1

Burger Media, Inc.

Kevin M. Burger, President

412 Poplar Hill Court

Richmond, VA 23229

Tel.: 804.240.7272

Email: k evin@ b urger m edia.com

May 8, 2015

U. S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE,

West Building Ground Floor, Room Wl2

- 140,

Washington, DC 20590

Re: Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal

Aviation Regulations from: 14 CFR 21 subpart H; 14 CFR 45.23(b); 14 CFR 61.113(a); 14 CFR

91.7(a); 14 CFR 91.9(b)(2); 1 4 CFR 91.103; 14 CFR 91.109; 14 CFR 91.119(c); 14 CFR 91.121; 14

CFR 91.151(a); 14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b); 14 CFR 91.405 (a); 14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 14 CFR 91.409

(a)(1) and (2); 14 CFR 91.417(a) and (b)

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the “Reform Act”) and 14

CFR Part 11, Burger Media, Inc. , operator of Small Unmanned aircraft Systems (“sUAS”), hereby applies

f or an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation

of its sUAS to perform aerial data collec tion and closed set motion picture and filming , so long as such

operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as my be established by

the FAA as required by Section 333.

Commercial operation sUAS, as described herein, which are equipped with camer as and sensors, would

operate in the following manner:

1. Aerial photography and/or video for public and/or private use including real estate,

architecture, land surveying, engineering and other related professional activities.

2. Aerial video and/or phot ography for public and/or private use including television, public

events, cinematography and news gathering.

3. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial structures under contract with the

o wners or local government authority.

4. Aerial vide o/photography or providing live video feed to assist with search and rescue

operations in cases of an emergency or natural disaster only when the local authorities or

government has requested it by contract or donation.2

5. The ability to offer training to persons individually or belonging to both private and/or public

organizations that have interests in the use and application of sUAS for the purpose of the safe

operation of sUAS to enhance the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) as well as for th e

protection of the persons and property.

As described fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of sUAS under

controlled conditions in the NAS that would be a) limited b ) controlled c) predetermined and d) will

provide safety enhancements to the already safe operations in the industry presently using conventional

aircraft. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of

T ransportation ’s (the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to “....establish requirements for the safe

operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.”

The name and address of the applicant is:

Burger Media, Inc.

Attn: Kevin M. Burger

Address: 412 Poplar Hill Court

, Richmond, VA 23229

Tel. : 804

- 240

- 7272

Email: k evin@b urger m edia.com

Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

14 CFR Part 21 subpart H

14 CFR 45.23 (b)

14 CFR 61.113 (a)

14 CFR 91.7 (a)

14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)

14 CFR 91.103

14 CFR 91.109

14 CFR 91.119 (c)

14 CFR 91.121

14 CFR 91.151 (a)

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b)

14 CFR 91.405 (a)

14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1)

14 CFR 91.409 (a) (2)

14 CFR 91.417 (a) & (b)

The sUAS are multi

- rotor craft weighing no more than 55lbs. including payload. Under normal

c onditio ns they operate at speeds of no more than 50kts and have the ability hover and move along a

vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. They will operate in line of sight and will operate within a

closed off and predetermined area

.

Given the small size of the sUAS and the controlled environment provided

, the proposed operations will

adhere to the Reform Act’s safety requirements. The approval of this application presents no national

security issues. Reg arding the level of safety surrounding the proposed operations and the public

benefit, reduction in environmental impacts, including but not limited to reduced emissions and noise,3

the grant of the requested exemption is in the public interest. Accordingly

, the applicant requests that

the FAA grant the requested exemption with minimum delay.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

The operation limitations proposed for an equivalent or higher level of safety

, because operations will

further enhance the safety of the persons and/or property using conventional aircraft.

These limitations and conditions to which the applicant agrees to adhere to when conducting

commercial operations under the FAA issued exemption as set forth in the Flight Operations Manual

(FOM) include:

1. The sUAS weighs less than 55 pounds, including payload . Operations requested in this petition for

exemption are limited to the following aircraft : DJI Inspire 1 and DJI Spreading Wings S1000+

. Proposed operations of any other s UA S will require a new petition or an amendment.

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

3. Maximum flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes. Flights will be terminated at

25% battery power reserve or 30 minutes of flight time whichever occurs first.

4. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) and not

more than 200 feet above an eleva ted platform from which filming is planned.

5. Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS Pilot, the Visual Observer (VO) and may

include but not limited to a Camera Operator.

6. The sUAS PIC must hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot

certificate. The PIC must also hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s

license issued by a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the

Federal government. The PIC must also meet the flight review requirements specified in 14 CFR §

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

7. A briefing will be performed regarding the planned sUAS operations prior to each day’s flight

consisting of all the days’ production activ ities.

8. The operator will file FAA Form 7711

- 1, or its equivalent, as modified in light of the requested

exemption, with the appropriate local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) no more than 72 hours

but no less than 48 hours from planned operation

.

9. The operator will obtain verbal/written consent of all persons involved with the planned operation

and ensure that only consenting persons will be allowed within 100 feet of the flight operation, and

the radius may be reduced to 30 feet based upon an equivalent level of safety determination, as

required under the FOM. With the advanced permission of the FSDO, operations at closer range

may be approved.

10. The PIC and VO will have been trained in operation of sUAS and receive up

- to

- date information fo r

the particular sUAS to be operated.

11. The PIC and VO will be able to communicate by voice, radio, and/or text at all times.

12. Written and/or verbal permission and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, county or city

jurisdictions, includi ng law enforcement, fire or other appropriate governmental agencies.

13. If the sUAS loses communications or loses GPS signal, the sUAS will have the capability to return to a

pre

- determined location within a designated location and land autonomously.

14. The sUAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles, weather, or

emergencies.

14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1 )4

Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requirements for the issuance

of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Given the size and limited operating area

associated with the aircraft to be util ized by the Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets

the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The

Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both author ize the FAA to

exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size,

weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular

sUAS. In all cases, an analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the sUAS operated without an

airworthiness certificate, in the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed will be at

least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating w ith an

airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and conditions proposed.

The sUAS to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor passenger,

carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and o perates exclusively within a secured and

designated area. Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled

and monitored by both the operator and under the requirements and in compliance with local public

safety requi rements . The FAA will have advance notice of all operations. These safety enhancements

provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than conventional operations

conducted with airworthiness certificates issued under 14 C.F.R. Part 2 1, Subpart H. Lastly, application of

these same criteria demonstrates that there is no credible threat to national security posed by the sUAS,

due to its size, speed of operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid

fuels , and inability to carry a substantial external load.

14 C

. F

. R

. part 47 Marking of the Aircraft

All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial number,

registered in accordance with 14 C.P.R. part 4 7, and h ave identification (N Number) markings in

accordance with 14 C.P.R. part 45, subpart C. Markings must be as large as practicable.

14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a): Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations: Pilot in Command.

Pursuant to 14 CFR 61.113 (a), no person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as a pilot in

comman d of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire. Our sUAS do

not carry any pilots or passengers nor property therefore I am seeking an exemption to 14 CFR

61.113(a).

14 C.F.R. §91.7(a): Civil Aircraft Airworthiness.

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

there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption be granted, no

FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft for

maintenance and use of safety check lists prior to each flight

, an equivalent level of safety will be

provided.

14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft

.

Section 91.9 (b) (2) provides: No person may operate a U.S.

- registered civil aircraft ... (2) For which an5

Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this chapter, unless t here is available in

the aircraft a current approved airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material,

markings, and placards, or any combination thereof. The sUAS, given its size and configuration has no

ability or place to carry such a flig ht manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board,

but because there is no room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of

safety will be maintained by keeping the flight manual at the ground control poi nt where the pilot flying

the sUAS will have immediate access to it.

14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight Action.

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

of flight. As FAA approved rotorcraft f light manuals will not be provided for the aircraft an exemption

will be needed. The PIC will take all actions including reviewing weather, flight battery requirements,

landing and takeoff distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight

.

14 C.F.R. §91.109: Flight Instruction.

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

is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls. sUAS and

rem otely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is

accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio

communications. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight tra ining without fully functional dual

controls for a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. The equivalent level

of safety provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by the

s ize and speed of the aircraft.

14 C.F.R. §91.119: Minimum Safe Altitudes

.

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

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

helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption

is for a sUAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests auth ority to operate at altitudes up to 400

AGL, or not more than 200 above an elevated platform from which filming is planned, an exemption

may be needed to allow such operations.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the sUAS as well as the

location where it i s operated. No flight will be taken without the permission of the property owner or

local officials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and participants in the filming

activity , all affected individuals will be aware of the planned flight operations. Compared to flight

operations with aircraft or rotorcraft weighting far more than the maximum 55lbs. proposed herein and

the lack of flammable fuel, any risk associated with these operations is far less than those presently

presented with conve ntional aircraft operating at or below 500 AGL. In addition, the low

- altitude

operations of the sUAS will ensure separation between these small

- UAS operations and the operations

of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119.

14 C.F.R. §9 1.121 Altimeter Settings.

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by reference to6

an altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting

available before departure.” As the sUAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS

altitude read out, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the

operator, pursuant to the safety check list and live flight data monitoring , confirming the altitude of the

launch site shown on the GPS altitude indicator before flight.

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane und er VFR conditions

unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of

intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed

– (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least

30 minutes; or (2) At n ight, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.”

The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 30 minutes of powered flight. To meet the 30

minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, sUAS flights would be limited to approximately 10

minutes in length. Given the limitations on the sUAS’s proposed flight area and the location of its

proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in daylight or twilight

VFR conditions is reasonable.

Applicant believes that an exe mption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope of prior exemptions.

Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area where only people a nd property owners or official

representativ es who have signed waivers will be allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does

not engender the type of risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed

of the small UAS. Additionally, limiting sUAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the utility for

which the exemption will be granted. Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be

achieved by limiting flights to 30 minutes or 25% of battery power

— whichever happens first. This

restriction wo uld be more than adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere

in its limited operating area.

14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration

The regulation provides in pertinent part:

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it

following:

(1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. . . .

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certifica te required by paragraph (a

of this section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit

entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.

The sUAS fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs. and is operat ed without an onboard pilot. As such,

there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display them on the

sUAS.

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

where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to them, to the extent they are applicable to7

the sUAS.

14 C.F.R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 4 09 (a) (2); 417(a) & (b): Maintenance Inspections.

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

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

para graph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter...,” and

others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43.

Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airwort hiness certificate, these

sections will not apply to the applicant. Maintenance will be accomplished by the operator pursuant to

the flight manual and operating handbook. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these

small UASs are very limi ted in size and will carry a small payload and operate only in restricted areas for

limited periods of time. If mechanical issues arise the sUAS can land immediately and will be operating

from no higher than 400 feet AGL. The operator will ensure that the sUAS is in working order prior to

initiating flight, perform required maintenance, and keep a log of any maintenance performed.

Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the

aircraft in an airworthy co ndition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because maintenance and inspections will be performed in

accordance with the sUAS Manufacturer's Manual, as referenced in the Aircraft Operations Manual

(AO M). As provided in the FOM, the operator will ensure that the sUAS is in working order prior to

initiating flight and perform required maintenance needed.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Burger

President, Burger Media