Valley Drone LLC Petition for Section 333 Exemption

For Purposes of Operating Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems

December 18, 2015

Name and A ddress of P etitioner: Filing for Petitioner:

Valley Drone LLC Aero One, LLC

446 E. Morgan Rd. P.O. Box 170274

Hagerman, NM 88232 Atlanta, GA 30317December 18, 2015

U.S. Dep art m e n t o f T ra n s po rtati o n

Do c k et M a n age m e n t System

120 0 Ne w J e rs e y A v e

., SE

W as h i ng t on

, D C 2059 0

R e: P etiti o n o f Travis Gray ( Valley Drone LLC ) f o r an E xe m p ti o n R e qu est Pu rs u a n t to

S ecti o n 33 3 o f t h e FA A R ef o rm A ct an d Pa rt 1 1 o f t h e F e d er a l Av i a ti o n R e gu l a ti on s fr o m

1 4 C

. F

. R

. P art 21

, Subp art H ; §§ 45.23 (b) ; 61

. 113 (a) & ( b ) ; 91.109; 91

. 119 (c); 91

. 121 ;

91

. 151 (a); 91.203(a) and (b); 91

. 405 (a); 91

. 407 (a)(l); 91

. 409 (a) (1) and ( 2 ); and 91

. 417 (a)

& ( b )

De ar Sir o r M a d a m :

Pu rs u a n t to S ecti o n 33 3 o f t h e FA A M od er n izati o n a n d R ef o rm A ct o f 201 2 (t h e " R ef o rm A ct")

an d 1 4 C

. P

. R

. Pa rt 11

, Travis Gray ( Valley Drone LLC ), Valley Drone LLC doe s he r eb y a pp ly f o r

an e x e m p ti o n fr o m t h e Fede ral Av i a ti o n Re g u lati on s (" FAR s") i den tifi e d be lo w

, to allow

c o mm e rcial u se o f s m all un m a nne d aircraft s y st e m s ("s U A S ") f o r t h e pu r po se s o f : aerial

photography, videography, data collection, agriculture, and construction and project

management und er cert a in c ond iti on s set f o rth in t h e Valley Drone LLC c on fi den tial F lig h t

Ope rati on s M a nu al a n d c ond iti on s set f o rth in t h e FAA

- i ss ue d " E x e m p ti o n No

. 11062 ", a n d r e lat e d

e x e m p ti on s iss ue d to op er a t o rs f o r the same purposes

. Additionally, pu rs uan t to 1 4 CFR § 11

. 87

, w e

r eque st t h e FA A no t to de lay acti o n b as e d o n t he f o llo w i n g:

1. Th is p etiti o n f o r e x e m p ti o n do es no t set p rece d e n t. P revi ou s i d e n tical e x e m p ti o n

r eque sts h a v e bee n a pp r oved

.

2. Th e re qu ested relief is i d e n tic a l to e x e m p ti on s g r an ted p revi ou sly, s p ecific a lly,

Ex e m p ti on (s) No s. 1106 2 ( A strae u s A erial), 1106 6 ( A erial M OB ), and 1106 5 ( H elivi d e o ).

3. A d el a y in a cti o n o n t h is p etiti o n w ou ld adv ersely a ffect p e nd i n g re qu ests f o r aeri a l imaging

ope rati on s a n d r e s u lt in lost oppo rt un ity a n d w ag e s f o r p artici p ati n g cr e w

, an d a d el a y in

t h e pub lic b e n efit o f g r an ti n g t h is p etiti on

. In add iti on

, a c o m p etiti ve advan t ag e f o r

unapp r ov ed c o mm erci a l s UA S op er a t o rs e x ists an d c on ti nu es to g r o w every da y.

No t w it h sta nd i n g t h e re qu est no t to pub lish t h is p etiti o n re qu est in t h e F e d eral R egister, Valley

Drone LLC h as s ub m itted s uppo rti n g m aterials i n cl ud i n g t h e c on fi d e n tial " F li gh t Op erati on s

M a nu al" w h ich are c on fi d e n tial do c u m e n ts pu rs u a n t to 1 4 CFR § 11

. 35 ( b ) a n d a re no t ava il ab le

to t h e pub lic.Pursuant to 14 CFR § 11.87:



### 1. This application is submitted on behalf of :

Valley Drone LLC

446 E. Morgan Rd.

Hagerman, NM 88232



### 2. 1 4 C. F .R

. - - - Regulations for which exemption is requested:

1 ) 21, Subpart H

2) 45.23( b)

3 ) 61.113( a) a n d ( b)

4 ) 91.109

5 ) 91.119(c)

6 ) 91.121

7 ) 91.151( a)

8 ) 91

. 203( a) and ( b)

9 ) 91.405( a)

10 ) 91.407( a )(1)

11) 91.409( a )(1) and (2)

12 ) 91.417( a) a n d ( b)

Unmanned Aircraft Systems ( UA Ss ) op erated b y Valley Drone LLC w eigh less t h an 5 5

pound s, i n cl ud i n g all p ayl o a d

. Th e y op erate a t s p ee d s o f less t ha n 5 0 kno ts, c a n hov er, an d

c a n m ov e in m u lti p le d ir e cti on s. Valley Drone LLC w ill on ly ope rate its UA Ss in visual

li n e o f sig h t (VLOS) a n d w ill ope rate on ly w it h in t h e sterile e nv ir on m e n t d escri b ed in t h e

Flight Operations Manual ( FO M )

. Su ch op er a ti on s w ill i n s u re t ha t t h e UA S w ill no t

create a h azard to u sers o f t h e NA S o r the pub lic.

G i ve n t h e s m all size o f the UA Ss a n d t h e r e strict e d ar e a t h at t he y w ill b e ope rat ed

, Valley Drone LLC ’ UA S op er a ti on s adh ere to t h e R ef o rm A ct’s s a fety re qu ire m e n ts.

Add iti ona ll y

, du e to t h e size o f t h e UAS s an d t h e li m ited a rea in w h ich t h ey w ill op er a te,

app r ova l o f t h is app lic a ti o n p rese n ts n o na ti ona l s a fety c on cer n s. B a sed o n t h e s ub st an ti al

le v el o f s a fety s u rr ound i n g t h e p r opo sed op er a ti on s, an d t h e si gn ific an t pub lic b e n efit

( enh a n ced safety), r e du cti o n in e n vir on m e n tal i m p acts in t h e ou t doo r setti n g t h ese UA Ss

w ill op erate leavi n g n o trace o f activity b e h i nd

, t h e gra n t o f t h e re qu ested e x e m p ti o n is in

t h e pub lic i n terest. A cc o r d i ng l y

, Valley Drone LLC res p ectf u lly re qu ests t ha t t h e FA A g r an t

t h e r eque st e d e x e m p ti on

.

3. A ircr a ft An d Equ i va le n t L e v el O f Sa fety:

T h e op erati n g li m itati on s p r opo sed b y Valley Drone LLC p r o vi d e f o r a h ig h er level o f safety

b eca u se op er a ti on s f u rt he r enh a n ce saf e ty o f aerial photography and videography ope rati on s

compared to u si n g c onven ti on al aircraft

.

A s set f o rth in t h e FO M

, t h e li m it a ti on s an d c ond iti on s i n cl ud e:

• Th e UA Ss w ill w eigh less t h an 5 5 pound s• F li gh ts w ill b e op er a ted w it h in li n e o f si gh t o f a p il o t an d ob ser v er

• M axi m u m fli gh t ti m e f o r e a ch fli gh t w ill b e 3 0 m i nu tes o r a t 25 % o f ba ttery po w er

r e s e r v e

, w h ic h ever c o m es first.

• F li gh ts w ill b e op er a ted a t a n a ltit ud e o f n o m o re t ha n 40 0 feet AG L a s i nd ic a ted by

onboa rd GP S s y st e m

.

• M i n i m u m crew f o r e ach ope rati o n w ill c on sist o f t h e UA S p il o t and an ob s e r ve r.

• A UA S p il o t w ill b e P il o t in Co mm an d ( P I C ).

• A UA S p il o t w ill b e a n FA A lice n sed a ir m a n w ith a t le a st a sport p il o t’s certific a te

.

• Th e UA S w ill on ly op er a te w it h in a c on fi n ed “sterile a re a ” a s d efi n ed in t h e FOM

.

• Th e FOM re qu ires t h e esta b lis h m e n t o f a “Sec u rity P eri m eter” f o r t h e flig h t

op er a ti on s a re a.

• A b riefi n g w ill b e c ondu cted f o r p l ann ed UA S op er a ti on s p ri o r to e a ch day ’s fli gh t.

• A ll p ers onn el p erf o r m i n g du ties w it h in t h e bound aries o f t h e safety p eri m eter are re qu ired

to a tte nd

.

• Th e op erat o r w ill file a FA A Fo rm 771 1

- 1 o r its equ ival en t, as m od ifi e d in lig h t of t h e

re qu ested e x e m p ti on

, w ith t h e app r op ri a te F lig h t Sta nd ar d s D istrict O ffice (FSDO)

.

• Th e op erat o r w ill ob tain c on se n t o f all p ers on s i n v o lved in t h e flight operation a n d

e n s u re t ha t on ly c on se n ti n g p ers on s w ill b e a ll o w ed w it h in 10 0 feet o f t h e fli gh t

op er a ti on

.

• Th e op erat o r w ill s ub m it a w ritten p lan o f a ctivities to t h e F S D O t h ree d ays b ef o re t h e

p r opo sed s hoo t a s r equ ir e d in t h e FOM

.

• Th e p il o t a n d ob server m u st b e trai n ed in UA op erati on s a n d received c u rre nt

i n f o r m ati o n o n t h e p artic u lar UA S to b e ope rat e d as r equ ir e d b y t h e FOM

.

• Th e o b server a n d p il o t w ill at all ti m es b e a b le to co mm un ic a te b y vo ice.

• W ritten a nd / o r o ral p er m issi o n fr o m t h e rele v a n t p r op erty ho l d ers w ill be

ob t a i n e d.

• A ll re qu ired p er m issi on s an d p er m its w ill b e ob t a i n ed fr o m territ o ri a l, st a te, c oun t y

, o r

city j u ris d icti on s, i n cl ud i n g l o cal law en f o rc e m en t, fire o r o t h er m a n a g i n g gov er n m e n t a l

ag e n cies.

• The UAS will operate clear of clouds.

• If t h e UA S l o s e s c o mm un icati on s

, t h e UA S w ill a n d doe s h ave t h e c apab ility to ret u rn to

a p re

- de t e r m i n ed l o cati o n w it h in t h e S ec u rity Pe ri m e t e r an d l an d s a fel y.

• Th e UA S w ill h ave t h e ca pab ility to abo rt a fli gh t in c a se o f unp re d icted ob st a cles or

e m er g e n cies.

S ecti on 21, Subpart H : Airworthiness Certificates

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

issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Giv en the size and

limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the Applicant, an exemption

from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an equivalen t level of safety under Part 11

and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act (4 9 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section

333 of the Reform Act b oth authorize the FAA to exempt aircr aft 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 sUA S. In all cases, an an alysis of

these criteria demonstrates that the sUAS operated without an ai rworthiness certificate, in the

limited environment and under the conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than aconventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) oper ating with an airworthiness certificate

without the restrictions and conditions proposed.

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

passenger, carries no explosive materials or flammable liqu id fuels, and operates within a

relatively small area. Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly

controlled and monitored by the Pilot/"Operator" and th e visual observer. These safety

enhancements, which already apply to civil air craft operated to conduct aerial videography and

photography services, provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than

conventional operations conducted with airworthiness certifica tes issued under 14 C.F.R. Part

21, Subpart H. La stly, application of these same criteria demonstr ates that there is no threat to

national security posed by the sUAS, due to its size, speed of operation, limited opera tional area,

lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to car ry a substantial external

load.

S ecti on 45

. 23 ( b ): M ar k i n g o f t h e A ircr a ft

Th e reg u lati o n re qu ires:

W h en m ar k s i n cl ud e on ly t h e Ro m an ca p ital letter " N " a n d t h e re g istrati o n nu m b er is

d is p lay e d o n li m it ed

, r e strict e d o r lig h t

- - - s po rt c a te go ry a ircr a ft o r e xp eri m e n t a l o r

p r ov isi on ally certific a ted a ircr a ft, t h e op er a t o r m u st a lso d is p l a y o n t ha t a ircr a ft n e a r e a ch

e n tr an ce to t h e c ab i n

, c o c kp it, o r p il o t st a ti on

, in letters no t less t ha n 2 i n c he s no r m o re t h an

6 i n c he s h ig h

, t h e w o r d s "li m it ed ," "r e strict ed ," "lig h t

- - - s po rt," " e x pe ri m en tal," o r

" p r ov isi on al," as a pp lica b l e

.

E ven t hou gh t h e UA S w ill h ave n o a i r w o rt h i ne ss c e rtificat e

, an e x e m p ti o n m ay b e n ee d ed

as t h e UA S w ill hav e n o e n tra n ce to t h e ca b i n

, c o c kp it o r p il o t stati o n o n w h ich t h e w o rd

“ Exp eri m e n tal” can b e p lace d

. G iven t h e size o f t h e s UAV

, t wo

- i n ch letteri n g w ill b e

i m po ssi b le.

Th e FA A ha s iss ue d t h e f o ll o w i n g e x e m p ti on s to t h is r e g u lati o n to E x e m p ti on s No s. 10700

, 8738

, 1016 7 a n d 10167A

.

S ecti on 61

. 113 (a) a nd ( b ): P ri v ate P il o t P ri v ile g es a n d L i m itati on s: P il o t in Co mm a nd.

Valley Drone LLC is s eek i n g r e li e f fr o m t h is r e g u lati on

, as t h e r equ ir e m en t f o r a

Co mm ercial P il o t L ice n se w ith a sec on d class m e d ical w ou ld b e an unn ecessary bu r d en

o n t h e op er a t o r w ith re ga rd to ob t a i n i n g an d certif y i n g U A p il o ts.

Th e UA S w ill no t carry a p il o t o r p asse ng ers, an d t h e p r opo sed op er a ti on s c a n a c h ie v e t h e

e qu i va le n t le v el o f s a fety b y re qu iri n g t h e p il o t to po ssess a p ri va te p il o t's lice n se on l y. Th is

le v el o f kn o w l edg e a n d s k ill c o m b i ne d w ith t h e p r opo s e d ope rati n g p r o c edu r e s de scri be d in

t h e F lig h t Op erati on s M a nu al ( VLO S on l y

, cl o se d

- set r equ ir e m e n ts, etc.) w ill m o re t ha n

ad e qua tely a ll o w s a fe op er a ti o n w it h in t h e na ti ona l a irs pa ce s y ste m

, an d w ith r e gard to

pe rs on s o r p r ope rty o n t h e gr ound

. Th e a dd iti on al kno w l ed g e an d s k ill r equ ir e m en ts f o r a

Co mm e rcial P il o t's lic en se d o no t a d d a n y l eve l o f s a fety w ith r e s pe ct to cl o s ed

- set s m a ll

UA S op er a ti on s in t h e s a m e m ann er t h ey d o w ith f u ll

- sc a le, pa ss eng er

- carr y i n g aircraft.

An e qu i va le n t o r g re a ter le v el o f s a fety is a c h ie v ed b y re qu iri n g UA p il o ts to hav e am i n i m u m nu m b er o f hou rs l ogg e d

, fli gh t se qu e n ces, kno w le dg e a n d ex p erie n ce testi ng

, etc.

a s d escri b ed in t h e F li gh t Op er a ti on s M anua l.

Section 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 airc raft has fully functioning dual

controls.

sUASs and remotely 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 communication. The FAA has approved exempti ons for flight training without

fully functional dual controls for a nu mber of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental

aircraft. See Exemption Nos. 5778K & 9862A. The equivalent lev el of safety is provided by the

fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircra ft and by the size and speed of

the aircraft.

S ecti on 91

. 119 (c): M i n i m u m Sa fe A ltit ud es.

Sect i o n 91

. 11 9 estab li she s sa fe a l t i tude s f o r operat i o n o f c i v il a i rcra f t

. Sect i o n 91

. 11 9 (d )

a ll o w s he li copter s t o b e operate d a t l es s tha n th e m i n i m u m s prescr i bed

, prov i de d th e person

operat i n g th e he li copte r co m p li e s w i t h an y rout e o r a l t i tude s prescr i be d f o r he li copter s by

th e FAA

. A s th is exe m pt i o n is fo r a s U A S tha t is a he li copte r an d th e exe m pt i o n requests

author i t y t o operat e a t a l t i tude s u p t o 40 0 A bov e G roun d Leve l ( AG L ,) o r no t m or e tha n

20 0 abov e a n e l evate d p l at f or m f ro m w h i c h fil m i n g is p l anned

, a n exe m pt i o n m a y b e

neede d t o a ll o w suc h operat i ons

. A s se t f ort h here i n

, excep t f o r th e li m i te d cond i t i on s state d

in th e Flight Operations Manual

, th e U A S w ill not operat e a t h i ghe r tha n 40 0 AGL

. I t w ill

ho w eve r b e operate d in a restr i cte d are a w i t h secur i t y per i m eter

, w her e bu il d i ng s an d peop le

w ill no t b e expose d t o operat i on s w i thou t the ir pre

- obta i ne d not ifi cat i o n an d consen t w he n

requ i red

.

An equ i va l en t l eve l o f sa f et y w ill b e ach i eve d g i ve n th e s i ze

, w e i ght

, an d spee d o f th e UA S

a s w e ll a s th e l ocat i o n w her e it is operated

. N o fli gh t w ill b e made w i thou t th e per m i ss i o n

o f th e propert y o w ne r o r l oca l off i c i a l s

. Becaus e o f th e advanc e not i c e t o th e propert y

o w ne r an d part i c i pant s in th e flight act i v i ty

, a ll a ff ecte d i nd i v i dua ls w ill be a w ar e o f th e

p l anned fli gh t operat i on s a s se t f ort h in th e F OM

. Co m pare d t o fli gh t operat i on s w i t h

a i rcra ft o r rotorcra ft w e i gh i n g f a r m or e tha n th e m ax i m u m 55 l bs

. propose d here in and

carrying fl a mm ab le f ue l, an y r i s k assoc i ate d w i t h thes e operat i on s is f a r l es s tha n thos e

present ly presented w ith conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 AG L. In addition,

the lo w

- altitude operations and horizontal separation from airports w ill ensure separation

bet w een these s UA S operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that m ust co m ply

w ith Section 91.119.

S ecti on 91

. 12 1 : A lti m eter S etti ng s

Valley Drone LLC is s eek i n g r e li e f fr o m t h is r e g u lati on

, as t h e U A w ill no t h ave a

b ar o m etric a lti m eter.

S ecti o n 91

. 12 1 re qu ires e a ch p ers o n op er a ti n g a n a ircr a ft to m a i n tain cr u isi n g a ltit ud e b yrefere n ce to a n a lti m eter t ha t is set “... to a n ele va ti o n o f t h e d e pa rt u re a ir po rt o r a n

app r op ri a te a lti m eter setti n g ava il ab le b ef o re d e pa rt u re.” A s a UA S m ay no t h a v e a

b ar o m etric alti m eter, bu t i n stead a GP S altit ud e, an e x e m p ti on is needed

. A n equ i v al en t l e v e l

o f saf e ty w ill b e ac h i e v e d b y t h e ope rat o r, pu rs u a n t to t h e FOM

, c on fir m i n g t h e a ltit ud e o f

t h e l aun ch site s ho w n o n t h e GP S a ltit ud e i nd ic a t o r b ef o re fli gh t.

S ecti on 91

. 151 (a): Fu el R e qu ire m e n ts f o r F li gh t in VF R Cond iti on s

Valley Drone LLC is s eek i n g r e li e f fr o m t h e f ue l r equ ir e m en ts o f t h is FA R a s c u rre n t

b attery tec hno l og y a ll o w s t h e U A to fly f o r app r o xi m a tely 15

- 3 0 m i nu t e s in no r m al

c ond iti on s. A s 91

. 151 (a) r equ ir e s a 30

- m i nu te reserve AFTE R re a c h i n g t h e po i n t o f i n t ende d

la nd i n g, t he re is n o p ractical flig h t po ssi b le unde r t h is r e g u lati on

.

A n e qu i v ale n t o r g reater le v el of safety exists as t h e exact b attery le v el re m ai n i n g is

tr an s m itted to t h e p il o t v ia r ad io tele m etr y

, an d g i v en t ha t t h e op er a ti n g a rea f o r t h e U A is in

cl o se p r o xi m ity to t h e p il o t ( VLO S), an un safe c ond iti o n w h ere t h e U A is un a b le to ret u rn f o r

l and i n g du e to l o w b attery c ond iti o n is e a sily avo i dab le. Add iti ona ll y

, s hou ld a d efecti v e

ba ttery p re m a t u rely d e p lete, t h e U A is c on fi gu red to au to la n d abov e t h e po i n t a t w h ich t h e

fli gh t c on tr o ller d etects l o w vo lt ag e. And

, a s p art o f t h e Valley Drone LLC FOM

, it is a

re qu ire m e n t t h at a n y fli gh t b e ter m i na ted if tele m etry is l o st. O t h er w ise, a fli gh t li m it o f 3 0

m i nu tes o r 25 % ba ttery r e m ai n i n g is p r e scri bed

.

S ecti on 91

. 203 (a) an d ( b ): C arryi n g C ivil A ircraft Ce rtificati o n a n d R egistrati on

Th e reg u lati o n requires that an airworthiness certificate be displayed in the cabin.

Th e UA S f u lly l o a d ed w eig h s n o m o re t h an 5 5 l b s

. a n d is op erated w it hou t an onboa rd p il o t.

A s s u c h

, t h ere is n o ab ility to p l a ce or c a rry certific a ti o n and r e gistr a ti o n do c u m en ts o r to

d is p lay t he m o n t h e s UA S. E ach s UA S ope r a t e d b y Valley Drone LLC w ill b e r e gist e r e d

w ith t h e FA A a n d all do c u m en tati o n carri e d b y t h e P I C

.

A n e qu i va le n t level o f s a fety w ill b e a c h ieved b y k ee p i n g t h ese do c u m e n ts a t t h e g r oun d

c on tr o l po i n t w h ere t h e p il o t fl y i n g t h e s UA S w ill hav e i mm e d i a te a ccess to t h e m

, to t h e

e x te n t t h ey a re app lic ab le to t h e s UAS

. Th e FA A ha s iss u ed nu m er ou s e x e m p ti on s to t h is

re gu l a ti on

. A r ep r e s en tati v e sa m p le o f o t he r e xc ep ti on s i n cl ude s e x e m p ti o n n o s. 9565

, 9665

, 9789

, 9789A

, 9797

, 9797A

, 9816A

, a n d 10700

.

S ecti on 91

. 405 (a), 91

. 407 (a)( 1 ), 91

. 409 (a)( 2 ); 91

. 417 (a) a nd ( b ): M ai n te nan ce I n s p ecti on s

Valley Drone LLC is s eek i n g r e li e f fr o m t h e abov e stated FAR 's a s t h e U A w ill no t hav e a n

a ir w o rt h i n ess certific a te. Th eref o re t h ere is n o re qu ire m e n t to p erf o rm an i n s pe cti o n in o r de r

to m ai n tain air w o rt h i ne ss as stat e d in Append ix D to P art 4 3 f o r 1 00 h r. a n d a nnu al

i n s pe cti on s.

A n e qu i va le n t o r g re a ter le v el o f s a fety e x ists a s t h e Valley Drone LLC F li gh t Op er a ti on s

M a nua l do es p rescri b e re gu l a r m a i n te nan ce an d i n s p ecti on s, c o m p li an ce w ith m a nu fact u rer's

ser v ice bu lleti n s, test fli gh ts after m ai n te n a n ce, tec hn ician trai n i ng

, an d so f o rt h

, in t h e s p irit

o f t h e sc op e an d d et a il o f App e nd ix D to Pa rt 43

. In add iti on

, w h ile m ec han ic a l f a il u res a re

no t ou t o f t h e qu esti on

, a cr a sh res u lti n g fr o m a catastr oph ic f a il u re h as a ve ry s m all a m oun to f risk o f i n j u ry w he n c o m p ar e d to a f a il u re in a pa sse ng er

- c a rr y i n g f u ll

- size a ircr a ft, f o r

w h ich t h is re gu l a ti o n w as i n t ended

.

4. Pub lic I n terest:

Valley Drone LLC b elie v es t ha t a ll o w i n g c o mm erci a l u se o f s m a ll, un m ann ed a ircr a ft w ill

e nh a n ce t h e safety o f op erati on s b y re du ci n g t h e risk ass o ciated w ith l o w a ltit ud e f u ll

- size

a ircr a ft op er a ti on s. A m ann e d

, t u r b i n e po w ered h elic op ter op er a ti n g in cl o se p r ox i m ity to

p ers onn el o n t h e g r oun d ha s a f a r gr e at e r risk of i n j u ry t ha n a s m a ll, li gh t w ei gh t UA c a rr y i n g

n o c o m bu sti b le f u el, es p eci a lly w he n t h e U A is ope r a ti n g w it h in t h e pa r a m e t e rs o f t h e Valley

Drone LLC FOM

. Add iti ona ll y

, t h e s a fe i n te g r a ti o n o f s UA S w it h in t he n ati on al airs p ace is a

g r o w i n g c on c e r n a m ong st p il o ts, t h e FAA

, an d g e n er a l pub lic. Th is e x e m p ti o n w ou ld p r ov i d e

a s a fe ste pp i ng

- st on e to a m o re r obu st set o f f u t u re s UA S r u les.

5. Lev el o f Sa fet y:

An equivalent level of safety is provided for a s ou tli n ed for e a ch o f t h e FAR 's abov e f o r w h ich

relief is s ough t.

6. Su mm a r y :

Valley Drone LLC see k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m t h e f o ll o w i n g r u les f o r t h e c o mm e rci a l ope rati o n o f

a s m all un m a nne d a e ri a l s y st e m in o r de r to c ondu ct ope rati on s for the purposes of aerial

photography, videography, data collection, agriculture, and construction and project

management be low an altit ud e o f 400 ' AG L a n d wit h in a limited op er a ti n g a re a : 1 4 C

. P

. R

. Pa rt 21

, Subpa rt H ; 45.23(b); 61

. 113 ( a ) & ( b ); 91.109; 91

. 119 (c); 91

. 121 ; 91

. 151 (a); 91.203(a)

and (b); 91

. 405 (a); 91

. 407 (a)(l); 91

. 409 (a) (1) and ( 2 ); 91

. 417 (a) & ( b ). Th is e x em p ti o n will

e nhan ce t h e level o f s a fety c u rre n tly obtainable u si n g f u ll

- siz e d

, m ann ed h elic op t e rs f o r t h e

s a m e t yp e o f w o r k

.

7. P ri v acy :

A ll fli gh ts w ill o cc u r ov er p ri va te o r c on tr o lled a ccess p r op erty w ith t h e p r op erty o w n er ’ s or

controlling authority ’s p ri o r c on se n t an d kno w le dg e. Photography and videography w ill b e o f

p e op le w h o hav e c on s en t e d to be i n g fil m e d o r o t he r w ise h a v e agr ee d to b e in t h e a rea w h ere

fil m i n g w ill ta k e p lace.

Sa tisf a cti o n o f t h e criteria p r ov i d ed in S ecti o n 33 3 o f t h e R ef o rm A ct o f 2012

- siz e

, w eig h t,

s p ee d

, op erati n g ca p a b ilities, p r ox i m ity to air po rts a n d popu lated areas

, op er a ti o n w it h in

v is ua l li n e o f sig h t

, a n d n ati on al s e c u rity

- p r ov i d e m o re t ha n ad e qua te j u stific a ti o n f o r t h e

g r an t o f t h e re qu ested e x e m p ti on s a ll o w i n g commercial operation of applicant’s s UAS in

accordance with the Flight Operations Manual appended here to.If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact the undersigned at 770

-

681

- 9985 or at aeroone@aeroone.net

.

On behalf of Valley Drone LLC

,

/s/

Owen Carroll

Founder and Owner

Aero One, LLC