1 30

- July

- 15

U . S. Depar t m ent of T ranspor t a ti on

D ock e t Manag e m ent S y s t e m

1200 N e w Jers e y A ve., SE

W ash i n g t on, DC 20590

R e : E x e m p ti on R e quest Sec ti on 333 of t he F AA R e fo r m Act and Part 1 1 of t h e

Feder a l A v i a ti on R e gu l a t i ons from 14 C. F .R. 45.23(b) ; 14 C FR Part 21 ; 14 CFR

91.7 (a) ; 91.9 (b) (2) ; 91.103(b); 91.109 ; 91

. 1 19; 91.121 ; 91.151(a) ; 91.203 ( a) & (b) ; 91.405 (a);

91.407(a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2) ; 91.417 (a) & (b).

Dear S i r or Mad a m :

Pursuant t o Sec ti on 333 of t he F AA M odern i za t i on and R e fo r m Act of 2012 ( t he R e fo r m Ac t )

and 14 C. F .R. Part 1 1, Jeffrey M. Burns, opera t or of S m a l l U n m a nned A i rcraft S y s t e m s ( “ s UA S s”),

her e i naf t er refer e ed t o as U A S eq u i pped t o conduct ae r i al pho t ograp h y / a er i al d a t a co l l e c ti on and U AS

p il ot t ra i n i ng, here b y ap p li es for an ex e m p t i on fr o m t he li s t ed Federal A v i a ti on R e gu l a ti ons ( “ F ARs”)

t o a ll ow c o m m e rc i al oper a ti on of it s U AS, so l ong as s uch opera ti ons are conduc t ed w it h i n and under

t he cond i t i ons ou tli n ed here i n or as m a y be es t ab li shed b y t he F AA as requ i red b y Sec ti on 333.

As descr i bed m ore fu l l y be l o w

, t he reques t ed ex e m p ti on wou l d per mi t t he opera ti on of s m a ll

,

un m anned U AS under con t ro l l ed con d iti ons i n a i rspace t hat i s:

1. L i m i t ed

2. Prede t e r m i ned

3. Con t ro l l ed as t o a c cess and,

4. W ou l d prov i de safe t y enhanc e m en t s t o t he a l r ea d y safe opera ti ons i n t he ae r i al

pho t ograp h y / c i n e m a t ograp h y / a er i al d a t a co l l e c ti on and U AS p il ot t ra i n i ng i ndus t r y presen tl y

u s i ng conven ti o n al a i rcraf t

. Approval of t h i s ex e m p ti on wou l d t h ere b y enha n ce safe t y and

fu l f i l l t he Secre t a r y of T ranspor t a ti o n ’ s ( t he F AA A d m i n i s t ra t o r ’ s) respons i b i l it i es t o “

...

es t ab li sh requ i r e m e n t s for t he safe opera ti on of such a i rcra f t s y s te m s i n t he na t i onal a i rspace

s y s t e m .” Sec t i on 333(c) of t h e R e fo r m Ac t

.

T he n a m e and address of t he app l i cant i s:

Jeffrey M. Burns

E m a i l : jeff.burns.100@gmail.com

Address: 10811 Gunsel Trail, San Antonio, TX 782452 Re g u l a t i ons f r o m wh i c h the e x e m pt i on i s r equ e sted:

14 CFR Part 21

14 C. F .R. 45.23(b)

14 C. F .R. 91.7 (a)

14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)

14 C. F .R. 91.103

14 C. F .R. 91.109

14 C. F . R. 91. 1 19

14 C. F .R. 91.121

14 CFR 91.151 (a)

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b)

14 CFR 91.405 (a)

14 CFR 407 (a) (1)

14 CFR 409 (a) (2)

14 CFR 417 (a) & (b)

T h i s exe m p t i on app l i ca t i on i s express l y su b m i tt ed t o fu l f i l l Congr e ss’ goal i n pa s s i ng Sec ti on 333(a) t hrough (c) of t he R e fo r m Ac t

. T h i s l aw d i re c t s t he Secr e t a r y of T ranspor t a ti on t o cons i der

w h e t her ce r t a i n un m anned a i rcraft s y s t e m s m a y oper a t e s af el y i n t he na ti o n al a i rspace s y s t e m ( NAS)

before c o m p l e t i on of t he ru l e

- m a k i ng requ i r ed under Sec t i on 332 of t he R e form Ac t . In m ak i ng t h i s

de t e r m i na t i on, t he Secre t a r y i s requ i red t o de t e r mi ne w h i ch t y p es of U A S do not crea t e a ha z ard t o

u sers of t he N AS or t he pub li c or p o se a t hreat t o na t i onal secur i t y i n li ght of t he fo l l ow i ng:

• T he U A S s i ze, we i gh t , speed, and opera ti o n al capab i l i t y ;

• O per a ti on of t he U A S i n c l ose prox i m it y t o a i rpor t s and popu l a t ed areas; and

• O per a ti on of t he U A S w it h i n v i sual li ne of s i ght of t he oper a t o r

.

R e form Act § 333 (a). L as tl y

, i f t he Secr e t a r y de t e r m i n es t hat s uch veh i c l es “ m a y opera t e safe l y i n t h e

na ti on a l a i rsp a ce s y s te m

, t he Secre t a r y sha l l es t ab li sh requ i r e m e n t s for t he safe opera ti on of such

a i rcra f t i n t he na t i onal a i rspace s y s t e m

. ” Id. §333(c) ( e m p h as i s added) .

T he Federal A v i a t i on A ct express l y gran t s t he F AA t he au t hor it y t o is sue ex e m p ti ons. T h i s

s t a t u t o r y au t hor i t y b y it s t e r m s i nc l u d es ex e m p t i ng c i v i l a i rcraf t

, as t he t e r m i s def i n ed under §40101 of

t he Ac t

, t hat i nc l u d es U AS, from t he requ i r e m e nt t hat a l l c i v i l a i rcra f t m ust have a current

a i rwor t h i ness ce r ti f i ca t e.

T he Ad mi n i s t r a t or m a y grant an ex e m p ti on fr o m a requ i r e m ent of a regu l a ti on pr e sc r i bed under

s ubsec t i on (a) or (b) of t h i s sec ti on or a n y sec ti ons 44702

- 44716 of t h i s ti t l e i f t he A d m i n i s t ra t or f i nds

t he ex e m p ti on i n t he pub li c i n t eres t

. 49 U

. S.C. §44701(f) See a l so 49 U SC §447 1 1(a); 49 USC §44704;

14 CFR §91.203 (a) (1).

Jeffrey M. Burns’s U ASs are (1)“DJI Spreading Wings” multi

- roto r a i rc r af t , (1) “DJI Phantom” multi

rotor aircraft and (1) “eBee” fixed wing aircraft.

The “ DJI Spreading Wings ” is cons t ru c t ed b y D a

- J iang I nnovations Science and Technology Co., Ltd.

w it h a m a x gro s s we i g h t of twenty

- five (25) or fewer l bs. i nc l u d i ng p a y l oad. T h e U A S w il l opera t e,

under no r m a l cond i t i ons at a s peed of no m o re t han 45 miles per hour and have t he ca p ab i l i t y t o hove r

, and m ove i n t he ver t i cal and hor i zon t al p l ane s i m u lt a n eous l y

. PIC w il l opera t e on l y i n l i ne of s i ght of3 U AS and w il l fo ll ow procedures descr i bed i n t he “DJI” Opera t i ons Handbook ( OH), which can be,

prov i de upon reques t . Such opera ti ons w il l i nsure t hat t h e U A S w il l “not cr e a t e a hazard t o users of t he

na t i onal a i rspace s y s t e m or t he pub li c.

The “ DJI Phantom ” is cons t ru c t ed b y D a

- J iang I nnovations Science and Technology Co., Ltd. w it h a

m a x gro s s we i g h t of five (5) or fewer l bs. i nc l u d i ng p a y l oad. T h e U A S w il l opera t e, under no r m a l

cond i t i ons at a s peed of no m o re t han 35 miles per hour and have t he ca p ab i l i t y t o hove r , and m ove i n t he

ver t i cal and hor i zon t alp l ane s i m u lt a n eous l y

. PIC w il l opera t e on l y i n l i ne of s i ght of U AS and w il l fo ll ow procedures descr i bed i n t he “DJI” Opera t i ons Handbook ( OH), which can be, prov i de upon reques t . Such

opera ti ons w il l i nsure t hat t h e U A S w il l “not cr e a t e a hazard t o users of t he na t i onal a i rspace s y s t e m or

t he pub li c.

The “ eBee wing ” is fixed wing UAS cons t ru c t ed b y Sensfly (owned by “Parrot SA”) w it h a m a x gro s s

we i g h t of tw o (2) or fewer l bs. i nc l u d i ng p a y l oad. T h e U A S w il l opera t e, under no r m a l cond i t i ons at a

s peed of no m o re t han 3 5 miles per hour and have t he ca p ab i l i t y t o fly , and m ove i n t he ver t i cal and

hor i zon t al p l ane. PIC w il l opera t e on l y i n l i ne of s i ght of U AS and w il l fo ll ow procedures descr i bed i n

t he “ eBee ” Opera t i ons Handbook ( OH), which can be, prov i de upon reques t . Such opera ti ons w il l i nsure

t hat t h e U A S w il l “not cr e a t e a hazard t o users of t he na t i onal a i rspace s y s t e m or t he pub li c.

G i ven t he s m a l l s i ze of t he U A S s i nvo l v ed and t he res t r i c t ed na t u r e i n w h i ch i t w i l l opera t e, t he

app li c ant fa ll s square l y w it h i n t h a t zone of safe t y (an eq u i va l e n t l e v el of safe t y ) i n wh i ch Congr e ss

env i s i oned t hat t he F AA m u s t

, b y ex e m p ti on, a ll ow c o m m e rc i al oper a ti ons of U A S t o co mm e n ce

imm e d i a t e l y

. A l so due t o t he s i ze of t h e U A S and t he na t ure i n wh i ch t he re l e v ant U A S w i l l opera t e,

approval of t he app l i ca t i on presen t s no n a ti onal secur i t y is sue. G i ven t he c l ear d i rec t i on i n Se c ti on 333

of t he R e fo r m Ac t

, t he au t ho r i t y co n t a i ned i n t he Federal A v i a t i on Ac t

, as a m ende d ; t he s t rong

equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y surround i ng t he prop o sed opera ti ons, and t he s i gn i f i cant pub li c benef it

, i nc l u d i ng enhan c ed safe t y

, reduc ti on i n env i ro n m en t a l i m p ac t s, i n c l ud i ng reduced e mi ss i ons a s soc i a t ed

w it h a l l ow i ng the U A S s for aer i al pho t ograp h y /a er i a l da t a co l l ec t i on and U A S p i l ot t ra i n i ng

opera t i ons, t he gra n ti ng of t he reques t ed ex e m p t i ons i s i n t he pub li c i n t eres t

. Accord i n g l y

, t he app li c ant

r e spe c t fu l l y reques t s t h a t t he F AA grant t he reques t ed ex e m p ti on w it hout de la y

.

A I RC R A F T A ND E Q UI V ALENT L E V EL O F SA F E T Y

T he app l i cant prop o ses t h a t t he ex e m p t i on reques t ed here i n app l y t o c i v i l a i rc r aft t h a t have t he

chara c t er i s t i cs and t h a t opera t e w it h t he l i mi t a ti ons l i s t ed her e i n. T hese l imi t a t i ons prov i de for at l east

an equ i v a l ent or even h i gher l ev e l of safe t y t o opera t i ons under t he current regu l a t o r y s t ruc t ure. T he

prop o sed opera ti ons represent a s af et y enhan c e m ent t o t he a l rea d y safe pho t ograp h y / c i n e m a t og r ap h y

and da t a co l l ec ti on i ndus t r y oper a ti ons, conduc t ed w it h conven ti on a l a i r craf t

.

T he l i m i t a ti ons and cond i ti ons, S t andard Opera ti ng P rocedu r es ( S OP), t o wh i ch Jeffrey M.

Burns agr e es t o be bound when conduc t i ng c o m m e rc i al oper a ti ons under an F AA i ssued ex e m p ti on

i nc l ud e :

1. T he P il o t i n C o m m a nd (PIC) (also referred to as “operator”) , Jeffrey M. Burns is a n Airline

Transport (ATP) and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) ra t ed p il o t (3016280)

.

2. T he U A Ss w i l l be oper a t ed a t an a l tit u d e of no m ore t han 200 fe e t above ground l evel ( AG L ).4 A l l a l tit udes repor t ed t o A T C w il l be i n A G L

.

3. T he U A Ss w i l l not be f l own at an a i rspeed ex c eed i ng 45 miles per hour.

4. T he U A S w i l l be oper a t ed w it h i n V i su a l Li ne of S i ght (V L OS) of t he PIC at a l l t i m es. T h i s

requ i res t he PIC t o be ab l e t o use h u m an v i s i on una i d ed b y a n y dev i ce o t her t han correc ti v e

l enses.

5. A l l opera t i ons w il l u til i ze a V i sual O bserver (VO). T he U A S w il l be oper a t ed w it h i n V L OS of t he

VO at a l l t i m es. T he VO m a y be used t o sa ti s f y t he V L OS requ i r e m e nt as l ong as t he PIC

a l w a y s m a i n t a i ns V L OS capab i li t y

. T he VO and PIC w il l be a b l e t o co mm un i ca t e verba ll y at a l l

t i m es. T he PIC w il l be des i gna t ed before t he f li ght and cann o t t ransfer h i s or her des i gna ti on for

t he dura t i on of t he f li gh t

. T he PIC w il l ensure t hat t he VO can perfo r m t he func t i ons prescr i bed

i n t he O H.

6. T he OH and t he grant of ex e m p ti on w il l be access i b l e dur i ng U A S oper a ti ons and m a d e ava i l ab l e t o

t he Ad mi n i s t r a t or upon reques t

.

7. U AS opera t i ons w il l not be conduc t ed dur i ng n i g h t , as def i ned i n 14 CFR 1.1. A l l opera ti ons w il l

be conduc t ed under v i sual m e t eor o l og i c a l cond i ti ons (VMC).

8. A No ti ce t o A i r m a n ( N O T A M) w i l l be i ssued not l ess t han 24 hours i n advan c e, pr i or t o f li ght

opera ti ons un l ess:

(a) a request h a s been m ade t o Jeffrey M. Burns b y l aw enforc e m en t

, f i rst responder or ex i g ent

c i rc u m s t ances ex i st t hat wou l d prec l ude da t a co ll e c ti on i f pr o m pt ac t i on i s not t a k en and a

wav i er t o t he 24 hour NO T AM requ i r e m e nt has been g i ven t o Jeffrey M. Burns b y t he

con t ro l li ng A i r T ra f f i c O r gan i z a ti on ( A T O).

9. N on

- Con t o ll ed A i rpor t

- T h e U A S w il l not opera t e w it h i n t wo (2) nau t i cal m i l es of an a i rport

referen c e po i nt as deno t ed on a current F AA

- pub li shed aero n au ti c al chart un l ess:

(a) rad i o c a ll s are m a de on t he a i rpo r t un i c o m frequen c y pr i or t o and dur i ng f li ght opera t i ons

s t a ti ng P IC's i n t en t i ons and l o c a ti on. D ur i ng opera ti ons a lt i t udes are l i m i t ed t o 100 ft A GL and

PIC w il l m a i n t a i n v i sual separa ti on from a l l a i r craf t

.

10. Con t ro l l ed A i rpor t

- T he U A S w i l l not oper a t e w it h i n f i ve (5) nau ti c al m i l es of an a i rport

referen c e po i nt as deno t ed on a current F AA

- pub li shed aero n au ti c al chart un l ess:

(a) Pr i or approval has been g i ven b y t he con t r o lli ng A T O and t wo w a y rad i o c o m m u n i c a ti on has

been es t a b li shed w it h t hat con t ro l l i ng A T O pr i or t o / and m a i n t a i n ed dur i ng t he f li gh t

. A

dev i a t i on request ( i f requ i red), t o oper a t e an a i rcra f t t hat i s not equ i p p ed w it h a t ransponder i n

C l ass B A i rspace has been approved.

(b) A ltit u d es are l i mi t ed t o 100 ft AG L , PIC w il l m a i n t a i n v i sual separa ti on from a l l a i rc r af t , and

not oper a t e o f f t he ex t ended cen t er li ne of t he ac ti ve runw a y un l ess g i ven c l earan c e from t he

con t ro l l i ng A T O.5 1 1. T he U A S w i l l not be opera t ed l ess t han 500 fe e t be l ow or l ess t han 2,000 feet hor i zon t a l l y from a

c l oud or w hen v i s i b il it y i s l ess t han 3 s t a t u t e mi l es from t he P IC.

12. U AS w il l be f l own i n t he G PS A tt i t ude m o d e dur i ng a l l oper a ti on a l f li g h t s.

13. If t he U A S l oses c o m m u n i c a ti ons or l oses i t s G PS s i gna l

, i t w il l re t urn t o a pre

- de t er mi ned

l o c a ti on w it h i n t he p l anned opera ti ng area and l and or be reco v ered i n accorda n ce w it h t he

A O H.

14. T he PIC w il l not beg i n a f li ght un l ess (cons i der i ng w i nd and forecast wea t her con d iti ons) t he r e i s

enough power t o f l y at no r m a l cru i s i ng s peed t o t he i n t ended l and i ng po i nt and l and t he U AS w it h

25% ba t t e r y power r e m a i n i ng.

15. A l l a i rc r aft opera t ed i n accorda n ce w it h t h i s ex e m p ti on w il l be i den ti f i ed b y ser i a l n u m be r

,

reg i s t ered i n accor d ance w it h 14 CFR part 47, and have i de n ti f i c a ti on (N

- N u m ber) m a rk i ngs i n

accorda n ce w it h 14 C FR part 45, Subpart C. Mark i ngs w il l be as l a r ge as prac t i cab l e. 16. B e fore

condu c ti ng oper a ti ons, t he rad i o freque n c y spec t r u m used for opera t i on and con t r o l of t he U A S

w i l l c o m p l y w it h t he Federal Co mm un i ca ti ons Co mmi ss i on (FCC) or o t her appropr i a t e

gover n m e nt overs i ght agen c y requ i r e m e n t s.

17. T he doc u m e n t s requ i r ed under 14 CFR 91.9 and 91.203 w il l be av a il ab l e t o t he PIC at t h e

G round Con t r o l S t a t i on of t he U AS a n y t i m e t he U AS i s opera t i ng. T hese doc u m en t s w il l be

m a de ava i l ab l e t o t he Ad mi n i s t r a t or or a n y l aw enforc e m e nt o f f i c i al upon reques t

.

18. T he U A S w i l l r e m a i n c l ear and y ie l d t he r i ght of w a y t o a l l m anned av i a t i on oper a ti ons and

ac ti v it i es at a l l t im es.

19. T he U A S m a y not be opera t ed b y t he PIC fr o m a n y m o v i ng dev i ce or veh i c l e un l ess:

(a) T he PIC has m a de a safe t y asse s s m e n t of t he r i sk of opera t i ng and de t er mi n ed t hat i t does

not present an undue hazard.

20. F li ght opera ti ons w i l l be condu c t ed at l east 150 feet from a l l nonpar t i c i pa t i ng persons, ve s s e l s,

veh i c l es, and s t ruc t ures un l ess:

(a) B a rr i ers or s t ruc t u r es are present t hat s u f f i c i en tl y pro t e c t nonpar t i c i p a ti ng perso n s fr o m t he

U AS and / or deb r i s i n t he event of an acc i d en t

. T he opera t or w il l ensure t h at

nonpar ti c i pa t i ng persons re m a i n under such pro t e c ti on. If a s it ua t i on ar i ses where

nonpar ti c i pa t i ng persons l eave such pro t ec t i on and are w it h i n 150 feet of t he U A S, f li g h t

opera ti ons w il l c e ase i m m e d i a t e l y and / or;

(b) T he a i r craft i s opera t ed near vesse l s, veh i c l es or s t ruc t u r es w here t he o wner / con t ro l l er of

s uch ve s se l s, veh i c l es or s t ruc t ures has gran t ed per mi ss i on or t h e PIC has m a de a safe t y

a s sess m ent of t he r i sk of oper a ti ng c l oser t o t hose o b j ec t s and de t e r m i ned t hat i t does not

present an undue hazard, and;

(c) O per a ti ons nea r er t o t he PIC, V O, opera t or t ra i n e es or e s sen t i al perso n s do not present an

undue hazard t o t hose persons per § 91. 1 19(a).6 21. A l l opera t i ons w il l be conduc t ed over pr i v a t e or con t r o ll ed

- access proper t y w it h pe r m i ss i on

from t he l and owner / co n t ro l l er or au t hor i zed represe n t a t i ve.

14 C

. F .R. P a rt 21, S u bpart H : A i r w orth i ness Cert i f i cates 14 C

. F .R. §91.203 (a) (1)

Subpart H , en t it l ed A i r wor t h i n e s s C e r ti f i c a t es, es t a b li shes t he procedural requ i r e m en t s for t he

is suan c e of a i rwor t h i ness cer ti f i c a t es as requ i red b y F AR §91.203 (a) (1). G i ven t he s i ze and l i mit ed

opera ti ng area a s soc i a t ed w it h t he a i rcra f t t o be u til i zed b y t h e App l i can t

, an ex e m p ti on fr o m Part 21

Subpart H m e e t s t he requ i r e m en t s of an equ i v a l ent l evel of safe t y under Part 1 1 and Sec ti on 333 of t he

R e form Ac t

. T he Feder a l A v i a ti on Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Sec ti on 333 of t he R e form A ct bo t h

au t hor i z e t he F AA t o ex e m pt a i rcra f t fr o m t he requ i r e m ent for an a i rwor t h i ness cer ti f i c a t e, upon

cons i dera t i on of t he s i ze, we i gh t

, speed, opera t i onal capab i li t y

, and prox i m i t y t o a i rpor t s and popu l a t ed

areas of t he par ti c u l ar U AS. In a l l cases, an ana l y s i s of t hese cr i t er i a de m ons t ra t es t hat t he U A S s

opera t ed w it hout an a i rwor t h i ness ce r ti f i ca t e, i n t he res t r i c t ed env i ro n m ent and under t he cond i t i ons

prop o sed w il l be at l e ast as safe, or safe r

, t h an a conve n ti on a l a i rc r aft (f i x ed w i ng or ro t orcra f t )

opera ti ng w it h an a i rwor t h i ness cer t i f i c a t e w it hout t he res t r i c ti ons and cond i ti ons proposed.

T he U AS s t o be opera t ed hereunder i s l ess t han twenty

- five (25 ) l bs. fu l l y l oaded, carr i es

ne i t her a p il ot nor pa s seng e r , carr i es no exp l os i ve m a t e r i a l s or f l a mm a b l e l i qu i d fu e l s, and opera t es as

set out i n t he OH. U n l i ke o t her c i v i l a i r craf t

, opera ti ons under t h i s ex e m p ti on w il l be t i gh t l y con t ro l l ed

and m o n it o r ed b y bo t h t he opera t o r / PIC, pursuant t o t h e O H's requ i r e m e n t s, and under t he requ i r e m en t s

and i n c o m p li a n ce w it h l ocal pub li c safe t y requ i r e m e n t s, t o prov i de secur i t y for t h e area of opera ti on as

i s n o w done w it h conven t i onal opera ti ons. T h e F AA w il l have advance no ti ce of a l l opera t i ons. T hese

safe t y enha n c e m e n t s, wh i ch a l r e a d y app l y t o c i v i l a i r craft opera t ed i n conne c ti on w it h t hese t y pes of

opera ti ons, prov i de a gre a t er degree of safe t y t o t he pub li c and proper t y owners t han conven ti o n al

opera ti ons conduc t ed w it h a i rwor t h i n ess cer ti f i ca t es is sued under 14 C. F .R. Part 21, Subpart H

. L as t l y

,

app li c a ti on of t hese s a m e cr i t er i a de m ons t ra t es t hat t here i s no cre d i b l e t hre a t t o na t i onal secur i t y p o sed

b y t he U A S, due t o it s s i ze, speed of opera t i on, l o c a ti on of opera ti on, l ack of exp l os i ve m a t e r i a l s or

f l a m m a b l e li qu i d fue l s, and i na b il it y t o car r y a subs t an t i al ex t ernal l oad.

14 C

. F .R. § 45.23 (b). Mark i ng o f t he A i r cra f t

T he regu l a ti on requ i r es:

When m arks i nc l ude on l y t he Ro m an ca p it al l e t t er "N" and t he reg i s t r a ti on n u m b er i s

d i sp l a y e d on l i m i t ed, r e s t r i c t ed or li gh t

- sport ca t ego r y a i rc r aft or expe r i m e n t al or

prov i s i ona ll y cer t i f i c a t ed a i rcra f t

, t he opera t or w i l l a l so d i sp l a y on t hat a i rcra f t near

each en t rance t o t he cab i n, cockp it

, or p il ot s t a ti on, i n l e t t ers not l e s s t h an 2 i nches nor

m o re t han 6 i nches h i gh, t he words " l i m i t ed," "res t r i c t ed," " li g h t

- spor t ," "exper i m en t a l ,"

or "prov i s i ona l ," as app li c ab l e.

E ven t hough t he U AS s w il l have no a i rwor t h i n ess cer ti f i ca t e, an ex e m p ti on m a y be needed as

t he U A S s w i l l have no en t rance t o t he cab i n, cockp i t or p il ot s t a ti on on w h i ch t he w ord7 “ E xper i m e n t a l ” can be p l aced. G i ven t he s i ze of each U A V

, t wo

- i nch l e tt er i ng w il l be i m poss i b l e. T he

word “ E xper i m en t a l ” w il l be p l aced on t he fuse l a g e i n c o m p li a n ce w it h §45.29 (f).

T he equ i v a l ent l evel of safe t y w il l be prov i ded b y hav i ng each U A V m ar k ed on it s fuse l a g e

as requ i red b y §45.29 (f) w here t he p i l o t , observer and o t hers work i ng w it h each U A V w il l see t he

i den t i f i c a ti on of t he U A S as “ E xper i m e n t a l

. ” T he F AA has i ssued t he fo l l ow i ng ex e m p ti ons t o t h i s

regu l a t i on t o E x e m p t i ons N o s. 10700, 8738, 10167 and 10167A.

14 C

. F .R. §91.7(a): C i v i l a i r c r a f t a i r w or t h i ness.

T he regu l a ti on requ i r es t hat no person m a y oper a t e a c i v i l a i rcra f t un l ess i t i s i n a i rwor t h y

cond i t i on. As t here w il l be no a i rwor t h i ness cer t i f i c a t e is sued for t he a i rc r af t

, s hou l d t h i s ex e m p ti on be

gran t ed, no F AA regu l a t o r y s t andard w il l ex i st for de t e r mi n i ng a i rwor t h i n e s s. G i ven t he s i ze of t he se

a i rcra f t s and t h e requ i r e m en t s co n t a i ned i n t he O H for m a i n t ena n ce and u se of safe t y check li s t s pr i or

t o each f li gh t

, an equ i v a l ent l ev e l of safe t y w il l be prov i d ed.

14 C

. F .R. § 91.9 (b) (2): C i v i l A i r cra f t Fli ght Ma n ual i n the A i r cra f t.

Sec t i on 91.9 (b) (2) prov i des:

N o person m a y opera t e a U.S.

- reg i s t ered c i v i l a i rc r aft

...

(2) For w h i ch an A i rp l ane or Ro t orc r aft F li g h t Manual i s not requ i red b y §21.5 of

t h i s chap t e r , un l ess t he r e i s ava i l ab l e i n t h e a i rc r aft a current approved a i rp l ane

or Ro t orcraft F li ght Manua l , approved m a nual m a t e r i a l

, m ark i ngs, and p l acards,

or a n y c o m b i n a ti on t hereof.

T he U AS s , g i ven it s s i ze and conf i gura t i on has no ab i l i t y or p l ace t o car r y s uch a f li ght

m a nual on t he a i r craf t

, not on l y be c ause t here i s no p il ot on board, but because t he r e i s no ro o m or

ca p ac it y t o car r y such an i t e m on t he a i r craf t

.

T he equ i v a l ent l evel of safe t y w il l be m a i n t a i ned b y kee p i ng t he f li ght m a nual at t h e ground

con t rol po i nt where t he p il o t f l y i ng t he U A S w i l l have imm e d i a t e ac c e s s t o it

. T he F AA has i ssued t he

fo ll ow i ng ex e m p ti ons t o t h i s regu l a ti o n : E x e m p ti on N os. 8607, 8737, 8738, 9299, 9299A, 9565,

9565B, 10167, 1016 7 A, 10602, 32827, and 10700.

14 C

. F .R. § 91.103: P re f li ght act i on:

T h i s regu l a t i on requ i res each PIC t o t ake ce r t a i n ac ti ons before f li g h t t o i nsure t he safe t y of

f li gh t

. As F AA approved f li ght m a nua l s w i l l not be prov i ded for t he a i rcra f t an exe m p t i on w il l be

needed. An equ i va l ent l e v el of s af et y w il l be prov i ded a s set for t h i n t he O H. T he PIC w il l t a k e a l l

ac ti ons i nc l ud i ng rev i ew i ng wea t he r

, f li ght ba tt e r y requ i r e m e n t s, l an d i ng and t a k eo f f d i s t an c es and

a i rcra f t perfo r m a nce da t a before i n i t i a t i on of f li g h t

.

14 C

. F .R. §91.109: F li ght i nstruct i on:

Sec t i on 91.103 prov i des t h at no person m a y opera t e a c i v i l a i rcraft (except a m an n ed free

ba ll oon) t hat i s be i ng used for f li g h t i ns t ru c ti on un l ess t h a t a i r craft has fu l l y func t i on i ng du a l con t ro l s.8 U A S and re m o t el y p il o t ed a i r craf t

, b y t he i r des i gn do not have fu l l y fun c ti onal dual con t ro l s.

F li ght con t rol i s a c c o m p l i shed t hrough t h e use of a con t r o l box t h a t c o m m u n i c a t es w it h t he a i rc r aft v i a

rad i o c o m m u n i c a ti ons. T he F AA has approved ex e m p ti ons for f li g h t t ra i n i ng w it hout fu l l y func ti on a l

dual con t r o l s for a n u m ber of a i rcra f t and for f l i ght i ns t r u c ti on i n exper i m en t al a i r craf t

. See E x e m p ti on

N os.5778K & 9862A. T he equ i v a l ent l ev e l of safe t y prov i ded b y t he fact t hat ne it her a p il ot nor

pa s sengers w il l be car r i ed i n t he a i rcraft and b y t he s i ze and speed of t he a i r craf t

.

14 C

. F .R. §91. 1 19: M i n i m u m s a f e a l t i tudes

Sec t i on 91. 1 19 es t ab li shes s afe a lt i t udes for oper a ti on of c i v i l a i rcra f t . Sec ti on 91. 1 19 (d) a ll ows

he li co p t ers t o be opera t ed at l e s s t han t he m i n i m u m s prescr i bed, prov i ded t he person opera ti ng

t hehe li co p t er co m p l i es w it h a n y rou t e or a l t it udes prescr i b ed for he l i cop t ers b y t he F A A. A s t h i s

ex e m p t i on i s for a U AS t hat i s a he li co p t er and t he ex e m p ti on reques t s au t hor it y t o opera t e at a l tit u d es

up t o 200 A G L

. A s set for t h here i n, t he U AS w il l never oper a t e at h i gher t h an 200 AG L

.

T he equ i v a l ent l evel of safe t y w il l be ac h i eved g i ven t he s i ze, we i gh t

, s peed of t he U AS as w e l l

as t he l o c a ti on w here i t i s opera t ed. N o f l i ght w i l l be t a k en w it hout t he pe r m i ss i on of t he proper t y

o wner or l ocal o f f i c i a l s. B e cause of t he advan c e no t i ce t o t he proper t y o wner and par t i c i pa n t s i n t he

aer i a l pho t ograp h y / c i n e m a t og r ap h y / ae r i al da t a co ll e c ti on and U A S p il o t t r a i n i ng a c ti v it y

, a l l a f fe c t ed

i nd i v i d u a l s w il l be aware of t he p l anned f li ght opera ti ons as s et for t h i n A OH. Co m pared t o f li g h t

opera ti ons w it h a i rc r aft or ro t orc r aft w e i g h i ng far m ore t han t he m a x im u m seven (7) l bs. proposed

here i n and t he l ack of f l a mm a b l e fue l

, a n y r i sk assoc i a t ed w it h t hese opera t i ons i s far l ess t han t hose

presen t l y presen t ed w it h conven ti o n al a i rcraft opera t i ng at or be l ow 500 AGL i n s imi l ar i ndus t r y

. In

add i t i on, t he l ow

- a lt i t ude oper a ti ons of t he U AS w il l ensure separa ti on be t ween t hese U A S oper a ti ons

and t he opera ti ons of conve n ti on a l a i r craft t hat w il l c o m p l y w it h Se c ti on 91. 1 19.

14 C

. F .R. §91.121 A l t i m eter Sett i ngs

T h i s regu l a t i on requ i res each person oper a ti ng an a i rcra f t t o m a i n t a i n cru i s i ng a l t it ude b y

referen c e t o an a lt i m e t er t hat i s set “

... t o t he e l eva t i on of t he depar t ure a i rport or an appropr i a t e

a l t im e t er se t t i ng ava i l ab l e before depar t ure.” As t he U A S m a y not have a bar o m e t r i c a l t im e t e r , but

i ns t ead a G PS a l t it ude ho l d, an ex e m p ti on m a y be needed. An equ i va l ent l e v el of s af et y w il l be

ach i e v ed b y t he opera t o r

, pu r suant t o t he A O H and s af et y check li s t

.

14 C

. F .R. § 91.151(a): F u e l Requ i r e m ents for Fli ght i n VF R Co n d i t i ons

Sec t i on 91.151 (a) proh i b it s an i n d i v i dual from beg i n n i ng “ a f li ght i n an a i r p l ane under V FR

cond i t i ons un l ess (cons i der i ng w i nd and forecast wea t h er cond i ti ons) t here i s enough fuel t o f l y t o t he

f i rst po i nt of i n t ended l and i ng, and, assu mi ng no r m a l cru i s i ng speed

– (1) Dur i ng t he d a y

, t o f l y af t er

t hat for at l e ast 30 mi n u t es; or (2) At n i gh t

, t o f l y af t er t hat for at l east 45 mi n u t es.”

T he ba t t e r y power i ng t he U AS prov i des approx i m a t el y 12 mi n u t es of powered f l i gh t

. T o m e e t

t he 30 m i nu t e reserve requ i r e m ent i n 14 CFR §91.151, U AS f li gh t s w ou l d be l i m i t ed t o approx i m a t el y

n i ne (9) m i nu t es i n l eng t h. G i ven t he l imi t a ti ons on t he U A S proposed f li g h t area and t he U AS can be

l anded w it h i n a ve r y s hort t i m e fr a m e a n i ne (9) m i nu t e f li ght t i m e se e m s reasona b l e.9 App li c ant b e li eves t hat an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y can be ach i e v ed b y l i mi t i ng f li g h t s t o n i ne (9) m i nu t es or 25% of ba tt e r y power w h i chever happens f i rs t

. T h i s res t r i c ti on w ou l d be m o re t han

adequa t e t o r e t urn t he U AS t o it s p l an n ed l an d i ng zone from a n y w h ere i n it s l i mit ed opera t i ng area.

S i m i l ar exe m p t i ons have been gran t ed t o o t her opera ti ons, i n c l ud i ng E x e m p t i ons 2689 F , 5745,

10673, 1 1 138 and 10808.

14 C

. F .R. §91.203 (a) and (b): C arr y i ng C i v i l A i r cra f t Cert i f i ca t i on a n d Reg i strat i on

T he regu l a ti on prov i des i n per ti n ent pa r t :

(a) E xce p t as prov i ded i n § 91.715, no person m a y opera t e a c i v i l a i rc r aft un l e s s i t has

w it h i n i t t he fo ll ow i ng:

(1) A n approp r i a t e and current a i rwor t h i n e s s ce r ti f i ca t e .

. . .

(b) N o person m a y opera t e a c i v i l a i rcraft un l ess t he a i rwor t h i ness cer t i f i c a t e requ i red b y paragraph (a) of t h i s sec ti on or a spec i a l f li g h t au t ho r i z a ti on i ssued under §91.715 i s

d i sp l a y e d at t he cab i n or cockp i t en t ran c e so t hat i t i s l e g i b l e t o passengers or cre w

.

Each U AS fu l l y l oaded we i ghs no m ore t han twenty

- five (25 ) l bs and i s opera t ed w it hout an

on

- board p il o t

. As s uch, t h ere i s no ab i li t y or p l ace t o car r y cer ti f i c a ti on and reg i s t ra t i on doc u m e n t s or

t o d i sp l a y t h e m on t he U A S.

An equ i v a l ent l evel of safe t y w i l l be ac h i eved b y keep i ng t h ese doc u m e n t s at t he ground con t rol

po i nt where t he p il o t f l y i ng each UAS w il l have imm e d i a t e ac c e s s t o t h e m

, t o t he ex t ent t h e y are

app li c ab l e t o t he U AS. T he F AA has is sued nu m erous ex e m p ti ons t o t h i s regu l a t i on. A represen t a ti ve

sa m p l e of o t her exce p ti ons i n c l udes E x e m p ti on N os. 9565, 9665, 9789, 9789A, 9797, 979 7 A, 9816A,

and 10700.

14 C

. F .R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 409 (a) (2); 417(a) & (b): Ma i ntenance I nspect i ons

T hese regu l a t i ons requ i re t hat an a i rc r aft oper a t or or owner “ s ha l l have t h at a i r craft i nspec t ed as

prescr i bed i n subpart E of t h i s part and s ha l l be t ween requ i red i nspec ti ons, except as prov i ded i n

paragraph (c) of t h i s sec ti on, have d i scre p anc i es repa i red as prescr i bed i n part 43 of t h i s chap t e r ...,” and

o t hers sha l l i nspect or m a i n t a i n t he a i rcra f t i n co m p l i ance w it h Part 43.

G i ven t hat t h i s sec ti on and Part 43 app l y on l y t o a i rcraft w it h an a i rwor t h i ness cer t i f i c a t e, t hese

sec ti ons w il l not app l y t o t he app li c an t

. M a i n t enan c e w il l be acc o m p li shed b y t he oper a t or / PIC

pu r sua n t t o t he O H. A n eq u i va l e n t l e v el of safe t y w il l be ach i e v ed because t hese U A S s are ve r y

l i m i t ed i n s i ze and w il l car r y a s m a l l p a y l oad and oper a t e for l i mi t ed per i ods of t im e. If m e cha n i cal

is sues ar i se t he UAS , it will be l and ed imm e d i a t e l y and w il l be opera ti ng from no h i gher t han 200 fe e t

AG L

. A s prov i ded i n t he OH, t he oper a t or / PIC w il l ensure t hat each U AS i s i n work i ng order pr i or t o

i n i t i a t i ng f li gh t

, perform requ i r ed m a i n t ena n ce, and keep a l og of a n y m a i n t ena n ce perfo r m e d.

Moreove r

, t h e opera t or i s t he person m ost f a mi l i ar w it h t he a i r craft and best su it ed t o m a i n t a i n t he

a i rcraft i n an a i rwor t h y cond i ti on t o prov i de t he equ i v a l ent l ev e l of safe t y

.

Pursuant t o 14 C. F .R. Part 1 1, t he fo ll ow i ng su mm a r y i s prov i ded for pub l i ca ti on i n t he Federal10 R e g i s t e r

, s hou l d i t be de t e r m i ned t h at pub l i ca t i on i s neede d :

App li c ant seeks an exe m p t i on fr o m t he fo ll ow i ng ru l es: 14 C. F .R. §21, subpart H; 14 C. F .R

45.23(b) ; 14 C. F .R. §§ 91.7 (a); 91.9 (b) (2) ; 91.103(b ) ; 91.109; 91. 1 19; 91.121;

91.151(a) ; 91.203 ( a) and (b); 91.405 (a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2); 91.409 (a) (2) and

91.417 (a) & (b) t o oper a t e c o m m e r c i a l l y a s m a l l u n m anned veh i c l e (55 l bs or l ess) i n aer i a l

pho t ograp h y / a e r i al da t a co ll e c ti on and U A S p il o t t r a i n i ng oper a ti ons.

Approval of exe m p t i ons a ll ow i ng co mm e r c i al opera t i ons of U AS i n t he aer i a l pho t ograp h y

/ a er i al d a t a co l l e c ti on and U AS p il ot t ra i n i ng i ndus t r y w il l enhance safe t y b y reduc i ng r i sk. O per a ti on

of conve n ti on a l a i r craft i n t hese s it u a ti ons, us i ng t ur

b i ne or p i s t on p o wered a i rcra f t , we i gh i ng

t housands of poun d s, car r y i n g l a r ge a m oun t s of Jet A or A vgas fue l

, and opera t i ng i n c l ose prox i m i t y t o

peop l e and s t ruc t ures pr e se n t a far grea t er r i sk t o peop l e and proper t y t han a UAS i n t he s a m e

s it ua t i on. Manned a i r craft have t o f l y t o and fr o m t he oper a ti ons l o c a ti on w a s ti ng t i m e and resources

t hat can be u sed i n ob t a i n i ng produc t

. In add iti on, cus t o m ers who are not wea lt h y enough t o p a y

hundreds of do ll ars t o rent m a nned a i r craft and equ i p m e nt oper a t ors are ex c l uded from ob t a i n i ng t hese

serv i c es. In con t ras t

, U AS f li gh t s are of a shor t er dura t i on, t h e y we i gh i ng fewer t han 55 l bs., and are

powered b y b a tt er i es, which e l imi n a t es v i r t u a l l y a l l of t he above r i sk g i ven t he reduced m ass and l ack

of co m bus ti b l e fue l

. U AS opera ti ons are not s t a r t ed un t i l t he opera t i ons area i s c l eared and opera ti ons

can be s t opped i n seconds i f none par t i c i p a ti ng personnel en t er t he opera ti ons area. T he

U AS w il l car r y no passengers or crew and, t he r efore, w il l not expose t h em t o t he r i sks assoc i a t ed w it h

m a nned a i rcra f t f li g h t s.

T he opera t i on of s m a l l U AS, we i gh ti ng l ess t han 55 l bs., condu c t ed i n t he con d iti ons ou t li ned

above, w il l prov i de an equ i va l ent l evel of safe t y suppor ti ng t he grant of t he ex e m p ti ons reques t ed

here i n, i nc l ud i ng ex e m p ti ng t he app l i cant from t he requ i r e m e n t s of Part 21 and a ll ow i ng co mm er c i al

opera ti ons. T h ese li gh t w e i ght a i rcraft opera t e at s l o w speeds, c l ose t o t he ground, are i n a s uperv i sed

env i ro n m e n t and, a s a resu lt , are far safer t han conven ti o n al opera ti ons condu c t ed w it h conven ti o n al

m a nned a i rcra f t opera t i ng i n c l ose prox i m it y t o t he ground and peop l e.