UNITED STATES O F AME RICA D EPARTME NT O F TRA NS PORT ATION FEDERAL AV IAT I ON ADMIN I S TRATI ON W ASHINGTON , D C



### IN THE MATT E R OF THE P ETITION FOR EXEMPTION OF: 

# JDS Design Concepts Media
FOR AN E XEMPTION SEEKING RELIEF FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF TITLE 14 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS SECTIONS 61.113(a) & 

### (b) , 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(l), 91.409(a)( J) & 

### (a)(2) , AND 

### 91.417(a) & 

### (b) CONCERN IN G COMM E RCIAL OPERATION OF DJI PHANTOM +UN MANNED 

### A IR CRAFT SYSTEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 333 OF THE FAA MODERNIZATION AND RE FORM ACT OF 2012 CPUBLIC LAW 112 -95)

Subm itted on 

### Sept 15, 2015 JDS D es ign Concepts Media Joseph Simpson 114 Ocatahoula Rd Lafayette , Loui s iana 

### 70 50 I 33 7-344- 11 06 jd s26 9 @. gmail. co mTABLE OF CONTENTS Pa ge GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS
................................................ . ... . ... . .... . ... .. . ... ...... .. . 3 SUMMARY
............... . .. .... .. . ... . .. ... ........................................................... .. ... . ... .. ... . .... . .. .. .. . 4 INT RODUCTION AND INTERESTS OF PETITIONER
................ . .... . ....... .. ... . .. ... ........ .4 BACKGROUND
......... . . ... ....... . ................. . ................................. . ....... .. ... . ... . .... . ... . .... . .. .. ... .5 BASIS FOR P ETITION
.................. ... ... . ... . .... . .. .. ...... . ........................................................ 5 N AME AND ADDR E SS OF PETITIONER
.. . ...... . .. .. .. . .... . .. .. ... . ... . .... . ... .. .. .. ... . .. .. . 8 THE SPECIFIC S ECTIONS OF 14 C.F
. R. FROM WHICH IDS D e sign Concepts M edia S EEKS EXEMPTION
.......................................... . ... .. .. . ........ . ............ . ... .. .. .. ....... . . 8 THE EXTENT OF RELI E F JDS Design Concepts Media S EEKS AND THE REASON IDS Design Concepts Media SEEKS THE RELIEF
......................... 11 T H E REASONS WHY GRANTING IDS D esign Concepts Media REQUEST WOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST
. ...... .. .... . ... . ... . ................................................. 15 THE REASONS WHY GRANTING THE EXE MPTION WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT SAFETY
................... . ... . ... .. .. .. ...... . ...... .. .. . ... . ........................................... l9 SUMMARY THAT CAN BE PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER
. . ... 35 CONCLUSION
. ... . .................................................. . ... . ... . .. . ....... . ... . ... .. ... . ............. . . ... .. . ...... 35 EXHIBITS
....... . .. . . . ... .. .. . .. . .............. . ........................ . .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . . .. .. . .. . . . . 3 6

2AGL AOI ATC ATO AV CFR COA FAA FAR GCS GPS LOL NAS NOT AM PI C Sect i on 333 SOP UA UAS VFR VLOS VMC VTOL GL O SS ARY O F ABBREVIATIO NS Above Ground Level Area oflnterest Air Traffic Control Air Traffic Organ i zation Aerial Vehicle Code of fede r al Regulat i ons Certificate of Authorization Federal Av i at i

o n Administrat i on Federal Av i at i

on Regulation Ground Control Stat i on G l

obal Pos i tion ing System Loss of Link National Airspace System Not i ce to Ai rman Pi l ot l n Command FAA Modern ization and Reform Act of2012 (FMRA) Section 333 SO Safety Observer Standard Operating Procedures Unmanned A i rcraft U

n manned Aircraft System Visual Flight Rules Visual Line of Site Visual Meteorologica l Conditions Vert i cal Takeoff and Landing
3SUMMARY IDS Design Concepts Media seeks an exe mptio n from the requirements of 14 C.F.R 

### §§

61.113(a) & (b) , 9 1.7 (a), 91.121 , 9 1.15l (b) , 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2) , and 9 1 .417(a) & (b) , to operate an Unmanned A ircraft System pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modern ization and Reform Act of2012 (FMRA)
. This exemptio n w ill permit ID S Design Co n cepts Med i a to operate an Unmanned A ircraft Syste m (UAS) for the co mm er c ia l purpose of conductin g aerial v ideo and photography of construction s ites , real es tate , Non

Profit and othe r co mmunity special pub li c/ private events in and aro und Lafayette , Louisiana
.
INTRODUCTION AND INTERESTS OF THE P ET ITIO NER JDS Design Co ncepts Meclia wi ll prov ides its commerc ia l clients with affordab le highest qua li ty digital co nt e nt for use in their commercia l , personal , and o ther pho t ography related projects. JDS 

### Design Concepts Media will 

### a l so provide s the community a nd Non-P rofi t organization our serv ices fo r no charge as a w ay of giv in g ba ck to the comm uni ty. ID S Des ign Co n cepts Meclia is a seaso ned expe ri enced leader in unmanned aerial video photo graphy wi th over 10 years recreatio nal/hobby exp er ience in all aspec t s ofRC Airc raft, Quadcopters and othe r s ma ll UAS ' s. T he objective of ID S Design Co ncepts Media aerial video and photography operations is to prov ide high quality imaging fo r a variety of co mm erc ia l , pub li c, and residential u ses , spec i fica ll y targetin g:
• Aer i al Real Estate photograp h y • Aerial Real Estate Video
• Free Services to Non-Profit and Community Organizations
• Aerial Photography and Video for Publi c 

### I Private Eve n ts 4BACKGROUND Unmanned Aircraft Systems: DJI Phantom 3 IDS Design Concepts Media seeks an exemption to operate DJI systems for compensation or hire w ithin the NAS. The DJI Phantom 3 is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) U nmanned Aircraft (UA) with a Ground Control Station (GCS) utili z ing electron i c tablet or smart phone systems. The DJI Phantom 3 has a maximum gross weight of approximate l y 2 pounds 11 ounces , while having a length of 16 inches width of 16 inches , height of 8 inches , and a maximum s peed of approximate l y 29 knots. The DJJ Phantom 3 U AS is equipped with four main rotors ; drive n by Lithium Polymer battery that power 4 electric motors. The DJI Phantom 3 UAS that will be operated by IDS Design Concepts Media
will be r egiste red in accordance with 49 U
. S.C. 44103 , 

### Regis tration of Aircraji, as well
as 14 C.F.R Part 47 , 

### Aircraft Registrati on, and marked in accordance with 14 C.F.R. Part 45, 

### Id entification and Registration Marking.
BASIS FOR PETITION Petitioner , JDS Design Concepts Media Owner / Operator pursuant t o the provi s ions ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations ( 14 C.F.R. 

### § 11.61 ) and th e FAA Moderni zation and Reform Act of2012 (FMRA) , Section 333, 

### Special Rul esfo r Ce rtain U

nmanne d Aircraft Systems , hereby petitions the Admini s trator to comm ercially operate the DJI Phantom 3 UAS in th e National Airspace System (NAS) , and for an exempti on from the re quirements of 14 C.F.R §§ 61.113(a) & (b) , 91.7(a) , 91.121, 91.151 (b) , 91.405(a) , 91.407(a)(l) , 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2) , and 91.417(a) & (b) ln consideration of the speed , we i ght , s ize , and limite d operat in g a rea associated with t he unmanned a ircraft and its operation , JDS Design Concepts Media owner / op eration of DJI 5Phantom 3 UAS mee t s th e conditions of FMRA Se ction 333 and therefo re , will not
re quire an airworthin ess certifi cate in accordance w ith 14 C.F.R. Part 2 1 , S ubpart H. Accordingly , IDS D es ign Concepts Me d ia re quests relief from Sections 9 1.40 5(a), 91.407(a)(l) , 91.409(a)(l) & (a)(2) , and 91.417(a) & (b ) , as these sec ti o n s set fort h
requ irements for m a inte nance that only apply to a irc raft with an airworth iness ce rtificate. JD S Design Concepts Media s ubmits that the r eq ue ste d relief is proper s in ce an equivale nt l e ve l of safety will a lway s be ens ured (see Ex hibit D)
.. IDS Design Concepts Media will u se li ce n se d technicians or the manufacturer s serv ice ce nter s to perform m a int e na nce , a lte ration s, o r preven ti ve m a intenan ce on th e UASs u sing th e method s, t echn iqu es , and practices pre scri bed in th e operating d oc um ents ( i .e. , Monthl y Mainte nance Log, and DJI Phantom 3 In st ru ction M a nua l). Furth e rmore , JD S Des ign Concepts M edi a will docum e nt and maintain all mainte nance record s for th e DJI Phantom 3 UAS. Re li ef from ce rt a in requirements of Section 61. 1 13 (a) and (b ) , e ntitled Privat e pilot pri vileges and lim ilations: Pilot in command , is requ este d b y IDS Design Co nce pts Media to the exte nt nece ssa r y to a ll ow a Pilot in Co mmand ( PIC ) holdin g a pri vate pil o t o r hi gh e r leve l certificate, as well a s an a irman m edical certi ficat e, and who has d e mon s trated , by
me e ting m i nimum fli gh t- hour and c urr e nc y r e quire ments , that the PIC i s ab le to sa fel y operate the DJI Phantom 3 UAS in a manner consistent w ith this exe mpti on , in cluding evasive and emerge ncy maneuver s and m ainta inin g a ppropriat e di s tan ces f rom people,
vesse l s, vehicles and s tru c tures . ID S D es i g n Co nce pts Media see ks relief from Section 91.7(a) , e nti t led Ci v il air c ra ft ain1 1 0rthine ss , because the DJI Phantom 3 UAS do not require an a irworthine ss certificate in accordance w ith 14 C.F. R
. P a rt 2 1 , Subpart H. As s uch , IDS D es ign C oncep t s Media
. .. .. . ... . 6submits that it w ill ens ure that the OJI Phantom 3 UAS a re in an a i rworth y cond iti o n , prior to every fl i ght , by determining that the UASs are in compliance with the operating documents ( i .e., Monthly Maintenance Log, and DJI Phantom 3 Instruction Manual) , and that the aircraft are in a conditio n fo r safe fli ght. 

### IDS D esign Concepts Media also seeks an exemptio n from the requirements of Sectio n

91.121, e ntitled 

### A ltim eter Sellings, as the DJI Phantom 3 UA w ill not have a typ i cal barometric altim eter o nb oard. However, a ltitude information of the DJI Phantom 3 UA
w ill be provided to the PIC vi a Global Positioning System (GPS) equ i pment and radio communications telemetry data link , w hi c h downlinks from the UA to the GCS for active monitorin g of the fli g ht path. T his altitude information, combined w ith 

### IDS D esign Concepts Med ia's operation of the DJI Phantom 3 UAS w ith in vis u al l ine of s ight, at or below 400 feet AGL, wi ll e n s ure a leve l of safety equ iva le nt to Sect ion 9 1.1 21 a nd our additional safet y requirements as outlined in Exhibit D
.. Addit ionall y, JDS Design Co ncepts Med ia seeks an exemption from the requireme nt s of Section 91.151(b) , entitled 

### Fuel requirements/or flight in VFR
conditions. 

### IDS D es ign Concepts Media s u bm it s that safety wi ll not b e affected by operation of the DJI Phantom 3 UA during daylight hours in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) under v isual fl ig ht r ul es (VFR), with e no ug h battery power to fly for a 

### total duration of approx im ate l y 13.5 minu tes to the first point of intended landing and , ass u ming normal cruising speed, to fl y after that for at least 4.5 minu tes. In accordance with 14 C.P .R. 

### § 11.81 , 

### ID S De s i gn Concepts Media provides the fo ll ow in g in formati on in support of it s petition for exe mption:

7

### A. Name and Address of The Petitioner. The name and address of the Petitioner and point of contact is as follows: IDS Design Concepts Media Joseph S imp son 114 Ocatahou la Rd Lafayette , Louisiana 70501 Ema il: jd s2 69 @ gmail.com Phone: (337)344-ll 06 

### B. The Specific Sections Of 14 C.F.R. From Which JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks Exemption. 1. JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks Exemption From The Requirements Of Section 61.113(a) And (b). Section 61. 11 3, entit l ed Private pilot privi l eges and limitations: Pilot in command , subsectio ns (a) and (b) prescribe t he follow in g , in r e levant part : (a) No person who ho ld s a private pilot ce rtifi cate may act as a pilo t 

### in command (P I C) of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or prop erty for compensation or hire; nor may that person , for compensation or hire, act as PIC of an a irc raft
. ( b ) A private pilot may, for compensation or hire , act as PIC of an aircraft in connection wi th any business or e mploym ent if- (I) T h e flight is only incidental to that business or emp lo yment; and (2) The a ircraft does not carry passengers or property for compensation or hire. 

### 2. JDS Design Concepts M edia Seeks Exemption F rom The Requirements Of Section 91.7(a)
. Section 91.7, entitl e d Civil aircraft airworthiness, s ub section (a) , states the fo ll owing: (a) No person m ay ope rate a c ivi l aircraft unless i t is in an a irworthy condition. 

### 3. JDS Design Concepts Media Exemption From The Requirements Of Section 91.121. Section 9 1.1 2 1 , entitle d Altimeter setti ngs , s ub section (a) , states the following , in part : 8(a) Each person operating an aircraft shall maintain the cruising altitude or flight l evel of that aircraft , as the case may be, by reference to an altimeter that is set, when operating-- (1) Below 18 , 000 feet MSL, to-- ( i

) The current reported altimeter settin g of a station along the route and with in 1 00 nautical miles of the aircraft; (i i

) there is no station within the area prescribed in paragraph (a)( l )(i) of

this sectio n , the current reported altimeter setting of an appropriate available stat ion; or (iii) the case of an aircraft not eq uipp ed with a radio , the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting availab le b e fore departure. 

### 4. JDS Design Concepts Media Exemption From The Requirements Of Section 91.151(b). Section 91.15 1 , entitled Fuel requirements/or flight in VFR conditions, subsection (b) , states the following: (b) No person may begin a flight in a rotorcraft under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel tofl y to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed , to fly after that for at least 20 minutes. 

### 5. Exe mption From The Requirement Of Section 91.40S(a). Section 91.405 , entitled Maintenance required , subsection (a) , states the fo ll owing: Each owner or operator of an aircraft- (a) Shall have that a ircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shal l between required inspections , except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section , have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter [ .] 

### 6. JDS Design Concepts Media Exemption From The Requirements Of Section 91.407(a)(l) Section 91.407, entitled Operation after maintenance, preventive maintenance, re building, or alteration, 

### subsection (a)(l), states the following: 9(a) No person ma y operate any aircraft that has und e rgo ne mainte nanc e, preventive mainte nanc e, reb uilding , or alteration unless -- ( 1 ) It h as been ap prove d fo r re turn to service b y a p erson a uth o ri zed under§ 43.7 ofthis chapter(.] 

### 7 JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks Exemption From The Requirements Of Sections 91.409(a)(l) And 91.409(a)(2). Sect ion 91.409 , entitle d Inspections , s ub section (a), states the following: (a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of thi s section , no person ma y ope rate a n aircraft unl ess, within the pr ecedin g 12 ca lendar month s, it h as had

- - ( 1 ) An annual in spec ti o n in accordance with part 4 3 of thi s chapter and has been approved for r eturn to serv ic e by a person aut ho ri ze d b y§ 43.7 of this chapter; or (2) An in spec tion for the i ss uan ce of an airworthiness certificate in accordance with part 2 1 of this c hapte r. 

### 8 JDS Design Concepts Media Exemption From T he Requirements Of Sections 91.417(a) And 91.417(b). Secti on 9 1.417 , e ntitl ed Maintenance records, s ub sec tion s (a) and (b), sta te th e fo ll owing: (a) Except for work p erfo rmed in accordance with §§ 9 1.411 and 9 1.41 3, eac h registered owne r or operator s hall k eep the following reco rd s for the pe ri ods spec ifi ed in paragraph (b) of thi s sec ti o n: ( 1) R eco rd s of th e mai ntenance, preventive maintenance, and alteration and records of the 100-hour, a nnua l, progressive , an d other req uire d or ap pro ved in spections , as a ppropri ate, for each aircraft (including the a irfram e) and each e n gine , propeller , rotor, and ap pliance of an a ircraft. The records must inc lud e -- (i) A description (o r refe re nc e to data acceptab le to th e Adm ini strato r) of t he wo rk perfo rm ed; an d (ii) The d ate of co mpl e ti o n of th e work performed ; and (i ii) The signa ture, a nd certificate numb er of the person approving the airc r aft for return to service. 

### 10(2) Records containing th e following information : (i) The total time in service of the airframe, eac h engine, each propeller , and each rotor. (ii) The current status of life-limited part s of each airframe , engine , propeller, rotor, and appliance. ( iii ) The time since last overhaul of all items insta ll ed on the aircraft which are required to 

### be overhauled on a specifie d time basis. (iv) The current inspection status of the ai rcraft , includin g the time since the last inspection required by the inspection program under whic h the aircraft and its appliances are maintained. (v) The current status of applicable airworthi ness directives (AD) and safety directives including , for each , the method of comp liance, the AD or safety directive number and revision date. 

### If the AD or safety directive involves recurring action, the time and date when the next action is required. (vi) Copies of the forms prescr i bed by§ 43.9(d) of this chapter for each major alteration to the airframe and currently in sta ll ed e ngin es , r otors , propellers , and appliances. (b) The owner or operator s hall r etai n the following records for the p eriods prescribed: (1) The records specified in paragraph (a)(l) of this sectio n shal l be retained w1til the work is repeated or superseded by other work or for 1 year after the work is performed
. (2) The records specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section s hall be retained and transferred with the aircraft at the time the aircraft is sold. (3) A list of defects furnished to a registered owner or operator under§ 43.11 of this chapter shall be retained until the defects are repaired and the aircraft is approved for return to servic e. C. The Extent Of Relief JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks And The Reason JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks The Relief
. 

### 1. Extent Of Relief JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks And The Reason JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks Relief From Section 61.113(a) And (b).

11Relief fro m Sec ti on 61.113(a) and (b) ent itled Private pilot privil eges and limit ations: Pilot in command, is requested t o the exte nt nece ssa ry to a ll ow a PIC ho ldin g a private pilot or hj g h e r leve l certificate , as we ll as a current and val id airm an m edical cert ificate, and w ho h as met certain flight-h ou r and currency requirement s, to co nduct the proposed UAS flight operat ions fo r comp e n sati on or hlre . This re l ief is requested sinc e th e limitatio n s set fo rth in Sec tion 61.113 (a) and (b)
s tate that a private pil ot may, for comp e n sa t ion o r hi re, act a s PIC of an a i rcraft in co nn ect ion wit h a n y bus i ness or e mp loyment if: ( 1) T he flight is only in c id e nta l to that bus in ess or e mploym e nt ; a nd (2) The aircraft doe s no t carry passe ngers or property fo r compensation o r hire. As se t forth more fully below , ID S D es ig n Co ncepts Medi a s ubmit s that an e quival ent leve l of safety w i ll b e maintaine d because no PIC will b e a ll owed to ope rat e the DJI Phantom 3 other than th e person li s ted as Joseph Simp so n , w h o ha s I 0+ years' expe rience in 

### RC N A V operation. 

### In a dd it io n all flights mu st full under th e safety guide lines ofExhjbit D , w ru c h will be upd ated as n ew FAA gu id el in es ta ke place. Further , JD S De s ign Concepts Media s ubm it s that al l fli g h ts of th e DJI Phantom 3 UAS, conducted by the PIC purs uant to t h e g r a nt of this Petition: (I) will be in c id e ntal to JD S D esign Co ncep ts Media business ; and (2) will not carry passenge rs, packages or p ropert y for co mp e n sation or rur e. 2
. Exte n t O f Re li ef ID S D es ign Co nce pts Media Seeks IDS D es ig n Co nce pts Medja Seeks Re li e f F r o m Sec ti on 91.7( a )
.



### 12Relief from Section 91.7(a) entitled 

### Civil aircraft airworthiness, is requested to the extent required to allow JDS Design Concepts Media to determine that the DJl Phantom 3 UAS are in airworthy condition prior to every flight by ensuring that the UAS is in compliance with the operating docum e nts (i.e., the JDS Design Concepts Media Aerial Operations Manual, Month l y Maintenance Log , and DJI Phantom 3 Instruction Manual). IDS Design Concepts Media seeks the requested relief because the DJI Phantom 3 UAS do not require an airworthiness certificate in accordance with 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H. Therefore , IDS Design Concepts Media w ill ensure that the DJI Phantom 3 UAS are in airworthy condition based upon its comp li ance with the operating documents (i
. e., Monthly Maintenance Log , and DJI Phantom 3 Instruction Manual) prior to every flight , and further , dete rmin e that the aircraft are in condition for safe flight , as stated in the cond itio n s and limi tations below. 3. Extent Of Relief JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks And The Reason JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks Relief From Section 91.121. Relief from Section 91.121 , entitled Altimeter settings, may be required to allow flight operations of the DJI Phantom 3 UAS, wh ich utilize a barometric pressure sensor, GPS equ i pment, and a radio communications telemetry data link to downlink altitude information from the UA to the PIC at the grotmd control station (GCS). Since the FAA require s that any a ltitud e information concerning UAS operations be reported to a ir traffic control (ATC) in feet above ground level (AGL), IDS Design Concepts Media seeks the requested relief because the DJI Phantom 3 UA's altimeter may be set on the ground to
zero feet AGL, rather than the local barometric pressure or field altitude, before each fli ght.

13Considering the limited altitude of the proposed operations, relief from 14 CFR 91.121 is sought to the extent necessary to comp ly with the applicable conditions and limitations sta t ed below. As more fully set forth herein , an equivalent l eve l of safety will be maintained since the DJJ Phantom 3 UAS are equ ipped with a barometric pressure sensor and GPS equipment , which automatically e nsures that a ground leve l pressure setting will be established prior to each flight , and provides the PIC with altitude information ofthe UA on the heads-up display of the GCS. 4. Extent Of Relief JDS Design Concepts Media Seeks And The JDS Design Concepts Media Relief From Section 91.151(b). Relief from Section 91.15l(b) entitled Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions , is requested to the extent req uired to allow flights of the battery powered DJI Phantom 3 UAS during daylight hours in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), under visual flight rules (VFR) , for a total duration of 13.5 minutes to the first point of intend ed landing and, assuming normal cruising s peed , to fly after that for at least 4.5 minutes. Horus Aerial Services seeks the requested r e li ef because without an exemption from Section 91.151 (b) , the flight time duration of the battery powered DJI Phantom 3 UA will
severe l y constrain the practicality of any aerial video or s till photo flight operations that Horus Aerial Services propo ses to conduct pursuant to thi s Petition. Significantly, as set forth below , the technical spec ifications of the DJI Phantom 3 UAS , the DJI Phantom 3 operating documents , and IDS Design Concepts Media proposed operating limitation s, ensure that IDS Design Concepts Media will safe ly operate the battery powered DJI Phantom 3 UAS during daylight hours in visual meteorological conditions (VMC), under visual flight rules (VFR) , with enough battery power to fly for a total duration of 13 .5 minutes to the fir st point of intended landin g and , assuming normal cruising speed, to fly after that for at lea st 4.5 minutes.