### MichaelWing Meridian UAS CEO· 940 SE Bell Av. Corvallis, OR 97333 Telephone: 541.738.2772 Email: michaelwing01@gmail.com

October· 22, 2015 •';



### U.S. Department ofTransportation Docket Management System West Building Ground Floor Room w12-140 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE Washington DC 20590 

### RE: Exemption RequestSection 333 ofthe FAA Reform Act Dear Sir or Madam:**~** ! .,_., ·, ..

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### We respectfully request exemption under Section 333 of the FAA Reform ACT and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Petitioner: MichaelWing Meridian UAS CEO 940 SE Bell Av. Corvallis, OR 97333 Telephone: 541.738.2772 Email: michaelwing01@gmail.com Meridian UAS is a LLC. Meridian UAS intends to incorporate the use of sUASs for a variety of projects which may include but not be limited to project and construction management, inspections and monitoring; environmental review projects; aerial surveying; agricultural projects; educational and research projects; remote sensing projects, wildlife and forestry monitoring projects; aerial filmmaking, photography and real estate purposes; search and rescue, etc.

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## ..··. Proposed Operations

. . , . · ,.. . .. Meridian UAS proposes to use thefollo_wing platfQrms i_li seeking an**E~ernption** Pursuant to Section'333: Aerialtronics Altura Zenith (ATX8 and STR8), DJI Phantom 2 Vision, DJI Phantom 3, and 3DR Solo.
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# . ·. Previous FAA Exemptions Each ofthe platforms proposed in this Exemption request have been granted previous Exemptions Pursuant t9 Section 333 by the FAA based on the platform weight, speed, and operational characteristics: · . Aerialtronics Altura Zenith

### ATXS~ STRS: Exempti-On 12655·toJonathan Adams DJI Phantom 2 Vision+: Exemption No. 11228 to Steven Zeets DJI Phantom 3: Exemption No. 13203 to Matthew D. Gambill 3DR Solo: Exemption No. 11935to Patricia A. Lines In grantingthese previous Exemptions, the FAA has found that each ofthese platforms shared the following characteristics: • Weight is less than

## S5 pmmds including payload. • The ability ofthe UAS to operate safely after experiencing in-flight contingencies orfailures, nd the presence ofan auto-pilotto maintain flight stability and control. The UAS is also able to respond to a loss ofGPS or a lost-link eventwith a pre-coordinated, predictable,,automated flight maneuver.These safety features**p~pvide** ao equivalent level ofsafety cOmp£\red to a

.manned aircraft performing a similaroperation and mitigatethe risk

## ·of command

### ~nd contro link failures. 

# • • Communication and control radlo

## freq~~rtdes comply with the Federal Communications Commission {FCC) and other appropriate governmentoversight agency:requirernents. The maximum speed ofthe platforms is 87 knots or less

. Public Benefit Meridian UAS conducts research in a variety ofdisciplines. Public benefit ofthe UAS operations proposed in this**Exemption-requestinclude~the** followingsocietal benefits: • Workersafety is emphasized as UAS operations can reduce or eliminate field measurements. There are significant risks to workers in the construction and structural inspection industries :.that can be .alleviated by UAS. .· • · • Manned flights pose risks to pilots. • Greater image resolution can be obtained from UAS mounted sensors in comparison to mann d aircraft as UAS are able to fly slower and closer tothe ground. Increased image resolution ali ws for more robust analysis which can lead to increases in agricultural and forest productivity. • Search and rescue operations can be conducted inareasthat might be ordinarily be ' inaccessible. • UAS are more cost effective**th~m** manned aerial platforms.

' '**~·~** : Reasons why the exemption would not adversely affect safety or how the exemption would provide a level ofsafety at least equal tothe existing rules. 

### 1: The 

## UAS platforms weigh less than

# 2o pounds, including payload; 2. Flights will be operated within the visual line ofsight ofthe pilot; 3. Maximum tot.al flight time for each operational flight will be (45) minutes. Flight

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times may be less than thirty (30) 

### minutes as the UAS will continuously monitor battery reserve and return to the ground station with at least 10% 

### battery power reserved; i

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## r,:··· 4. Flights will b.e operated at an altit'ude_no·t greater than 400 

### fe'et AGL; · ·'- · 5. Minimum 'crew for each operation will'corisist ofthe UAS pilot.and aVisual Observer; 6. A briefing will be conducted daily by all personnel working with said UAS; 7. Written and/or oral. permission frqm relative proper;tv O\Vners will _be obtained prior to operating the UAS;

_ · · · ._ . ·: · . 8. All permits, permissions, etc. will be obtained from local government offices as : required; 9. The UAS will operate at speeds less than 8 7 knots, hover and simultaneously move vertically and horizontally; 10. The UAS will have the capability to return and land at the pre-determined location with the Security Perimeter should the UAS lose communication or GPS signal

· during any operations; ·· 11. The UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in-case of un'predicted obstacles

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### or emergencies; · ·I '- • 

### 12.

## Operatio~s wil( not be

## corid~cted.' dver deh'sely populated a·reas or heavily traffic highV:,;ys/ancf · ·. · · · · .,_ · ..,;,r. :- · ·**~ ·:;~!**  ,- .. · ... · ·.. , . ·.'

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### 13. Operationswill not beconducted within five (S).NM ofan airport or heliport
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### without permission ofthe airport or heliport. · . . __ ., • .. i , _ • · , 1 \, :· ,; '>(, i _' · • .'1, 0 ._ o .._ \, , 1 0 , • I ", '"' , ' · .I Exemptions Soughtfrom CFRs Meridian UAS requests Exemptions from the following CFRs:

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... ..J [**~). ~**  •• ,..: '· 1. 91.9(b)(2), 91.203(a) and (b): Carrying Aircraft'Fiight Mc.·nu·ai, Certification and Registration in the'•_;r - Aircraft · ., .. :· · J. I l • · !· · ,. · ·• ;, >'/

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.' . . Given the small size ofthe proposed UAS platforms, OSU requests thatthese materials ·be kept in-the vicinity ofthe ground control station during flight.

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..., .- · . l 2. 91.7(a): Civil Aircraft Airworthiness

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# . . Meridian· UAS requests that .no Airworthiness Certificate be required

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..**~,** _. . r · 3. 91.9(c),45.23(b), and 45.27(a):**Aircratt.~arki_~** and**lde~tification Re_quire~ents**  ... . : . \' Meridian UAS requests that proposed platforms bear registration numbers that are as large as practical in accordapce**wit~:platf~r_m siz~...**  , , .·.:· -. , , ·:...·;. : •...,.. ..... : ·:-',.. , .: ._ . __;**~** • ··'·· .-. ' •. :. . :. :t.**:.:~** ....**~·** .•. ·: ::.:.· "'"; 4. 61.23(a) and (c), 61.113, 61.101(e)(4) an.d

### (S)~-61.315.:**Priv.~.te,.HecreationaLand ~poJ;t** **Pil~t** Medical Certificate, Privileges and Umitati91ls· · · : ... , · ·: . ·: :.·. ;·

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### ~ ·; .. ","': · ·: . . . . ·.-

.. ; •..**~** ...;**l'~ ·~**  • ·• .: .......**~** _\I.,
.. , ... f. • -. • • -· ·. · , . ·.... · .**~** ' ···-'**~** .. · . :. · - · :. ,· :.. · · . ·· ·,. . .:. ,. ·_r•·. . · Meridian UAS seeks an exemption froni these CFRs as they prevent private, recreationalorsport pilot.,. ·, ;'..

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certificate holders from receiving pay for piloting duties. The UAS platforms in this petition will not passengers or cargo, and the FAA has previously ruled (Exemption No. 11062) that a

### Co.mmer~i~l Pil Certificate is:·not'require(J:for UAS operations out.5ide 

### of controlled i:i'irspace. :. · ..,.,,, .- : :.: ._,. ' ·:··.;, .. ;, 5. 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2); 91.417(a) and (b): Maintenance Inspections Meridian UAS seeks exemptions to these CFRs as they are intended for aircraft that have an airworthiness certificate. Meridian UAS will ensure that all UAS platforms and components have an adequate maintenance and inspection schedule. 6. 91.121: Altimeter Settings Meridian UAS seeks an exemption from the requirement that a pilot maintains aflight level through reference to an C!ltimeter. The FAA has previously stated that equivalent functionality can beach when flights occur at or below 400 feet AGL and when GPS elevation data can be transmitted in real timeto a ground control station, given that a PIC establishes GPS elevation accuracy on-the-ground r to every flight. 7. 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions Meridian UAS seeks an exemption from the requirement thatfuel reserves during VFR require that less than 30 minutes offuel be maintained duringthe day and 45 minutes duringthe night. Given th the platforms in this petition generally have a 30 minute or less flight time, no meaningful flights occur under91.151(a). Exemption No. 11213 determined that an equivalent level ofsafety is evident UAS flights wherethe operational flight time can be achieved with an additional five minutes offlig time being available in fuel reserves.



### Please feel free to contact our office should you have any additional questions or comments. Thank you foryour cooperation with this matter. Sincerely, Michael Wing

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