Kurt von Strasser III

Ascent Aerial Video Productions

10300 West Charleston Boulevard, Suite 13-175

Las Vegas, NV 89135 USA

email: kvonstrasser@gmail.com | Phone: 702.907.7515

UAS Integration office – Special Rules Coordinator

Federal Aviation Administration

U. S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, DC 20590

Re: Introduction, Exemption for Use of UAS For Real Estate, Public Interest, Business Applications

February 9, 2015

To Whom It May Concern,

I, Kurt von Strasser, am writing pursuant to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and the 

procedures contained within 14 C.F.R. 11, to request that I, Kurt von Strasser, an owner and operator of small 

unmanned aircraft, be exempted from the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) listed below so that I, Kurt von 

Strasser, may operate my small ultra light weight unmanned aircraft system (UAS) commercially in airspace 

regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

As described herein I, Kurt von Strasser, am a licensed Realtor within the State of Nevada and obtaining 

licensing in the State of California. I am a licensed private pilot, certificate number: 561510978, having 

obtained my license in 1980. I am experienced in flying hobby helicopters for recreational purposes and have 

been flying RC fixed wing and rotor aircraft since 1975. I have added two state-of-the-art professional grade 

quad-copter UAS vehicles from well-known manufacturers (DJI & Yuneec) ) to my inventory equipped with 

factory installed high resolution gimbaled camera systems with intent for aerial photos, videography /

cinematography. The purpose of this will be to enhance academic community awareness for those

individuals and companies unfamiliar with the geographical layout of the areas I serve, to augment real 

estate real property listing videos and to provide video production services to small businesses, following the 

exemption and approval for my operations by the FAA. My goal is to enhance academic research experience 

for the areas I serve as well as to provide a valuable and needed service for all levels of real estate operations 

while also reducing risk and liability from manned aircraft alternatives. 

I am also a member of the AMA, Academy of Model Aeronautics and have flown small RC electric helicopters 

for over six (6) years without incident. I have been flying RC (radio controlled) fixed wing aircraft since 1976, 

also without incident, including electric fixed wing aircraft since 2005. Committed to safety with each flight. 

my exemption request would permit operation of ultra light weight, unmanned (piloted by remote control) 

and comparatively inexpensive UAS(s) in areas away from general public, airports, heliports and vehicular 

traffic. My general purpose for the use of the UAS will be to produce community videos, videos of 

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commercial and residential properties for sale or rental, and within property boundaries for individual 

homeowner real estate listing videos/photos and small business videos. Currently, similar lightweight, 

remote controlled UAS's are legally operated by unmonitored amateur hobbyists with no safety plan or 

controls in place to prevent catastrophe. I have personally designed and implemented safety protocols and 

controls to prevent public hazard and mitigate risk significantly over the alternative manned aircraft 

hazards/catastrophe. In addition, services performed by the UAS will allow for video which cannot be safely 

shot from conventional manned aircraft alternatives. 

Additionally, I will notify any persons present in the operational area by posting temporary safety signs 

notifying all persons that aerial drone videography operations are taking place and to be alert to the 

presence of the UAS aircraft. Signs will be posted up to 30 minutes before flight operations and continue 

until all UAS operations are concluded at each site. This will act to further safety protocols exclusive to 

lightweight UAS's specific to real estate video and photography usage as I, Kurt von Strasser, record flight 

data and other information gained through permitted flight operations to share with the FAA through any 

required FAA reports to assist with future protocol and safety regulation.

Granting my, Kurt von Strasser’s request comports with the Secretary of Transportations (FAA 

Administrators) responsibilities and authority to not only integrate UAS's into the national airspace system, 

but to also establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems [UAS's] in the national 

airspace system under Section 333(c) of the Reform Act specific to the use of UAS's for real estate/Realtor 

purposes and other small business applications. Further I will conduct my operations in compliance with the 

protocols described herein or as otherwise established by the FAA.

For the reasons stated below I, Kurt von Strasser, respectfully request the grant of an exemption allowing me 

to operate ultra light weight, remote controlled UASs for academic community awareness to 

benefit/stimulate attraction to the areas of operation in Las Vegas and its surrounding communities to 

enhance real estate listing videos for businesses and homeowners who cannot afford expensive, high-risk

manned aircraft for the same purpose. My activities will promote local economic growth through increased 

employment and increased tax base, the provision of new services and enhancement of the real estate listing 

process while also producing a more efficient and more comprehensive real estate listing system, allowing 

consumers to better determine the value of the specific properties using enhanced online video capabilities. 

Furthermore, by using my UAS system as an alternative to heavier manned aircraft containing combustible 

fuel that poses potential public hazard, I will also be contributing to the safety of the local communities 

served.

I have attached detailed information on the two UAS proposed. The following is a short summary of each 

system:

UAS #1 DJI Inspire 1 Quad

Manufacturer: DJI

Model: Inspire 1 T600

Weight: 2935 g / 6.47 Pounds

Passenger Capacity: 0 (unmanned)

Size (dimensions): 438x451x301 mm (17.24x17.76x11.85 inches)

Max Speed: 22 mps (72.18 fps / 49.21 mph)

Max Flight Time: 18-25 mins

Max Ceiling (software limited): 400 ft AGL

Operations: Line of Sight

Controller: Dedicated Commercial Controller with 2 km maximum rated operating distance

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UAS #2 Yuneec Typhoon Q500

Manufacturer: Yuneec Electric Aircraft

Model: Typhoon Q500

Weight: 1700 g / 3.75 Pounds

Passenger Capacity: 0 (unmanned)

Size (dimensions): 420x420x240 mm (16.53x16.53x9.45 inches)

Max Speed: 22 mps (72.18 fps / 49.21 mph)

Max Flight Time: 25 minutes 

Max Ceiling (software limited): 400 ft AGL

Operations: Line of Sight

Controller: Dedicated Commercial Controller with 2 km maximum rated operating distance

Specifically, each UAS is: 

A lightweight (< 7.0 lb gross weight with all on-board equipment), battery operated 4- motor rotorcraft 

in the form of a quadcopter that takes off and lands vertically, manufactured by DJI, Model Inspire 1 , or 

manufactured by Yuneec, Model Typhoon Q500, each with the following equipment: 

− An on-board flight computer with GPS navigation and location ability that receives signals for flight 

controls from a ground-based transmitter/controller; 

− An on-board camera capable of capturing imagery in the form of full color, high definition still photos 

and video; 

− An on-board telemetry system that delivers flight data from the on-board flight computer to the onboard radio transmitter including altitude AGL, horizontal and vertical speed, compass direction of flight 

and direction back to its launch site; 

− A 600mW, 5.8GHz on-board radio transmitter that transmits live video from the on-board camera plus 

all the flight data from the telemetry system described above;

The Ground Station Includes: 

− A Pilot in Command (PIC) in operational control of a flight operation from beginning to end and who 

controls the UAS while in the air;

− A 100mW, 2.4GHz radio transmitter/controller operated by the PIC to control the UAS while in flight; 

− A radio receiver receiving live video and flight data from the on-board camera and computer projects 

it all together onto a screen for the PIC to view during flight; 

− A Visual Observer (VO) is a person who provides a

Thank you for reviewing my request.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kurt von Strasser

Kurt von Strasser III

REALTOR® Urban Nest Real Estate

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Private Pilot, Single Engine Land VFR

Drone Pilot

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