December 26, 2015 

Jose J. Mendes 

1 07 Robin Hill Road 

Chelmsford, MA 01824 

Email: joelimendes@hotmail.com 

Exemption request pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 

11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations from: 14CFR 21 subpart H 

14 CFR 45.23(b) 

14 CFR 61.101 (3) (4) and (5) 

14 CFR 61.113 (a) and (b) 

14 CFR 61.23(a) and (c) 

14 CFR 91.7(a) 

14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2) 

14 CFR 91.103 

14 CFR 91.109 

14 CFR 91.119 (c) 

14 CFR 91.121 

14 CFR 91.151 (a) 

14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b) 

14 CFR 91.405 (a) 

14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 

14 CFR 91.409 (a) (1) and (2) 

14 CFR 91.417 (a) and (b) 

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 

(the Reform Act) and 14 CFR Part 11, Jose J. Mendes, Operator of 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), hereby applies for Exemption from the 

listed Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) to allow commercial operation of 

the designated UAS, provided such operations are conducted within and 

under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as 

required by Section 333. 

Commercial operation of the UAS, as described herein, which is equipped 

with camera( s) and sensors would provide professional services: 

1. Aerial photography and/or video for pubic and/or private use including 

real estate, architecture, construction, land surveying, engineering and 

other related professional activities. 
2. Aerial video and/or photography for public and/or private use including 

television, public, events, cinematography, and newsgathering. 

3. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial structures 

under contract with owners or local government authority. 

4. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial utility 

infrastructures including but not limited to electrical power lines, wind 

turbines and cell towers. 

5. Aerial video/photography or providing live video feed to assist with 

search and rescue operations in cases of emergency or natural disaster, 

only when the local authorities or government has requested such 

services by contract or donation. 

6. Training to persons individually or belonging to both private and/or 

public organizations to increase awareness and improve safety for 

current and future UAS operations within the NAS. 

As described fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation 

of designated UAS as set forth in this document under controlled conditions in 

the NAS that would be a) limited b) controlled c) predetermined and d) safe. 

Approval of this exemption would increase public awareness of UAS 

operations and enhance safety to aid in fulfilling the Secretary of 

Transportation (the FAA Administrator) responsibilities" ... established 

requirements for the safe operations of such aircraft systems in the NAS." 

I also plan to operate a UAS, the OJI Inspire 1 which is comprised of an 

unmanned aircraft (Inspire 1) and a transportable ground station. The 

Inspire 1 is referred to as a quad-copter with a maximum gross weight of 

approximately 6.5 lb. It is equipped with (4) rotors which are driven by 

electric motors powered by ( 1) battery. The UAS has a maximum air speed 

of 22 meters per second (m/s). 

Given the size of the UAS involved and the restricted controlled environment 

within which it will operate, the applicant fits within that zone of safety (and 

equivalent level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, 

by exemption, allow commercial operations of the UAS to commence 

immediately. Due to the size of the UAS and the controlled areas in which 

the relevant UAS will operate, approval of the application presents no national 

security issue. Given the following, the grant of the requested exemptions is 

clearly in the public interest: Jose J. Mendes proposes that the exemption 

requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have the characteristics that 

operate within the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide an 

exceptional level of safety to operations. 
These limitations and conditions to which Jose J. Mendes agrees to be bound 

when conducting commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption 

include: 

1. The UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs. 

2. Flights will operated within the line of sight of the operator. 

3. Maximum total flight time for each individual operational flight will be 15 

minutes. 

4. Flights will be terminated at 15o/o battery power reserve. 

5. Flights will be operated at no more than 400 feet AGL. 

6. UAS operator will be trained and certified in the proper safety and 

operations of the UAS. 

7. The UAS will only operate within a controlled area as defined in the 

Procedures. 

8. The operator will post advisor notice around the controlled area. 

9. The operator will have trained in the operation of the UAS generally and 

receive up-to-date information on the particular UAS to be operated as 

required. 

1 O.lf the UAS loses communication, the UAS will have the capability to 

return to a pre-determined location within the security perimeter and land. 

11. The UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted 

obstacles or emergencies. 

Accordingly, the applicant respectively requests that the FAA grant the 

requested exemption and is prepared to modify or amend any part of this 

request to satisfy the need for an equivalent level of safety. 

I look forward to working with your office. Please contact me at any time if 

additional information or clarifications are needed. 

Sincerely, 

. fr'!>-P / . jl/LPJ b 

Jose J. " endes 

UAS Operator since 1995 

Member County RIC Flyers since 1995 

Academy of Model Aeronautics # 516777