Terry Lankford

Commercial Pilot 

Skeye I LLC

4537 513th Ave

Ames, IA 50014

(515) 450-1466

tlankford@icloud.com

Date: April 27, 2015

U. S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave.,

SE Washington, DC 20590

RE: Terry Lankford, Commercial Pilot and Owner Skeye I LLC for Exemption Pursuant to Section 333

Of the FAA Reform Act

Attn: To whom it may concern

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

and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Terry Lankford, Commercial Pilot, owner Skeye I LLC, and operator of Small 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“sUAS”) equipped to conduct aerial photography and videography, 

hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow 

commercial operation of sUAS, so long as such operations are conducted within and under the 

conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333.1 The 

proposed exemption, if granted, would allow Terry Lankford a Commercial Pilot, to conduct 

commercial operations of small unmanned aircraft systems (“sUAS”) including DJI Phantom 2 Vision 

Plus Quadcopter (Weight with Battery and Propellers 1160g), DJI Phantom 3 Professional Quadcopter 

(Weight with Battery and Propellers 1280g), and DJI Inspire 1 Quadcopter (Weight with Battery and 

Propellers 2935g), all manuals uploaded to comment section and all meeting or exceeding all of the 

operational and safety requirements Congress has set forth in Section 333. Statutory Authority Section 

333, titled “Special Rules for Certain Unmanned Aircraft Systems”, provides a mechanism for seeking 

expedited FAA authorization of safe civil UAS operations in the NAS. Section 333(a) states that the 

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

system before completion of the (comprehensive) plan and rulemaking required by section 332(b)(1) of

this Act or the guidance required by section 334 of this Act.” In Section 332(b)(1), Congress made it 

clear that Section 333 provides a mechanism for “expedited operation authorization” if several factors 

are met. Petitioner meets all requirements to permit FAA approval of commercial UAS operations.

The Petitioner Requests Relief From the following regulations:

14 C.F.R. Part 21

14 C.F.R. 45.23 (b)

14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a)

14 C.F.R. 91.119

14 C.F.R. 91.121

14 C.F.R. 91.151(a)

14 C.F.R. 91.203 (a) & (b)

14 C.F.R. 91.215
14 C.F.R. 91.405

14 C.F.R. 91.407

14 C.F.R. 91.409

14 C.F.R. 91.417

14 C.F.R. 91.109

Terry Lankford a Commercial Pilot is petitioning for exemption to enable him to operate commercially 

available Multirotor sUAS equipped with cameras, camera stabilizing gimbals and OSD (onscreen 

displays) providing the PIC with altitude, airspeed, battery life and direction. All used UAS flight 

controllers utilize GPS to limit the altitude above the ground and limit the radius of the distance it flies 

from the PIC. They will also have GPS guided failsafe functions allowing the autopilot system to fly 

back to the launch site autonomously. If the transmitter is disconnected the system will automatically 

trigger return to home and will land safely. 

All sUAS will be thoroughly tested and adhere to regulations imposed by FAA Section 333.1.

Skeye I LLC is owned and operated by Terry Lankford who has been active in aviation for 28 years and

holds a commercial pilots license. With over 4000 flights either towing or piloting gliders and over 5 

years experience building, testing and flying sUAS.

Our commercial activities would include:

•Aerial

•Event photography/videography

•Real estate photography

•Aerial filmmaking and photography

•Unmanned aerial sightseeing

•Construction site inspections and monitoring

•Building inspections

•UAS training and safe operation

•Event photography/videography

•Crop inspection

PILOT IN COMMAND AND OBSERVER QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES

The PIC will maintain at least a Commercial Pilot Certificate and a current Class III medical

certificate, plus at least 2 hours flying time and 3 takeoffs and landings within 30 days in the type

of UAS utilized in operations. The PIC will have at least 40 hours total time and at least 20 hours

flying Radio Controlled Aircraft of which will be 10 hours flying sUAS. The PIC is responsible for the

safe and efficient operation of the aircraft. Specific duties include all preflight preparation, in flight 

operation and post flight requirements. Procedures including but not limited to:

•Safe flight operations

•Risk assessment and mitigation to persons and property

•Site suitability

The Observer must have the visual acuity to observe the sUAS and be able to communicate clearly 

with the PIC utilizing hand signals, verbally or 2 way radios.

The Observers duties are;

•Notifying the PIC of any impending obstacles in the flight path of the sUAS.

•Notifying the PIC of any deviations in the planned flight path of the sUAS.

•Notifying the PIC if unauthorized persons enter the area of the planned flight.
GENERAL OPERATING STANDARDS

•Before an operation of a sUAS within 5NM of an airport with a control tower, the control tower will 

be called to gain permission to operate the sUAS. The PIC will give the position, altitude and the times 

the sUAS will be operated. The sUAS will not be operated at an altitude of over 150 feet AGL. Weather

minimums will be 3 miles visibility and a 1000 foot ceiling.

•Before an operation of a sUAS within 5NM of a non-tower controlled, airport operators will be 

notified and the PIC will give the right of way to avoid flying in the proximity of full-scale aircraft. At 

no time will the sUAS be operated within the final approach course and the takeoff course of any 

runway. The sUAS will not be operated at an altitude of over 200 feet AGL.

•Weather minimums will be 3 miles visibility and a 1000 foot ceiling.

•Skeye I LLC will only operate its sUAS in line of sight of a PIC and/or observer and will operate at 

sites that are a 'sufficient distance' from populated areas. Such operations will insure that the sUAS will

not create a hazard to users of the national airspace system or the public.

•All of our operations will be under 200’.

•Maximum flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes.

•Flights will be terminated at 25% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 30 minute limit.

•The sUAS will be programmed so that it will not be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet 

AGL, and not more than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned.

•Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS Pilot, and Visual Observer.

•The sUAS operated by the petitioner weighs less than 55 pounds, including the payload

(i.e. camera, lens, and gimbals).

•The sUAS will operate at speeds of no more than 50 knots, can hover, and can simultaneously move 

vertically and horizontally.

•All operations must utilize a visual observer (VO). The VO and PIC must be able to Communicate by

voice, 2 way radio or hand signals at all times during a flight operation.

•Operations will be restricted to flights over water, public or private property with the permission of 

the property owner(s)

•All required permits will be obtained from state and local government prior to operation.

•sUAS will not be operated over densely populated areas.

•sUAS will not be operating over any open-air assembly of people.

•sUAS will not be operating over heavily trafficked roads.

•All new to service sUAS both custom and pre-manufactured will have a minimum of 25 logged flight

hours and deemed safe by the PIC prior to commercial operations.

HOW THIS REQUIST IS TO THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY

Our UAS are powered by batteries, smaller, lighter and more maneuverable than larger aircraft running 

on combustible fuel, it operates at lower altitudes with no people on board and will thereby reduce 

current risk levels associated with traditional aircraft, enhance safety and diminish the likelihood of 

death or serious bodily injury. Also with a small payload and typical flight time of only 20 minutes, 

there is little or no risk to national security. Low level photos and video are far more effective than 

ground or high altitude manned aircraft imagery for displaying detailed characteristics of ground based 

objects. The applicant in the past has chartered full-sized airplanes for this purpose, which has proven 

more costly than many potential clients have been able to afford. The benefits of reduced cost and 

improved quality of presentation from the UAS will be incredibly valuable to future clients. 

Additionally, we will make our sUAS available to first responders in our community who might require
assistance, including fire fighters, police, sheriff, et al., while remaining subject to all limitations cited 

in this application.

EXEMPTION REQUESTS AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

Terry Lankford, Commercial Pilot and owner Skeye I LLC requests an exemption from the following 

regulations as well as any additional regulations that may technically apply to the operation of the 

sUAS System.

14 CFR Part 21, Airworthiness Certificates:

This part establishes the procedures for the issuance of an airworthiness certificate. While the

FAA continues to work to develop airworthiness standards for Unmanned Aerial Systems, we

request an experimental certificate be issued for our UAS’s under either or both of the following

provisions: 21.191 Experimental certificates. Experimental certificates are issued for the

following purposes:

(a) Research and development. Testing new aircraft design concepts, new aircraft equipment,

new aircraft installations, new aircraft operating techniques, or new uses for aircraft.

(b) Showing compliance with regulations. Conducting flight tests and other operations to show

compliance with the airworthiness regulations including flights to show compliance for issuance

of type and supplemental type certificates, flights to substantiate major design changes, and

flights to show compliance with the function and reliability requirements of the regulations.

Since the experimental certificate can be used for commercial purposes such as market surveys,

sales demonstrations, and customer crew training, we would expect that an experimental

certificate would permit our commercial purpose as well. The aircraft will not carry persons or

property, will not carry fuel, and will only fly under strict operational requirements. Combined

with the UAS lightweight, being constructed primarily of carbon fiber and plastic in conjunction

with the ability to utilize emergency parachute systems. We propose that the UAS will be at least

as safe, if not safer, than a conventionally certificated aircraft performing the same mission. If an

experimental airworthiness certificate is not appropriate for this application, then we request an

exemption of 14 CFR Part 21, Subpart H, and the requirement for an airworthiness certificate in

general, citing the equivalent level of safety outlined in the previous paragraph.

14 CFR 45.23 Display of marks; general and 45.29 Size of marks:

These regulations provide that each aircraft must display "N" and the aircraft's registration

number in letters at least 3 inches high. Additionally, the aircraft must display the word

"EXPERIMENTAL" in letters at least 2 inches high near the entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or

pilot station. sUAS do not have an entrance in which the word "EXPERIMENTAL" can

be placed, and may not have a registration number assigned to it by the FAA. We propose to

achieve an equivalent level of safety by including the word "EXPERIMENTAL" in the placard

on the top of the aircraft, as shown above, where the PIC (Pilot In Control), VO (Visual

Observer) and others in the vicinity of the aircraft while it is preparing for launch will be able to

see the designation. Additionally, we feel that the permanent placard discussed in the previous

paragraph will provide the aircraft's registration information at the ground station. Finally, we

will display at the ground station a high contrast flag or banner that contains the words

"Unmanned Aircraft Ground Station" in letters 3 inches high or greater. Since the aircraft will

operate within 3/4 NM of the ground station, the banner should be visible to anyone that

observes the aircraft and chooses to investigate its point of origin.

14 CFR 91.7 Prohibits the Operation of an aircraft without an airworthiness certificate:

As no such certificate will be applicable in the form contemplated by the FARs, this Regulation

is inapplicable.
91.119 Minimum safe altitudes:

The regulation states that over sparsely populated areas the aircraft cannot be operated closer

than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. Since the typical mission of the sUAS

would be photography or survey of persons, vessels, vehicles or structures it would be necessary

to operate closer than 500 feet to the items listed. Operations will only be flown over property or

persons where careful pre-planned flight path has been performed. In the event of a system

malfunction or emergency landing with or without a deployed parachute. The hazard to persons

or property on the surface will be very limited. Therefore we maintain that due to the small size

of the UAS, the hazard to persons, vehicles and structures is minimal compared to manned

aircraft, which should be considered in granting the exemption.

CFR 91.121 Altimeter settings:

The regulation requires that aircraft shall maintain cruising altitudes by reference to an altimeter

setting available within 100 NM of the aircraft. The sUAS will always fly below 400 feet AGL

and will not need to maintain cruising altitudes in order to prevent conflict with other aircraft. An

Above Ground Level altimeter measurement above the takeoff point is transmitted via radio

from the sUAS on-board computer to the display screen held by the PIC, providing a constantly

updated AGL readout. The flight controller will be configured to geo-fence the UAS under the 400’ 

maximum altitude.

14 CFR 91.151 Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions:

The regulation provides that no person may begin a flight in an airplane under day-VFR

conditions unless there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing and to fly after

that for at least 30 minutes. The purpose of this is to provide an energy reserve as a safety buffer

for delays to landing. Since the aircraft will never fly more than 3/4 NM from the point of

intended landing, a full battery charge at launch will ensure that we meet the reserve energy

requirement of this paragraph.

14 CFR 91.203(a) & (b) Civil aircraft: Certifications required:

The regulation provides that an airworthiness certificate, with the registration number assigned to

the aircraft and a registration certificate must be aboard the aircraft. Additionally, subparagraph

(b) provides that the airworthiness certificate be "displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so

that it is legible to passengers or crew." At a maximum gross weight of 55 pounds, the sUAS is

too small to carry documentation, does not have an entrance, and is not capable of carrying

passengers or crew. To obtain an equivalent level of safety and meet the intent of

91.203, we propose that documents deemed appropriate for this aircraft by the FAA will be with

the crew at the ground control station and available for inspection upon request. In order to

identify the aircraft, we propose that the information found on airworthiness and registration

certificates be permanently affixed to the aircraft via placard containing the following

information plus the word "EXPERIMENTAL" to satisfy the requirement of 14 CFR 45.23.

14 CFR Subpart E (91.401- 91.417) -Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Alterations:

The regulation provides that the operator is primarily responsible for maintaining the aircraft in

an airworthy condition, including compliance with part 39 and 43. Paragraphs 91.407 and 91.409

require that the aircraft be "approved for return to service by a person authorized under 43.7"

after maintenance and inspection. It is our intention that the PIC perform maintenance and

inspection of the aircraft and "be authorized to approve the aircraft for return to service." The

PIC will ensure that the aircraft is in an airworthy condition prior to every flight and in addition

conduct detailed inspections after every five hours of flight. All maintenance will be performed

by the PIC in accordance with the manufactures manual. If required maintenance is beyond the

ability of the PIC the maintenance will be performed by the manufacturer or their designated

repair facility. The PIC will document work performed in accordance with 91.417. We feel that

due to the size, construction, and simplicity of the aircraft, the PIC can ensure an equivalent level
of safety.

14 CFR 91.109 Flight Instruction; Simulated instrument flight and certain flight tests:

The regulation states that "No person may operate a civil aircraft that is being used for flight

Instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls." Training will be conducted by

Skeye I LLC we have the ability to provide dual controls utilizing two Spektrum transmitters

with a wireless link between the transmitters. One transmitter is designated the master transmitter

and the other transmitter is designated as a slave. The PIC instructor, utilizing the master

transmitter, will be at all times be able assume control of the sUAS.

14 C.F.R. 91.215 ATC transponder and altitude reporting equipment and use:

This regulation states all aircraft operating within 30 nautical miles of class A, B and C airspace

must be equipped with automatic pressure altitude reporting equipment having a Mode C

capability that automatically replies to Mode C interrogations. Due to the small size and lifting

capabilities of our sUAS we cannot carry a traditional transponder. All of our operations will be

under 250’ if we are operating within the 30mi reach of a mode c vail.

CONCLUSION

By granting Terry Lankford, Commercial Pilot and owner Skeye I LLC, requested exemptions, the 

FAA will help drive development of safe and successful commercial UAS operations and will advance 

the public knowledge base for such operations of UAS. Skeye I LLC is committed to promoting the

UAS research efforts of policymakers by sharing data from its commercial UAS operations and

serving as a resource for future UAS research operations. As pointed out in this application, all the 

sUAS which our company would use, under authorization by the US DOT-FAA, are small, light-weight

devices operated within the line of sight of the Pilot-in-Command (PIC), less than 400 feet above the 

ground and outside 5 miles from any airport or location with aviation activities, unless the air traffic 

control authorities(ATC) have been notified and have authorized each flight within a radius of this 

distance. Terry Lankford, Commercial Pilot and owner Skeye I LLC seeks an exemption pursuant to 14

C.F.R. and Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA), which will permit

safe operation of our UAS commercially, without an airworthiness Certificate. By granting this 

Petition, the FAA Administrator will be fulfilling the Congressional mandate of the FAA Modernization

and Reform Act of 2012, while also advancing the interests of the public, by allowing Terry Lankford, 

Commercial Pilot and owner Skeye I LLC, to safely, efficiently, and economically operate sUAS 

commercially within the NAS. Wherefore, in accordance with the Federal Aviation Regulations and the 

FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Section 333, Terry Lankford, owner Skeye I LLC 

respectfully requests that the Administrator grant this Petition for an exemption from the requirements 

of 14 C.F.R Sections.

Sincerely,

Terry Lankford

Skeye I LLC