September 21, 2015

Exemption No. 12952

Regulatory Docket No. FAA−2015−2701

Mr. Don Herbert

FireFly Unmanned Imaging

74 South Holcomb Road

Clarkston, MI 48346

Dear Mr. Herbert:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our 

decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, 

including the date it ends.

By letter dated June 4, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of FireFly Unmanned Imaging (hereinafter petitioner or operator) for an exemption. 

The petitioner requested to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to conduct aerial 

photography and videography.

See Appendix A for the petition submitted to the FAA describing the proposed operations and 

the regulations that the petitioner seeks an exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the petitioner.

Airworthiness Certification

The UAS proposed by the petitioner is a DJI Phantom 3.
2

The petitioner requested relief from 14 CFR part 21, Certification procedures for products 

and parts, Subpart H—Airworthiness Certificates. In accordance with the statutory criteria 

provided in Section 333 of Public Law 112−95 in reference to 49 U.S.C. § 44704, and in 

consideration of the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the 

aircraft and its operation, the Secretary of Transportation has determined that this aircraft 

meets the conditions of Section 333. Therefore, the FAA finds that the requested relief from 

14 CFR part 21, Certification procedures for products and parts, Subpart H—Airworthiness 

Certificates, and any associated noise certification and testing requirements of part 36, is 

not necessary.

The Basis for Our Decision

You have requested to use a UAS for aerial data collection1. The FAA has issued grants of 

exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition. 

In Grants of Exemption Nos. 11062 to Astraeus Aerial (see Docket No. FAA−2014−0352), 

11109 to Clayco, Inc. (see Docket No. FAA−2014−0507), 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC (see

Docket No. FAA−2014−0382), and 11213 to Aeryon Labs, Inc. (see Docket No. 

FAA−2014−0642), the FAA found that the enhanced safety achieved using an unmanned 

aircraft (UA) with the specifications described by the petitioner and carrying no passengers or 

crew, rather than a manned aircraft of significantly greater proportions, carrying crew in 

addition to flammable fuel, gives the FAA good cause to find that the UAS operation enabled 

by this exemption is in the public interest.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that—

 They are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in Grant of 

Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and 11213;

 The reasons stated by the FAA for granting Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and 

11213 also apply to the situation you present; and 

 A grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

In consideration of the foregoing, I find that a grant of exemption is in the public interest. 

Therefore, pursuant to the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, and 44701, 

delegated to me by the Administrator, FireFly Unmanned Imaging is granted an exemption 

from 14 CFR §§ 61.23(a) and (c), 61.101(e)(4) and (5), 61.113(a), 61.315(a), 91.7(a), 

91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) 

 

1 Aerial data collection includes any remote sensing and measuring by an instrument(s) aboard the UA. 

Examples include imagery (photography, video, infrared, etc.), electronic measurement (precision surveying, RF 

analysis, etc.), chemical measurement (particulate measurement, etc.), or any other gathering of data by 

instruments aboard the UA.
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and (b), to the extent necessary to allow the petitioner to operate a UAS to perform aerial data 

collection. This exemption is subject to the conditions and limitations listed below.

Conditions and Limitations

In this grant of exemption, FireFly Unmanned Imaging is hereafter referred to as the operator.

Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be 

grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption.

1. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption are limited to the DJI Phantom 3

when weighing less than 55 pounds including payload. Proposed operations of any 

other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this exemption.

2. Operations for the purpose of closed-set motion picture and television filming are 

not permitted. 

3. The UA may not be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour). The 

exemption holder may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed to determine 

compliance with the 87 knot speed restriction. In no case will the UA be operated at 

airspeeds greater than the maximum UA operating airspeed recommended by the 

aircraft manufacturer.

4. The UA must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level 

(AGL). Altitude must be reported in feet AGL.

5. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. 

This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by any device other than 

corrective lenses, as specified on the PIC’s FAA-issued airman medical certificate or 

U.S. driver’s license.

6. All operations must utilize a visual observer (VO). The UA must be operated within 

the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC and VO at all times. The VO may be used 

to satisfy the VLOS requirement as long as the PIC always maintains VLOS 

capability. The VO and PIC must be able to communicate verbally at all times; 

electronic messaging or texting is not permitted during flight operations. The PIC 

must be designated before the flight and cannot transfer his or her designation for the 

duration of the flight. The PIC must ensure that the VO can perform the duties 

required of the VO.

7. This exemption and all documents needed to operate the UAS and conduct its 

operations in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this grant of 

exemption, are hereinafter referred to as the operating documents. The operating 

documents must be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the 
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Administrator upon request. If a discrepancy exists between the conditions and 

limitations in this exemption and the procedures outlined in the operating documents, 

the conditions and limitations herein take precedence and must be followed. 

Otherwise, the operator must follow the procedures as outlined in its operating 

documents. The operator may update or revise its operating documents. It is the 

operator’s responsibility to track such revisions and present updated and revised 

documents to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. The 

operator must also present updated and revised documents if it petitions for extension 

or amendment to this grant of exemption. If the operator determines that any update 

or revision would affect the basis upon which the FAA granted this exemption, then 

the operator must petition for an amendment to its grant of exemption. The FAA’s 

UAS Integration Office (AFS−80) may be contacted if questions arise regarding 

updates or revisions to the operating documents.

8. Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS operation 

or flight characteristics, e.g., replacement of a flight critical component, must undergo 

a functional test flight prior to conducting further operations under this exemption. 

Functional test flights may only be conducted by a PIC with a VO and must remain at 

least 500 feet from other people. The functional test flight must be conducted in such 

a manner so as to not pose an undue hazard to persons and property.

9. The operator is responsible for maintaining and inspecting the UAS to ensure that it is 

in a condition for safe operation.

10. Prior to each flight, the PIC must conduct a pre-flight inspection and determine the 

UAS is in a condition for safe flight. The pre-flight inspection must account for all 

potential discrepancies, e.g., inoperable components, items, or equipment. If the 

inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the UAS, the aircraft is 

prohibited from operating until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the 

UAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight.

11. The operator must follow the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, 

replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements for the aircraft and 

aircraft components.

12. Each UAS operated under this exemption must comply with all manufacturer 

safety bulletins.

13. Under this grant of exemption, a PIC must hold either an airline transport, 

commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC must also hold a 

current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a 

state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the Federal 

government. The PIC must also meet the flight review requirements specified in 

14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is rated on his or her pilot certificate.
5

14. The operator may not permit any PIC to operate unless the PIC demonstrates the 

ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be 

operated under this exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and 

maintaining appropriate distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and structures. PIC 

qualification flight hours and currency must be logged in a manner consistent with 

14 CFR § 61.51(b). Flights for the purposes of training the operator’s PICs and VOs 

(training, proficiency, and experience-building) and determining the PIC’s ability to 

safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated 

under this exemption are permitted under the terms of this exemption. However, 

training operations may only be conducted during dedicated training sessions. During 

training, proficiency, and experience-building flights, all persons not essential for 

flight operations are considered nonparticipants, and the PIC must operate the UA 

with appropriate distance from nonparticipants in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.119.

15. UAS operations may not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. All 

operations must be conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Flights 

under special visual flight rules (SVFR) are not authorized.

16. The UA may not operate within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point (ARP) as 

denoted in the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) or for airports not 

denoted with an ARP, the center of the airport symbol as denoted on the current 

FAA-published aeronautical chart, unless a letter of agreement with that airport’s 

management is obtained or otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption 

holder. The letter of agreement with the airport management must be made available 

to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request.

17. The UA may not be operated less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet 

horizontally from a cloud or when visibility is less than 3 statute miles from the PIC.

18. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UA must return to a 

pre-determined location within the private or controlled-access property.

19. The PIC must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.

20. The PIC is prohibited from beginning a flight unless (considering wind and forecast 

weather conditions) there is enough available power for the UA to conduct the 

intended operation and to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve 

power recommended by the manufacturer if greater.

21. Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). All 

operations shall be conducted in accordance with an ATO-issued COA. The 

exemption holder may apply for a new or amended COA if it intends to conduct 

operations that cannot be conducted under the terms of the attached COA.
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22. All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial 

number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification 

(N−Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. Markings must 

be as large as practicable.

23. Documents used by the operator to ensure the safe operation and flight of the UAS and 

any documents required under 14 CFR §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the 

PIC at the Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. 

These documents must be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement 

official upon request.

24. The UA must remain clear and give way to all manned aviation operations and 

activities at all times. 

25. The UAS may not be operated by the PIC from any moving device or vehicle. 

26. All Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet from all nonparticipating 

persons, vessels, vehicles, and structures unless:

a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect nonparticipating persons 

from the UA and/or debris in the event of an accident. The operator must ensure 

that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises 

where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of 

the UA, flight operations must cease immediately in a manner ensuring the safety 

of nonparticipating persons; and

b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission 

for operating closer to those objects and the PIC has made a safety assessment of 

the risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not 

present an undue hazard.

The PIC, VO, operator trainees or essential persons are not considered 

nonparticipating persons under this exemption.

27. All operations shall be conducted over private or controlled-access property with 

permission from the property owner/controller or authorized representative. 

Permission from property owner/controller or authorized representative will be 

obtained for each flight to be conducted.

28. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical 

boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA must be reported 

to the FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS−80) within 24 hours. Accidents must be 

reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions 

contained on the NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov.
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If this exemption permits operations for the purpose of closed-set motion picture and 

television filming and production, the following additional conditions and limitations apply.

29. The operator must have a motion picture and television operations manual (MPTOM) 

as documented in this grant of exemption.

30. At least 3 days before aerial filming, the operator of the UAS affected by this 

exemption must submit a written Plan of Activities to the local Flight Standards 

District Office (FSDO) with jurisdiction over the area of proposed filming. The 3-day 

notification may be waived with the concurrence of the FSDO. The plan of activities 

must include at least the following:

a. Dates and times for all flights;

b. Name and phone number of the operator for the UAS aerial filming conducted 

under this grant of exemption;

c. Name and phone number of the person responsible for the on-scene operation of 

the UAS;

d. Make, model, and serial or N−Number of UAS to be used;

e. Name and certificate number of UAS PICs involved in the aerial filming;

f. A statement that the operator has obtained permission from property owners 

and/or local officials to conduct the filming production event; the list of those 

who gave permission must be made available to the inspector upon request;

g. Signature of exemption holder or representative; and

h. A description of the flight activity, including maps or diagrams of any area, city, 

town, county, and/or state over which filming will be conducted and the altitudes 

essential to accomplish the operation.

31. Flight operations may be conducted closer than 500 feet from participating persons 

consenting to be involved and necessary for the filming production, as specified in the 

exemption holder’s MPTOM.

Unless otherwise specified in this grant of exemption, the UAS, the UAS PIC, and the UAS 

operations must comply with all applicable parts of 14 CFR including, but not limited to, 

parts 45, 47, 61, and 91.
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This exemption terminates on September 30, 2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosures
04 June 2015 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Management System 

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

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

and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, FireFly Unmanned Imaging, an operator of small Unmanned Aircraft 

Systems ("sUAS") equipped to conduct aerial photography and videography. 

As described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of small 

unmanned and relatively inexpensive sUAS under controlled conditions in airspace that is 1) 

limited 2) predetermined 3) controlled as to access and 4) would provide safety enhancements to 

the operational environment. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and 

fulfill the Secretary of Transportation's (the FAA Administrator's) responsibilities to "... establish 

requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system." 

The name and address of the applicant is: 

Don Herbert 

FireFly Unmanned Imaging 

74 S. Holcomb Road 

Clarkston, MI 48346 

Phone: (810)399-8974 

Email: fireflyuas@gmail.com 

Regulations from which the exemption is requested: 

14 CFR Part 21 

14 CFR 45.23(b) 

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b) 

14 CFR 91.7 (a) 

14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2) 

14 CFR 91.103 

14 CFR 91.109 

14 CFR 91.119 

14 CFR 91.121 

14 CFR 91.151 (a) 

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b) 

14 CFR 91.405 (a) 
14 CFR 407 (a) (1) 

14 CFR 409 (a) (2) 

14 CPR 417 (a) & (b) 

AUTHORITY FOR EXEMPTIONS 

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress' goal in passing Section 

333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of Transportation to 

consider whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace 

system (NAS) before completion of the rulemaking required under Section 332 of the Reform 

Act. In making this determination, the Secretary is required to determine which types of UASs 

do not create a hazard to users of the NAS or the public or pose a threat to national security in 

light of the following: 

• The UAS's size, weight, speed, and operational capability, 

• Operation of the UAS in close proximity to airports and populated areas; and 

• Operation of the UAS within visual line of sight of the operator. 

Reform Act Section 333 (a). Lastly, if the Secretary determines that such vehicles "may operate 

safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe 

operation of such aircraft in the national airspace system." Id Section 333(c). 

The Federal Aviation Act expressively grants the FAA the authority to issue exemptions. This 

statutory authority by its terms includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under 

section 40101 of the Act, that includes sUAS, from the requirement that civil aircraft must have a 

current airworthiness certificate. 

Applicant interprets this provision to place the duty on the Administrator not only process 

applicants for exemptions under section 333, but for the administrator to craft conditions for the 

safe operation of the sUAS, if it should be determined that the conditions set forth herein do not 

fulfill the statutory requirements for approval. 

The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation prescribed under 

subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702-44716 of this title if the Administrator 

find the exemption in the public interest. 49 U.S.C. Section 44701(f) see also 49 USC Section 

44711(a); 49 USC Section 44704; 14 CFR Section 91.203 (a) (1). 

The DJI Phantom 3(further described below) is a multirotor aircraft weighing 5 pounds, 

including payload. It has the ability to operate under normal conditions at a speed of no more 

than 30 knots and has the capability to hover and move in the vertical and horizontal plane 

simultaneously. The sUAS will operate only in the pilot's or visual observer's visual line of sight 

at all times, and includes automatic safety features. Such operations will insure that the sUAS 

will "not create a hazard to users of the national airspace system or the public." Reform Act 

Section 333(b). 
Given the small size of the sUAS involved and restricted sterile environment within which they 

will operate, the applicant falls squarely within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) 

in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of 

UASs to commence immediately. Also due to the size of the sUAS and the restricted areas in 

which the relevant sUAS will operate, approval of the application presents no national security 

issue. 

Given the clear direction in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority contained in the Federal 

Aviation Act, as amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed 

operations, and the significant public benefit, including enhanced safety, reduction in 

environmental impacts, including reduced emissions and chemical spills, exemptions associated 

with allowing UASs for agricultural operations, the grant of the requested exemptions is in the 

public interest. Accordingly, the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested 

exemption without delay. 

AIRCRAFT DESCRIPTION 

The sUAS that FireFly Unmanned Imaging proposes to use is the DJI Phantom 3. The Phantom 

3 is commonly referred to as a quadcopter (four independent motors and four rotors). The aircraft 

weighs less than three (3) pounds, including the attached camera and gimbal. The aircraft is 

powered electrically by a single 4480 mAh Intelligent Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery. With the 

LiPo battery inserted, the aircraft weighs less than five (5) pounds in total. 

The DJI Phantom 3 has an operational range of 2 km. The aircraft can be controlled by one of 

two ways; by radio control, or entirely by a touch-screen map based manufacturer developed 

interface (application). The latter means the pilot only need to command the sUAS where to go, 

and the system does all the flying for the operator. The DJI Phantom 3 can be operated in both 

semi and fully autonomous flight modes, with the operator simply plotting waypoints using 

manual or pre-designed flight patterns. In addition, the operator can create no-fly zones or 

maximum flight ranges and altitudes so the system cannot enter areas deerned unsafe or 

unnecessary to fly over. All flight operations of the specified aircraft are GPS controlled, 

including a Visual Positioning System (VPS) which works similarly to a radar altimeter, to 

indicate ground reference. 

The DJI Phantom 3 has two (2) primary operational safety features: 

• Auto-Return Home. When GPS is available, the aircraft remembers exactly where it took 

off from. A touch of a button, or a tap of an on-screen icon, activates this feature. 

• Failsafe. If the Intelligent LiPo battery is running low, or if the aircraft loses connection 

with the control system for any reason, the aircraft will automatically return to the take 

off point and land safely. 
Regardless of the means in which the aircraft is controlled, the aircraft will remain within the 

pilot's, or visual observer's, line of sight at all times. 

(Please see appendix A for additional pertinent aircraft information) 

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC REGULATIONS 

14 CFR Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness certificates 

Subpart H, establishes the procedural requirements for the issuance of airworthiness certificates 

as required by FAR §91.203(a)(1). Given the size and limited operating area associated with the 

aircraft to be utilized by FireFly Unmanned Imaging, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H 

meets the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the 

Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act (49 USC §44701(f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act 

both authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, 

upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability and proximity to airports 

and populated areas of the particular sUAS. In all cases, an analysis of these criteria 

demonstrates that the sUAS operated without an airworthiness certificate, in the restricted 

environment and under the conditions proposed, will be at least as safe, or safer, than a 

conventional aircraft operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and 

conditions proposed. 

14 CFR 45.23(b): Marking of the aircraft 

This regulation requires that certain experimental, provisionally certified aircraft, or light-sport 

category aircraft to be marked with letters between 2 inches and 6 inches high "limited", 

"restricted," "light-sport," "experimental," or "provisional," near each entrance to a cabin, 

cockpit or pilot station. Even though the sUAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an 

exemption may be needed as the sUAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station 

on which the word "Experimental" can be placed. Given the size of the sUAS, 2 inch lettering 

will be impossible. FireFly Unmanned Imaging will mark the sUAS with the organization's 

name, physical address, and pertinent contact methods. 

14 CFR 61.113(a) &(b): Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command 

Sections 61.113(a) and (b) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. Because the sUAS 

will not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can achieve the equivalent level of 

safety of current operations by requiring the pilot operating the aircraft to have completed a UAS 

flight training course of 100 hours before flying a sUAS. Unlike a conventional aircraft that 

carries the pilot and passengers, the sUAS is remotely controlled with no living thing or cargo on 

board. The area of operation is controlled and restricted, and all flights are planned and 

coordinated in advance as set forth in the User Guide. The risks associated with the operation of 

sUAS are so diminished from the level of risk associated with commercial operations 

contemplated by Part 61 when drafted, that allowing operations of the sUAS as requested 

exceeds the present level of safety achieved by 14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b). 
14 CFR 91.7(a): Civil aircraft airworthiness 

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy 

condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this 

exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. 

Given the size of the aircraft and the requirements contained in the User Guide for maintenance 

and use of safety checklists prior to each flight an equivalent level of safety will be provided. 

14 CFR 91.9(b)(2): Civil aircraft flight manual, marking and placard requirements 

The sUAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual 

on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because there is no room or 

capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be maintained 

by keeping the User Manual at the ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will 

have immediate access to it. 

14 CFR 91.103: Preflight action 

This regulation requires each pilot in command take certain actions before flight to ensure the 

safety of flight. An exemption is needed from this requirement as the pilot will take separate 

preflight actions, including checking for weather conditions, checking flight battery 

requirements, checking takeoff and landing distances, and all other actions in the User Guide and 

safety checklists. These actions will provide an equivalent level of safety. 

14 CFR 91.109: Flight instruction 

Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free 

balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has f -ully functioning dual 

controls. By design, sUAS and remotely piloted aircraft do not have fully functional dual 

controls. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with 

the aircraft via radio communications. The equivalent level of safety is provided by the fact that 

neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft, the ability to control the sUAS via 

radio signals from the controller and by the size and speed of the aircraft. 

14 CFR 91.119: Minimum safe altitudes 

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119(d) allows 

helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person operating 

the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. This 

exemption is for a multirotor craft that flies similarly to a helicopter, with vertical takeoff and 

vertical landing, which will typically operate at altitudes of 200 feet above ground level (AGL), 

so an exemption may be needed to allow such operations. The sUAS will never operate at 

altitude higher than 400 AGL and all operations will occur during daylight hours under Visual 

Meteorological Conditions (VMC) only. 
The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight and speed of the sUAS as 

well as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the permission of the 

property owner or local officials. Because advance notice to the property owner and any onsite 

personnel, as well as the precautions outlined below, all affected individuals will be aware of the 

planned flight operations. 

Flight operations will be conducted at least 500 feet from all non-participating persons (persons 

other than the pilot in command (PIC) or visual observer (VO)), vessels, vehicles and structures, 

unless: 

1.Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect non-participating persons 

from debris in the event of an accident. The PIC will ensure that non-participating 

persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises where non-participating 

persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the sUAS, flight operations will 

cease immediately and/or; 

2. The aircraft is operated near vessels, vehicles or structures where the land 

owner/controller has granted permission and the PIC has made a safety assessment of the 

risk of operating closer to those objects and; 

3. Operations near the PIC or VO do not present an undue hazard to the PIC or VO, per 

14 CFR 91.119(a). 

The sUAS will remain within visual line of sight of the PIC or VO. Flight operations will be 

conducted at least 5 miles from an airport and at least 3 miles from any city or densely populated 

area. The PIC or VO will provide notification to the local Flight Standards District Office and 

airport controller of all operations within 5 miles of an airport. The FAA will have advance 

notice of all operations through the filing of notices-to-airmen. 

Compared to flight operations with aircraft or rotorcraft weighing far more than the sUAS 

proposed herein and carrying flammable fuel, any risk associated with our operations is far less 

than those presently presented with helicopters and other conventional aircraft operating at or 

below 500 feet AGL. In addition, the low-altitude operations of the sUAS will ensure separation 

between these UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with 

Section 91.119. 

14 CFR 91.121: Altimeter Settings 

This regulation requires each person operating the aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by 

reference to an altimeter that is set "...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate 

altimeter setting available before departure." As the sUAS may not have a barometric altimeter, 

but instead a GPS and or VPS altitude read out, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent 

level of safety will be achieved by the PIC confirming the altitude of the launch site shown on 

the GPS altitude indicator before flight. 
14 CFR 91.151(a): Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions 

Section 91.151(a) outlines fuel requirements for beginning a flight in VFR conditions. Our sUAS 

is limited to operations in controlled environments and has a limited flight time which require an 

exemption from 14 CFR 91.151(a). The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 25 

minutes of powered flight. This would render the sUAS unable to meet the 30 minute reserve 

requirement in 14 CFR 91.151. Given the limitations on the sUAS proposed flight area and the 

location of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in 

daylight VFR conditions is reasonable. 

An equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 20 minutes, or enough battery 

reserve to ensure that the sUAS lands at the ground station with at least 20% of battery power (as 

determined by the onboard monitoring system and the PIC), whichever happens first. This 

restriction would be more than adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from 

anywhere in its limited operating area. 

14 CFR 91.203(a) &(b): Carrying civil aircraft certification and registration 

The sUAS has no cabin, cockpit or pilot station and is operated without an onboard pilot. 

Therefore, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to 

display them on the sUAS. 

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the ground control 

point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to them, to the extent they are 

applicable to the sUAS. 

14 CFR 91.405(a); 407(a)(1); 409(a)(2); 417(a) &(b): Maintenance inspections 

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner "shall have that aircraft inspected as 

prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in 

paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this 

chapter...," and others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. 

Given that these sections and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, 

these sections will not apply to FireFly Unmanned Imaging. Maintenance will be accomplished 

by the operator pursuant to the User Guide. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved 

because these sUAS are very limited in size and will carry a small payload and operate only in 

restricted areas for limited periods of time. If inechanical issues arise, the sUAS can land 

immediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL. As provided in the User 

Guide, the operator will ensure that the sUAS is in working order prior to initiating flight, 

perform required maintenance and keep a log of any maintenance performed. Moreover, the 

operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an 

airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety. 
PUBLIC INTEREST AND PRIVACY 

Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of sUASs for aerial photography and 

videography precede this request. Manned aircraft, performing these same essential functions, 

creates a greater risk because the craft are much larger, have combustible fuel, and carry an 

onboard human pilot. In contrast, a sUAS weighing 5 pounds, powered by batteries, and utilizing 

flight systems such as GPS, VPS, and Failsafe, eliminates virtually all of that risk given the 

reduced mass and lack of combustible fuel carried on board. The sUAS will carry no passengers 

or crew and, therefore, will not expose them to the risks associated with manned aircraft flights. 

All flights will be conducted with the authorization of the property owner, and then only at the 

direction of their designate, for the express purpose of commercial photographic and 

videographic production. Images, still and motion, are the property of the business owner and the 

release of any and all media, outside of the contract for service, will be subject to their written 

consent. No images, still or motion, of any person unwilling to sign a release, will be used in any 

media. No inadvertent images, still or motion, of persons unknowing, will be used in any media. 

EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY 

FireFly Unmanned Imaging proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft 

that have the characteristics and that operate within the limitations listed herein. These 

limitations provide for at least an equivalent or even higher level of safety to operations under 

the current regulatory structure because the proposed operations represent a safety enhancement 

to the already safe protocols followed by aerial survey operations conducted with helicopters and 

other conventional aircraft. FireFly Unmanned Imaging will be bound by the following 

limitations when conducting its sUAS operations under an FAA issued exemption: 

1. The sUAS will weigh less than 5 pounds. 

2. Be operated by an FAA certificated airman holding no less than a Private Pilot 

certificate. 

3. Flights will be operated within line of sight of a pilot and/or observer. 

4. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 25 minutes. Flights will 

be terminated at 20% battery power reserve. 

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

6. Flight operations will be conducted 5 miles from an airport and at least 3 miles from 

any city or densely populated area, which are depicted in yellow on VFR sectional charts. 

7. Flight operations within 5 miles of an airport require notification and approval from 

the local Flight Standards District Office and airport controller. 
8. Flight operations will occur during daylight hours and under visual meteorological 

conditions only. 

9. The FAA will have advance notice of all operations through the filing of notices to 

airmen (NOTAM). 

10. Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS pilot and visual observer. 

11. The pilot and visual observer will have been trained in the operation of the sUAS. 

12. The pilot and visual observer will at all times be able to communicate by voice 

and/or text. 

13. Written and/or oral permission from the relevant property holders will be obtained. 

14. Flight operations will be conducted at least 500 feet from all non-participating 

persons, vessels, vehicles and structures unless: a. Barriers or structures are present that 

sufficiently protect non-participating persons from debris in the event of an accident. The 

pilot will ensure that non-participating persons remain under such protection. If a 

situation arises where non-participating persons leave such protection and are within 500 

feet of the sUAS, flight operations will cease immediately and/or; b. The aircraft is 

operated near vessels, vehicles or structures where the land owner/controller has granted 

permission and the PIC has made a safety assessment of the risk of operating closer to 

those objects and; c. Operations near the pilot or visual observer do not present an undue 

hazard to the pilot or visual observer. 

15. If the sUAS loses communication or loses its GPS signal, the sUAS will 

automatically return to a safe, pre-determined location and land. 

16. The sUAS will have the capability to abort flight in case of unpredicted obstacles or 

emergencies. 

INDEMNITY 

FireFly Unmanned Imaging will maintain $2,500,000 of personal liability insurance coverage, 

and $25,000 medical coverage to include accidental death and disability ($10,000 death benefit). 
FEDERAL REGISTER SUMMARY 

Mr. Don Herbert, 74 S Holcomb Rd. Clar•kston, MI 48346, petitioned the FAA on behalf of 

FireFly Unmanned Imaging for an exemption from part 21 and §§ 45.23(b), 61.113(a) and (b), 

91.7(a), 91.9(b)(2), 91.103, 91.109, 91.119, 91.121, 91.151(a), 91.203(a) and (b), 91.405(a), 

407(a)(1), 409(a)(2), 417(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of the Federal Regulations (14 CFR). The 

exemption would allow commercial operation of the DJI Phantom 3 s UAS to conduct aerial 

photography and videography. 

Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 2012 — size, weight, 

speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation within 

visual line of sight and national security — provide more than adequate justification for the grant 

of the requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of FireFly Unmanned Imaging, 

sUAS for the above listed purposes. 

Respectful y submitted, 

Don Herbert 

FireFly Unmanned Imaging 

(Appendix A)