they!pertain!to!operations!in!the!

National

Airspace!System;

(6)!Wind!shear and!microburst!awareness,!identification,!and!avoidance;

(7)!Principles!of!air!navigation!under!instrument!meteorological!conditions!

in!the

National!Airspace!System;

(8)!Air!traffic!control!procedures!and!pilot!responsibilities!as!they!relate!to!

en!route operations,!terminal!area!and!radar!operations,!and!instrument!departure!

and!approach procedures;

(9)!Aircraft!loading,!weight!and!balance,!use!of!charts,!graphs,!tables,!

formulas,!and computations,!and!their!effect!on!aircraft!performance;

(10)!Aerodynamics!relating!to!an!aircraft's!flight!characteristics!and!

performance!in normal!and!abnormal!flight!regimes;

(11)!Human!factors;

(12)!Aeronautical!decision!making!and!judgment;!and

(13)!Crew!resource!management,!including!crew!communication!and!

coordination.

(b)!The!applicant!must!present!documentary!evidence!satisfactory!to!the

administrator!of!having!passed!an!aircraft!dispatcher!knowledge!test!within!the!

preceding 24!calendar!months.

Appendix'C

14'C.F.R.'§'65.57'Aircraft'Dispatchers.'Experience'or'training'requirements.

An!applicant!for!an!aircraft!dispatcher!certificate!must!present!documentary!

evidence satisfactory!to!the!Administrator!that!he!or!she!has!the!experience!

prescribed!in!paragraph(a)!of!this!section!or!has!accomplished!the!training!

described!in!paragraph!(b)!of!this section!as!follows:

(a)!A!total!of!at!least!2!years!experience!in!the!3!years!before!the!date!of!

application, in!any!one!or!in!any!combination!of!the!following!areas:

(1)!In!military!aircraft!operations!as!a_

(i)!Pilot;

(ii)!Flight!navigator;!or

(iii)!Meteorologist.

(2)!In!aircraft!operations!conducted!under!part!121!of!this!chapter!as_

(i)!An!assistant!in!dispatching!air!carrier!aircraft,!under!the direct!

supervision!of!a dispatcher!certificated!under!this!subpart;

(ii)!A!pilot;

(iii)!A!flight!engineer;!or

(iv)!A!meteorologist.

(3)!In!aircraft!operations!as_

(i)!An!Air!Traffic!Controller;!or
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Covington!– FAR!Section!333!Exemption!Request

(ii)!A!Flight!Service!Specialist.

(4)!In!aircraft!operations,!performing!other!duties!that!the!Administrator!

finds provide!equivalent!experience.

(b)!A!statement!of!graduation!issued!or!revalidated!in!accordance!with!§65.!

70(b)!of this!part,!showing!that!the!person!has!successfully!completed!an!approved!

aircraft dispatcher!course.

14'C.F.R.'§'65.59'Skill'requirements.

An!applicant!for!an!aircraft!dispatcher!certificate!must!pass!a!practical!test!

given!by the!Administrator,!with!respect!to!any!one!type!of!large!aircraft!used!in!air!

carrier operations.!The!practical!test!must!be!based!on!the!aircraft!dispatcher!

practical!test standards,!as!published!by!the!FAA,!on!the!items!outlined!in!appendix!

A!of!this!part.

14'C.F.R.'§'65.61'Aircraft'dispatcher'certification'courses:'Content'and'

minimum'hours.

(a)!An!approved!aircraft!dispatcher!certification!course!must:

(1)!Provide!instruction!in!the!areas!of!knowledge!and!topics!listed!in!

appendix!A!of this!part;

(2)!Include!a!minimum!of!200!hours!of!instruction.

(b)!An!applicant!for!approval!of!an!aircraft!dispatcher!course!must!submit!an!

outline that!describes!the!major!topics!and!subtopics!to!be!covered!and!the!number!

of!hours proposed!for!each.

(c)!Additional!subject!headings!for!an!aircraft!dispatcher!certification!course!

may!also be!included,!however!the!hours!proposed!for!any!subjects!not!listed!in!

appendix!A!of!this part!must!be!in!addition!to!the!minimum!200!course!hours!

required!in!paragraph!(a)!of this!section.

(d)!For!the!purpose!of!completing!an!approved!course,!a!student!may!

substitute previous!experience!or!training!for!a!portion!of!the!minimum!200!hours!

of!training.!The course!operator!determines!the!number!of!hours!of!credit!based!on!

an!evaluation!of!the experience!or!training!to!determine!if!it!is!comparable!to!

portions!of!the!approved!course curriculum.!The!credit!allowed,!including!the!total!

hours!and!the!basis!for!it,!must!be placed!in!the!student's!record required!by!§65.!

70(a)!of!this!part.