Date: Aug 8 th 2015

U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t i on

Do c k e t Man a g e ment S y s tem

1200 N e w J e rs e y Av e

., S E W a shin g ton, DC 20590

R e : P e t i t i on of Sky Aerial Productions, Inc.

, for a n E x e mp t ion P u rsu a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the F AA

Mod e rni z a t i on a nd Re f

o r m A c t of 2012

To W hom i t M a y Con c e r n:

P u r suant to S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e rni z a t i on a nd Re f o r m A c t of 20 1 2 ( " R e fo r m A c t " ) a nd 14 C. F .R.

P a rt 1 1, Sky Aerial Productions, Inc. (" Sky Aerial " ) h e r e b y a ppl i e s for a n e x e mp t ion f r om the F e d e r a l

A viation R e gulations ( " F

AR s " ) id e nt if

ied b e low t o a l l ow c om m e r c ial op e r a t i on of small unmann e d ae r i a l

vehi c les ( i.e., " small unm a nn e d a ir c r a f t " or " U A S " ) for the pu rpose o f c ondu c t i n g : ae r i a l videography,

photography of real estate , video inspection of residential, commercial and government structures

, news

gathering, surveying, farming operation monitoring, emergency search and rescue, fire and UAS training

operations.

This peti t ion for e x e m p t i on is created b a s e d on inf o rm a t i on out l ined in th i s Pe t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion, as

we ll a s but not limited to t h e se accompanying Sky Aerial documents ;

1. Sky Aerial’ s F l i g ht O p e r a t i ons Man ua l and;

2. Sky Aerial’ s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls

(c ol le c t i v e l y r e fe r

re d to as " Sky Aerial’ s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls" )

3. Us e r G uide

, F l i g ht Manu a l s and;

4. Us e r M a nu a l

(c ol lec t i v e l y r e f

e r r e d to as " M a nuf

a c tu r e r ' s Man u a l s " )

. 1

The Sky Aerial submi t s these as well as other Sky Aerial s u pporting mat e ri a ls as c o n fid e nt i a l

docum e nts pur s u a nt t o 14 C. F .R. § 11.35 ( b )

, a s the mat e ri a ls contain c onfid e nt i a l c o m m e r c ial a nd/or

p r o p ri e t a r y info r mat i on that the Sky Aerial h a s not a nd will not sh a re with o t h e rs. A ddi t ional l y , t h e se

do c u m e nts contain op e r a t i ng c ondi t ions and p r o ce du re s that a r e not g e n e r a l l y a v a i l a ble to the public a nd

a re pro t ec ted f

rom r e le a s e und e r the F r ee d o m of I n fo r mation A c t, 5 U.S. C

. § 552 e t seq.

1 T he te r m " Man u f

ac tu r e r 's Man ua l" a lso includ e s a ll r e lev a nt manu f ac tu r e r p ubli ca tions

, in c ludin g , but not

l i m i ted to: op e r a t i ons a n d f li g h t m a nu a ls

, us e r g ui d e s

, c ompon e n t m a int e n a n c e m a n u a ls

, pilo t tr a in i ng

man u a ls, s e rvi c e info r mation l e t t e rs a nd, s a f e t y /se r vi c e bul l e t i ns).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 2

T h is P e t i t i on is o r g a ni z e d a s follows:

I. P e ti t io n e r

II. D e s cr i p tion of P r o p os e d O p er a t io n s

A. Real Estate Video, Events, Surveying and Inspection

B. Farming Operations, Emergency Search and Rescue and Education

III. R e levant Sta t u to r y Au t h o r ity

IV. Sky Aerial’ s P r o p osed U A S O p er a t io n s Mee t t h e R e qu ir e m e n ts of S ec ti o n 333 of t h e R e f o r m A c t

A. App r ov a l i s W a r ra nted B a s e d on the U A S ' s S i z e

, W e i g ht, S p e e d, a nd Op e r a t i on a l C a p a bi l i t y

B

. App r ov a l i s W a r ra nted B a s e d on the O p e r a t i on a l R e strictions S e t F o r th i n the Op e r a t i ons Man u a l s

V. R e g u latio n s F r o m W h i c h Ex e m p tion i s Requested

A. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 21, Subp a rt H

– Air w o r th i n e ss C e r t ific a tes a nd 14 C. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) ( 1 )

B

. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 27 A irwo r th i n e ss S tand a rds: No r mal C a te g o r y Rotor c r a ft

C. 14 C. F .R. §§ 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23(b) a nd 45.27 ( a ): Ai r c r a ft M a rki n g a nd I d e nt i fi ca t i on Requir e m e nts

D. 14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ), 9 1.407 (a ) ( 1 ), 91

. 409(a) ( 1) a nd ( 2 ); 91.417 ( a ) a nd ( b ) : Mainten a n c e

I nspe c t i ons

E. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 61, 14 C. F .R. § 61.3, 14 C. F .R. § 61.113: P riv a te P i lot P rivile g e s and L i m i t a t i o n s

F

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.7 (a ): C i vil Air c r a ft Ai r wo r th i n e ss

G. 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2 ) : C iv i l Air c r a ft F l i g ht Man u a l i n the A ir c r a ft a nd 14 C. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd ( b ) :

C a rr y i n g Civ i l Air c raft Ce r t i fi ca t i on a nd R e g is t r a t i on

H. 14 C. F .R. § 91.103: P r e fli g ht A c t i on

I

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.109 (a ): F l i g ht I nstru c t i on

J

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.11 9 ( c ) : M in i mum S a fe Alt i tudes

K. 14 C. F .R. § 91.121: Al t i met e r Settin g s

L

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.151 (a ): Fuel R e quir e ments for F l i g ht i n V F R Condi t ions

VI. D r u g a n d Al c o h ol P r o g r a m

VII. P ub l i c I n t e re s t

VIII. P r iv a c y

IX. F e de r al R e gis t e r S u mm a r y

X. Concl u sionU.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 3

I. D E SCRI P T I O N O F P ET I T I O NER

B a s e d in Sharps Chapel, TN, the Sky Aerial is an ae ri a l videography, p hotography and inspection

production company d e dic a ted to p r ovid i ng te c hnol o g i c a l l y d r iven a nd innovative s olu t ions to the state

wide Real Estate and Television Industries for all types of property

. I ts foun de r

, Timothy Smythe has been

a model aircraft pilot since 1999 and has flown remote controlled aircraft for more than 16 years

. As p a rt of

the Sky Aerial’ s vis i on of pro v id i ng n e w a nd innovative technology driven solu t ions t o meet its cli e nt ' s

n e e d s

, a nd bui l ding upon i t s found e rs e x tensive experience in amateur aerial videography and photography

. Sky Aerial s ee ks an e x e mp t ion to allow for the c om m e r c ial op e r a t i ons of sm a ll 55 pounds or less with

payload U A S s to conduct; ae r i a l video photography for real estate , video inspection

- residential,

commercial and government

, video news gathering, events, surveying, inspection , farming operation s,

emergency search and rescue, fire and UAS training operations.

The c onta c t i n f

o rm a t i on f

o r Petitioner is as f

ol l o w s:

Timothy Smythe

P r e sident

Sky Aerial Productions, Inc.

159 Garfield Lane

Sharps Chapel, TN, 37866

P hon e : 561

- 254

- 1802

Email: tim@smythefl.net

II. D E SCRI P T I O N O F P R O P O S E D O P E RAT I O N

Sky Aerial s e e ks an e x e mp t ion pursu a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the Re f o r m A c t t o op e r a te the DJI Phantom

II , S800, I nspire 1 (“ SA

- UAS”) f o r the p r opos e d op e r a t i ons discuss e d b e low. U AS ope ra t i ons will oc c ur

und e r ti g ht l y c ontroll e d c ondi t ions on priv a te p r op e r t y wh e re Sky Aerial h a s r e c e ived p e rmission t o op e r a te

f r om t he lando w n e r, c ontroll e r o r a uthori z e d r e p re s e ntativ e s . The pro p osed U AS op e r a t i ons will be

c ondu c ted in a cc o r d a n c e with the c ondi t ions and lim i ta t ions of this P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion and Sky Aerial’ s

Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls. As d e tailed in Sky Aerial’s Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls, all U A S op e r a t i ons will be l i m i ted to

d a y t i me V F R c ondi t ion s , with i n visu a l l i ne

- o f

- s i g ht ( " V L OS " ) o f the op e r a tor, in uncont r ol l e d a irsp a c e

,

a nd will o cc ur a t l ea st 5 m i l e s a w a y f rom a n a irp o rt. Mo re ov e r, Sky Aerial’ s O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls

inco rpor a te r e dund a nt s a f e g u a rds to a ssu r e that the a ir c r a ft do e s not tr a v e l ou t side the c ontroll e d are a o f

U AS op e r a t i ons, in c lud i ng GPS "geo

- f e n c i ng" te c hnol o g ies.

A. Real Estate Video, Events, Surveying and Inspection

Sky Aerial s e e ks to use sm a ll U A S s for the pu rpose of c ondu c t i n g ae r i a l video photography of real

estate , video inspection of real estate and structures

, news gathering, events, surveying, farming operation s

, emergency search and rescue, fire and UAS training operations.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 4

Sky Aerial h a s t a i l o re d i t s op e r a t i ons to m ee t t he re qui r e ments e stablished b y t h e F A A in p r ior g ra nts of

e x e mp t i on s a uthori z ing c om m e r c ial use o f U AS i n the aerial video photography and inspections of real

estate indust r y , includi n g :

 Trudeau, Realtor® ( Exemption No. 11138 )

 Alon Sicherman ( Exemption No. 11728 )

 Sokoler Medley ( Exemption No. 11341 )

 Al a n D. Purwin (E x e mp t ion No. 11161)

 H e l i n e t Aviation S e rvi c e s

, LL C ( E x e mp t ion No. 11160)

UAS aerial video photography, inspection and data collection op e r a t i ons will be conducted on

p r i v a te p r op e r t y in a c ontrol l e d a re a

, a w a y f r om sp ec tators a nd p e r s ons not invo l v e d in t he aerial video

pho tography , inspections and data collection op e r a t i ons

. UAS operations will be c ondu c ted du r i n g d a y l i g h t

hours , V F R c ondi t ions, a t alt i tudes b e low 40 0 ' A G L

. As s e t fo r th below, Sky Aerial’ s op e r a t i ons pro v ide a

sup e rior l e v e l of sa fe t y and quality compared to p e r f o r m i n g the s a m e video wo r k using c onv e nt i on a l fi x e d

wing a i r c raft or h e l icopt e rs.

B. Farming Operations, Emergency Search and Rescue and Education

Sky Aerial seeks to use small UASs for the purpose of conducting aerial real estate video production,

farming

, commercial inspection services, search and rescue and education for the industry. Traditional methods

of video real estate production and inspection of residential, commercial and public structures, expose s video

producers and video inspectors to higher risks of serious injuries, or death. Videographers and i nspectors need

to climb roof tops or otherwise perform elevated work exposing them to the risk of dangerous falls,

electrocution or other work related extremes. In addition, depending on the nature of the real estate video and

inspection s , proximity to commercial equipment, and other mechanical hazards associated with commercial

construction and indust rial site facilities often involves a risk of exposure to many hazards . The use of small

UASs mitigates these hazards and is ultimately a much safer method of performing these and most other types

of video production and inspections.

Small UAS inspection is also safer than traditional manned aircraft performing the same function.

Conventional operations using rotorcraft and fixed

- wing aircraft in low level operations present risks associated

with vehicles weighing thousands of pounds and carrying passenge rs and large amounts of fuel. It is important

to note that the use of small UAS in this area will not only be safer and more cost effective, but the quality of

collected data and information is far superior.

Additionally, the Sky Aerial s e e ks to use its U A S s for the pu r pose as described, t r a di t ional methods of

performing such aerial performances expose participants to a high degree of uncalled for r isk, physical

h a rm or se r ious i nju r y and death

. Without the deployment of a UAS

, real estate agents

, inspectors, and

emergency personnel typically must cli m b ladder s , scaffolding and obstacles natural or manmade to setup

cameras, equipment and the like. The use of expensive airc raft , utility implements and other means for

accessing locations for video work decreases productivity and efficiency greatly and e x poses all personnel

t o a much greater r isk of loss of equipment, d a n g e rous f a l l s , electrocution and other work related extremes

.

T raditional video capture and visual inspe c t i o n may cause e x posure to many h a z a rds a ssoci a t e d with

commercial, industrial and c onstru c t i on si t e s. All such tasks can now be safely managed through the

adoption of UAS s

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 5

The use o f s m a ll U A S m i t i g a tes such h a z a rds a nd is ul t i m a te l y a much faster, s a f e r , higher quality and a far

less expensive m e thod of p e r f o rming the s e and other dangerous tasks

.

Conv e nt i on a l filming and inspection ope ra t i ons us i ng roto rc r a ft a nd fi x e d

- wing a ir c r a ft i n low le v e l

op e r a t i ons pr e s e nt greater risks a ssoci a ted w i t h v e hicl e s w e i g hi n g thous a nds of po u nds a nd ca rr y i n g la r ge

a moun t s of f

u e l than any UAS

. I

t is i mport a nt t o note th a t t he use o f sm a ll U A S for such functions will not

on l y be sa f

e r a nd mo r e c ost e f

f e c t i v e , but the performance and qu a l i t y of the collected data and in f o r mation

is f a r sup e rio r

.

S mall U A S video production and inspe c t i on is more r e l i a ble a nd a l l ows f o r the c ol l ec t i on,

diss e m i n a t i on a nd sto r a g e o f visual a nd other senso r y d a ta w i t h gr e a t e r p r ec is i o n and longer proximity

du ra t i on. S mall UASs are a lso ca p a ble o f a c ce ss i n g

, filming and inspe c t ing a re a s that wo u ld o t h e r w ise be

problematic or in a cce ss i ble to humans that cannot be completed with c onv e nt i on a l aircr a ft.

II. R ELE V ANT ST ATUT O RY AUT H O RI T Y

This P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t i on is submi t ted pu r suant to S ec t i on 333 (a ) th r o u gh ( c ) of the F AA

Mod e rni z a t i on a nd R e fo r m A c t of 2012 ( " R e fo r m A c t " ). Co n g r e ss h a s dir e c ted the F AA " to sa f e l y

a c ce le r a te the i nte g r a t i on of c iv i l un m a n n e d a ir c r a ft s y stems i nto t he n a t i on a l airsp a c e s y stem

. " P u r suant to

S e c t i on 333 of the Re f

o r m A c t, t he F AA Admin i str a tor is t o p e rmit unm a nn e d a ir c r a ft s y st e ms t o op e r a te in

the Na t i on a l Air Sp ac e (" N AS " ) wh e re it is s a f e to do so b a s e d on the f

ol l owi n g c onsid e r a t i ons.

● The U A S ' s s iz e , w e i g ht, spe e d a nd op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y ;

● Op e r a t i on of the U A S in close pro x i m i t y to ai rp o rts a nd populat e d a r ea s; a n d

● Op e r a t i on of the U A S with i n the visu a l l ine of sight of the op e r a tor.

Addit i on a l l y , the FAA A dm i nis t r a tor h a s ge ne r a l autho r i t y to g r a nt e x e mp t ions f r om t he a g e n c y 's

s a f e t y re g ulations a nd m i ni m um s t a nd a rds w h e n the A dm i nis t r a tor d ec ides a r e q u e sted e x e mp t ion i s in the

publ i c in t e r e st. S e e 49 U.S. C . § 106( f ) ( d e fini n g the a u t hori t y of the Admin i str a tor ) ; 49 U. S .C. § 44701 ( f)

( p e rmit t ing e x e mp t ions f

r om §§ 447 0 1 (a ), ( b ) a nd §§ 44702

– 44716, e t se q

. ). A p a r t y r e qu e st i n g a n

e x e mp t ion m ust e x p l a in t he rea sons w h y the e x e mp t ion: ( 1) would b e n e fit the publ i c a s a w ho l e

, a nd ( 2 )

would not adv e rs e l y a f

f ec t s a f e t y ( or how it would provide a lev e l of s a f e t y a t l ea st e q u a l t o the e x is t ing

r ules )

. S e e 14 C. F .R. § 11.81 (p e t i t i ons for e x e mp t ion).

IV. COMPANY’S P R O P O S E D U AS O P E RAT I O NS M EE T S T H E R E Q UIR EME NTS O F

SE CTI O N 333 O F T H E R E F O RM ACT

The small U A S op e r a t i ons p r opos e d b y Sky Aerial i n th i s P e t i t i on for E x e m p t i on qu a l if y f o r

e x p e di t e d a ppro va l purs u a nt to S ec t i on 333 of the Re f o r m A c t a s e a c h of t h e st a tu t o r y c rite r i a a nd r e lev a nt

f ac tors a re s a t i sfi e d.

A. Ap p r oval i s Wa rr a n t e d Based on t h e U A S 's S i z e , W e ig h t, S p ee d , a n d O p er a t io n al Ca p a b i l ity

A G r a nt of E x e mp t ion i s ap p rop r iate for op e r a t i o n s co n du c ted usi n g the SA

- UAS due t o their si z e w e i g ht,

sp e e d, a nd op e r a t i on a l ca p a bi l i t y

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 6

 The SA

- UAS are of the “same type, make and model” of other UAS that h a ve b ee n a ppro ve d for

u s e in prior S ec t i on 333 G ra nts of E x e mp t ion f r om t he F A A

. 2

 The SA

- UAS w ei g h l e ss t h a n 5 5 pounds, in c lud i ng p a y load.

 The SA

- UAS will not be f lown a t a g r ound speed in e x ce ss of 50 knots.

 Alt i tude in f

o r mation wi l l be g e n e r a ted b y e quip m e nt onboa r d the U A a s s p ec ified using GPS

tria n g u l a t i on, di g i t a l l y e n c o d e d b a rom e tric a l t i m e te r

, ra dio a l t i m e te r , or a n y c omb i n a t i on the re o f

.

This i n f o r mation wi l l be t ra nsm i t t e d to t he pi l ot v i a tel e metric d a ta f e e d.

 The U A S s will h a ve s y stem r e dund a n c ies a nd in d e p e nd e nt fu n c t i on a l i t y to e nsure the ov e r a ll sa f e t y

a n d p re dict a bi l i t y of the s y stem. I f c onn e c t i on to t he re m ote c ontrol or g round c ontrol station is

l ost, f a i l s a fe s y stems wi l l pe r m i t t he U A S to r e turn to a p r e d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on a nd s a f e l y l a nd

without in j u r y o r d a m a g e

.

 The ra dio f

r e qu e n c ies u s e d for op e r a t i ons a nd c o n trol of the U A S c omp l y with t he Fe d e r a l

C om m unic a t i ons C om m is s ion ( " F CC " ) a n d other a ppro p ri a te g ov e rnm e nt ove r s i g ht a g e n c y

re qu i r e ments. The op e r a t i n g f r e qu e n c y for t he SA

- UAS are 2.4 G H z

.

I f the s a me o p e r a t i ons w e re c ond u c ted usi n g a h e l i c opte r , the a i r c raf t ' s tak e

- o f f w e i g ht would l i k e l y

e x cee d 6,0 0 0 pounds carrying a pilot, camera operator and VO

- visual observer

- navigator . The dif f e r e n c e

in w e i g ht betw e e n the SA

- UAS a nd a h e l i c opt e r si g n ific a nt l y r e du ce s t h e potential h a rm to the p a r t icip a t i ng

a nd no n

- p a rticip a t i ng ind i viduals or pro pe r t y in t he e v e nt o f a n a c c ident or incid e nt. I n a ddi t ion, t he r isk to

t he onbo a rd pilot a nd ca me r a op e r a tor is eli m inat e d.

___________________________ 2 See e.g ., Grant of Exemption to Shotover Camera Systems L.P. (Exemption No. 11159); Grant of

Exemption to VDOS Global, LLC (Exemption No. 11112); Grant of Exemption to Low Country RC, Corp.

(Exemption No. 11184); Grant of Exemption to Alan Purwin (Exemption No. 11161); Grant of Exemption

to Heli net Aviation Services (Exemption No. 11160); Grant of Exemption to Total Safety U.S., Inc.

(Exemption No. 11156).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 7

B. Ap p r oval i s Wa rr a n t e d B a s e d on t h e O p er a t io n al R e st r ic t io n s S e t F o r th in Sky Aerial’ s

O p er a t io n s M a nu a l s

Sky Aerial’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l s a nd the M a nu f ac tu r e r ' s Manu a l f

o r the sel e c t e d U A S s will c ontain

a ll the p r o c e dures and l i m i tations n ece ss a r y to s a f e l y a nd s u cce s s f

ul l y p e r fo r m t h e op e r a t i ons spe c if i e d in

t his P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t io n . To a s si s t t he F AA in m a king a sa f e t y a ssessment of Sky Aerial’ s p ropos e d

op e r a t i ons, b e low is a summa r y of o p e r a t ional l i m i tations a nd c ondi t ions that Sky Aerial will a dh e re to, and

w h i c h will e nsure a n e q u i v a le n t or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y to ope r a t i ons c on d u c ted und e r c u r r e nt r e g u l a to r y

g ui d e l i n e s:

1. The U A S w e i g hs l e ss t h a n 5 5 pounds, ful l y load e d

.

2. All ope ra t i ons shall be c o ndu c ted ov e r p riv a te or c ontroll e d

- a c ce ss prop e r t y with p e rmission f r om

t he land o w n e r/ c ontroll e r o r a ut h o r i z e d r e p re s e ntative. P e rmission f r om l a nd own e r/ c ontroll e r o r

a uthori z e d r e p r e s e ntative w i l l be obtain e d for e ac h fl i g ht o p e r a t i on.

3. All UASs op e r a ted und e r the G r a nt of E x e mp t ion wi l l be id e nt i fi e d b y s e ri a l numbe r

, r e g is t e r e d in

a cc o r d a n c e with 14 C F R p a r t 47, and h a ve identifi c a t i on ( N

- Numb e r) ma r ki n g s in acc o r d a n c e with

14 C F R p a rt 45, Subp a rt C. M a r kin g s will be a s la r g e a s pr a c t ic a ble.

4. Mini m um c re w f

or e ac h fli g ht op e r a t i on will c onsist of a pi l ot, who will be P i l o t

- in C om m a nd

( " P I C " ) o f the U A S

, a nd one o r mo r e Visu a l Obs e rvers ( " Obs e rv e r " ) a s ne c e s s a r y to sa f e l y c o ndu c t

t he m i ss i on.

5. P I Cs shall poss e ss at le a s t a Priv a te P i lo t ' s C e rtifi c a te a nd c u r re nt C lass I I I Medi ca l C e rtifi ca t e

. The

P I C will a lso m ee t t he f

l i g ht r e vi e w re qui r e ments spe c ified in 14 C

. F .R 61

. 56 in an a ir c r a ft in which

the P I C is r a ted on his or h e r pi l ot c e rtifi ca te.

6. The UA shall be o p e r a t e d with i n V L OS of the P IC a nd Obs e rver a t all t i m e s. The P I C must use

h uman vision un a ided b y a n y d e v i c e other t h a n c o rr e c t i ve l e n s e s, as spe c ified on the P I C ' s F AA

is s u e d medi c a l c e rti f

ic a te.

7. The P I

C a nd Obs e r v e r desi g n a t e d for a n y o p e r a t i o n will be a ble to c om m unic a te v e rb a l l y a t all

t i m e s.

8. Ele c tronic mess a g i n g or t e x t i ng will not be p e rmit t e d du r ing fli g ht o p e r a t i o ns.

9. The a ddi t ional re qui r e m e nts i d e nt i fi e d in t he G ra n t of E x e mp t ion shall be a dd e d to t he Sky Aerial’ s

O p e r a t i o ns Man ua l s.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 8

The Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s will be maintain e d a nd made a v a i l a ble to the Admin i str a tor upon re q u e st.

I f a disc r e p a n c y e x is t s b e tw ee n the c ondi t ions and lim i tations in the G r a nt of E x e mp t ion a nd Sky Aerial’ s

Op e r a t i ons Man u a l s, the c ondi t ions and lim i tatio n s in t he G ra nt of E x e mp t ion shall t a ke pre ce d e n c e a n d

must be f ol l ow e d. Oth e r w ise, Sky Aerial shall follow the p r o ce du r e s outl i n e d in t h e ir Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls.

10. Sky Aerial m a y u pd a te or r evis e it s O p e ra tio ns M a n u a ls

. R e vision s w il l b e t r a c k e d a n d a r e vi s e d

c o p y of the M a n u a l w il l be p r ovi d e d to th e A dminist r a to r upo n re q u e st

.

Sky Aerial w il l a ls o p re s e n t a n u pd a t e d a n d r e vis e d O p e r a tion s M a n u a l s i f i t p e tition s f o r e x t e nsio n o r

a m e nd m e n t t o it s G r a n t of E x e mption

. I f a n up d a t e or r e vis i on would a f f ec t t he b a sis upon whi c h the F A A

g ra nts t he e x e mp t ion, Sky Aerial will se e k a n a m e ndment to i ts Gr a nt of Ex e mp t ion. Sky Aerial will

c o nta c t the F A A ’s U AS I nt e g r a t i on O f fi c e ( A F S

- 80) if q u e st i ons a rise r e g a rdi n g u pd a tes or re vis i ons to the

op e r a t i ng do c u m e nts.

11. Sky Aerial’s O p e ra t i on s M a n u a l s a nd it s G r a n t o f E x e mptio n w il l be a v a i l a bl e to th e

P I C a t the g r o un d c on t r o l st a tio n a n y tim e t h e UA S is op e ra ti n g

.

12. The P I

C is prohib i ted f

r o m be g inn i n g a UAS f

l i g ht un l e ss ( c onsid e r i ng wind a nd f o re ca st w ea th e r

c ondi t ions) the r e is en o u g h po w e r to f l y to t he f i rst in t e nd e d point of l a nding, and a ssu m ing n o rm a l

c r uis i ng spe e d, to f

l y a ft e r t h a t for a t l ea st 10 m i nute s

.

13. Ma x i m um to t a l fli g ht t i m e f or e ac h o p e r a t i on a l fl i g ht usi n g the SA

- UAS will be l i m i ted to 40

m i nutes or the a mount of time the U A S ca n be flo w n a nd s t i ll maintain a re s e rve b a t ter y po w e r of no less

than 25 % , whi c h e v e r oc c u r s fi r s t

.

14. F l i g hts will be op e r a ted a t an a l t i t ude of no more t h a n 400 fee t A G L a nd w i ll n e v e r e n t e r n a v i g a ble

c o ntroll e d a irsp a c e without prior w r i t ten a uthori z a t i on a nd a ppro va l f r om t he F A A. I n the e v e nt t he

str u c ture b e ing insp e c ted e x cee ds 400 f e e t A G L

, t h e U A S will not be oper a ted m o re th a n 100 fee t abo v e

the h i g h e st point on the stru c tur e

, a n d no more than 1 0 0 f e e t h o r i z ontal l y f

r om t he s t ructur e

.

15. F l i g ht op e r a t i ons must be c ondu c ted a t le a st 500 fe e t f r om all nonpa r t i c ipat i ng p e rsons. ( p e rsons

oth e r t h a n the P I

C, V O, op e r a t o r t ra ine e s o r e ssential p er sonnel ), v e ssels, v e hicl e s, and st r u c tur e s unl e ss:

a

. B a rri e rs or str u c tur e s a re p re s e nt t h a t suf f ic i e nt l y p rot ec t nonpa r t i c i p a t i ng p e rsons f rom the U A

a n d /or d e b r is i n the e v e nt of a n a c c ident. The op e r a tor must e nsu r e that nonp a rti c ipating p e rsons

re main und e r s u c h p r ote c t i on. I f a si t u a t i on a ris e s wh e re nonp a rticip a t i ng p e rsons l e a ve such

p r ote c t i on a nd a re with i n 500 fee t of the U A

, f l i g h t ope ra t i ons must c ea se i m medi a te l y a nd/or;U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 9

b. The a ir c r a ft is op e r a ted n ea r v e s s e ls, vehi c les or s t ru c tur e s w h e re t h e own e r/ c ontroll e r o f su c h

v e ssels, v e hicl e s or str u c tur e s has g r a nted p e rmission and the P I C h a s made a s a f e t y a s s e ss m e nt of

the r isk of op e r a t i n g c loser to t hose obje c ts and d e t e rmin e d that it do e s not pr e s e nt an undue h a z a rd,

a nd;

c

. Op e r a t i ons n e a rer to the P I C, V O , op e r a tor t r a in e e s or e ssential p e rsons do not pr e s e nt an undue

h a z a rd to those p e rsons p e r § 91.119 (a ).

16. The UA m a y not be o p e r a ted l e ss t h a n 500 f e e t b e low or less than 2,000 f e e t hori z ontal l y f

r om a

c loud or w h e n vis i bi l i t y is l e ss t h a n 3 st a tu t e m i les f rom the P I C.

17. The UA m a y not op e r a te with i n 5 m iles of a n a irpo r t re fer e n c e point a s de n o t e d on a c u rr e nt F A A

publ i shed a e ron a

ut i ca l c h a rt unless a letter of a g r ee ment with that a irpo r t’s man a g e ment is obtain e d, a nd

the op e r a t i o n is condu c ted in a c c o r d a n c e with a N OT A M as r e qui r e d b y t h e Sky Aerial COA. The letter of

a g re e ment with the a irpo r t m a n a g e ment will be made a v a i l a ble to the A dm i nis t r a tor upon r e qu e st.

18. P rior to e ac h fl i g ht t he P IC sh a ll inspe c t t he U A S to con f irm th a t i t i s in a c ondi t ion sa f e f or fli g ht.

The pr e

- fli g ht i nsp e c t i on will acc ount for a ll disc re p a n c ies, e .g. inop e r a ble c omponents, items, or

e quip m e nt, not a lr e a d y c ov e r e d in t he r e le v a nt s e c t i ons of the op e r a t i n g d o c uments. The P I C s h a ll not

op e r a te the U A S if the i n spe c t i on r e v e a ls a c ondi t i on that a f f e c ts t he sa f

e op e r a t i on of the U AS un t il the

n ece ssa r y m a in t e n a n c e h a s b e e n p e r f o r med a nd the U A S is found to be in a c ondi t ion for sa f e f l i g ht. The

g r ound c ontrol s t a t i o n shall be includ e d in t he preflight ins p ec t i on. All m a in t e n a n c e a nd a l t e r n a t i ons must

be p r op e r l y do c umen t e d in t he U A S r e c o r ds a s r e qui r e d b y Sky Aerial’ s Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s

.

19. Sky Aerial will c a r r y out i ts m a in t e n a n ce , insp e c t i ons, a nd r e c o rd ke e ping r e quir e ments in

a cc o r d a n c e with t he Op e r a t i ons Ma n u a ls. M a in t e n a n ce , inspe c t i on, a nd a l t e r a t i ons will be not e d in t he

U A S rec o r ds, in c lud i n g to t a l t i m e in se r vic e , d e s c ription of wo r k a c c omp l ished, a nd the si g n a tu r e of the

a uthori z e d p e rson re turni n g the U A S to se r vic e

.

20. A n y U A S that h a s un d e r g one m a in t e n a n c e or a l t e r a t i ons that a f f ec t t h e U A S op e r a t i on or fl i g ht

c h a r a c te r is t ics ( e .g

., r e p l ace m e n t of a fli g ht c ritic a l c om p on e nt) must und e r g o a fun c t i o n a l test fli g ht in

a cc o r d a n c e with Sky Aerial O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s

. The P I C who c ondu c ts the fun c t i on a l test fli g ht must make

a n e nt r y i n th e U A S a ir c raft r e c o rds of the fli g ht. The r e qui r e men t s a n d p r o ce du r e s f o r a f u n c tion a l test fli g ht

a nd U A S r e c o r d e nt r y shall be includ e d in the Sky Aerial’ s O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 10

21. The U A S will be op e r a t e d a nd maintain e d a cc o r d i ng to t he Ma n u f a c tu r e r ' s Man ua ls and a n y

r e quir e d manu fac tu r e r Sa f e t y / Se rvi c e B ul l e t i ns.

22. P rior to t he op e r a t i on, a Miss i on P ac k e t wi l l be c r ea ted in a cc o r d a n c e with t he r e quir e ments on Sky

Aerial’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls.

23. Sky Aerial will obtain a n A i r T r a f fic O r gani z a t i on ("AT O ") issu e d Ce r t i fi c a te of W a iver or

A uthori z a t i on, othe r wise known a s a CO A , prior to condu c t i n g a n y op e r a t i ons und e r this G ra nt of

E x e mp t ion. A N OT A M will be issued a s r e quir e d b y the CO A

. All ope ra t i ons will be c ondu c ted in

acc o r d a n c e with a irsp a c e r e quir e ments in the A T O is s u e d COA in c lud i ng c l a ss of a irsp a ce

, a l t i t ude l e v e l

a nd potential tr a nspond e r re quir e ments.

24. All r e quir e d p e rmissions and p e rmits will be obtain e d f r om t e r ritori a l, s t a t e

, c oun t y or c i t y

j u risdictions, including loc a l la w e n f o rce m e nt, fire or ot h e r a ppro p ri a te g o v e rnm e nt a l ag e n c ies

25. I f the U AS l oses c om m u nic a t i on with t he pi l ot, i t will h a ve the ca p a bi l i t y t o r e turn to a p r e

d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on with i n the op e r a t i on a l a r e a a nd land s a f e l y

.

26. Cont i n g e n c y plans w i l l b e in p l a c e to s a f e l y te r m i n a te f

l i g ht i f t h e re is a lo s s of c om m unic a t i on

b e tw ee n the P I

C a nd the Obs e r v e r

.

27. The U A S will h a ve the c a p a bi l i t y to sa f e l y a bort f

l i g ht i n the ca se o f un p redict e d obst ac les or

e m e r g e n c ie s

.

28. P I

Cs and Obs e rv e rs will h a ve a t le a st a c u r r e nt Class I I I Me d i ca l C e rtifi c a te.

29. P rior to condu c t i ng o p e rat i ons for f i l m i n g , the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d, in a m a nn e r

c on s is t e nt wi t h 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of 200 f l i g ht c y c les a nd 25 ho u rs total t i me a s a U AS

rotor c r a ft pi l ot and a t l ea s t 10 hou r s log g e d a s a U AS p i lot with a simi l a r U AS t y p e

.

30. P rior to condu c t i ng o p e rat i ons for f i l m i n g , the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d, in a m a nn e r

c on s is t e nt wi t h 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of 5 4 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of 10 logged hours a s

U A S pi l ot ope r a t i ng the m a ke a nd model of U A S to be uti l i z e d for op e r a t i ons und e r the e x e mp t ion and

th irty tak e

- o f

fs a nd thirty landi n g in t he p r ec e ding 90 d a y s.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 11

31. Op e r a t i ons shall oc c u r d u r ing d a y t i me V F R Met e o r olo g i c a l C ondi t ions; f l i g hts und e r S p ec i a l

V i sual F l i g h t R ul e s ( " S V F R") sh a ll n o t be c ondu c ted.

32. The UA shall r e main c l e a r a nd y ield the ri g ht of w a y to all o t h e r m a nn e d op e r a t i ons a nd a c t i vi t ies

a t all t i m e s (in c lu d in g

, b ut not l i m i ted to, u l t r a l i ght v e hicl e s, pa r ac hute ac t i vi t ies, p a r a s a i l i n g ac t i vi t ie s

,

h a ng g l i d e rs, e tc. )

.

33. U A S Op e r a t i ons und e r Instr u ment F l i g ht R ules, a t n i g ht, or b e y ond V L OS a re p r ohib i ted.

34. The U A s will not be op e r a ted f rom a n e lev a ted pl a tfo r m or mov i ng d e v i ce / v e hicl e

.

35. B e f

o re c ond u c t i ng o p e r a t i ons, the ra dio f re q u e n c y spe c trum used f o r op e r a t i on a nd c ontrol of the

U A w i ll c omp l y with t he F e d e r a l C om m unic a t i ons C o m m i ss i on ( F CC) or other a ppro p r i a te g o v e rnm e nt

ov e rsi g ht a g e n c y r e quir e m e nts.

V. R E G ULATI O NS F R O M W H ICH E X EM P T I O N IS R E Q UES TE D

The Fe d e r a l Aviation A c t e x p re ss l y g r a nts t he F A A the a uthori t y to i ssue e x e mp t ions. This statuto r y

a uthori t y

, b y i t s te r ms, i n c ludes e x e mp t ing c iv i l air c r a ft, a s t he te r m i s de f ined und e r § 40101 of the A c t

, including U A S s, f

r om i t s sa fe t y r e g u l a t i ons a nd m i ni m um s t a nd a rds wh e n the A dm i nis t r a tor d ec ides a

r e qu e sted e x e mp t ion i s in t he publ i c in t e r e st

. 3

Sky Aerial s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om sev e r a l i nte r r e la t e d pr o vis i ons of T i t le 14 of the Code of Fe d e r a l

Re g ula t ions ( "14 C

. F .R " ) Pa r ts 21, 45, 61 a nd 91 f or pur p o s e s o f c ondu c t i n g the r e qu e sted o p e r a t i ons us i ng a

U A S

. L is t e d b e low a r e : ( 1) the s p ec ific s ec t i o ns of 14 C. F .R f or whi c h e x e mp t ion i s sou g ht, and ( 2) the

op e r a t i n g p r o ce du r e s and s a fe g u a r d s that P e t i t i o n e r h a s e stablished whi c h will e n sure a le v e l of s a f e t y b e t t e r

th a n or e qu a l t o the r u l e s f r om which e x e mp t ion i s sou g ht

. 4

3 49 U.S. C . § 44701 ( f) (a

u thori z ing the g ra nt of e x e mp t ions f r om r e quir e me n ts of r e g ulations p re s c rib e d

p u rsu a nt t o Se c t i ons 44701( a ) a nd (b) a nd S ec t i ons 44702

- 44716 )

.

4 14 C. F .R § 11.81 (e ), w h ich re quir e s a p e t i t i on f o r e x e mp t ion t o inclu d e: The r e a sons w h y gr a nt i n g the

e x e mp t ion would not a dv e rs e l y a f f e c t s a f e t y

, or how the e x e mp t ion would p r ovide a lev e l o f s a f e t y a t l e a st

e qu a l to that p r ovided b y t h e rule f rom w hich y ou s ee k e x e mp t ion.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 12

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM

A. 14 C. F

. R. P a r t 21, Subp a r t H

– Ai r w o r thi n e ss C er ti f ica te s a n d 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.203 ( a ) (1)

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s ne e d e d f r om t his s ec t i on if a f

ind i ng is m a de und e r the

R e f o rm Ac t t h a t t he U A S sel ec ted p r ov i d e s an e quival e nt l e v e l of sa fe t y wh e n c ompa re d to a i r c r a ft no r mal l y

used f o r the same a ppl i ca t i on. Th e se c rite r i a a re m e t, and the re fo r e no e x e mp t ion i s ne e d e d

. 5 I f, ho we v e r,

t h e F AA d e te r m i n e s that t h e re a re some c h a ra c te r is t ics of the c h o s e n U A S that fa il to m ee t the re quir e m e nts

of the R e fo r m A c t, an e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

Sky Aerial’ s use o f the SA

- UAS are s af e w h e n taki n g in t o acc ount their si z e , w e i g ht, sp ee d, a nd

op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y

. A s set f o r th i n the d e s c ript i on of pro p osed op e r a t i ons in S ec t i on I V ( A), the

DJI S800 w e i g hs l e ss t h a n 5 5 pou n ds, in c lud i ng p a y load a n d will not be f lown a t a g r ound sp ee d in

e x ce ss of 50 knots. UAS i s a lso e quipped w i t h s a f e t y fe a tur e s that will allow P e t i t i on e r to op e r a te the

U A S sa f e l y a ft e r e x p e ri e n c e c e rt a in i n

- fli g ht conti n g e n c ies or f a i l u re s

. 6 7

5 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e r i a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g s. 1 3

- 14, 2 2 ).

6 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11184 to L o w Count r y RC, Corp. (F A A

- 2014

- 0803 a t p g . 3):

" The [ SA

- UAS ] h a s the ca p a bi l i t y to op e r a te s a f e l y a f t e r e x p e ri e n c i n g ce r tain i n

- fli g ht

c ont i n g e n c ies o r f

a i l u re s a nd uses a n a ut o

- pi l ot s y stem to mainta i n U A S stabili t y a nd c ontrol. The

U A S is a lso a ble to r e spond to a loss of g lobal pos i t i oning s y stem ( G PS ) or a los t

- l i nk e v e nt with a

p r e

- c oo r dinat e d, p re dict a ble, a u t omat e d fli g ht man e u v e r, a nd m a nu a l fli g ht c ontrol fun c t i on a l i t y a s

a b a c kup. Th e s e s a f

e t y f e a tu r e s p r ovide a n e q u ival e nt lev e l of s a f e t y c ompa re d to a mann e d a ir c r a ft

p e r f o r m i n g a si m i l a r oper a t i on."

7 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11184 to VD O S Glob a l, LL C. ( F A A

- 2 0 1 4

- 0382 a t p g s. 4

- 5 ) :

" The SA

- UAS with its upgrade ca n be o p e r a ted e nt i r e l y b y a touc h

- s c r ee n, ma p

- b a s e d i nte r fa ce

.

This me a ns the op e r a tor on l y n e e ds to c om m a nd the s y stem w h e re to g o, a nd the s y stem do e s all

the f l y i n g for the op e r a t o r. T he SA

- UAS c a n b e op e r a ted in bo t h s e mi a nd ful l y a utono m ous fli g ht

mode s

, with the op e r a tor si m p l y c l i c ki n g on a map to c r e a t e a p r e

- plan n e d fl i g ht p a th f o r a fli g ht. I n

a d di t ion, the op e r a tor c a n cr ea te no f l y z on e s or ma x i m um fli g ht r a n g e s a nd a l t i t ud e s so the s y stem

c a nnot e n t e r a r ea s

{foo t no t e c o nt i nued}U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 13

Addit i on a l l y , the U ASs c a rr y n e i t h e r pilots nor p a sseng e rs, c a rr y no e x plo s ive m a te r ials or fl a m m a ble liqu i d

fu e ls, a nd op e r a te e x c lus i v e l y w i t hin t he p a r a met e rs st a t e d in the Sky Aerial’s Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls.

Op e r a t i ons c ond u c ted u n d e r this e x e m pt i on will b e c lose l y c ontroll e d a nd mon i tor e d b y the op e r a tor

a nd will be c ondu c ted in c omp l ian c e with l o ca l pub l ic s a f e t y r e quir e ments, to p r ovide s ec u r i t y f o r the a r e a of

o p e r a t i on. Sky Aerial will a lso provide the F A A w i t h a dv a n c e not i c e of a ll op e r a t i o n s via N O TAMs a s

r e quir e d b y the a ppl i ca ble CO A

. In a ll ca s e s, op e r a t i on of the SA

- UAS und e r the pro p osed c ondi t ions will

be a t l ea st as s a f

e a s, or s a f

e r th a n, c onv e nt i on a l r otor c r a ft o p e r a t i n g with a n a irwo r th i n e ss c e rtifi ca t e

.

L a st l y , the U ASs do not ne e d a m e a ns to c om m unic a te w i t h other a i r c r a ft o r A TC, b eca use tho s e

ca p a bi l i t ies w i l l be poss e ssed b y t h e P I C a nd Obs e r v e r, w ho a re not onbo a rd the U A S

. 8 I n a ddi t ion, no s e ns e

a nd

- a void t ec hnol o g y is ne ce ssa r y for the U ASs b eca use t h e y will be op e r a t e d a t all t i m e s in V F R c ondi t ions

and w i th i n V L OS of the P I C a n d Op e r a tor. 9

B

. 14 C. F

. R. P a r t 27 Ai r w o r thi n e ss S tan d a r d s: N o r m al Ca te g o r y Ro t o r c r a f t

Tit l e 14 C. F .R. P a rt 27 s e ts fo r th t he pro c e d u r a l r e quir e ments for a i r wo r th i n e ss ce rtifi c a t i on of

norm a l c a te g o r y roto r c r a ft. To the e x tent that the Sky Aerial’ s sm a ll U A S s would othe r wise r e q uire

c e rtifi c a t i on und e r Pa r t 27, P e t i t i on e r s ee ks an e x e mp t ion f r om P a rt 2 7 ' s

{ c ont i nu e d from pre v ious pag e }

Addit i on a l l y , the U ASs c a rr y n e i t h e r pilots nor p a sseng e rs, c a r r y no e x plo s ive m a te r ials or fl a m m a ble

liqu i d fu e ls, a nd op e r a te e x c lus i v e l y w i t hin t he p a r a met e rs st a t e d in the Sky Aerial’s Op e r a t i ons

Man u a ls.

All fli g ht op e r a t i ons a re g lobal posit i oning s y st e m ( G PS ) c ontroll e d, m a king the s y stem ea s y to

n a v i g a te. At a n y point if t h e op e r a t or is not e x pl i c i t l y c om m a nding the s y stem t o move, the s y stem

a uto m a t i ca l l y holds i t s G P S posi t ion. The fli g ht c ontrol s y s t e m e mp l o y s n ot on l y GPS posit i oning but

a v a ri e t y of s e nsors i n c lud i ng sona r

, b a rom e tr i c p re ssu r e

, temp e r a tu r e

, wind speed a nd othe r s to e nsure

stabi li ty s o long a s wind thr e s h olds a re not e x cee d e d. Also a fli g ht t e rmin a t i on l i nk

– to p re v e nt a ' f l y

a w a y ' or other po t e nt i a l l y d a n g e rous situ a t i on

– is av a i l a ble to the op e r a tor

. "

8 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e ri a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g . 13).

9 Id. a irwo r th i n e ss s t a nd a rds f or the s a me r ea sons i d e n t ified in t he re qu e st f o r e x e mp t ion f

r om 14

C. F .R. P a rt 21, Subp a rt H, supra

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 14

C. 14 C. F

. R. §§ 91.9 ( c ), 45

. 23(b) and 45.27 ( a ) : A ir c r a f t M a r k i n g a n d I d e n ti f

ica t ion

R e q u ir eme n ts

Sky Aerial s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om t he a ir c r a ft m a r k ing a nd identifi c a t i on r e q uir e ments c ontain e d in 14

C. F .R. § § 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23( b ) a nd 4 5.27 (a ).

● 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 (c ), Civ i l Air c r a ft F l i g ht M a nu a l, Ma r king a nd P la c a rd re q uir e ments, p r ovides th a t:

No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - re g is t e r e d c iv i l aircr a ft unless that a ir c r a ft is identifi e d in

a cc o r d a n c e with Pa rt 45 of th i s ch a pte r

.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.23 ( b ) , M a rkin g s of t h e Aircr a ft, st a tes:

W h e n ma r ks include only the Roman c a pi t a l lett e r " N " a nd the re g is tr a t i on number is d i spl a y e d on

l i m i ted, re strict e d or li g h t

- sport ca t e g o r y a i r c raft or e x p e rime n tal or p r ovis i o n a l l y c e rtifi ca ted

a i r c raf t

, the op e r a tor must a lso disp la y o n that a ir c raft n ea r e a c h e ntr a n c e to the ca bin, c o c kpi t

,

or pi l ot station, in lette r s not less than 2 inch e s nor mo r e than 6 inch e s h i g h, the wo r ds " l i m i ted,"

" r e stric t e d," " l i g h t

- sp o rt, " e x p e r i ment a l," or " p rovisional," a s ap p l i ca ble.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.27 (a ), Ro t o rc raft, stat e s:

E ac h o p e r a tor of a rot o rcr a ft must disp l a y on that r otor c raft hori z ontal l y on both sur f a ce s o f the

c a bin, fus e l a g e

, boom, o r ta i l the ma r ks r e quir e d b y § 45.23.

I n a pr e v i ous G r a nt of E x e mp t ion, t he F AA d e t e r m i n e d that e x e mp t ion f r om t h e se r e quir e ments w a s

w a r ra n ted p r ovided th a t t he a i r c r a ft " h a ve i d e nt i fi ca t i on ( N

- Numb e r ) m a rki n g s in a cc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F .R

P a rt 45, Subp a rt C i f the ma r kin g s a re a s la r ge a s pr ac t ic a ble

. " 10

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

All UA f lown b y Sky Aerial will b ea r N

- numb e r m a r kin g s that a r e a s l a r g e a s p rac t i ca b l e in

acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R. P a rt 45, Subp a rt C

. 11

1 0 F AA D o c k e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 0352.

11 S ee

, e .g., F AA D o c k e t N o. F AA

- 2 0 1 4

- 0352, a t 1 4

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 15

D. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.405 ( a )

, 9 1.407 ( a ) (1 ) , 91.40 9 (a ) (1) a n d ( 2 ) ; 91. 4 17(a) a n d ( b ): M ai n t e n a n c e

I n s p ec tions

Sky Aerial s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om t he mainten a n c e inspe c t i on r e quir e ments c ontain e d in

14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ), 9 1.407 (a ) ( 1 ), 91

. 409(a) ( 2 ) ; 91.417( a ) a nd (b ) . Th e s e r e g ulations spe c i f y mainten a n c e

a nd insp ec t i on st a nd a rds in r e f e r e n c e to 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 43. S ee

, e .g., 14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ) ( stati n g that ea c h

own e r o r op e r a tor of a n a ir c r a ft " sh a ll h a ve t h e a ir c r a ft insp e c ted a s p re s c rib e d in sub p a rt E o f this pa r t and

sh a ll b e t w ee n r e qu i r e d insp ec t i ons h a ve disc r e p a n c i e s r e p a i r e d a s p r e s c rib e d in p a rt 43 of th i s ch a pt e r" )

. An

e x e mp t ion f

r om t h e se r e g ulations is n ee d e d b eca u s e P a rt 43 a nd these se c t i ons on l y a p p l y to ai r c r a ft with an

a i r wo r th i n e ss c e rtifi c a te, whi c h the U AS t o be op e r a ted und e r this g r a nt of e x e mp t ion wi l l not h a v e

.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hie v e d b ec a use m a in t e n a n c e a nd in s p ec t i ons will be p e r f o rm e d

in a c c o r d a n c e with t he Man u f ac tu r e r ' s Manu a l a nd a n y r e q u ir e d manu f a c tur e r S a f

e t y o r Se r vi c e B ul l e t i ns.

F u r the r

, a s r e qui r e d b y Sky Aerial’ s O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s, the P I C will c ondu c t a p r e

- fl i g ht i nspe c t i on of the

U AS and a ll a ssoci a ted e quip m e nt t o acc ount f o r a ll disc re p a n c ies a nd/or ino p e r a ble c omponents.

Ma i nten a n c e will be p e r f o rm e d a nd v e r i fi e d to a ddr e ss a n y c ondi t ions po t e nt i a l l y a f f e c t i n g s a fe o p e r a t i on of

the U AS and no fli g hts will o cc ur unless, a nd unt il

, a ll f l i g h t c r i t ic a l compon e nts of t he U A S h a ve b ee n

fo u nd to be a irwo r t h y a nd in a c ondi t ion sa f e f o r o p e r a t i on. A f

u n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht wi l l be c ondu c t e d

f ol l owing the r e pla c e ment of a n y fli g h t

- c ritic a l compon e nts. As r e quir e d b y Sky Aerial’ s O p e r a t i ons

Manu a l s, the P I C who c ond u c ts t he f u n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht wi l l m a ke a n e nt r y in t he U A S a ir c r a ft r e c o r ds of the

fli g ht.

Sky Aerial’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l also in c ludes re qu i r e ments to follow the m a n u fac tu r e r ’ s U A S

a ir c r a ft/compon e nt, mainten a n ce , o v e rh a ul, r e pla ce m e nt, i nspe c t i on, a nd l i fe l i m i t r e quir e ments f o r the

f ol l owing a ppl ic a ble c omp o n e nts: pow e rt ra in s y stem ( pow e rpl a nt), p r op e l l e rs, a vion i c s a nd c ontrol sur fa c e s

(in c lud i n g a i le rons/ e levons ) , str u c tur e s & a ir f r a me, ca me r a s y s t e m, el ec tr i ca l s y stems (in c lud i n g b a t te ri e s),

g round c on t rol station, ha z a rd ac c e ssori e s, and s p a re p a rts. F u r the r

, Sky Aerial’s O p e r a t i ons Manu a l s a lso

i n c ludes p r o c e dur e s to do c ument a nd maintain a rec o r d o f the U A S main t e n a n c e , pr e v e ntative m a i nten a n ce

,

a l t e r a t i ons, status of re pla c e ment /o v e rh a ul compon e nt p a rts, a nd the total t i me in s e rv i c e of the U ASs us e d

und e r this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. As a whol e , the m a in t e n a n c e a nd insp ec t i o n pr oce du r e s r e qu i r e d in Sky

Aerial’s Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s e nsure t h a t an e quival e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hiev e d.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 16

P I L O T

- I N

- C O MM AND O F T H E UAS

E

. 14 C. F

. R. § 61.113: P r i vate P i l ot P r iv i leg e s a n d Li m ita t io n s

Sky Aerial s e e ks e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C F R § 61.113, w h ich re stricts priv a t e pi l ot c e rtifi ca te holde r s

f r om f l y i n g a i r c r a ft f

or c om p e nsation or h ir e

, a nd would a lso r e quire a s e c ond c lass medi ca l c e rtifi ca te. T h e

purp o se of P a rt 61 is t o e nsure that the skill and c ompet e n c y of a n y P I C mat c h e s the a irs p ac e in whi c h the

P I C will be o p e r a t i n g

, a s w e ll a s r e quir i ng c e rtifi c a t i ons if the p r ivate pi l ot i s c a r r y i n g p a sse n g e rs o r c ar g o for

hi re

. I n th i s c a s e

, while the U A S s will be op e r a ted a s pa r t of a c o m me rc ial op e r a t i on, it ca r r i e s neither

p a s s e n g e rs n o r ca r g o.

I n t h e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o Astr ae us A e ri a l 12 , the F AA d e t e r m ined th a t t he unique c h ar ac te r is t ics of

U AS op e r a t i on outside of c on t roll e d a irsp a c e did not w a r ra nt t he a ddi t ion cost a nd r e strictions a t t e nd a nt wi t h

r e quiri n g a the P I C to ha v e a Co m me rc ial P i l ot C e rtifi ca te a nd C l a ss II Me d i c a l C e rtifi ca te. T he ful f i l l m e nt

of the a ddi t ional re q u ir e ments for a p riv a te pi l ot t o b ec ome qu a l i fi e d a s a c om m e r c ial pi l ot would not le a d to

a n y a ddi t ional s a f

e t y b e n e fits wh e n U A S op e r a t i ons a r e invo l v e d.

Eq u ivale n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

The re strictions the Sky Aerial h a s pl ace d on i t s U A S o p e r a t i ons m ee t or e x cee d t he re strictions

si m i l a r l y i m posed on Astr ae us A e ri a l. Sky Aerial w i ll op e r a te on p r iva t e pro p e r t y a w a y f r om p e rsons a nd

p r o p e r t y not invo l v e d in t he op e r a t i o n

. Sky Aerial will a lso obta i n a n A T O issued COA prior to condu c t i n g

a n y o p e r a t i ons und e r this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. All op e r a t i ons will be c ondu c ted in a cc o r d a n c e with ai r spa c e

r e qui r e me n ts i n the A TO issu e d COA in c lud i ng c l a ss of a irsp a c e

, a l t i t ude lev e l a n d pote n t i a l t r a nspond e r

r e quir e ments. A N O T A M will also be is s u e d a s r e quir e d b y the a ppl i ca b l e CO A

.

I n a ddi t ion t o these f

l i g ht re strictions, the Sky Aerial will f u r ther e ns u re s a fe o p e rat i on b y r e quiri n g

that a n y P I C be thorou g h l y v e rs e d not o n l y in ai r sp a c e a nd c o m mun i ca t i on is s u e s p e rt a in i ng to a ll a ir c r a ft

o p e r a tors but also in the u nique a spe c ts of U A S f l i g ht. As set f

o rth in the O p e r a t i ons Man u a l s, pi l ots will

h a ve e x p e ri e n c e not on l y in U AS ope r a t i ons g e n e r a l l y but h a ve l o g g e d fl i g ht t i m e in t he spe c ific m a k e a nd

model us e d for the op e r a t ions b e fo r e th e y a re p e rmit t e d to pa r t i c ipate i n c om m e r c ial fl i g hts on b e h a lf of Sky

Aerial

. T h e p i l ot qualifi ca t i on, tr a in i n g

, a nd c u r r e n c y requir e ments in the O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls ensu r e t h a t

Sky Aerial’s pilo t s a r e c ompet e nt and p r o fi c ient in t he U A S th e y a re o p e r a t i n g

. Sky Aerial’s tr a in i n g a nd

qu a l i fi ca t i on r e quir e ments a re c onsistent with those c ontain e d in prior F AA Se c t i on 333 G ra nts of

E x e mp t io n

, a nd will pro v ide a h i g h e r lev e l of c ompet e n c y a nd pro f ici e n c y for i t s pilo t s and w i ll e nsure a t

le a st an e quival e nt l e v e l of sa fe t y

.

1 2 E x e mp t ion No. 11062 ( F AA D o c k e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 0352 )

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 17

O P E RAT I NG P ARA METE RS O F T H E UAS

F

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.7 ( a ) : Civil Ai rcr a f t A ir w o r thi n e ss

Although t

h e re will be no a irwo r th i n e ss c e rtifi c a te issued f or the U A S s, Sky Aerial s e e ks a n

e x e mp t ion f

r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.7 (a ), whi c h r e q uir e s that a c iv i l aircr a ft be in ai r wo r t h y c ondi t ion t o be

op e r a ted. The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d for 14 C. F .R. § 91.7 (a ) to the e x tent that the

re quir e m e nts of P a rt 21 a re w a ived or f ound inapplic a ble

. 13 A cc o r di n g l y

, P e t i t i on e r r e qu e sts that the

re qui r e m e nts for § 91.7 ( a ) be t r ea t e d in a cc o rd a n c e with S ec t i on V ( A )

, supra.

G

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.9 ( b ) ( 2 ) : Civil Ai rcr a f t F l i g h t Ma nu al i n t h e Ai rcr a f t and 14

C. F

. R. § 91.203 ( a) a n d (b ): Ca rr yi n g Civil Ai r c r a f t Cer ti f ic a tion a n d R e gist r a t ion

Tit l e 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2) a nd § 91.203 ( a ) a nd ( b) re quire t h e op e r a tor to ca rr y a irwo r th i n e ss

docum e nts a nd other a i r c raft m a nu a l s onbo a rd the a i r c raft. Pursu a nt t o 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2 ) :

(b) No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - r e g is t e r e d c iv i l air c r a ft

–

(2) F o r w hich a n Airpl a ne or Rotor c r a ft F l i g ht M a nu a l i s r e quir e d b y § 21

. 5 of th i s ch a pte r , unless

the r e is av a i l a ble in the a ir c r a ft a c u rr e nt app r o v e d Ai rp l a ne or Rotor c r a ft F l i g ht M a n u a l, app r ov e d

man u a l ma te r ial, ma r ki n g s, a nd pl a c a rds, or a n y c omb i n a t i on the re o f

.

P u r suant to 14 C

. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd (b ) :

( a ) E x ce pt a s p r ovided in § 91.715, no p e rson m a y op e r a te a c iv i l a ir c r a ft u n less it h a s within i t t he

f ol l owin g :

(1) An a p p rop r iate a nd c u rr e nt ai r w o rthin e ss c e rtifi c a te...

(b) No p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c iv i l a ir c r a ft unl e ss the a irwo r th i n e ss ce r t ific a te r e quir e d b y p a rag ra ph

(a ) of th i s s ec t i on or a sp e c ial fli g ht a uth o ri z a t i on i ssued und e r § 91.715 is disp l a y e d a t t h e c a bin or

c o c kpit e ntr a n c e so that it is l e g ib l e to p a sse n g e rs o r c r e w.

1 3 S e e id. a t 13

- 14, 22U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 18

Giv e n the small s iz e a nd c onfi g u r a t i on of the U ASs, it would be i m poss i ble to ke e p a irwo r th i n e ss

docum e nts a nd other a i r c raft m a nu a l s on bo a rd the U A S b e c a use th e re is s i m p l y no room a nd the U AS has

n o ca bin or c o c kpi t

.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of S a

f e ty

I n a n F AA O f

fi c e of Ch i e f Couns e l ' s Opinion d a ted A u g ust 8, 2014, a nd p r e p a r e d b y D ea n E.

G ri f fith, Atto r n e y

, A G C

- 220, it w a s a c k n owl e dg e d that the intent of 14 C. F .R. 91.9 ( b) a nd 91.203 (a ) a nd

( b ) is met if the pi l ot of the u nmann e d a ir c r a ft h a s ac c e ss t o the U AS fli g ht manu a l, r e g is t r a t i on c e rtifi ca te,

a nd ot h e r r e quir e d do c uments f r om t he g r o und c ontrol s t a t i on f r om which he o r she is o p e r a t i n g the

a i r c raft

. 1 4 As th i s F AA O f f i c e of Chief Couns e l Opin i on c la r ifies, the in t e nt of the r ule is to e nsure the

pilot h a s a c c e ss t o these k e y d o c uments during fli g ht. Th e r e fo r e

, a n e q u ival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be

ac hie v e d b y e nsuri n g that the pilot h a s ac c e ss t o the do c uments a t t he gro u nd c ontrol s t a t ion f r om which he

or s h e is p i lo t ing the U AS.

H. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.103: P ref l i g h t Ac tion

Sky Aerial s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.103, whi c h r e qui r e s a P I C to be c ome f a m i l i a r

w i t h sp ec ific in f

o r mation be f

o r e e a c h fl i ght, i n c lud i ng info r mation c ontain e d in t he F A A

- a ppro ve d F l i g ht

Manu a l on board the a ir c raft. W hi l e the P I C will be fa m i l i a r w i t h a ll info r mation ne ce s s a r y to s a f e l y

c ond u c t t he f

l i g ht, a n e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted to the e x tent that a n F A A

- a ppro ve d F l i g ht Manu a l i s r e quir e d.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y w i ll be pro v ided b y f

ol l owing the Sky Aerial’s O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls

a nd the Man u fa c tur e r ' s Man u a l . The P IC will p e r f o r m a s e r i e s of c h ec kl i sts d e s i g n e d to identi f y a n y

d e f ec ts or i n op e r a

ble c omponents in acc o r d a n c e with t he Sky Aerial’s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, including

c h e c kl i sts c ov e ring P r e

- F l i g h t

, L a u n c h, L a ndi n g

, a nd P os t

- F l i g ht pr o ce du r e s. The P I C will a lso be r e q uir e d

to r e view w ea t h e r, fli g ht r e qui r e ments, b a t ter y c h a r g e , landi n g a nd tak e o f f distan c e , UA p e r f

o r man c e d a ta,

a nd c ont i n g e n c y landi n g a r ea s

— b e f o r e i n i t iation of fli g ht. Sky Aerial’ s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls a nd the

M a nuf a c tu r e r ' s Man u a l will be k e pt at the g round c ontrol s t a t i on a nd will be a c ce ss i ble to the P I C a t a ll

t i mes w hi l e op e r a t i ng the U AS.

I. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.109 ( a ) : F l i g h t Inst r u c tion

1 4 Memo ra ndum f

r om M ar k B u r y

, F AA Assistant C hief Couns e l for I nt e rn a t i on a l L a w, L e g is l a t i on a nd

R e g u l a t i o n, to J ohn Dun ca n, F A A F l i g ht S tand a rds Se r v i c e ( A u g . 8, 201 4 ); s e e also Do c k e t No. F A A

2 0 1 4

- 0352 a t 16

- 18.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 19

Sky Aerial s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.109 (a ), w hich p rovid e s in p e rtine n t pa r t that

" no p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c iv i l aircr a ft ( e x c e pt a m a nn e d f r e e b a l l oon) that is b e ing used for f l i g ht

i nstru c t i on unl e ss t h a t air c raft h a s ful l y f un c t i oning du a l cont r ols

. " U A S s and r e mo t e l y pi l oted a ir c raft, b y

t h e ir d e si g n, do not ha v e f un c t ional du a l cont r ols. I nst e a d, fli g ht con t rol is acc omp l ished thro u g h t h e use o f

a d e vice t h a t c o m m unic a tes w i t h the a ir c r a ft via r a dio c om m unic a t i ons. A cc o r din g l y

, a n e x e mp t ion wi l l be

r e quir e d for the f

l i g h t i nstru c t i on r e quir e ments of 14 C

. F .R. § 91.109 (a ).

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

Giv e n the si z e a nd sp ee d of the U A S s that Sky Aerial in t e nds to us e

, a n e quiv a lent lev e l of s a fe

tr a in i n g c a n sti l l be p e r f

o r med without du a l c ontrols be ca u s e no pi l ot or p a sse n g e rs a r e a bo a rd the U AS,

and a s r e quir e d b y the Sky Aerial’s Op e r a t i ons Man u a l s, a ll p e rsons w i l l be a s a fe dis t a n c e a w a y in t he

e v e nt t h a t t he U A S e x p e ri e n ce s a n y dif f i c ul t ies du r ing f

l i g ht i nstru c t i on. Mor e ov e r, a s r e qui r e d b y the Sky

Aerial’s O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls, a ll f l i g ht tr a in i ng will be c ond u c ted in cont r ol l e d a nd st e rile environme n t. As

a whol e

, the s a f

e t y pr o ce du r e s p r ovided f or in the Sky Aerial’s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l s e nsure that the

p r o posed U A S op e r a t i ons p r ovide a n e quival e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y th a n that p r ovided b y t h e f l i g ht

i nstru c t i on re g ulatio n s.

J. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.119(c): M i n i m u m S a f e Alti t ud e s

The Sky Aerial r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om t he m i ni m u m sa f

e a l t i t ude re qu i r e m e nts of 14 C. F .R. §

91.119( c )

. 1 5 S ec t i on 91.119 p re s c rib e s t h e m i ni m um sa f e a l t i t ud e s und e r whi c h a ir c r a ft m a y not ope ra te,

in c lud i n g 5 0 0 f

e e t abo v e the su r f

a c e a nd a w a y f

rom a n y p e rson, v e ssel, v e hicl e , or stru c ture in non

c o n g e st e d a r e a s. S e e 14 C

. F .R. § 91.119 (c ). S ec t i on 91.1 1 9 ( d) a l l ows f or a h e l i c opter to op e r a te a t le ss

t h a n those m i ni m um a l t i tudes w h e n it ca n be o p e r a ted " without h a z a rd to p e rsons or pro p e r t y on t h e

sur f ace

, " p ro v ided th a t " e ac h p e rson o p e r a t i n g the h e l i c opt e r c omp l ies w i t h a n y rout e s or a l t i t ud e s

spe c ifi c a l l y p re s c rib e d for h e l i c op t e rs b y the F A A

. "

An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d b eca use t h e pro p osed U AS ope ra t i ons will norm a l l y n e e d to o cc ur b e low

4 00 fe e t A G L

. I n c ir c ums t a n ce s wh e re the U AS i s used to insp ec t a stru c tu r e whose h e i g ht e x c e e ds 400

f e e t A G L , the U AS wi l l not be op e r a t e d more t h a n 100 fee t abo v e the h i g h e st point on the stru c tur e

, a n d

with i n 10 0 fee t hori z ontal l y of the str u c tur e

. A d di t ional l y , d u e the n a ture of the p ropos e d o p e r a t i ons, the

P i l ot and/or Obs e rvers ( s) m a y n ee d t o be less than 500 f e e t a w a y f

rom the U AS.

1 5 R e l i e f f rom § 91.119 ( a ) will not be n ece ssa r y b e c a use Petitioner will be a b le to p e r f o r m an e me r g e n c y

landi n g without undue h a z a rd to p e rs o ns or p r op e r t y on the g r o und in t he e v e nt of a f a i l u re

. P e t i t i on e r ' s

pro p osed U A S op e r a t i ons wi l l not o cc ur ov e r c o n g e st e d a r e a s, a nd the r e fo r e a n e x e mp t ion f r om §

91.119(b) will not be n e c e ssa r y

. S e e e .g ., G r a nt of Ex e mp t ion No. 11157 to S lu g w e a r, I n c ., d b a L i k e on a

tr e e A e ri a l (FA A

- 2 014

- 0534 a t 15)U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 20

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

Compa re d to fli g ht op e rat i ons with roto rc r a ft w e i ghing f a r mo r e than t h e ma x i m um w e i g hts

propo s e d h e r e in, a nd g i v e n the l ac k o f f l a m m a ble f

u e l wi t h the U A S s, a n y r isk a ssoci a ted w i t h these

o p e r a t i ons is f

a r l e ss t h a n t h ose th a t pr e s e nt l y e x ist with conv e nt i on a l a ir c r a ft. A n e quiva l e nt l e v e l of

s a f e t y will be ac h iev e d g iven the si z e , w e i g ht, and s p ee d of the U A S s, a s w e ll the c ontr o l l e d loc a t i on wh e re

t h e o p e r a t i ons will oc c u r

. I n o r d e r to a void a n y risk to m a nn e d a ir c r a ft, f l i g ht op e r a t i ons will be re stri c ted

to 400 fee t A G L o r b e lo w , or w h e n inspe c t i ng a str u c ture w h ose he i g ht e x cee ds 400 f ee t A G L , with i n 100

f e e t a bove the h i g h e st point on that stru c ture a n d 10 0 fee t hori z ontal l y of t he stru c tur e

.

As s e t fo r th i n the Op e r a t ions Man ua ls, the U ASs will be op e r a ted in a r e st r ict e d a re a

, a nd a ll f l i g hts

will be op e r a ted a t a l a te ra l d i sta n c e of a t l ea st 500 f e e t f r om a n y non p a rticip a t i n g p e rsons, unl e ss t h a t

pe r s o n is i n a posit i on wh e re he or she is s hield e d f rom the U AS and a n y poss i ble d e b r is r e sul t ing f r om

UAS f a i l u re

. As r e quir e d b y t h e Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, f l i g hts will be te r m i n a ted if a nonp a r t i c ipating p e rson

with i n 500 fee t of the U A S le a v e s a shi e lded position. F u r the r

, U A S op e r a t i ons will oc c ur a t l ea st 500 fe e t

a w a y f rom v e hicl e s o r stru c tur e s unl e ss t he p r op e r t y own e r/ c ontroll e r h a s g r a nted p e rmission and the P I C

h a s made a s a f

e t y a ssess m e nt of the r isk of op e r a t i ng c loser to t hose obje c ts and, o p e r a t i ons n e a r the P I C o r

Obs e rver w i l l not p re s e nt an und u e h a z a rd p e r § 9 1 .119 ( a ). Adh e ren c e to these r e strictions in the e lev a t i on

of the d e p a r ture a irpo r t or b a rom e tr i c pr e ssur e

. An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d to t he e x tent that the U ASs do

not have a b a rom e tr i c a l t i m e te r , but r a th e r a GPS a l t i t ude rea d out. Sky Aerial’ s O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls will

e nsure op er a t i ons ca n be c ond u c ted without c ompromising s a f e t y

. 16

K

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.121: Al t i m e ter S e t t i n gs

Sky Aerial s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.121, whi c h r e qui r e s a pe r s on op e r a t i n g a n a ir c r a ft

to m a in t a in c r uis i ng a l t i t ude or f l i g ht le v e l b y r e f

e r e n c e to an a l t i m e ter that is set to the e lev a t i on of the

d e p a r ture a irpo r t or b a rom e tr i c pr e ssur e An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d to t he e x tent that the U ASs do not have a

b a rom e tr i c a l t i m e te r , but r a th e r a GPS a l t i t ude rea d out.

1 6 S e e e .g.

, G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11138 to Dougl a s Tr u d ea u ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0481 a t 19 ) :

" I f b a rr i e rs or stru c tur e s a re p re s e nt that ca n suf f i c ient l y p r ot e c t nonp a rtic i p a t i ng p e rsons f r om the

UA or d e b r is in the e v e nt o f a n a c c ident, then the UA m a y op e r a te c loser than 500 f e e t to p e rsons

a f fo r d e d s u c h p r o te c t i on. The op e r a tor m u st a lso e nsure t h a t nonp a rtici p a t i ng p e rsons r e main un d e r

such p rot ec t i on. I f a s i tuation a ris e s w h e re nonp a rtici p a t i ng p e rsons le a v e such p rot e c t i on a nd a r e

with i n 5 00 f

e e t of the U A

, fli g ht o p e r a t i ons must cea s e i m medi a te l y

. W h e n c onsid e ri n g how to

i m medi a te l y c e a se op e r a t i ons, the p rima r y c on ce rn is the s a f e t y o f those nonp a rticip a t i ng p e rson s

.

I n a ddi t ion, the F AA finds that op e r a t i ons m a y b e c ondu c ted c los e r than 500 f e e t to v e ssels,

v e hicl e s a nd stru c tur e s w h e n the own e r/ c ontroll e r o f a n y s u c h v e ssels, v e hicl e s or stru c tur e s g r a nts

p e rmi ssio n f

o r th e op e r a t i on a nd the P I C mak e s a s a f e t y a ssessment of the risk of op e r a t i ng c loser to

those obj ec ts and d e t e rmin e s that it does not pr e s e nt an undue h a z a rd .”U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 21

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t a n e quival e nt l e v e l o f s a f e t y to t he r e quir e m e nts of 14 C. F .R. §

91.121 ca n be ac hie v e d in ci rc ums t a n c e s wh e r e : ( 1) the U ASs will be op e r a ted b e low 400 f ee t A G L or

b e lo w 17

, ( 2) with i n V L OS, (3) wh e re GPS b a s e d a l t i t ude info r mati o n is r e l a y e d in r e a l t i me to the op e r a tor

a t a g roun d

- b a s e d o n

- s c r ee n disp la y a nd, (4) w h e re p r ior to eac h fl i g ht, a z e ro a l t i t ude in i t i a t i on p o int is

establish e d for the P I C to co n fi r m a cc u r a c y of the onbo a rd G PS

. 18

The U A S s that Sky Aerial i ntends to use f or the p r o p osed op e r a t i ons will m e e t all t h e se op e r a t i on a l

c h a ra c te r is t i c s. Mor e ov e r, a s r e qui r e d b y Sky Aerial’s O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls, t he P I C will be re qui r e d to

c a l i b ra t e the a ir c r a f

t ' s GPS c ompa s s prior to e ac h fli g ht op e r a t i on. L ike p rior F A A S ec t i on 333 G ra nts of

E x e mp t ion, t he U A S s Sky Aerial in t e nds to us e

, a nd the sa fe t y m i t i g a t i on p r o ce du r e s co n tain e d in t he

Op e r a t i ons Manu a l s

, both ensu r e that a n e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hiev e d, a nd a G r a nt of

E x e mp t ion t o the re quir e ments of § 191.1 2 1 is t h e r e fo r e a ppro p ri a te.

L

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.151 ( a ) : F u e l R e qu ir e m e n ts f or F l i g h t in V F R Con d itio n s

Sky Aerial r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.151 (a ) ' s f u e l r e qui r e ments f

o r f l i g ht in V F R

c ondi t ions. S ec t i on 91.151 st a tes:

(a) No p e rson m a y b e g i n a fl i g ht in a n a irpl a ne und e r V F R c ondi t ions unless ( c onsid e ri n g wind a nd

fo r eca st w ea t h e r c ondi t ions) the r e is e nou g h fu e l to fly to the fi r st po i nt of int e nd e d la n ding a nd,

a ssu m ing nor m a l c r uis i ng s p ee d

–

(1) Du r i n g the d a y , to fly a ft e r th a t f o r a t l ea st 30 m i nutes;

or

(2) At ni g ht, t o f

l y a ft e r t h a t for a t le a st 45 m i nutes.

H e r e , the t ec hnol o g ic a l l i m i tations on U A S b a t t e ry po w e r m ea ns t h a t no m ea ni n g ful fli g ht ope r a t i ons

ca n be c ondu c ted w hi l e st i ll maintaining a 3 0

- m i nute b a t ter y r e s e rv e . An e x e mp t ion f r om t he f u e l

r e quir e ments of 14 C

. F .R. § 91.151 (a ) is the r e fo r e r e quir e d.

1 7 I f t h e h e i g ht o f the str u c t u r e b e i n g inspe c ted e x ce e ds 400 fe e t A G L

, the U A S will not be op e r a ted more

than 100 f

e e t a bove the hi g h e st po i nt on t he stru c tur e

.

1 8 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e ri a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t 2 1 )

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 22

Equivalent Level of Safety

In the Grant of Exemption to VDOS (Exemption No. 11112), the FAA determined that an

equivalent level of safety to the fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions could be achieved by

prohibiting the PIC from beginning a SA

- UAS flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather

conditions) there was enough power to fly to the first intended point of landing and, assuming normal

cruising speed, to fly after that for at least 10 minutes.

In reaching this conclusion, the FAA considered that the UAS batteries for the SA

- UAS provided

provide approximately 2 0 minutes of powered flight (with payload) and provided battery level and battery

time remaining in minutes and seconds to the PIC. 19 The FAA also considered the fact that the SA

- UAS

operating manual states: “start every flight with a fully charged battery in the aerial vehicle”, and that in the

event that the UAS should run low on power, the PIC will be alerted and can land the SA

- UAS as s oon as

possible. Like the VDOS Grant of Exemption, Sky Aerial use of the DJI PHANTOM & S1000 , combined

with the requirements of Petitioner's Operations Manuals, ensure that an equivalent level of safety can be

achieved.

Similarly, in the Grant of Exempti on to Alan Purwin (Exemption No. 11161), the FAA determined

that an equivalent level of safety to the fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions could be achieved by

prohibiting the PIC from beginning a flight with the SA

- UAS unless (considering wind a nd forecast

weather conditions), there was enough power to fly at normal cruising speed to the intended landing point

and land the UA with 25% battery power remaining. Sky Aerial will adhere to this limitation for SA

- UAS

flights.

The SA

- UAS s’ include a l ow battery warning system and the amount of battery reserve power

remaining is transmitted to the PIC via telemetric data feed, which downlinks from the UAS to a ground

based

- on

- screen display. 20 As required by Sky Aerial’s Operations Manuals, the PIC will promptly fly the

UAS back to the home launch location or pre

- determined abort location where the UAS may safely land,

while still maintaining a minimum of 25 % reserve battery power. Sky Aerial submits that the procedures

requiring flights to be safely ter minated once the batteries fall below 25% capacity, combined with the

requirement that flights only be conducted within a secure, isolated area, u sing a UAS weighting less than

5 5 pounds, and within VLOS of the PIC and Observer(s), ensure that the proposed operation will provide

an equivalent or higher level of safety to that provided by the regulations from which exemption is sought.

19 Grant of Exemption No. 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC (FAA

- 2014

- 0382 at 10).

20 The SA

- UAS ground control station displays, the UASs position, navigation route, tail number, altitude,

heading, north seekin g arrow, range to targets, calculated target position, date/time, and sensor heading and

orientation relative to the UAS.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 23

VI. DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM

The Sky Aerial will have policies in place to ensure that no person may participate in UAS flight

operations if they are under the influence of alcohol or any drug.

VII. PUBLIC INTEREST

The public interest will be served by granting Sky Aerial’s Petition for Exemption. Congress has

established a national policy that favors early integration of UAS into the NAS in controlled, safe working

environments such as those proposed in this Petition. Granting this Petition for Exemption helps fulfill

Congr ess' goal in passing Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act

— the FAA Administrator's

assessment of whether certain UAS may operate safely in the NAS before completion of the statutorily

required rulemaking.

The proposed SA

- UAS operations in this Peti tion for Exemption significantly improve safety and

reduce risk, harm or serious injury to real estate inspectors and property assessors. Traditional methods of real

estate video production and inspection of structures, expose videographer

- inspectors to hi gher risks of serious

injuries, or death. Videographer

- inspectors need to climb roof tops or otherwise perform elevated work, which

exposes them to the risk of dangerous falls and other work related extremes. In addition, depending on the

nature of the vid eo needed and the inspection work, proximity to equipment and other hazards associated with

commercial and industrial real estate sites and construction locations, often involves a great deal of risk to

accomplish the job. Additional areas of public benefit are services provide for farming operation s that improve

crop yield through greater efficiency in crop ma nagement

, emergency fire

, search and rescue providing life

savings attributes of SA

- UAS operations and UAS training operations. The use of SA

- UASs mitigates thes e

hazards and is ultimately a much safer method of performing these and most other types of inspections.

The use of small UASs also enhances safety and reduces risk because, unlike manned aircraft

weighing thousands of pounds, carrying crew in addition to flammable fuel, the UASs carry no passengers

or crew. Further, in the unlikely event of an accident, the Sky Aerial small battery powered UASs presents

significantly less danger to persons on the ground when compared to operations by conventional manned

a ircraft. 21 As Petitioner's UASs are battery powered, the public will also benefit from a reduction in

harmful emissions associated with conventional aircraft performing in the same functions proposed herein.

Lastly, as recognized by the FAA in prior Secti on 333 G rants of Exemption to videographers , UASs

provide an additional tool for the aerial filming industry, adding a greater degree of flexibility, which

supplements the current capabilities offered by manned aircraft. 22

21 See Grant of Exemption No. 11158 to Team 5, LLC (FAA

- 2014

- 0783 at 12):

"Manned helicopters conducting aerial filming can weigh 6,000 pounds or more and are operated by an

onboard pilot, in addition to other onboard crewmembers, as necessary. The petitioner’s UAs will weigh

less than 55 pounds with no onboard pilot or crew. The pilot and crew will be remotely located from the

aircraft. The limited weight significantly reduces the potentia l for harm to participating and

nonparticipating individuals or property i n the event of an incident or accident. The risk to an onboard pilot

and crew during an incident or accident is eliminated with the use of a UA for the aer ial filming and many

types of aerial inspection operations.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 24

VIII. PRIVACY

All SA

- UAS operations will be conducted in accordance with applicable federal, state, or local laws

regarding privacy. All operations shall be conducted over private or controlled

- access property with

permission from the land owner/controller or authorized represent ative. Permission from land

owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be conducted.

IX. FEDERAL REGISTER SUMMARY

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided for publication in the FEDERAL

REG ISTER, should it be determined that publication is needed:

Petitioner seeks an exemption from the following rules in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

Part 21, Subpart H; Part 27; 45.23(b); 45.27(a); 61.113; 91.7(a); 91.9(b)(2); 91.9(c); 91.1 03; 91.109(a);

91.119(c); 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.203 (a) & (b); 91.405(a); 91.407(a)(1); 91.409(a)(1) & (2); 91.417 (a) &

(b).

The exemption will enhance safety by reducing risk to the general public and property from

substantial hazards associated with pe rforming equivalent aerial videography, p hotography and inspection

with conventional fixed

- wing aircraft, rotorcraft, or other methods.

X. CONCLUSION

The Sky Aerial Petition for Exemption satisfies the criteria articulated in Section 333 of the Reform Act of

2012 including weight, speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas, operation

within VLOS and national security. The proposed UAS op erations will benefit the public as a whole by

improving safety and reducing risk by alleviating human exposure to danger or harm . In consideration of the

foregoing, this Petition for Exemption provides the FAA with more than adequate justification for gra nting

the requested exemptions allowing Sky Aerial to use small UASs for ; ae r i a l videography, photography of real

estate , video inspection of residential, commercial and government structures

, news gathering, surveying,

farming operation s monitoring, emergency search and rescue, fire and UAS training operations.

22 See e.g ., Grant of Exemption No. 11178 to Picture Factory, Inc. (FAA

- 2014

- 0794 at 18).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 8 th , 2015

P a g e 25

We thank you for your prompt consideration of our requested exemptions.

Respectfully submitted,

Timothy Smythe

P r e sident

Sky Aerial Productions, Inc.

Should you have any questions, or if you need any additional information to support the requested

exemptions, please contact the undersigned at:

159 Garfield Lane

Sharps Chapel

, TN

, 37866

P hon e : 561

- 254

- 1802

Email: tim@smythefl.net

(The following attached items contain proprietary and commercial information exempt from disclosure

under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 522 et seq. , and should be held in a separate file pursuant

to 14 C.F.R. § 11.35(b)).

Attachments:

1. General Op e rations M a n ual

2. PIC Operati n g Manual

3. Co mpany P r otoco l s

4. Location Protocols

5. Flight Co mm unic a t i ons Protocols

6. Depar t ing L oca t ion P rotocols

7. Trans m i t ter Protocols

8. Preflight C h eck l ist

9. Post Flight Checkl i s t

10. Equip m ent Checkl i s t

11. U A S M anufactu r e r’s Manuals

User M a nu a ls

U A S Mainten a nce M a n u als