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December 19, 2015 Depa rt me n t o f Tra n s p o rtat i o n D o c ket M a n a ge m ent Syst e m 1 2 00 N ew J ers ey Ave., SE Wash ingt o n , DC 2 0 5 9 0 **DronePilotSafety** Thomas Calloway Freeman 747 South Eighth Street Mebane, NC 27302 (919) 619 - 6828 mailto:tc@dronepilotsafety.com Re: Ex e m p t i o n R eq u est S e cti o n 3 3 3 o f t h e F AA Re fo r m Act o f 2 0 12 To wh o m i t may c o n cern, P u rs u a n t t o S e ct i o n 3 33 o f the FAA M o d ern iz at i o n a n d R e fo r m Act o f 2 0 12, Thomas C Freeman doi n g b u si n ess as DronePilotSafety, an o p era t o r o f s mall U n ma n n ed A i rcraft Syst e m s (sUAS ), re spectfu l l y re qu e st an e xe m pti o n fr o m the F e d eral Aviat i o n R eg u latio n s ( “ F A R s” ) d etailed b el o w fo r t h e fo l l o wing de s cri b ed s m all U n ma nn ed A i rcraft Syst e ms, which inc lu d e an U n ma nn ed A i rcraft (UA) and gro un d st atio n - b ased eq u i p ment a n d cre w . **DJI Phantom 3**  The Phantom is a quadcopter for aerial photography and filmmaking. It includes a high - quality camera, custom - built remote controller, and Intelligent Flight Battery, and is compatible with DJI GO app for model devices, which will stream live HD video over WiFi as you fly . Critical flight data is collected, computed and communicated to the entire aircraft in real time. **Des c**  **ri p** **t i**  **o n**  **o f**  **Pr opo**  **s e**  **d O**  **pe r** **a t**  **i on**  **s** The req u e sted ex e m p t i o n w o u ld pe r mit c om me rcial o p erat i o n s o f DronePilotSafety , t h e a b i l ity to p erfo r m pr e cision a erial in s p ect io n s o r surve y s t h at c on sist o f sti l l p h o t o g ra p h s o r v i de o t a ken by an o nb o ard c a m era. Op e rat i o n s a n d ap p l i cati o n s we s ee k for t h e s e sU AS a n d a ss o c i ated data p ro cessing f un cti o n s inc lud e aerial p h o t o g ra p h y, ma pp i n g, str u ct u ral ins p ect i o n s, pi p eli n es a n d o ther o il and gas related i n sp e ct i o n s, real e state ma r keti ng, su rv eys a n d o ther fli gh t o p erat i o n s t h at c o u ld be p erfo r med safely a n d m o re c o st effect iv e ly with t h e u s e o f sU AS at l o w alt i tu d e w i th i n t h e U . S . n atio n al ai rsp a ce syst e m as co m p ared to a m a nn ed aircra ft. The sUAS will be for the use d in support of our demonstration, sales and training mission of DronePilotSafety . U s e o f sU AS fo r these o p e rat i o n s red u c es the need to o p e rate c o n ventio n al aircra ft o r o t h er eq u i pm ent fo r t h e s am e pu r p o se and pr ovi d es ve ry hi g h q u al i ty i ma g e ry at a fra cti o n o f the c o st o f t h e sa m e o p erat i o n s u si n g c o n ve n ti o n al m eans. L i kew i se, i n spe cti o n s o f structu r es can be safe l y p e rfo r med w i tho u t e nd a ng er i n g t h e i n spect o r o r i nh i b it i n g l o cal i ndu strial o r pub l i c o p erat i o n s with la d d ers, l i fts o r o ther e qu i p me n t. T h e s e s a vi n g s resu l t in e n h a n ced effi cie n cy a n d p ro du cti v i ty fo r the affecte d activ i ties, as well as e n vi ro n m ental be n efits a n d p o t ential s a vi n g s in b oth c o st and ha z ar d s to t h e p u b l i c.2

The p ro p o sed s U AS o p erat i o n s wi l l be l i mited to dayt i me V i su a l F l i g h t Ru l e ( “V F R” ) c o nd it i o n s, w i th i n vis u al l in e - o f- si gh t (" V LOS") o f the o p era t o r, in Class G ai rsp a ce, a n d will o ccur a t l east 5 mi l es aw a y f ro m an air p o rt, u n less p r i o r c o n tact to Air Traffic C o n tr o l o r t h e ai r p o rt ma n a g er has b een ma d e . In ad d it i o n to the fail s afe syst e m s pr og ra m med in e ach UAS, DronePilotSafety i n c o r p o rates red u nd a n t safeg u ar d s t o ass u re that t h e ai r craft do e s not tra vel o u tside t h e c o n tr o l l ed a rea o f UAS o p e rat i o n s, inc lud i n g G P S "ge o fe n ci ng " t e ch n o l o g ie s . **Name and address of the petitioner is: DronePilotSafety**  Attn: Thomas Calloway Freeman 747 South Eighth Street Mebane, NC 27302 **Reg u**  **l a** **t i**  **on s**  **from w**  **h i**  **c h**  **e x** **e mption**  **i s**  **r eque**  **ste d**  **:** 14 C. F . R . Pa rt 2 1 S ubp a rt H - A i rwo rth in ess Certifi cat e s 14 C. F . R . 45 . 2 3 - Dis p lay o f marks ; ge n eral 14 C. F . R . 61 . 1 13 ( a ) & ( b ) - Priv a te pi l o t p r i vi l eges and l i mitat i o n s: P i l o t in c om m a n d 14 C. F . R . 91 .7 ( a ) – C i vil Ai rcraft Ai rw o rth in e ss 14 CFR § 9 1 . 9 ( b ) ( 2): C i vil A i rcraft F l i gh t Ma nu al in t h e A i rcraft 14 C. F . R . 91 .9 ( c ) – M a rki n g o f A i rcra f t 14 C. F . R . 91 . 1 03 – Prefl igh t Acti o n s 14 C. F . R . 91 . 1 09 – F l i gh t i n struction 14 C. F . R . 91 . 1 19 – Mi n im u m sa fe alt i tu d es: Ge n eral 14 C. F . R . 91 . 1 21 – A l t i m et e r setti n g s 14 C. F . R . 91 . 1 51 – Fu el re q u ire m e n ts fo r fl igh ts in Vi s u al F l i gh t Ru l es (VF R ) c o nd itio n s 14 C. F . R . 91 . 2 03 ( a ) ( 1) – C i vil aircra f t: certifi c ation re q u ired 14 C. F . R . 91 . 4 05 – Mai n te n a n ce req u ired 14 C. F . R . 91 . 4 07 – O p erat i o n aft er mai n te n a n c e, p reventati ve mai n te n a n c e, reb u i ld i n g, and alteration 14 C. F . R . 91 . 4 09 – I n spe ct i o n s 14 C. F . R . 91 . 4 17 – Mai n te n a n ce re co r d s **1. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **P a**  **rt 2**  **1 ,**  **S ubp**  **a rt H:**  **A i**  **r w** **o rt**  **h i**  **ne ss**  **C e**  **r t**  **if i**  **c a**  **tes an**  **d 14 C**  **F R**  **§ 9**  **1 .**  **2 0**  **3( a**  **) (**  **1)** Secti o n 9 1. 2 03( a ) ( 1) req u i res all c i vil airc raft to h a ve a certific a te o f ai rwo rth in es s . Part 2 1, S u bp art H, e n titled Ai rw o rt h i n ess Certifi cat e s, e stab l i s h es the p ro c ed u ral re qu ire ments fo r t h e i ssu an ce o f ai rw o rth i n ess certific a t e s as req u ired by F A R § 91 . 2 03( a )( 1 ). Gi ven the si z e o f t h e ai r craft ( ty p ica l ly less than 10 l b s., a n d alw ays less than 5 5 lbs . ) a n d the l i mited o p era ti n g area as s o ciated with its u til iz atio n , it is unn ec e ssa ry t o go t h ro ug h t h e certifi c ate o f ai rw o rth in ess p ro ce s s u n d er Pa rt 21 S ubp art H to a ch i eve o r exc e ed cur rent safety le v els. S u ch an ex e m pt i o n me ets t h e req u ir e ments o f an eq u i vale n t l evel o f sa fety u n d er P art 1 1 and Secti o n 3 33 o f the R efo r m Act. The F ederal Aviat i o n Act a n d Se cti o n 3 3 3 o f t h e R efo r m A ct b oth a u thori z e t h e F AA t o ex em p t ai r craft fr o m the re qu ir e ment fo r an ai rwo rth in e s s certifi c a te, u p o n c o n si d erat i o n o f t h e si z e, w ei gh t, speed, o p erat i o n al c a p a b i l ity, and pr o x i mity to ai rp o rts a n d p o pu lated areas o f t h e UAS in vo l ved.3

In t h is cas e , an a n al ysis o f t h ese cr i teria d e m o n str a tes that the sU AS o p era t ed w i t h o u t an ai rw o rth in ess c ertific a te, u nd er the c o nd it i o n s pro p o s ed herei n , will b e at l e ast a s safe, o r safer, than a c o n ventio n al aircra ft (fi x ed wi n g o r ro t o rcraft) with an airw o rth in ess certifi cate. T h e sU AS w ei gh s less than 5 5 lbs. f u l l y l o a d ed. It will n o t car ry a p i l o t o r pa s sen g er, will n o t car ry f l a m ma b le f u el, and wi l l o p era t e exclus i vely wit h in an area p re - d isc l o s ed and i n c o m p l i a n ce with co nd it i o n s set fo rth h erein. Operat i o n s u n d er th i s e xe m p t i o n wi l l be ti gh tly c o n t ro l l ed and m o n it o red by b o t h t h e o p era t or, and by local p u b l i c sa fe ty re qu ire ments. T h e F AA will h a ve a d va n ce n o ti c e o f all o p erat i o n s t h ro ug h t h e fi l i n g o f N OTAMs. Re c ei p t o f t h e pr i o r p e r miss i o n o f t h e la n d o wner, t h e si z e o f the ai rcra f t, the l ack o f fl a m ma b le f u el, and t h e fa ct that the airc raft is car r ied to the l o cat i o n and n ot f l o wn t h e re all e stab l ish the e qu iva l ent l evel o f safety. The sU AS p ro vi d es at l e ast an e qu i vale n t, and m o st l i ke l y e xc e eds, l evel o f safety t o that o f such o p e ratio n s bei n g c o ndu ct ed w i t h c o n vent i o n al ai r craft t h at w o u ld b e su b stantia l l y la rg er a n d wo u ld be c ar ryi n g passen g ers, carg o , and f l a m ma b le fuel. **2. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **§ 4**  **5 .**  **2 3 &**  **9 1**  **. 9**  **( c**  **): M**  **a rking**  **o f t**  **h e**  **Ai rc**  **r a**  **ft** Reg u lation 45 . 23 p rovi d e s : (a) E ach o p er a t o r o f an ai r c raft m u st d is p lay o n that a i rcraft , marks c o n sisti n g o f t h e R o man ca p ital letter “ N ” ( d e n oti n g Un i t ed States re g istr a ti o n ) fo l l o w ed by t h e reg i strat i o n n u m b er o f the ai rcraft. E ach su f fix lett er u s ed in t h e m a rks dis p l a yed m u st al s o be a R o man c a p ital l etter. (b) W h en ma r ks i n cl ud e o n ly the Roman ca p ital l etter “ N ” and the reg i strat i o n n u m b er is dis p layed o n l i mited, restr i ct e d o r li g h t - s p o rt c a te go ry ai r craft o r e x p eri m e n tal o r p r ovis i o n al l y certific a ted ai rcraft, the o p era t o r m u st a l so d is p lay o n that ai rcraft n e ar e ach e n tra n ce to t h e ca b i n , c o ckp i t, o r p i l ot st a ti o n , in lette rs n ot le s s t h an 2 i n ches nor m o re than 6 inc he s hi g h , t h e w o r d s “ l i mited , ” “ re strict ed,” “ l igh t - sport, ” “ ex p eri m ental , ” o r “ p r ovis i o n a l ,” as a p p l i ca b l e . Reg u lation 91 . 9(c) provi d e s : N o pers o n may o p e rate a U. S . - reg i stered civil ai rcraft u n less that aircra ft is i d en t ifi ed in ac co r d a n ce with p art 4 5 o f t h is ch ap ter. The sU AS h as no entra n ce to t h e ca b i n , c o c kp i t, o r p i l ot stat i o n o n w h ich the marki ng s can be p la c ed. Given the si z e o f t h e s U AS, tw o - i n ch l ett eri n g wi l l b e i m p o s si b le. Offici a l m arki n g syste ms fo r sU AS h a ve n o t yet been esta b l i shed fo r o p era ti o n s ins i d e the N AS. DronePilotSafety is p repa red to m ark the sU AS with t h e na m e o f t h e o rg a n ization and l o cat i o n o r o ri g in and fu l fi l l a n y o ther req u est by t h e F AA t o t h is t o p ic in a c c o rd a n ce to § 4 5 .2 9 (f) w h e re t h e p i l ot, o b s e rver, a n d ot h ers w o r ki n g w ith t h e sU AS wi l l s ee the i d entifi c a ti o n o f the s U AS . The F AA h as iss u ed the fo l l o wing ex e m p t i o n s to t h is reg u latio n ; s e e E xemption Nos. 8 738, 101 6 7, 1 01 6 7A, 1 0 7 00 , 11256, and 11251 . **3. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **§ 6**  **1 .**  **1 1**  **3(a ) &**  **( b**  **); P**  **ri v** **a te P**  **i l**  **o t**  **Pr i** **v i**  **l e** **g e**  **s a**  **n d**  **Li m**  **it a**  **t i**  **on s;**  This re gu l a t i o n re stricts pr i vate pi l o t ce rtifica t e h o l de rs fr o m f l yi n g aircra f t fo r co m p ensat i o n o r h i re, and w o u ld al s o req u ire a s e c o n d class med i cal certifi cate. The pu r p o s e o f P art 61 i s to e n su re that t h e skill a n d c o m p e t ency o f a n y PIC m a tches the airs p a c e in w h ich t h e PIC will b e o p erat i ng, as well as req u ir in g certifi c a ti o n s if t h e p r i va t e p i l o t is carryi n g pas s en g ers o r c arg o fo r h i re. In t h is c a se, whi l e the sUAS will b e o p e rated a s part o f a com mercial o p era ti o n , it c a rr i es n eit h er p assen ge rs nor c arg o . In the Gra n t o f4

Ex e m p ti o n to Astr a eus Aer i al, the FAA d ete r mi n ed th a t the u n i q u e ch a ract eristics o f s U AS o p erat i o n o u tside o f c o n t ro l l ed ai rsp a ce d id n ot war ra n t t h e a dd i ti on a l c o st and re strict i o n s with req u ir in g the P IC to h a ve a C o m m e rcial Pi l ot Certific a t e a n d Cla s s II Me d ical Certifi cate. The f u lfi l l m ent o f t h e ad d itio n al req u ire m ents fo r a pr i va t e p i l o t t o b e c o me qu al i fied a s a co mm ercial p i l ot w o u ld n o t lead to any a dd itio n al safety benefits when sU AS o p er a ti o n s a re i n v o l ved. The eq u i vale n t l ev el o f s afety is t h e re strict i o n s DronePilotSafety h a s pl a ced o n i ts sU AS o p erat i o n s. DronePilotSafety will o p era t e o n pr i va t e p ro p erty aw a y fr o m pers o n s and p ro p erty n ot i nvo l ved in t h e o p erat i o n . DronePilotSafety will a l so o btain an ATO iss u ed COA p r i o r to c o ndu cting any o p erat i o n s u n d er th i s Gra n t o f Ex e m p t i o n unless the operation can be captured within the confines of the “blanket” 200 - foot COA . In ad d ition t o t h e se fl igh t restrict i o n s, DronePilotSafety will fu rther e n su r e safe o p erati o n by req u ir in g that any PIC b e t h o ro ugh ly vers ed not o n l y in ai rsp a c e a n d c o mm un ic a ti o n i ssues p ertain in g to all ai rcra f t o p era t o rs b u t al s o i n t h e un i q u e as p e cts o f sU AS fli gh t. Our P ICs will h a ve exper i ence n o t o n ly in g eneral sU AS o p er a ti o n s, bu t h ave l o gg ed fl igh t t i me i n t h e sp e cifi c ma ke a n d m o d el used fo r t h e o p erat i o n s be fo re th ey a re p er m i tted t o pa rtici p ate in c o m m ercial fl igh ts o n b eh a lf of DronePilotSafety . DronePilotSafety p i l o ts are c o m p etent and profi cient in t h e U AS they are o p er a ti n g . DronePilotSafety trai n i n g and q u al i fication req u ire m ents a re c o n sis t ent with t h o se c o n tai n ed in pr i o r F AA S e cti o n 3 33 Gra n ts o f E xe m pti o n , a n d will p r ovi d e a hi g h er l evel of compe t ency and profic i e n cy fo r its pi l o t s and wi l l ens u re at least an eq u i val e n t le vel o f sa fety. DronePilotSafety sUAS pilots will be trained and supervised by the founder Thomas Calloway Freeman, FAA certificated Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) , or qualified certificated Sport Pilot or higher rated pilot **4. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mpt ion**  **fr o**  **m t**  **h e**  **r equ**  **ir e**  **me n** **ts o** **f 14**  **CFR §**  **9 1**  **. 7**  **( a**  **): C**  **i v**  **i l ai**  **rc r** **a ft**  **a irw**  **o r** **t h**  **i ne**  **s s**  **.** This re gu lat i o n re qu ires t h at n o p ers o n m a y o p er a te a ci v il ai rcraft u n l e ss it is in ai rw o rthy c o nd it i o n . S h o u ld t h e e x e m pt i o n be g ra n ted all o wing co mm erci a l o p er a ti o n o f s U AS wit h o u t an ai rw o rth in e s s certifi c a te, n o stan d ard wi l l exist fo r airw o rth in ess o f t h e sU AS. G i ven t h e si z e o f t h e sU AS a n d t h e p re v io u s COAs issued fo r s i mi l ar sU AS, an eq u i vale n t l e v el o f safe ty will b e a ch i eved by ens u ri n g c o m p l i a n ce with t h e g i ven sU AS ma nu als a n d use o f s afety c h e c klists p r i o r to ea c h fli gh t. **5. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .**  **9 (**  **b )**  **( 2):**  **Ci v**  **i l**  **A i**  **r c**  **r a**  **ft F**  **l i**  **g h** **t M**  **a nu**  **a l**  **i n**  **t h**  **e A**  **i r** **c r** **a ft.**  The reg u lat i o n p rovi d e s : N o pers o n may o p e rate a U. S . - reg i stered civil ai rcraft ... (2) F o r which an A i r p la n e o r R o t o rc raft Fl igh t Ma nu al i s not req u ired by § 21.5 o f t h is cha pter, un less the re is a vai l a b le in the aircra f t a cur rent ap p roved air p la n e o r Roto rcraft F l i gh t Ma nu al, a pp roved m a nu al m a teri a l, m arki ng s, and p laca rd s, o r a n y c o m b i n at i o n t h er e o f. Given the si z e o f sU AS, t h ey ha ve n o ab i l i ty o r pl a ce to car ry such a fli g h t ma nu a l o n t h e ai rcra f t, n ot o n ly b e ca u se there is n o pi l o t o n b o ar d , b u t b e ca u se t h ere is n o ro o m o r ca p aci ty to carry such an i t e m o n t h e aircra ft. The eq u i vale n t l ev el o f safety will b e a ch i eved by ke ep in g t h e fl igh t ma n u al at the g ro un d c o n t ro l p o i n t where the PIC f l yi n g t h e sU AS wi l l h a ve i m m ed i ate ac cess t o it. T h e F AA h a s iss u e d to ot h ers the fol l o wing5

e x e m pti o n s to t h i s re gu latio n : E xemp tion Nos. 860 7, 8 7

37, 8 7 38, 9299, 9299A, 95 65, 9565B, 1 01 6 7, 1 01 6 7A, 1 0602, 3 282 7

, 1 0 700 , 11251, and 11256. **6. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .**  **1 03:**  **Pr e** **fl i** **g h**  **t a**  **c t**  **i o**  **n** This re gu lat i o n re qu ires e a ch PIC to ta ke c e rtain a cti o n s befo re fl igh t t o ins u re t h e safety o f fli g h t. As F AA a p p ro ved r ot o rcraft fl i gh t ma nu als will n ot b e p rovi d ed fo r t h e aircra f t an ex e m p t i o n wi l l be n ee d ed. Following a comprehensive preflight checklist will provide an equivalent level of safety . The PIC wi l l take all a cti o n s inc lud i n g revi e wing w e at h er, fl igh t b a ttery re qu ire m e n ts, la n d i n g and tak e o ff d i stan ces a n d ai rc raft perfo r m a n ce d a t a b e fo re i n itiat i o n o f fli gh t. **7. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .**  **1 0**  **9: Fl**  **i g**  **h t**  **I n**  **str u**  **c t**  **i o**  **n** Secti o n 9 1. 1 09( a ), which provi de s in p erti n ent part t h a t "[ n ]o p ers o n m a y o p era t e a civil aircra ft ( exc e p t a m a nn ed free ba l l o o n ) th a t is bei n g used fo r fli gh t i n struction u n l e ss t h a t ai r cra f t has f u l l y f un ct i o n i n g du al c o n t ro ls . " s U AS a n d re m ote l y pi l oted ai r c raft, by t h eir desi gn , do not ha ve f u n cti o n al du al c o n t ro ls. I n stea d , fli gh t c o n t ro l is ac co m p l i s h ed thro ug h the use o f a de v i ce that co mm un i cates with t h e ai r cra f t via ra d io c o m m un icat i o n s. Accor d i n g ly, an e xe m p ti o n will b e req u ired fo r t h e fli gh t i n struct i o n req u ire m ents o f 14 C. F .R. § 9 1 . 1 0 9(a). G iv e n the si z e and speed o f t h e sU AS that DronePilotSafety i n te nd s to use, an e qu i vale n t l ev el o f sa fe trai n i n g can sti l l be perfo r med witho u t du al c o n t ro ls b ecause n o pi l ot o r pas s en g ers are a b o ard the s UAS, a n d all pers o n s will b e a sa fe d ista n ce a way in t h e event that the UAS ex p e r ie n ces a n y di ffic u lti e s du ri n g fl igh t i n structio n . T h e F AA h as ap p ro ved e xe m pti o n s fo r fl igh t trai n i n g wit h o u t f u l l y fu n cti o n al du al c o n t ro ls fo r a n u m b er o f aircr a f t a n d fo r f l i gh t i n struction in ex p er i m ental ai rcraft. See E xemp tion Nos. 5 77 8K & 98 62A. **8. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .**  **1 19:**  **M i**  **n imum**  **S a**  **fe A**  **l t**  **it ude**  **s** Secti o n 9 1. 1 19 esta b l i sh e s safe alt i tu d es fo r o p erat i o n o f c i vil ai rcraft. S p ecifi cal l y, 9 1 . 1 1 9( c ) l i mits ai r craft f l yi n g over a reas o t h er than c o ng est ed are a s to an alt i tu d e o f 5 0 0 fe et a b o ve the surfa c e , e xc e pt over o p en w a ter o r sp a rse l y po pu la t ed are a s. In t h o se cases, t h e ai r craft m a y n o t be o p erated cl o ser than 5 0 0 feet t o a n y pers o n , v e s sel, veh i c l e, o r str u ct u re. Because aerial su rvey, ma p p i n g and ins p ect ion w o r k m u st b e ac co m p l i shed at relati vely l o w altit ud e s a n d at altitu d es less t h an 5 00 feet AGL, an e x e m p ti o n from Se cti o n 91 . 1 1 9(c) is n ee d ed. The eq u i vale n t l ev el o f safety will b e a ch i eved g i ven t h e si z e, wei gh t, spee d , and ma t erial w i th w h ich sU AS are b u i l t. Al s o , n o fli g h t will b e ta ken wit h o u t the pe r miss i o n o f t h e la n d owner o r t h o se w h o c o n t ro l the la nd . Becau s e o f t h e a d va n ce n o ti c e t o the la n d o wner, all affe c ted i n d i vi d u als will b e aw a re o f t h e fli gh ts. Co m p a red t o aerial survey o p e ratio n s co ndu ct e d with ai rcraft o r ro t o rcraft wei gh i n g far m o re than 5 5 lbs. and car ry i n g fla m ma b le fuel, any r i sk ass o ciated with these o p e ratio n s will b e fa r less than t h o s e cu r r e n tly al l o wed with c o nvent i o n al ai r cr a ft o p e rati n g at o r b el o w 5 0 0 fe et A G L. I n d ee d , the low - alt i tu d e o p erat i o n s o f the sU AS will mai n tain se p aration b et w een t h ese sU AS o p erat i o n s and the o p erat i o n s o f c o n vent i o n al ai rcraft that m u st c o m p ly with Se cti o n 91 . 1 1 9.6

**9. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ ir** **e me**  **n ts**  **o f**  **14 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .**  **1 21:**  **A l**  **t imeter**  **Se tt**  **i n**  **g s**  Secti o n 9 1. 1 21 req u ires a pers o n o p er a ti n g an ai r cra f t to mai n tain cr u is in g altitu d e o r fli gh t l evel by refere n c e t o an alti m e t er t h at is s et to t h e e l e va ti o n of t h e d epa rture air p o rt o r b ar o metric p ressu re. So m e s U AS h a ve a b a ro metric pressu re sen s o r, w h i l e others o n l y use G P S fo r el evat i o n o r altitu d e. When a b a ro metric pressu re sen s o r is o n the s U AS, it i s ty p ica l l y “ z e ro ed” at the p o i n t o f t a ke - o ff; th i s is ri g h t n ext to t h e PIC a n d n ot at a dep a rtu r e air p o rt. T h e altit ud e rea d i n g wi l l b e r e lative t o t h at poi n t ( o n the gro und ) a n d n o t a k n own el evat i o n . The eq u i vale n t l ev el o f safety will b e a ch i eved by the P IC c o n fi r mi n g t h e el evat i o n o r a l titu d e o f t h e la u n ch site. T h e altit ud e o f the sU AS will a l s o be d is p l a yed via t el e met ry o n t h e G ro un d Stat i o n a n d wi l l b e c o n stantly m o n i t o red by t h e P IC d u ri n g t h e enti re fl igh t o p erat i o n . **10. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ i**  **r e**  **me n** **ts o** **f 1**  **4 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .1**  **5 1**  **( a**  **): F**  **ue l R**  **equ i**  **r e**  **me n** **ts f** **o r Fl**  **i g**  **h t**  **in V**  **F R**  **C ond**  **it i**  **o n**  **s** This re gu lat i o n pro h i b its an i nd ivid u al fro m beg inn i n g “ a fli g h t in an ai rp la n e und er V F R c o nd itio n s un less ( c o n si d eri n g wi n d a n d fo rec a st weat h er c o nd i t io n s) t h ere is e n o ug h fuel to fly t o t h e first p o i n t o f i n te nd ed la n d i n g an d , ass u mi n g no r mal cr u is in g spe e d – ( 1 ) D u ri n g t h e d a y, to f l y aft er that fo r at l east 30 mi n u t e s; o r ( 2) At n i g h t, to fly a f ter that fo r a t lea st 4 5 m i n u t es.” The d if fere n t sU AS b a tter i e s pr ovi d e a var i ety o f p o we red f l i gh t t i mes. An e x e m pt ion fro m § 14 CFR 9 1.1 5 1 is t h e refo re re q u ire d . The a pp l i ca n t b el i ev es th a t an ex e m p t i o n f ro m 1 4 CFR § 9 1. 1 51( a ) is s afe and wit h in t h e s c o p e o f a pr i o r ex e m p t i o n . See E

xemption 1 06 7

3 (al l o wing Lo ckh e ed Martin C o r p o ration to o p e rate without co m p l i a n c e with 9 1. 1 5 1 (a)). Operati n g the sU AS, wit h o u t 30 mi n u tes o f r e se rve f u el d o es n o t p r o m p t the ty p e o f risks t h at Sect i o n 91 . 1 5 1(a) was mea n t to pr event g i ve n the si z e a n d speed a t wh i ch the sU AS o p e rates. The fact t h at it carr i es n o p i l o t, p as s e ng er, o r carg o al s o e nh a n c es its safety. In the u n l i kely event that the b att ery o n the sU AS should run o u t, it w o u ld s i m p ly la n d . Gi ven its wei gh t and c o n stru cti o n m a teri a l, the risks are l ess than co n t e m p la t ed by the c u r rent re gu latio n . The a pp l i ca n t b el i ev es th a t an e qu ivalent l evel o f sa fety can be achi eved by mai nt ai n i n g 2 0% o f re s erve b att ery, w h ich wo u ld be m o re t h an ade qu a t e to return t h e sU AS to its p l a nn ed la n d i n g zo n e from an ywhere in its o p er a ti n g area. The F AA h as gran t ed s i mi l a r ex e m pt i o n s t o ot h ers, i n c l ud i n g Exemptio ns 2 689F, 5 7 45, 1 06 7 3, 1 0808 , and 11251 . **11. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ i**  **r e**  **me n** **ts o** **f 1**  **4 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .2** **03 (**  **a )**  **& ( b**  **): C**  **ar r** **y i**  **n g**  **C i** **v i**  **l A**  **i r** **c r** **a ft**  **C e**  **r t**  **i f** **i c**  **a t**  **i o**  **n a**  **n d**  **R e** **gi s** **tr a**  **t i**  **o n**  This reg u lat i o n pr ovi d es as fol l o ws:

... no pers o n m ay o p era te a civil ai rcraft u n l e ss it h as ... an ap p ro p ri a t e a n d c u rre n t ai rwo rth in e ss certifi c a te. No p e rson m a y o p era t e a civil aircra ft u n less the a i rw o rth i n ess c ertific a te re q u ired by p ara g ra p h (a) o f7

th i s se cti o n o r a special fl igh t a u thori z at i o n issued u nd er § 9 1. 7 15 is d is p la yed a t the ca b in o r c o ckpit entra n ce so that it is le g i b l e to passen gers o r c rew. The sU AS f u l l y l o a d ed ty p i cal l y w ei gh s less t h an 1 0 l b s . , and alw a ys le s s t h an 55 lbs. As suc h , t h ere is no a b i l ity o r p l ace to car ry c ert ifi cati o n and reg i strat i o n d o cu m ents o r to dis p lay th e m o n t h e sU AS. In a dd itio n , t h e re is n o pi l o t o n board t h e aircra ft. An e qu ivalent le vel o f sa fe ty wi l l b e ac h i eved by kee p i n g t h ese d o c u ments at t h e g ro un d c o n t ro l p o i n t where the PIC f l yi n g t h e sU AS wi l l h a ve i m m ed i ate ac cess t o t h e m . T h e F AA h a s i s sued n u me ro u s ex e m p t i o n s t o t h is re gu lat i o n . A rep rese n t a ti ve s a m p l e o f other exc e pti o n s inc l u d es Exemption Nos. 9565, 9 66 5, 9 7 89, 9 7 89A, 9 7 9 7, 9 7 97A, 98 1 6A, 10 700

, 11251, and 11256. **12. DronePilotSafety**  **s ee**  **ks e** **x e**  **mption fr** **o m**  **t h**  **e r** **equ i**  **r e**  **me n** **ts o** **f 1**  **4 CFR**  **§ 9**  **1 .4** **0 5**  **( a**  **); 4** **0 7**  **( a**  **) (**  **1); 4 0** **9( a**  **) (**  **1 )**  **a n**  **d (**  **2); 4**  **1 7(**  **a )**  **a n**  **d (**  **b )**  **: M**  **a i**  **n te**  **na n**  **c e**  **I n**  **s p**  **e c** **t i**  **on s**  Secti o n 9 1. 405( a ) req u ires that an ai rcra f t o p era t o r o r o w n er “ sh a ll ha ve th a t ai r c raft i n spect e d as p rescri b ed in su b p art E o f t h is p a rt a n d sha l l b etw e en req u ired ins p ect i o n s, ex c e pt as p r ovi d ed in p ara g ra p h (c) o f t h is s ect i o n , have di s crepa n ci e s re p a i red as pre s cri b ed in part 4 3 o f th i s c h a pter .. . ” Secti o n 9 1. 4 07 s i mi l ar l y m a kes referen c e to re q u ir e m e n ts in P a rt 4 3; Se cti o n 91 . 409( a )( 2 ) req u ires an a nnu al i n specti o n fo r the i s su an ce o f an air w o rth in ess certifi c a te. S ect i o n 9 1. 4 1 7 ( a) re qu ires the o w n er o r o p era t o r to k e ep re c o r d s sh o wing certain mai n te n a n ce w o rk that has been a c co m p l i s h ed by cert ifi c a ted mecha n i c s, u n d er Pa rt 4 3, o r l i c ensed p i l ots a n d re c o r d s o f ap p roval o f t h e aircra f t fo r return to s erv i ce. The sU AS a re n ear l y mai nt ena n ce fr e e, they perfo rm a u t o matic p re -fl igh t ch e cks and t h e fa i l u re o f any check will p revent ta ke - o ff. Checks which c a nn o t b e d o n e by t h e s yst e m will b e p erfo r med by a qu al i fied p ers o n pr i o r t o each fli g h t a n d at pre d efi n ed i n te rvals as p art o f a mai n te n a n ce s che du le. Pre -fl igh t c h eckl i st i n cl ud e s : V i su a l i n spe cti o n o f the ai rframe V i su a l i n spe cti o n s o f ro t o r i n te g r i ty C h e c k ch a rg e o f all b a tte ries (a e ri a l veh i cle, c om m a n d statio n , rad i o repe a ter statio n ) An e qu ivalent le vel o f sa fe ty wi l l b e ac h i eved because the sU AS is s mall in si z e, w i ll car ry n o ext ern a l p ayl o a d , will o p era t e o n ly i n restri cted p red ete r mi n ed areas a n d is not a c o m p lex m e cha n ical d evise. The o p era t o r o f t h e sU AS will ens u re t h at i t is in w o r ki n g o r d er p r i o r to i n itiati n g fli gh t, p erfo r m req u ired mai n te n a n ce, a n d keep a l o g o f any mai nt ena n ce th a t is p erfo r med. M o re ove r, t h e o p e ra t o r is t h e p ers o n m o st fa mi l iar with t h e ai rcraft and is b e st su ite d to mai n tain the ai rcraft i n an ai rw o rthy c o nd ition and t o e n su r e an eq u ivalent l ev el o f sa fety. If m e ch an ical issues aris e , t h e sU AS can la n d i m med i a t ely d u e to t h e p re - d e t er m i n ed area o f o p erat i o n . M o re o ve r, t h e sU AS ' s s mall size, car ryi n g ca p ac i ty, a n d t h e fa ct that fli gh t o p erat i o n s wi l l o n ly ta ke p la c e in restrict ed are as fo r l i mi t ed per i o d s o f t i me, crea t e l ess risk t h an t h e s a me facto rs as s o ci a ted with c o n ventio n al fixe d -wing ai rcraft a n d ro to rcraft perfo r mi n g t h e sa m e o p erat i o n . **Pu b**  **l i**  **c I**  **n te**  **r e**  **s t**  A p p roval o f t h is e xe m pti o n fo r c o m mercial o p erat i o n s wi l l en h a n ce safety by red u ci n g risk. Use o f t h e8

sU AS in lieu o f a ma nn ed a i rcraft wo u ld e nh a n c e sa fe ty and re du c e the envi ro n m ental i m p act a s c o m p ared t o s i mi l ar o p e ra t io n s co ndu ct e d with ma n n ed ai r craft that wei g h in e xcess o f 6, 000 lbs . , carryi n g a c rew and fla mm a b le fuel. S u ch ai r cra f t m u st fly to and fro m the p roje ct lo c atio n . In c o n t rast, a sU AS wei gh i n g less than 10 l b s. a n d p o wered by batt e ries, el i mi n a t es virt u al l y all o f t h at risk g i ven the r ed u ced mass and l a ck o f co m bu sti b le fuel carr i ed o n b o ar d . The sU AS is c ar r ied to the target a rea a n d n o t f l o wn. T h e sU AS will c a rry n o passen g ers o r cre w a nd , t h ere fo re, wi l l n o t ex p o se th e m to the ri s ks associ a ted with ma nn ed a i rcraft fli g h ts. In re g ar d s t o perfo r mi n g ins p ect i o n s o f var i o u s struct u res, and nat u ral gas p i p el i n es the sU AS will mi n imi z e t h e risk to p ers o n s att e m pti n g to cl i mb t h e s e structu r e s and p h o t o g ra p h pr o b l e m a reas. It will p rovi d e a w ay fo r c o m p a n i es t o h a ve their en g i ne ers re v i ew ph ot o g ra p h s a n d provi d e ad d itio n al safe ty to the g en e ral p u b l i c in re gard to structu re fa i l u re o r n atu r al g as p ip eli n es having structu r al iss u es. M a n y o f t h e nat u ral gas pi p eli n es tra vel in are as th a t are ha rd to reach by veh i cle o r foot a n d if an a rea is sus p ect ed o f h a vi n g p ro b l e ms t h e sU AS will a l l o w fo r an easier a n d safer asse s s ment. The sales and training mission of the organization will allow the industry to demonstrate, sale and train future sUAS pilots. **Con c**  **l u**  **s i**  **o n**  DronePilotSafety resp e ctful l y re qu e sts th a t the F AA g ra n t the req u est ed e x e m pti o n and are p rep a red t o m o d i f y o r a mend a n y part o f t h is req u est to sat i sfy the need fo r an e qu iva l ent l evel o f sa fety. W e l o o k forward to w o rki n g with yo u r o ffi ce. If ad d itio n al in fo r mat i o n o r clar i fic a ti o n i s n e eded, p lea s e fe el fr e e to c o n t a ct u s . **DronePilotSafety** Thomas Calloway Freeman 747 South Eighth Street Mebane, NC 27302 (919) 619 - 6828 mailto:tc@dronepilotsafety.com **Appendice s**  **:** DJI Phantom 3 – Specifications Data Sheet and User Manual Link **APPENDIX A** DJI PHANTOM 3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 1.1 DJI Phantom 3 1.1.1 Aircraft 1.1.1.1 Supported Battery – DJI 5200mAH LiPo Battery 1.1.1.2 Weight (Battery & Propellers Included) – 2lbs 11.810oz (1242g) 1.1.1.3 Hover Accuracy (Ready to Fly) – Vertical: .8m; Horizontal: 2.5m 1.1.1.4 Max Yaw Angular Velocity - 2000/s 1.1.1.5 Max Tilt Angel - 350 1.1.1.6 Max Ascent Speed – 6m/s 1.1.1.7 Max Descent Speed – 2m/s 1.1.1.8 Max Flight Speed – 15m/s (NOT RECOMMENDED)9

1.1.2 Gimbal 1.1.2.1 Working Current – Static: 750mA; Dynamic: 900mA 1.1.2.2 Control Accuracy - ±0.030 1.1.2.3 Controllable Range – Pitch: - 900 - 00 1.1.2.4 Maximum Angular Speed – Pitch: 900/s 1.1.3 Camera 1.1.3.1 Operating Temperature Range - 320F - 1040F (00C - 400C) 1.1.3.2 Sensor Size – 1/2.3” 1.1.3.3 Effective Pixels – 14M 1. 1.3.4 Resolution – 4384x3288 4.1.3.5 HD Video Recording – 1080p30 & 720p 1.1.4 Transmitter 1.1.4.1 Operating Frequency – 5.728GHz – 5.85GHz 1.1.4.2 Communication Distance (unobstructed) – FCC Compliance: 800m 1.1.4.3 Receiver Sensitivity (1%PER) - - 93dBm 1 .1.4.4 Transmitter Power – FCC Compliance: 100mW 1.1.4.5 Working Voltage – 120mA@3.7V 1.1.5 Range Extender 1.1.5.1 Operating Frequency – 2412 - 2462MHz 1.1.5.2 Communication Distance (unobstructed) – 500 - 700m 1.1.5.3 Transmitter Power – 20dBm 1.1.5.4 Power Consumption – 2W **DJI Phantom 3 –**  **User Manual Link http://www.dji.com/product/phantom**  **- 3/download**