1 U N I TED S TATES O F A ME R I C A DE P A R TMENT OF T R AN SP O R TA T I ON F EDE RA L A V IA T I O N AD M I N I S T RA T I O N W A S H I NG T ON, DC

R e g ul ato r y Do c k e t No.

_

**IN T**  **HE M**  **A TTE**  **R OF T**  **HE P**  **ET I**  **T ION**  **F OR**  **E X**  **E M**  **P T**  **ION O**  **F :** 

**NORCAL AERIALS F**  **OR A**  **N E**  **X EM**  **P T**  **ION SEE**  **K ING**  **R EL**  **I E**  **F FROM**  **T HE**  **R E**  **QUIR E**  **M E**  **N T**  **S OF**  **T I**  **TL E**  **14 OF T**  **HE C**  **O DE**  **OF F**  **E D**  **E RAL**  **R E**  **G U**  **L A**  **T IONS**  **SE C**  **T IONS** 

**91.7 (**  **a )**  **, 91.121, 9**  **1.151 (**  **b )**  **, 91.405 (**  **a )**  **, 91. 4**  **07 (**  **a )(**  **1 )**  **, 91.409**  **( a**  **)( 1)**  **& (**  **a )(**  **2 )**  **, A**  **ND 91.417 (**  **a) &**  **( b**  **) C**  **O NC**  **E RNI**  **N G**  **CO MM**  **E RCIAL**  **O P**  **E RA**  **T ION**  **O F**  **DJI I**  **N S**  **P IRE**  **1 U N**  **M ANN**  **E D AIRCR**  **A F**  **T S**  **Y STE**  **M S**  **P U**  **R S**  **UANT T**  **O SE**  **C T**  **ION 333 OF T**  **HE F**  **AA M**  **OD E**  **RN I**  **Z A**  **T ION AND R** **E F**  **O R**  **M ACT**  **OF 2012** 

**( PU**  **BL IC**  **L AW 112**  **- 95)** 

**Sub m**  **i tte**  **d on**  **November 15, 2015**  NORCALAERIAL S 6413 Via Giardiano Modesto, CA. 95357
- 0661 209
- 304
- 5600 NorCalAerials@y ahoo.com2 **T A**  **BL E**  **OF CON**  **TE N**  **T S**  P a g e G L O SS A RY OF A BB R E V I A T I O N S ...................................................................................3

S UMMA RY...........................................................................................................................4

I N T R ODU C T I O N AND I N TE RE S TS OF P E T I T I ONE R ....................................................4

B A C KG R OU

N D...........
. ........................................................................................................4

B A S I S F OR P E T I T I ON
. ........................................................................................................5

NAME AND A DD R E S S OF P E T I T I O NE R
......... . .................... ..........................................6 THE SP E C I

F I C S E C T I O NS OF 14 C
. F
. R
. F R OM W H I C H NORCALAERI AL S S EEKS EXEM P T I ON...
. ................................................... ............................ .......... 6 THE EXTENT O F RE L I EF NORCALAERIAL S S EEKS AND THE RE A S ON NORCALAERIAL S S EEKS THE R E L I E F
.... . ......... .................... ........... 10 THE REA S ONS W HY G RAN T I NG NORCAL AERI AL S ’S REQUE S T W O U L D B E I N THE P U B L I C I

N TE RE S T ...........................
.............................. 12 THE REA S ONS W HY G RAN T I NG T HE EX E M P T I ON W O U L D NOT ADVE RS E LY A F F E C T S A F ETY........................
. ..................... ............................ 14 S UMMA RY THAT C AN B E P U B L I S HED I N T HE F EDE RA L RE G I S T E R
.... ............ .. 26 ANY AD D I T I O NA L I

N F O RMA T I O N, V I E WS , OR A R GUMENTS AV A I LA B L E TO S U P P O R T NORCALAERI AL S ’ S R EQUE S T......... 27 C ON C L U S I O N..............
. ....................................................................... .............................. 27 A PP EN D I C E S
......... ... ............................................................................ 283 **G L**  **O SS**  **ARY OF A**  **BB R**  **E VIA**  **T IONS**  A G L Above G r ound L e v e l A O I A re a o f I nt e r e st ATC Air T ra f f ic C ontr ol ATO Air T ra f f ic O r g ani z a tion AV A er i a l V e h i c le BFR Bi
- annual Flight Review C F R C ode of Fe d e r a l R e gu l ations C OA C erti f i cate of Autho r i z ation F AA Fe d e ra l Avi ation Administration F AR Fe d e ra l Avi ation Re g ul at ion G C S G r ound C ontr ol S t ation G P S Glob a l P ositioning S ys t e m LOA Letter of Agreement L O L L oss of L ink NAS N ation a l Ai r sp a c e S yst e m NOTAM Noti c e to Ai r m an P IC P ilot I n C omm and S ec tion 333 F AA Mod e r ni z ation and R ef

o r m A c t of 2012 (F M RA) S O S afe t y Obs er v er S OP S t and ar d Op e r ating P r o c e dure s sUAS Small Unmanned Aircraft Sy stem UA Unm ann e d Ai r cr a f t UAS Unm ann e d Ai r cr a f t S yst e m V F R Visu a l F li ght R ul e s V L OS Visu a l Line o f S ite VMC Visu a l M e t e o r ol o g i ca l C onditions VT O L V erti ca l T ak e o f f and L an ding4 **S U**  **MM ARY**  NORCALAERIAL S s e e ks e x e mption fr om the re qui re m e nts of 14 C
. F .R §§ 91.7 ( a ) , 91.121, 91. 1 51 ( b ) , 91.405 ( a ) , 91.407 ( a)( 1 ) , 91.40 9 (a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 ) , and 91.417 (a ) & ( b ) , to o p er a te an Unm ann e d Ai rc r af t S yst e m pur su ant to S ec t i on 333 of the F AA Mod e r

ni z ation and R ef

o r m A c t of 2012 (F M RA ) . This e x e mption wi l l p er mit NORCALAERIAL S to op e rate an Unm ann e d A i rc r af t S ys t e m ( U A S ) f

or the c o m m erc i al pur pose of c ond

u c ting a e r i a l vid e o and phot o gra ph y of c onstr

u c tion sit e s, r ea l e st at e , and l ands ca pe o v e r c ert a in ar ea s of the Unit e d S t at e s. **IN T**  **RODUC T**  **ION A N**  **D IN TE**  **R ESTS**  **OF T**  **HE P**  **ET I**  **T ION**  **ER** NORCALAERIAL S owner, James B. McKay , holds a Private Pilot certificate 3138737 with an I FR rating. Mr. McKay has a current BFR, Airman Third Class Medical and has over 1,000 PI C time free of any accidents or incidents. Additionally , Mr. McKay received his Drone Certifi cation from DRONE University USA Sacramento California on July 12, 2015. He has over four years of flying sUAS aircraft. The ob j ec tive of NORCAL AERI AL S and his aer i a l o p erations is to p r ovide hi gh qu a li t y im a g i n g f or a v ar i e t y of c omm e rc i a l, p ubli c , and re sid e nti a l us e s, sp ec i f i ca l l y t ar g e tin g but not limited to :
• C onstr

u c tion sit e s b ef

o r e and af t e r
• App ra is a ls
• R ea l
- e st ate m ar

k e ti n g
• Event and Small Business Marketing
• A er i a l a c quisitions us e d f or insp ec tions of public and p r iv ate str u c ture s.
• S earc h and R e s c ue o p er ations

**B ACK**  **G ROUND**  Unm ann e d Ai r cr a f

t S yst e ms: D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS NORCALAERIAL S s e e ks an e x e mption to op era te D J I s yst e ms f

or c omp e ns ation or hi r e within the NA S . The D J I I nspi r e 1 ar e v erti c a l t ak e o f f and l anding ( VT O L ) Unm ann e d5

Ai r c raf t ( U A) with a G r ound C ontr ol S t ation ( G CS ) ut ili z ing e l ec tr onic t a b l e t or sm art phone s y st e ms. The D J I I nspi r e 1 h a s a m ax imum gr oss w e i ght of 6 poun d s 7.5 oun ce s, a l e n gth of 17.3 in c h e s, width of 17.7 in c h e s, h e i ght of 11.8 in c h e s, and a m ax imum sp ee d of a pp r ox im at e l y 42 knots. The D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS is e quipp e d with f o u r m a in r oto r s; dr iv e n b y Lithium P o l y

m e r b att e r y p o w e r e d e l e c tr ic moto r s. The DJ I In spire 1 U As th at w ill be op erat e d b y NORCALAERIAL S will be r e g ist ere d in a cc o r d an c e with 49 U. S
. C . 44103, R e gistration of Airc raft , a s w e ll as 14 C
. F .R P art 47, Airc raft R e

gistration , and m ar

k e d in acc o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 45, I d e ntifi c ation and R e gistration M

ar k ing
. **B A**  **S IS**  **F OR**  **P ET**  **I T**  **ION** P e tition er , NORCAL AERI AL S , pur su ant to the p r ovisions of the Fe d era l Avi ation R e g ul ations ( 14 C
. F
. R . § 11.61) and the F AA M o d er ni z ation and R ef

o r m A c t of 2012 (F M RA ) , S ec tion 333, S

p ec ial Rules for C

e rtain Unmann e d Airc raft S y ste ms , h ere b y p e titions the Administrator to c omm erc i a l l y op e r a te the D J I Inspi r e 1 UAS in the N ation a l Ai r sp ac e S yst e m (NA S ) , an d f or an e x e mption fr om the re qui re m e nts of 14 C
. F .R §§ 91. 7 (a) , 91.121, 91.151 ( b ) , 9 1.405 (a) , 91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a)( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a ) & ( b )
. In c onsid eration of th e sp ee d, w e i ght, si z e , and limit e d op erati n g ar e a a ss o c i at e d with the unm ann e d a i r c raf

t and its op eration, NORCALAERI AL S op eration of DJII nspire 1 UAS m ee ts the c onditions of F M RA S ec tion 333 and th eref o re , will not re qui r e an a i r w o rthin e ss certi f

i c ate in a c c o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 21, S ubp art H. A cc o r di n g l y , NORCALAERI AL S re qu e sts r e li e f fr om S ec tions 91.405 (a) , 91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 (a)( 1 ) & (a ) ( 2 ) , an d 91.417 (a ) & ( b ) , a s th e se s ec tions s e t f o r th r e qui re m e nts f

or m a int e n an c e th at on l y a

p p l y to a i r c raf

t with an a i rwo rthin e ss certi f i c at e . NORCALAERIAL S s u bmits th at the re qu e st e d r e li e f is p r op e r sin c e an e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y will be e ns u re d. NORCALAERIAL S w ill use e x p er i e n ce d p er s o nn e l or t ec hni c i ans to p e r f

o r m m a int e n an c e , a lt e r ations, or p re v e ntive m a int e n an c e on the UAS using the m e thods, t ec hn i qu e s, and p r a c ti ce s p r e s c r ib e d in the op e r ating d o c um e nts ( i. e ., Month l y M a int e n an c e L o g , and DJ I Inspire 1 I nstr u c tion M anu a l )
. F urth er

m o re , NORCALAERIAL S will do c um e n t and m a int a in a ll m a int e n an c e r ec o r ds f or the DJ I In spire 1 UAS
. NORCALAERIAL S s e e ks re li e f fr om S ec tion 9 1.7 (a) , e ntitl e d Ci v il airc raft airw orthin ess , b eca

use the DJ I In spire 1 UAS do not r e qui r e an a i r wo rthin e ss c erti f

i cat e in acc o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 21, S ubp art H. As su c h, NORCALAERIAL S submits th at he will e nsur e th a

t th e DJ I In spire 1 UAS ar e in an a i r wo rth y c ond i tion, p r ior to e v e r y f l i ght, b y d e t er

mining th at the UAS ar e in c ompli a n c e with the op e r ating do c um e nts ( i. e ., M onth l y M a int e n an c e L o g , and DJ I Inspire 1 Instr u c tion M anu a l ) , and th a

t the a i r c raf

t ar e i n a c ondition f

or s a f e f li ght.6

NORCALAERIAL S a l so s ee ks an e x e mption f r om the re qui re m e nts of S ec tion 91.121, e ntitl e d Altim e te r S

e ttings , a s the DJ I In spire 1 U As will not h ave a t y pi ca l b ar om e tr ic a ltim e t e r onbo ar d. H o w e v e r , a l titude in f o r m ation of the DJ I In spire 1UAs w i ll be p r ovid e d to the P IC via Glob a l P ositioning S y s t e m ( G PS ) e quipm e nt and ra dio c o m muni cations t e l e m e tr y d ata link, whi c h downlinks fr om the UA to the G C S f or ac tive monito r ing of th e f li ght p ath. T his a ltitude in f o r m ation, c ombin e d with NORCALAERIAL S ’ s op eration of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS within visu a l line of si ght, at or b e low 500 fee t A G L , wi l l e nsur e a l e v e l of s a f

e t y e quiv a l e nt to S ec tion 91.121. Addition a l l y, NORCALAERI AL S s ee ks an e x e mption fr om the re qui r e m e nts of S ec tion 91.151 ( b ) , e ntitl e d Fu e l r e quir e m e nts for flight in VFR c onditions
. NORCALAERIAL S submits th at s afe t y will n ot be af f ec t e d b y o p erati o n of the DJ I In spire 1 UAs dur ing d a y li ght h o ur s in visu a l m e t e o r olo g i ca l c onditions ( VM C ) un d e r visu a l f li ght r ul e s ( V F R ) , with e no u gh b att e r y pow e r to f l y f or a tot a l duration of a

pp r ox im at e l y 13.5 minut e s to the f i r st point of int e nd e d l andi n g and, a ssuming no r m a l c r uising sp e e d, to f

l y af t e r th at f o r a t l ea st 4.5 minut e s. In acc o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R . § 11.81, NORCALAERI AL S p r ovid e s the f ollowing in f o r m ation in suppo r

t of its p e tition f

or e x e mpti o n: **A. N a**  **m e**  **A n**  **d A**  **dd re**  **ss Of**  **T h**  **e P**  **e t**  **i t**  **io n**  **er.** The n ame and a ddr e ss of the P e tition e r and point of c ont ac t is: NORCALAERIAL S 4613 Via Giardiano Modesto, CA. 95357
- 0661 209
- 304
- 5600 NorCalAerials@yahoo.com

**B .**  **Th e**  **Sp ec**  **i f** 

**ic S**  **ect io**  **n s Of**  **14 C. F**  **.R. F**  **r o**  **m W**  **h i**  **c h**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t io**  **n .**  **1 .**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **F r**  **o m**  **Th e**  **R e**  **qu i**  **r e**  **m e**  **n t**  **s O**  **f S**  **ect ion**  **91.7 (**  **a )**  **.** S ec tion 91.7, e ntitl e d Ci v il airc raft airw o r thin ess , subs ec tion (a) , st at e s th e f ollowin g : (a ) No p er son m a y op e rat e a c ivil a i r c raf t unl e ss it is in an a i r

wo rth y c ondition.7 **2 .**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **F r**  **o m**  **Th e**  **R e**  **qu i**  **r e**  **m e**  **n t**  **s O**  **f S**  **ect ion**  **91.121.** S ec tion 91.121, e ntitl e d Altim e t e r s e ttin g s, subs e c tion (a) , st at e s the f ollowin g , in p art: (a ) E a c h p e r son op e r ating an a i r c raf t sh a ll m a int a i n the cr

uising a ltitude or f li ght l e v e l of th at a i rc r a f

t, a s the ca se m a y b e , b y ref e re n c e to an a ltim e t e r th at is s e t, wh e n op e r atin g -- ( 1) B e low 18,000 f

e e t MS L , to -- ( i) The c u rre nt r e po rt e d a ltim e t e r s e tting of a st ati o n a long the r oute and within 100 n a

uti ca l mil e s of the a i r c raf t; ( ii) I f th e r e is no st ation within the are a p re s c r ib e d in p ar a gr a ph ( a )( 1 )( i ) of this s ec tion, the c u

r r e nt re po rt e d a ltim e t e r s e tting of an a pp r o p r i ate av a il a ble st ation; or ( iii) I n the ca s e of an a i r c raf

t not e quipp e d with a r a dio, the e l e v ation of the d e p artur e a i r

p o rt or an a

pp r op r i ate a ltim e t e r s e tting av a il a ble b ef o r e d e p artur e . **3 .**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **F r**  **o m**  **Th e**  **R e**  **qu i**  **r e**  **m e**  **n t**  **s O**  **f S**  **ect ion**  **91.151 (**  **b )**  **.** S ec tion 91.151, e ntitl e d Fu e l r e quir e m e nts for flight in VFR c onditions , s u bs ec tion ( b ) , st at e s the f

ollowi n g : ( b ) N o p e rson may b e

gin a flight in a rotorc ra

f t u n d e r VFR c onditions unless c onsid e ring w ind and forec ast w e ath e r c onditions) th e r e is e nough fu e l to fly to the first point of inte nd

e d landing and, assuming normal c ruising sp ee d, to fly afte r that for at le ast 20 minutes. **4 .**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **F r**  **o m**  **Th e**  **R e**  **qu i**  **r e**  **m e**  **n t**  **Of S**  **ect ion**  **91.405 (**  **a )**  **.** S ec tion 91.405, e ntitl e d M ainte nan c e r e quir e d, s ubs ec tion (a) , st at e s the f ollowin g : E ac h own e r or o p erator o f an a i r cr a f t

— (a ) S h a ll h ave th at a i r c ra f t insp ec t e d a s p re s cr ib e d in subp art E of this p ar t and sh a ll b e tw ee n r e qui re d i n sp ec tions, e x ce pt a s p r o v id e d in p ar a gr a ph ( c ) of t his s ec tion, h ave dis c r e p an c i e s re p a i r e d a s p r e s cr i b e d in p art 43 of this c h a pt er [ .] **5 .**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **F r**  **o m**  **Th e**  **R e**  **qu i**  **r e**  **m e**  **n t**  **s O**  **f S**  **ect ion**  **91.407 (**  **a )(**  **1)**8

S ec tion 91.407, e ntitl e d Op e ration afte r mainte nan ce, pr e v e nti v e mainte n a n ce, r e building, or alte ration , subs ec tion (a ) ( 1 ) , st at e s the f ollowin g : (a ) No p er son m a y op e rat e an y a i r cr a f t th at h a s un d e r g one m a int e n an ce, p re v e ntive m a int e n an ce , re buildin g , or a lt eration unl e ss -- ( 1) It h a s b e e n a

p p r ov e d f or re tur n to s er vi c e b y a p er son a

utho r i z e d und e r § 43.7 of this c h a

pt er [ .] **6 .**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **F r**  **o m**  **Th e**  **R e**  **qu i**  **r e**  **m e**  **n t**  **s O**  **f S**  **ect io**  **n s 91.409**  **( a**  **)( 1)**  **A n**  **d 91.409**  **( a**  **)( 2**  **) .**  S ec tion 91.409, e ntitl e d I nsp ec tions , subs ec tion ( a) , st at e s the f ollowi n g : (a ) E x ce pt a s p r ovid e d in p ar a gr a ph ( c ) of this s ec t ion, no p er son m a y op e r a te an a i r c raf t unl e ss, within the p re c e ding 12 ca l e n d ar months, it h a s h a d
-- ( 1) An annu a l insp ec tion in acc o r d an c e with p art 4 3 of this c h a pt e r and h a s b ee n a pp r o v e d f or re tur n to s er vi c e b y a p er son aut ho r i z e d b y § 43.7 of this c h a pt er ; or ( 2) An insp ec tion f

o r the issu an c e of an a i r

w o rthin e ss certi f

i c ate in acc o r d an c e with p art 21 of this c h a pt er . **7 .**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **F r**  **o m**  **Th e**  **R e**  **qu i**  **r e**  **m e**  **n t**  **s O**  **f S**  **ect io**  **n s 91.417**  **( a)**  **A n**  **d 91.417**  **( b**  **) .**  S ec tion 91.417, e ntitl e d M ainte nan c e r e c ords , s ubs ec tions (a ) and ( b ) , st at e the f ollowin g : (a ) E x ce pt f

or w o r k p e rf o r m e d in acc o r d an c e with §§ 91.411 and 91.413, e a c h r e g ist ere d o w n e r o r op e r ator sh a ll k ee p the f ollowing r e c o r ds f

o r the p e r iods sp ec i f i e d in p ar a gr a

ph ( b ) of this s ec tion: ( 1) R ec o r ds o f the m a int e n an ce , p r e v e ntive m a int e n an ce , and a lt e r ation and rec o r ds o f the 100
- hour , annu a l, p r o gr e ssiv e , and oth e r re qui r e d or a p p r ov e d insp ec tions, a s a

pp r op r i at e , f

or e ac h a i rc r af

t ( in c l u ding the a i r fram e ) and eac h e n g in e , p r op e ll e r , r o to r , and a ppli an c e of an a i rcraf

t. T h e r e c o r ds must in c lud e -- ( i) A d e s c r iption ( or r e fe r e n c e to d at a a c ce pt a ble t o the Administrato r) of the wo r k p e r f o r m e d; and ( ii) The d ate o f c ompl e tion of the wo r k p e rf o r m e d; and9 ( iii) The si gn ature , and c erti f i cate numb e r of the p er son a pp r ovi n g the a i rc r af t f or re tur n to s er v i ce. ( 2) R ec o r ds c ont a ining th e f ollowing in f

o r m ation: ( i) The tot a l time in s er

v i c e of the a i rf

r am e , e ac h e n g in e , eac h p r op e ll er , and e a c h r oto r . ( ii) The c urre nt st atus of li fe
- limit e d p arts of e a c h a i rfram e , e n g in e, p r op e ll er , r oto r , and a

pp l i an ce . ( iii) The time sin c e l a st o v er h a ul of a ll it e ms inst a l l e d on the a i r c raf t whi c h ar e re qui r e d to be ov er h a ul e d on a sp ec i f

i e d time b a sis. ( iv) The c u rre nt insp e c tion st atus of the a i rc r af t, i n c luding the time sin c e the l a st insp ec tion r e qui re d b y the insp e c tion p r ogram und e r whi c h the a i r c raf

t and its a ppli an ce s ar e m a int a in e d. ( v) The c u rre nt st atus of a ppli ca ble a i rwo rthin e ss di rec tiv e s ( A D) and s afe t y di r e c tiv e s in c ludin g , f o r e a c h, the m e thod o f c ompli an ce , the AD or s afe t y di r ec tive numb e r and re vision d at e . I f the AD or s a f e t y di rec tive involv e s r e c urr i ng a c tion, the time and d ate wh e n the n e x t ac tion is re qui re d. ( vi) C opi e s of the f

o r ms p re s cr ib e d b y § 43.9 ( d) o f this c h a pt e r f o r e a c h m a jor a lt eration to the a i r frame and c urre nt l y inst a ll e d e n g i n e s, r oto r s, p r op e ll er s, and a

ppli an c e s. ( b) The own e r or o p erat o r sh a ll re t a in the f ollowi n g r ec o r ds f

or the p er iods p re s cr ib e d: ( 1) The r ec o r ds s p ec i f

i e d in p ar a gr a

ph ( a )( 1) of th i s s ec tion sh a ll be re t a i n e d until the wo r

k is re p eat e d or sup er s e d e d b y oth e r wo r k or f or 1 year af

t e r t he wo r k is p erf o r m e d. ( 2) The r ec o r ds s p ec i f

i e d in p ar a gr a

ph ( a )( 2) of th i s s ec tion sh a ll be re t a i n e d and trans f e rre d with the a i rcraf

t at the time the a i r c raf

t is sold. ( 3) A list of d e f

ec ts f ur n i sh e d to a r e g ist e r e d own e r or op e r ator und e r § 43.11 of this c h a

pt e r sh a l l be re t a in e d until the d e f ec ts ar e re p a i re d and the a i rc r af t is a pp r ov e d f or r e tur n to s er vi ce.10

**C. Th**  **e E**  **x te**  **n t**  **Of R**  **e li**  **e f**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s A n**  **d Th**  **e R**  **e ason**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s Th**  **e R**  **e li**  **e f**  **. 1.**  **Th e**  **E x**  **te n**  **t Of**  **R e**  **li e**  **f NORCAL AERIALS**  **S ee**  **k s A**  **n d**  **Th e**  **R e**  **ason NORCAL AERIALS**  **S ee**  **k s**  **Th e**  **R e**  **li e**  **f From Section 91.7(a).**  R e li e f fr om S ec tion 91.7 ( a ) e ntitl e d Ci v il airc raft airw orthin ess , is re qu e st e d to the e x t e nt re qui re d to a llow NORCAL AERIALS to d e t e r mine th at the DJ I In spire 1 UAS ar e in a i rwo rth y c ondition p r ior to e v e r y f l i ght b y e nsur i n g th at the UAS is in c ompli an c e with the o p erati n g do c um e nts ( i. e ., the NORCAL AERIALS A er i a l Op erations M anu a l, Month l y M a int e n an c e L o g , and DJ I Inspire 1 Instr u c tion M anu a l )
. NORCALAERIAL S s e e ks the re qu e st e d re li e f b eca use th e DJ I In spire 1 UAS do not r e qui r e an a i rwo rthin e ss c e rti f i cate in a c c o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 21, S ubp art H. Th e r ef o re , NORCALAERI AL S will e nsur e th at the DJ I Inspire 1 UAS ar e in a i rwo rth y c ondition b a s e d upon its c ompli an c e with the op erati n g do c um e nts ( i. e . , Month l y M a int e n an c e Lo g , and DJII nspire 1 I nstr u c tion M anu a l) p r i or to e v e r y f l i ght, and f

urth er , d e t er mine th at the a i rcraf

t ar e in c ondition f

or s af e f li ght, a s st at e d in the c onditions and limit ations b e low. **2. E**  **x te**  **n t**  **Of R**  **e li**  **e f**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s A n**  **d Th**  **e R**  **e ason**  **NORCAL AERIALS**  **S ee**  **k s R**  **e li**  **e f**  **F r**  **o m**  **Se ct**  **ion 91.**  **1 21.**  R e li e f fr om S ec tion 91. 1 21, e ntitl e d Altim e t e r s e ttin g s, m a y be re qui re d to a llow f li ght op erations of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS , whi c h utili z e a b ar om e tr ic p re ssur e s e nso r , G P S e qu ipm e nt, and a ra dio c o m muni cations t e l e m e tr y d ata link to downlink a ltitude in f o r m ation fr om the UA to the P I C at the gr ound c ontr ol st ation ( G CS )
. S in c e the F AA re qui r e s th at an y a ltitude in f o r m at i on c on cer

ni n g UAS op e r ations be re po rt e d to a ir t ra f f ic c o n tr ol ( AT C ) in fee t a

bove gr ound l e v e l ( A G L ) , NORCALAERIAL S s e e ks the re qu e st e d r e li e f b eca

u s e the DJ I In spire 1 UA ’ s a ltim e t e r m a y b e s e t on the gr ound to z er o f e e t A G L , rath e r th an the l o ca l b ar om e t r ic p re ssur e o r f i e ld a ltitud e , b ef

o r e e a c h f li ght. C onsid er ing the limit e d a ltitude of the p r opos e d o p erations, re li e f fr om 14 C F R 91.121 is sou ght to the e x t e nt n ec e ss ar y to c omp l y with the a ppli ca ble c onditions and limit ations st at e d b e low. As mo r e f

u l l y s e t f o rth h e re in, an e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y w ill be m a int a in e d sin c e the DJ I In spire 1 UAs ar e e quipp e d w ith a b ar om e tr ic p re ssur e s e nsor and G P S e quipm e nt, whi c h a

uto m ati ca l l y e nsure s th at a gr o und l e v e l p re ssur e s e tting will be e st a blish e d p r ior to eac h f

li ght, and p r ovid e s th e P I C with a ltitude in f o r m ation of the UA on the h ea ds
- up displ a y of t he G CS
.11

**3. E**  **x te**  **n t**  **Of R**  **e li**  **e f**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s A n**  **d Th**  **e R**  **e ason**  **NORCAL AERIALS**  **S ee**  **k s R**  **e li**  **e f**  **F r**  **o m**  **Se ct**  **ion 91.**  **151(b).**

R e li e f fr om S ec tion 91. 1 51 ( b) e ntitl e d F u e l re qui r e m e nts f or f l i ght in V F R c onditions, is re qu e st e d to the e x t e nt re qui re d to a llow f li ghts of the b att e r y pow e re d DJ I Inspire 1 U As dur i n g d a y

l i ght hour s in visu a l m e t e o r olo g i ca l c onditio n s ( VM C ) , und e r visu a l f li ght r ul e s ( V F R ) , f or a tot a l duration of 1 3 .5 minut e s to the f i r st point of int e nd e d l anding and, a ssuming n o r

m a l cr uising s p ee d, to f

l y a f t e r th at f o r at l ea st 4
. 5 minut e s. NORCAL AERI AL S s e e ks the re qu e st e d re li e f b eca use without an e x e mption fr om S ec tion 91.151 ( b ) , the f

l i ght time duration of the b att e r y pow e re d DJ I Inspire 1 UAs will s e v e r e l y c onstr a in the p r a c ti ca l it y of an y a e r i a l vid e o or s till photo f li ght op e r ations th at NORCAL AERI AL S p r op o s e s to c ondu c t pur su ant t o this P e tition. S i gni f i cant l y , a s s e t f

o rth b e low, the t ec hni c a l sp e c i f i cations of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS , the DJ I In spire 1 op e r ating d o c um e nt s , and NORCAL AERIALS ’ s p r opos e d op erati n g limit ations, e nsur e th at NORCAL AERIALS will s afe l y op e r ate the b att e r y pow ere d DJI Inspire 1 UAs dur ing d a yl i ght hour s in visu a l m e t e o r olo g i c a l c onditions ( VM C ) , und e r visu a l f li ght r ul e s ( V F R ) , with e nou gh b att e r y po w e r to f l y f o r a tot a l dur ation of 13.5 minut e s to the f

i r st point of int e nd e d l anding and, a s s uming no r m a l c r uising s p ee d, to f

l y af t e r th at f or at l ea st 4.5 minut e s. **4. E**  **x te**  **n t**  **Of R**  **e li**  **e f**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s A n**  **d Th**  **e R**  **e ason**  **NORCAL AERIALS**  **S ee**  **k s R**  **e li**  **e f**  **F r**  **o m**  **Se ct**  **io n**  **s 91.405 (**  **a )**  **, 91.407 (**  **a )**  **( 1**  **) ,**  **91.409 (**  **a )(**  **1) &**  **( a**  **)( 2**  **) ,**  **A n**  **d 91.417**  **( a)**  **& (**  **b )**  **.** S in c e S ec tions 91.405 (a) , 91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a)( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a ) & ( b ) on l y a pp l y to a i r c r af

t with an a i r

wo rthin e ss c erti f

i cat e , NORCAL AERIAL S r e qu e sts re li ef fr om th e se S ec tions b e c a

use the DJ I In spire 1 UAS do not re qui r e a i r wo rthin e ss c erti f i cat e s. As s e t f

o rth mo r e f

ul l y b e low, the DJI Inspire 1 UAS m ee t the c onditions of F M RA S e c tion 333 f

or op eration w i thout an a i r wo rthin e ss c erti f

i cat e . A cc o r di n g l y , NORCALAERIAL S will use tra i n e d t ec hni c i ans to p erf o r m m a int e n an ce , a lt erations, or p r e v e ntive m a int e n an c e on th e UAS using the m e thods, t ec hniqu e s, and p rac ti ce s p re s c r ib e d in the UAS op e r ating d o c um e nts ( i. e ., the NORCALAERI AL S A er i a l Op e rations M anu a l, Month l y M a int e n an c e L o g , and DJII nspire 1 I nstr u c tion M anu a l )
. F urth er m o re , NORCAL AERI AL S will do c um e nt and m a int a in a ll m a int e n an c e r ec o r ds f o r the DJ I In spire 1 UAS
.12

G ranting th e p re s e nt P e tition will f urth e r the public int ere st b y a llowi n g NORCAL AERI AL S to s a f

e l y , eff i c i e nt l y, and ec onomi c a l l y p e rf o r m a er i a l vid e o and photo gr a p h y of c onstr

u c tion sit e s, rea l e st at e , and l ands ca pe o v e r c ert a in ar ea s of the Unit e d S t at e s. Addition a l l y, use of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS will d ecr e a se c o n g e stion of the NA S , re d

u c e poll ution, and p r ovide si gni f i c ant b e n ef

its to the e c on o m y . Not a

b l y , the b e n ef its of NORCAL AERI AL S ’ s p r opos e d op e ration of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS will be r e a li z e d without imp l i cating an y p r iv a c y issu e s. **1. Th**  **e P**  **ub lic**  **Will B**  **e n**  **e f**  **it F**  **r o**  **m D**  **e c**  **re as**  **e d**  **C o**  **n g**  **e s**  **t ion**  **Of Th**  **e NA**  **S .**  The DJ I In spire 1 U As ar e b att e r y po w e r e d and s e r ve a s a s a f

e , eff i c i e nt, and ec onomi c a l a lt er n ative to the m ann e d a i rc r af t tra dition a l l y ut i li z e d to obt a in aer i a l im a g e r y . B y re d u c ing the amount of m ann e d a i rc r af t n ee d e d to p e r f

o rm aer i al ac quisitions, an e x e mpti o n a llowing the use o f a D J I Phantom 3 or D J I I ns p i r e 1 UAS would re du c e th e amount of m ann e d a i r cr a f t in the NA S , re du c e noise and a ir pollution, a s w e ll a s in cr e a se the s afe t y of li f

e and p r o p ert y in the a ir and on the gr ound. F urth er m o re , b y r e du c i n g the numb e r of m ann e d a i rc r af t op e r ating in the NA S , c ong e stion ar ound a i r

po rts ca us e d b y arr ivi n g and d e p arti n g a i rc r af t will be re d

u ce d. The D J I P h antom 2 and D J I I

nspi r e 1 UAs do not re qui r e an a i r po r t to t ak e o f

f or l and. Li k e w is e , a re d

u c tion of m ann e d a i r cr a f

t c ond u c ting a er i a l vid e o and p h oto gra p h y missions wou l d re sult in fe w e r a i rc r af t th at must be h an d l e d b y a ir tra f f ic c ontr ol dur ing the gr ound, t ak e o f f , d e p artur e , arr iv a l, and l anding p h a s e s of f light op erations. **2. Th**  **e P**  **ub lic**  **Will B**  **e n**  **e f**  **it F**  **r o**  **m Th**  **e S**  **a f** 

**et y A**  **n d**  **E f** 

**f i**  **c i**  **e n**  **c y**  **O f**  **Th e**  **DJI Inspire 1**  **UAS .**  C ondu c ting a e r i a l a c quisitions with the DJ I In spire 1 UAS , inst ea d of m ann e d a i r c raf t, will gr e at l y b e n ef

it the public b y dra sti ca l l y re d u c ing t h e l e v e ls of a ir and noise pollution g e n e r at e d dur ing tr a dition a l aer i a l vid e o and still photo gra ph y f l i ght op erations. B y usi n g b att e r y pow e r and e l ec tr ic m oto r s, the DJ I In spire 1 UAS p r odu c e no a i r p ollution, and is the most vi a ble e nvi r onm e nt a l l y c ons c ious a lt er n ative to the c a

bin c l a ss, six c y

lind e r int er

n a l c ombustion e n g ine a i rc r a f t th at ar e t y pi ca l l y utili z e d f

or a e r i a l vid e o and phot o gra p h y , while bur

ning a pp r o x im at e l y 2 0
- 30 g a llons p e r hour of l e a d e d avi ation f u e l. The DJ I Inspire 1 UAs, while13

reducing the carbon footprint of aerial acquisitions, also eliminates noise pollution, as the UAs ar e p r op e ll e d b y b att e r y p o w e r e d e l e c tr ic m o to r s, rath e r th an an int er n a l c ombustion e n g i n e. B y using th e DJIInspire 1 UAS to p erf o r m a e r i a l a c quisitions, the subst anti a l r isk to li f e and p r op ert y in the a ir and on the gr ound, whi c h is u su a l l y a sso c i at e d with t ra dition a l m ann e d a i r c raf

t f l i ght o p erations, will be subst an ti a l l y re d u ce d or c ompl e t e l y e limin at e d
. Aside fr om the l ac k o f f

li ght cr e w m e mb er s lo c at e d onbo ar d the a i rc r af t, the DJ I In spire 1 UAs ( w e i ghi n g a

pp r o x im at e ly 2 pounds 11 oun ce s and 6 pounds 7.5 oun ce s re s p ec tiv e l y, at th e ir m ax imum gr oss w e i ghts with l e n gths of 16 in c h e s and 17.3 in c h e s re sp e c tiv e l y , widths of 16 in c h e s and 17.7 in c h e s re sp ec tiv e l y , and with no f u e l on bo ar d ) , h a s l e ss p h ysi ca l pot e nti a l f

or c o l l at era l d am a ge to li f e and p r op ert y on th e gr ound, and in the a i r , c omp are d to the m ann e d a i rcraf t th at t y pi ca l l y c ond

u c t simil ar op erations (w e i ghi n g a p p r o x im at e l y 6,000 pounds with a win g sp an o f a pp r o x im at e l y 42 f

e e t, a l e n gth of 34 fee t, and a f u e l ca p a c i t y of 180 g a llons )
. **3. P**  **e r**  **f o**  **r m**  **i n**  **g A er**  **ial V i**  **d e**  **o a n**  **d P**  **h o**  **t og**  **r a**  **ph y O**  **p er**  **a t**  **io n**  **s Wi t**  **h Th**  **e DJI Inspire**  **1 UAS**  **Will B**  **e n**  **e f** 

**i t**  **Th e**  **E c**  **o n**  **o m** **y.**
In a ddition to b e ing s a f

e and eff i c i e nt, the DJ I In spire 1 UAS ar e a lso an ec onomi c a l a lt er n ati v e to using m ann e d a i r c ra f t to c ondu c t simil ar aer i a l op erations. As su c h, op eration of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS will a llow Unit e d S t at e s b a s e d c omp ani e s, like NORCAL AERI AL S , to r e m a in c omp e titive and c ontr ibute to gr o wth of the U. S
. ec on o m y . S p ec i f i c a l l y , with the r ising c ost of avi ation f u e l and the Envi r onm e nt a l P r ot ec tion Ag e n c y ( “ E P A ” ) r e g

u l ato r y ac tions ph a si n g out l ea d e d av i ation f u e ls, U. S . own e d and o p erat e d c omp ani e s must a dopt n e w and a lt er n ative t ec hnolo g y in o r d e r to re m a in c omp e titiv e . Op e r ating the b att e r y pow ere d DJII nspire 1 UAS is one su c h t ec h nolo g y th at not on l y a llows c omp ani e s gr eat e r o p eration a l f l e x ibil i t y c omp ar e d to m ann e d a i r cr a f t, but p r ovid e s su c h f

l e x ibili t y witho u t the hi gh op eration a l c ost of a tra d i tion a l m ann e d a i r c raf t. B y op e r ating th e DJIInspire 1 UAS , c omp ani e s su c h a s NORCALAERIAL S , c an re m a in c omp e titive and p r o f it a bl e , and th e r ef

o r e , p r ov i de great e r job st a bili ty to e mpl o ye e s an d c ontrac to r s, whi c h will ultim at e l y c ontr ibute to gr owth of the U. S
. ec ono m y . Imp r ov e d f

in an c i a l p e rf

o r m an c e of U. S
. c omp ani e s, thr o u gh c omm erc i a l use of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS , p r ovid e s a st a ble w o r k f o rc e th at in crea s e s c onsum e r s p e n din g ; imp r ov e s lo ca l, st at e , and fe d e r a l t ax re v e nu e s; and a llows c omp ani e s to inv e st in r e s earc h and d e v e lopm e nt in o r d e r to re m a in c omp e t itive both in the Unit e d S t at e s and a b r o a d. **4. Th**  **er e**  **A r**  **e No**  **P r**  **iva c**  **y Iss u**  **e s.** 14

S imil ar to the m ann e d a e r i a l ac quisition f li ght op e rations th at h ave b e e n c o ndu c t e d f or d eca d e s, NORCALAERIALS ’ s p r opos e d op e r ation of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS will not impli cat e an y p r iv a c y issu e s. S p e c i f i ca l l y , the DJI Inspire 1 UAS will be o p erat e d on l y in c ompli an c e with op e r ating d o c um e nts ( i. e ., the NORCALAERIAL S A er i a l Op e rations M anu a l, Month l y M a int e n an c e L o g , and DJ I Inspire 1 I nstr u c tion M anu a l) whi c h re qui r e s p r op e rt y own e r involv e m e nt a s w e ll a s l o ca l l aw e n f o r c e m e nt noti f

i cation, and in a c c o r d an c e with the Fe d e ra l Avi ation Re g ul at ions, in c luding the minimum a ltitude re qui re m e n ts of 14 C
. F
. R . § 91.119. **E .**  **Th e**  **R e**  **aso n**  **s W h**  **y G**  **r a**  **n t**  **i n**  **g Th**  **e E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **Wo u**  **ld Not**  **A d**  **v er**  **s e**  **ly A ff**  **ec t**  **S a**  **f et** **y, Or**  **How Th**  **e E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **Wo u**  **ld P**  **r ovi**  **d e**  **A L**  **e v**  **e l Of**  **S a**  **f et** **y At L**  **e ast**  **Equ al**  **T o**  **Th at**  **P r**  **ovi d**  **e d**  **B y**  **Th e**  **R u**  **le F**  **r o**  **m W**  **h i**  **c h**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t io**  **n.**
**1. R e**  **aso n**  **s W h**  **y Th**  **e DJI Inspire**  **1 UAs M**  **e e**  **t Th**  **e Co nd**  **i t**  **io n**  **s O**  **f T**  **h e**  **F A**  **A M**  **o d**  **er n**  **i z**  **a t**  **ion a**  **n d**  **R e**  **f o**  **r m**  **A c**  **t of**  **2012 (**  **F M**  **RA) S**  **ect ion**  **333.**

In c onsid eration of th e si z e , w e i ght, sp e e d, and l i mit e d op erating ar e a a ss o c i at e d with the unm ann e d a i r c raf

t and its op eration, NORCALAERI AL S ’ s op eration of t he DJ I In spire 1 UAS m ee t the c onditions of F M RA S ec tion 333, and will not re qui r e an a i r wo rthin e ss certi f i cate in acc o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 21, S ubp art H. S ec tion 333 p r ovid e s a

utho r i t y f or a UAS to op e r ate without a i r wo rthin e ss certi f

i c ation and s e ts f o rth r e qui re m e nts f

or c onsid er i n g wh e th e r a UAS will cr e ate a h a z ar d to us er s of the NAS or the publi c , or oth er wise pose a threat t o n ation a l s ec ur i t y . S p ec i f i ca l l y, F M RA S ec tion 333 st at e s the f

ollowin g , in p art: ( a ) I n G e n e ral.

--N

ot w ithstanding any oth e r r e quir e m e nt of this subtitle, a n d not late r than 180 da

y s afte r the date of e na c tm e nt of this A c t, the S ec r e tary of T ransportation sh a ll d

e te rmine if ce rtain unmann e d airc raft s y ste ms may op e rate saf

e ly in the national airspa c e s y ste m b e f ore c omple tion of the plan and rule ma k

ing r e quir e d by s ec tion 332 of this A c t or the guidan c e r e quir e d by s ec tion 334 of this A c t. ( b ) Ass essm e nt of Unma n n e d Airc raft S y ste ms. - -I n ma k ing the d e te rminati o n und e r subs ec tion (

a ) , the S ec r e tary shall d

e te rmi n e, at a minimum
-- ( 1 ) w hi c h t y p es of unma n n e d airc raft s y ste ms, if an

y , as a r esult of th e ir siz e, w e ight, sp ee d, op e rational c apabilit y , prox imity to airports and15 populate d ar e as, and op e ration w ithin v isu a l line of sight do not c r e ate a hazard to us e rs of the national airspa c e s y ste m or the public or pose a thr e at to national s ec uri t

y ; and ( 2 ) w h e th e r a c e rtifi c ate of w ai ve r, ce rtifi c ate of authorization, or airw orthin ess ce rtifi c ati o n und e r s ec tion 44704 of title 49, Unite d States C od e, is r e quir e d for the op e ration of unmann e d airc raft s y ste ms id e ntifi e d und

e r paragraph (

1 )

. ( c ) R e qui r e m e nts for Safe Op e ration.
--I f the S ec r e tary d

e te rmin es un de r this s ec tion that ce rtain unmann e d airc raft s y ste ms m a y op e rate saf

e ly in the national airspa c e s

y ste m, the S

ec r e tary shall esta b lish r e quir e m e nts for the safe op e ration of su c h airc raft s y ste ms in the national airspa c e s y ste m.

In s ee ki n g this e x e mpti o n, NORCALAERIAL S submits th at the DJ I In spire 1 UAS can o p e r ate s a f

e l y in the NAS pur su ant to F M RA S ec tion 333, a s d e monstrat e d b y : ( a ) the c h ar a c t er isti c s of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS ; ( b) the pilot certi f i ca tion re qui re m e nt; and ( c ) the sp e c i f ic op e r ating limit ations.
**a. Th**  **e Sp**  **ec i**  **f**

**i c**  **a t**  **io n**  **s Of**  **Th e**  **DJI Inspire 1**  **UAS D**  **e m**  **o n**  **s tr**  **a t**  **e I**  **t s**  **S a**  **f**

**e C**  **h a**  **r a**  **cter is**  **t i**  **c s.** 
The DJ I In spire 1 UAS do not create a h a z ar d to us e r s of the NAS or the publi c , or oth er wise p ose a thr e at to n ation a l s e c ur i t y c onsid er i n g its si ze , w e i ght, sp ee d, and o p eration a l ca

p a bili t y . **i. T**  **ec hn**  **i c**  **al Sp**  **ec i**  **f**

**i c**  **a t**  **io n**  **s Of Th**  **e DJI Inspire**  **1 UAS**  **.**
The t ec hni c a l sp ec i f

i c ations of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS ar e s e t f o rth b y the DJ I In spire 1 Us e r M anu a l s, att ac h e d h e re to a s Ap p e ndix A.

**ii. Th**  **e DJI Inspire**  **1 UAS**  **A u**  **t o**  **n o**  **m o**  **u s**  **F lig**  **ht A**  **n d**  **Naviga t**  **ion M**  **o d**  **e s**  **En a**  **b le**  **T h**  **e UAS**  **T o R**  **e m**  **ain Wi**  **t h**  **in A D**  **e f**  **i n**  **e d**  **O p**  **er a**  **t io**  **n al**  **A re**  **a.**16

The DJ I In spire 1 UAS m a y be op erat e d in both m anu a l and f ul l y a utonomous f

li ght mod e s . A c ompl e te d e s c r iption of the f li ght and n a v i g at i on a l mod e s of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS is p r o v id e d at p a g e s p a g e s 12
- 16 and 4 5
- 50 of the D J I Inspi r e 1 Us e r M anu a ls, att ac h e d h ere to as App e ndix A.

**iii. Th**  **e DJI Inspire**  **1 UAS**  **A r**  **e D**  **e sig**  **n e**  **d F**  **or A u**  **t o**  **m a**  **t ic**  **R et**  **u r**  **n T**  **o Ho**  **m e**  **Poi n**  **t Or**  **Hov e**  **r I**  **n Th**  **e E**  **v e**  **n t**  **O f**  **L oss Of**  **T h**  **e Co**  **n tr**  **ol L**  **i n**  **k O**  **r Naviga**  **t io**  **n .** 
W h e n the C ontr ol Link is lost, the DJ I In spire 1 UAs w ill re m a in st a tion ar y , in f

l i ght, f or 3 s ec onds or mo re . I f

, a f t e r 3 s ec onds, the DJIInspire 1 UAs do not r e a c qui r e c ontr ol link d ata f r om the G CS , the UAs will a ssume th at the C ontr ol Link is lost and the UAs will re tur n to the home position ( i. e ., fa ils af e mod e ) via G PS , and will d e s ce n d to the t ak e o f f position and shutdown. A c ompl e te d e s c r iption of the Fa ils a f e F un c tions f

or the D J I Inspi r e 1 at p a g e s 13 thr o u gh 15 of the DJ I In spire 1 Us e r M anu a ls, att ac h e d h e r e to a s App e ndix A.

**iv. Th**  **e DJI Inspire**  **1 G**  **CS A**  **n d**  **I t**  **s O p**  **er a**  **t io**  **n.**
A c ompl e te d e s c r iption of the op e r ation and sp ec i f i cations of the DJ I In spire 1 G C S and f l i ght c ontr ol so f

tw ar e is p r ovid e d on p a g e s 40 thr o u gh 47 of the D J I Inspi r e 1 Us e r M anu a l. DJII nspire 1 Us e r M anu a ls ar e att ac h e d h ere to a s App e nd i x A
.

**b .**  **F lig**  **h t**  **O p**  **er a**  **t io**  **n s Of**  **DJI Inspire 1 UA**  **S Is**  **L i**  **m i**  **te d**  **T o**  **Th e**  **L i**  **n e**  **Of S**  **i g**  **h t**  **Of A C**  **ert i**  **f**

**i c**  **a te**  **d P**  **ilot in**  **C o**  **m m**  **a n**  **d Wi**  **t h A**  **S a**  **f et** **y O b**  **s er**  **v er.** 
NORCALAERIAL S w i ll be the on l y p e r son to a c t a s a pilot in c omm and ( P I C ) o f the DJ I In spire 1 UAS . Addition a l l y , a s afe t y obs e r v e r will a ssist him dur ing f li ght tim e . **c .**  **F lig**  **h t**  **s Of DJI Inspire**  **1 UA S**  **Will B**  **e Co**  **ndu cte**  **d P**  **u r**  **s u**  **a n**  **t T**  **o Sp**  **ec i**  **f**

**ic O**  **p er**  **a t**  **i n**  **g L**  **i m**  **i t**  **a t**  **io n**  **s.**17

In s ee ki n g this e x e mpti o n, NORCALAERIAL S p r opos e s to c omm erc i a lly op e rate DJI In spire 1 UAS f

or the s p ec i a l pur

pose of c ond

u c ting a er i a l vid e o and photo gr a p h y ov e r cert a in area s o f Unit e d S t at e s, p ur su ant to the f ollowing s p ec i f

ic op erati n g limit ations: 1. Op erations a

utho r i z e d b y this grant of e x e mpti o n will be limit e d to the f ollowing a i r cr a f

t d e s c r ib e d in the op erati n g do c u m e nts, r oto rcr a f t UAS w e i ghi n g l e ss th an 55 p o unds m ax imu m gr oss w e i ght: DJ I Inspire 1 Unm ann e d Ai r c raf t S yst e ms. P r opos e d o p erations of an y oth e r a i r craf t will re qui r e a n e w p e tition or a p e tition to a

m e nd this grant.

2. UAS op erations und e r this e x e mption w i ll be l i mit e d to c ondu c ting op e r ations f or the pur pose o f a er i a l vid e o and photogra p h y .
3. The UAs m a y not be f

lown at an indi cat e d a i r s p ee d e x cee di n g 20 knots.

4. The UA must be op e r a t e d at an a ltitude of no m o r e th an 500 f ee t a bo v e gr ound l e v e l ( A G L) , a s i ndi cat e d b y the p r o ce dur e s sp ec i f i e d in the o p erat i ng do c um e nts unl e ss a sp ec i a l re qu e st is m a de and a p p r ov e d b y AT C . All a ltitud e s re po rt e d to ATC must be in fee t A G L
.
5. The UAs must be op e r at e d within visu a l line of si ght ( V L O S ) o f the P IC at a ll tim e s. This re qui re s the P I C to be a ble to use hum an vision un a id e d b y an y d e vi c e oth e r th an c o rrec t i ve l e ns e s, a s sp e c i f i e d on the P IC ’ s F AA
- issu e d a i r m an m e di ca l c e rti f

i cat e.
6. The use of f

i r st p er son vi e w (F P V) b y th e P I C o r s afe t y obs e r v e r ( S O) is not p er mitt e d. 7. All op erations must ut i li z e a s afe t y obs er v e r ( S O ) . The S O m a y be u s e d to s atis f y the V L OS re qui r e m e nt a s long a s th e P IC a lw a y s m a int a ins V L OS ca p a bili t y . T h e S O and P I C must be a ble to c ommuni cate v er

b a l l y at a ll tim e s.18 El ec tr onic m e ss a g i n g or t e x ting is not p er mitt e d dur ing f

l i ght op e r ations. The P IC must be d e s i gn at e d b ef o r e th e f li ght and cann ot trans fe r his or h e r d e si gn ation f

o r the dur ation of the f

li ght. T h e P IC must e nsur e th at the S O can p erf o r m the f un c tions p r e s cr ib e d in the op e r ating d o c um e nts.
8. The S O must not p erf

o r m an y oth e r duti e s b e y

o nd a ssisting the P IC with s ee ing and avoidi n g oth e r a ir tr a ff ic and oth e r gr o und b a s e d obst ac l e s/obstr

u c tions an d is not p er

mitt e d to op erate the c am er a o r oth e r instr um e nts.
9. The op e r ating d o c um e nts and the grant of e x e mption must be acce ssible dur ing U AS op erations and m a de av a il a ble to the Administrator upon re qu e st. I f a dis cre p an c y e x ists b e tw ee n the c onditions and l i mit ations c ont a in e d in the gr ant of e x e mption and the p r o ce d u re s outlin e d in the op erati n g do c um e nt s , the c onditions and limit atio n s c ont a in e d in the grant o f e x e mption t ake p rec e d e n c e and must be f

ollow e d. O th er

wis e , the o p erator mu st f

ollow the p r o ce dur e s a s outlin e d in its op erating do c um e nts. The op e r ator m a y up d ate or r e vise its op erati n g do c um e nts. It i s the op erato r ’ s re spons i bili t y to tr a c k su c h r e visions and p re s e nt up d at e d and re vis e d do c um e nts to the Administrator upon re qu e st. The op e r ator must a lso p re s e nt upd at e d and re vi s e d do c um e nts if it p e titio n s f or e x t e nsion or am e ndm e nt to the gr ant of e x e mption. I f the op e r ator d e t er min e s th at an y up d ate or re vision would aff e c t the b a sis upon whi c h the F A A gr ant e d the e x e mption, th e n the op erator must p e tition f or am e ndm e nt to its gr ant of e x e mption. The F AA ’ s U AS I nt e gration O ff

i c e (A F S
- 80) m a y be c ont ac t e d if qu e stions ar ise r e g ar di n g upd at e s or r e visions to t he op erati n g do c um e nts.

10. P r ior to eac h f

l i ght the P IC must insp ec t the U AS to e nsur e th at it is in a c ondition f

or s af e f li ght. I f the insp ec tion r e v ea ls a c ondition th at af f ec ts the s af e op e ration of the UA S , the a i rcr a f t is p r ohibit e d fr om op erati n g until the n ece ss ar y m a int e n an c e h a s b ee n p e rf o r m e d and th e UAS is f

ound to be in a c ondition f

or s af e f li ght. The G r ound C ontr ol S t ation must be in c lud e d in the p ref l i ght insp ec tion. All m a int e n an c e and a lt e r ations must be p r op er l y do c um e nt e d in the a i r cr a f t rec o r ds.

11. A n y U AS th at h a s un d e r g one m a int e n an c e o r a lt erations th a t af f ec t the UAS op eration or f

l i ght c h ar ac t er isti c s, e . g . re pl a ce m e nt of a f l i ght cr iti ca l19 c ompon e nt, must und e r go a f un c tion a l t e st f

l i ght. The P IC who c ondu c ts th e f un c tion a l t e st f

li ght mu s t m ake an e ntr y in the a i r craf t r ec o r ds.

12. The p re - f

li ght insp e c tion must acc ount f or a ll pot e nti a l dis cre p a

n c i e s, e . g . inop era ble c ompo n e nts, it e ms, or e quipm e nt, not a l rea d y c o v ere d in the re l e v ant s e c tions of the o p erati n g do c um e nts.
13. The op e r ator must f

ollow the UAS m anu f

a c tur er’ s a i r cr a f

t/ c ompon e nt, m a int e n an ce , o v er

h a ul, r e pl ace m e nt, insp ec tion, and li f e limit re qui re m e nts.
14. The op e r ator must c ar r y out its m a int e n an ce , i nsp ec tions, and r e c o r d k ee pi n g re qui r e m e nts, in acc o r d an c e with the op e r ating do c um e nts. M a int e n an ce , ins p ec tion, a lt erations, and st atus of re pl a c e m e nt/ov er h a ul c ompon e nt p arts must be not e d in the a i rc r af t r e c o r ds, in c luding tot a l time in s er vi ce , d e s cr iption of w o r

k acc omplish e d, and the si gn atu r e of the a utho r i z e d p er son re tur

ni n g the U A S to s er

vi ce .
15. E ac h UAS op e rat e d und e r this e x e mption mu st c omp l y with a ll m anu fac tur e r S a f

e t y B ul l e tins.

16. The a utho r i z e d p er s o n must m ake an e ntr y in t he a i r c raf t r ec o r d o f the c o rr e c tive a c tion t ak e n a g a inst dis c r e p an c i e s dis c ov ere d b e tw ee n insp e c tions.

17. The P IC must poss e s s at l ea st a p r iv ate pilot c erti f i cate and at l ea st a c urre nt thi r d
- c l a ss m e di ca l certi f i cat e.
18. The op e r ator m a y not p er mit an y P I C to op e rat e unl e ss the P IC m e e ts the op erato r’ s qu a li f

i cation c r it er ia and d e monstrat e s the a bili t y to s a f

e l y op e r ate the UAS in a m ann e r c o n sist e nt with how the UAS will be op erat e d und e r the e x e mption, in c luding e v a sive and e m e r g e n c y m an e uv er s and m a int a ining a pp r op r i ate dist an ce s f

r o m p er sons, v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s and str u c ture s. P I C qu a li f i cation f li ght hour s must be log g e d in a m an n e r c onsist e nt with 14 C
. F
. R
.20 § 61.51 ( b )
. F l i ghts f

or th e pur pos e s of tr a ining the op erato r’ s P I C s ar e p er mitt e d und e r the t e r

ms of the e x e mption. How e v er , tr a ining o p erations m a y on l y be c ondu c t e d dur i n g d e di cat e d tr a ining s e ssions. Dur ing tr a inin g , p r o f i c i e n c y, and e x p er i e n ce - building f li ghts, a ll p e r sons not e ss e nti a l f or f l i ght op erations ar e c onsid e r e d nonp arti c ip ants, and the P IC must op erate th e UA with a pp r op r i ate dist an c e fr om nonp arti c ip ants in acc o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R . § 91.119.

19. UAS op erations m a y not be c ondu c t e d dur i n g ni ght, a s d e f in e d in 14 C
. F
. R
. § 1.1. All op erations must be c ondu c t e d un d e r vi s u a l m e t e o r ol o g i ca l c ondi t ions ( VM C )
. I f f

l i ght at n i ght is re qui re d, a s p ec i a l r e qu e st will be m a de at the F AA o ff i c e c los e st to p r opos e d are a o f op e r ations. F l i ghts und e r sp ec i a l visu a l f l i ght r ul e s ( S V F R ) ar e not a

ut ho r i z e d.

20. The UA m a y not op e rate within 5 n a uti ca l mil e s of an a i r

p o rt r e fe r e n c e point a s d e not e d on a c ur re nt F A A
- publish e d a er o n a uti ca l c h art unl e ss a l e tt er of a gr e e m e nt with th at a i r po rt ’ s m an a g e m e nt is obt a in e d, and the op e ration is c ondu c t e d in a cc o r d an c e with a NOTAM a s r e qui r e d b y th e op e r ato r’ s C O A. The l e tt e r of a gr e e m e nt with the a i r po rt m an a g e m e nt must be m a de av a i l a ble to the Administrator upon r e qu e st. NorCal Aerials has a current Letter of Agreement with Modesto, CA [KMOD] Air Traffic Manager Pete Echevarria dated October 30, 2015. This L OA allows NorCa l Aerials to practice within a one (1) mile radius of the MOD VOR 226R/3.5dme, Append ix C defines requirements and restrictions in the operation of the Inspire 1 UAS.

21. The UA m a y not be o p erat e d l e ss th an 500 f e e t b e low or l e ss th an 2,000 fee t ho r i z ont a l l y f

r om a c loud or wh e n visibili t y is l e ss th an 3 st atute mil e s fr om the P IC
.
22. I f the UA los e s c ommuni cations or los e s its G P S si gn a l, it must re tur n to a p re - d e t er min e d lo cation within the pl ann e d op erat ing ar e a and l and or b e rec ov e re d in a cc o r d an c e with the op erati n g do c u m e nts.
23. The P IC must a

bo rt t he f li ght in the e v e nt of unp re di c t e d obst a c l e s or e m e r g e n c i e s in a c c o r d an c e with the op e r ating d o c um e nts.21 24. The P IC is p r ohibit e d fr om b e g inning a f l i ght unl e ss (c onsid er i n g wind and f o re c a st w eath e r c onditi o ns) th er e is e no u gh po w e r to f l y at no r m a l cr uisi n g sp ee d to the int e nd e d l an ding point and l and the U A with 25% b att e r y po w e r re m a inin g .
25. The op e r ator must obt a in an Air T r a ff ic Or g an i z ation ( ATO) issu e d C erti f i cate of W a iv e r or Autho r i z ation ( C OA) p r ior to c ondu c ting an y op erations und e r the gran t of e x e mption. This C O A will a lso re qui r e the op erator to r e qu e st a Not i c e to Ai r m an ( NOTAM) not mo r e th an 72 hour s in a dv an c e , but not l e ss th an 48 hour s p r ior to the o p eration. All op e r ations sh a ll be c ondu c t e d in acc o r d an c e with a i r sp a c e r e qui r e m e nts in the ATO issu e d C OA in c luding c l a ss of a i r sp ac e , a ltitude l e v e l and pot e nti a l transpond e r re qui re m e nts.
26. All a i rcr a f

t op e r at e d i n acc o r d an c e with the e x e mption must be id e nti f i e d b y s er i a l numb er , r e g ist ere d in acc o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R . p art 47, and h ave id e nti f i cation (N
- Numb e r) m ar

ki n g s in a c c o r d an c e with 14 C
. F
. R . p art 45, S ubp art C . M ar

kin g s mu st be a s l ar g e a s p r a c ti ca b l e.
27. B ef o r e c o ndu c ting o p erations, the ra dio fre qu e n c y s p ec tr um us e d f or op eration and c ont r ol of the UA must c omp l y with the Fe d era l C ommuni cat ions C ommission (F CC ) or o t

h e r a pp r o p r i ate g ov e r

nm e nt ov er s i ght a g e n c y re qui re m e nts.
28. The do c um e nts re qu i re d f e w e r th an 14 C
. F
. R
. 91.9 and 91.203 must be av a il a ble to the P I C at the G r ound C ontr ol S t ation of the UAS an y time the UAS is op eratin g . Th e se do c um e nts must be m a de av a il a ble to the Administrator or an y l aw e n f o r c e m e nt o ff

i c i a l up o n re qu e st.
29. The UA must re m a in c l ear and y i e ld the r i ght of w a y to a ll m ann e d avi ation op erations and a c tiviti e s at a ll tim e s.
30. The UAS m a y not be op erat e d b y the P I C f r o m an y movi n g d e vi c e or v e hi c l e .22 31. F li ght op e rations must be c ondu c t e d at l ea st 5 0 0 fee t fr om a ll nonp arti c ip ating p er sons ( p er sons oth e r th an the P I C , S O, op e rator tr a in ee s or e ss e nti a l p er sons ) , v e ss e l s, v e hi c l e s, and str u c tur e s unl e ss:

a . B arr i e r s or str

u c tur e s ar e p re s e nt th at su ff i c i e nt l y p r ot e c t nonp arti c ip ating p er sons fr om the UA and/ o r d e b r i s in the e v e nt of an acc id e nt. T h e op e r ator must e nsur e th at nonp arti c i p ating p e r sons re m a in und e r su c h p r o t ec tion. I f a situ ation ar is e s wh e r e n onp arti c ip ating p er sons l eave s u c h p r ot e c tion and ar e within 500 fee t of the UA, f l i ght op erations must cea s e imm e di at e l y and/o r ;
b. The a i r c raf

t is op e rat e d n ear v e s s e ls, v e hi c l e s o r str u c ture s wh er e th e own er / c ontr oll e r o f su c h v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s or st r u c ture s h a s gr ant e d p er mission and the P IC h a s m a de a s afe t y a s s e ssm e nt of the r isk of op erati n g c los e r to those obj ec ts and d e t e r min e d th at it do e s not p re s e nt an undue h a z ar d, and;

c . Op e r ations n ear e r to th e P I C , S O, op e rator tr a in ee s or e s s e nti a l p er sons do not p re s e nt an undue h a z ar d to those p er sons p e r § 91.119 ( a )
. 32. All op erations sh a ll be c ondu c t e d o v e r p r i v ate or c ontr oll e d
- a c c e ss p r o p ert y with p er mission fr om the l and own er / c ontr oll e r or a

utho r i z e d re p re s e nt ativ e . P er mission fr om l and own er / c ontr oll e r o r a

utho r i z e d re p r e s e nt ative will be obt a in e d f

or e ac h f l i ght t o be c ondu c t e d.

33. A n y in c i d e nt, a c c id e nt, or f li ght op e r ation th at trans gr e ss e s the l at era l or v erti ca l bound ar i e s of the op eration a l are a a s d ef i n e d b y th e a

ppli ca b l e C OA must be re po rt e d to the F AA ' s UAS Int e gr ation O f f i c e ( A F S
- 80) within 24 hour s. A cc id e nts must be re po rt e d to the N ation a l T ranspo rt ation S afe t y B o ar d (NT S B ) p e r instr

u c tions c ont a in e d on the NT S B W e b sit e : www.ntsb. g ov.23 **2 . R**  **e aso**  **n s W**  **h y An**  **E x**  **e m**  **p t**  **ion F**  **r o**  **m Th**  **e R**  **e qu**  **i r**  **e m**  **e n**  **t s Of**  **S ect**  **ion 91.7**  **( a)**  **Wo u**  **ld Not**  **A d**  **v er**  **s e**  **ly Aff**  **ec t**  **S a**  **f et** **y.**
The e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y e st a blish e d b y Se c tion 91.7 (a ) will be m a int a in e d b eca u s e p r ior to e v e r y f

li ght, NORCALAERIAL S will e nsur e th at the D J I Inspi r e 1 UAS is in an a i rwo rth y c ondition b a s e d upon the UA S ’ s c ompli an c e with its op erati n g do c um e nts and a s st at e d in the c onditions and limit ations h ere in. Addition a l l y, the F AA h a s p re vious l y gr ant e d r e li e f fr om S ec tion 91.7 ( a ) s p ec i f ic to UA S , in c i rc umst an ce s simil ar , in a ll m at er i a l re sp e c ts, to those p re s e nt e d h ere in (e
. g . E x e mption Nos. 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136, 11138, 11150, 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )
.

**3 . R**  **e aso**  **n s W**  **h y An**  **E x**  **e m**  **p t**  **ion F**  **r o**  **m Th**  **e R**  **e qu**  **i r**  **e m**  **e n**  **t s Of**  **S ect**  **ion 91.121**  **Wo u**  **ld Not**  **A d**  **v er**  **s e**  **ly Aff**  **ec t**  **S a**  **f et** **y.**
The e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y e st a blish e d b y Se c tion 91.121 will be m a int a in e d b eca u s e the a ltitude in f

o r m ation of the DJ I In spire 1 U As will be p r ovid e d to the P I C via G P S e quipm e nt and a r a dio c ommuni cations t e l e m e tr y d ata li n k, whi c h downlinks fr om the UA t o the G C S f

or ac tive m o nito ring of the f l i ght p ath and a ltitud e . This a ltitude in f o r m ation, c ombin e d with NORCALAERI ALS ’ s o p erati o n of the DJ I In spire 1 UAs within visu a l line of si ght, at or b e low 5 00 fee t A G L , will e nsur e a l e v e l of s a f e t y e quiv a l e nt to S ec tion 91.121. The a ltitude in f o r m a tion will be g e n erat e d b y G P S e quipm e nt inst a ll e d onbo ar d the a i r c raf t. P r ior to e ac h f

l i ght, a z er o a ltitude initi ation point is a utom ati ca l l y e st a

blish e d b y the UAS at g r ound l e v e l. The F A A h a s p r e vious l y gr ant e d r e li e f fr om Se c tion 91.121 sp ec i f ic to U A S , in c i rc umst an c e s simil ar , in a ll m at er i a l re s p ec ts, to those p re s e nt e d h e r e in (e
. g . E x e mption Nos. 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11112, 11136, 11138, 11150, 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )
.

**4 . R**  **e aso**  **n s W**  **h y An**  **E x**  **e m**  **p t**  **ion F**  **r o**  **m Th**  **e R**  **e qu**  **i r**  **e m**  **e n**  **t s Of**  **S ect**  **ion 91.151**  **( b**  **) Wo**  **u ld**  **Not A**  **d v**  **er s**  **e ly A**  **ff ec**  **t S**  **a f**  **et y.**  A grant of this e x e mption would e nsur e an e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y e st a b l ish e d b y 14 C
. F
. R
. S ec tion 91.151 ( b) a s a re sult of ( 1) the t e c hni ca l sp ec i f i c ations of the D J I P h antom 2 and D J I Inspi r e 1 UAS ; ( 2) the limit ations on t he p r opos e d f

l i ght op e r at ions; and ( 3) the lo cation of the p r opos e d f li ght op e r ations. A cc o r d in g l y , NORCALA ERIAL S will e nsur e th at it will s afe l y op e rate the b att e r y pow e re d DJ I In spire 1 UAs dur i n g d a y l i ght hour s in V F R c o nditions, with e nou gh b at t e r y p o w e r to f l y f or a to t a l duration of24

13.5 minut e s to the f

i r st point of int e nd e d l anding and, a ssuming n o r m a l c ruising sp ee d, to f l y a f t e r th at f or at l e a st 4.5 minut e s. H ere , a s in E x e mption N o. 11109, the t ec hni ca l s p ec i f i cations of the D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS ; the limit ations on the p r opos e d f li ght op e r ations; and the lo cation of the p r opos e d op e rations, will e nsur e an e qui v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y e st a blish e d b y 14 C
. F
. R
. S ec tion 91.151 ( b )
. F u rth er mo re , s a fe t y will be e n sure d a s the DJ I In spire 1 UAS p r ovide a udible and visu a l w ar

ni n g s to the P I C at the G C S wh e n the UAs e x p er i e n ce s low b att e r y volt a g e , th e f

i r st w ar ning o cc urr i n g at a

pp r o x im at e l y 33% re m a ining b att e r y po w er , and a g a in at a pp r o x im at e l y 10% re m a ini n g b att e r y po w er . At the cr iti ca l l y low b att e r y l e v e l, the DJ I In spire 1 UAS will d e s ce nd and l and a utom ati ca l l y . S i gni f i cant l y , p re vious e x e mptions grant e d b y the F AA c o n c e r ning Se c tion 91.151 e st a blish th at s afe t y is not a dv er s e l y a ff e c t e d wh e n the t ec hni ca l c h ar ac t er i sti c s and op erati n g limit ations of the UAS ar e c onsid e r e d. R e li e f h a s b ee n grant e d f or m ann e d a i rc r af t to op e r ate at l e ss th an the minimums p re s cr ib e d in S ec tion 91.151, in c luding E x e mption Nos. 2689, 5 745, and 10650. Mo re o v er , the F AA h a s p re viou sl y grant e d re li e f fr om S ec tion 91.151 sp e c i f ic to UA S , in c i rc umst a

n ce s simil ar , in a ll m at er i a l re sp e c ts, to those p re s e nt e d h ere in ( e . g . E x e mption Nos. 8811, 10808, 10673, 11042, 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11136, 11138, 11150, 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )
.

**5 . R**  **e aso**  **n s W**  **h y An**  **E x**  **e m**  **p t**  **ion F**  **r o**  **m Th**  **e R**  **e qu**  **i r**  **e m**  **e n**  **t s Of**  **S ect**  **io ns**  **91.405 (**  **a )**  **, 91.407 (**  **a )**  **( 1**  **) ,**  **91.409 (**  **a )(**  **1) &**  **( a**  **)( 2**  **) ,**  **A n**  **d 91.417**  **( a)**  **& (**  **b )**  **Wo u**  **ld Not**  **A d**  **v er**  **s e**  **ly A ff** 

**ec t**  **S a**  **f et** **y.**

In s ee ki n g this e x e mpti o n, NORCALAERIAL S submits th at the e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y with r e g ar d to the r e g ul ato r y m a int e n an c e and a lt eration re qui r e m e nt s e st a blish e d b y S ec tions 91.405 (a) , 91. 4 07 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1) & (a)( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a ) & ( b) will be m e t b eca use NORCALAERIAL S will use tra in e d t e c hni c i ans to p erf o r m m a i n t e n an ce , a lt erations, or p r e v e ntive m a int e n an c e on th e UAS using the m e thods, t ec h niqu e s, and p rac ti ce s p re s c r ib e d in the op erati n g do c um e nts ( i. e ., the NORCALAERI AL S A er i al Op erations M anu a l, Month l y M a int e n an c e L o g , and DJII nspire 1 Instr u c tion M anu a l )
. F urt h er

mo re , NORCALAERI AL S will do c um e nt and m a int a in a ll m a int e n an c e rec o r ds f

or the DJ I In spire 1 UAS
. S in c e the DJ I In spire 1 UAS will be insp ec t e d a s p r e s c r ib e d b y th e op erati n g do c um e nts, NORCALAERIAL S will m a int a in the e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y e st a blish e d b y Se c tions 91.405 (a) , 91.409 ( a)( 1 ) , and 91.409 (a)( 2 ) . A c o p y of the DJ I In spire 1 Us e r M anu a l is att ac h e d h ere to a s A; a c o p y o f the DJIInspire 1 UAS M a int e n an c e L OG is att ac h e d h ere to as App e ndix B
. L ik e wi s e , the e x e mption sou ght will not a dv er s e l y aff e c t s a f e t y b e c a use NORCALAERIAL S will use tr a in e d t ec hni c i ans to p er f o r m m a int e n an ce ,25

a lt erat i ons or p re v e ntive m a int e n an c e on the UAS using the m e thods, t ec hniqu e s, and p r ac ti ce s p re s cr ib e d b y th e op e r ating do c um e nts. F urth er m o re , the e x e mption sou ght would m a int a i n an e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y e st a blish e d b y Se c tions 91.407, 91.417 (a ) and 91
. 417 ( b ) , b e c a use a ll m a int e n an c e of the DJII nspire 1 UAS will be p e rf o r m e d b y tr a in e d t ec hn i c i ans. M a int e n an c e will be do c um e nt e d and m a int a in e d utili z ing the month l y m a i nt e n an c e l o g . S i gni f i cant l y , p re vious e x e mptions grant e d b y the F AA c o n c e r ning Se c tions 91.405 (a) , 91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a)( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a ) & ( b) e st a blish th at s afe ty is not a dv er s e l y af

f ec t e d wh e n the t ec hni ca l c h ar ac t erist i c s and op e r ating limit ations of the UAS ar e c onsi d ere d. In c onsid eration of NORCALAERI AL S ’ s p r op o s e d op erati n g limit ations, the op erati n g do c um e nts, and the t ec hn i ca l a sp ec ts of th e DJ I In spire 1 UAS , NORCALAERI AL S s ubmits th at s afe t y will not be a dv er s e l y a f fec t e d b y gr anting e x e mption fr om 14 C
. F
. R
. S ec tions 91.405 (a) , 9 1 .407 (a)( 1 ) and ( a)( 2 ) , 91
. 409 (a)( 2 ) , and 91.417 (a ) and ( b ) . T h e F AA h a s p re vious l y gr ant e d re li e f s p ec i f ic to U AS in c i rc umst an ce s simil ar , in a ll m at eri a l r e sp ec ts, to those p re s e nt e d h ere in ( e . g . E x e mption Nos. 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136, 11138, 11150, 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )
. **7. Th**  **e F**  **AA M**  **ay P**  **r e**  **s c**  **r i**  **b e**  **A n**  **y O t**  **h e**  **r Co**  **nd i**  **t i**  **o n**  **s F**  **or S**  **a f**  **e O**  **p er**  **a t**  **io n**  **.** In acc o r d an c e with S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e r ni z ation and R ef

o r m A c t of 2012 (F M RA) and 14 C
. F
. R . § 21.16 e ntitl e d S p ec i a l C onditions, NORCAL AERI AL S re qu e sts th at the F AA p r e s cr ibe sp e c i a l c onditio n s f or the int e nd e d op e rat i on of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS , whi c h c ont a in su c h s afe t y st an d ar ds t h at the Administrator f inds n ec e ss ar y to e st a

blish a l e v e l of s afe t y e qui v a l e nt to th at e st a blish e d b y 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 21, S ubp art H, and 14 C
. F .R §§ 61
. 113 (a ) & ( b ) , 91.7 (a) , 9 1 .121, 91.151 ( b ) , 91.405 ( a ) , 91
. 407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1) & ( a )( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a ) & ( b )
. S u c h sp ec i a l c onditions will p er mit s af e op e r ation of the UAs f

or the limit e d pur

p ose of c ondu c ting aer i a l vid e o and photo gr a p h y ov e r cert a in ar e a s of the Unit e d S t at e s f or c omp e ns ation or hi re . F M RA S ec tion 333 s e ts f o rth the re qui re m e nts f

or c onsid er ing wh e th e r a UAS will cr e ate a h a z ar d to us e r s of the NAS or the publi c , or oth er wise pose a threat to n ation a l s ec u r i t y ; and f urth er , p r ovid e s the a

utho r i t y f or su c h UAS to op erate without a i r

wo rthin e ss ce rti f

i cation in acc o r d an c e with an y re qui re m e nts th at must be e st a blish e d f or the s a f e o p eration of the U AS in the NA S
. L ik e wi s e , the Administr ator m ay p re s c r ibe sp ec i a l c onditions pur su ant to 14 C
. F
. R
. § 21.16, f or op e r ation of the DJ I In spire 1 UA S , sin c e t he a i r wo rthin e ss r e gul ations of 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 21 do not c ont a in a d e qu at e or a pp r op r i ate26

s afe t y st and ar ds, due to the nov e l or unusu a l d e s i gn featur e s of the a i r c r af t. S ec tion 21.16, e ntitl e d S p ec i a l C onditi o ns, st at e s the f ollowin g : I f the F AA f

inds th at the a i r

wo rthin e ss r e g

ul ations of this sub c h a

pt e r do not c ont a in a d e qu ate o r a

pp r o p r i ate s afe t y st and ar ds f or an a i r craf

t, a i rc r af t e n g in e , o r p r op e ll er b eca use o f a no v e l or unusu a l d e si gn featur e of th e a i r c raf t, a i rc r af t e n g ine or p r op e ll er , he p re s c r ib e s s p ec i a l c onditions and am e ndm e nts th ere to f o r the p r odu c t. The sp ec i a l c onditions ar e issu e d in acc o r d an c e w i th P art 11 of this c h a pt e r and c ont a in su c h s a f

e t y s t an d ar ds f

or the a i r c raf

t, a i rc r af t e n g ine or p r op e ll e r a s the F AA f inds n e ce ss ar y to e st a

blish a l e v e l of s a f

e t y e quiv a l e nt to th at e st a blish e d in the r e g ul ations.

S e e 14 C
. F
. R . § 21.16. Th eref o re , in a cc o r d an c e with F M RA S ec tion 333 and 14 C
. F
. R . § 21.16, the F AA m a y p re s cr ibe s p ec i a l c onditions f or NorCal Aerials int e nd e d op e r ation of the DJ I Inspire 1 UA S , whi c h c ont a in su c h s a fe t y st and ar ds th at the Adm inistrator f inds n ece ss ar y to e st a blish a l e v e l of s a f

e t y e quiv a l e nt to th at e st a blish e d b y 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 21, S ubp art H, and 14 C
. F .R S ec tions 91.7 (a) , 91.121, 91.151 ( b ) , 91.405 (a) , 91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a)( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a ) & ( b )
.

**• A**  **Su m**  **m a**  **r y**  **Th at**  **Can B**  **e P**  **ub lis**  **h e**  **d In**  **T h**  **e F**  **ed er**  **al R e**  **gis t**  **e r**  **, s**  **t a**  **t i**  **n g:**  **Th e**  **R u**  **l e**  **s F**  **r o**  **m W**  **h i**  **c h**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t io**  **n:**
NORCAL AERIALS s e e k

s ex e mption from the r e quir e m e nts of 14 C.F.R S ec tions 91. 7 ( a ) , 91.121, 91.151 (

b ) , 91.4 0 5 (

a ) , 91.40 7 (

a )( 1 ) , 91.4 0 9 (

a )( 1 ) & ( a )( 2 ) , and 91.41 7 ( a ) & ( b )

.
**A B**  **r i**  **e f**  **D e**  **s cr**  **i p**  **t ion**  **Of Th**  **e Na**  **t u**  **r e**  **Of Th**  **e E**  **x e**  **m p**  **t ion**  **NORCAL AERIALS S**  **ee k**  **s:**

T his exe mption w ill p e rmit NORCAL AERIALS to c omm e r c ially op e rate a n Unmann e d Airc raft S

y ste m ( UA S ) for the purpose of c ondu c ting a e rial v id e o and photography o ve r c e rtain ar e as of the Unite d State s.27 **• A n**  **y A**  **dd i**  **t io**  **n al**  **I n**  **f**

**o rm**  **a t**  **io n**  **, Vi e**  **w s, Or**  **A r**  **g u**  **me n**  **t s Availa**  **b le**  **T o**  **Su p**  **p o**  **r t**  **NORCAL AERIALS ’**  **s R**  **e qu**  **e s**  **t .** 
This P e tition is m a de pur su ant to the F AA Mod e r ni z ation and R ef o r m A c t of 2012 (F M RA) S ec tion 333, wh i c h di rec ts the S e c re t ar y of T ranspo rt ation to d e t e r mine if cert a in UAS m a y o p erat e s a f

e l y in the NA S . As su c h, NORCALAERIAL S ’ s re qu e st f or e x e mption m ay b e grant e d pur su ant to the a utho r ity of F M RA S ec tion 333 and 14 C
. F
. R
. P art 11, a s s e t f

o rth a bo v e . F M RA S ec tion 333 s e ts f o rth the re qui re m e nts f

or c onsid er i n g wh e th e r a U AS will create a h a z ar d to us er s o f the N AS or the publi c , or oth e r wise pose a thr eat to n ation a l s ec ur i t y ; and f urth er , p r ovid e s the a

utho r i t y f o r su c h UAS t o op erate without a i rwo rthin e ss certi f i c ation. As dis c uss e d in d e t a il a

b ov e , NORCAL AERIALS will op erate the DJ I In spire 1 UAS s afe l y in the NA S , without c r eating a h a z ar d to us e r s o f the NA S , or the publi c , or oth er wise p ose a thr e at to n ation a l s e c ur i t y . **CONC L**  **U S**  **ION** As s e t f o rth h e r e in, NORCALAERI AL S s ee ks an e x e mption pur su ant to 14 C
. F
. R . § 11.61 and S ec tion 333 of the F AA Mo d er ni z ation and R ef

o r m A c t of 2012 (F M RA ) , whi c h will p er

mit s af e o p eration of the DJ I In spire 1 UAS c omm erc i a l l y, without an a i r wo rthin e ss c erti f

i cat e , f or the limit e d pur

pose of c ondu c ti n g aer i a l vid e o and photogr ap h y ov e r c e rt a in ar ea s of the Unit e d S t at e s. B y gr anting this P e tition, the F AA Administrator will be f

ul f illing t he C on gr e ssion a l m and at e of the F AA Mod er ni z ation and R ef o rm A c t of 2012, while a l s o a dv an c i n g the int e r e sts of the publi c , b y a llowi n g NORCALAERIAL S to s afe l y , e ff i c i e nt l y , and ec onomi c a lly op e rate the DJII nspire 1 UAS c omm e r c i a l l y within the NA S
. **WH E**  **R E**  **F OR** **E** , in acc o r d an c e with the Fe d e r a l Avi ation R e g ul ations and the F AA Mod er ni z ation and R ef

o r m A c t of 2012, S ec tion 333, NORCAL AERIAL S re sp e c t f ul l y re qu e sts th at the Administrator grant this P e tition f or an e x e mption fr om the re qui re m e nts of 14 C
. F .R S ec tions 91. 7 (a) , 91
. 121, 91.151 ( b ) , 91.405 ( a ) , 91.407 (a ) ( 1 ) , 91.409 (a)( 1 ) & (a ) ( 2 ) , an d 91.417 (a ) & ( b ) , and p e r mit James B. McKay to op e rate the DJ I In spire 1 UA S c omm e r c i a l l y f or the pur pose o f c ond

u c ting a er i a l vid e o and photogra p h y o v e r c e rt a in ar ea s of th e U nit e d S t at e s. D at e d: November 12, 2015.28 R e sp ec t f ul l y submitt e d,

NORCALAERIAL S James B. McKay
- Owner

NORCALAERIAL S 4613 Via Giardiano Modesto, CA. 95357
- 0661 209
- 304
- 560029



## App **e ndi**  **ce s**  **:**
A

– D J I Inspi r e 1 S p ec i f

i cations User Manual (See attached documents) B

– Month l y M a int e n an c e L o g (See attached documents) C

– Modesto, CA [KMOD] L etter of Agreement