- 6 - **A PP**  **END I**  **X A** 

**EXE M**  **P T**  **IO N**  **RE Q**  **UEST A** **N D**  **E Q**  **U I**  **V A** **L E**  **N T**  **L E**  **VEL O**  **F S**  **A F**  **E T**  **Y SH**  **O W**  **I N**  **G S**  **UNDE R**  **A P**  **P L**  **I C**  **A B**  **LE RU**  **L ES**  **S UB**  **J E**  **C T**  **T O**  **EXE M**  **P T**  **IO N**  Digital Harvest re q u e s t s an e xe m p t i on fro m t he fo ll o w i ng re g u l a t i ons as we l l as a ny add i t i onal re g u l a t i ons t hat m ay t e c hn i ca l l y app l y t o t he op e ra t i on of t he Super Swiper : **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **45 .**  **2 3**  **( b**  **) :**  **M ark**  **i ng**  **o f**  **t he**  **A i**  **rcra f**  **t** T he re g u l a t i on p ro v i des: W he n m a r k s i nc l ude on l y t he R o m an cap i t al l e tt e r “ N ” and t he re g i s tra t i on nu m ber i s d i sp l a yed on li m i t ed, re s t r i ct ed o r l i g ht - spo r t ca t e g o ry a i r c raf

t or e x pe r i m en t al or p ro v i s i ona l l y ce rt i f i c a t ed a i rc ra f t , t he op e ra t o r m u s t a l so d i sp l ay on t h a t a i r c ra f t near each en t rance t o t he cab i n, c oc k p i t , or p il ot s t a t i on, i n l e tt e rs not l ess t han 2 i nches n o r m o re t han 6 i nches h i gh, t he wo rds “ li m i t ed , ” “re s tr i ct e d , ” “ l i g h t - spo r t , ” “ e x pe r i m en t a l, ” o r “ p ro v i s i ona l , ” as app li cab l e. T he Super Swiper has n o e n tran c e t o t he cab i n, co c k p it , o r p il ot s t a t i on on w h i ch t h e wo rd “ E x pe r i m en t a l ” can be p l ace d . G i ven t h e s i z e of t he UAV , two - i nch l e tt e r i n g w il l be i m poss i b l e. T he wo rd “ E x pe r i m en t a l ” w il l be p l aced on t he fo r wa rd f us e l a g e i n co m p li ance w i t h § 45 . 2 9 (f) . T he e q u i va l ent l e vel of s af e ty w i l l be ach i e ved by ha v i ng t he Super Swiper m a r k ed on i t s fo r wa rd f use l a g e as re q u i red by § 45 . 2 9 ( f ) w he re t he p il o t , obs e rve r , and o t he rs wo r k i ng w i t h t he UA V wil l see t he i den t i f i c a t i on of t he UA S as “ E x pe r i m e n t a l . ” T he F A A has i ss u ed t he fo ll o w i ng e xe m p t i ons t o t h i s re g u l a t i on t o o t h e rs, i nc l ud i ng E xe m p t i on N os. 87 3 8, 1 0167 and 10167 A . **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. P**  **a r** 

**t 2**  **1, S**  **ubpart H**  **: A** **i r** 

**w o**  **r t**  **h i**  **ness C**  **er t**  **i fi**  **c a**  **t es**  **14 C**  **FR § 9**  **1 .**  **203 (**  **a )(**  **1 )**  S ect i on 91 . 20 3 ( a ) ( 1) re qui res a l l c i v i l a i r c raf t t o h a ve a ce rt i f i c a t e of a i r wo rt h i ness. P a r

t 21, S ubpa rt H , e n t i t l ed Ai r wo rt h i ness C e rt i f i c a t e s , e s t ab li shes t he p rocedu ral re q u i re m en t s for t he i ssuance of a i r

wo rt h i ne s s ce r

t i f i ca t e s as re q u i red by F A R § 91 . 20 3 ( a )( 1 ) . G i ven t he s i z e of t he a i r c raf t ( 9 . 5 l b s . ) and t he l i m i t ed op e ra t i n g a rea a s soc i a t ed w i t h i t s u t ili z a t i o n, i t i s unnece s sa ry t o g o t h ro u g h t he c e rt i f i c a t e of a i r wo rt h i ness p rocess under P a r t 21 S ubpa rt H t o ach i e ve or e xceed cu rre n t s afe ty l e ve l s. S uch an e xe m p t i on m e e t s t he re q u i re m e n t s of an e q u i va l ent l e vel of s af e ty under P a r t 11 and S ect i on 333 of t he R efo r m A ct . T he Fede ral Av i a t i on A ct and S e ct i on 333 of t he R efo r m A ct bo t h a u t ho r i z e t he F A

A t o e xe m pt a i r c raf

t from t h e re q u i re m ent fo r an a i r wo rt h i ness ce r

t i f i ca t e, upon cons i de ra t i on of t h e s i z e, we i g h t , speed, o p e ra t i onal capab ili ty , and p ro x i m i ty t o a i r po r t s and popu l a t ed a reas of t he UA S i n vo l ved. I n t h i s cas e , an ana l ys i s of t hese c r i t e r i a de m o ns t ra t es t h a t t he Super Swiper ope ra t ed w i t hout an a i r wo rt h i ness ce r

t i f i c a t e , under t he cond i t i ons p ro posed he re i n, w il l be at l east as s afe, or s af e r , t han a con ven t i onal a i r c raft (f i xed w i ng or ro t o rc ra f t ) w i t h an a i rwo rt h i ness ce rt i f i c a t e. T he Super Swiper we i g hs l ess t han 10 l b s . f u l l y l oaded. I t w il l not ca rry a p il ot or passe n g er, wil l not ca rry f l a mm ab l e f ue l , and w il l ope ra t e e xc l us i ve l y wi t h i n an a rea p re - d i sc l osed and i n c o m p li ance w i t h cond i t i ons set fo r

t h h e re i n. O p e ra t i ons under t h i s e xe m p t i on w il l be t i g h t l y con tro ll ed and m on i t o red by bo t h t he o p e ra t o r , pu rsua n t t o t he c ond i t i ons set fo rt h abo ve, and by l ocal pub li c- 7 -

s af e ty re q u i re m e n t s. T h e F A A w i l l ha ve ad vance no t i ce of a l l ope ra t i ons t h ro u g h t he f ili n g of N O T A M s. R ece i pt of t he p r i or pe r m i ss i on of t he l and o w ne r , t h e s i z e o f t h e a i rc ra f t , t he l a c k of f l a mm ab l e f ue l , and t he fact t hat t he a i r c raf t i s ca r r i ed t o t he l oca t i on and n ot f l o w n t h e re a l l es t ab li sh t he e q u i va l ent l e vel of s af e ty . T he Super Swiper cons tr u ct i on w i t h abso r b ent m a t e r i al p ro v i des at l east an e q u i va l ent l evel o f s afe ty t o t hat of su c h ope ra t i ons be i n g con d uct ed w i t h con ven t i onal a i r c ra f

t t hat wou l d be o rde rs - of- m a gn i t ude l a rg er and wou l d be ca r ry i ng passen g e rs , c a rg o, and fl a mm ab l e f ue l . **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **61 .**  **11 3**  **( a) &**  **( b**  **) ; 6**  **1 .**  **133 (**  **a )**  **: P**  **r i**  **v a**  **t e**  **P il**  **ot P**  **r i**  **v il**  **eges and**  **L i**  **m i**  **t a**  **t i**  **ons; P**  **il o**  **t i**  **n C**  **ommand; C**  **o m**  **merc i**  **a l**  **Pi l**  **ot P**  **r i**  **v il**  **eges and**  **L i**  **m i**  **t a**  **t i**  **ons.** S ect i on 61 . 11 3 ( a) & ( b) li m i t p r i va t e p il o t s t o no n - c o mm e r c i al ope ra t i ons. U n li k e a con ven t i onal a i r c raf t t hat c a rr i es a p il o t , passe n g e rs, and c a rg o , t he Super Swiper i n t h i s case i s re m o t e l y con t ro ll ed wi t h no passe n g e rs or p rope rt y of o t h e rs on bo a rd. S ect i on 6 1 . 133 ( a ) re qu i res an i nd i v i dual wi t h a c o m m e r c i al p il o t ’ s li cense t o be p il ot i n co m m and of an a i r c raf t for c o m pensa t i on or h i re. Digital Harvest re spectf u ll y p roposes t h a t ope ra t or re q u i re m en t s shou l d t a k e i n t o account t he cha ract e r i s t i cs of t he pa r t i cu l ar UAS . Digital Harvest ’ s Super Swiper h a s a h i g h d e g ree of p re p ro g ra mm ed con trol and va r i ous bu il t - i n t echn i cal capab ili t i es t h at s tr i ct l y li m i t t he po t e n t i al for ope ra t i on ou t s i de of t he op e ra t i n g cond i t i ons set fo r t h i n t he e xe m p t i on app li ca t i on. T he Super Swiper has a s e m i - a u t ono m ous na v i g a t i on and con t rol s ys t e m c o m p r i s e d of a Ground C on t rol S t a t i on (G CS ) and au t o - p il ot s ys t e m . Fl i g h t s can be p re - p ro g ra mm ed w i t h p rec i s i on G P S g u i dance and do not re qu i re hu m an i n t e rven t i on. I n t he c a se of unp l anned e ven t s , t he ope ra t or can allow the aircraft to follow the p re - p ro g ra m m ed e vas i ve m aneu ve rs fro m t he c o n t rol un i t or enable assisted steering for direct control. P re - p ro g ra mm ed maneuvers i nc l ude d i ve rs i on t o t he r i gh t ; i n i t i a t i on of ho l d i ng at p resent pos i t i on; suspens i on of m i ss i o n ; f l y back t o l aunch po i n t ; f l y t o po i nt and ho l d; abo r

t m i ss i on and l and; and e m e rg ency po wer c ut of f and l and ( F li g h t T e rm i na t i on S ys t e m ) . A dd i t i onal au t o m a t ed s af e ty f unct i ons and s af e ty enhanc i ng fe a t u res of t h e Super Swiper i nc l ude t he fo ll o wi n g :

- Detection of lost GPS for 2 seconds will initiate a right hand orbit, allowing the operator time to enter “Altitude” control mode. After 20 seconds, if the operator elects to do nothing, the aircraft will begin a n auto land.

- If the auto - pilot detects a lost - link to the GCS fo r longer than 5 seconds, the aircraft will orbit return to the designated “HOME” point and await reconnection. If link is not established within 60 seconds, the aircraft will enter a pre - programmed auto land.

- Auto - pilot failure will result in the aircraft entering into an aerodynamically induced spiral landing for minimal impact speed

- Low power on the aircraft triggers a n alarm on GCS at 12% (15 minutes left)

- On - board failsafe limits aircraft descent speed to a maximum of approximatel y 5 m/s

- The aircraft, weighing less than 10 lbs, fully loaded, is constructed of EPP foam, or similar material which is intended to absorb impact energy.

- The motor is driven by a pulse width modulated signal, not an analog signal . G i ven t hese s afe ty f ea t u res, Digital Harvest p roposes t h a t op e ra t o rs of t he Super Swiper s h ou l d not be re q u i re d t o ho l d a c o mm e r c i al or p r i va t e p il ot ce r t i f i ca t i o n . I n s t ead, ope ra t o rs shou l d be re q u i red t o: • ha ve succes s f u ll y co m p l e t ed, a t a m i n i m u m , F A A p r i va t e p il ot g round i n s tr u ct i on and passed t he F A A P r i va t e P il ot w r i tt en e xa m i na t i on or F A A- rec o g n i z ed e q u i va l en t s;- 8 -

• ha ve co m p l e t ed a t ra i n i ng p ro g ram for op e ra t i on of t he U A S . Digital Harvest no t es t hat t he F A A has found t hat s afe ty fa ct o rs pe r m it t ed op e ra t i on o f UAS s by ope ra t o rs w i t h t hese q u a li f i ca t i ons i n t he case of ope ra t i ons p u rsua n t t o p ub li c C O As w he re t he m anda t o ry ope ra t i n g co n d i t i ons spec i f i ed abo ve a re p resen t . S ee Fed e ral Av i a t i on A d m i n i s tra t i o n , N o t i ce N - 8900 . 227, U n m anned Ai rc raf t S ys t e m s ( UAS ) O p e ra t i onal A pp ro va l , a t 20 - 21 ( Ju l y 30, 201 3 ) . The F A

A has t he s t a t u t o ry au t h o r i ty , g ra n t ed at 49 U . S . C . §4470 1 (f ) t o wa i ve t he p il ot re q u i re m e n t s for c o mm e rc i al ope ra t i ons. G i ven t hese c o nd i t i ons a nd re s tr i ct i ons, an e q u i va l ent l e vel of s afe ty w i l l be p ro v i ded by a ll o w i ng ope ra t i on of t he Super Swiper w i t hout a p r i va t e p il o t ’ s c e rt i f ic a t e o r a c o mm e r c i al p il o t ’ s c e rt i f i c a t e, under t he cond i t i ons s e t fo r t h h e re i n. T he r i s k s assoc i a t ed w i t h t he ope ra t i on of t he Super Swiper ( g i ven i t s s i z e, spe e d, ope ra t i onal capab ili t i es, and l a c k of c o m bus t i b l e f ue l ) a re so d i m i n i shed f ro m t he l e vel o f r i s k a s s o c i a t ed wi t h p r i va t e p il ot op e ra t i o ns or c o mm e r c i al ope ra t i ons con t e m p l a t ed by P a r t 61 w i t h con ven t i onal a i r c raf t (f i xed w i ng or ro t o r c ra ft ) , t hat a ll o wi ng ope ra t i ons of t h e UA S as s e t fo rt h abo ve m ee t s or e xceeds t he p rese n t l e vel o f s afe ty p ro v i ded under 14 C . F . R . § 61 . 113 ( a) & ( b) and does n o t r i se t o t he l e vel of re q u i r i n g a c o m m e r c i al p il ot t o ope ra t e t he a i r c raf t under § 61 . 13 3 ( a ) . **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **91 .**  **7 (**  **a )**  **: C**  **i v**  **i l a**  **i r**  **c ra**  **f t**  **a i**  **r w**  **o r**  **t h**  **i nes**  **s .**  T h i s re g u l a t i on re q u i res t hat no pe rson m ay ope ra t e a c i v i l a i r c ra ft un l ess i t i s i n a i r wo rt hy cond i t i on. S hou l d t he e xe m p t i on be g ra n t ed a ll owi ng c o mm e r c i al ope ra t i on of t he Super Swiper w i t hout an a i r

wo rt h i ness c e rt i f i c a t e, no s t anda rd w il l e x i st for a i r wo rt h i ness of t he Super Sw iper . G i ven t he s i z e o f t he a i rc ra f t and the requirements that have already been met with the aircraft’s COA approval and military history , an e q u i va l ent l e vel of s af e ty w i l l be a c h i e ved by i nsu r i ng co m p l i ance w i t h t he Digital Harvest m anua l s p r i or t o each f l i g h t . **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **91 .**  **9 (**  **b )**  **( 2**  **) :**  **C i**  **v i**  **l A** **i rcra**  **f t**  **F li**  **g h**  **t M**  **a nual**  **i n**  **t he**  **A i**  **rcra f**  **t .**  T he re g u l a t i on p ro v i des:

N o pe rson m ay ope ra t e a U . S. - re g i s t e red c i v i l a i r c raf t ... ( 2) For w h i ch an Ai r p l ane or R o t o r c raf t F li g h t M anual i s not re q u i red by §21 . 5 of t h i s cha p t e r , un l ess t h e re i s a va il ab l e i n t he a i rc ra f t a cu r rent ap p ro ved a i r p l ane or R o t o r c raf

t F l i g h t M anua l , app ro ved m anual m a t e r i a l , m a r k i n g s , and p l aca rds, or any co m b i n a t i on t h e re of . G i ven t he s i z e and co n f i g u ra t i on of t he Super Swiper , i t h a s no ab ili ty or p l ace t o c a rry such a f l i g ht m anual on t he a i r c raf

t , n ot on l y because t he re i s no p il ot on b oa rd , b u t b e cause t h e re i s no room or capac i ty t o c a rry such an i t e m on t he a i r c raft . T he e q u i va l ent l e vel of s af e ty w i l l be ach i e ved by k eep i n g t he f li g h t m anual ( see Attachment 1 ) at t he g round co n trol po i n t w he re t he p il ot f l y i ng t he UA S w i l l ha ve i mm ed i a t e access t o it . T he F A A h as i ssued t o Digital Harvest and o t h e rs t he fo ll o w i ng e xe m p t i ons t o t h i s re g u l a t i on: E xe m p t i on N os. 860 7 , 873 7 , 8 738, 9 2 99, 9299 A , 956 5 , 9565 B , 10167, 10167 A , 10602, 3282 7 , and 107 0 0. **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **91 .**  **10 9**  **( a) &**  **91 .**  **319 (**  **a )(**  **1 )**  **: F**  **li g**  **h t**  **I n**  **s t**  **ruc t**  **i on** - 9 -

T hese re g u l a t i ons p ro v i de t h a t no pe rson m ay ope ra t e a c i v i l a i r c ra f t ( e xcept a m anned free ba ll oon) t hat i s be i n g us e d fo r f l i g ht i ns t r u ct i on un l ess t h a t a i r c raf t has f u ll y f unct i on i n g dual con tro l s . T he Super Sw iper i s a re m o t e l y p il o t ed a i r c raf t and by des i g n , does not ha ve f u ll y f u nct i onal dual con tro l s . F li g ht co n trol i s acc o m p li shed t h ro u g h t he use of a co n trol box t hat c o m m un i ca t es w i t h t he a i r c raf t v i a rad i o co m m un i ca t i ons. T he f l i g ht p l an i s p re - p ro g ra m m ed i n t o t he a u t o p il ot b efo re f li g h t a nd on l y i n emergency c i r cu m s t anc e s wil l t he p il ot have the choice to i nput con t rol f un ct i ons t o a l t e r t he p re - p ro g ra mm ed f l i g h t . I f i ns t r u ct i on i s acc o m p l i s hed t h ro u g h a t ra i n i ng p rog ra m , as s e t fo r t h i n Attachment 8 , an e q u i va l ent l e vel of s af e ty w i l l be as s u red. T he F A A has app ro ved e xe m p t i ons for f l i g ht t ra i n i ng w i t hout f u l l y f un ct i onal dual co n tro l s fo r a nu m b e r of a i r c ra f t and fo r f l i g ht i ns tr u ct i on i n e x pe r i m en t al a i r c ra f t . S ee E xe m p t i on N os. 5778K & 9862 A . T he e q u i va l ent l e vel o f s afe ty w il l be ach i e ved by t he m an u fact u rer p ro v i d i ng t he tra i n i ng as ou t l i ned, fo r e xa m p l e, i n Attachment 8 and t h ro u g h t he use of e x pe r i enced and q ua l i f i ed p il o t s fa m ili ar w it h t he Super Swiper . **14 C**  **FR § 9**  **1 .**  **119: M**  **i n**  **i mum**  **S a**  **f e**  **A ltit**  **udes** S ect i on 91 . 119 e s t ab li shes s af e a l t i t ud e s for ope ra t i on of c i v i l a i r c raf t . S p ec i f i ca ll y , 91 . 11 9 ( c) li m i t s a i r c raf t f l y i ng o ver a reas o t her t han co n g e s t ed a reas t o an a l t i t ude of 500 feet abo ve t he su r fac e , e xcept o ver op e n wa t er or sp a rse l y popu l a t ed a rea s . I n t hose c a ses, t he a i r c raf t m ay not be ope ra t ed c l os e r t h an 500 feet t o any pe rs o n, vesse l , veh i c l e, or s tr u ct u re . As set fo rt h he re i n , t he Super Swiper w il l ne ver ope ra t e a t h i g her t han 400 feet AG L. I t w ill , ho we ve r , be ope ra t ed t o a vo i d con g e s t ed o r popu l a t ed a reas t hat a re dep i ct ed i n ye ll ow on V FR sect i onal cha rt s . B ecause ae r i al s u rvey wo r k m u s t be acc o m p li shed at re l a t i ve l y l o w a l t i t udes and a t a l t i t udes l ess t han 500 fe et AG L, an e xe m p t i on fro m S e ct i on 91 . 1 19 ( c ) i s n eeded. T he e q u i va l ent l e vel of s af e ty w i l l be ach i e ved g i ven t he s i z e, we i g h t , spe e d, and m a t e r i al w i t h w h i ch t he Super Swiper i s bu il t . A l so, no f li g h t w il l be t a k en w i t hout t he pe r m i ss i on of t he l and o w ner o r t hose w ho con t rol t he l a n d. B ecause of t he ad vance no t i ce t o t he l ando w n e r , a l l a f fe ct ed i nd i v i dua l s w i l l be a wa re of t he s u rvey f li gh t s . C o m pa red t o ae r i al s u rvey ope ra t i ons conduc t ed wi t h a i r c ra f

t or ro t o rc raf

t we i g h i ng fa r m o re t han 9 . 5 l bs. and ca r ry i ng f l a m m ab l e f ue l , any ri sk assoc i a t ed w i t h t he s e o p e ra t i ons w il l be far l ess t han t hose cu r re n t l y a ll o w ed w i t h con ven t i onal a i r c raf t op e ra t i n g at or b e l o w 500 f e e t A G L. I nd e ed, t he l o w- a l t i t ude op e ra t i ons of t he UA S w il l m a i n t a i n sep a ra t i on b e tween t hese s m a l l - UA S ope ra t i ons and t he op e ra t i o ns of con ven t i onal a i r c raf t t hat m ust c o m p l y w i t h S ect i on 91 . 11 9 . **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **91 .**  **15 1**  **( a**  **) :**  **Fuel R**  **equ i**  **reme n**  **t s**  **f or**  **F li**  **g h**  **t i**  **n V**  **FR C**  **on d**  **i t**  **i o**  **n s**  T h i s re g u l a t i on p roh i b i t s an i nd i v i du a l fro m b e g i n n i ng “ a f l i g h t i n an a i r p l a n e under V FR cond i t i ons unless ( cons i de r i ng w i nd and fo rec a st wea t her cond i t i on s ) t he re i s eno u g h f uel t o f l y t o t he f i rst po i nt of i n t en d ed l and i ng an d , ass u m i ng no r m al c r u i s i ng speed – ( 1 ) D u r i n g t he da y , t o f l y a ft er t hat fo r a t l ea s t 30 m i nu t e s; or ( 2 ) A t n i g h t , t o f l y a ft er t h a t for at l east 45 m i nu t e s . ” T he Super Swiper ba t t e r i es p ro v i de app ro x i m a t e l y 120 m i nu t es of po we red f l i g h t . W i t hout an e xe m p t i on fro m § 14 C FR 9 1 . 15 1 , t he li m i t a t i ons p roposed would greatly reduce its utility. Given the ty pe of o pe ra t i on , as we ll as the rural l oca t i on of t hose p roposed op e ra t i on s , a l on g e r t i m e fra m e fo r f l i g h t i n da y li g ht V FR cond i t i ons i s reasonab l e. A dd i t i ona ll y , gi ven the proposed VLOS restriction, the aircraft would always be well within 5 minutes of i ts landing position. Furthermore, i n t he un l i k e l y e vent t hat t he Super Swiper sh o u l d r un o u t of f ue l before returning , i t wou l d s i m p l y auto l and at its current position at a safe speed. Finally, recognizing i t s we i g ht and con s tr u ct i on m a t e r i a l , t he r i s k s a re l ess t han co n t e m p l a t ed by t he cu r rent re g u l a t i on.- 10

- Digital Harvest be li e ves t hat an e xe m p t i on from 14 C FR § 91 . 15 1 ( a) i s s a fe and wi t h i n t he s cope of a p r i or e xe m p t i on. S ee E xe m p t i on 10673 ( a ll o w i ng Loc k heed M a rt i n C o r p o ra t i on t o ope ra t e wi t hout c o m p li ance w i t h 91 . 151 ( a ) ) . O p e ra t i n g t h e s m a l l UAS , w i t hout 30 m i nu t es of res e rve f uel does n o t e n g ender t he ty pe o f r i s k s t hat S ecti on 91 . 151 ( a ) was m ea n t t o p re vent g i ven t he s i z e and speed at w h i ch t he UA S op e ra t e s . T he fact t hat i t ca r r i es no p il o t , passe n g e r , o r ca rg o a l so enhances it s s afe ty . Digital Harvest be li e ves t hat an e q u i va l ent l e vel of s afe ty can be ach i e ved by m a i n t a i n i ng 1 0 m i nu t es of rese rve f ue l , w h i ch wou l d be m o re t h a n ad e q ua t e t o re t u r n t he UA S t o it s p l anned l a nd i ng z one fro m an y

w h e re i n it s op e ra t i n g a rea. **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **91 .**  **203 (**  **a )**  **& (**  **b )**  **: C**  **arr y**  **i ng**  **C i**  **v i**  **l A** **i rcra**  **f**

**t C**  **er t**  **i f**  **i ca**  **t i**  **on and**  **R eg**  **i s**  **t r** **a ti**  **on** T h i s re g u l a t i on p ro v i des as fo ll o ws:

( a) . . . no pe rson m ay ope ra t e a c i v i l a i r c ra ft un l ess i t has . . . an ap p rop r i a t e and cu r rent a i r

wo rt h i ne s s ce r

t i f i ca t e . ( b) N o pe rson m ay ope ra t e a c i v i l a i r c ra ft un l ess t he a i r wo rt h i ness ce r

t i f i ca t e re q u i red by pa ra g raph ( a ) of t h i s se ct i on o r a spe c i al f l i g ht au t h o r i z a t i on i ssued under §9 1 . 715 i s d i sp l ayed at t he cab i n o r co c kp i t en t rance so t hat i t i s l e g i b l e t o passen g e rs or c re w . T he Super Swiper f u ll y l oaded we i g hs no m o re t h an 10 l bs. As such, t he re i s no ab ilit y or p l ace t o c a rry ce rt i f i c a t i on and re g i s t ra t i on docu m e n t s or t o d i sp l ay t hem on t he UAS . I n add i t i on, t h e re i s no p il ot on boa rd t he a i r c ra f t . A n e q u i va l ent l e vel o f s afe ty w i l l be ach i e ved by k eep i ng t hese docu m e n t s at t he g round con t rol po i nt w he re t he p il ot f l y i ng t he UA S w i l l ha ve i m m ed i a t e access t o t he m . T he F A A has i ssued nu m e rous e xe m p t i ons t o t h i s re g u l a t i on. A re p re s en t a t i ve sa m p l e o f o t h e r e xcep t i ons i nc l udes E xe m p t i on N os. 95 6 5, 9 665, 978 9 , 9789 A , 979 7 , 9797 A , 9816 A , a nd 10 7 00. **14 C**  **. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **91 .**  **40 5**  **( a**  **) ;**  **4 07**  **( a**  **) (**  **1 )**  **; 409 (**  **a )(**  **2 )**  **; 417 (**  **a )**  **: M**  **a i**  **n t**  **enance I**  **nsp e**  **c ti**  **ons** S ect i on 91 . 40 5 ( a) re q u i res t h a t an a i r c raf t op e ra t or o r o w ner “ sha l l ha ve t hat a i r c ra f t i nspe ct ed as p re s c r i bed i n subpa r

t E of t h i s p a r

t and sha l l be tween re q u i red i nspe ct i ons, e xcept as p ro v i ded i n pa ra gr aph ( c ) of t h i s se ct i on, ha ve d i sc repanc i es repa i red a s p resc r i bed i n pa r t 43 of t h i s cha p t er .

. . . ” S ect i o n 91 . 407 s i m il a r l y m a k es refe rence t o re q u i re m e n t s i n P a rt 43; S ect i on 91 . 409 ( a )( 2 ) re q u i res an annual i nspect i on for t he i ssuance of an a i r wo rt h i ness c e rt i f i c a t e. S ect i on 91 . 41 7 ( a) re q u i res t he o w ner or ope ra t or t o k eep reco rd s sho w i ng ce r t a i n m a i n t enance wo r k t hat has been acc o m p li shed by ce r

t i f i ca t ed m echan i cs, under P a r t 4 3, o r li censed p il o t s and rec o rds of a pp ro val of t he a i r c raf

t fo r re t u r n t o se rv i ce. M a i n t enance o f t he Super Swiper components outlined in the m anua l (see Sections 6, 7, and 8 of Attachment 1 ) wil l be acco m p li shed by a trained and certified Digital Harvest technician . A n e q u i va l ent l e vel of s a fe ty w i l l be ach i e ved because t he UA S i s s m a l l i n s i z e, wil l ca rry no e xt e r nal pa y l oad, w i l l ope ra t e on l y i n res t r i ct ed p rede t e rm i ned a reas a n d i s not a co m p l ex m e c h an i cal de v i se. As p ro v i d ed i n t he Super Swiper Checklist (Attachment 10) , t he ope ra t or of Super Swiper w il l also ensu re t h a t t h e UA S i s i n wo r k i ng o rd e r p r i o r t o i n i t i a t i n g f l i g h t , and k eep a l og of any m a i n t ena n c e t h a t i s pe r fo r m ed on the aircraft . M o re o ve r , t he ope ra t o r i s t he pe rson m ost fa m ili ar- 11

- w i t h t he a i r c ra f

t and i s best su i t ed t o ensure that t he a i r c raf t is i n an a i r

wo rt h y cond i t i on and t o guarantee an e q u i va l ent l e vel of s afe ty . Digital Harvest will be putting our S uper Swiper aircraft through a routine, but rigorous, inspection of t he airframe and components every 50 flights. Likewise, we will rep l ace t he servos, motor, and speed controller e ve ry 300 f l i g h t s . T h i s w il l ensu re a n e q u i va l ent l e vel of s a fe ty t o t he m a i n t enance re q u i re m en t s i n P a rt 91. I n add i t i on, b e tween such rep l ace m e n t s , shou l d a m echan i cal i s sue a r i s e , t he a i r c raf t wil l e i t her re t u r n t o i t s l a u nch s i t e or i m m ed i a t e l y l and.**A PP**  **END I**  **X B**  **: SU**  **M M**  **A R** **Y O**  **F DIGITA**  **L HA RVEST**  **SEC T**  **IO N 333**  **EXE M**  **PT IO**  **N RE**  **Q UEST** 

Digital Harvest he reby p ro v i des pu rsuant t o P a r t 11 a s u mm a ry of i t s e xe m p t i on app li ca t i on t o a ll o w co mm e r c i al ope ra t i on of t he Super Swiper u n m anned a i r c raf t i n p rec i s i on ae r i al su rvey wo r k. A n e xe m p t i on i s re q u e s t ed from t he fo ll o w i ng re g u l a t i ons: 14 C . F . R . P a rt 21; 14 C . F . R . 4 5 . 23 ( b ) ; 14 C . F . R . 6 1 . 113 ( a ) & ( b ) ; 14 C . F . R . 6 1 . 133 ( a ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 7 ( b ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 9 ( b )( 2 ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 109 ( a ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 119; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 151 ( a ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 203 ( a ) & ( b ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 405 ( a ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 407 ( a )( 1 ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 409 ( a )( 2 ) ; 14 C . F . R . 9 1 . 417 ( a ) .