October26,2015U.S.DepartmentofTransportationDocketManagementSystem1200NewJerseyAve.,SEWashington,DC20590Re:PetitionofThorinEnterprises,LLCdbaPrairieAerialforanExemptionPursuanttoSection333oftheFAAModernizationandReformActof2012Director:FlightStandardsService:PursuanttoSection333oftheFAAModernizationandReformActof2012("ReformAct")and14C.F.R.Part11,ThorinEnterprises,LLCdba2("PrairieAerial")herebyappliesforanexemptionfromtheFederalAviationRegulations("FARs")identifiedbelowtoallowcommercialoperationofsmallunmannedaerialvehicles(i.e.,"smallunmannedaircraft"or"UAS")forthepurposeofconductingaerialvideography,photographyforthefilm,televisionandwebindustriesaswellasinfrastructureinspectionandsitesurveys.ThispetitionforexemptionismadebasedoninformationoutlinedinthisPetitionforExemption,aswellastheaccompanyingdocuments;1.PICFlightOperationsManualand;2.OperationsManuals(Collectively2and3arereferredtoasDocumentsandManuals)3.UserGuideand;4.FlightManual1(Collectively3and4arereferredtoas"Manufacturer'sManuals").PrairieAerialsubmitsthesesupportingmaterialsasconfidentialdocumentspursuantto14C.F.R.§11.35(b),asthematerialscontainconfidentialcommercialand/orproprietaryinformationthatPrairieAerialhasnotandwillnotsharewithotherrequestingparties.Additionally,thesedocumentscontainoperatingconditionsandproceduresthatarenotgenerallyavailabletothepublicandareprotectedfromreleaseundertheFreedomofInformationAct,5U.S.C.§552et.seq.Foryourconvenience,thisPetitionisorganizedasfollows:I.DescriptionofPetitioner1.Theterm"Manufacturer'sManual"alsoincludesallrelevantmanufacturerpublications,including,butnotlimitedto:operationsandflightmanuals,userguides,componentmaintenancemanuals,pilottraining manuals,serviceinformationlettersand,safety/servicebulletins.U.S Department

of Transportation October

25, 2015 Page2

II. Description

of Proposed Operations A. Aerial Videography,

Photography

for

the Film, Television

and Web Industries: Infrastructure

Inspection

and

Site Surveys III. Relevant

Statutory

Authority IV. Proposed

UAS Operations

Meet

the Requirements

of Section

333

of the Reform

Act A. Approval

is Warranted

Based

on

the UAS's

Size, Weight,

Speed,

and Operational

Capability B. Approval

is Warranted

Based

on

the Operational

Restrictions

Set Forth

in the Operations

Manuals V. Regulations

From Which Exemption

is Requested A.

14 C.F.R.

Part

21, Subpart

H- Airworthiness

Certificates

and

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.203(a)(l) B.

14 C.F.R.

Part

27 Airworthiness

Standards:

Normal Category Rotorcraft C.

14 C.F.R.

§§ 91.9(c), 45.23(b)

and 45.27(a):

Aircraft Marking

and Identification

Requirements D.

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1)

, 91.409(a)(l)

and

(2); 91.417(a)

and

(b)

: Maintenance

Inspections E.

14

C

. F.R.

Part

61,

14 C.F.R.

§ 61.3,

14 C.F.R.

§ 61.113

: Private

Pilot Privileges

and Limitations F.

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.7(a):

Civil Aircraft Airworthiness G.

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.9(b)(2):

Civil Aircraft

Flight Manual

in the Aircraft

and

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.203(a)

and

(b): Carrying

Civil Aircraft Certification

and Registration H.

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.103: Preflight

Action I.

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.109(a):

Flight Instruction J.

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.119(c):

Minimum

Safe Altitudes K.

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.121: Altimeter

Settings L.

14

C

. F.R.

§ 91.151(a):

Fuel Requirements

for Flight

in VFR Conditions Vl.

Drug

and Alcohol Program VII.

Public Interest VIII. Privacy IX. Federal Register Summary X. ConclusionU.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page3I.DESCRIPTIONOFPETITIONERPrairieAerial,basedinSiouxFalls,SD,providesaerialvideography,photographyforthefilm,televisionandwebindustriesaswellasinfrastructureinspectionandsitesurveysfortheirclientbase.PrairieAerialaimstoprovidehighqualityaerialvideo,usingthelatestUAStechnologies,toeveryclientinasafeandprofessionalmanners.PrairieAerialworkstoproducevideographyandphotographyviacontrolledflightsfortheproductionofcommercialproductsandstockfootage.TheCompany'sPrincipalandChiefPilotJosephThorinhasbeenflyingUAVQuadcoptersasahobbyformorethanthreeyearswithoutincident,spendingthousandsofhoursflying.PrairieAerial'sstaffarewelltrainedandexperiencedinprovidingsupportasvisualobservers("VO")forthepilotincommand("PIC")inadditiontoanyotherneededonsiteassistance.AlloftheequipmentownedbyPrairieAerialisofthehighestqualitygearandhasbeenabletoprovidetheseservicessafelyandwithoutanyclaimsorincident.PrairieAerial'sgoalistoadvisetheperspectiveclientthatPrairieAerialisfollowingalltheapplicablestateandfederalrulestoensurethesafetyofthepublicwhileprovidingtheclientwithacompetitiveandcosteffectiveproduct.PrairieAerialseeksanexemptiontoallowforaerialfilmmakingaswellasphotography,andvideographyservices,infrastructureinspection,sitesurveysandotherrelatedmediaproducts.ThecontactinformationforPetitionerisasfollows:ToddL.ThorinThorinEnterprises,LLCdbaPrairieAerial7801W.LeahStreetSiouxFalls,SD57106Phone:(605)366-5480:Email:todd@prairieaerial.comII.DESCRIPTIONOFPROPOSEDOPERATIONPrairieAerialseeksanexemptionpursuanttoSection333oftheReformActtooperatetheDJIPhantom2;andDJIInspire(allunder55lbs)alsoknownas(PA-UAS)fortheproposedoperationsdiscussedhereinbelow.AllUASoperationswilloccurundertightlycontrolledconditionsonprivatepropertyorapprovedlocationwherePrairieAerialhasreceivedverifiablepermissiontooperatefromthelandowner,controllerorauthorizedrepresentative.TheproposedUASoperationswillbeconductedinaccordancewiththeconditionsandlimitationsofthisPetitionforExemptionandPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals.AsdetailedinPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals,allUASoperationswillbelimitedtodaytimeVFRconditions,withinvisualline-of-sight("VLOS")oftheoperator,inuncontrolledairspace,andwilloccuratleast5nmawayfromanairportreferencepoint.Moreover,PrairieAerial'sOperationsManualsincorporateredundantsafeguardstoassuretheaircraftdoesnottraveloutsidethecontrolledareaofUASoperations,includingGPS"geo-fencing"technologies.U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page4A.AerialVideography,PhotographyfortheFilm,TelevisionandWebIndustries:InfrastructureInspectionandSiteSurveysPrairieAerialseekstousesmallPA-UAS'sforthepurposeofconductingaerialvideography,photographyforthefilm,televisionandwebindustriesaswellasinfrastructureinspectionandsitesurveys.PrairieAerialhaspurposefullytailoreditsoperationstomeettherequirementsestablishedbytheFAAinpriorgrantsofexemptionauthorizingcommercialuseofUASinthemotionpictureandtelevisionfilmmakingindustry,including:••••••••••••AstraeusAerial(ExemptionNo.11062)AerialMOB,LLC(ExemptionNo.11066)Pictorvision,Inc.(ExemptionNo.11067)HeliVideoProductions,LLC(ExemptionNo.11065)SnaprollMedia,LLC(ExemptionNo.11063)RCProProductionsConsulting,LLCd/b/aVortexAerial(ExemptionNo.11064)Flying-Cam,LLC(ExemptionNo.11080)Aerocine,LLC(ExemptionNo.11150)Team5,LLC(ExemptionNo.11158)AlanD.Purwin(ExemptionNo.11161)HelinetAviationServices,LLC(ExemptionNo.11160)PictureFactory,Inc.(ExemptionNo.11178)AllUASrecordingoperationswilloccuronprivatepropertyorapprovedlocationinacontrolledareaawayfromspectatorsandpersonsnotinvolvedinthefilmmakingprocess.Inaddition,thefilmingwillbeconductedbetweendawnanddusktoensuremaximumsafetyforthepublicandthoseinvolvedinthemanipulationandoperationoftheUAS;VFRconditions,ataltitudesbelow400'abovegroundlevel("AGL").Assetforthbelow,PrairieAerial'soperationsprovideanequivalentlevelofsafetywhichissuperiortoperformingthesameworkusingconventionalfixed-wingaircraftorhelicopters.SmallUASrecordingoperationsisalsosaferthantraditionalmannedaircraftperformingthesamefunction.Conventionaloperationsusingrotorcraftandfixed-wingaircraftinlowleveloperationspresentrisksassociatedwithvehiclesweighingtensofthousandsofpounds(includingpayload)andcarryinglargeamountsoffuelwhichinherentlypresentssignificantfirehazardsaswellasexposuretootherchemicalcontaminates.ItisimportanttonotetheuseofsmallUASinthisareawillnotonlybesaferandmorecosteffectivetotheperspectiveuserorpurchaseroftheservice,butthequalityandexpanseofacquiredinformationwillbefarmorerobustgiventhelowcostassociatedwithitsacquisitionandotherpotentialconsumersaninexpensiveproduct.UASrecordingismorereliable,andallowsforthecollection,dissemination,andstorageofvisualandothersensorydatawithgreaterprecisionanddurationataverylowcost.SmallUASwillalsobecapableofaccessingandinspectingareasthatwouldotherwisebeinaccessibleorhighlydangeroususingconventionalaircraftorotherinspectionmethods.U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page5III.RELEVANTSTATUTORYAUTHORITYThisPetitionforExemptionissubmittedpursuanttoSection333(a)through(c)oftheFAAModernizationandReformActof2012("ReformAct").CongresshasdirectedtheFAA"tosafelyacceleratetheintegrationofcivilunmannedaircraftsystemsintothenationalairspacesystem."PursuanttoSection333oftheReformAct,theFAAAdministratoristopermitunmannedaircraftsystemstooperateintheNationalAirSpace("NAS")whereitissafetodosobasedonthefollowingconsiderations:•TheUAS'ssize,weight,speedandoperationalcapability;•OperationoftheUASincloseproximitytoairportsandpopulatedareas;and•OperationoftheUASwithinthevisuallineofsightoftheoperator.Additionally,theFAAAdministratorhasgeneralauthoritytograntexemptionsfromtheagency'ssafetyregulationsandminimumstandardswhentheAdministratordecidesarequestedexemptionisinthepublicinterest.See49U.S.C.§106(f)(definingtheauthorityoftheAdministrator);49U.S.C.§44701(f)(permittingexemptionsfrom§§44701(a),(b)and§§44702-44716,etseq.).Apartyrequestinganexemptionmustexplainthereasonswhytheexemption:(1)wouldbenefitthepublicasawhole,and(2)wouldnotadverselyaffectsafety(orhowitwouldprovidealevelofsafetyatleastequaltotheexistingrules).See14C.F.R.§11.81(petitionsforexemption).IV.PRAIRIEAERIAL'sPROPOSEDPA-UASOPERATIONSMEETTHEREUIREMENTSOFSECTION333OFTHEREFORMACTThesmallPA-UASoperationsproposedbyPrairieAerialasnotedaboveinthisPetitionforExemptionqualifyforexpeditedapprovalpursuanttoSection333oftheReformActaseachofthestatutorycriteriaandrelevantfactorsaresatisfied.A.ApprovalisWarrantedBasedontheUAS'sSize,Weight,Speed,andOperationalCapabilityAGrantofExemptionisappropriateforoperationsconductedusingtheUASsduetotheirsizeweight,speed,andoperationalcapability.•ThePA-UAS'sutilizedbyPrairieAerialhavebeenapprovedforuseinpriorSection333GrantsofExemptionfromtheFAA.2•ThePA-UASweighlessthan55pounds,includingpayload.•ThePA-UASwillnotbeflownatagroundspeedinexcessof50knots.The2Seee.g.,GrantofExemptiontoShotoverCameraSystemsL.P.(ExemptionNo.11159);GrantofExemptiontoVDOSGlobal,LLC(ExemptionNo.11112);GrantofExemptiontoLowCountryRC,Corp.(ExemptionNo.11184);GrantofExemptiontoAlanPurwin(ExemptionNo.11161);GrantofExemptiontoHelinetAviationServices(ExemptionNo.11160);GrantofExemptiontoTotalSafetyU.S.,Inc.(ExemptionNo.11156).U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page6•••exemptionholdermayuseeithergroundspeedorcalibratedairspeedtodeterminecompliancewiththe50knotspeedrestriction.AltitudeinformationwillbegeneratedbyequipmentonboardtheUASasspecifiedusingGPStriangulation,digitallyencodedbarometricaltimeter,radioaltimeter,oranycombinationthereof.Thisinformationwillbetransmittedtothepilotviatelemetricdatafeed.ThePA-UASwillhavesystemredundanciesandindependentfunctionalitytoensuretheoverallsafetyandpredictabilityofthesystem.Ifconnectiontotheremotecontrolorgroundcontrolstationislost,failsafesystemswillpermittheUASstoreturntoapredeterminedlocationandsafelylandwithoutinjuryordamage.TheradiofrequenciesusedforoperationsandcontrolofthePA-UAScomplywiththeFederalCommunicationsCommission("FCC")andotherappropriategovernmentoversightagencyrequirements.TheoperatingfrequencyforthePAUASis2.4GHzfrequencybands.Ifthesameoperationswereconductedusingahelicopter,theaircraft'stake-offweightwouldlikelyexceed6,000poundsdepending onpayload.ThedifferenceinweightbetweenthePAUASandahelicoptersignificantlyreducesthepotentialharmtotheparticipatingandnonparticipatingindividualsand/orsurroundingpropertyintheeventofanunintended accidentorincident.Inaddition,therisktotheonboardpilotandcameraoperatoriseliminated.B.ApprovalisWarrantedBasedontheOperationalRestrictionsSetForthinPrairieAerial'sOperationsManualsPrairieAerial'sOperationsManualsandtheManufacturer'sManualfortheselectedPA-UASwillcontainalltheproceduresandlimitationsnecessarytosafelyandsuccessfullyperformtheoperationsspecifiedinthisPetitionforExemption.ToassisttheFAAinmakingasafetyassessmentofPrairieAerial'sproposedoperations,belowisasummaryofoperationallimitationsandconditionsthatPrairieAerialwilladhereto,andwhichwillensureanequivalentorhigherlevelofsafetytooperationsconductedundercurrentregulatoryguidelines:1.ThePA-UASsweighslessthan55pounds,withpayload.2.Alloperationsshallbeconductedoverprivateorcontrolled-accesspropertywithverifiablepermissionfromthelandowner/controllerorauthorizedrepresentative.Permissionfromlandowner/controllerorauthorizedrepresentativewillbeobtainedforeachscheduledflightpriortooperation.3.AllUASsoperatedundertheGrantofExemptionwillbeidentifiedbyserialnumber,registeredinaccordancewith14CFRpart47,andhaveidentification(N-Number)markingsinaccordancewith14CFRpart45,SubpartC.Markingswillbeaslargeaspracticable.U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page74.Minimumcrewforeachflightoperationwillconsistofapilot,whowillbePilot-inCommand("PIC")ofthePA-UAS,andoneormoreVisualObservers("Observer")asnecessarytosafelyconductthemission.5.PICsshallpossesseitheraprivate,recreational,orsportpilotcertificate.ThePICmustalsoholdacurrentFAAairmanmedicalcertificateoravalidU.S.driver'slicenseissuedbyastate,theDistrictofColumbia,PuertoRico,aterritory,apossession,ortheFederalgovernment.ThePICwillalsomeettheflightreviewrequirementsspecifiedin14C.F.R61.56inanaircraftinwhichthePICisratedonhisorherpilotcertificate6.ThePA-UASshallbeoperatedwithinVLOSofthePICandObserveratalltimes.ThePICmustusehumanvisionunaidedbyanydeviceotherthancorrectivelenses,asspecifiedonthePIC'sFAA-issuedmedicalcertificate.7.ThePICandObserverdesignatedforanyoperationwillbeabletocommunicateverballyatalltimes.8.Electronicmessagingortextingwillnotbepermittedduringflightoperations.9.TheadditionalrequirementsidentifiedintheGrantofExemptionshallbeaddedtothePrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals.TheOperationsManualswillbemaintainedandmadeavailabletotheAdministratoruponrequest.IfadiscrepancyexistsbetweentheconditionsandlimitationsintheGrantofExemptionandPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals,theconditionsandlimitationsintheGrantofExemptionshalltakeprecedenceandmustbefollowed.Otherwise,PrairieAerialshallfollowtheproceduresoutlinedintheirOperationsManuals.10.PrairieAerialmayupdateorreviseitsOperationsManuals.RevisionswillbetrackedandarevisedcopyoftheManualwillbeprovidedtotheAdministratoruponrequest.PrairieAerialwillalsopresentanupdatedandrevisedOperationsManualsifitpetitionsforextensionoramendmenttoitsGrantofExemption.IfanupdateorrevisionwouldaffectthebasisuponwhichtheFAAgrantstheexemption,PrairieAerialwillseekanamendmenttoitsGrantofExemption.PrairieAerialwillcontacttheFAA'sUASIntegrationOffice(AFS-80)ifquestionsariseregardingupdatesorrevisionstotheoperatingdocuments.11.PrairieAerialOperationsManualsanditsGrantofExemptionwillbeavailabletothePICatthegroundcontrolstationanytimethePA-UASisoperating.12.ThePICisprohibitedfrombeginninganPA-UASflightunless(consideringwindandforecastweatherconditions)thereisenoughpowertoflytothefirstintendedpointoflanding,andassumingnormalcruisingspeed,toflyafterthatforatleast10minutes.13.MaximumtotalflighttimeforeachoperationalflightusingthePA-UASwillbelimitedto40minutesortheamountoftimetheUAScanbeflownandstillmaintainareservebatterypowerofnolessthan25%,whicheveroccursfirst.U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page814.Flightswillbeoperatedatanaltitudeofnomorethan400feetAGLandwillneverenternavigablecontrolledairspacewithouttimelypriorwrittenauthorizationandapprovalfromtheFAA.Intheeventthestructurebeinginspectedexceeds400feetAGL,theUASwillnotbeoperatedmorethan100feetabovethehighestpointonthestructure,andnomorethan150feethorizontallyfromthestructure.15.Flightoperationsmustbeconductedatleast500feetfromallnonparticipatingpersons.(personsotherthanthePIC,VO,operatortraineesoressentialpersons),vessels,vehicles,andstructuresunless:a.BarriersorstructuresarepresentthatsufficientlyprotectnonparticipatingpersonsfromtheUAand/ordebrisintheeventofanaccident.Theoperatormustensurethatnonparticipatingpersonsremainundersuchprotection.Ifasituationariseswherenonparticipatingpersonsleavesuchprotectionandarewithin500feetoftheUA,flightoperationsmustceaseimmediatelyand/or;b.Theaircraftisoperatednearvessels,vehiclesorstructureswheretheowner/controllerofsuchvessels,vehiclesorstructureshasgrantedpermissionandthePIChasmadeasafetyassessmentoftheriskofoperatingclosertothoseobjectsanddeterminedthatitdoesnotpresentanundue hazard,and;c.OperationsnearertothePIC,VO,operatortraineesoressentialpersonsdonotpresentanunduehazardtothosepersonsper§91.119(a).16.ThePA-UASmaynotbeoperatedlessthan500feetbeloworlessthan2,000feethorizontallyfromacloudorwhenvisibilityislessthan3statutemilesfromthePIC.17.ThePA-UASmaynotoperatewithin5nmofanairportreferencepointasdenotedonacurrentFAA-publishedaeronauticalchartunlessaletterofagreementwiththatairport'smanagementisobtained,andtheoperationisconductedinaccordancewithaNOTAMasrequiredbythePrairieAerialCOA.TheletterofagreementwiththeairportmanagementwillbemadeavailabletotheAdministratoruponrequest.18.PriortoeachflightthePICshallinspectthePA-UAStoconfirmthatitisinaconditionsafeforflight.Thepre-flightinspectionwillaccountforalldiscrepancies,e.g.inoperablecomponents,items,orequipment,notalreadycoveredintherelevantsectionsoftheoperatingdocumentsaswellasequipmentupdates.ThePICshallnotoperateanyPA-UASiftheinspectionrevealsaconditionthataffectsthesafeoperationofthePA-UASuntilthenecessarymaintenancehasbeenperformedandthePA-UASisfoundtobeinaconditionforsafeflight.Thegroundcontrolstationshallbeincludedinthepreflightinspection.AllmaintenanceandalternationsmustbeproperlydocumentedintheUAS'srecordsasrequiredbyPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals.19.PrairieAerialwilltimelycarryoutitsmaintenance,inspections,andrecordkeepingrequirementsinaccordancewiththeOperationsManuals.Maintenance,inspection,andalterationswillbefullynotedinthePA-UASrecords,includingtotaltimeinU.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page9service,descriptionofworkaccomplished,datecompletedandthesignatureoftheauthorizedpersonreturningthePA-UAStoservice.20.AnyPA-UASthathasundergonemaintenanceoralterationsthataffecttheUASoperationorflightcharacteristics(e.g.,replacementofaflightcriticalcomponent)musttimelyundergoafunctionaltestflightinaccordancewithPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals.ThePICwhoconductsthefunctionaltestflightmustmakeanentryintheUASaircraftrecordsoftheflight.TherequirementsandproceduresforafunctionaltestflightandPA-UASrecordentryshallbeincludedinthePrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals.21.ThePA-UASwillbeoperatedandmaintainedaccordingtotheManufacturer'sManualsand anyrequiredmanufacturerSafety/ServiceBulletinsandproductupdates.22.Priortotheoperation,aMissionPacketwillbecreatedinaccordancewiththerequirementsonPrairieAerial'OperationsManuals.23.PrairieAerialwillobtainanAirTrafficOrganization("ATO")issuedCertificateofWaiverorAuthorization,otherwiseknownasaCOA,priortoconductinganyoperationsunderthisGrantofExemption.ANOTAMwillbeissuedasrequiredbytheCOA.AlloperationswillbeconductedinaccordancewithairspacerequirementsintheATOissuedCOAincludingclassofairspace,altitudelevelandpotentialtransponderrequirements.24.Allrequiredpermissionsandpermitswillbeobtainedfromterritorial,state,countyorcityjurisdictions,includinglocallawenforcement,fireorotherappropriategovernmentalagencies.25.IfthePA-UASlosescommunicationwiththePIC,itwillhavethecapabilitytosafelyreturntoapre-determinedlocationwithintheoperationalareaandlandsafely.26.ContingencyplanswillbeinplacetosafelyterminateflightifthereisalossofcommunicationbetweenthePICandtheObserver.27.ThePA-UASwillhavethecapabilitytosafelyabortflightinthecaseofunpredictedobstaclesoremergencies.28.PICsandObserverswillhaveatleastacurrentClassIIIMedicalCertificateoravalidandcurrentstatedriver'slicenseissuedwithintheUnitedStates.29.Priortoconductingoperationsforfilming,thePICwillhaveaccumulatedandlogged,inamannerconsistentwith14CFR§61.51(b),aminimumof200flightcyclesand25hourstotaltimeasaUASrotorcraftpilotandatleast10hoursloggedasaUASpilotwithasimilarPA-UAStypeplatform.Thisrequirementcanbeachievedbyflightsconductedandloggedasahobbyist.30.Priortoconductingoperationsforfilming,thePICwillhaveaccumulatedandlogged,inamannerconsistentwith14CFR§61.51(b),aminimumofhourspursuantto54U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page10CFR§61.51(b)asUASpilotoperatingthemakeandmodelofPA-UAStobeutilizedforoperationsundertheexemptionandthreetake-offsandthreelandinginthepreceding90days.31.OperationsshalloccurduringdaytimeVFRMeteorologicalConditions;flightsunderspecialvisualflightrules("SVFR")shallnotbeconducted.32.ThePA-UASshallremainclearandyieldtherightofwaytoallothermannedoperationsandactivitiesatalltimes(including,butnotlimitedto,ultralightvehicles,parachuteactivities,parasailingactivities,hanggliders,etc.).33.PA-UASOperationsunderInstrumentFlightRules,atnight,orbeyondVLOSareprohibited.34.TheUASwillnotbeoperatedfromanelevatedplatformunlessdesignedandengineeredspecificallyforsuchpurposesandbeincompliancewiththegeneralrestrictionsimposedbytheapplicableregulations.AdditionallynoPICwillprovideanyfilm-flightoperationswhileinmotionfromatopanyelevatedplatformvehicleordevice.35.Beforeconductingoperations,theradiofrequencyspectrumusedforoperationandcontrolofthePA-UASwillcomplywiththeFederalCommunicationsCommission(FCC)orotherappropriategovernmentoversightagencyrequirements.V.REGULATIONSFROMWHICHEXEMPTIONISREQUESTEDTheFederalAviationActexpresslygrantstheFAAtheauthoritytoissueexemptions.Thisstatutoryauthority,byitsterms,includesexemptingcivilaircraft,asthetermisdefinedunder§40101oftheAct,includingUASs,fromitssafetyregulationsandminimumstandardswhentheAdministratordecidesarequestedexemptionisinthepublicinterest.3PrairieAerialseeksanexemptionfromseveralinterrelatedprovisionsofTitle14oftheCodeofFederalRegulations("14C.F.R")Parts21,45,61and91forpurposesofconductingtherequestedoperationsusingPA-UASplatformsnotedabove.Listedbeloware:(1)thespecificsectionsof14C.F.Rforwhichexemptionissought,and(2)theoperatingproceduresandsafeguardsthatPetitionerhasestablishedwhichwillensurealevelofsafetybetterthanorequaltotherulesfromwhichexemptionissought.4UNMANNEDAIRCRAFTSYSTEMA.14C.F.R.Part21,SubpartH-AirworthinessCertificatesand14C.F.R.§91.203(a)(1)349U.S.C.§44701(f)(authorizingthegrantofexemptionsfromrequirementsofregulationsprescribedpursuanttoSections44701(a)and(b)andSections44702-44716).414C.F.R§11.81(e),whichrequiresapetitionforexemptiontoinclude:Thereasonswhygrantingtheexemptionwouldnotadverselyaffectsafety,orhowtheexemptionwouldprovidealevelofsafetyatleastequaltothatprovidedbytherulefromwhichyouseekexemption.U.S Department

of Transportation October

25, 2015 Page

11 The FAA

has stated

that

no exemption

is needed

from

this section

if

a finding

is made

under

the Reform

Act

that

the UAS selected provides

an equivalent

level

of safety

when compared

to aircraft normally

used

for

the same application.

These criteria

are met

and

in point

of fact exceeded,

and therefore

no exemption

is needed.

5 If, however,

the FAA determines

that there are some characteristics

of the chosen

UAS

that

fail

to meet

the requirements

of the Reform

Act, an exemption

is requested. Equivalent

Level

of Safety Prairie Aerial's

use

of the PA-UAS

are safe when taking

into account

their

size, weight,

speed, and operational

capability.

As

set forth

in the description

of proposed operations

in Section

IV (A),

the PA-UAS

weigh

less

than

55 pounds, including

payload

and

will

not

be flown

at

a ground

speed

in excess

of

50 knots.

The PA-UAS

are also equipped

with safety features

which will allow Petitioner

to operate

the PA-UAS

safely

after experiencing

certain in-flight contingencies

or failures

as noted below.

6 7 Additionally,

the PA-UAS

carry neither

pilots

nor passengers,

carry

no explosive

materials

or flammable

liquid

fuels,

or other elements

identified

by Homeland

Security

as being prohibitive and operate exclusively

within

the parameters

stated

in Prairie Aerial's Operations

Manuals. Operations

conducted

under

this exemption

will

be closely controlled

and monitored

by

the PIC operator

and

will

be conducted

in compliance

with

local public

safety requirements,

to provide security

for

the area

of operation.

Prairie

Aerial

will

also provide

the FAA

with advance

notice of

all operations

via NOTAMs

as required

by

the applicable

COA.

In

all cases, operation

ofthe PA-UAS

under

the proposed conditions

will

be

at least

as safe

as,

or safer

than, conventional 5 See Grant

of Exemption

No

. 11062

to Astraeus

Aerial (FAA-2014-0352

at pgs. 13-14,

22). 6 See

e.g., Grant

of Exemption

No. 11184

to LowCountryRC,

Corp. (FAA-2014-0803

at pg.

3): "The

[DJI S1000] has

the capability

to operate

safely

after experiencing

certain in-flight contingencies

or failures

and

uses

an autopilot system

to maintain

UAS stability

and control.

The UAS

is also

able

to respond

to

a loss

of global positioning system

(GPS)

or

a lost-link

event

with

a pre-coordinated,

predictable,

automated

flight maneuver,

and manual

flight control functionality

as

a backup.

These

safety features

provide

an equivalent

level

of safety compared

to

a manned aircraft performing

a similar operation." 7 See

e.g., Grant

of Exemption

No. 11184

to VDOS

Global,

LLC. (FAA-2014-0382

at pgs

. 4-5):

The PA-UAS

can be operated

entirely

by

a touch-screen,

map-based

interface.

This means

the operator

only needs

to command

the system

where

to go,

and

the system

does

all

the flying

for

the operator.

The PA-UAS

can

be operated

in both

semi and fully autonomous

flight modes,

with

the operator

simply clicking

on

a map

to create

a pre-planned

flight

path for

a flight.

In addition,

the operator

can create

no

fly zones

or maximum

flight ranges

and altitudes

so the system cannot

enter

areas deemed

unsafe

or unnecessary

to

fly over.

The petitioner

states further

that

the UAS

has built-in intelligent

fault handling

which

allows

the PA-UAS

to detect

a system

fault while

in the

air and automatically

fly back

to

its takeoff

location

and land. Faults

that

can

be detected

include:

loss

of communication;

exceeding

pre-set wind thresholds;

and

low battery

levels. All flight operations

are global positioning

system

(GPS) controlled,

making

the system

easy

to navigate.

At any point

if the operator

is not explicitly commanding

the system

to move,

the system automatically

holds

its GPS

position.

The flight control

system employs

not only

GPS positioning

but

a variety

of sensors including

sonar, barometric pressure, temperature,

wind

speed

and others

to ensure stability

so long

as wind thresholds

are

not exceeded. Also

a flight termination

link-

to prevent

a 'fly away'

or other potentially

dangerous

situation

-

is available

to the operator."U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page12rotorcraftoperatingwithanairworthinesscertificate.Lastly,thePA-UASdonotneedameanstocommunicatewithotheraircraftorATC,becausethosecapabilitieswillbesolelypossessedbythePICandObserver,whoarenotonboardthePA-UAS.8Inaddition,nosense-and-avoidtechnologyisnecessaryforthePA-UASbecausetheywillbeoperatedatalltimesinVFRconditionsandwithinVLOSofthePICandOperator.9B.14C.F.R.Part27AirworthinessStandards:NormalCategoryRotorcraftTitle14C.F.R.Part27setsforththeproceduralrequirementsforairworthinesscertificationofnormalcategoryrotorcraft.TotheextentthatPrairieAerial'ssmallPA-UASswouldotherwiserequirecertificationunderPart27,PetitionerseeksanexemptionfromPart27'sairworthinessstandardsforthesamereasonsidentifiedintherequestforexemptionfrom14C.F.R.R.Part21,SubpartH,supra.C.14C.F.R.§§91.9(c),45.23(b)and45.27(a):AircraftMarkingandIdentificationRequirementsPrairieAerialseeksanexemptionfromtheaircraft markingandidentificationrequirementscontainedin14C.F.R.§§91.9(c),45.23(b)and45.27(a).•14C.F.R.§91.9(c),CivilAircraftFlightManual,MarkingandPlacardrequirements,providesthat:NopersonmayoperateaU.S.-registeredcivilaircraftunlessthataircraftisidentifiedinaccordancewithPart45ofthischapter.•14C.F.R.§45.23(b),MarkingsoftheAircraft,states:WhenmarksincludeonlytheRomancapitalletter"N"andtheregistrationnumberisdisplayedonlimited,restrictedorlight-sportcategoryaircraftorexperimentalorprovisionallycertificatedaircraft,theoperatormustalsodisplayonthataircraftneareachentrancetothecabin,cockpit,orpilotstation,inlettersnotlessthan2inchesnormorethan6incheshigh,thewords"limited,""restricted,""light-sport,"experimental,"or"provisional,"asapplicable.•14C.F.R.§45.27(a),Rotorcraft,states:Eachoperatorofarotorcraftmustdisplayonthatrotorcrafthorizontallyonbothsurfacesofthecabin,fuselage,boom,ortailthemarksrequiredby§45.23.8SeeGrantofExemptionNo.11062toAstraeusAerial(FAA-2014-0352atpg.13).9•IdU.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page13InapreviousGrantofExemption,theFAAdeterminedthatexemptionfromtheserequirementswaswarrantedprovidedthattheaircraft"haveidentification(N-Number)markingsinaccordancewith14C.F.RPart45,SubpartCifthemarkingsareaslargeaspracticable."10EquivalentLevelofSafetyAllPA-UASflownbyPrairieAerialwillbearN-numbermarkingsthatareaslargeaspracticableinaccordancewith14C.F.R.Part45,SubpartC.11D.14C.F.R.§91.405(a),91.407(a)(l),91.409(a)(l)and(2);91.417(a)and(b):MaintenanceInspectionsPrairieAerialseeksanexemptionfromthemaintenanceinspectionrequirementscontainedin14C.F.R.§91.405(a),91.407(a)(1),91.409(a)(2);91.417(a)and(b).Theseregulationsspecifymaintenanceandinspectionstandardsinreferenceto14C.F.R.Part43.See,e.g.,14C.F.R.§91.405(a)(statingthateachowneroroperatorofanaircraft"[s]hallhavetheaircraftinspectedasprescribedinsubpartEofthispartandshallbetweenrequiredinspections...havediscrepanciesrepairedasprescribedinpart43ofthischapter").AnexemptionfromtheseregulationsisneededbecausePart43andthesesectionsonlyapplytoaircraftwithanairworthinesscertificate,whichtheUASplatformstobeoperatedunderthisgrantofexemptionwillnothave.(Emphasisadded)EquivalentLevelofSafetyAnequivalentlevelofsafetywillbeachievedorexceededbecausemaintenanceandinspectionswillbetimelyperformedinaccordancewiththeManufacturer'sManualandanyrequiredmanufacturerSafetyorServiceBulletins.Further,asrequiredbyPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals,thePICwillconductapre-flightinspectionofthePA-UASandallassociatedequipmenttoaccountforalldiscrepanciesand/orinoperablecomponents.MaintenancewillbeperformedandverifiedtoaddressanyconditionspotentiallyaffectingsafeoperationofthePAUASandnoflightswilloccurunless,anduntil,allflightcriticalcomponentsofthePA-UAShavebeenfoundtobeairworthyandinaconditionsafeforoperation.Afunctionaltestflightwillbeconductedfollowingthereplacementofanyflight-criticalcomponents.AsrequiredbyPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals,thePICwhoconductsthefunctionaltestflightwillmakeanentryinthePA-UASaircraftrecordsoftheflight.PrairieAerial'sOperationsManualalsoincludesrequirementstofollowthemanufacturer'sUASaircraft/component,maintenance,overhaul,replacement,inspection,andlifelimitrequirementsforthefollowingapplicablecomponents:powertrainsystem(powerplant),propellers,avionicsandcontrolsurfaces(includingailerons/elevens),structures&airframe,camerasystem,electricalsystems(includingbatteries),groundcontrolstation,hazardaccessories,andspareparts.Further,PrairieAerial'sOperationsManualsalsoincludeprocedurestodocumentandmaintainarecordofthePA-UAS'smaintenance,preventativemaintenance,alterations,statusof1°FAADocketNo.FAA-2014-0352.11See,e.g.,FAADocketNo.FAA-2014-0352,at14.

# U.S Department

of Transportation October

25,2015 Page

14 replacement

/overhaul component

parts,

and

the total

time

in service

ofthe PA-UAS

used under this Grant

of Exemption.

As

a whole,

the maintenance

and inspection procedures

required

in Prairie Aerial's Operations

Manuals

ensure

that

an equivalent

or higher

level

of safety

will

be achieved.



# PILOT -IN-COMMAND

OF THE

UAS E.

14 C.F.R.



# § 61.113:

Private

Pilot Privileges

and Limitations Prairie

Aerial

seeks exemption

from

14 CFR

§ 61.113,

which restricts

private

pilot certificate holders

from flying aircraft

for compensation

or hire,

and would

also require

a second

class medical certificate.

The purpose

of Part

61

is

to ensure

that

the skill

and competency

of any

PIC matches

the airspace

in which

the

PIC

will

be operating,

as well

as requiring certifications

ifthe private

pilot

is carrying passengers

or cargo

for hire.

In this case,

while

the PA-UASs

will

be operated

as part

of

a commercial

operation,

they carry neither passengers

nor cargo.

In the Grant ofExemption

to Astraeus

Aerial,

the FAA determined

that

the unique characteristics

ofUAS operation

outside

of controlled

airspace

did

not warrant

the additional

cost

and restrictions attendant

with requiring

the PIC

to have

a Commercial

Pilot Certificate

and Class

II Medical Certificate.

12 

# The fulfillment

of the additional requirements

for

a private pilot

to become qualified

as

a commercial

pilot would

not lead

to any additional

safety benefits

when

UAS operations

are involved. 

# Equivalent

Level

of Safety The restrictions

Prairie

Aerial

has placed

on

its PA-UAS operations

meet

or exceed

the restrictions

similarly

imposed

on Astraeus

Aerial.

Prairie

Aerial

will operate

on private property or approved

location

away

from persons

and property

not involved

in the operation.

Prairie Aerial

will

also obtain

an

A TO issued

COA

prior

to conducting

any operations

under

this Grant of Exemption.

All operations

will

be conducted

in accordance

with airspace requirements

in the A TO issued

COA including

class

of airspace,

altitude

level

and potential transponder requirements.

A NOT

AM

will

also

be issued

as required

by

the applicable

COA. In addition

to these

flight restrictions,

Prairie

Aerial

will further

ensure

safe operation

by requiring

that

any

PIC

be thoroughly

versed

not only

in airspace

and communication

issues pertaining

to

all aircraft operators

but

also

in the unique

aspects

of

P A-U

AS flight.

As

set forth in the Operations

Manuals,

pilots

will have experience

not only

in PA-UAS operations

generally but have logged

flight

time

in the specific

make

and model

used

for

the operations

before

they are permitted

to participate

in commercial

flights

on behalf

of Prairie

Aerial.

The pilot qualification,

training,

and currency requirements

in the Operations

Manuals

ensure

that Prairie Aerial

pilots

are competent

and proficient

in the PA-UASs

they

are operating.

Prairie Aerial's training

and qualification

requirements

are consistent

with those contained

in prior

FAA Section 333 Grants

of Exemption,

and

will provide

a higher

level

of competency

and proficiency

for

its pilots

and

will ensure

at least

an equivalent

level

of safety

to the public. 12 

# Exemption

No. 11062

(FAA Docket

No. FAA-2014-0352).U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page15OPERATINGPARAMETERSOFTHEUASF.14C.F.R.§91.7(a):CivilAircraftAirworthinessInasmuchastherewillbenoairworthinesscertificateissuedfortheUAS,PrairieAerialseeksanexemptionfrom14C.F.R.§91.7(a),whichrequiresthatacivilaircraftbeinairworthyconditiontobeoperated.TheFAAhasstatedthatnoexemptionisrequiredfor14C.F.R.§91.7(a)totheextentthattherequirementsofPart21arewaivedorfoundinapplicable.13Accordingly,Petitionerrequeststhattherequirementsfor§91.7(a)betreatedinaccordancewithSectionV(A),supra.G.14C.F.R.§91.9(b)(2):CivilAircraftFlightManualintheAircraftand14C.F.R.§91.203(a)and(b):CarryingCivilAircraftCertificationandRegistrationTitle14C.F.R.§91.9(b)(2)and§91.203(a)and(b)requiretheoperatortocarryairworthinessdocumentsandotheraircraftmanualsonboardtheaircraft.Pursuantto14C.F.R.§91.9(b)(2):(b)NopersonmayoperateaU.S.-registeredcivilaircraft-(2)ForwhichanAirplaneorRotorcraftFlightManualisrequiredby§21.5ofthischapter,unlessthereisavailableintheaircraftacurrentapprovedAirplaneorRotorcraftFlightManual,approvedmanualmaterial,markings,andplacards,oranycombinationthereof.Pursuantto14C.F.R.§91.203(a)and(b):(a)Exceptasprovidedin§91.715,nopersonmayoperateacivilaircraftunlessithaswithinitthefollowing:(1)Anappropriateandcurrentairworthinesscertificate...(b)Nopersonmayoperateacivilaircraftunlesstheairworthinesscertificaterequiredbyparagraph(a)ofthissectionoraspecialflightauthorizationissuedunder§91.715isdisplayedatthecabinorcockpit entrancesothatitislegibletopassengersorcrew.GiventhesmallsizeandconfigurationofthePA-UAS,itwouldbeimpossibletokeepairworthinessdocumentsandotheraircraftmanualsonboardthePA-UASbecausethereissimplynoroomandthePA-UAShasnocabinorcockpit.AsawaytocomplywiththecodePrairieAerialwillmaintainthedocumentswiththePICandmakethemavailableforinspection.EquivalentLevelofSafetyInanFAAOfficeofChiefCounsel'sOpiniondatedAugust8,2014,andpreparedbyDeanE.Griffith,Attorney,AGC-220,itwasacknowledgedthattheintentof14C.F.R.91.9(b)and13SeeId.at13-14,22.

# U.S Department

of Transportation October

25,2015 Page

16 91.203(a)

and

(b)

is met

if the pilot

of the unmanned

aircraft

has access

to the UAS

flight manual, registration

certificate,

and other required documents

from

the ground

control

station from which

he

or she

is operating

the aircraft.

14



# As this FAA Office

of Chief Counsel

Opinion clarifies,

the intent

of the rule

is

to ensure

the pilot

has access

to these

key documents

during flight. Therefore,

an equivalent

level

of safety

will

be achieved

by ensuring

that

the pilot

has access

to the documents

at the ground

control

station

from which

he

or she

is piloting

the UAS. 

# H.

14 C.F.R.



# § 91.103: Preflight

Action Prairie

Aerial

seeks

an exemption

from

14 C.P.R.§

91.103,

which requires

a PIC

to become familiar

with specific information

before

each flight, including information

contained

in the FAA-approved

Flight Manual

on board

the aircraft.

While

the

PIC

will

be familiar

with

all information

necessary

to safely conduct

the flight,

an exemption

is requested

to the extent

that

an FAA-approved

Flight Manual

is required. 

# Equivalent

Level

of Safety An equivalent

level

of safety

will

be provided

by following

the Prairie Aerial's Operations Manuals

and

the Manufacturer's

Manual.

The

PIC

will perform

a series

of checklists

designed

to identify

any defects

or inoperable components

in accordance

with

the Prairie Aerial's Operations Manuals,

including

checklists

covering Pre-Flight,

Launch, Landing,

and Post-Flight

procedures. The

PIC

will

also

be required

to review weather,

flight requirements,

battery

charge,

landing

and takeoff distance,

UA performance

data,

and contingency

landing areas-before

initiation

of flight.

Prairie Aerial's Operations

Manuals

and

the Manufacturer's

Manual

will

be kept

at the ground

control

station

and

will

be accessible

to the PIC

at

all times

while operating

the UAS. I.



# 14 C.F.R.



# § 91.109(a):

Flight Instruction Prairie

Aerial

seeks

an exemption

from

14 C.P.R.

§ 91.109(a),

which provides

in pertinent

part that "[n]o person

may operate

a civil aircraft

(except

a manned

free balloon)

that

is being

used for flight instruction

unless

that aircraft

has fully functioning

dual controls."

UASs

and remotely piloted aircraft,

by their design,

do not have functional

dual controls.

Instead,

flight control

is accomplished

through

the

use

of

a device

that communicates

with

the aircraft

via radio communications.

Accordingly,

an exemption

will

be required

for

the flight instruction requirements

of

14 C.P.R.§ 91.109(a). 

# Equivalent

Level

of Safety Given

the

size

and speed

of the UASs

that Prairie

Aerial intends

to use,

an equivalent

level

of safe training

can

still

be performed

without

dual controls

because

no pilot

or passengers

are aboard

the UAS,

and

as required

by

the Prairie Aerial's Operations

Manuals,

all persons

will

be

a safe distance

away

in the event

that

the UAS experiences

any difficulties

during

flight instruction.

Moreover,

as required

by

the Prairie Aerial's Operations

Manuals,

all flight training 14 

# Memorandum

from

Mark

Bury,

FAA Assistant

Chief Counsel

for International

Law, Legislation

and Regulation, to John Duncan,

FAA Flight Standards

Service

(Aug.

8, 2014);

see also Docket

No. FAA-2014-0352

at 16-18.

# U.S Department

of Transportation October

25, 2015 Page

17 will

be conducted

in controlled

and sterile environment.

As

a whole,

the safety procedures provided

for

in Prairie

Aerial' Operations

Manuals

ensure

that

the proposed

UAS operations provide

an equivalent

or higher

level

of safety

than

that provided

by

the flight instruction regulations.



# J.

14 C.F.R.



# § 91.119(c):

Minimum

Safe Altitudes Prairie

Aerial requests

an exemption

from

the minimum

safe altitude requirements

of

14 C.F.R.

§ 91.119(

c).

15 

# Section

91.119 prescribes

the minimum

safe altitudes

under

which aircraft

may

not operate, including

500

feet above

the surface

and away

from

any person,

vessel, vehicle,

or structure

in non-congested

areas.

See

14 C.F

.R.

§ 91.119(

c). Section

91.119(

d) allows

for

a helicopter

to operate

at less than those minimum

altitudes

when

it can

be operated

"without hazard

to persons

or property

on

the surface,"

provided

that "each person operating

the helicopter complies

with

any routes

or altitudes specifically

prescribed

for helicopters

by

the FAA." An exemption

is required

because

the proposed

PA-UAS operations

will normally

need

to occur below

400

feet AGL.

In circumstances

where

the PA-UAS

is used

to inspect

a structure

whose height exceeds

400

feet AGL,

the PA-UAS

will

not

be operated

more

than

100

feet above

the highest

point

on

the structure,

and within

150

feet horizontally

of the structure. Additionally,

due the nature

of the proposed operations,

the Pilot and/or Observers(s)

may

need

to

be less

than

500 feet away

from

the PA-UAS. 

# Equivalent

Level

of Safety Compared

to flight operations

with rotorcraft

weighing

far more

than

the maximum

weights

proposed herein,

and given

the lack

of flammable

fuel

with

the above

noted UASs,

any

riskassociated

with these operations

is far less

than those which presently

exist

with conventional

aircraft. An equivalent

level

of safety

will

be achieved

given

the size, weight,

and speed

ofthe PA-UASs, as well

as the controlled

location

where

the operations

will occur.

In order

to avoid

any

risk

to manned

aircraft,

flight operations

will

be restricted

to 400

feet AGL

or below,

or wheninspecting

a U.S. structure

whose

height exceeds

400

feet AGL,

within

100

feet above

the highest

point on that structure

and

150

feet horizontally

ofthe structure. As

set forth

in the Operations

Manuals,

the PA-UASs

will

be operated

in

a restricted

area,

and

all flights

will

be operated

at

a lateral distance

of

at least

500

feet from

any nonparticipating persons,

unless

that person

is

in

a position

where

he

or she

is shielded

from

the PA-UAS

and

any possible

debris resulting

from

its failure.

As required

by

the Operations

Manuals,

flights

will

be terminated

if

a nonparticipating

person

within

500

feet

of the PA-UAS

leaves

a shielded position.

Further,

its operations

will occur

at least

500

feet away

from vehicles

or structures unless

the property owner/controller

timely

has granted permission

and

the PIC

has made

a safety assessment

of the risk

of operating

closer

to those objects

and, operations

near

the PIC

or Observer

will

not present

an undue

hazard

per§ 91.119(a).

Adherence

to these restrictions

in 15 

# Relief

from



# § 91.119(a)

will

not

be necessary

because Petitioner

will

be able

to perform

an emergency

landing without

undue

hazard

to persons

or property

on

the ground

in the event

of

a failure. Petitioner's

proposed

UAS operations

will

not occur

over congested

areas,

and therefore

an exemption

from



# § 91.119(b)

will

not

be necessary

. See

e.g., Grant

of Exemption

No. 11157

to Slugwear,

Inc.,

dba Likeonatree

Aerial

(F AA-20 14-0534

at 15).U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page18PrairieAerial'sOperationsManualswillensureoperationscanbeconductedwithoutcompromisingpublicsafety.16K.14C.F.R.§91.121:AltimeterSettingsPrairieAerialseeksanexemptionfrom14C.F.R.§91.121,whichrequiresapersonoperatinganaircrafttomaintaincruisingaltitudeorflightlevelbyreferencetoanaltimeterthatissettotheelevationofthedepartureairportorbarometricpressure.AnexemptionisrequiredtotheextentthattheUASsdonothaveabarometricaltimeter,butratheraGPSaltitudereadout.EquivalentLevelofSafetyTheFAAhasstatedthatanequivalentlevelofsafetytotherequirementsof14C.F.R.§91.121canbeachievedin circumstanceswhere:(1)theUASswillbeoperatedbelow400feetAGLorbelow17,(2)withinVLOS,(3)whereGPSbasedaltitudeinformationisrelayedinrealtimetotheoperatorataground-basedon-screendisplayand,(4)wherepriortoeachflight,azeroaltitudeinitiation pointisestablishedforthePICtoconfirmaccuracyoftheonboardGPS.18ThePA-UASthatPrairieAerialintendstousefortheproposedoperationswillmeetalltheseoperationalcharacteristics.Moreover,asrequiredbyPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals,thePICwillberequiredtocalibratetheaircraft'sGPScompasspriortoeachflightoperation.LikepriorFAASection333GrantsofExemption,thePA-UASsPrairieAerialintendstouse,andthesafetymitigationprocedurescontainedintheOperationsManuals,bothensurethatanequivalentlevelofsafetyorgreaterlevelwillbeachieved,andaGrantofExemptiontotherequirementsof§191.121isthereforeappropriate.L.14C.F.R.§91.151(a):FuelRequirementsforFlightinVFRConditionsPrairieAerialrequestsanexemptionfrom14C.F.R.§91.151(a)'sfuelrequirementsforflightinVFRconditions.Section91.151states:(a)NopersonmaybeginaflightinanairplaneunderVFRconditionsunless(consideringwindandforecastweatherconditions)thereisenoughfueltoflytothefirstpointofintendedlandingand,assuming normalcruisingspeed-16Seee.g.,GrantofExemptionNo.11138toDouglasTrudeau(FAA-2014-0481at19):"IfbarriersorstructuresarepresentthatcansufficientlyprotectnonparticipatingpersonsfromtheUAordebrisintheeventofanaccident,thentheUAmayoperatecloserthan500feettopersonsaffordedsuchprotection.Theoperatormustalsoensurethatnonparticipatingpersonsremainundersuchprotection.Ifasituationariseswherenonparticipatingpersonsleavesuchprotectionandarewithin500feetoftheUA,flightoperationsmustceaseimmediately.Whenconsideringhowtoimmediatelyceaseoperations,theprimaryconcernisthesafetyofthosenonparticipatingpersons.Inaddition,theFAAfindsthatoperationsmaybeconductedcloserthan500feettovessels,vehiclesandstructureswhentheowner/controllerofanysuchvessels,vehiclesorstructuresgrantspermissionfortheoperationandthePICmakesasafetyassessmentoftheriskofoperatingclosertothoseobjectsanddeterminesthatitdoesnotpresentanunduehazard."17Iftheheightofthestructurebeinginspectedexceeds400feetAGL,theUASwillnotbeoperatedmorethan100feetabovethehighestpointonthestructure.18SeeGrantofExemptionNo.11062toAstraeusAerial(FAA-2014-0352at21).U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,20I5PageI9(I)Duringtheday,toflyafterthatforatleast30minutes;or(2)Atnight,toflyafterthatforatleast45minutes.Here,thetechnologicallimitationsonUASbatterypowermeansthatnomeaningfulflightoperationscanbeconductedwhilestillmaintaininga30-minutebatteryreserve.AnexemptionfromthefuelrequirementsofI4C.F.R.§9l.I51(a)isthereforerequired.Moreover,itisnotPrairieAerial'sintentiontoflythePA-UASs atnight.EquivalentLevelofSafetyIntheGrantofExemptiontoVDOS(ExemptionNo.11112),theFAAdeterminedthatanequivalentlevelofsafetytothefuelrequirementsforflightinVFRconditionscouldbeachievedbyprohibitingthePICfrombeginningaPA-UASflightunless(consideringwindandforecastweatherconditions)therewasenoughpowertoflytothefirstintendedpointoflandingand,assumingnormalcruisingspeed,toflyafterthatforatleastI0minutes.Inreachingthisconclusion,theFAAconsideredthattheUASbatteriesforthePA-UASprovideapproximately50minutesofpoweredflight(withpayload)andprovidedbatterylevelandbatterytimeremaininginminutesandsecondstothePIC.19TheFAAalsoconsideredthefactthePA-UASoperatingmanualstates:"starteveryflightwithafullychargedbatteryintheaerialvehicle",andthatintheeventthatthePA-UASshouldrunlowonpower,thePICwillbealertedandcansafelylandthe-PA-UASassoonaspossible.LiketheVDOSGrantofExemption,PrairieAerial'suseofthePA-UAS,combined withtherequirementsofPetitioner'sOperationsManuals,ensurethatanequivalentlevelofsafetycanbeachievedandinfactexceeded.Similarly,intheGrantofExemptiontoAlanPurwin(ExemptionNo.III61),theFAAdeterminedthatanequivalentlevelofsafetytothefuelrequirementsforflightinVFRconditionscouldbeachievedbyprohibitingthePICfrombeginningaflightwiththeUAunless(consideringwindandforecastweatherconditions),therewasenoughpowertosafelyflyatnormalcruisingspeedtotheintendedlandingpointandlandtheUAwith25%batterypowerremaining.PrairieAerialwilladheretothislimitationforitsPA-UASflights.ThePA-UASincludesalowbatterywarningsystemandtheamountofbatteryreservepowerremainingiscontinuouslytransmittedtothePICviatelemetricdatafeed,whichdownlinksfromthePA-UAStoaground-based-on-screendisplay.20AsrequiredbyPrairieAerial'sOperationsManuals,thePICwillpromptlyflythePA-UASbacktothehomelaunchlocationorpredeterminedabortlocationwhereitmaysafelyland,whilestillmaintainingaminimumof25%reservebatterypower.PrairieAerialsubmitsthattheproceduresrequiringflightstobesafelyterminatedoncethebatteriesfallbelow25%capacity,combinedwiththerequirementthatflightsonlybeconductedwithinasecure,isolatedarea,usingaUASweighinglessthan55pounds,andwithinVLOSofthePICandObserver(s),ensurethattheproposedoperationwill19GrantofExemptionNo.11112toVDOSGlobal,LLC(FAA-2014-0382at10).20ThePA-UASgroundcontrolstationdisplays,theUASsposition,navigationroute,tailnumber,altitude,heading,northseekingarrow,rangetotargets,calculatedtargetposition,date/time,andsensorheadingandorientationrelativetotheUAS.U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page20provideanequivalentorhigherlevelofsafetytothepublictothatprovidedbytheregulationsfromwhichexemptionissought.VI.DRUGANDALCOHOLPROGRAMPrairieAerialwillhavepoliciesinplacetoensurethatnopersonmayparticipateinPA-UASflightoperationsiftheyareundertheinfluenceofalcoholoranydrug.VII.PUBLICINTERESTThepublicinterestwillbeservedbygrantingPrairieAerial'sPetitionforExemption.CongresshasestablishedanationalpolicythatfavorsearlyintegrationofUASintotheNASincontrolled,safeworkingenvironmentssuchasthoseproposedinthisPetition.GrantingthisPetitionforExemptionhelpsfulfillCongress'goalinpassingSection333(a)through(c)oftheReformAct-theFAAAdministrator'sassessmentofwhethercertainUASmayoperatesafelyintheNASbeforecompletionofthestatutorilyrequiredrulemaking.TheproposedPA-UASoperationsinthisPetitionforExemptionsignificantlyimprovesthesafetyandreducesriskofharm,physicalinjuryandpropertydamagetothepublicatlarge,thepropertyownersfromwhompermissionwasgrantedforusebyPetitionerandabuttingproperties,staffofPetitioner,unsuspectingpassersby,inspectingengineersfromrelevantorganizationsandallthosewhomaybeinthelocalvicinity.Traditionalmethodsofinspectingandmonitoringpotentialfilminglocationsandrelevantsitesandfacilitiesrequireslocationpersonneltoclimbtowers,trees,ventureonto precariousroofsandotherdangerousscenarios,performelevatedworkforwhichtheindividualisneithertrainednorequippedtoperform,whichexposesthemtounnecessaryriskofseriousphysicalinjuryfromdangerousfallsorotherphysicalmishaps.Moreover, inspectors/surveyorsareoftenunnecessarilyexposedtohazardousconditions,unsafeenvironments,culturallytensesituationsandotherhazardsassociatedwithidentifyingspecificlocationsforpotentialrecordingsitestobeusedinfilmorTVproduction.TheuseofsmallUASscaneliminatethesehazardsandultimatelycreatingamuchsafermethodofperformingthesetypesofinspectionscreatingasaferenvironmentforthepublicaswellasPrairieAerialemployees.TheuseofsmallUASalsoenhancessafetyandreducesrisktothesurroundingpublicbecause,unlikemannedaircraftweighingthousandsofpounds,carryingcrewinadditiontoflammablefuel,theUAScarrynopassengers,creworexplosivefuel.Furthermore,intheunlikelyeventofanaccident,PrairieAerial'ssmallbatterypoweredPA-UASpresentssignificantlylessdangertopersonsonthegroundwhencomparedtooperationsbyconventionalmannedaircraft.21AsPetitioner'sPA-UASarebatterypowered,thepublicwillalsobenefitfromareductioninharmfulpetroleumemissionsassociatedwithconventionalaircraftperforminginthesame21SeeGrantofExemptionNo.11158toTeam5,LLC(FAA-2014-0783at12):"Mannedhelicoptersconductingaerialfilmingcanweigh6,000poundsormoreandareoperatedbyanonboardpilot,inadditiontootheronboardcrewmembers,asnecessary.Thepetitioner'sUAswillweighlessthan55poundswithnoonboardpilotorcrew.Thepilotandcrewwillberemotelylocatedfromtheaircraft.Thelimitedweightsignificantlyreducesthepotentialforharmtoparticipatingandnonparticipatingindividualsorpropertyintheeventofanincidentoraccident.RisktoanonboardpilotandcrewduringanincidentoraccidentiseliminatedwiththeuseofaUAfortheaerialfilmingoperation."U.SDepartmentofTransportationOctober25,2015Page21functionsproposedherein.Airqualitywillnaturallybeimprovedwiththereductionoffuelpoweredvehicles.Lastly,asrecognizedbytheFAAinpriorSection333GrantsofExemptiontofilmmakers,UASprovideanadditionaleconomictoolfortheaerialfilmingnotwithstandingtheindustry,addingagreaterdegreeofflexibility,whichsupplementsthecurrentcapabilitiesofferedbymannedaircraft.22ThequalityofthefinishedproductisenhancedandprovidesagreaterfinishedproductdemandwhichwillaidthecurrentUASindustryandprovideadditionaljobsasthecostofprovidingtheneededproductisgreatlyreducedwhilereducingthedifficultywithwhichthefinishedproductiscreated.The demandforthecurrentindustrialproductisincreasingandwillcontinuetoincreasegiventheenhancedflexibilityofproduction;therefore,giventhelowercost,owner/operatorsandothersintherelevantindustrywillbemoreinclinedtoutilizetheservicesofcommercialUASalongwithanappropriatelicensedPIC's.VIII.PRIVACYAllPA-UASoperationswillbeconductedinaccordancewithapplicablefederal,state,andlocallawsregardingprivacy.Alloperationsshallbeconductedoverprivateorcontrolled-accesspropertywithpermissionfromthelandowner/controllerorauthorizedrepresentative.Permissionfromlandowner/controllerorauthorizedrepresentativewillbeobtainedforeachflighttobeconducted.IX.FEDERALREGISTERSUMMARYPursuantto14C.F.R.Part11,thefollowingsummaryisprovidedforpublicationintheFEDERALREGISTER,shoulditbedeterminedthatpublicationisneeded:PetitionerseeksanexemptionfromthefollowingrulesinTitle14oftheCodeofFederalRegulations:Part21,SubpartH;Part27;45.23(b);45.27(a);61.113;91.7(a);91.9(b)(2);91.9(c);91.103;91.109(a);91.119(c);91.121;91.151(a);91.203(a)&(b);91.405(a);91.407(a)(1);91.409(a)(1)&(2);91.417(a)&(b).Theexemptionwillenhancesafetybyreducingrisktotheaircraftcrew,productioncrew,generalpublic,propertyownersandcitystructuresfromthesubstantialhazardsassociatedwithperformingequivalentfilmworkandaerialvideoproductionwithconventionalfixed-wingaircraft,rotorcraft,orothermethods.X.CONCLUSIONPrairieAerial'sPetitionforExemptionsatisfiesthecriteriaarticulatedinSection333oftheReformActof2012includingweight,speed,operatingcapabilities,proximitytoairportsandpopulatedareas,operationwithinVLOSandnationalsecurity.TheproposedPA-UASoperationswillbenefitthepublicasawholebyimprovingsafetyandreducingriskbyalleviatinghumanexposuretodangerwhileloweringtheattendantrelatedcoststherebyincreasingthe22Seee.g.,GrantofExemptionNo.11178toPictureFactory,Inc.(FAA-2014-0794at18).

# U.S Department

of Transportation October

25, 2015 Page

22 demand

for

the finished

product.

In consideration

of the foregoing,

this Petition

for Exemption provides

the FAA

with more

than adequate justification

for granting

the requested exemptions allowing

Prairie

Aerial

to use small PA-UAS

in the recorded production

of

its product. We thank

you

for your prompt consideration

of our requested exemptions. Respectfully

Submitted, Todd

L. Thorin Thorin Enterprises,

LLC

dba Prairie

Aerial 7801

W. Leah

Street Sioux

Falls,

SD 57106 Phone:(605)366-5480 Email: todd@prairieaerial.com (The following

attached

items contain proprietary

and commercial

information

exempt

from disclosure

under

the Freedom

of Information

Act,

5 U.S.C.



# § 522

et seq.,

and should

be held

in

a separate

file pursuant

to

14 C.F.R.

§ 11.35(b)). Attachments: 0. MPTOM

Motion

Picture

and Television

Operations

Manual 1. General Operations

Manual 2. PIC Operating

Manual 3. Company

Protocols 4. Location

Protocols 5. Flight Communications

Protocols 6. Departing

Location

Protocols 7. Transmitter

Protocols 8. Preflight

Checklist 9. Post Flight Checklist 10. Equipment

Checklist 11. UAS Manufacturer's

Manuals a. User Manuals b. UAS Maintenance

Manuals