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From the desk of Professor:

Mark Mansour 

Adjunct professor: Embry-Riddle University

Teacher: Clearwater High School (Teaching UAS and Business courses). 

Masters of Arts in Teaching (Grand Canyon University). 

Business Ed. Certified through the Department of Education. 

Unmanned Aircraft Institute Inc.’s Petition for Exemption to Operate

Unmanned Aircraft Systems for Education, teaching, training high school, 

college students, universities and colleges and for certifying purposes, Aerial 

Photography and Filming.

FAA Regulatory Docket 

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PETITIONER COUNSEL FOR PETITIONER 

Unmanned Aircraft Institute Inc.

11133 Windpoint drive

Tampa, FL 33635

813-409-6557

Markmansour123@gmail.com
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INTRODUCTION AND INTERESTS OF THE PETITIONER

Dear Sir or Madam:

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

and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, {Unmanned Aircraft Institute, LLC.}. Unmanned Aircraft Institute Inc.

Operator of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“sUASs”) equipped to offer on-demand 

commercial UAS operations for a host of industries and applications and to perform the 

purposes listed below, hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation 

Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of its sUAV’s/UAS, so long as such 

operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be 

established by the FAA in an exemption granted under either Section 333 or Section 49 U.S.C. 

§44701(f) 

As described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of a UAS 

under controlled conditions in airspace that is 1) limited; 2) predetermined; and 3) would 

provide safety enhancements in the fields in which it will operate, which now depend upon 

conventional aircraft or humans climbing high on dangerous structures, walking in insect laden 

swamps, working adjacent to treacherous infrastructure and mainly to educate, teach and 

certify interested parties and individuals to gain the basic and advance knowledge to get 

certified in UAS course for certifications to better help the industry with educated individuals, 

corporations and universities offering courses and Industry certifications before the students go 

on their own to fly/ operate an UAS system . Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance 

safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation’s (the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to 

“...establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace 

system.” Section 333(c) of the Reform Act.1

 

1

 {Unmanned Aircraft Institute, LLC } relies upon the following exemptions where specific 

reference to an exemption is not provided: Exemptions 11062 thru 11067, 11080, 11109 

through 11112, 11114, 11213, 11062 and as recent as 11857.
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Executive Summary

Expeditious Summary Grant Approval Request

The petitioner requests the agency issue a summary grant process for this application. Petitioner 

has provided in a confidential document attachment labeled as petitioner proprietary 

information, specific exemption numbers whereby the FAA has already granted a previous 

exemption similar or identical to each and every request, herein. 

PETITION SUMMARY 

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Pub. 

L. No. 112-95 (2012), 126 Stat. 11 (“Section 333”) and the Federal Aviation 

Administration’s (“FAA”) general exemption authority under 49 U.S.C. § 

44701(f), Unmanned Aircraft Institute Inc. (dba Yeah Drones) (“Petitioner”) 

hereby petitions for exemptions from 14 C.F.R. Part 21, 14 C.F.R. §§ 61.113(a) 

and (b), 61.133(a), 91.7(a), 91.9(b)(2), 91.103(b)(1), 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151, 

91.203(a) and (b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1) 91.409(a)(2), 91.417(a)-(b). The 

proposed exemptions, if granted, would allow Petitioner to operate small, cameramounted unmanned aircraft systems (“UAS”) weighing 55 pounds or less for the 

purpose of Educating , teaching, offering UAS courses for beginners to 

advance levels, in addition to closed-set filming and aerial photography. The 

Petitioner Professor Mark Mansour is an adjunct professor with Embry-Riddle 

university located at Daytona Beach and a full-time teacher at Clearwater High 

School located at 240 S Hercules Av, Clearwater FL teaching UAS college classes 

and consultant for St. Petersburg College and other institutes and universities. 

Based on the small size of Petitioner’s UAS, the qualifications and experience of 

Petitioner’s UAS operators, and the restricted, sterile environment within which 

Petitioner will operate, the requested exemptions fall squarely within the zone of 

safety envisioned by Congress and set forth in Section 333. 

Additionally, the enhanced safety achieved by replacing significantly larger 

manned aircraft carrying crew and flammable fuel with small UAS carrying no 

passengers or crew and operated under the specific guidelines and procedures 

proposed by Petitioner gives the FAA good cause to find that the UAS operations 
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enabled by the instant Petition are in the public interest. Thus, the requested 

exemptions should be granted.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY 

A. Section 333 

Section 333, titled “Special Rules for Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems,” 

provides a mechanism for seeking expedited FAA authorization of safe civil UAS 

operations in the National Airspace System (“NAS”). Section 333(a) states that the 

FAA “shall determine if certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in 

the national airspace system before completion of the [comprehensive] plan and 

rulemaking required by section 332(b)(1) of this Act or the guidance required by

section 334 of this Act.” In Section 332(b)(1), Congress made it clear that Section 

333 provides a mechanism for “expedited operational authorization.” The FAA 

has committed to complying with this mandate by granting several petitions 

almost identical to the one at hand. See, e.g., Exemption No. 11062, Regulatory

Docket No. FAA-2014-0352 (granting regulatory exemptions to Astraeus Aerial 

for operation of unmanned aircraft systems for the purpose of filming for the 

motion picture and television industry). 

Section 333(b) identifies several factors that the FAA should consider in 

determining whether commercial UAS operations should be approved. These 

include UAS that, “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 the [NAS] or the public or pose a threat to 

national security.” See Section 333(b).

B. Section 44701(f) 

In addition to the specific authority conferred by Section 333, the FAA 

Administrator has general authority to grant exemptions from the FAA’s safety

regulations and minimum standards when the Administrator decides a requested 

exemption is in the public interest. See U.S.C. § 44701(f). 

REQUESTED EXEMPTIONS 

Petitioner requests relief from the following regulations: 

Part 21 prescribes, in pertinent part, the procedural requirements for issuing and 

changing design approvals, production approvals, airworthiness certificates, and 

airworthiness approvals. 

Section 61.113 prescribes that “no person who holds a private pilot certificate may

act as a pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for 

compensation or hire; nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in 
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command of an aircraft,” (see Section 61.113(a)), and that “a private pilot may, for 

compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an aircraft in connection with 

any business or employment if: (1) The flight is only incidental to that business or 

employment; and (2) The aircraft does not carry passengers or property for

compensation or hire,” (see Section 61.113(b)). 

Section 61.133(a) sets forth privileges for persons holding commercial pilot 

certificates, including a provision impliedly limiting to persons holding a 

commercial pilot certificate the ability to act as pilot in command of an aircraft 

“[f]or compensation or hire.”

Section 91.7(a) prescribes, in pertinent part, that no person may operate a civil 

aircraft unless it is in an airworthy condition. 

Section 91.9(b)(2) prohibits operation of U.S. registered civil aircraft unless there 

is available in the aircraft a current approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight 

Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination 

thereof. 

Section 91.103(b)(1) prescribes, in pertinent part, that each pilot in command 

shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information 

concerning that flight, to include, “For any flight, runway lengths at airports of 

intended use, and the following takeoff and landing distance information:... For 

civil aircraft for which an approved Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual 

containing takeoff and landing distance data is required, the takeoff and landing 

distance data contained therein.” 

Section 91.119(c) prescribes that, except when necessary for takeoff or landing, 

no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes: “Over other 

than congested areas. An altitude of 400 feet above the surface, except over 

open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be 

operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.”

Section 91.121 requires, in pertinent part, each person operating an aircraft to 

maintain cruising altitude by reference to an altimeter that is set “to the elevation 

of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting available before 

departure.” 

Section 91.151(a) prescribes that no person may begin a flight in an airplane 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, (1) during the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) at 

night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes. 

Section 91.203 prohibits, in subpart (a), any person from operating a civil aircraft 

unless it has within it (1) an appropriate and current airworthiness certificate; and 

(2) an effective U.S. registration certificate issued to its owner or, for operation 

within the United States, the second copy of the Aircraft Registration Application 
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as provided for in § 47.31(c). Section 91.203 prescribes, in subpart (b), that no 

person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate or a special 

flight authorization issued under § 91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit 

entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew. 

Section 91.405(a) requires, in pertinent part, that an aircraft operator or owner 

shall have the aircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E of the same part and 

shall, between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of the 

same section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in Part 43 of the chapter.

Section 91.407(a)(1) prohibits, in pertinent part, any person from operating an 

aircraft that has undergone maintenance, preventative maintenance, rebuilding, or 

alteration unless it has been approved for return to service by a person authorized 

under § 43.7 of the same chapter. 

Section 91.409(a)(2) prescribes, in pertinent part, that no person may operate an 

aircraft unless, within the preceding 12 calendar months, it has had an inspection 

for the issuance of an airworthiness certificate in accordance with part 21 of this 

chapter. 

Section 91.417(a) and (b) prescribes, in pertinent part, that-

(a) Each registered owner or operator shall keep the following records for the 

periods specified in paragraph (b) of this section: (1) Records of the maintenance, 

preventative maintenance, and alteration and records of the 100-hour, annual, 

progressive, and other required or approved inspections, as appropriate, for each 

aircraft (including the airframe) and each engine, propeller, rotor, and appliance of 

an aircraft. The records must include-

(i) A description (or reference to data acceptable to the Administrator) of the work 

performed; and 

(ii) The date of completion of the work performed; and (iii) the signature, and 

certificate number of the person approving the aircraft for return to service. 

(2) Records containing the following information: 

(i) The total time in service of the airframe, each engine, each propeller, and each 

rotor. 

(ii) The current status of life-limited parts of each airframe, engine, propeller, 

rotor, and appliance. 

(iii) The time since last overhaul of all items installed on the aircraft which are 

required to be overhauled on a specified time basis. 

(iv) The current inspection status of the aircraft, including the time since the last 

inspection required by the inspection program under which the aircraft and its 

appliances are maintained. 
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(v) The current status of applicable airworthiness directives (AD) and safety 

directives including, for each, the method of compliance, the AD or safety 

directive number and revisions date. If the AD or safety directive involves 

recurring action, the time and date when the next action is required.

(vi) Copies of the forms prescribed by § 43.9(d) of this chapter for each major 

alteration to the airframe and currently installed engines, rotors, propellers, and 

appliances. 

(b) The owner or operator shall retain the following records for the periods 

prescribed: (1) The records specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be 

retained until the work is repeated or superseded by other work or for 1 year after 

the work is performed. 

(2) The records specified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall be retained and 

transferred with the aircraft at the time the aircraft is sold. 

(3) A list of defects furnished to a registered owner or operator under § 43.11 of 

this chapter shall be retained until the defects are repaired and the aircraft is 

approved for return to service. 

IV. PETITIONER’S PROPOSED OPERATIONS SATISFY SECTION 333. 

A. Unmanned Aircraft System 

The UAS to be operated under this request are less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, will 

be operated at a speed of no more than 50 knots, carry neither a pilot nor 

passenger, carry no explosive materials or flammable liquids, and operate 

exclusively within a secured area. Petitioner’s UAS use a radio frequency

spectrum for operation and control that complies with Federal Communications 

Commission (“FCC”) requirements, and Petitioner has integrated safety features 

into the UAS, as described in Petitioner’s Flight Operations and Procedures 

Manual (“FOPM”) and Motion Picture and Television Flight Operation Manual 

(“MPTFOM”) (collectively, “operations manuals”).

1 The MPTFOM and FOPM will be submitted separately and confidentially under 

14 C.F.R. 11.35(b), as the manuals contain proprietary information that the 

applicant has not and will not share with others. The manuals contain operating 

conditions and procedures that are not available to the public and are protected 

from release under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 552, et seq.

Petitioner’s UAS are equipped with redundant safety mechanisms allowing them 

to operate safely after experiencing certain in-flight failures. If a lost-link event 

occurs, including the loss of ground communications and/or the loss of a GPS 

signal, Petitioner’s UAS have the ability to perform a pre-coordinated, 

predictable, automated flight maneuver and return to a predetermined location 
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within a designated security perimeter for landing. The UAS further have the 

ability to abort a flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies. All 

flights will be terminated after a maximum of 30 minutes or with 25% remaining 

battery power, whichever occurs first. Thus, good cause exists for granting 

Petitioner’s requested relief from 14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a) (setting forth fuel 

requirements for flight in VFR conditions). 1

Petitioner’s UAS will be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 

14 C.F.R. Part 47, and have identification (N-Number) markings in accordance 

with 14 C.F.R. Part 45, Subpart C. Markings will be as large as practicable. 

Regarding Petitioner’s requested relief from 14 C.F.R. § 91.121 (Altimeter 

Settings), Petitioner seeks such relief because Petitioner will not have a typical 

barometric altimeter onboard the UAS. Instead, altitude information will be 

provided to the UAS PIC via a digitally encoded telemetric data feed, which 

downlinks from the aircraft to a ground-based on-screen display. The altitude 

information will be generated by equipment installed onboard the UAS, using GPS 

triangulation, digitally encoded barometric altimeter, radio altimeter, or any

combination thereof. Prior to each flight, a zero altitude initiation point will be 

established and confirmed for accuracy by the UAS PIC. Thus, good cause exists 

for granting the requested relief from 14 C.F.R. § 91.121. 

Given the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the 

aircraft to be utilized by the applicant, an exemption from 14 C.F.R. Part 21, 

Subpart H (Airworthiness Certificates), subject to certain conditions and 

limitations, is warranted (if necessary) and meets the requirements for an 

equivalent level of safety under 14 C.F.R. Part 11 and Section 333. The UAS 

operated without an airworthiness certificate in the restricted environment and 

under the conditions and limitations proposed by Petitioner will be at least as 

safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating 

with an airworthiness certificate issued under 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H, and 

not subject to the proposed limitations and conditions. 

Petitioner will strictly comply with safety and maintenance procedures included in 

all applicable UAS manufacturer’s instructions and operating manuals. To the 

extent such information is not included in the guidelines developed by the 

manufacturers, Petitioners will develop and document maintenance, overhaul, 

replacement, and inspection requirements, procedures to document and maintain 

maintenance records with regard to Petitioner’s UAS, and UAS technician 

qualification criteria. Petitioner’s operations manuals will include maintenance 

requirements for Petitioner’s UAS, including “on-condition” maintenance and 

modifications. In light of these mitigating factors, exemptions from 14 C.F.R. §§ 

91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b) are warranted. 
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B. UAS Pilot in Command 

Petitioner’s UAS pilot in command (PIC) shall have passed the FAA ground 

school examination and shall hold at least a third-class medical certificate but shall 

not be required to hold a current pilot’s license. Since there are no standards for 

either private or commercial UAS pilot certificates, knowledge of airspace 

regulations acquired from FAA ground school and dexterity in the control and 

operation of the UAS acquired from actual operation of the aircraft will be the 

most important factors in establishing an equivalent level of safety. 

According to the FAA, “the FAA considers the overriding safety factor for the 

limited operations proposed by the petitioner to be the airmanship skills acquired 

through UAS-specific flight cycles, flight time, and specific make and model 

experience, culminating in verification through testing.” See Exemption No. 

11062, Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-0352, at p. 18. With those factors in 

mind, Petitioner’s UAS PIC shall be required to meet several conditions and 

limitations as outlined in the FOPM and MPTFOM, including the following: 

• The UAS PIC will have accumulated and logged a minimum of 200 flight cycles 

and 25 hours of total time as a UAS rotorcraft pilot and at least 10 hours logged as 

a UAS pilot with a similar UAS type (single blade or multirotor). 

• The UAS PIC will have accumulated and logged a minimum of five hours of 

flight time with the specific make and model of the UAS to be utilized for 

operations under the exemption and three take-offs and landings in the preceding 

90 days. 

• The UAS PIC will have successfully completed the qualification process as 

specified in the operations manuals, to include a knowledge and skill test.2 

2 Prior to operating, the PIC will be required to pass the knowledge and 

airmanship test qualifications developed by Petitioner for the UAS (which will be 

included in Petitioner’s operations manuals). There are no established practical 

test standards that support a jurisdictional FAA FSDO (“Flight Standards District 

Office”) evaluation and approval of company designated examiners. Petitioner 

will conduct these tests in accordance with its operations manuals. Given the 

constraints of the proposed operations, this procedure for testing will not 

adversely affect the safety of the NAS.

Regarding Petitioner’s requested relief from 14 C.F.R. § 91.7(a), it is Petitioner’s 

understanding that Petitioner’s UAS will not require an airworthiness certificate in 

accordance with 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H, and that exemption from 14 C.F.R. 

§ 91.7(a) is therefore unnecessary. To the extent such an exemption is deemed 

necessary, Petitioner asserts that it should be granted in light of the safety

procedures proposed herein. In accordance with the pertinent part of 14 C.F.R. § 
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91.7(b), the operator in command of Petitioner’s UAS shall be responsible for 

determining whether the aircraft is in a safe condition for flight. Petitioner’s 

manuals for maintenance and operations shall include safety checklists to be used 

by the operator in command prior to each flight. 

Regarding Petitioner’s requested relief from 14 C.F.R. § 91.9(b)(2) (Civil aircraft 

flight manual, marking, and placard requirements and § 91.203(a) and (b), (Civil 

aircraft: certifications required), it is Petitioner’s understanding that relief from 

these regulations is no longer necessary in light of the FAA Memorandum 

“Interpretation regarding whether certain required documents may be kept at an 

unmanned aircraft’s control station,” dated August 8, 2014. To the extent the FAA 

deems an exemption from this section necessary for Petitioner’s proposed 

operations, such exemption should be granted in light of the mitigating fact that 

Petitioner will maintain the documents required under 14 C.F.R. §§ 91.9 and 

91.203 at the UAS ground control station during flights. 

Additionally, 100% of Petitioner’s operations will utilize a visual observer 

(“VO”). The VO may be used to satisfy the VLOS requirement as long as the PIC 

always maintains VLOS capability. The VO and the PIC will be able to 

communicate verbally at all times during operational flights. 

Regarding Petitioner’s requested relief from 14 C.F.R. § 91.103(b) (1), Petitioner 

will comply with the other applicable procedures and requirements stated in § 

91.103(a) and (b). Specifically, the PIC will take all actions including reviewing 

weather, flight battery requirements, aircraft performance data, and landing and 

takeoff distances before initiation of a flight. The PIC will also account for all 

relevant site-specific conditions in their preflight procedures. Risks presented by

sun glare will be mitigated by the PIC’s and VO’s ability to see other air traffic 

and initiate a return-to-home sequence if needed. 

The PIC’s UAS operation will be limited to a unique and restricted environment. 

Given the (1) separation of closed-set filming operations from other manned 

operations, (2) parallel nature of aeronautical knowledge requirements incumbent 

in the FAA ground school exam and the process of obtaining a private pilot’s 

license, and (3) the proposed UAS airmanship skills of Petitioner’s PICs, the 

additional manned airmanship experience of a private pilot would not correlate to 

the airmanship skills necessary for Petitioner’s proposed unmanned operations. 

Thus, Petitioner’s request for relief from 14 C.F.R. § 61.113(a) and (b) and § 

61.133(a) should be granted. 

C. Operating Parameters of Petitioner’s UAS 

Petitioner’s UAS operations will be conducted within a sterile environment of 

closed-set filming. In this controlled environment, Petitioner’s operations will 

remain within VLOS of the PIC and VO, below 400 feet AGL, and at speeds 

below 50 knots. Only participating persons will be permitted within the operating 

area.
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3 Pursuant to Order 8900.1 V3, C8, S1, “participating persons” includes all persons 

associated with the filming production. Participating persons will be briefed on the 

potential risk of the proposed flight operations and must acknowledge and accept 

those risks prior to participation.

Consistent with the relief typically provided to manned operations under FAA 

Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 8, Section 1, Petitioner requests relief from 14 

C.F.R. § 91.119(c) with respect to those participating persons, vehicles, and 

structures directly involved in the performance of the actual filming. Regarding 

distance from participating persons, the operations manuals set forth safety factors 

for authorized and consenting production personnel. Because those procedures are 

specific to participating persons, no further FSDO or aviation safety inspector

approval is necessary for reductions to the distances specified in Petitioner’s 

manuals. 

Regarding the distance from nonparticipating persons, Petitioner will ensure that 

no persons are allowed within 500 feet of the operating area except those 

consenting to be involved and necessary for the filming production, with the 

possibility of reducing this distance to no less than 200 feet if it would not 

adversely affect safety and the Administrator has approved it. This is consistent 

with FAA Order 8900.1, V3, C8, S1. 

Petitioner will not conduct UAS operations within 5 nautical miles of the 

geographic center of a non-towered airport unless a letter of agreement with 

that airport’s management is obtained and the operation is conducted in 

accordance with a Notice to 3

Airmen (“NOTAM”). Additionally, Petitioner will not operate in Class B, C, or D 

airspace without written approval from the FAA. Nor will Petitioner operate the 

UAS less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud or 

when visibility is less than 3 statute miles from the PIC. 

Petitioner’s UAS will remain clear and yield the right of way to all manned 

operations and activities at all times (including, but not limited to, ultralight 

vehicles, parachute activities, parasailing activities, and hang gliders). 

Although Petitioner seeks to comply with the waiver process as described in FAA 

Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 8, Section 1 (Issue a Certificate of Waiver for 

Motion Picture and Television Filming), the current section of Order 8900.1 has 

specific processes that preclude a jurisdictional FAA FSDO from issuing the 

required Certificate of Waiver, because the section did not originally provide for 

UAS operations. Thus, Petitioner seeks exemption from the applicable regulations 

normally waived during that process. Petitioner proposes that the FAA include the 

required notifications and coordination with jurisdictional FSDOs through the 

conditions and limitations accompanying the requested exemption, and that the 

exemption sought herein will take the place of the Certificate of Waiver normally

issued by a jurisdictional FSDO under 8900.1. Under this rubric, Petitioner will 

notify every FSDO with jurisdiction over the area that Petitioner plans to operate, 
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just as with manned filming operations, and those FSDOs will have the ability to 

coordinate further conditions and limitations with the UAS Integration Office to 

address any local concerns. 

Petitioner will obtain an Air Traffic Organization (“ATO”) issued Certificate of 

Waiver or Authorization (“COA”) prior to conducting any operations under this 

grant of exemption. In fulfilling its requirements under the COA, Petitioner will be 

required to request a NOTAM not more than 72 hours in advance, but not less than 

48 hours prior to the operation. 

D. The Requested Exemption Promotes the Public Interest 

The enhanced safety achieved by replacing significantly larger manned aircraft 

carrying crew and flammable fuel with small UAS carrying no passengers or crew 

and operated under the specific guidelines and procedures proposed by 

Petitioner gives the FAA good cause to find that the UAS operations enabled by 

the instant Petition are in the public interest. Moreover, as the FAA has already 

recognized, “UAS provide an additional tool for the filmmaking industry, adding a 

greater degree of flexibility, which supplements the current capabilities offered 

by manned aircraft.” See Exemption No. 11062, Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-

0352, at p. 22.
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ACTIVITIES WE ARE APPLYING: This exemption request, once granted, will allow the petitioner 

to operate a small unmanned aerial vehicle (sUAV), unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to:

• Educational purposes. 

Training, certifying and teaching UAS to private and public educational institutions. 

 Conduct bridge inspections

• Conduct flare stack inspections,

• Make utility-power generation system inspections

• Use for patrolling

• Aerial inspection

• Photography & videography of residential & commercial real estate

• Weddings & wedding events,

• Photography & videography of utility infrastructure (including, but not limited to, electrical 

power lines, wind turbines, cell towers, pipeline inspection, etc.)

• Filmmaking [1]

• Cinematography and videography

• Precision agriculture with on-board sensors

• Wildlife & forestry monitoring

• Mosquito & insect control

• Aerial surveying

• Construction site inspection & monitoring

• Public entity support operations

• Aerial imaging for safety

• Monitoring & comparing work efforts & completion percentages on work sites

• Security of controlled environment of various sites

• Search-and-rescue operations under the authority & support of local authority officials

• Aerial video & photography for public and private-use, including television,

• Public events

• Cinematography live feed & live news-gathering

• Training to persons individually, or belonging to, both private & public organizations to 

increase awareness & improve safety for current & future UAS operations within the NAS
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• Special events, including high schools, colleges, professional sports, open air events and 

fairs

• Research

• Risk management & assessment

• Surface mining

• Closed set filming [2]

• Disaster and catastrophe events
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Description of Type, Make and Models of sUAV/UAS Requested:

The petitioner is seeking an exemption to commercially operate sUAV’s makes and models as 

follows: 

1. 3D Robotics Aero – M 101. HexaCrafter HQ-850

2. 3D Robotics Fixed Wing 102. HexaCrafter HQ-1150

3. 3D Robotics Iris 103. HobbyKing Bixler 2

4. 3D Robotics Solo 104. Hoverfly – Livesky

5. 3D Robotics X8 105. HSE UAV – DRASS Q1000

6. 3D Robotics X8+ 106. Hubsan – X4 Microdrone

7. 3D Robotics X8-M 107. Inova Drone – Inova One

8. 3D Robotics Y6 108. Intuitive Aerial – Aerigon IAH 3

9. AeroCamera - SR 15 109. Kespry Drone Systems

10. Aerial Pixels - Fx8Pro Elite 110. KongCopter FQ700

11. Aerialtronics Altura Zenith 111. Latitude Arcturus Jump-15

12. AeroCine Kopterworx Hammer X12 112. Latitude Arcturus Jump-20

13. AeroLogix – Geostar 113. Latitude HQ-20

14. Aeronavics SkyJib-8 Ti-QR 114. Latitude HQ-40

15. Aeronavics X4 Titanium 115. Latitude HQ-60

16. Aerosky – RoboSurfer 116. Latitude Sensitel Silverfox HQ

17. AeroVironment Puma 117. Leptron – Avenger

18. AeroVironment Qube 118. Lockheed Martin – Desert Hawk III

19. AeroVironment Shrike 119. Lockheed Martin – Indago

20. Aeryon Scout 120. Mavinci – Sirius Pro

21. Aeryon Sky Ranger 121. Microdrones MD4

22. AgEagle 122. Microdrones – MD4-200

23. Agribotix Enduro Quad 123. Microdrones – MD4-1000

24. Agribotix Hornet Drone 124. Microdrones – MD4-3000
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25. Aibotix X – 6 125. MikroKopter – ARF OctoXL

26. AirCover ORT-825 126. MLB- Super-Bat UAV

27. AirCover QR-425 127. Multirotor G4

28. Airfield – Extreme Surfer Power Glider 128. MultiRotor – G4 Blackbird V2

29. AirRobot AR 100-B 129. MultiRotor – G4 Skycrane

30. AirRobot AR 100-C 130. Parrot – AR Drone 2

31. AirRobot AR 180 131. ParkZone – Radian RTF

32. AirRobot AR 200 132. Parrot – Bebop

33. Airwing UAV – Talon 133. PrecisionHawk – Lancaster

34. Align M690L Multicopter 134. Precision Drone – PaceSetter

35. Altavian Nova F6500 135. Prioria – Hex

36. Altus UAS Delta X-4 136. Prioria – Hex Mini

37. Altus UAS Delta X-8 137. Prioria – Maveric UAS

38. American Drones – Eagle 550 138. ProJet – RC Drone

39. American Drones – Falcon 450 139. ProJet – RQ-11 Raven

40. American Drones – Nighthawk 550 140. Pulse Aerospace – Scout B1-100

41. American Drones – Phoenix 650 141. Pulse Aerospace – Vapor

42. Arch Aerial – Atlas-1 142. RangeVideo – Jet

43. Arch Aerial – OCTO 143. RF70 Aircraft

44. ARRIS – M680 Hexa 144. RIEGL RiCopter

45. Ascending Technologies – AscTec Falcon 8 145. Ritewing - Drak

46. Birdseyeview – FireFly 6 146. Ritewing - Spade 70"

47. Blade 350 QX3 147. Ritewing - Zephyr 3 Spade

48. Blade Chroma 148. SenseFly eBee

49. Bormatec – Maja UAV 149. SenseFly – eXom

50. Bumblebee Carbon Fiber Quadcopter 150. Sensurion Aerospace – Magpie

51. CarbonCore – Cortex ARTF 151. Skycatch

52. CineStar – 6 MK Heavy Lift RTF 152. Skyhunter
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53. Cinestar 8 Octo 153. Skywalker X-8

54. Cyber Technology – Cyber Quad 154. Splash Drone

55. Delair-Tech – DT – 18 155. SteadiDrone – Flare

56. DJI-F450 156. SteadiDrone – Mavrik

57. DJI-F550 157. SteadiDrone – Vader

58. DJI - Inspire 1 158. Swift Radioplanes – Lynx

59. DJI – Matrice 100 159. T-Rex 800E Pro

60. DJI - Phantom 2 160. Tactical Robotics – InstantEye Mk2

61. DJI - Phantom 3 161. Tarot – 450

62. DJI – Spreading Wings S800 162. Tarot – 690

63. DJI – Spreading Wings S900 163. Tarot – 960

64. DJI - Spreading Wings S1000+ 164. Tarot- 680 Pro

65. DJI – Spreading Wings S1000 165. Tarot – T18

66. DraganFlyer - Commander 166. Tarot – T810

67. DraganFlyer - Guardian 167. Tayzu Robotics – Quadra

68. DraganFlyer - X4-ES 168. Tayzu Robotics – Titan X8

69. DraganFlyer - X4-P 169. TBS Caipirinha V2

70. DraganFlyer – X6 170. Trimble UX5

71. Event 38 - E384 171. Trimble UX5-HP

72. Finwing – Penguin 1720 172. Trimble ZX5

73. FlyPro PX400 173. Turbo Ace – Cinewing 6

74. FoxTech FPV – D130 X8 V2 174. Turbo Ace – Matrix G

75. FoxTech FPV – K130 V3 175. Turbo Ace – Matrix I

76. Freefly – Alta 176. Turbo Ace – Matrix E

77. GB-250z 177. Turbo Ace – Matrix S

78. GB-450z 178. Turnigy Talon Quad

79. Germap – G47-X8 179. UAV Solutions – Phoenix 30

80. Germap – G65-Y6 180. UAV Solutions – Phoenix 60
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81. Germap – G180 181. UAV Solutions – Phoenix 60LE

82. Germap – G212 182. Vanguard Defense Industries ShadowHawk

83. Germap – SmartOneC 183. Viking UAS – Patriot X4

84. Gryphon Dynamics – Dodeca 184. Viking UAS – Patriot X8

85. Gryphon Dynamics – Hexa 185. Viking UAS – Ranger EX

86. Gryphon Dynamics – Octo 186. Viking UAS – VikingOne

87. Gryphon Dynamics – X8 187. Viking UAS - VK X6 Model 800

88. Gryphon Dynamics – Y6 188. Volt Aerial Robotics - Venture

89. Hawkeye 1700 189. Vulcan – Black Widow

90. Hawk UAS – Silex Systems F15 190. Vulcan – Mantis

91. Helipal - Storm Drone AntiGravity 191. Vulcan – Raven

92. Helipal - Storm Drone 8 Naza V2 192. Walkera – QR X350PRO

93. Helipal - Storm Drone 6 Naza 193. Walkera – QR X800

94. Helipal - Storm Drone 4 Naza 194. Walkera – QR X900

95. Helipal - Storm Drone 4 195. Walkera – Scout X4

96. Helipal - Storm Drone 4 Mini 196. Walkera – Tali H500

97. HexaCrafter HC-650 197. Walkera – Voyager 3

98. HexaCrafter HC-800 198. Yamaha RMAX

99. HexaCrafter HC-1100 199. Yuneec - Tornado H920

100. HexaCrafter HO-1250 200. Yuneec - Typhoon Q500

Which each separately weighs 55 lbs. or less, with imaging payload and applicable equipment. 

Equipment operation manuals for each sUAV are included for your reference and are considered 

confidential information for each respective company’s UAS and are affixed separately in these 

documents as Appendix B.2

 
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Commercial (Mission, Operation) Purpose: 

This exemption request once granted would allow the petitioner to operate a small unmanned 

aerial vehicle (sUAV), unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to conduct

Educational courses, training students, helping public and private schools to offer great courses 

to better educate the students to understand the UAS fields, jobs and future. Offering basic 

knowledge UAS training with hands on training with basic, medium and advance knowledge 

courses in addition to offering Industry certifications for getting an operator certificate/ Pilot 

license after going through intense and rigorous courses offered through our company with the 

help of professors that are in the field that worked hard to put an educational curriculum to 

better educate the students. 

In Addition, Unmanned Aircraft Institute LLC, will conduct bridge Inspections, flare stack 

inspection, utility-power generation system inspections and patrolling, aerial inspection, 

photography and videography of residential and commercial real estate, aerial inspection, 

photography and videography of utility infrastructure including but not limited to electrical 

power lines, wind turbines and cell towers, pipeline inspection and patrolling, filmmaking, 

cinematography, and videography, precision agriculture with on board sensors, wildlife and 

forestry monitoring and mosquito and insect control, aerial surveying, construction site 

inspection and monitoring, public entity support operations, Aerial imaging for safety, 

monitoring and comparing work efforts and completion percentages, and security of controlled 

environment of various sites, aerial video and live video feed to assist with search and rescue 

operations under the authority and support of local authority officials, aerial video and 

photography for public and private use including television, public events, and cinematography 

live feed and live newsgathering, training to persons individually or belonging to both private 

and public organizations to increase awareness and improve safety for current and future UAS 

operations within the NAS, special events, research, risk management and assessment, motion 

picture production, surface mining, closed set filming, disaster and catastrophe events.

Regulations from which the Exemption Relief is requested:

14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a) & (b)

14 C.F.R. § 61.133(a)

14 C.F.R. § 91.7(a)

14 C.F. R.§ 91.119

14 C.F.R. § 91.121

14 C.F.R. § 91.151 (a)

14 C.F.R. § 91.405 (a)

14 C.F.R. § 407 (a) (1)
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CONCLUSION 

For the foregoing reasons, the regulatory exemptions requested herein should be 

granted and Petitioner should be permitted to conduct small UAS operations for 

the purpose of Education, teaching and training, closed-set filming an aerial 

photography. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Professor: Mark Mansour 

Unmanned Aircraft Institute LLC. 

The name and address of the Petitioner is: 

Unmanned Aircraft Institute, LLC

Attn:

Professor: Mark Mansour

11133 Windpoint Drive

Tampa, FL 33635\

Cell: 813-409-6557

Markmansour123@gmail.com

Please direct any question or comment regarding this petition to the Petitioner 

Thank you so much for your time and cooperation. 

Educationally yours, 

Mark Mansour

Professor at Embry-Riddle University 

Professor teaching UAS to high school students at Clearwater High School. 

Member of the UAS education pathway committee at St. Petersburg College, Clearwater FL
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