JeffFlanaganOspreyAeronautics,dbaPOBox4281FortEustis,VA23604-0281jdf671@gmail.comJuly14,2015USDepartmentofTransportationDocketManagementSystem1200NewJerseyAve.SEWashington,DC20590Re:ExemptionRequestPursuanttoSection333oftheFAAReformActandPart11oftheFederalAviationRegulationsfrom:14CFRPart21;14CFR45.29(b)(3);14CFR91.29(b)(3);14CFR91.9(b)(2);14CFR91.121;14CFR91.151(a)(1)and14CFR91.405.DearDirector,FlightStandardsServiceInaccordancewithSection333oftheModernizationandReformActof2012and14CFR,Part11,JeffFlanagan,dbaOspreyAeronauticssubmitsthispetitionforexemptionfromtheseveralFARs,asnotedinAppendixAofthisletterinordertobegincommercialoperationsusingsUASintheNationalAirspacegovernedbytheFAA.OspreyAeronauticswishestobeginmarketresearchonandbegincommercialoperationsinthefollowingareas:-AerialInspectionofStructures-RealEstatePhotography-GeneralPhotography-SpecialEvents-AerialSecurityObservation-AddingLocalPolice&FireDepartmentSearch&RescueOperations-Environmental&ShorelineErosionObservation-Agriculture-SurveyingPublicBenefit.Beinginthepublicinterest,anapprovedexemptionwouldpermitOspreyAeronauticstoconductmarketresearchinoneormoreoftheabovelistedoperationalareas,establishasmallbusinessandinitiatecommercialflightoperations;theabilitytoofferservicestoaidlocalcityandcountygovernments;tointroducesUASaircrafttothepublicinordertoeducateandinformthecommunity;todemonstrate1sUAScapabilities,tobuildtrust,andtocreatefamiliaritywithsUASoperatingsafelywithinNationalAirspacewhichhastodateonlybeenoccupiedbymannedaviationassets.AircraftthatOspreyAeronauticsintendstoflyinclude*:DJI:-Phantom3-Inspire1-S90030Robotics:-Iris+-Solo*Note.TheseaircrafthavepreviousapprovalsasdocumentedinExemptionNumbers:11925,11976,11859,11861,11969and11935.Safety.ThesesUASweighlessthan55pounds,includingthepayload(i.e.camera,lens,andgimbal).Theyoperateatspeedsofnomorethan50knots,canhover,andcansimultaneouslymoveverticallyandhorizontally.ThePilotInCommand(PIC)willonlyoperatethesUASsinlineofsightandwilloperateonlywithintherestrictionsasdescribedinpreviouslyapprovedCOAs.SuchoperationswillinsurethatthesUASwillnotcreateahazardtousersofthenationalairspacesystemorthepublic.Training.TheOspreyAeronauticsPIChasover27yearsexperienceinmilitaryhelicopterflightoperationsrangingfromthemaintenanceleveltoratedaviatorandPICofsingleanddualenginehelicopters.ThePICcurrentlyholdsanFAACommercialRotorcraft,Helicopter,InstrumentCertificateandaClass3FAAMedicalCertificate.ThePIChasreviewedpreviouslyapprovedSection333COAsandwillcomplywith,andiscapableofconductingflightoperationswithintheserestrictions.sUASpilottrainingwillconsistofthefollowingstagesandtopics*:1)GroundSchoolFlightwithinCOArestrictionsAirspaceandflightregulationsAircraftcontrollerandGUIRadiolinkAircraftOperatingLimitationsEmergencyProceduresviaflightsimulatorMaintenanceinspectionrequirements2)PrimaryFlightInstructionPre-FlightInspectionVisualObserver(VO)BriefingandCustomerFlightTasksw/GPS2AfterLandingTasksPostFlightInspectionandDe-BriefEmergencyProcedures,SimulatedLossofPowerLostLinkReturntoHomeFunction(Homebutton)3)AdvancedFlightInstructionAircraftcontrolw/outGPSFreeFlightCameraandGimbalOperationUsingtheaircraftandcameraasaPhotographyNideographysystem4)ThreePracticePictureNideosessionswillbesuccessfullycompletedbycandidatePICpriortograduation.*Note.Atthistimethesestagesandtopicsaregeneralandwillbedevelopedintomoredetailedinstructionasexperienceinflightoperationsisobtained.Inregardstoprivacy,allflightswilloccuroverprivate,city,countyorcontrolledaccessareaswiththepropertyowner'spriorconsent.Recognizableimageswillonlyberecordedofpeoplewhohavegiventheirconsentorotherwisehaveagreedtobeintheareawhereactiveimageacquisitionwilltakeplace.Enclosures:AppendixA:14CFRSectionsforExemptionandEquivalentLevelsofSafety.AppendixB:SummeryforFederalRegistry3AppendixASpecificsectionsof14CFRfromwhichOspreyAeronauticsseeksexemption:1)Part21,Certificationproceduresforproductsandparts,SubpartH-AirworthinessCertificates.a.IrequestreliefinaccordancewithpreviouslyapprovedpetitionswhichconcludedthattheaircraftrequestedinthepetitionmeetthestatutorycriteriaprovidedinSection333.b.Publicsafetywillnotbejeopardizedduetothesize,weightandpower(SWAP)oftheseaircraftandtheirmanufacture'sdesignedinherentsafetyfeatures.2)45.29(b)(3),Sizeofmarks.a.Reliefisrequestedinthatduetothesmallsizeoftheaircraftinthispetition,thesection's12-inchletteringforrotorcraftrequirementwillnotfitonanysurfaceofthesUAS.InsteaditisrecommendedthattheN-numberwillbedisplayedinthelargestfontsizepermittedbythesUASstructureandfuselage.b.Noadverseeffectonsafetyisanticipatedandtheintentofthesectionwillbefulfilled.3)91.7(a),Aircraftairworthiness.a.TheaircraftinthispetitionaresUASandhavenotbeensubmittedtotheFAAaircraftairworthinessstandards.Relieffromthisrequirementisrequestedandisevidentthattheaircrafthavedemonstratedtheirairworthinessfromcurrentmanufacturingstandardsandhistory.Additionally,theaircraftinthispetitionhavereceivedexemptionfromSection333,perExemptionNo.:11925,11976,11400(DJIPhantom3,Inspire1&S900),11859,11861(3DRIris+),11935(3DRSolo).b.Anequivalentlevelofsafetyisensuredbyfollowingthemanufacture'soperation/maintenancemanual,pre-flightinspectionsandmaintenanceinspectionsaslistedbelowinparagraph7.4)91.9(b)(2),Civilaircraftflightmanual,markingandplacardrequirement.a)Reliefissoughtfromplacingtheflightmanualintheaircraft,buttoco-locatetheflightmanualnearthehand-heldflightcontroldevice.Theintentofthesectionistoprovideforin-flightreferencetotheflightmanual,andthissameabilitybytheaircraftPilotinCommand(PIC)ofthesUAS,ontheground,willbeensuredbyitslocationneartheflightcontroller.Additionally,sUASaresoftware(SW)centricandamajorityofthePICrequiredin-flightperformancedataandemergencyproceduresareviewableonlybyinterfacingwiththeGraphicUserInterface(GUI)4ontheflightcontrollerscreen.b)AnequivalentorsuperiorlevelofsafetyisachievedbytheabilityoftheseSWcontrolledaircrafttoholdahover,hands-off,andwitha"Returntohome"commandwith asinglepushofabutton,allowingthePICtheabilitytoconsulttheflightmanualorinteractwiththecontrollerGUIwithareducedneedtomaintainconstanthandsoncontroloftheaircraft.5)91.121,Altimetersetting.a.ReliefissoughtfromthisrequirementtosetcruisingaltitudeorflightlevelbyreferenceofanaltimeterasthesUASinthispetitionareGPSpositionandaltitudeinitiatedontheground,withnoonboardradiopresent,thereforethecurrentlocation'sGPSaltitude(ineffect,thelocalairfieldaltitude)issetpriortoflightandthesUASarerestrictedviaSWtonohigheraltitudethen400feet;sUASwillnotbeconductingcrosscountryflights,butinessencewillbeconductinginandoutofgroundeffecthoveringoperations.b.Noincreasedrisktopublicsafetyisincurredasallparticipatingaircraftatlowaltitudesshouldbeconcernedwithobstacleavoidanceandusingprescribedvisualscanstoavoidtraffic.6)91.151(a)(1),FuelrequirementsforflightinVFRconditions.a.Reliefissoughtfortherequirementofa30minutefuel(Batterypower)reserve.ThesUASinthispetitionarebatterypoweredandhavecurrentbatterylevelindicationspresentonthecontrollerscreens,alsotheseaircraftareSWcontrolledandhavemanufacturermandatedautomatic"Returntohome"commandswhenminimumbatterypowerisreached.Intentofthissectionistoallowamannedaircrafttimetoreachanairport/heliportforasuccessfullanding,howeverwiththesmallsizeoftheseaircraft,alowbatteryinducedlandingmaybesuccessfullyachievedinnearlyanyopenareaofonlyseveralfeetindiameter.b.Anequivalentorsuperiorlevelofsafetywillbeachievedbythemanufacture'sSWrequiringanautomaticreturntotake-offpointuponreachingalowbatterylevelifthePICfailstoact,alsothattheaircraftinthispetitionhavetheabilitytolandnearlyanywherewithoutdisruptingotherlocalflightoperations,interferingwithgroundtrafficorendangeringhumanlife.7)91.405,91.407,91.409and91.417,Maintenancerequired,InspectionsandRecords.a.Reliefissoughtfromthissection'smaintenancerequirementforhavingFAAcertifiedrepairmanconductaircraftinspectionsandcertifiedaircraftrepairs.TheaircraftinthispetitionaremechanicallysimpleandlightweightandminorrepairsarecapableofbeingperformedbythePIC/aircraftowner.Softwareandfirmware5updateswillbedownloadedperthemanufacture'swebsiteandmajorrepairsmaybeperformedbythemanufacturer'swarrantyserviceorothersUASrepairfacilityastheybecomeavailable.b.Anequivalentorsuperiorlevelofsafetywillbeachievedduetothequicknessofrepair,lowcostofrepairactionsandfreeSWupdatesprovidedbythemanufacturesensuringthatthelatesttechnologyimprovementsforsafetyandreliabilityareincorporatedintothesesUAS.Adherencetothemanufacturesmaintenancemanualwillensureproperaircraftoperationsandincasesofpoorlywrittenmanuals,thedesignatedPICwillperformapre-flight,thru-flightand/orpostflightinspection,alsoadesignatedPICormaintainerwillperformthefollowing:amonthlymechanicalinspection,corrosioninspectionandaircraftcleaning(Aircraftwash),andevery365-daysacomprehensivemechanicalinspection.6Appendix8SummeryforpublishingintheFederalRegistryInaccordancewithSection333oftheModernizationandReformActof2012and14CFR,Part11,OspreyAeronauticshassubmittedapetitionforexemptionfromthefollowingCFRsinordertobegincommercialoperationsusingsUASintheNationalAirspacegovernedbytheFAA:14CFRPart21;14CFR45.29(b)(3);14CFR91.29(b)(3);14CFR91.9(b)(2);14CFR91.121;14CFR91.151(a)(1)and14CFR91.405.Benefitingthepublicinterest,anapprovedexemptionwouldpermitOspreyAeronauticstoconductcommercialflightoperationsusingsUASwhichwillprovideforestablishingasmallbusinessopportunity;theabilitytoofferservicestoaidlocalcityandcountygovernments;andtointroducesUASaircrafttothepublicinordertoeducateandinformthecommunityoflocallymannedaviationoperationshowsUAScansafelyinteractwiththemintheNationalAirspace.7