**1**

**June 1, 2015 U.S. Department of Transportation**  **Docket Management Sy stem**  **1200 New Jersey**

**A ve., SE**  **Washington, DC 20590**
**Re: Exemption Request under Section 333 of the FAA Reform A**  **ct and Part 11 of the**  **Federal I A**  **viation Regulations**

**Dear Sir or Madam: Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA**  **Modernization and Reform A ct of 2012 (the**  **"Reform A ct") and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, A**  **lejandro A ray**  **a dba AA**  **FLY DRONESFL.llc, the operator of small Unmanned A**  **ircraft Systems ("sUA S"), seeks an exemption**  **from the Federal A**

**viatio n Regulations ("FA**  **Rs") listed below and discussed in Ap**  **pendix A.**  **A**

**ttached as A ppendix B is a summary**  **of this request. The requested exemption w**  **ould permit commercial operation of A lejandro A**  **ra ya**  **dba AA FLYD**  **R ONESFL sUA**  **S's, w hich weigh approximately**  **10 l bs.**  **An d**  **performs aerial survey**  **s and videography that consists of still photographs and**  **videograph y**  **taken by on board cameras. The sUA S's takes a series of high**  **quality , still digital images and video that are used to promote real estate sales**  **and survey in So uth Florida. A** **dditional aerial inspections/survey applications**  **may include construction jobsite monitoring, pipeline inspection and precision**  **topological survey s. Use of the sUA** **S for aerial inspections and surveys reduce the need to utilize conventional ma**  **nned aircraft, manned lifting devices or manned climbing for the same purpose and provides very high quality**  **imagery**

**at a fraction of the cost. These savings result in enhanced safety**  **, efficiency and**  **productivity for the affected activities, as well as env ironmental benefits.**  **Operations under the exemption will be subject to strict operating requirements and conditions to ensure at least an equivalent level of safety**  **to currently authorized operations using manned aircraft and under conditions as may**  **be mo**  **dified by**

**the FAA**

**as required by**

**Section 333. As**  **described more fully below**  **, the requested exemption would authorize commercial operations of aerial photos and inspections or surve**  **ys using the**  **sUA S's, w**  **hich weigh less than 10**  **lbs. and are small in size. ( See attached O&M** **2**

**manuals for the 3DR SOLO and TA ROT T6). The sUA** **S's w ill be operated under**  **controlled conditions at low altitude in airspace that is limited in scope, as**  **described more fully**

**herein; it will have automated control features as described belo**  **w and in the O&M manuals. The sUA S also will be operated by**  **an individual who has FAA**  **Priv ate Pilot License. Finally**  **, the airspace in which the sUA** **S will operate will be Class G airspace or airspace approved by the FAA**  **in advance.**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA F**  **LY DRONESFL respectfully**  **submits that because these small, unmanned aerial**  **vehicles will be used in lieu of comparatively hazardous operations now conducted with fixed**  **wing and rotary conventional aircraft or**  **other manned means of inspections, the FAA can**  **hav e**  **confidence that the operations will achieve at least the equivalent level or greater level of**  **safety**
**. Ap**  **proval of the exemptions w ould thereby enhance safety**  **and fulfill the Secretary** 

**of Transportation's (the FAA**  **A dministrator's) responsibilities und**  **er Section 333(c) of the Reform**  **Ac t to "establish requirements for the safe operation**  **of such aircraft sy stems in the national**  **airspace sy stem."**  **The name and address of the applicant are: Al**  **ejandro Ar**  **ay a**  **dba AA**  **FLY DRONESFL Att:**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a Ph:**  **954 -**  **661 -**  **7469 Email:**  **alexawl@bellsouth.net Ad**  **dress: 5900 NE 2 Terr** 

**Oakland Park,**  **FL 33334**  **The regulations from which the exemption is requested are as follows: 14 C.F.R. Part 21;**  **14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) & (b);**  **14 C.F.R. 61.133 (a); 14 C.F.R. 91.7(b);**  **14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2); 14C.F.R. 91.109(a);**  **14 C.F.R. 91.119; 14 C.F.R. 91.121;**  **14 C.F.R. 91.151(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) & (b);**  **14 C.F.R. 91.405(a); 3** 

**14 C.F.R. 91.407(a)(1); 14 C.F.R. 91.409(a)(2};**  **14 C.F.R. 91.417(a) & (b). Ap**  **pendix A**  **dis cusses each rule listed above and explains why**  **exemptions pursuant to the**  **proposal set forth in this letter are appropriate, provide an equivalent level of safety, and are in**  **the public interest.**

**The A pplicable Legal Standard under Section 333**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLYDRONESFL**  **submits that grant of this exemption application for use of the**  **proposed UA S's in precision aerial inspections will**  **advance the Congressional mandate in Section 333 of the Reform A**  **ct to accelerate the introduction of UA**  **Ss into the national airspace**  **sy stem ("NA**  **S") if it can be accomplished safely**  **. This law directs the Secretary of**  **Transportation to consider whether certain UA**  **Ss may operate safely** 

**in the NA S before**  **completion of the rulemaking required under the Section 332**  **of the Reform A ct. In making**  **this determination, the Secretary**  **is required to determine which types of UA Ss do**  **not create a hazard to users of the NA** **S or the public or pose a threat to national security**  **in the light of the follow**  **ing:**

• **The UA S's size,**  **weigh t, speed and operational capability**  **;**

• **Operation of the sUA S in closed proximity to airports and populated**  **areas; and**

• **Operation of the UA S**  **within visual line of sight of the operator. Reform A**  **ct §333{a)(1). If the Secretary determines that such ve**  **hicles "may operate safely** 

**in the national airspace sy** **stem, the Secretary shall establish**  **requirement for the safe operation of such aircraft in the national airspace**  **sy stem.**  **" ld. §333(c) (emphasis added). The Federal A** 

**viation A ct expressly** 

**grants the F AA**  **the authority to issue exemptions. This**  **statutory authority , by**  **its terms, includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under**  **§40101 of the A ct, from the requirement that**  **all civil aircraft must have a current airworthiness certificate and**  **those regulations requiring commercial pilots to operate aircraft in commercial**  **service: The A**  **dministrator may grant an exemption from. a requirement of a regulation** **4**

**prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any of the sections**  **44702 -**  **44716 of this title if the A** **dministrator finds the exemption is in the public interest.**  **Ap plicant submits that this provision places a duty**  **on the A dministrator to not**  **only process**  **applications for exemptions under Section 333, but for the Ad**  **ministrator, if he deems the**  **conditions proposed herein require modification in order to allow approval, to supply**  **conditions for the safe operation of UA S. Todd**  **Thomas dba Drone Pies welcomes the opportunity to consult with FAA**  **staff in order to address any** 

**issues or conce rns that this**  **proposal may raise that they believe may** 

**require modification. 49 U.S.C. §44701(f). See also 49 U.S.C. §44711 (a); 49 U.S.C. §44704; 14 C.F.R.**  **§91.203(a)(1). The grant of the requested exemption is in the public interest based on the cle**  **ar direction in**  **Section 333 of the Reform A ct; the additional authority**  **in the Federal Aviation**  **Ac t, as**  **amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the**  **proposed operations; and the significant public benefit, including enhanced**  **safety and co**  **st savings associated with transitioning to UA** **Ss for aerial inspections and survey**  **photography and real estate photography**  **. A ccordingly,**  **the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA**  **grant the requested exemption without delay** 
**. Ai**  **rw orthiness of the sU**  **AS A**  **critical element of the exemption application involves evidence of the airworthiness**  **of the sUA**  **S. The Federal Aviation Ac**  **t (49 U.S. C. §44701 (f) and Section 333 of the Reform A**  **ct both authorize the FAA**  **to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an**  **airw orthiness certificate,**  **upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability**  **, and proximity to airports**  **and populated areas of the particular sUA** **S. Our small UAS's will operate at low speed in a controlled environment, at least five mi**  **les from an airport or densely populated**  **area. A n**  **analy sis of these criteria demonstrates that the UA** **S operated without an airworthiness**  **certificate, in the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed will be a least as**  **safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing**  **or helicopter) operating w ith an**  **air worthiness certificate without the restrictions**  **and conditions proposed. Mandatory** 

**Operating Conditions (see O&M and Safety lists)** **5**

**Grant of the exemption to Al**  **ej andro A**  **ra ya**  **dba AA FLY**  **DRONESFL will be subject**  **to the follow ing**  **mandatory conditions, which are based upon operating**  **conditions set forth for operation of sUA** **S by public entities pursuant to**  **Certificates of A uthorization, with additional restrictions:** 

• **Al l operations to occur i**  **n Class G airspace.**

• **Operations to avoid congested or populated areas, which are depicted in y**  **ellow on VFR**  **charts.**

• **Operations to be conducted over private or controlled -**  **access property**
**.**
• **Permission from land ow ner/controller required before commencing**  **flight**
**.**
• **Operations to occur during Visual Flight Rules Meteorological Conditions (VMC).** 

• **Ai rcraft to remain within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS).**  **V LOS guaranteed with**  **a cy linder**  **of operation around operator of 1⁄2**  **nautical miles**  **(NM). Cy**  **linder walls may**

**be expanded by** 

**observer w ith ability** 

**to control aircraft.** 

• **Operations to occur during day light hours.** 

• **Ab ove Ground Level (A**  **GL) altitude to be restricted to 400 feet.**

• **Al l operations conducted in vicinity**  **of airport to remain more than 2.5 NM from** 

• **centerline azimuth of runway**  **centerline measured from runway thresholds** 

• **Al l required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial,**  **state, county**

**or city** **jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, fire, or other appropriate**  **gov ernmental agencies.**  **Operator Re quirements**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLYDRONESFL**  **respectfully purposes that operator**  **requirements should take into account the characteristics of the particular UA** **S. Certain UA** **Ss, such as the 3DR SOLO**  **are characterized by a high degree of**  **control and various built**  **- in technical capabilities**  **that limit the potential for operation outside of the operating conditions set forth above.**  **Please see details in the attached O&M manuals.**  **Ad ditional automated safety**  **functions and safety enhancing features of the**  **sUA S's**  **include the following:** **6**

• **Au to**  **- pilot detection of lost GPS or of insufficient satellites initiates an**  **immediate return to aircraft take**  **- off location ("home").** 

• **Low power on the aircraft triggers escalating alarms at GCS.** 

• **If the auto -**  **pilot detects a lost -**  **link to the GCS, landing procedure begins.**  **Given these safety**

**features, Al**  **ejandro Ar**  **ay a**  **dba AA**  **FLYDRONESFL proposes**  **that operators of the sUA S**  **shou l**  **d not be required to hold a commercial pilot certification. Instead, operators should be**  **required to:**

• **Hold a p rivate pilot license** 
**.**
• **Have completed the manufacturer's training or a minimum of 10 hours training program**  **for operation of the sUA S's.**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLYDRONESFL**  **notes that the FAA has found that safety**  **factors permitted operation of sUA**  **Ss by ope**  **rators with these qualifications in the case of operations pursuant to**  **public COA s**  **wh en the mandatory**  **operating conditions specified above were present. See**  **Federal A viation A**  **dministration, Notice N**  **- 8900.227, Unmanned A**  **ircraft Systems (UA S)**  **Operational Ap**  **proval, at 20**  **- 21 (July** 

**30, 2013). The FAA**

**has the statutory authority to grant**  **exemptions to the requirements for and privileges associated with the grant of airmen's**  **certificates. 49 USC §44701 (f).** *** * *** **In summary , applicant seeks an exemption from th**  **e FA Rs set forth above in**  **Ap pendix**  **A to**  **allow commercial operations of a sUA S's conducting precision**  **aerial inspections or surveys and real estate photos.**  **Ap proval of the exemption allowing commercial operations of the sUA** **S for precision**  **inspection, surve**  **y wo**  **rk, and real estate photos will enhance safety by**  **reducing risk. Conventional aerial inspection, survey operations, and real estate**  **photos, using jet or piston powered**  **aircraft present risks associated with vehicles that weigh in the neighborhood of 5**  **,000 to 7,000 lbs., or more, carry**  **large quantities of fuel, passengers, and, in some cases, cargo. Such aircraft**  **must fly to and from the survey location. Other conventional manned climbing or**  **manned lifts risk safety hazards associated with falls, elect rical hazards, fuel**  **related hazards, and inhalation associated with the structures being inspected. In**  **contrast, a sUA S weighing less**  **than 15 lbs. and powered by batteries eliminates a**  **portion of that risk given the reduced mass and lack of combustible fue**  **l carried on board a manned aircraft and the lack of risks associated**  **wit h manned lifts or**  **manned climbing apparatus. The sUA S will carry**  **no passengers or crew 7** 

**and, therefore; will not expose any individuals to the risks associated with**  **manned aircraft fli**  **ghts, manned lifts or climbing hazards. Ad**  **ditionally, no national security issue is raised by** 

**the grant of the requested exemptions.**  **Given the size, load carry ing capacity**  **, speed at which it operates, and the fact that it carries no**  **explosives or other dangerous materials, the sUA** **S poses no threat to national security** 
**. The operation of the sUA**  **S, w eighing less than 15 lbs ., for inspections, surveys,**  **and real estate photos in accordance with the strict conditions outlined above,**  **will provide an equiva lent level**  **of safety supporting the grant of the exemptions**  **requested herein, including exempting Al**  **ejandro Ar**  **ay a**  **dba AA**  **FLY DRONESFL from the requirements of Part 21.**  **The sUA S's satisfaction of the criteria set forth in Section 333 of**  **the Reform A ct**  **** **size , weight,**  **speed, operating capabilities, lack of proximity to airports and**  **populated areas, operation within visual line of sight, and national security**  **- and**  **it’s showing of an equivalent level of safety**  **as it may relate to the requirement for**  **FAA training,**  **provide more than adequate justification for the grant of the**  **requested exemptions allo wing commercial operation of the sUA**  **S in the commercial aerial inspection, survey**  **, and real estate photo business. Very**  **truly yours,** 

**Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a Ow**  **ner AA**  **FLYDRONESFL Enclosures:**  **Ap pendix**  **A: Exemption Request and Equivalent Level of Safety Showings under**  **Ap plicable Rules Subject to Exemption**  **Ap pendix B: Operation and Maintenance Manuals:**  **3DR SOLO, TA ROT T6**  **O&M Manual Ap**  **pendix C: Safety**

**Checklists**