U N IT E D S TAT E S OF AM E R I C A

D EP A R TM EN T OF T R A N S P O R TATION

FE D E R AL AVIATION A D MI N I S T R ATION

WA S H I N G TO N

, D C

R e g u lat o ry D o ck e t No

.

IN THE MATTER OF THE P ETITION F OR EXEM P TION O F :

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

F OR AN EXEM P TION S EEKING R E L IEF F R OM THE R EQUI R E MENTS OF

TIT L E 14 OF THE C ODE OF F EDE R AL R EGU L ATIONS S E C TIONS

61.113( a ) & ( b ), 91.7( a ), 91.121, 91.151( b ), 91.405( a ), 91.407( a )(1),

91.409( a )(1) & ( a )(2), AND 91.417( a ) & ( b ) C ON C E R NING C OMME R C IAL

O P E R ATION OF D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UNMANNED AI R C R A F T

S Y S TEMS P U R S UANT TO S E C TION 333 OF

THE F AA MODE R NI Z ATION AND R E F O R M A C T OF 2012

( P U B L IC L AW 112

- 95)

S u b mitt e d on

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

100 Spruce Pine Lane

Mill Spring NC 28756

828

- 894

- 0425

jj benny@windstream.netTA B L E OF C ONTENTS

P age

G L O SS A R Y OF A BB R E VIATIO N S

........................................................................ .. ... 3

S UMMA R Y

............................................................................................. ... ... ..... ... ..4

I N T R O D U C TION A N D I N TE R E S TS OF PE TITIO NE R

.................................... ... ... ... ...... .4

B A C K G R OU N D

........................................................................ ............... .. ... ......... .4

B A S IS FOR PE TITIO N

................................................ . ........................... ... . ... .. ...... ..5

N AME A N D A DDR E S S OF PE TITIO NE R

......................................................... .. ......... 6

T H E S PE C IFIC S E C TIO N S OF 14 C .F. R . F R OM W H I C H JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

S EE K S

E X E M P TIO N

....................................................................................... .. ...... .6

T H E E X T EN T OF R EL I E F JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S EE K S A N D T H E

R E A S ON JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S EE K S T H E R EL I E F

... .. ........................ ... ..11

T H E R E A S O N S W H Y G R A N TI N G JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’S R E QU E S T

WOU L D B E IN T H E P U B L IC I N T E R E S T

................................................ ... . ... ...14

T H E R E A S O N S W H Y GR A N TI N G T H E E X E M P TION WOU L D N OT

A D VE R S E L Y AFFE C T S AFETY

............................................................ ... . ...... 16

S UMMA R Y T H AT C AN B E P U B L I S HE D IN T H E F E D E R AL R E G I S T E R

............... ... . ...... ..30

A N Y A DD ITIO N AL I N FO R MATIO N , VIEW S , OR A RG UME N TS AVAI L A B L E TO

S UPPO R T JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’S

R E QU E S T

....................................... ........................... ... ........................... ..31

C O N C L U S IO N

................................................................................................... ..31

APPE N D I C E S

........................................................................ . ........................... .33G L O SS A R Y OF A BB R EVIATIONS

A G L Ab o ve G r o u nd Le v e l

AOI Ar e a o f Int e r e s t

ATC Air Traffic C o ntr o l

ATO Air Traffic Organizati o n

AV A e rial V e hicle

C FR C o de o f F e d e ral R e g u lati o ns

C OA C e rtificate o f A u th o rizati o n

FAA F e d e ral Aviati o n Admini s trati o n

FAR F e d e ral Aviati o n R e g u lati o n

GC S G r o u nd C o nt r o l S tati o n

G P S G l o bal Po s iti o ning S y s t e m

L OL Lo s s o f L ink

N AS N ati o nal Air s pace S y s t e m

N OTAM No tice to Airman

P IC P il o t In C o mmand

S e cti o n 333 FAA M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f 2012 (FM R A)

S O S af e ty Ob s e rv e r

S OP S tandard Op e rating P r o c e d u r e s

UA Unmann e d Aircraft

UAS Unmann e d Aircraft S y s t e m

VFR Vi s u al Flight R u l e s

V L OS Vi s u al L ine o f S ite

VMC Vi s u al M e t eo r o l o gical C o nditi o ns

VTOL V e rtical Tak eo ff and L andingS UMMA R Y

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s ee ks e x e mpti o n fr o m the r e q u ir e m e nts o f 14 C .F.R §§

61.113(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.1 51(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) &

(a)(2), and,91.417(a) & (b), to o p e rate an Unmann e d Aircraft S y s t e m p u r s u ant to S e cti o n 333 o f the

FAA M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f 2012 (FM R A). This e x e mpti o n will p e rmit

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST to o p e rate an Unmann e d Aircraft S y s t e m (UA S ) f o r the

c o mm e rcial p u rp o s e o f c o nd u cting a e rial vid e o and ph o t o graphy o f r e al e s tat e , land s cape o v e r

c e rtain ar e as o f the Unit e d S tat e s

.

INT R ODU C TION AND INTE R E S TS OF THE P ETITIONER

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST pr o vid e s his cli e n ts with e xp e rti s e and kn o wl e dge in

advanc e d t e chn o l o gi e s and s o l u ti o ns to incr e a s e e ffici e ncy, pr o d u ctivity and

e ff e ctiv e n e ss . JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST has has logged 100 hours of

r e cr e ati o nal/h o bby e xp e ri e nce o p e rating Unmann e d Aircraft S y s t e ms (UA S ). The

o b j e ctive o f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST and his a e rial o p e rati o ns is to pr o vide high

q u ality imaging f o r a vari e ty o f c o mm e rcial, p u blic, and r e s id e ntial u s e s

, s p e cifically

targ e ting b u t n o t limit e d t o :

• R e al

- e s tate mark e ting

• Commercial Landscape

Photography

B A C KG R OUND

Unmann e d Aircraft S y s t e m s : D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s ee ks an e x e mpti o n to o p e rate D JI s y s t e ms f o r

c o mp e n s ati o n o r hire within the N A S . The D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s is a v e rtical tak eo ff

and landing (VTO L ) Unmann e d Aircraft (UA) with a G r o u nd C o ntr o l S tati o n ( GC S )

u tilizing e l e ctr o nic tabl e t o r s mart ph o ne s y s t e m s . The D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s has a

maxim u m gr o s s w e ight o f appr o ximat e ly 2 p o u nds 13 o u nc e s , while having a l e ngth o f

16 inch e s width o f 16 inch e s , h e igh t o f 8 inch e s , and a maxim u m s p ee d o f

appr o ximat e ly 31 kn o t s . The D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA is e q u ipp e d with f o u r main

r o t o r s ; driv e n by L ithi u m Po lym e r batt e ry p o w e r e d e l e ctric m o t o r s . The D JI P hant o m 2

Vi s i o n P l u s UA that will be o p e rat e d by JEAN

- JACQ UES BENOIST will be r e gi s t e r e d in

acc o rdance with

49 U. S

. C . 44103, Registration of Aircraft , as w e ll as 14 C .F.R P art 47, Aircraft

Registration , and mark e d in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R

. P art 45, Identification and

Registration Marking

.B A S IS F OR P ETITION

Pe titi o n e r, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST, p u r s u ant to the pr o vi s i o ns o f the F e d e ral

Aviati o n R e g u lati o ns (14 C .F. R . § 11.61) and the FAA M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f

2012 (FM R A), S e cti o n 333, Special Rules for Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems

, h e r e by p e titi o ns the Admini s trat o r to c o mm e rcially o p e rate the D JI P hant o m

2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS in the N ati o nal Air s pace S y s t e m ( N A S ), and f o r an e x e mpti o n fr o m

the r e q u ir e m e nts o f 14 C .F.R §§ 61.113(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b),

91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a) (1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b).

In c o n s id e rati o n o f the s p ee d, w e ight, s iz e , and limit e d o p e rating ar e a a ss o ciat e d with the

u nmann e d aircraft and its o p e rati o n, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST o p e rati o n o f D JI P hant o m

2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS m ee ts the c o nditi o ns o f FM R A S e cti o n 333 and th e r e f o r e , will

n o t r e q u ire an airw o rthin e s s c e rtificate in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R

. P art 21, S u bpart H

. Acc o rdingly, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST r e q u e s ts r e li e f fr o m S e cti o ns 91.405(a),

91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b) , as th e s e s e cti o ns s e t f o rth

r e q u ir e m e nts f o r maint e nance that o nly apply to aircraft with an airw o rthin e s s c e rtificat e

.

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits that the r e q u e s t e d r e li e f is pr o p e r s ince an

e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty will be e n s u r e d. JEAN

- JACQUES BE NOIST will u s e

e xp e ri e nc e d p e r s o nn e l

o r t e chnicians to p e rf o rm maint e nanc e , alt e rati o n s

, o r pr e v e ntive maint e nance o n the

UA S u s ing the m e th o d s , t e chniq u e s , and practic e s pr e s crib e d in the o p e rating

d o c u m e nts (i. e ., M o nthly Maint e nance Lo g, and D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s In s tr u cti o n

Man u al). F u rth e rm o r e , JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will d o c u m e nt and maintain

all maint e nance r e c o rds f o r the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S

.

R e li e f fr o m c e rtain r e q u ir e m e nts o f S e cti o n 61.113(a) and (b), e ntitl e d Private pilot

privileg es and limitations: Pilot in command , is r e q u e s t e d by JEAN

- JACQUES

BENOIST to

the e xt e nt n e c e ss ary to all o w a P il o t in C o mmand ( P I C ) h o lding a private pil o t o r high e r

l e v e l c e rtificat e , as w e ll as an airman m e dical c e rtificat e , and who has d e m o n s trat e d, by

m ee ting minim u m flight

- h o u r and c u rr e ncy r e q u ir e m e nt s , that the P IC is able to s af e ly

o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with this

e x e mpti o n, incl u ding e va s ive and e m e rg e ncy man e u v e rs and maintaining appr o priate

di s tanc e s fr o m p eo pl e , v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s and s tr u ct u r e s

.

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s ee ks r e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 91.7(a), e ntitl e d Civil aircraft

airworthiness , b e ca u s e the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS d oe s n o t r e q u ire an

airw o rthin e s s c e rtificate in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R

. P art 21, S u bpart H . As s u ch,

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits that he will e n s u re that the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS is

in an airw o rthy c o nditi o n, pri o r to e v e ry flight, by d e t e rmining that the

UAS is in c o mpliance with the o p e rating d o c u m e nts (i. e ., M o n thly Maint e nance Lo g,

and D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s In s tr u cti o n Man u al), and that the aircraft is in a

c o nditi o n f o r s afe flight.JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST al s o s ee ks an e x e mpti o n fr o m the r e q u ir e m e nts o f S e cti o n

91.121, e ntitl e d Altimeter Settings , as the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA will n o t have a typical

bar o m e tric altim e t e r o nb o ard. Ho w e v e r, altit u de inf o rmati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

UA will be pr o vid e d to the P IC via G l o bal Po s iti o ning S y s t e m ( G P S ) e q u ipm e nt and radio

c o mm u nicati o ns t e l e m e try da ta link, which d o wnlinks

fr o m the UA to the GC S f o r active m o nit o ring o f the flight path. This altit u de inf o rmati o n,

c o mbin e d with JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

within vi s u al line o f s ight, at o r b e l o w 4 00 f ee t A G L

, will e n s u re a l e v e l o f s af e ty

e q u ival e nt to S e cti o n 91.121.

Additi o nally, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s ee ks an e x e mpti o n fr o m the r e q u ir e m e nts o f

S e cti o n 91.151(b), e ntitl e d Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions . JEAN

- JACQUES

BENOIST s u bmits that s af e t y will n o t be aff e ct e d by o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

UA d u ring daylight h o u rs in vi s u al m e t eo r o l o gical c o nditi o ns (VM C ) u nd e r vi s u al

flight r u l e s (VF R ), with e n o u gh batt e ry p o w e r to fly f o r a t o tal d u rati o n o f cr u i s ing

s p ee d, to fly aft e r t hat f o r at l e a s t 4.5 min u t e s

. In acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R . § 11.81, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

pr o vid e s the f o ll o wing inf o rmati o n in s u pp o rt o f its p e titi o n f o r e x e mpti o n:

A. N a me And Addr e ss Of The P e tition e r.

The name and addr e s s o f the Pe titi o n e r and p o int o f c o ntact i s :

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

100 Spruce Pine Lane

Mill Spring, NC 27656

jjbenny@windstream.net

B . The Sp e cific S e ctions Of 14 C

. F

. R

. F rom Which JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

S ee k s

Ex e m p tion.

1. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e nts O f

S e ction 61.113( a ) And ( b ).

S e cti o n 61.113, e ntitl e d P rivate pil o t privil e g e s and limitati o n s : Pilot in command

,

s u b s e cti o ns (a) and (b) pr e s cribe the f o ll o wing, in r e l e vant part:

(a) N o p e r s o n who h o lds a private pil o t c e rtificate may act as a pil o t i n c o mmand

( P I C ) o f an aircraft that is carrying pa ss e ng e rs o r pr o p e rty f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e ;

n o r may that p e r s o n, f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e , act as P IC o f an aircraft.

(b) A private pil o t may, f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e , act as P IC o f an aircraft in

c o nn e cti o n with any b u s in e s s o r e mpl o ym e nt if

—

(1) The flight is o nly incid e ntal to that b u s in e s s o r e mpl o ym e nt; and(2) The aircraft d oe s n o t carry pa ss e ng e rs o r pr o p e rty f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e

.

2.JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e n ts Of

S e ction 91.7( a ).

S e cti o n 91.7, e ntitl e d Civil aircraft airworthiness

, s u b s e cti o n (a), s tat e s the

f o ll o wing:

(a) N o p e r s o n may o p e rate a civil aircraft u nl e s s it is in an airw o rthy c o nditi o n.

3. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The R e qui r e m e nts Of

S e ction 91.121.

S e cti o n 91.121, e ntitl e d Altim e t e r s e tting s

, s u b s e cti o n (a), s tat e s the f o ll o wing, in

part:

(a) E ach p e r s o n o p e rating an aircraft s hall maintain the cr u i s ing altit u de o r

flight l e v e l o f that aircraft, as the ca s e may b e , by r e f e r e nce to an altim e t e r that is

s e t, wh e n o p e rating

--

(1) B e l o w 18,000 f ee t M S L , t o

--

(i) The c u rr e nt r e p o rt e d altim e t e r s e tting o f a s tati o n al o ng the r o u te and

within 100 na u tical mil e s o f the aircraft;

(ii) If th e re is no s tati o n within the ar e a pr e s crib e d in paragraph (a)(1)(i) o f

this s e cti o n, the c u rr e nt r e p o rt e d altim e t e r s e tting o f an appr o priate

available s tati o n; o r

(iii) In the ca s e o f an aircraft n o t e q u ipp e d with a radi o , the e l e vati o n o f the

d e part u re airp o rt o r an appr o priate altim e t e r s e tting available b e f o re

d e part u r e

.

4. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e nts Of

S e ction 91.151( b ).

S e cti o n 91.151, e ntitl e d Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions

, s u b s e cti o n

(b), s tat e s the f o ll o wing:

(b) No person may begin a flight in a rotorcraft under 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, to fly

after that for at least 20 minutes.

5. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e ntOf S e ction 91.405( a ).

S e cti o n 91.405, e ntitl e d Maintenance required

, s u b s e cti o n (a), s tat e s the f o ll o wing:

E ach o wn e r o r o p e rat o r o f an aircraft

— (a) S hall have that aircraft in s p e ct e d as p r e s crib e d in s u bpart E o f this part and

s hall b e tw ee n r e q u ir e d in s p e cti o n s

, e xc e pt as pr o vid e d in paragraph (c) o f this

s e cti o n, have di s cr e panci e s r e pair e d as pr e s crib e d in part 43 o f this chapt e r[.]

6. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The

R e qui r e m e nts

Of S e ction 91.407( a )(1)

S e cti o n 91.407, e ntitl e d Operation after maintenance, preventive maintenance,

rebuilding, or alteration

, s u b s e cti o n (a)(1), s tat e s the f o ll o wing:

(a) N o p e r s o n may o p e rate any aircraft that has u nd e rg o ne maint e nanc e

,

pr e v e ntive maint e nanc e , r e b u ilding, o r alt e rati o n u nl e ss

-- (1) It has b ee n appr o v e d f o r r e t u rn to s e rvice by a p e r s o n a u th o riz e d u nd e r §

43.7 o f this chapt e r[.]

7. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The

R e quir e m e nts

Of S e ctions 91.409( a )(1) And 91.409( a )(2).

S e cti o n 91.409, e ntitl e d Inspections

, s u b s e cti o n (a), s tat e s the f o ll o wing:

(a) E xc e pt as pr o vid e d in paragraph (c) o f this s e cti o n, no p e r s o n may o p e rate an

aircraft u nl e ss , within the pr e c e ding 12 cal e ndar m o nth s , it has had

-- (1) An ann u al in s p e cti o n in acc o rdance with part 43 o f this chapt e r and has

b ee n appr o v e d f o r r e t u rn to s e rvice by a p e r s o n a u th o riz e d by § 43.7 o f this

chapt e r; o r

(2) An in s p e cti o n f o r the i ss u ance o f an airw o rthin e s s c e rtificate in

acc o rdance with part 21 o f this chapt e r.

8. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion F rom The

R e quir e m e nts

Of S e ctions 91.417( a ) And 91.417( b ).

S e cti o n 91.417, e ntitl e d Maintenance records

, s u b s e cti o ns (a) and (b), s tate the

f o ll o wing:

(a) E xc e pt f o r w o rk p e rf o rm e d in acc o rdance with §§ 91.411 and 91.413, e ach

r e gi s t e r e d o wn e r o r o p e rat o r s hall k ee p the f o ll o wing r e c o rds f o r the p e ri o ds

s p e cifi e d in paragraph (b) o f this s e cti o n:

(1) R e c o rds o f the maint e nanc e , pr e v e ntive maint e nanc e , and alt e rati o n and

r e c o rds o f the 100

- h o u r, ann u al, pr o gr e ss i v e , and o th e r r e q u ir e d o r appr o v e d

in s p e cti o n s , as appr o priat e , f o r e ach aircraft (incl u ding the airfram e ) and

e ach e ngin e , pr o p e ll e r, r o t o r, and appliance o f an aircraft. The r e c o rds m u s t

incl u d e

-- (i) A d e s cripti o n ( o r r e f e r e nce to data acc e ptable to the Admini s trat o r) o f

the w o rk p e rf o rm e d; and

(ii) The date o f c o mpl e ti o n o f the w o rk p e rf o rm e d; and(iii) The s ignat u r e , and c e rtificate n u mb e r o f the p e r s o n appr o ving the

aircraft f o r r e t u rn to s e rvic e

. (2) R e c o rds c o ntaining the f o ll o wing inf o rmati o n:

( i) The t o tal time in s e rvice o f the airfram e

, e ach e ngin e

, e ach pr o p e ll e r,

and e ach r o t o r.

(ii) The c u rr e nt s tat u s o f lif e

- limit e d parts o f e ach airfram e

, e ngin e

,

pr o p e ll e r, r o t o r, and applianc e

. (iii) The time s ince la s t o v e rha u l o f all it e ms in s tall e d o n the aircraft

which are r e q u ir e d to be o v e rha u l e d o n a s p e cifi e d time ba s i s

. (iv) The c u rr e nt in s p e cti o n s tat u s o f the aircraft, incl u ding the time

s ince the la s t in s p e cti o n r e q u ir e d by the in s p e cti o n pr o gram u nd e r

which the aircraft and its applianc e s are maintain e d.

(v) The c u rr e nt s tat u s o f applicable airw o rthin e s s dir e ctiv e s (A D ) and

s af e ty dir e ctiv e s incl u ding, f o r e ach, the m e th o d o f c o mplianc e , the AD o r

s af e ty dir e ctive n u mb e r and r e vi s i o n dat e . If the AD o r s af e ty dir e ctive

inv o lv e s r e c u rring acti o n, the time and date wh e n the n e xt acti o n is

r e q u ir e d.

(vi) C o pi e s o f the f o rms pr e s crib e d by § 43.9(d) o f this chapt e r f o r e ach

maj o r alt e rati o n to the airframe and c u rr e ntly in s tall e d e ngin e s , r o t o r s

,

pr o p e ll e r s , and applianc e s

. (b) The o wn e r o r o p e rat o r s hall r e tain the f o ll o wing r e c o rds f o r the p e ri o ds

pr e s crib e d:

(1) The r e c o rds s p e cifi e d in paragraph (a)(1) o f this s e cti o n s hall be r e tain e d

u ntil the w o rk is r e p e at e d o r s u p e r s e d e d by o th e r w o rk o r f o r 1 y e ar aft e r the

w o rk is p e rf o rm e d.

(2) The r e c o rd s s p e cifi e d in paragraph (a)(2) o f this s e cti o n s hall be r e tain e d

and tran s f e rr e d with the aircraft at the time the aircraft is s o ld.

(3) A li s t o f d e f e cts f u rni s h e d to a r e gi s t e r e d o wn e r o r o p e rat o r u nd e r §

43.11 o f this chapt e r s hall be r e tain e d u ntil th e d e f e cts are r e pair e d and the

aircraft is appr o v e d f o r r e t u rn to s e rvic e

.

C . The Ext e nt Of R e li e f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s And The R e a son

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s The R e li e f.

1. Ext e nt Of R e li e f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s And The R e a son

JEAN

- JACQUE S BENOIST S ee k s R e li e f F rom S e ction 61.113( a ) And ( b ).

R e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 61.113(a) and (b) e ntitl e d Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in

command , is r e q u e s t e d to the e xt e nt n e c e ss ary to all o w a P IC h o lding a private pil o t o r

high e r l e v e l c e rtificat e , as w e ll as a c u rr e nt and valid airman m e dical c e rtificat e , and who

has m e t c e rtain flight

- h o u r and c u rr e ncy r e q u ir e m e nt s , to c o nd u ct the pr o p o s e d

UAS flight o p e rati o ns f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e

. This r e li e f is r e q u e s t e d s ince the limitati o ns s e t

f o rth in S e cti o n 61.113(a) and (b) s tate that a private pil o t may, f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e , act as

P IC o f an aircraft in c o nn e cti o n with any b u s in e s s o r e mpl o ym e nt if: (1) The flight is o nlyincid e ntal to that b u s in e s s o r e mpl o ym e nt; and (2) The aircraf t d oe s n o t carry pa ss e ng e rs o r

pr o p e rty f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e . As s e t f o rth m o re f u lly b e l o w, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits

that an e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty will be maintain e d b e ca u s e no P IC will be all o w e d to o p e rate the

D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS u nl e s s that P IC has m e t c e rtain flight

- h o u r and c u rr e ncy

r e q u ir e m e nt s , d e m o n s trating that the P IC is able to s af e ly o p e rate e ith e r the D JI P hant o m 2

Vi s i o n P l u s UAS in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with the o p e rati o ns s p e cificati o ns as d e s crib e d in this

e x e mpti o n, i ncl u ding e va s ive and e m e rg e ncy man e u v e r s , as w e ll as maintain JEAN

JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits that all flights o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S , c o nd u ct e d

by the P IC p u r s u ant to the grant o f this Pe titi o n: (1)

will be incid e ntal to JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s b u s in e ss ; and (2) will n o t

carry pa ss e ng e rs o r pr o p e rty f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e

.

2. Ext e nt Of R e li e f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s R e li e f And The R e a son

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s R e li e f F rom S e ction 91.7( a ).

R e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 91.7(a) e ntitl e d Civil ai rcraft airworthiness , is r e q u e s t e d to the e xt e nt r e q u ir e d to

all o w JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST to d e t e rmine that the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS is in

airw o rthy c o nditi o n pri o r to e v e ry flight by e n s u ring that the UAS is

in c o mpliance with the o p e rating d o c u m e n ts (i. e ., the JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST A e rial

Op e rati o ns Man u al, M o nthly Maint e nance Lo g, and D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

In s tr u cti o n Man u al).

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s ee ks the r e q u e s t e d r e li e f b e ca u s e the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

d oe s n o t r e q u ire an airw o rthi n e s s c e rtificate in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R

. P art 21, S u bpart H . Th e r e f o r e , JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will e n s u re that the D JI P hant o m

2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS is in airw o rthy c o nditi o n ba s e d u p o n its c o mpliance with the

o p e rating d o c u m e nts (i. e ., M o nthly Maint e nance Lo g, and D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s In s tr u cti o n

Man u al) pri o r to e v e ry flight, and f u rth e r, d e t e rmine that the aircraft is in

c o nditi o n f o r s afe flight, as s tat e d in the c o nditi o ns and limitati o ns b e l o w.

3. Ext e nt Of R e li e f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s And The R e a son

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s R e li e f F rom S e ction 91.121.

R e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 91.121, e ntitl e d Altim e t e r s e tting s , may be r e q u ir e d to all o w flight

o p e rati o ns o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S , which u tilize a bar o m e tric pr e ss u re

s e n s o r, G P S e q u ipm e nt, and a radio c o mm u nicati o ns t e l e m e try data link to

d o wnlink altit u de inf o rmati o n fr o m the UA to the P IC at the gr o u nd c o ntr o l s tati o n ( GC S ).

S ince the FAA r e q u ir e s that any altit u de inf o rmati o n c o nc e rning UAS o p e rati o ns be

r e p o rt e d to air traffic c o ntr o l (AT C ) in f ee t ab o ve gr o u nd l e v e l (A G L ), JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

s ee ks the r e q u e s t e d r e li e f b e ca u s e the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA’s altim e t e r may be s e t o n

the gr o u nd to z e ro f ee t A G L , rath e r than the l o cal bar o m e tric pr e ss u re o r fi e ld altit u d e , b e f o re e ach

flight. C o n s id e ring the limit e d altit u de o f the pr o p o s e d o p e rati o n s , r e li e f fr o m 14 C FR 91.121 is

s o u ght to the e xt e nt n e c e ss ary to c o mply with the applicable c o nditi o ns and limitati o ns

s tat e d b e l o w. As m o re f u lly s e t f o rth h e r e in, an e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty will be maintain e d

s ince the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA is e q u ipp e d with a bar o m e tric pr e ss u re s e n s o r and

G P S e q u ipm e nt, which a u t o matically e n s u r e s that a gr o u nd l e v e l pr e ss u re s e tting will be

e s tabli s h e d pri o r to e ach flight, and pr o vid e s the P IC with altit u de inf o rmati o n o f the UA o n

the h e ad s

- u p di s play o f the GC S

.4. Ext e nt Of R e li e f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s And The R e a son

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s R e li e f F rom S e ction 91.151( b ).

R e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 91.151(b) e ntitl e d F u e l r e q u ir e m e n ts f o r flight in VFR c o nditi o n s , is r e q u e s t e d

to the e xt e nt r e q u ir e d to all o w flights o f the batt e ry p o w e r e d D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA

d u ring daylight h o u rs in vi s u al m e t eo r o l o gical c o nditi o ns (VM C ), u nd e r

vi s u al flight r u l e s (VF R ), f o r a t o tal d u rati o n o f 13.5 min u t e s to the fir s t p o int o f int e nd e d

landing and, a ss u ming n o rmal cr u i s ing s p ee d, to fly aft e r that f o r at l e a s t 4.5 min u t e s

. JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s ee ks the r e q u e s t e d r e li e f b e ca u s e with o u t an e x e mpti o n fr o m

S e cti o n 91.151(b), the flight time d u rati o n o f the batt e ry p o w e r e d D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA

will s e v e r e ly c o n s train the practicality o f any a e rial vid e o o r s till ph o to

flight o p e rati o ns that JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST pr o p o s e s to c o nd u ct p u r s u ant to this

Pe titi o n.

S ignificantly, as s e t f o rth b e l o w, the t e chnical s p e cificati o ns o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

UA S , the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s o p e rating d o c u m e nt s , and

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s pr o p o s e d o p e rating limitati o n s

, e n s u re that JEAN

- JACQUES

BENOIST will s af e ly o p e rate the batt e ry p o w e r e d D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA d u ring daylight

h o u rs in vi s u al m e t eo r o l o gical c o nditi o ns (VM C ), u nd e r vi s u al flight r u l e s (VF R ), with e n o u gh

batt e ry p o w e r to

fly f o r a t o tal d u rati o n o f 13.5 min u t e s to the fir s t p o int o f int e nd e d landing and, a ss u ming n o rmal

cr u i s ing s p ee d, to fly aft e r that f o r at l e a s t 4.5 min u t e s

.

5. Ext e nt Of R e li e f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s And The R e a son

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s R e li e f F rom S e ctions 91.405( a ),

91.407( a )(1), 91.409( a )(1) & ( a )(2), And 91.417( a ) & ( b ).

S ince S e cti o ns 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b) o nly

apply to aircraft with an airw o rthin e s s c e rtificat e , JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST r e q u e s ts

r e li e f fr o m th e s e S e cti o ns b e ca u s e the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS d oe s n o t

r e q u ire airw o rthin e s s c e rtificat e s . As s e t f o rth m o re f u lly b e l o w, the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

m ee t the c o nditi o ns o f FM R A S e cti o n 333 f o r o p e rati o n with o u t an airw o rthin e s s c e rtificat e

. Acc o rdingly, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will u s e train e d t e chnicians to p e rf o rm maint e nanc e

, alt e rati o n s

, o r pr e v e ntive maint e nance o n the UAS u s ing the m e th o d s , t e chniq u e s , and practic e s

pr e s crib e d in the UAS o p e rating d o c u m e nts (i. e ., the JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST A e rial Op e rati o ns

Man u al, M o nthly Maint e nance Lo g, and D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s In s tr u cti o n Man u al).

F u rth e rm o r e , JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will d o c u m e nt and maintain all maint e nance r e c o rds f o r

the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S

.

D. The R e a sons Why Gr a nting JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST R e qu e st Would B e In

The P u b lic Int e r e st; Th a t Is, How It Would B e n e fit The P u b lic As A Whol e

.

G ranting the pr e s e nt Pe titi o n will f u rth e r the p u blic int e r e s t by all o wing JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST

to s af e ly, e ffici e ntly, and e c o n o mically p e rf o rm a e rial vid e o and commercial ph o t o graphy o f

c o n s tr u cti o n s it e s , r e al e s tat e , and land s cape o v e r c e rtain ar e as o f the Unit e d S tat e s

. Additi o nally, u s e o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS will d e cr e a s e c o ng e s ti o n

o f the N A S , r e d u ce p o ll u ti o n, and pr o vide s ignificant b e n e fits to the e c o n o my. No tably, the b e n e fits

o f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’ s pr o p o s e d o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS will be

r e aliz e d with o u t implicating any privacy i ss u e s

.

1. The P u b lic Will B e n e fit F rom D e cr e a s e d C ong e stion Of The NA S

.The D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA is batt e ry p o w e r e d and s e rve s as a s af e

,

e ffici e nt, and e c o n o mical alt e rnative to the mann e d aircraft traditi o nally u tiliz e d to o btain

a e rial imag e ry. B y r e d u cing the am o u nt o f mann e d aircraft n ee d e d to p e rf o rm a e rial

acq u i s iti o n s , an e x e mpti o n all o wing the u s e o f a D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

w o u ld r e d u ce the am o u nt o f mann e d aircraft in the N A S , r e d u ce n o i s e and air p o ll u ti o n, as

w e ll as incr e a s e the s af e ty o f life and pr o p e rty in the air and o n the gr o u nd.

F u rth e rm o r e , by r e d u cing the n u mb e r o f mann e d aircraft o p e rating in the N A S , c o ng e s ti o n

ar o u nd airp o rts ca u s e d by arriving and d e parting aircraft will be r e d u c e d. The D JI P hant o m

2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA d oe s n o t r e q u ire an airp o rt to tak eo ff o r land. L ik e wi s e , a r e d u cti o n

o f mann e d aircraft c o nd u cting a e rial vid e o and ph o t o graphy mi ss i o ns w o u ld r e s u lt in f e w e r

aircraft that m u s t be handl e d by air traffic c o ntr o l d u ring the gr o u nd, tak eo ff, d e part u r e , arrival,

and landing pha s e s o f flight o p e rati o n s

.

2. The P u b lic Will B e n e fit F rom The Sa f e ty And Effici e ncy Of The D J I

P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UA S

.

C o nd u cting a e rial acq u i s iti o ns with the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S , in s t e ad o f mann e d

aircraft, will gr e atly b e n e fit the p u blic by dra s tically r e d u cing the l e v e ls o f air and n o i s e p o ll u ti o n

g e n e rat e d d u ring traditi o nal a e rial vid e o and s till ph o t o graphy fli ght o p e rati o n s

. B y u s ing batt e ry

p o w e r and e l e ctric m o t o r s , the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS pr o d u ce no air p o ll u ti o n, and is

the m o s t viable e nvir o nm e ntally c o n s ci o u s alt e rnative to the

cabin cla ss

, s ix cylind e r int e rnal c o mb u s ti o n e ngine aircraft that a re typically u tiliz e d f o r a e rial

vid e o and ph o t o graphy, while b u rning appr o ximat e ly 20

- 30 gall o ns p e r h o u r o f l e ad e d aviati o n

f u e l. The D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA, while r e d u cing the carb o n f oo tprint o f a e rial acq u i s iti o n s

, al s o e liminat e s n o i s e p o ll u ti o n, as the UA is pr o p e ll e d by batt e ry p o w e r e d e l e ctric m o t o r s , rath e r

than an int e rnal c o mb u s ti o n e ngin e

. B y u s ing the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS to p e rf o rm a e rial acq u i s iti o n s , the s u b s tantial

ri s k to life and pr o p e rty in the air and o n the gr o u nd, whic h is u s u ally a ss o ciat e d with

traditi o nal mann e d aircraft flight o p e rati o n s , will be s u b s tantially r e d u c e d o r c o mpl e t e ly

e liminat e d. A s ide fr o m the lack o f flight cr e w m e mb e rs l o cat e d o nb o ard the aircraft, the D JI

P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA (w e ighing appr o xim at e ly 2 p o u nds 11

o u nc e s , at it’s maxim u m gr o s s w e ight with a l e ngth o f 16 inch e s , width o f 16 inch e s , and with no

f u e l o n b o ard), has l e s s phy s ical p o t e ntial f o r c o llat e ral damage to life and pr o p e rty o n the gr o u nd,

and in the air, c o mpar e d to the mann e d aircraft that typically c o nd u ct s imilar o p e rati o ns (w e ighing

appr o ximat e ly 6,000 p o u nds with a wing s pan o f appr o ximat e ly 42 f ee t, a l e ngth o f 34 f ee t, and a

f u e l capacity o f 180 gall o n s ).

3. P e rforming A e ri a l Vid e o a nd P hotogr ap hy O p e r a tions With The D J I

P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UAS Will B e n e fit The Economy.

In additi o n to b e ing s afe and e ffici e nt, the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS is al s o

an e c o n o mical alt e rnative to u s ing mann e d aircraft to c o nd u ct s imilar a e rial o p e rati o n s . As

s u ch, o p e rati o n o f the JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS will all o w Unit e d S tat e s

ba s e d c o mpani e s , like JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST, to r e main c o mp e titive and c o ntrib u te to

gr o wth o f the U. S

. e c o n o my. S p e cifically, with the ri s ing c o s t o f aviati o n f u e l and the

E nvir o nm e ntal P r o t e cti o n Ag e ncy (“ EP A”) r e g u lat o ry acti o ns pha s ing o u t l e ad e d aviati o n

f u e l s , U. S

. o wn e d and o p e rat e d c o mpani e s m u s t ad o pt n e w and alt e rnative t e chn o l o gy in

o rd e r to r e main c o mp e titiv e . Op e rating the batt e ry p o w e r e d D JI P hant o m JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n

P l u s UAS is o ne s u ch t e chn o l o gy that n o t o nly all o ws c o mpani e s gr e at e r o p e rati o nalfl e xibility c o mpar e d to mann e d aircraft, b u t pr o vid e s s u ch fl e xibility with o u t the high

o p e rati o nal c o s t o f a traditi o nal mann e d aircraft.

B y o p e rating the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S , c o mpani e s s u ch as JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST,

can r e main c o mp e titive and pr o fitabl e , and th e r e f o r e , pr o vide gr e at e r j o b s tability to

e mpl o y ee s and c o ntract o r s , which will u ltimat e ly c o ntrib u te to gr o wth o f the

U. S

. e c o n o my. Impr o v e d financial p e rf o rmance o f U. S . c o mpani e s

, thr o u gh c o mm e rcial

u s e o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S , pr o vid e s a s table w o rkf o rce that

incr e a s e s c o n s u m e r s p e nding; impr o v e s l o cal, s tat e , and f e d e ral tax r e v e n u e s ; and all o ws

c o mpani e s to inv e s t in r e s e arch and d e v e l o pm e nt in o rd e r to r e main c o mp e t itive b o th in the

Unit e d S tat e s and abr o ad.

4. Th e re Are No P rivacy Issu e s.

S imilar to the mann e d a e rial acq u i s iti o n flight o p e rati o ns that have b ee n c o nd u ct e d f o r d e cad e s

, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s pr o p o s e d o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS w ill n o t

implicate any privacy i ss u e s

. S p e cifically, the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS will be o p e rat e d

o nly in c o mpliance with o p e rating d o c u m e nts (i. e ., the JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST A e rial

Op e rati o ns Man u al, M o nthly Maint e nance Lo g, and D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s In s tr u cti o n

Man u al) which r e q u ir e s pr o p e rty o wn e r inv o lv e m e nt as w e ll as l o cal law e nf o rc e m e nt n o tificati o n,

and in acc o rdance with the F e d e ral Aviati o n R e g u lati o n s , incl u ding the minim u m altit u de

r e q u ir e m e nts o f 14 C .F. R . § 91.119.

E. The R e a sons Why Gr a nting The Ex e m p tion Would Not Adv e rs e ly Aff e ct Sa f e ty, Or

How The Ex e m p tion Would P rovide A L e v e l Of Sa f e ty At L e a st Equ a l To Th a t

P rovid e d B y The R ule F rom Which JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion.

1. R e a sons Why The D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UA M e e t The C onditions

Of The F AA Mod e rni z a tion a nd R e form Act of 2012 ( F M R A) S e ction 333.

In c o n s id e rati o n o f the s iz e , w e ight, s p ee d, and limit e d o p e rating ar e a a ss o ciat e d with the

u nmann e d aircraft and its o p e rati o n, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s o p e rati o n o f the D JI

P hant o m 2

Vi s i o n P l u s UAS m ee t the c o nditi o ns o f FM R A S e cti o n 333, and will n o t r e q u ire an airw o rthin e s s

c e rtificate in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R

. P art 21, S u bpart H

.

S e cti o n 333 pr o vid e s a u th o rity f o r a UAS to o p e rate with o u t airw o rthin e s s c e rtificati o n and s e ts f o rth

r e q u ir e m e nts f o r c o n s id e ring wh e th e r a UAS will cr e ate a hazard to u s e rs o f the N AS o r the p u blic,

o r o th e rwi s e p o s e a thr e at to nati o nal s e c u rity. S p e cifically, FM R A S e cti o n 333 s tat e s the f o ll o wing,

in part:

(a) In General.

-- Notwithstan ding any other requirement of this subtitle, and not later

than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation

shall determine if certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the

national airspace system before completion of the plan and rulemaking required by

section 332 of this Act or the guidance required by section

334 of this Act.

(b) Assessment of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

-- In making the determination

under subsection (a), the Secretary shall determine, at a minimum

—(1) which types of unmanned aircraft systems, if any, as a result of their

size, weight, speed, operational capability, proximity to airports and

populated areas, and operation within visual line of sight do not create a

hazard to users of t he national airspace system or the public or pose a

threat to national security; and

(2) whether a certificate of waiver, certificate of authorization, or airworthiness

certification under section 44704 of title 49, United States Code, is required

for t he operation of unmanned aircraft systems identified under paragraph (1).

(c) Requirements for Safe Operation.

-- If the Secretary determines under this section that

certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national airspace system, the

S ecretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the

national airspace system.

In s ee king this e x e mpti o n, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits that the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

UAS can o p e rate s af e ly in the N AS p u r s u ant to FM R A S e cti o n 333, as d e m o n s trat e d by: (a) the

charact e ri s tics o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S ; (b) the pil o t c e rtificati o n r e q u ir e m e nt; and (c)

the s p e cific o p e rating limitati o n s

.

a . The Sp e cific a tions Of The D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UAS

D e monstr a t e s Its Sa fe C h a r a ct e ristics.

The D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS do e s n o t cr e ate a hazard to u s e rs o f the N AS o r the

p u blic, o r o th e rwi s e p o s e a thr e at to nati o nal s e c u rity c o n s id e ring its s iz e , w e ight, s p ee d,

and o p e rati o nal capability.

i. T e chnic a l Sp e cific a tions Of The D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UA S

.

The t e chnical s p e cificati o ns o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS are s e t f o rth by the

D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS U s e r Man u al, attach e d h e r e to as App e ndix A.

ii. The D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UAS Auto nomous F light And

N a vig a tion Mod e s En ab le The UAS To R e m a in Within A

D e fin e d O p e r a tion a l Ar e a

.

The D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS may be o p e rat e d in b o th man u al and f u lly a u t o n o m o u s

flight m o d e s . A c o mpl e te d e s cripti o n o f the flight and navigati o nal m o d e s o f

the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS is pr o vid e d at pag e s 26

- 36 o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n

P l u s UAS U s e r Man u al, attach e d h e r e to as App e ndix A.

iii. The D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UAS IS D e sign e d F or Autom a tic

R e turn To Home P oint Or Hov e r In The Ev e nt O f L oss Of The

C ontrol L ink Or N a vig a tion.

Wh e n the Co ntr o l L ink is l o s t, the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA will r e mains tati o nary, in flight, f o r 3 s e c o nds o r m o r e . If, aft e r 3 s e c o nd s , the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA

do n o t r e acq u ire c o ntr o l link data fr o m the GC S , the UA will a ss u me that

the C o ntr o l L ink is l o s t and the UA will r e t u rn to the h o me p o s iti o n (i. e ., fail s afe m o d e )

via G P S , and will d e s c e nd to the tak eo ff p o s iti o n and s h u td o wn.

A c o mpl e te d e s cripti o n o f the Fail s afe F u ncti o ns o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS are s e t f o rth

at pag e s 31 thr o u gh 34 o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s U s e r Man u al, attach e d h e r e to as

App e ndix A.

iv. The D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UAS G C S And Its O p e r a tion.

A c o mpl e te d e s cripti o n o f the o p e rati o n and s p e cificati o ns o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

UAS GC S and flight c o ntr o l s o ftware is pr o vid e d at pag e s 42 thr o u gh 60 o f the D JI P hant o m 2

Vi s i o n P l u s U s e r Man u al. D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s U s e r Man u als are attach e d h e r e to as

App e ndix A.

b

. F light O p e r a tions Of D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UAS Is

L imit e d To The L ine Of S ight Of A C e rtific a t e d P ilot in C omm a nd With

A Sa f e ty O b s e rv e r.

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will act as a pil o t in c o mmand ( P I C ) o f the

D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S . Additi o nally, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will provide a s af e ty

o b s e rv e r to a ss i s t the PIC d u ring flight tim e

.

c. F lights Of D J I P h a ntom 2 Vision P lus UAS Will B e C onduct e d

P ursu a nt To Sp e cific O p e r a ting L imit a tions.

In seeking this exemption, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST proposes to comme rcially operate

D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S fo r t he special purp ose of conducting aerial vide o

and photograph y o ver ce rtai n ar eas o f United States, pursuant to th e f ollowi ng s pecifi c

oper ating limitations:

1. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption will be limited to the f

ollow ing aircraft described in the operating documents, ro torcraft UASs w

eighing less than 55 pounds maximu m gross weight:

Unmanned Aircraft System

. Pr oposed operations of any other air craft

will require a new petition or a petition t o amend this grant.

2. UAS operations under this exemption will be limited to conducting operations

for t he purp ose of aerial video a nd photography

.

3. The UA may not be flown at an indicated airspeed exceeding 20 knots.

4. The U A must be operated at an altitude of no more than 4 00 feet above grou

nd level (AGL), as indicated by the procedures specified in the operating docum

ents unless a special request is made and approved by ATC. All altitudes report

ed to ATC must be in feet AGL.5. The UAs must be operated within visual line of sight (VLO S) of the PIC at all

times. This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by any devi

ce other than corrective lenses, as specified on the PIC’s FAA

- - ‐

issued airman medical certificate.

6. The u se of first p erson view (FPV) b y t he PI C or safe t y observer (SO) is not

permitted.

7. All operations must utilize a safety observer (SO). The SO may be used to sati

sfy the VLOS requirement as long as the PIC always maintains VLO S capability.

The SO and PIC must be able to communicate verbally at all times. E l e ctr o nic

m e ss aging o r t e xting is n o t p e rmitt e d d u ring flight o p e rati o n s . The P IC m u s t be

d e s ignat e d b e f o re the flight and cann o t tran s f e r his o r h e r d e s ignati o n f o r the

d u rati o n o f the flight. The P IC m u s t e n s u re that the S O can p e rf o rm the f u ncti o ns

pr e s crib e d in the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s

.

8. The S O m u s t n o t p e rf o rm any o th e r d u ti e s b e y o nd a ss i s ting the P IC with

s ee ing and av o idin g o th e r air traffic and o th e r gr o u nd ba s e d

o b s tacl e s / o b s tr u cti o ns and is n o t p e rmitt e d to o p e rate the cam e ra o r o th e r

in s tr u m e nt s

.

9. The o p e rating d o c u m e nts and the grant o f e x e mpti o n m u s t be acc e ss ible d u ring

UAS o p e rati o ns and made available to the A dmini s trat o r u p o n r e q u e s t. If a

di s cr e pancy e xi s ts b e tw ee n the c o nditi o ns and limitati o ns c o ntain e d in the grant o f

e x e mpti o n and the pr o c e d u r e s o u tlin e d in the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s , the c o nditi o ns

and limitati o ns c o ntain e d in the grant o f e x e mpti o n take pr e c e d e nce and m u s t be

f o ll o w e d. Oth e rwi s e , the o p e rat o r m u s t f o ll o w the pr o c e d u r e s as o u tlin e d in its

o p e rating d o c u m e nt s . The o p e rat o r may u pdate o r r e vi s e its o p e rating d o c u m e nt s

. It is the o p e rat o r’s r e s p o n s ibility to track s u ch r e vi s i o ns and pr e s e nt u pd at e d and

r e vi s e d d o c u m e nts to the Admini s trat o r u p o n r e q u e s t. The o p e rat o r m u s t al s o

pr e s e nt u pdat e d and r e vi s e d d o c u m e nts if it p e titi o ns f o r e xt e n s i o n o r am e ndm e nt

to the grant o f e x e mpti o n. If the o p e rat o r d e t e rmin e s that any u pdate o r r e vi s i o n

w o u ld af f e ct the ba s is u p o n which the FAA grant e d the e x e mpti o n, th e n the

o p e rat o r m u s t p e titi o n f o r am e ndm e nt to its grant o f e x e mpti o n. The FAA’s UAS

Int e grati o n Office (AF S

- 80) may be c o ntact e d if q u e s ti o ns ari s e r e garding u pdat e s

o r r e vi s i o ns to the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s

.

10. P ri o r to e ach flight the P IC m u s t in s p e ct the UAS to e n s u re that it is in a

c o nditi o n f o r s afe flight. If the in s p e cti o n r e v e als a c o nditi o n that aff e cts the s afe

o p e rati o n o f the UA S , the aircraft is pr o hibit e d fr o m o p e rating u ntil the

n e c e ss ary maint e nance has b ee n p e rf o rm e d and the UAS is f o u nd to be in a

c o nditi o n f o r s afe flight. The G r o u nd C o ntr o l S tati o n m u s t be incl u d e d in the

pr e flight in s p e cti o n. All maint e nance and alt e rati o ns m u s t be pr o p e rly

d o c u m e nt e d in the aircraft r e c o rd s

.

11. Any UAS that has u nd e rg o ne maint e nance o r alt e rati o ns that aff e ct the UASo p e rati o n o r flight charact e ri s tic s

, e .g. r e plac e m e nt o f a flight critical

c o mp o n e nt, m u s t u nd e rgo a f u ncti o nal t e s t flight. The P IC who c o nd u cts the

f u ncti o nal t e s t flight m u s t make an e ntry in the aircraft r e c o rd s

.

12. The pr e

- flight in s p e cti o n m u s t acc o u nt f o r all p o t e ntial di s cr e panci e s

, e .g.

in o p e rable c o mp o n e nt s , it e m s

, o r e q u ipm e nt, n o t alr e ady c o v e r e d in the r e l e vant

s e cti o ns o f the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s

.

13. The o p e rat o r m u s t f o ll o w the UAS man u fact u r e r’s aircraft/c o mp o n e nt,

maint e nanc e

, o v e rha u l, r e plac e m e nt, in s p e cti o n, and life limit r e q u ir e m e nt s

.

14. The o p e rat o r m u s t carry o u t its maint e nanc e , in s p e cti o n s , and r e c o rd k ee ping

r e q u ir e m e nt s , in acc o rdance with the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s . Maint e nanc e

, in s p e cti o n, alt e rati o n s , and s tat u s o f r e plac e m e nt/ o v e rha u l c o mp o n e nt parts m u s t

be n o t e d in the aircraft r e c o rd s , incl u ding t o tal time in s e rvic e , d e s cripti o n o f w o rk

acc o mpli s h e d, and the s ignat u re o f the a u th o riz e d p e r s o n r e t u rning the UAS to

s e rvic e

.

15. E ach UA S s o p e rat e d u nd e r this e x e mpti o n m u s t c o mply with all

man u fact u r e r S af e ty B u ll e tin s

.

16. The a u th o riz e d p e r s o n m u s t make an e ntry in the aircraft r e c o rd o f the

c o rr e ctive acti o n tak e n again s t di s cr e pan ci e s di s c o v e r e d b e tw ee n in s p e cti o n s

.

17 . The o p e rat o r may n o t p e rmit any P IC to o p e rate u nl e s s the P IC m ee ts the

o p e rat o r’s q u alificati o n crit e ria and d e m o n s trat e s the ability to s af e ly o p e rate the

UAS in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with h o w the UAS will be o p e r at e d u nd e r the

e x e mpti o n, incl u ding e va s ive and e m e rg e ncy man e u v e rs and maintaining

appr o priate di s tanc e s fr o m p e r s o n s , v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s and s tr u ct u r e s

. P IC

q u alificati o n flight h o u rs m u s t be l o gg e d in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with 14 C .F. R

. § 61.51(b). Flight s f o r the p u rp o s e s o f training the o p e rat o r’s P I C s are p e rmitt e d

u nd e r the t e rms o f the e x e mpti o n. Ho w e v e r, training o p e rati o ns may o nly be

c o nd u ct e d d u ring d e dicat e d training s e ss i o n s

. Du ring training, pr o fici e ncy, and

e xp e ri e nc e

- b u ilding flight s , all p e r s o ns n o t e ss e ntial f o r flight o p e rati o ns are

c o n s id e r e d n o nparticipant s , and the P IC m u s t o p e rate the UA with appr o priate

di s tance fr o m n o nparticipants in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R . §

91.119.18 . UAS o p e rati o ns may n o t be c o nd u ct e d d u ring ni g ht, as d e fin e d in 14 C .F. R

. § 1.1. All o p e rati o ns m u s t be c o nd u ct e d u nd e r vi s u al m e t eo r o l o gical c o nditi o ns

(VM C ). If flight at night is r e q u ir e d, a s p e cial r e q u e s t will be made at the FAA

o ffice cl o s e s t to pr o p o s e d ar e a o f o p e rati o n s . Flights u nd e r s p e cial vi s u al flight

r u l e s ( S VF R ) are n o t a u th o riz e d.

19 . The UA may n o t o p e rate within 5 na u tical mil e s o f an airp o rt r e f e r e nce p o int

as d e n o t e d o n a c u rr e nt FAA

- p u bli s h e d a e r o na u tical chart u nl e s s a l e tt e r o f

agr ee m e nt with that airp o rt’s manag e m e nt is o btain e d, and the o p e rati o n is

c o nd u ct e d in acc o rdance with a N OTAM as r e q u ir e d by the o p e rat o r’s C OA.

The l e tt e r o f agr ee m e nt with the airp o rt manag e m e nt m u s t be made available to the

Admini s trat o r u p o n r e q u e s t.

20 . The UA may n o t be o p e rat e d l e s s than 4 00 f ee t b e l o w o r l e s s than 2,000

f ee t h o riz o ntally fr o m a cl o u d o r wh e n vi s ibility is l e s s than 3 s tat u te mil e s fr o m

the P I C

.

21 . If the UA l o s e s c o mm u nicati o ns o r l o s e s its G P S s ignal, it m u s t r e t u rn to a

pr e

- d e t e rmin e d l o cati o n within the plann e d o p e rating ar e a and l and o r be

r e c o v e r e d in acc o rdance with the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s

.

22 . The P IC m u s t ab o rt the flight in the e v e nt o f u npr e dict e d o b s tacl e s o r

e m e rg e nci e s in acc o rdance with the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s

.

23 . The P IC is pr o hibit e d fr o m b e ginning a flight u nl e s s (c o n s id e ring wind and

f o r e ca s t w e ath e r c o nditi o n s ) th e re is e n o u gh p o w e r to fly at n o rmal cr u i s ing

s p ee d to the int e nd e d landing p o int and land the UA with 25% batt e ry p o w e r

r e maining.

24 . The o p e rat o r m u s t o btain an Air Traffic Organizati o n (ATO) i ss u e d

C e rtificate o f Waiv e r o r A u th o rizati o n ( C OA) pri o r to c o nd u cting any o p e rati o ns

u nd e r the grant o f e x e mpti o n. This C OA will al s o r e q u ire the o p e rat o r to

r e q u e s t a No tice to Airman ( N OTAM) n o t m o re than 72 h o u rs in

advanc e , b u t n o t l e s s than 48 h o u rs pr i o r to the o p e rati o n. All o p e rati o ns s hall

be c o nd u ct e d in acc o rdance with air s pace r e q u ir e m e nts in the ATO i ss u e d C OA

incl u ding cla s s o f air s pac e , altit u de l e v e l and p o t e ntial tran s p o nd e r

r e q u ir e m e nt s

.

25 . All aircraft o p e rat e d in acc o rdance with the e x e mpti o n m u s t be id e ntifi e d by

s e rial n u mb e r, r e gi s t e r e d in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R . part 47, and have

id e ntificati o n ( N

- N u mb e r) markings in acc o rdance with 14 C .F. R . part 45, S u bpart

C . Markings m u s t be as large as practicabl e

.26

. B e f o re c o nd u cting o p e rati o n s , the radio fr e q u e ncy s p e ctr u m u s e d f o r o p e rati o n

and c o ntr o l o f the UA m u s t c o mply with the F e d e ral C o mm u nicati o ns C o mmi ss i o n

(F CC ) o r o th e r appr o priate g o v e rnm e nt o v e r s ight ag e ncy r e q u ir e m e nt s

.

27 . The d o c u m e nts r e q u ir e d f e w e r than 14 C .F. R . 91 .9 and 91.203 m u s t be

available to the P IC at the G r o u nd C o ntr o l S tati o n o f the UAS any time the

UAS is o p e rating. Th e s e d o c u m e nts m u s t be made available to the

Admini s trat o r o r any law e nf o rc e m e nt o fficial u p o n r e q u e s t.

28 . The UA m u s t r e main cl e ar and yi e ld the right o f way to all mann e d aviati o n

o p e rati o ns and activiti e s at all tim e s

.

29 . The UAS may n o t be o p e rat e d by the P IC fr o m any m o ving d e vice o r v e hicl e

.

30 . Flight o p e rati o ns m u s t be c o nd u ct e d at l e a s t 500 f ee t fr o m all n o nparticipating

p e r s o ns (p e r s o ns o th e r than the P I C

, S O, o p e rat o r train ee s o r e ss e ntial p e r s o n s ),

v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s , and s tr u ct u r e s u nl e ss :

a. B arri e rs o r s tr u ct u r e s are pr e s e nt that s u ffici e ntly pr o t e ct n o nparticipating

p e r s o ns fr o m the UA and/ o r d e bris in the e v e nt o f an accid e nt. The o p e rat o r

m u s t e n s u re that n o nparticipating p e r s o ns r e main u nd e r s u ch pr o t e cti o n. If a

s it u ati o n ari s e s wh e re n o nparticipating

p e r s o ns l e ave s u ch pr o t e cti o n and are within 500 f ee t o f the UA, flight

o p e rati o ns m u s t c e a s e imm e diat e ly and/ o r ;

b. The aircraft is o p e rat e d n e ar v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s o r s tr u ct u r e s wh e re the

o wn e r/c o ntr o ll e r o f s u ch v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s o r s tr u ct u r e s has grant e d

p e rmi ss i o n and the P IC has made a s af e ty a ss e ss m e nt o f the ri s k o f

o p e rating cl o s e r to th o s e o bj e cts and d e t e rmin e d that it d oe s n o t pr e s e nt an

u nd u e hazard, and;

c. Op e rati o ns n e ar e r to the P I C

, S O, o p e rat o r train ee s o r e ss e ntial p e r s o ns do

n o t pr e s e nt an u nd u e hazard to th o s e p e r s o ns p e r § 91.119(a).

31 . All o p e rati o ns s hall be c o nd u ct e d o v e r private o r c o ntr o ll e d

- acc e s s pr o p e rty

with p e rmi ss i o n fr o m the land o wn e r/c o ntr o ll e r o r a u th o riz e d r e pr e s e ntativ e

. Pe rmi ss i o n fr o m land o wn e r/c o ntr o ll e r o r a u th o riz e d r e pr e s e ntative will be o btain e d

f o r e ach flight to be c o nd u ct e d.32 . Any incid e nt, accid e nt, o r fligh t o p e rati o n that tran s gr e ss e s the lat e ral o r

v e rtical b o u ndari e s o f the o p e rati o nal ar e a as d e fin e d by the applicable C OA

m u s t be r e p o rt e d to the FAA's UAS Int e grati o n Office (AF S

- 80) within 24

h o u r s . Accid e nts m u s t be r e p o rt e d to the N ati o nal Tran s p o rtati o n S af e ty B o ard

( N T S B ) p e r in s tr u cti o ns c o ntain e d o n the N T S B W e b s it e : www.nt s b.g o v

.

2. R e a sons Why An Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e nts Of S e ction

61.113( a ) And ( b ) Would Not Adv e rs e ly Aff e ct Sa f e ty.

JEAN

- JACQU ES BENOIST s u bmits that the e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty e s tabli s h e d by S e cti o n

61.113(a) and (b) will be maintain e d b e ca u s e no P IC will be all o w e d to o p e rate the D JI P hant o m

2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS u nl e s s that P IC has d e m o n s trat e d, by m ee ting minim u m flight

- h o u r and

c u rr e ncy r e q u ir e m e nt s , that the P IC is able to s af e ly o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with the e x e mpti o n, incl u ding e va s ive and e m e rg e ncy man e u v e rs and

maintaining appr o priate di s tanc e s fr o m p eo pl e , v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s an d s tr u ct u r e s

.

C o n s id e ring JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s pr o p o s e d ar e a o f o p e rati o n s , and the o p e rating

limitati o ns s e t f o rth

- ab o v e ; the parall e l nat u re o f private pil o t a e r o na u tical kn o wl e dge

r e q u ir e m e nts to th o s e o f c o mm e rcial pil o t r e q u ir e m e nts ( S e e E x e mpti o n No . 11062); and the

airman s hip s kills n e c e ss ary to s af e ly o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S , JEAN

JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits that the additi o nal mann e d airman s hip e xp e ri e nce o f a

c o mm e rcially c e rtificat e d pil o t w o u ld n o t c o rr e late to the airman s hip s k ills n e c e ss ary f o r

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s s p e cific pr o p o s e d flight o p e rati o n s

.

The FAA has pr e vi o u s ly grant e d r e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 61.113(a) and (b) s p e cific to UA S , in

circ u m s tanc e s s imilar, in all mat e rial r e s p e ct s , to th o s e pr e s e nt e d h e r e in ( e .g. E x e mpt i o n

No s . 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136,

11138, 11150, 11153, 11156, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161).

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will n o t all o w any P IC to o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

u nl e s s that P IC has d e m o n s trat e d, by m ee ting minim u m flight

- h o u r r e q u ir e m e nts o r

the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS training and c u rr e ncy r e q u ir e m e nt s , that the P IC is

able to s af e ly o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with

this e x e mpti o n, incl u ding e va s ive and e m e rg e ncy man e u v e rs and maintaining

appr o priate di s tanc e s fr o m p eo pl e , v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s and s tr u ct u r e s

.

S p e cifically, the P IC m u s t have acc u m u lat e d and l o gg e d, in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with 14

C .F. R . § 61.51(b), 25 h o u rs o f t o tal time as a UAS r o t o rcraft pil o t (with a minim u m o f 5

h o u rs o f th o s e h o u rs as a UAS pil o t o p e rating the s ame make and m o d e l o f UAS to be u s e d f o r

o p e rati o ns u nd e r the e x e mpti o n). In additi o n to the h o u r r e q u ir e m e nt s , the P IC m u s t acc o mpli s h

3 tak eo ffs and landings in the pr e c e ding 90 days (f o r c u rr e ncy p u rp o s e s ).

As in E x e mpti o n No s . 11062, 11138, and 11153, pri o r d o c u m e nt e d flight e xp e ri e nce that

was o btain e d in c o mpliance with applicable r e g u lati o ns will e n s u re an e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f

s af e ty d u ring JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s pr o p o s e d o p e rati o n s . The Admini s trat o r hash e ld that pri o r d o c u m e nt e d flight e xp e ri e nce that was o btain e d in c o mpliance with applicable

r e g u lati o ns w o u ld e n s u re s afe o p e rati o n s

, s tating as f o ll o w s :

In E x e mpti o n No . 11062, the FAA r e q u ir e d that pri o r to c o nd u cting o p e rati o ns f o r the

p u rp o s e o f m o ti o n pict u re filming ( o r s imilar o p e rati o n s ), the P IC m u s t have

acc u m u lat e d and l o gg e d, in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with 14 C FR 61.51(b), 25 h o u rs o f

t o tal time as a UAS r o t o rcraft pil o t incl u ding at l e a s t 10 h o u rs l o gg e d as a UAS pil o t

with a m u lti

- r o t o r UA S

. P ri o r to o p e rati o ns u nd e r E x e mpti o n No . 11062, the P IC m u s t

al s o have acc u m u lat e d and l o gg e d a minim u m o f 5 h o u rs as a UAS pil o t o p e rating the

s ame make and m o d e l o f UAS to be u s e d f o r o p e rati o ns u nd e r the e x e mpti o n. F o r

clarificati o n, the FAA c o n s id e rs th e s e minim u m h o u r r e q u ir e m e nts to be incl u s ive

rath e r than additiv e ; i. e . 5 h o u rs make and m o d e l time may be incl u d e d in the 10

h o u rs o f m u lti

- r o t o r time and the 10 h o u rs may be incl u d e d in

the t o tal 25 h o u rs o f UAS r o t o rcraft tim e . In additi o n to the h o u r r e q u ir e m e nt s , the P IC

m u s t acc o mpli s h 3 tak eo ffs and landings in the pr e c e ding 90 days (f o r c u rr e ncy

p u rp o s e s ). The FAA finds that at a minim u m, the fli g ht

- h o u r r e q u ir e m e nts in

E x e mpti o n No . 11062 are appr o priate t o practice and b u ild pr o fici e ncy in the s kills

n e c e ss ary to s af e ly c o nd u ct the p e titi o n e r’s pr o p o s e d o p e rati o n s . The FAA al s o finds

that pri o r d o c u m e nt e d flight e xp e ri e nce that was o btain e d in c o mpliance with

applicable r e g u lati o ns w o u ld s ati s fy this r e q u i r e m e nt. Training, pr o fici e ncy, and

e xp e ri e nc e

- b u ilding flights can al s o be c o nd u ct e d u nd e r the grant o f

e x e mpti o n to acc o mpli s h the r e q u ir e d flight tim e

. Du ring training, pr o fici e ncy, and

e xp e ri e nc e

- b u ilding flights the P IC is r e q u ir e d to o p e rate the UA wi th appr o priate

di s tanc e s in acc o rdance with 14 C .F.R 91.119.

E x e mpti o n No . 11138 at page 15.

Acc o rdingly, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will e n s u re s afe o p e rati o ns by n o t all o wing any

P IC to o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS u nl e s s that P IC has d e m o n s t rat e d,

by m ee ting minim u m flight

- h o u r and c u rr e ncy r e q u ir e m e nt s , that the P IC is able to s af e ly

o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS in a mann e r c o n s i s t e nt with the

e x e mpti o n, incl u ding e va s ive and e m e rg e ncy man e u v e rs and maintaining appr o priate

di s ta nc e s fr o m p eo pl e , v e ss e l s , v e hicl e s and s tr u ct u r e s

.

3. R e a sons Why An Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e nts Of S e ction 91.7( a )

Would Not Adv e rs e ly Aff e ct Sa f e ty.

The e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty e s tabli s h e d by S e cti o n 91.7(a) will be maintain e d b e ca u s e

pri o r to e v e ry flight, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will e n s u re that the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

is in an airw o rthy c o nditi o n ba s e d u p o n the UA S ’s c o mpliance with its

o p e rating d o c u m e nts and as s tat e d in the c o nditi o ns and limitati o ns h e r e in.

Additi o nally, the FAA has pr e vi o u s ly grant e d r e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 91.7(a) s p e cific to UA S

, in circ u m s tanc e s s imilar, in all mat e rial r e s p e ct s , to th o s e pr e s e nt e d h e r e in ( e .g. E x e mpti o n

No s . 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136,

11138, 11150 , 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161).

4. R e a sons Why An Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e nts Of S e ction 91.121Would Not Adv e rs e ly Aff e ct Sa f e ty.

The e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty e s tabli s h e d by S e cti o n 91.121 will be maintain e d b e ca u s e the

alti t u de inf o rmati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA will be pr o vid e d to

the P IC via G P S e q u ipm e nt and a radio c o mm u nicati o ns t e l e m e try data link, which

d o wnlinks fr o m the UA to the GC S f o r active m o nit o ring o f the flight path and altit u d e

. This altit u de i nf o rmati o n, c o mbin e d with JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m

2

Vi s i o n P l u s UA within vi s u al line o f s ight, at o r b e l o w 500 f ee t A G L

, will e n s u re a l e v e l o f s af e ty e q u ival e nt to S e cti o n 91.121. The altit u de inf o rmati o n will be

g e n e rat e d by G P S e q u ipm e nt in s tall e d o nb o ard the aircraft. P ri o r to e ach flight, a z e ro

altit u de initiati o n p o int is a u t o matically e s tabli s h e d by the UA S s at gr o u nd l e v e l.

The FAA has pr e vi o u s ly grant e d r e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 91.121 s p e cific to UA S , in circ u m s tanc e s

s imi lar, in all mat e rial r e s p e ct s , to th o s e pr e s e nt e d h e r e in ( e .g. E x e mpti o n No s . 11062,

11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11112, 11136, 11138,

11150, 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161).

5. R e a sons Why An Ex e m p tion F rom The R e qui r e m e nts Of S e ction

91.151( b ) Would Not Adv e rs e ly Aff e ct Sa f e ty.

A grant o f this e x e mpti o n w o u ld e n s u re an e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty e s tabli s h e d by 14

C .F. R

. S e cti o n 91.151(b) as a r e s u lt o f (1) the t e chnical s p e cificati o ns o f the D JI P hant o m 2

Vi s i o n P l u s UA S ; (2) the limitati o ns o n the pr o p o s e d flight o p e rati o n s ; and (3) the

l o cati o n o f the pr o p o s e d flight o p e rati o n s . Acc o rdingly, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will

e n s u re that it will s af e ly o p e rate the batt e ry p o w e r e d D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA

d u ring daylig ht h o u rs in VFR c o nditi o n s , with e n o u gh batt e ry p o w e r to fly f o r a t o tal

d u rati o n o f 13.5 min u t e s to the fir s t p o int o f int e nd e d landing and, a ss u ming n o rmal cr u i s ing

s p ee d, to fly aft e r that f o r at l e a s t 4.5 min u t e s

.

He r e , as in E x e mpti o n No . 11109, the t e chnical s p e cificati o ns o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

UA S ; the limitati o ns o n the pr o p o s e d flight o p e rati o n s ; and the l o cati o n o f

the pr o p o s e d o p e rati o n s , will e n s u re an e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty e s tabli s h e d by 14 C .F. R

. S e cti o n

91.151(b). F u rth e rm o r e

, s af e ty will be e n s u r e d as the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS pr o vide

a u dible and vi s u al warnings to the P IC at the GC S wh e n the UAs

e xp e ri e nc e s l o w batt e ry v o ltag e , the fir s t warning o cc u rring at appr o ximat e ly 33% r e maining

batt e ry p o w e r, and again at app r o ximat e ly 10% r e maining batt e ry p o w e r. At the critically l o w

batt e ry l e v e l, the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS will d e s c e nd and

land a u t o matically.

S ignificantly, pr e vi o u s e x e mpti o ns grant e d by the FAA c o nc e rning S e cti o n 91.151 e s tabli s h

that s af e ty is n o t adv e r s e ly aff e ct e d wh e n the t e chnical charact e ri s tics and o p e rating

limitati o ns o f the UAS are c o n s id e r e d. R e li e f has b ee n grant e d f o r mann e d aircraft to o p e rate

at l e s s than the minim u ms pr e s crib e d in S e cti o n 91.151, incl u ding E x e mpti o n No s . 2689,

5745 , and 10650. M o r eo v e r, the FAA has pr e vi o u s ly grant e d r e li e f fr o m S e cti o n 91.151

s p e cific to UA S , in circ u m s tanc e s s imilar, in all mat e rial r e s p e ct s , to th o s e pr e s e nt e d h e r e in

( e .g. E x e mpti o n No s . 8811, 10808, 10673, 11042, 11062, 11063,

11064, 11065, 1106 6, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11136, 11138, 11150, 11153, 11156,11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161).

6. R e a sons Why An Ex e m p tion F rom The R e quir e m e nts Of S e ctions

91.405( a ), 91.407( a )(1), 91.409( a )(1) & ( a )(2), And 91.417( a ) & ( b ) Would

Not Adv e rs e ly Af f e ct Sa f e ty.

In s ee king this e x e mpti o n, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits that the e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f

s af e ty with r e gard to the r e g u lat o ry maint e nance and alt e rati o n r e q u ir e m e nts e s tabli s h e d by

S e cti o ns 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91 .417(a) & (b) will be m e t

b e ca u s e JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will u s e train e d t e chnicians to p e rf o rm maint e nanc e

, alt e rati o n s

, o r pr e v e ntive maint e nance o n the UA S s u s ing the m e th o d s , t e chniq u e s , and

practic e s pr e s crib e d in the o p e rating d o c u m e nts (i. e ., the JEA N

- JACQUES BENOIST A e rial

Op e rati o ns Man u al, M o nthly Maint e nance Lo g, and D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

In s tr u cti o n Man u al). F u rth e rm o r e , JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will d o c u m e nt and

maintain all maint e nance r e c o rds f o r the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S

.

S ince the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS will be in s p e ct e d as pr e s crib e d by the

o p e rating d o c u m e nt s , JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will maintain the e q u ival e nt l e v e l

o f

s af e ty e s tabli s h e d by S e cti o ns 91.405(a), 91.409(a)(1), and 91.409(a)(2). A c o py o f the

D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS U s e r Man u al is attach e d h e r e to as App e ndix A and B ;

a c o py o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS Maint e nance L OG is attach e d h e r e to as

App e ndix C

.

L ik e wi s e , the e x e mpti o n s o u ght will n o t adv e r s e ly aff e ct s af e ty b e ca u s e

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will u s e train e d t e chnicians to p e rf o rm maint e nanc e

, alt e rati o ns o r pr e v e ntive maint e nance o n the UAS u s ing the m e th o d s , t e chniq u e s , and practic e s

pr e s crib e d by the o p e rating d o c u m e nt s

.

F u rth e rm o r e , the e x e mpti o n s o u ght w o u ld maintain an e q u ival e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty e s tabli s h e d

by S e cti o ns 91.407, 91.417(a) and 91.417(b), b e ca u s e all maint e nance o f the D JI P hant o m 2

Vi s i o n P l u s UAS will be p e rf o rm e d by train e d t e chnician s

. Maint e nance will be d o c u m e nt e d and maintain e d u tilizing the m o nthly maint e nance l o g.

S igni ficantly, pr e vi o u s e x e mpti o ns grant e d by the FAA c o nc e rning S e cti o ns 91.405(a),

91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b) e s tabli s h that s af e ty is n o t adv e r s e ly

aff e ct e d wh e n the t e chnical charact e ri s tics and o p e rating limitati o ns o f the UAS are

c o n s id e r e d.

In c o n s id e rati o n o f JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s pr o p o s e d o p e rating limitati o n s , the

o p e rating d o c u m e nt s , and the t e chnical a s p e cts o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S

, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s u bmits that s af e ty will n o t be adv e r s e ly aff e ct e d by

granting e x e mpti o n fr o m 14 C .F. R

. S e cti o ns 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1) and (a)(2),

91.409(a)(2), and

91.417(a) and (b). The FAA has pr e vi o u s ly grant e d r e li e f s p e cific to UAS in circ u m s tanc e s

s imilar, in all mat e rial r e s p e ct s , to th o s e pr e s e nt e d h e r e in ( e .g. E x e mpti o n No s . 11062,

11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136, 11138, 11150,

11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161).7. The F AA M a y P r e scri b e Any Oth e r C onditions F or Sa fe O p e r a tion.

In acc o rdance with S e cti o n 333 o f the FAA M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f 2012

(FM R A) and 14 C .F. R . § 21.16 e ntitl e d S p e cial C o nditi o n s , JEAN

- JACQUES

BENOIST

r e q u e s ts that the FAA pr e s cribe s p e cial c o nditi o ns f o r the int e nd e d o p e rati o n o f the D JI

P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S , which c o ntain s u ch s af e ty s tandards that the

Admini s trat o r finds n e c e ss ary to e s tabli s h a l e v e l o f s af e ty e q u ival e nt to that e s tabli s h e d by

14 C .F. R

. P art 21, S u bpart H , and 14 C .F.R §§ 61.113(a) & (b), 91.7 (a), 91.121,

91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b). S u ch s p e cial

c o nditi o ns will p e rmit s afe o p e rati o n o f the UAs f o r the limit e d p u rp o s e o f c o nd u cting a e rial

vid e o and ph o t o graphy o v e r c e rtain ar e as o f the Unit e d S tat e s f o r c o mp e n s ati o n o r hir e

. FM R A S e cti o n 333 s e ts f o rth the r e q u ir e m e nts f o r c o n s id e ring wh e th e r a UAS will cr e ate a

hazard to u s e rs o f the N AS o r the p u blic, o r o th e rwi s e p o s e a thr e at to nati o nal s e c u rity; and

f u rth e r, pr o vid e s the a u th o rity f o r s u ch UAS to o p e rate with o u t airw o rthin e s s c e rtificati o n in

acc o rdan ce with any r e q u ir e m e nts that m u s t be e s tabli s h e d f o r the s afe o p e rati o n o f the UAS

in the N A S

.

L ik e wi s e , the Admini s trat o r may pr e s cribe s p e cial c o nditi o ns p u r s u ant to 14 C .F. R

. § 21.16, f o r o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UA S

, s ince the airw o rthin e s s r e g u lati o ns o f

14 C .F. R

. P art 21 do n o t c o ntain ad e q u ate o r appr o priate s af e ty s tandard s , d u e to the n o v e l

o r u n u s u al d e s ign f e at u r e s o f the aircraft. S e cti o n 21.16, e ntitl e d S p e cial C o n d iti o n s

, s tat e s the

f o ll o wing:

If the FAA finds that the air w o rthin e s s r e g u lati o ns o f this s u bchapt e r do n o t c o ntain

ad e q u ate o r appr o priate s af e ty s tandards f o r an aircraft, aircraft e ngin e

, o r pr o p e ll e r

b e ca u s e o f a n o v e l o r u n u s u al d e s ign f e at u re o f the aircraft, aircraft e ngine o r pr o p e ll e r,

he pr e s crib e s s p e ci al c o nditi o ns and am e ndm e nts th e r e to f o r the pr o d u ct. The s p e cial

c o nditi o ns are i ss u e d in acc o rdance with P art 11 o f this chapt e r and c o ntain s u ch

s af e ty s tandards f o r the aircraft, aircraft e ngine o r pr o p e ll e r as the

FAA finds n e c e ss ary to e s tabli s h a l e v e l o f s af e ty e q u ival e nt to that e s tabli s h e d in the

r e g u lati o n s

.

S e e 14 C .F. R . § 21.16.

Th e r e f o r e , in acc o rdance with FM R A S e cti o n 333 and 14 C .F. R . § 21.16, the FAA may pr e s cribe

s p e cial c o nditi o ns f o r JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST int e nd e d o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n

P l u s UAS which c o ntain s u ch s af e ty s tandards that the Admini s trat o r finds

n e c e ss ary to e s tabli s h a l e v e l o f s af e ty e q u ival e nt to that e s tabli s h e d by 14 C .F. R

. P art 21,

S u bpart H , and 14 C .F.R S e cti o ns 61.113(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 9 1.151(b), 91.405(a),

91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b).

• A S umm a ry Th a t C a n B e P u b lish e d In The F e d e r a l R e gist e r,

st a ting: The R ul e s F rom Which JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST S ee k s Ex e m p tion:

JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST seeks exemption from the requirements of 14 C.F.R

Sections

61.113(a)&(b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) &

(a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b).A B ri e f D e scri p tion Of The N a ture Of The Ex e m p tion JEAN

- JACQUES

BENOIST S ee k s:

This exemption will permit J EAN

- JACQUES BENOIST to commercially operate an

Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for the purpose of conducting aerial video and

photography over certain areas of the United States.

• Any Addition a l Inform a tion, Vi e ws, Or Argum e nts Av a il ab le To

S u pp ort JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST R e qu e st.

This Pe titi o n is made p u r s u ant to the FAA M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f 2012

(FM R A) S e cti o n 333, which dir e cts the S e cr e tary o f Tran s p o rtati o n to d e t e rmine if c e rtain

UAS may o p e rate s af e ly in the N A S . As s u ch, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST’s r e q u e s t f o r

e x e mpti o n may be grant e d p u r s u ant to the a u th o rity o f FM R A S e cti o n 333 and 14 C .F. R

. P art 11, as s e t f o rth ab o v e

.

FM R A S e cti o n 333 s e ts f o rth the r e q u ir e m e nts f o r c o n s id e ring wh e th e r a UAS will cr e ate

a hazard to u s e rs o f the N AS o r the p u blic, o r o th e rwi s e p o s e a thr e at to nati o nal s e c u rity;

and f u rth e r, pr o vid e s the a u th o rity f o r s u ch UAS to o p e rate with o u t airw o rthin e s s c e rtificati o n.

As di s c u ss e d in d e tail ab o v e , JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST will o p e rate the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s

UA S s af e ly in the N A S , with o u t cr e ating a hazard to u s e rs o f the N A S

, o r the p u blic, o r o th e rwi s e

p o s e a thr e at to nati o nal s e c u rity.

C ON C L U S ION

As s e t f o rth h e r e in, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST s ee ks an e x e mpti o n p u r s u ant to 14 C .F. R . §

11.61 and S e cti o n 333 o f the FAA M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f 2012 (FM R A),

which will p e rmit s afe o p e rati o n o f the D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS

c o mm e rcially, with o u t an airw o rthin e s s c e rtificat e , f o r the limit e d p u rp o s e o f c o nd u cting

a e rial vid e o and ph o t o graphy o v e r c e rtain a r e as o f the Unit e d S tat e s

. B y granting this

Pe titi o n, the FAA Admini s trat o r will be f u lfilling the C o ngr e ss i o nal mandate o f the FAA

M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f 2012, while al s o advancing the int e r e s ts o f the p u blic, by

all o wing JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIST to s af e ly, e ffici e ntly, and e c o n o mically o p e rate the

D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS c o mm e rcially within the N A S

.

WHE R E F O R E , in acc o rdance with the F e d e ral Aviati o n R e g u lati o ns and the FAA

M o d e rnizati o n and R e f o rm Act o f 2012, S e cti o n 333, JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIS T

r e s p e ctf u lly r e q u e s ts that the Admini s trat o r grant this Pe titi o n f o r an e x e mpti o n fr o m the

r e q u ir e m e nts o f 14 C .F.R S e cti o ns 61.113(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.405(a),

91.407(a)(1),

91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b), and p e rmit JEAN

- JACQUES BENOIS T to o p e rate the D JI

P hant o m

2 Vi s i o n P l u s UAS c o mm e rcially f o r the p u rp o s e o f c o nd u cting a e rial vid e o and ph o t o graphyo v e r c e rtain ar e as o f the Unit e d S tat e s

. D at e d:

R e s p e ctf u lly s u bmitt e d,

JEAN

- JACQUES

BENOIST

100 Spruce P ine Lane

Mill Spring, NC 28756

828 894 0425A pp e ndic e s:

A

– D JI P hant o m 2 Vi s i o n P l u s Man u al ( S e e http://www.dji.c o m/pr o d u ct/phant o m

- 3/d o wnl o a d ) E

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