January 21, 2015

Petition for Exemption under §333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc.

The Honorable Mr. Anthony Foxx United States Secretary of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington DC, 20590

Re: Exemption Request under §333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112

- 95) from 14 CFR 21; 14 CFR 36, 45.23; 45.27, 45.29; 61.113; 91.9(b) (2); 91.103(b ); 119(c); 91.151(a); 91.203(a)&(b); 91.405(a); 91.407(a) (1); 91.409(a) (2);

91. 417(a)&(b)

Dear Mr. Secretary

,

In accordance with § 333(c) of the Federal Aviation Administration Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc . is requesting permission to use its Rotomotion

SR

- 15 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to perform inspections of hydroelectric system assets, specifically remote penstocks, flow lines

, dams, and reservoirs; remote or impassable sections

of natural gas and /or oil pipelines ; and bridges s upporting gas and/oil pipelines

. This letter contains an explanation of how these exemptions are in the public interest and maintain at least an equal level of safety to existing regulations, as well as documentation pertaining to the waiver requests as per 14 CFR Part 11

. Additionally, this letter includes an attachment with the UAS Operations Guide delineating the operations, procedures, and operating system of the SR

15 UAS

.

Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc

. is focused on public safety while supporting companies in meeting extant a nd forthcoming regulatory compliance measures associated with t he operation

and maintenance of hydroelectric and natural gas pipeline projects. Soar Environmental Consulting personnel have over 20 years of direct field and management experience with
penst ock and pipeline inspections, regulatory requirements, and compliance management. Not only does our company provide s olution s through the use of environmental consulting , auditing and management services, but we also have the distinct advantage of having a working knowledge within the utility industries, understand endemic inspection requirements, and know the requirements for conducting work in remote locations.

Soar Environmental Consulting w ould like incorporate UAS technology coupled with qualified pilots into our commercial portfolio. Our proposal to meet inspection requirements of the hydroelectric and natural gas pipeline industry through UAS operation is directly correlated to the remote locale, the complex regulatory structure, and the safety risks associated with the current practice of operating and maintaining these assets. Our UAS i nspection operation s will be in the best interest of the public, providing a safer alternative to the extant potentially

d angerous task of inspecting in remote or inaccessible areas. Soar will be responsible for Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. 1802 N Magnolia Ave, Clovis, CA 93619

Tel 559.547.8884
soar@soarhere.com

www.soarhere.com

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ensuring compliance with applicable Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulation s in relation to this operat ion and Best Management P ractice s will be implemented for regulations that are not applicable to this operation.

Performing aerial inspections utilizing an unmanned system is a benefit to the public interest in multiple ways:

1. Personnel Safety

a. Capital assets, such as penstocks, dams, pipelines, and bridges often times span over areas where terrain is unstable, vertical, or simply too dangerous for foot

travel . F ield inspections leave employees vulnerable to environmental hazards

such as snow an d ice accumulation, stream crossing, seasonal water runoff, felled trees and blocked paths; biological hazards, such as poison ivy, snakes,

and natural predators; and extreme temperature changes which may cause altitude sickness, heat stroke or frost bite. The utilization of our UAV will ensure

access to these areas while minimizing risk of serious injury or issue to personnel assigned to conduct these inspections

.

2. Access to remote or impassable areas

a. Segments of penstocks, dams, pipelines, and bridges may currently be or become unreachable, partially obscured, or impracticable for inspection by conventional means, such as physically walking the line, or utilizing airplane or helicopters for inspections. Access to assets can also be partially or completely blocked by environmental singularities, such as storm events, snow loading, felled trees, or vegetation growth, or blocked by mechanical means such as vehicle accidents, new construction, or road maintenance. Th e use of our UAV will ensure access to remote or impassable areas on an as

- needed basis as well

as during or after uncontrolled singular events.

3. Ensure regulatory requirements are actualized

a. Regulatory r equirements , including but not limited to those e nforced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission , Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety

, the California Public Utilities Commission and/or other federal,

s tate and county agencies in general mandate that public entities and private

co rporations maintain and inspect the aforementioned assets o n a periodic basis to ensure public safety and proper operation. As discussed, some of these

assets are currently unreachable , partially obscured, or impracticable for inspection by conventional means , such as physically walking the line, or utilizing airplane or helicopter s for inspections. The use of a UAV to conduct these inspections will supplement extensive, comprehensive maintenance program s where needed and will ensure regulatory complianc e measures are fully actualized, which in turn reinforces public safety standards and adherence to extant and forthcoming regulatory requirement s

.

4. Cost Effectiveness

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Petition for Exemption under §333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc.

Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. requests an exemption under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 for commercial flight of its Rotomotion SR

- 15 UAS. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. is a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (D VBE) small business located in Clovis, California. Soar Environmental Consulting provides environmental consulting, regulatory compliance management solutions, and inspection services to commercial and government operations. With approval of this petitio n, Soa r Environmental Consulting will utilize our UAS to perform inspections of hydroelectric system assets, specifically remote penstocks, flow lines , dams, and reservoirs; remote or impassable sections of natural gas and/or oil pipelines; and bridges sup porting gas and/oil pipelines. Proposed operations will be performed in full compliance with aviation safety regulations, maintained at or below 400 feet

AGL and in Line

- of

- sight with the Pilot

- in

- Command (PIC). As per 14 CFR §11.81, this petition

for ex emption is prepared and filed in accordance with regulation to request exemptions from the Federal Aviation Regulations pertaining to operation of a UAS so that operations can be commercially completed in accordance to all applicable FARs that would pertai n to a small UAS. Specifically, 14 CFR §11.81 states:

“You must include the following information in your petition for an exemption and submit it to FAA as soon as you know you need an exemption. (a) Your name and mailing address and, if you wish, other contact information such as a fax number, telephone number, or e

- mail address; (b) The specific section or sections of 14 CFR from which you seek an exemption; (c) The extent of relief you seek, a nd the reason you seek the relief; (d) The reasons why granting your request would be in the public interest; that is, how it would benefit the public as a whole; (e) The reasons why granting the exemption would not adversely affect safety, or

how the ex emption would provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the rule from which you seek the exemption; (f) A summary we can publish in the F EDERAL R EGISTER

, stating: (1) The rule from which you seek the exemption; and (2) A brief descrip tion of the nature of the exemption you seek; (g) Any additional information, views or arguments available to support your request; and (h) If you want to exercise the privileges of your exemption outside the United States, the reason why you need to do so.”

IAW 14 CFR §11.81, Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. submits the following information:

(a) Name and mailing address

I. Michael J. Murphy 1802 N Magnolia Ave Clovis, Ca 93619

559.547.8884 mjmurphy@soarhere.com

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(b) The specific section or sections of 14 CFR from which exemption is sought

I. 14 CFR 21

II. 14 CFR 36

III. 14 CFR 45.23 , 45.27

IV. 14 CFR 45.29

V. 14 CFR 61.113

VI. 14 CFR 91.9

VII. 14 CFR 91.103

VIII. 14 CFR 91.119

IX. 14 CFR 91.151

X. 14 CFR 91.203

XI. 14 CFR 91.405

, 91. 407

, 91. 409

, 91. 417

(c) The extent of relief sought is for the duration of the Grant of Exemption, unless otherwise specified. T he reason to seek the relief is as follows:

I. 14 CFR 21

i. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. requests relief from 14 CFR part 21

. The

UAV is a small rotorcraft weighing less than 2 5 pounds during operation. The UAV maximum speed is 25mph and the operating area will be limited to remote or impassable locations where vehicular traffic is non

- existent or

controlled. The PIC will maintain VFR Rules and operate the UAV during the day, at or below 400 feet AGL and in line

- of

- sight so as not to create a hazard to users of the National Airspace System or the Public or pose a threat to national security.

II. 14 CFR 36

i. Soar Environmental Consulting requests relief from any associated noise certification and testing requirements of part 36 . A s a note, a ccording to the manufacturer’s specifications, the UAV operates below 40db within 50

meters.

III. 14 CFR 45.23 , 45.27

i. The UAV do es not currently display marks consisting of the Roman capital letter “N” followed by the registration number of the aircraft in compliance with

14 CFR 45.23 and 14 CFR 45.27. Soar Environmental Consulting will register the UAV with the FAA and ens ure UAV is marked as appropriate before using the UAV in the NAS for commercial purposes.

IV. 14 CFR 45.29

i. Soar Environmental Consulting request relief from the size requirements under this section due to the size limitations of the UAV. We propose to use marks as large as possible on the UAV as well as keep registration information with the PIC during operati on.

V. 14 CFR 61.113

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i. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. currently does not have commercial pilot licenses and requests relief from 14 CFR part 61.113 for a period not to extend one year from Grant of Exemption to acquire the appropriate commercial pilot licenses for any and all PICs operating the UAV. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. will require that all PICs hold a minimum of a

Private Pilot License with a third class airman medical certificate for the one year exemption period. This one

- year exem ption will give pilots enough time to acquire the necessary hours and skills to become commercial pilots . We hope the FAA considers this exemption noting that these operations will be in remote areas with controlled or no access, that private pilots have parallel aeronautical knowledge requirements to those of commercial requirements

, and the additional manned airmanship experience of a commercially certificated pilot may not correlate to the airmanship skills necessary for operating a UAS.

VI. 14 CFR 91.9

i. R elevant materials shall be kept in a location accessible to the PIC in compliance with the regulations.

VII. 14 CFR 91.103

i. In regards to 91.103(b), the UAV will not be operated within any Class B, C, or D airspace; but, the PIC will follow all other applicab le pre

- flight actions including reviewing weather, flight battery requirements, landings, and takeoff distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight.

VIII. 14 CFR 91.119(c)

i. Soar Environmental Consulting requests relief from this section because the UAV will be operated below 400 feet AGL. The PIC will ensure the UAV is operated in controlled environments outside of populated areas away from public and traffic; avoiding of ar eas which are depicted in “yellow” on VFR charts, as well as obtaining and assessing information regarding congested areas from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and avoiding areas of congestion. The UAV will not be operated within 500 fee t of vehicles or objects in open areas. Soar Environmental Consulting requests that if barriers or structures are present that can sufficiently protect nonparticipating persons from the UAV or debris in the event of an accident, the PIC may operate closer than 500 feet to persons afforded such protection. The operator will ensure that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection.

IX. 14 CFR 91.151

i. Soar Environmental Consulting requests exemption from this section due to the maximum flight time available from this UAV. The UAV total flight time is

limited to 35 minutes and therefore the PIC would not be able to meet the minimum standards and still conduct the inspections. The UAS is equipped with a visual battery indicator that displays the bat tery levels at all time.

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Additionally, the UAS has a visual alarm that indicates when the battery reaches a state of 20% battery life, or approximately 7 minutes of flight time. These indicators, coupled with pilot awareness and the emergency return

- to

s tation setting will supply ample time to land the UAV safely in the event of low battery.

X. 14 CFR 91.203

i. Soar Environmental Consulting requests relief from 14 CFR 91.203 as t he appropriate airworthiness certificate does not exist for this UAS. Addition ally,

the certificate cannot be displayed in the aircraft due to the size and physical

structure of the UAV.

XI. 14 CFR 91.405 , 407, 409, 417

i. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. requests relief from 14 CFR 91.405, 407,
409, and 417 The above

- cited r egulations require, in general, aircraft owners and operators to inspect the aircraft “...as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as pres cribed in part 43 of this chapter.” These regulations apply to aircraft with an Airworthiness Certificate. Therefore, these sections are not applicable to this UAS. Operators will adhere to requirements located within the operations manual.

(d) The reason s why granting this request would be in the public interest; that is, how it would benefit the public as a whole

I. Personnel Safety

i. Capital assets, such as penstocks, dams, pipelines, and bridges often times span over areas where terrain is unstable, verti cal, or simply too dangerous for foot travel. Field inspections leave employees vulnerable to environmental hazards such as snow and ice accumulation, stream crossing, seasonal water runoff, felled trees and blocked paths; biological hazards, such as pois on ivy, snakes, and natural predators; and extreme temperature changes which may cause altitude sickness, heat stroke or frost bite. The utilization of our UAV will ensure access to these areas while minimizing risk of serious injury or issue to personnel assigned to conduct these inspections.

II. Access to remote or impassable areas

i. Segments of penstocks, dams, pipelines, and bridges may currently be or become unreachable, partially obscured, or impracticable for inspection by conventional means, such as p hysically walking the line, or utilizing airplane or helicopters for inspections. Access to assets can also be partially or completely blocked by environmental singularities, such as storm events, snow loading, felled trees, or vegetation growth, or block ed by mechanical means such as vehicle accidents, new construction, or road maintenance. The use of our UAV will ensure access to remote or impassable areas on an

as

- needed basis as well as during or after uncontrolled singular events. Additionally, many of the areas with hydroelectric or natural gas pipelines

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transect regions that contain environmental sensitive flora and fauna. The use of our UAV for inspecting in these remote areas will limit potential environmental damage to sensitive, protected, thr eatened or endangered flora and fauna from foot traffic and could reduce the current necessary vegetation maintenance required to access sensitive areas that are dispersed throughout the projects.

III. Ensure regulatory and public safety requirements are actualized

i. Regulatory requirements, including but not limited to those enforced by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Transportation’s Office of Pipeline Safety, the California Public Utilities Commission and/or other federal, state and county ag encies, mandate that public entities and private corporations maintain and inspect the aforementioned assets on a periodic basis to ensure public safety and proper operation. S ome of these assets are currently unreachable, partially obscured, or impractic able for inspection by conventional means, such as physically walking the line, or utilizing airplane or helicopters for inspections. This UAV carries a Sony

FCB

- EX980 High Resolution video camera with 26x zoom which will allow viewing and recording of as sets for critical infrastructure evaluation, such as rust accumulation, cracks, leaks, concrete damage, spalling, paint condition, etc. The recording can then be reviewed by technical experts at any time and archived for future condition comparison and fi led to meet regulatory requirements. The use of a UAV to conduct these inspections will supplement extensive, comprehensive maintenance programs where needed and will ensure regulatory compliance measures are fully actualized, which in turn reinforces pub lic safety standards , confirms structures are up to code,

and ensures adherence to extant and forthcoming regulatory requirements.

IV. Cost Effectiveness

i. Currently, multiple personnel consisting of agency officials, employees and/or

contractors are often re quired to conduct field inspections on large projects over vast amounts of terrain in order to ensure public safety and meet regulatory requirements. Inspections can require a substantial amount of

person

- hours and persist for days or weeks at a time due to terrain and accessibility issues. Factoring in engineering, planning & scheduling, safety meetings, mileage, recovered man

- hours, potential down time due to injury, potential worker’s compensation savings, and the intangible consideration of keeping em ployees injury

- free, the current system of inspecting these assets

becomes cost

- prohibitive. UAV inspections in select areas are timelier, safer and more efficient than the conventional methods for conducting these inspections. Our UAV inspections will f ree up otherwise occupied employees, and provide a more economic approach to the traditional inspection, thus lowering operational costs. Lower overhead f or corporations

could lead to end

- user savings such as decreased utility bills.

(e) The reasons why gran ting the exemption would not adversely affect safety, or how the exemption would provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the rule from which the exemption is sought

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I. The UAV consists of a lightweight

, battery powered roto craft, a perso nal computer

based ground control station, and associated communications equipment. The

rotocraft length is 47”, width of 16.5” and a height of 20.5” which can operate at a maximum speed of about 22 knots. The UAS is equipped with a visual battery

indica tor that displays the battery levels at all time. Pilots are trained to monitor the battery indication lights during flights. Additionally, the UAS has a visual alarm that indicates when the battery reaches a state of 20% battery life, or approximately 7 minutes of flight time. The UAS consists of an autonomous flight mode with point

and

- click waypoints overlaid on a GPS map as well as a hand

- held Spektrum DX

- 8 controller. The PIC will primarily utilize the autonomous mode for flights; but, the Spektrum DX

- 8 controller will be at hand and available for emergency use. Also, the PIC can modify the flight plan of the UAV at any time using the flight management interface or by manual take

- over via the Spektrum DX

- 8 controller. In autonomous mode, the PIC c an instruct the UAV to hold position with the click of a button, or return to the Home waypoint, The UAV has an emergency return to Home waypoint in the event of signal loss.

II. The aircraft will be operated with both a PIC and a ground

- based V isual Observer (V O ) in accordance with FAA Policy N 8900.227 Section 14, Operational Requirements for UAS. All flights will occur at no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL); operations will be conducted in remote or inaccessible regions with the permissi on of the land owner; and all required permits will be obtained from state and local government before operation. The UAV will not be operated within 500 feet of vehicles or objects in open areas, unless barriers or structures are present that can

suffici ently protect nonparticipating persons from the UAV or debris in the event of an

accident. The PIC will file a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) providing location and a date/time for each operation and a VFR Flight Following, if necessary.

III. The aircraft will not be operated over urban or populated areas; at air shows or over

an open

- air assembly of people; over heavily trafficked roads; or within 5 nautical miles of an airport or heliport. Flight operations will be limited to day, visual meteorological conditions and the aircraft will remain within visual line of sight of the

PIC at all times.

IV. This exemption will provide a greater level of safety to that provided by the rule from which the exemption is sought due to the current nature of conducting ins pections in remote regions. Because UAS flights are not currently authorized for commercial use, methods for inspecting remote assets are limited to pedestrian or helicopter operations. Where helicopter operations are not feasible due to environmental or mechanical obstructions, deep canyons, steep montane regions or closeness of objects, utilizing the UAV will provide a safe alternative to the inherent dangers of walking through these regions to conduct the required inspections. The small size,

extreme maneuverability and zoom capabilities on the camera allow for a safe, unimpeded inspection of critical infrastructure assets. A universal example of application would be monitoring the downstream face of a large concrete dam for cracking or block movement . As one may envision, walking up the face of a concrete dam is extremely dangerous , if at all possible , and dropping a helicopter into a steep canyon is also an extreme risk. However, utilizing our UAV in this instance would keep everyone safe, meet reg ulatory requirements and provide a

necessary, desirable and more accurate depiction of the dam condition. Conducting

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inspections such as these are in the public interest, provide a safer alternative, and produce more accurate data for engineering evaluati on.

(f) Summary to publish in the Federal Register

I. The rule from which exemption is sought

i. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. seeks exemption under §333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (Public Law 112

- 95) from 14 CFR 21; 14 CFR 36, 45.23; 45.27, 45.29; 61.113; 91.9(b) (2); 91.103(b); 119(c); 91.151(a); 91.203(a)&(b); 91.405(a); 91.407(a) (1); 91.409(a) (2); 91.417(a)&(b)

II. A brief description of the na ture of the exemption sought

i. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. requests an exemption under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 for commercial flight

of its Rotomotion SR

- 15 UAS. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc. is a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (D VBE) small business located in Clovis, California. Soar Environmental Consulting provides environmental consulting, regulatory compliance management solutions, and inspection services to commercial and government operations. With approval of this petitio n, Soar Environmental Consulting will utilize our UAS to perform inspections of hydroelectric system assets, specifically remote penstocks,

flow lines , dams, and reservoirs; remote or impassable sections of natural gas and/or oil pipelines; and bridges sup porting gas and/oil pipelines. Proposed operations will be performed in full compliance with aviation safety regulations, maintained at or below 400 feet AGL and in Line

- of

- sight with the

Pilot

- in

- Command (PIC). As per 14 CFR §11.81, this petition for ex emption is prepared and filed in accordance with regulation to request exemptions from the Federal Aviation Regulations pertaining to operation of a UAS so that operations can be commercially completed in accordance to all applicable FARs that would pertai n to a small UAS.

(g) Any additional information, views or arguments available to support request

I. We here at Soar Environmental Consulting are requesting this exemption because we strongly believe in the continuous improvement of safety measures that offer to protect our field personnel from the inherent dangers of the work environment, while striving to exceed regulatory compliance standards set forth for the safe and practical operation and maintenance of our hydroelectric and natural gas pipelines. The use of Unmanned Aircraft System s affords us a great opportunity to reach both of these goals. Through adopting and utilizing UAS technological advancements within these fields, we are unlocking the potential to create a safer workplace for our loved ones, ensure regulatory requirements are exceeded, and build inspection data with which we can improve and protect the infrastructure of these crucial industries. We look forward to working with the FAA in meeting and exceeding these goals in the near

future.

(h) Request to exercise the privileges of this exemption outside th e United States

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FAA 333 Exemption PetitionSOAR ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING DEPARTMENT ORDER SEC

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## Soar Environmental Consulting

UAS Operations Manual

I. Purpose

a. This Department Order addresses the safe handling and operations of the

Rotomotion SR

- 15 Unmanned A ircraft System (UAS) to perform flight operations during inspections of struct ures and other assets. This UAS Operations Manual contains instruction and explanation on correct and safe operating procedures within the National Airspace System as required by the Federal Aviation

Administration.

II. Scope

a. The scope of th is order applies to flight of the UAS utilized for the expressed purpose of i nspecting specific hydroelectric system assets, specifically remote penstocks, flow lines, dams, and reservoirs; remote or impassable sections of natural gas and/or oil pipelines; and bridges supporting gas and/oil pipelines

. Soar Environm ental Consulting, Inc

. will utilize t he UAS to perform structure evaluations and asset compliance inspections on remote assets by qualified and trained personnel that carry current required pilot l icense and applicable medical

certificate

.

III. Gen eral Responsibility and Authority

a. M anagers

i. Managers are responsible for purchase, maintenance, storage, security,

and oversight related to the proper management and f unctional use of the

UAS

.

ii. M anagers are responsible for UAS registration, ensuring training is completed by manufacturer or qualified trainers, and ensuring

administrative records are maintaining for UAS operation in acc ordance

with regulatory r equirements

.

b. Pilot in C harge (PIC)

i. The PIC is responsible for determining whether t he UAS is in condition for safe flight. T he PIC shall discontinue the flight when unairworthy
mechanical, electrical, or structural conditions occur. T he PIC is directly responsible for the operation of the UAS and the safety of the operation.

ii. The PIC i s responsible for fo l lowing the f light preparation checklists and

ensur ing the operation complies with applica ble regulations and ensures

a pplication of Best M anagement Practices for other operations not covered by applicable regulations

.

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iii. The P IC c onducts a detailed inspection of the UAV after every 10 hours of flig ht. The PIC can perform maintenance on the UAV limited to repairing small cracks a nd / or replacing r otors . A ll other maint enance will be performed by the manufacturer or a designated qualified person

.

c. Observer

i. The Observer i s responsible for maintaining visual contact with the UAV and scanning the flight area for air traffic, pedestrians, vehi cles, or other

obstac les that may have an impact on flight safety

.

ii. The Observer is responsible f or relaying to the PIC information r elated to

air tr affic, pedestrians, vehicles or other objects that may have an impact on flight safety

, in a timely manner

.

iii. The Observer c oordinates any required communic ation b etween the PIC

and other individuals

.

IV. Description of UAS

a. The UAS is an autonomous U nmanned A ircraft System complete with automatic

takeoff and a computer guided landing system . The system consists of the SR

15 rotocraft, a laptop

- based ground control unit, and supporting telemetry.

b. No manual pilot ing is required during a mission cycle. T he modes can be

switched between s emi and fully and autonomo us flight control during flight, if

necess a ry. Several modes are available, including teleop (joystick, fly

- by

- wire) and waypoint. The autonomous flight contro l system utilizes an advanced,

stable

- hover control system auto

- takeoff and landing, unlimited number of programmable waypoints, “point and click” waypoints on map u nder lay, and joystick control. P re

- planned flight paths are created in autonomous mode by clicking on the map underlay on the UAS G r o und Control Station (GC S) to create a preplanned flight path. T o clear the flight plan, simply click the “ x ” button on the

controller. Adjustments to speed and altitude can be made for each waypoint during the flight by highlighting the w aypoint and inputting the change in speed or

altitude in the coordinating boxes. R eturn

- to

- H ome way points

, M inimum S afe

Al titude, and velocity are entered during preflight ensuring the U AV operates only within specified parameters.

V. Description of t he GCS

a. The U AS G CS allows the operator simultaneous control over aircraft and c amera functions . The touch screen control allows for quick navigation and data entry while the display screen provides all essential flight data to the P I C

. Telemetry

data is transmitted to the com mand station at least once per second.

b. The GCS displays the following information :

i. Video camera view

ii. GPS Map underlay with asset delineation as necessary

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iii. UAV Latitude and Longitude

iv. UAV position, altitude and heading

v. Return

- to

- Home l ocation

vi. North s eeking a rrow
vii. Date/time

viii. Altitude AGL

ix. Relative horizontal position

x. UAV HZ, RSSI, AFCS Voltage, Servo Voltage, GPS Satellite availability, GPS VDOP, Battery Voltage an d RSSI reading and conditions

VI. Description of the UAV

a. The U AV c an fly with a maximum takeoff wind of up to 1 5 mph and maximum

sustained wind of up to 1 9.88 mp h . The U AV automatically compensates for

wind during all phases of flight and will remain steady in the air even when winds are reaching the maximum threshold.

b. The UAV has a maximum operational range of up t o 20km ( 1 0.77nm ).

c. All flight operations are controlled w ith GPS waypoints

, making the system extremely easy to command and control

. T he UAV holds position and altitude if

no commands are given by the PIC.

d. Camera positioning is manual ly controlled with left

- hand buttons of the controller

, but w ill automatically “ lock ” onto a target d uring slow turn s or altitude adjustments . The camera will remain fi xe d on the target , which allows for bette r inspection capabilities , until the camera is manually moved from the target, or the target is no longer in the camera ’ s field of vision

.

e. The U AV contains several safety features to ensure a safe flight. Onboard

s ystem error handling allows the UAV t o detect system errors while in flight and return to the prese t home waypoint automatically

. System error handling

includes loss of communication and low battery levels.

f. The U AV can be operated e ntirely with the GCS map based interfa ce. The P IC only needs to click a locat ion on the map , and the system w ill create a waypoint

and command the UAV to fly to that way point on the map

. All flights are

recorded with map information and flight plan s for archiving or future review.

g. Two high

- duration, self

- contained Lithium polymer batteries operate the UAV.

The G CS lap top has its own battery and the telemetry requ ire s tandard 110v electricity for operation. C harging the batteries is completed w ith a ba ttery charger in 45 minutes and can be accomplished via standard outlet or vehicle.

h. The UAV is equipped with an Inertial Navigation System consisting of a 3

- axis

gyroscope, a 3

- axis magnetometer, GPS receiv er, and a stat ic pressure sensor

.

i. The U AV i s equipped with vertical lift autonomous t akeoff and assisted recovery.
A Return

- to

- Home waypoint is designated by the operators and identified in the

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GCS software. D uring la unch initiation, the rotoc raft will takeoff and hover 3 meters directly above the takeoff area and await further instruction

.

VII. UAS Specification Sheet

Item Specification

Length 1,19 5 mm, 47”

Width 410 mm, 16.5”
Height 520 mm, 20.5”
Main Rotor (M/R)

Diameter 1,390 mm, 54.7”

Tail Rotor (M/R)

Diameter 260 mm, 10.2”

Transmission Direct Drive

Tail Rotor Shaft Drive
Dry Weight 8.2 Lbs, 3.72 Kg
Engine 2,200W Electric Motor (25V)

En ergy Capacity 32V Battery 11,200 mAh (battery charge rate 45 minutes)

Climb Rate 122 mpm, 400 fpm (AFCS regulated)
Maximum Speed 11 mps, 36 fps [40 kph, 25 mph] (AFCS regulated)

Endurance ~ 30 Minutes

Maximum Range 20 Kilometers
Operating Ceili ng 500 Meters

Payload With Battery and Pan & Tilt Sensor Platform Installed: 1.5 Lbs or .7 Kg, sufficient to carry Sony FCB

- EX980 day video camera, FLIR TAU 2 Series I/R Camera, multi

- spectral camera, or small SLR digital camera. Operating Temperatures - 20C to 50C

Stealth Yes (40 db at 50 m)

Can Be Weatherized No

Maximum Takeoff

Wind 24km/h

Maximum Sustained

Winds 32km/h

Minimum Takeoff/Landing Area 5m x 5m

Time to Deployment 5 Minutes

Time to Refuel and Redeploy 3 Minutes

Telemetry 802.11

- based, LOS Long

- range option up to 5 Kilometer range Flight Control

Software Fully autonomous flight with auto

- takeoff and landing, unlimited number of programmable waypoints, “point and click” waypoints on map overlay, joystick control

Ground Control

Software Included with system and provides command and control and sensor data on screen with audible warning system Safety Controller a) GHz DSM2, 800 yards, LOS range

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VIII. Flight Preparation Checklist s

– Flight Operations Area

a. Prior to starting operations, The PIC will ensure the UAS is operated in controlled

environments

, outside of populated areas

, away from public and traffic; avoiding

of ar eas which are depicted in “yellow” on VFR charts, as well as obtaining and assessing information regarding congested areas from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and avoiding areas of congestion.

b. The PIC will file a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) providing location and a date/time for each operation and req uest a VFR Flight Following, if necessary.

c. The PIC wi ll check the current ATIS with the jurisdiction al Air Traffic Control Center on the day of the flight prior to settin g up the UAS

.

d. The PIC will a dhere to the following :

i. Ensure l aunch and r ecovery zone is free and clear of debris

.

ii. E nsure launch and recovery zone is clearly marked for safety

.

iii. Conduct a s afety and flight tailboard with all involved personnel on hazards in the area, flight mission, and flight operations area

.

iv. Ensure control of area, v ehicul ar and pedestrian traffic is in place

.

v. Check ATIS report within 30 minutes of flight to ensure w eather

minimum s are met for operation

.

1. VFR conditions; clear

- of

- clouds

2. I FR c onditions are not authorized at any time

IX. Flight Preparation Checklist s

– Preflight Airframe Check

a. Remove cab and inspect main gears for wear or damage

b. Visual l y inspect airframe

c. V isually inspect landing gear

d. Visual l y inspect r otor integrity

i. Check tension on rotors and ensure rotors are straightened

ii. Check for debris on rotors

e. Check charge of all batteries (aerial vehicle, command station ) including backup

batteries and e nsure all telemetry is connected to energy supply source and the energy source is in working condition

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f. Visibility > 1 statute mile

g. Cloud Clearance > 5 00 feet

h. Wind i s no greater than 10 kts with g ust s no greater than 15 kts

X. Flight Preparation Checklist s

– P reflight S ystem s Check

Turn on Computer and open GCS

Attach Telemetry Ethernet to Computer

Double click on black bar in the GCS Window

Turn on and plug Joystick in and open Tab and press Rescan twice Confirm movements from Joystick in the GCS

Turn on Manual Transmitter and make sure the throttle stick is down, hold switch is on and all switches away from pilot

Battery Voltage > 4.7 on Transmitter

Plug both batteries in on UAV and let sit for at least 30 seconds without moving.

Confirm the V light on gyro is a solid red light If red V light is blinking unplug batteries and plug

back in

Press on Network Tab and select UAV

Start Log File

Minimize Network Tab

Open Map Tab and load map

Select Fail Safe and set ALT, Timeout, Speed to 4 m/s and highlight Rotate button

Minimize tab and click on map to set Fail Safe

Point to desired location

Press the ROT and PSH button and make sure they are highlighted in yellow

UAV HZ > 5

RSSI > 100

AFCS Voltage (fully charged) > 11.5

Servo Voltage > 5

GPS Satellites > 7

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GPS VDOP < 100

Battery Voltage is >58

AHRS is stable and correct according to UAV

Move UAV to Takeoff position with transmitter

Once UAV is in position make sure all blades are straight

Recheck all UAV numbers

Make sure camera in forward position

Open Telemetry Tab and press the Reset Tangent

button

Minimize Telemetry Tab

XI. T akeoff

a. T akeoff will take place at pre

- determined l ocation . The l ocation will be clearly

marked as such to ensure safety with ground pe rsonnel.

b. The sy stem cannot be launched without a pproval from Observer

. After the PIC

has received clearance f rom the Observer, the PIC will have authority to proceed

with takeoff

.

XII. Reliability

a. The U AS is designed for maximum reliability and to maintain performance ; however, due to normal motor operations , certain components will experience

we ar and tear and shall be checked before and after each flight to ensur e proper working order. Check rotors, batteries, motors, and l anding gear before and after flight.

b. Motor conditions and battery are mo nitored by the system with deviations reported o n screen.

c. Contact with other objects during flight may cause other components, particularly

rotors, servos and motor arms to become damaged. Land the rotocraft as soon as safely possible to do so

, record any contact with objects, check airframe, rotors, batteries, motors, landing gear, motor arms a nd servos and report the

contact to C EO before initiating additional preflight checklists or flights.

d. T he UAS continuously detects and displays system f unctions on screen which may make flying unsafe. These conditions are UAV HZ, RSSI, AFCS Voltage, Servo Voltage, GPS Satellite availability, GPS VDOP, Battery Voltage an d RSSI. If any of these systems are not functioning properly, the U AS will report the anomaly with visual and aural alarms. Land rotocraft as s oon as safely possible
to do so, and check conditions

. D o not fly until the system is functioning within

the n ormal parameters as l isted on flight checklist

.

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XIII. Emergency Procedures and System Failures

a. Sensor Failure

– Failure of on

- board flight instruments/sensors w ill degrade the UAS performance.

i. If sensor failure occurs, utilize the Retur n

- to

- Home feature on the display. If this does not work, u tilize the Spekt rum DX

- 8 remote controller to re t urn
th e UAV to the landing point or a safe area for landing.

b. Motor Failure

– The UAV flight performance will degrade significantly if one or

more motors fails.

i. If m otor failure occurs, utilize the Retur n

- to

- Home feature on the display if

able

. If this does not work, u tilize the Spekt rum DX

- 8 remote controller to

l and the UAV i n a safe area closest to the current position of the UAV.

c. Airframe Failure

– If airframe b ecomes damaged to the point that it affects flight operation , the UAS will behave s imilar ly to an on

- board flight instrument f ailure

.

i. U tilize the Retur n

- to

- Home feature on the display. If this does not work,

u tilize the Spekt rum DX

- 8 remote controller to re t urn th e UAV to the landing point or a safe area for landing.

d. Navigation System Failure

– In a navigation system failure, degraded G PS will result in unstable flight, depending on failures.

i. Utilize the Spekt rum DX

- 8 remote controller to re t urn th e UAV to the landing point or a safe area for landing.

e. Power Failure

– A complete battery failure w ill result in total power loss to the UAV and the UAV will land with the assistance of gravity. Check landing site, assist in any safety issues, c lean up the area and report the incident to the CEO.

f. Low Battery Condition

– Operator will be alerted of a low battery condition.

i. U tilize the Retur n

- to

- Home feature on the display

.

g. Visual Line

- of

- Sight ( V LOS) Loss

i. PIC will conduct a ll flight operations w ith VLOS

. If the pilot’s view

becomes obstructed and V L OS is lost, the pilot may instruct the UAS to

hover in place until V L OS is reestablished, or to return to the R eturn

- to

Home waypoint

. If V L OS is not reestablished in a timely fashion, have

the observer establish V LOS and relay information to the PIC. Base d upon the information, the PIC may opt to land the ro tocraft at the current position or wait until VLOS is restored

.

XIV. Security

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a. Th e system and communication links are encrypted by manufacturer proprietary

software.

XV. Crew Requirements

a. Soar Environmental Consulting, Inc

. requires the PIC to hold the proper Pilot License as required by the FAA.

b. The PIC will maintain flight currency as well hold a current Class II FAA Medical

Certificate

.

XVI. Safety

a. Safety is priority for e very flight. T he PIC is responsible for adhering to applicable FAR & ICAO Regulations.

b. S oar Environmental Consulting will utilize Best Management Practices during field ope rations and for any instances not covered by regulation.

c. Personnel will a bide by all company safety practices at all times.

d. A ny personnel may stop work at any time if a safety concern is raised without

retribution

e. T o assure safe operation within close proximity o f structures, the PIC will operate

the UAV in autonomous mode at all times, unless manual operation is necessitated, such as in the event of an emergency.

f. PIC and Observer will make all efforts possible to ensure that an emergency UAV landing will not result in injury to persons or property.

g. O peration support must adhere to PIC instructions, unless that instruction w ould

result in an unsafe situation.

h. U AV flights will occur with VLOS.

i. T h e PIC will adhere as close as possible to the prescr ibed flight plan and will not

d eviate or fly in unnecessary areas. No joy

- flying.

j. The UAS PIC w ill give way to any manned aircraft.

k. Flight operation s will occur under VFR Conditions only. No night flights.

l. A fire extinguisher will be brought onsite for use in emergency situations.

XVII. L anding and R etrieval

a. Landing area will be pre

- determined prior to flight. A secondary landing area will also be determined prior to the flight.

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