________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7320 N. La Cholla Blvd., Suite 154-303 Tucson, Arizona 85741 Main (623)255-1132 Fax (623) 223-7226 www.deih-usa.com

November 18, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Federal Aviation Administration

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Room W12-140, West Building Ground Floor, 

Washington, DC 20590-0001 

 

Re: Petitions for Exemption Filed under Section 333

 FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012,

 Public Law 112-95 FEB. 14, 2012, Section 333

 FAA to operate unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace System (NAS).

To Whom It May Concern,

DEIH, L.L.C. (Daniel Hinojos Managing Member) is requesting an exemption to operate Unmanned Aircraft 

System (UAS) for commercial use under FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Public Law 112-95 FEB. 

14, 2012, Section 333.

Operator’s Name and Address:

DEIH, L.L.C. (Daniel Hinojos Managing Member) 

7320 N La Cholla Blvd., Ste 154-303

Tucson, AZ 85741

info@deih-usa.com www.deih-usa.com

The Specific Sections of 14 C.F.R. from DEIH, L.L.C. Seeks Exemption:

 14 C.F.R. Part 21 Subpart H Airworthiness certification

 14 C.F.R. § 45.23(b) Markings

 14 C.F.R. § 61.113(a) and (b) Private pilot privileges

 14 C.F.R. § 61.133(a) Commercial pilot privileges

 14 C.F.R. § 91.7(a) and (b) Civil aircraft airworthiness

 14 C.F.R. § 91.9(b)2 & (c) Civil aircraft flight manual in the aircraft
 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7320 N. La Cholla Blvd., Suite 154-303 Tucson, Arizona 85741 Main (623)255-1132 Fax (623) 223-7226 www.deih-usa.com

 14 C.F.R. § 91.103 Preflight action

 14 C.F.R. § 91.109(a) Flight Instruction

 14 C.F.R. § 91.119 Minimum safe altitudes

 14 C.F.R. § 91.121 Altimeter settings

 14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a) Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions

 14 C.F.R. § 91.203(a)(1) and (2) conditions Civil aircraft certifications

 14 C.F.R. § 91.319(a)1 Aircraft having experimental certificates: Operating limitations

 14 C.F.R. § 91.405(a) Maintenance Required

 14 C.F.R. § 91.407(a)1 Operation after maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, or 

alteration

 14 C.F.R. § 91.409(a)(1) and (2) Inspections

 14 C.F.R. § 91.417(a) and (b) Maintenance records

How the operator will maintain an equivalent level of safety or no adverse impact to safety:

DEIH, L.L.C. proposes that the exemption requested herein apply UAS that have the characteristics and that 

operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for at least an equivalent or even higher 

level of safety to operations under the current regulatory structure because the proposed operations 

represent a safety enhancement to the already safe operations conducted with conventional aircraft. These 

limitations and conditions to which DEIH, L.L.C. agrees to be bound when conducting commercial operations 

under an FAA issued exemption include: 

 

 The UAS will be less than 55 pounds.

 Flights will be operated within visual line of sight of a pilot.

 Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 25 minutes. The UAS calculates battery 

reserve in real time, and will return to its ground station with at least 20% battery power reserve 

should that occur prior to the 25-minute limit. 

 Flights will normally be operated at an altitude of 150 feet AGL, never exceeding 328 feet AGL. 

 Crew for each operation will consist of the UAS Pilot who will keep the UAS within his visual line of 

sight at all times. 

 The UAS Pilot will be trained in flight, operations, and safety procedures as detailed in the Flight UAS 

Manual. 

 The UAS will only operate within a defined/approved area. 

 Written and/or oral permission from the relevant property holders will be obtained. 

 All required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, county or city 

jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, fire, or other appropriate governmental agencies. 

 If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, it will switch into Fly: Manual, reestablish 

satellite connection, and return to a predetermined location within the Security Perimeter and land. 
 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7320 N. La Cholla Blvd., Suite 154-303 Tucson, Arizona 85741 Main (623)255-1132 Fax (623) 223-7226 www.deih-usa.com

Proposed Operations:

The requested exemption would permit DEIH, L.L.C., Inc. to pursue its commercial interests in providing 

services to clients using a small advanced UAS in the following areas: 

 Communications infrastructure inspection/monitoring 

 Construction site inspection and monitoring 

 Public entity support operations. 

 Real estate photography

As described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of small, unmanned 

and relatively inexpensive UAS under controlled conditions in airspace that is 1) limited 2) predetermined 3) 

controlled as to access and 4) would provide safety enhancements to the already best practices safety 

protocols followed by DEIH, L.L.C. at each of its client project locations. 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.

Privacy 

All flights will occur over private or controlled access property with the property owner’s prior consent and 

knowledge. Filming will be of people who have also consented to being filmed or otherwise have agreed to 

be in the area where filming will take place. The grant of this exemption request will provide improved safety 

in both day and night operations. Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 

2012-size, weight, speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation 

within visual line of sight and national security – provide more than adequate justification for the grant of the 

requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of applicant’s UAS.

The Make and Model of the aircraft for proposed operations:

Model: 3DR SOLO 

3D Robotics (3DR)

1608 4th Street, Suite 410

Berkeley, CA 94710

Tel. +1 (858) 225-1414

3dr.com
 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7320 N. La Cholla Blvd., Suite 154-303 Tucson, Arizona 85741 Main (623)255-1132 Fax (623) 223-7226 www.deih-usa.com

Operating Parameters:

Specifications:

Solo is a quad-rotor aerial vehicle powered by the 3DR Pixhawk 2 autopilot system and APM: Copter flight 

control software. Solo communicates with the controller and Solo app over the 3DR Link secure Wi-Fi 

connection.

Autopilot: 3DR Pixhawk 2

Flight code: ArduPilot Copter

Control: 3DR Solo Controller

Wireless communication: 3DR Link 1.0

Frequency: 2.4 GHz

Height: 10 in. (25 cm)

Motor-to-motor dimension: 18 in. (26 cm)

Propulsion: 880 KV motors, two clockwise rotating motors and

two counterclockwise rotating motors

Propeller: 10 in. x 4.5 in. (25 cm x 11.4 cm)

Weight with battery: 3.3 lbs. (1.5 kg)

Controller battery life: 3 hours

Extended controller battery life: 6 hours

Controller battery: Li-ion 2600 mAh 7.2 Vdc (5200 mAh for extended battery)

Power: Electric (rechargeable lithium polymer battery)

Battery: Lithium polymer, 5200 mAh, 14.8 Vdc

Battery weight: 1 lb. (.5 kg)

Estimated flight time: 25 minutes*
 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7320 N. La Cholla Blvd., Suite 154-303 Tucson, Arizona 85741 Main (623)255-1132 Fax (623) 223-7226 www.deih-usa.com

Maximum altitude: 328 ft. (100 m)

Range: .5 miles** (.8 km)

Payload capacity: 1.1 lbs. (500 g)

Cruise speed: 5.7 mph (2.5 m/s)

Maximum speed: 55 mph (25.5 m/s)

Maximum climb rate: 11 mph (5.0 m/s)

Maximum descent rate: 5.5 mph (2.5 m/s)

Headwind limitation: 25 mph (11 m/s)

Crosswind limitation: 25 mph (11 m/s)

Camera: Streaming video compatible with GoPro® HERO 3, 3+ or 4

Full compatibility with GoPro® HERO 4

Solo app compatibility: iOS 8.0 or later / Android 4.3 or later

Operating temperature: 32° F - 113° F (0° C - 45° C)

Operating relative humidity: 0-85% RH