1 U N I TED S TATES O F A ME R I C A

DE P A R TMENT OF T R AN SP O R TA T I ON

F EDE R A L A V I A T I O N AD M I N I S T R A T I O N

W A S H I NG T ON, DC

R e g ul a to r y Do c k e t No.

_ _____________

IN T HE M A TTE R OF T HE P ET I T ION F OR E X E M P T ION O F :

GHOSTRIDERS

AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

F OR A N E X EM P T ION SEE K ING R EL I E F FROM T HE R E QUIR E M E N T S OF

T I TL E 14 OF T HE C O DE OF F E D E RAL R E G U L A T IONS SE C T IONS

61.113 ( a) & ( b ) , 91.7 ( a ) , 91.121, 9 1.151 ( b ) , 91.405 ( a ) , 91. 4 07 ( a )( 1 )

,

91.409 ( a )( 1) & ( a )( 2 )

, A ND 91.417 ( a) & ( b ) C O NC E RNI N G CO MM E RCIAL

O P E RA T ION O F DJI Phantom 3 A N D DJI I N S P IRE 1 U N M ANN E D AIRCR A F T

S Y STE M S

P U R S UANT T O SE C T ION 333 OF

T HE F AA M OD E RN I Z A T ION AND R E F O R M ACT OF 2012

( PU BL IC L AW 112

- 95)

Sub m i tte d on June 8 , 2015

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

216 Squirrel Hollow Drive

Enterprise, Al 36330

334

- 447

- 62512 T A BL E OF CON TE N T S

P a g e

G L O SS A R Y OF A BB R E V I A T I O N S 3

S UMMA R Y 4

I N T R ODU C T I O N AND I N TE R E S TS OF P E T I T I ONE R 4

B A C KG R OU N D 4

B A S I S F OR P E T I T I ON 5

NAME AND A DD R E S S OF P E T I T I O NE R 6

THE SP E C I

F I C S E C T I O NS OF 14 C

. F

. R

. F R OM W H I C H GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S EEKS EXEM P T I ON 7

THE EXTENT O F R E L I EF GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S EEKS

AND THE R E A S ON GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S EEKS THE

R E L I E F 1 0

THE R EA S ONS W HY G R AN T I NG GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC ’ S R EQUE S T W O U L D B E I N THE P U B L I C I N TE R E S T 1 3

THE R EA S ONS W HY G R AN T I NG T HE EX E M P T I ON W O U L D NOT ADVE RS E L Y

A F F E C T S A F ETY 1 5

S UMMA R Y THAT C AN B E P U B L I S HED I N T HE F EDE R A L R E G I S T E R 27

ANY AD D I T I O NA L I N F O R MA T I O N, V I E WS , OR A R GUMENTS AV A I L A B L E TO

S U P P O R T GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ S R EQUE S T 27

C ON C L U S I O N 28

A PP EN D I C E S 283 G L O SS ARY OF A BB R E VIA T IONS

A G L Above G r ound L e v e l

A O I A re a o f I nt e r e st

ATC Air T ra f f ic C ont r ol

ATO Air T ra f f ic O r g a ni z a tion

AV A er i a l V e h i c le

C F R C ode of Fe d e r a l R e g u l a tions

C OA C er ti f i ca te of Autho r i z a tion

F AA Fe d e ra l Avi a tion Administ ra tion

F AR Fe d e ra l Avi a tion Re g ul a t ion

G C S G r ound C ont r ol S t a tion

G P S Glob a l P ositioning S y s t e m

L O L L oss of L ink

NAS N a tion a l Ai r sp a c e S y st e m

NOTAM Noti c e to Ai r m a n

P I C P ilot I n C omm a nd

S ec tion 333 F AA Mod e r ni z a tion a nd R ef o r m A c t of 2012

(F M R A)

S O S afe t y Obs er v er

S OP S t a nd ar d Op e r a ting P r o c e du re s

UA Unm a nn e d Ai r cr a f t

UAS Unm a nn e d Ai r cr a f t S y st e m

V F R Visu a l F li g ht R ul e s

V L OS Visu a l L ine o f S ite

VMC Visu a l M e t e o r ol o g i ca l C onditions

VT O L V er ti ca l T a k e o f f a nd L a n ding4 S U MM ARY

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s e e ks e x e mption fr om the

re qui re m e nts of 14 C

. F .R §§ 61.113 (a ) & ( b ) , 91.7 ( a ) , 91.121, 91. 1 51 ( b ) , 91.405 ( a )

,

91.407 ( a)( 1 ) , 91.40 9 (a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, a nd

91.417 (a ) & ( b ) , to o p er a te a n Unm a nn e d Ai rc r af t S y st e m pu r su a nt to S ec t i on 333 of the

F AA Mod e r ni z a tion a nd R ef o r m A c t of 2012 (F M R A ) . This e x e mption wi l l p er mit

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC to op e ra te a n Unm a nn e d A i rc r af t

S y s t e m ( U A S ) f

or the c o m m erc i al pu rpose of c ond u c ting a e r i a l vid e o a nd phot o g ra ph y of

c onst r u c tion sit e s, r ea l e st a t e

, a nd l a nds ca pe o v e r c er t a in a r ea s of the Unit e d S t a t e s.

IN T RODUC T ION A N D IN TE R ESTS OF T HE P ET I T ION ER

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC p r ovid e s their c li e nts with e xp er tise

a nd knowl e d ge in a dv a n c e d t ec hnolo g i e s a nd solutions to in crea se eff i c i e n c y

, p r odu c tivi t y

a nd ef f ec tiv e n e ss. The ob

j ec tive of GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC is

to p r ovide hi g h qu a li t y aerial im a g i n g f or a v ar i e t y of c omm e rc i a l, p ubli c

, a nd re sid e nti a l

us e s, sp ec i f

i ca l l y t a r g e tin g :

• C onst r u c tion sit e s b ef o r e a nd af t e r

• App ra is a ls

• R ea l

- e st a te m a r k e ti n g

• Motion P i c tu r e F ilming

• A er i a l a c quisitions us e d f or insp ec tions of public a nd

p r iv a te st r u c tu re s.

• S earc h a nd R e s c ue o p er a tions

B ACK G ROUND

Unm a nn e d Ai r cr a f

t S y st e ms: D J I P h a ntom 3 , D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s e e ks a n e x e mption to op era te D J I

s y st e ms f or c om p e ns a tion or hi r e within the NA S . The D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1

a r e v er ti c a l t a k e o f

f a nd l a nding ( VT O L ) Un m a nn e d Ai r c raf t ( U A) with a G r ound C ont r ol

S t a tion ( G CS ) u t ili z ing e l ec t r onic t a b l e t or sm ar t phone s y st e ms. T h e D J I P h a ntom 3 has a

gross weight less than 10 pounds

, a diagonal l e n g th of 23 inches

, a nd a m a x imum sp ee d of

a pp r o x im a t e l y 36 knot s . The D J I I nspi r e 1 h a s a m a x imum g r oss w e i g ht less than 10

pounds , a l e n g th of 17.3 in c h e s, width of 17.7 in c h e s, h e i g ht of 11.8 in c h e s, a nd a

m a x imum sp ee d of a pp r ox im a t e l y 42 knots. The D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs a r e

e quipp e d with f

o u r m a in r oto r s; d r iv e n b y L ithium P o l y m e r b a tt e r y p o w e r e d e l e c t r ic

moto r s.5

The D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U As th a t w ill be op era t e d b y GHOSTRIDERS

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will be r e g ist ere d in a cc o r d a n c e with 49 U. S

. C . 44103,

R e gistration of Air c raft

, a s w e ll as 14 C

. F .R P ar t 47, Air c raft R e gistration

, a nd m ar k e d in

acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 45, I d e ntifi c ation and R e gistration M ar k ing

.

B A S IS F OR P ET I T ION

P e tition er

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC , pu r su a nt to the

p r ovisions of the Fe d era l Avi a tion R e g ul a tions ( 14 C

. F

. R . § 11.61) a nd the F AA

M o d er ni z a tion a nd R ef

o r m A c t of 2012 (F M R A )

, S ec tion 333, S p ec ial Rul e s for

C e rtain Unmann e d Air c raft S y st e ms , h ere b y p e titions the Administ ra t or to

c omm erc i a l l y op e r a te the D J I P h a ntom 3 , D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s in the N a tion a l

Ai r sp ac e S y st e m ( NA S )

, a n d f or a n e x e mption fr om the re qui re m e nts of 14 C

. F .R §§

61.113 (a ) & ( b ) , 91. 7 (a) , 91.121, 91.151 ( b )

, 9 1.405 (a)

, 91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1 ) &

( a)( 2 )

, a nd 91.417 ( a ) & ( b )

.

I n c onsid era tion of t h e sp ee d, w e i g ht, si z e

, a nd limit e d op era ti n g a r e a a ss o c i a t e d with

the unm a nn e d a i r c raf

t a nd its op era tion, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC op era tion of D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s m ee ts the c onditions of

F M R A S ec tion 333 a nd th eref o re , will not re qui r e a n a i r w o r thin e ss cer ti f i c a te in

a c c o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 21, S ubp ar t H.

A cc o r di n g l y

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC re qu e sts r e li e f fr om

S ec tions 91.405 (a)

, 91.407 (a)( 1 )

, 91.409 (a)( 1 ) & (a ) ( 2 )

, a n d 91.417 (a ) & ( b )

, a s th e se

s ec tions s e t f

o r th r e qui re m e nts f

or m a int e n a n c e th a t on l y a p p l y to a i r c raf t with a n

a i r wo r thin e ss cer ti f

i c a t e

.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s u bmits th a t the re qu e st e d r e li e f is

p r op e r sin c e a n e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y will be e ns u re d. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC w ill use e x p er i e n ce d p er s o nn e l or t ec hni c i a ns to p e r f o r m

m a int e n a n c e

, a lt e r a tions, or p re v e ntive m a int e n a n c e on the UA S s using the m e thods,

t ec hn i qu e s, a nd p r a c ti ce s p r e s c r ib e d in the op e r a ting d o c um e nts ( i. e ., Month l y

M a int e n a n c e L o g

, a nd D J I P h a ntom 3 a n d D J I I nspi r e 1 I nst r u c tion M a nu a l )

.

F u r th er m o re

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will do c um e n t a nd

m a int a in a ll m a int e n a n c e r ec o r ds f or the D J I P h a ntom 3 a n d D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s.

R e li e f fr om c er t a in re q ui re m e nts of S ec tion 61.1 1 3 (a ) a nd ( b )

, e ntitl e d Pri v ate pilot

pri v il e g e s and limitation s : Pilot in c ommand , is r e qu e st e d b y GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC to the e x t e nt n ece ss a r y to a llow a P ilot in C o m m a nd ( P I C )

holding a p r iv a t e pilot or hi g h e r l e v e l cer ti f i c a t e

, a s w e ll a s a n a i r m a n m e di ca l cer ti f i c a t e

,

a nd who h a s d e monst r a t e d, b y m ee ti n g minimum f li g ht

- hour a n d c u rre n c y re qu i re m e nts,

th a t the P I

C is a ble to s a f

e l y o p era te t h e D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s in a6

m a n n e r c onsist e nt with this e x e mption, in c luding e v a sive a nd e m e r g e n c y m a n e uv e r s a nd

m a int a ining a pp r o p r i a te dist a n ce s fr om p e opl e , v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s a nd st r u c tu re s.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s e e ks re li e f fr om S ec tion 9 1.7 (a)

,

e ntitl e d C i v il air c raft air

w orthin e ss , b eca use the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s

do not r e qui r e a n a i r wo r thin e ss c er ti f i ca t e in acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 21, S ubp ar t

H. As su c h, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will e nsu r e th a t t h e D J I

P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I

nspi r e 1 UA S s ar e in a n a i r wo r t h y c ond i tion, p r ior to e v e r y f l i g ht, b y

d e t er mining th a t the UA S s ar e in c ompli a n c e with the op e r a ting do c u m e nts ( i. e

., M onth l y

M a int e n a n c e L o g

, a nd D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 I nst r u c tion M a n u a l )

, a nd th a t the

a i r c raf t ar e i n a c ondition f

or s a f e f li g ht.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC a l so s ee ks a n e x e mption f r om the

re qui re m e nts of S ec tion 91.121, e ntitl e d Altim e t e r S e ttings

, a s the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I

I nspi r e 1 U As will not h a ve a t y pi ca l b ar om e t r ic a ltim e t e r onbo ar d. H o w e v e r

, a l titude

in f o r m a tion of the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs w i ll be p r ovid e d to the P I C via

Glob a l P ositioning S y s t e m ( G PS ) e quipm e nt a nd ra dio c o m muni ca tions t e l e m e t r y d a ta

link, whi c h downlinks fr om the UA to the G C S f or ac tive monito r ing of t h e f li g ht p a th.

T his a ltitude in f

o r m a tion, c ombin e d with GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC ’ s op era tion of the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s within visu a l line of si g ht,

a t or b e low 4 00 fee t A G L , wi l l e nsu r e a l e v e l of s a f e t y e quiv a l e nt to S ec tion 91.121.

Addition a l l y

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s ee ks a n e x e mption

fr om the re qui r e m e nts of S ec tion 91.151 ( b )

, e ntitl e d Fu e l r e quir e m e nts for flight in VFR

c onditions

. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC submits th a t s afe t y will

n ot be af f ec t e d b y o p era ti o n of the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs du r ing d a y li g ht

h o u r s in visu a l m e t e o r olo g i ca l c onditions ( VM C ) u n d e r visu a l f li g ht r ul e s ( V F R ) , with

e no u gh b a tt e r y pow e r to f l y f or a tot a l du ra tion of a pp r ox im a t e l y 13.5 minut e s to the f i r st

point of int e nd e d l a ndi n g a nd, a ssuming no r m a l c r uising sp e e d, to f l y af t e r th a t f o r a t l ea st

4.5 minut e s.

I n acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R . § 11.81, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC p r ovid e s the f ollowing in f

o r m a tion in suppo r t of its

p e tition f or e x e mpti o n:

A. N a m e a n d A dd re ss o f GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

Owners/Operators

SCOTT W. NISSEN PATRICK R. BACKMANN

603 Westbrook Road 216 Squirrel Hollow Road

Dothan, AL 36303 Enterprise, AL 36360

334

- 655

- 8010 334

- 447

- 6251

scottynissen@gmail.com p atrick.r .b ackmann@gmail.com7

B

. Th e Sp ec i f

ic S ect io n s Of 14 C. F .R. F r o m W h i c h GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s

E x e m p t io n

.

1. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion

F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s O f S ect ion 61.113 ( a) A n d ( b )

.

S ec tion 61.113, e ntitl e d P r iv a te pilot p r ivil e g e s a nd limit a tions: P ilot in

c o mmand , subs ec tions (a ) a nd ( b) p r e s cr ibe the f ollowin g , in re l e v a nt p a r t:

(a ) No p er son who holds a p r iv a te pilot cer ti f i ca te m a y ac t a s a pilot in

c omm a nd ( P I

C ) of a n a i r craf

t th a t is c ar

r y i n g p a s s e ng er s or p r op er t y f o r

c omp e ns a tion or hi re ; n o r m a y t h a t p er son, f o r c o mp e ns a tion or hi re

, a c t a s

P I C of a n a i r cr a f

t.

( b) A p r iv a te pilot m a y

, f or c omp e ns a tion or hi r e

, ac t a s P I C of a n

a i rc r af t i n c onn ec tion with a n y bus i n e ss or e mpl o y m e nt i f

—

( 1) The f l i g ht is on l y in c i d e nt a l to th a t busin e ss or e mpl o y m e nt; a nd

( 2) The a i rc r af

t do e s not carr y p a ss e n g e r s or p r o p er t y f or c om p e ns a tion

or hi re

.

2. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion

F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s O f

S ect ion 91.7 ( a )

.

S ec tion 91.7, e ntitl e d C i v il air c raft air w o r thin e ss

, subs ec tion (a)

,

st a t e s t h e f

ollowin g :

(a ) No p er son m a y op e ra t e a c ivil a i r c raf t unl e ss it is in a n a i r wo r t h y

c ondition.

3. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion

F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s O f

S ect ion 91.121.

S ec tion 91.121, e ntitl e d Altim e t e r s e ttin g s, subs e c tion (a) , st a t e s the

f ollowin g , in p ar t:

(a ) E a c h p e r son op e r a ting a n a i r c raf t sh a ll m a int a i n the cr uising a ltitude or

f li g ht l e v e l of t h a t a i rc r a f

t, a s the ca se m a y b e

, b y ref e re n c e to a n a ltim e t e r

th at is s e t, wh e n op e r a tin g

--

( 1) B e low 18,000 fe e t MS L , to

--

( i) The c u rre nt r e po r t e d a ltim e t e r s e tting of a st a ti o n a long the

r oute a nd within 100 n a uti ca l mil e s of the a i r c raf t;8 ( ii) I f th e r e is no st a tion within the are a p re s c r ib e d in p ar a g r a ph

( a )( 1 )( i ) of this s ec tion, the c u r r e n t re po r t e d a ltim e t e r s e tting of

a n a pp r o p r i a te a v a il a ble st a tion; or

( iii) I n the ca s e of a n a i r c raf

t not e quipp e d with a r a dio, the

e l e v a tion of the d e p ar tu r e a i rp o r t or a n a pp r op r i a te a ltim e t e r

s e tting a v a il a ble b ef

o r e d e p ar tu r e

.

4. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion F r o m

Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s O f S ect ion 91.151 ( b )

.

S ec tion 91.151, e ntitl e d Fu e l r e quir e m e nts for flight in VFR c onditions

,

s u bs ec tion ( b )

, st a t e s the f ollowi n g :

( b ) N o p e rson may b e gin a flight in a rotor c ra f t u n d e r VFR c onditions

unl e ss (c onsid e ring w ind and for ec ast w e ath e r c onditions) th e r e is e nough

fu e l to fly to the first point of int e nd e d landing and, assuming normal

c ruising sp ee d, to fly aft e r that for at l e ast 20 minut e s.

5. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion

F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t Of S ect ion 91.405 ( a )

.

S ec tion 91.405, e ntitl e d M aint e nan c e r e quir e d

, s ubs ec tion (a) , st a t e s the

f ollowin g : E ac h own e r or o p era tor o f a n a i r cr a f t

—

(a ) S h a ll h a ve t h a t a i r c ra f t insp ec t e d a s p re s cr ib e d in subp ar t E of this p ar t

a nd sh a ll b e tw ee n r e qui re d i n sp ec tions, e x ce pt a s p r o v id e d in p ar a g r a ph

( c ) of t his s ec tion, h a ve dis c r e p a n c i e s re p a i r e d a s p r e s cr i b e d in p ar t 43 of

this c h a pt er

.

6. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion

F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s O f S ect ion 91.407 ( a )( 1)

S ec tion 91.407, e ntitl e d Op e ration aft e r maint e nan ce , pr e v e nti v e

maint e n a n ce , r e building, or alt e ration

, subs ec tion (a ) ( 1 ) , st a t e s the

f ollowin g :

(a ) No p er son m a y op e ra t e a n y a i r cr a f t th a t h a s u n d e r g one

m a int e n a n ce, p re v e ntive m a int e n a n ce

, re buildin g , or a lt era tion

u nl e ss

--

( 1) I

t h a s b e e n a p p r ov e d f

or re tu r n to s er vi c e b y a p er son

a utho r i z e d und e r § 43.7 of this c h a pt er

. 7. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion

F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s O f S ect io n s 91.409 ( a )( 1) A n d 91.409 ( a )( 2 )

.

S ec tion 91.409, e ntitl e d I nsp ec tions , subs ec tion ( a ) , st a t e s the f ollowi n g :9 (a ) E x ce pt a s p r ovid e d in p ar a g r a ph ( c ) of this s ec t ion, no p er son m a y

op e r a te a n a i r c raf

t unl e ss, within the p re c e ding 12 ca l e n d a r months, it h a s

h a d

--

( 1) An a nn u a l insp ec tion in acc o r d a n c e with p ar t 4 3 of this

c h a pt e r a nd h a s b ee n a pp r o v e d f or re tu r n to s er vi c e b y a p er son

a u t ho r i z e d b y § 43.7 of this c h a pt er ; or

( 2) An insp ec tion f

o r the issu a n c e of a n a i r w o r thin e ss

cer ti f i c a te in acc o r d a n c e with p ar t 21 of this c h a pt er

.

8. GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t ion

F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s O f S ect io n s 91.417 ( a) A n d 91.417 ( b )

.

S ec tion 91.417, e ntitl e d M aint e nan c e r e c ords , s u bs ec tions (a ) a nd ( b )

,

st a t e the f ollowin g :

(a ) E x ce pt f

or w o r k p e rf

o r m e d in acc o r d a n c e with §§ 91.411 a nd 91.413,

e a c h r e g ist ere d o w n e r o r op e r a tor sh a ll k ee p the f ollowing r e c o r ds f

o r the

p e r iods sp ec i f

i e d in p a r a g r a ph ( b ) of this s ec tion:

( 1) R ec o r ds o f the m a int e n a n ce , p r e v e ntive m a int e n a n ce

, a nd

a lt e r a tion a nd rec o r ds o f the 100

- hou r

, a nnu a l, p r o g r e ssiv e

, a nd

oth e r re qui r e d or a p p r ov e d insp ec tions, a s a pp r op r i a t e

, f or e ac h

a i rc r af t ( in c l u ding the a i r fra m e ) a nd eac h e n g in e , p r op e ll e r

, r o to r

,

a nd a ppli a n c e of a n a i rcraf t. T h e r e c o r ds must in c lud e

--

( i) A d e s c r iption ( or r e fe r e n c e to d a t a a c ce pt a ble t o the

Administ ra to r ) of the wo r k p e r f o r m e d; a nd

( ii) The d a te o f c ompl e tion of the wo r k p e rf o r m e d; a nd

( iii) The si g n a tu re

, a nd c er ti f i ca te numb e r of the p er son

a pp r ovi n g the a i rc r af

t f or re tu r n to s er v i ce.

( 2) R ec o r ds c ont a ining t h e f ollowing in f

o r m a tion:

( i) The tot a l time in s er v i c e of the a i rf r a m e

, e ac h e n g in e

,

eac h p r op e ll er

, a nd e a c h r oto r

.

( ii) The c u r re nt st a tus of li fe

- limit e d p ar ts of e a c h

a i rfra m e

, e n g in e, p r op e ll er

, r oto r

, a nd a pp l i a n ce

.

( iii) The time sin c e l a st o v er h a ul of a ll it e ms inst a l l e d on

the a i r c raf

t whi c h ar e re qui r e d to be ov er h a ul e d on a

sp ec i f i e d time b a sis.10 ( iv) The c u rre nt insp e c tion st a tus of the a i rc r af t,

i n c luding the time sin c e the l a st insp ec tion r e qui re d b y

the insp e c tion p r og ra m und e r whi c h the a i r c raf t a nd its

a ppli a n ce s a r e m a int a in e d.

( v) The c u rre nt st a tus of a ppli ca ble a i r wo r thin e ss di rec tiv e s

( A D) a nd s afe t y di r e c tiv e s in c ludin g

, f o r e a c h, the m e thod

o f c ompli a n ce , the AD or s afe t y di r ec tive numb e r a nd

re vision d a t e

. I f the AD or s a f e t y di rec tive involv e s

r e c u rr i ng a c tion, the time a nd d a te wh e n the n e x t ac tion is

re qui re d.

( vi) C opi e s of the f

o r ms p re s cr ib e d b y § 43.9 ( d) o f this

c h a pt e r f o r e a c h m a

jor a lt era tion to the a i r fra me a nd

c u r re nt l y inst a ll e d e n g i n e s, r oto r s, p r op e ll er s, a nd

a ppli a n c e s.

( b) The ow n e r or o p era t o r sh a ll re t a in the f ollowi n g r ec o r ds f

or the

p er iods p re s cr ib e d:

( 1) The r ec o r ds s p ec i f

i e d in p ar a g r a ph ( a )( 1) of th i s s ec tion sh a ll be

re t a i n e d until the wo r k is re p ea t e d or sup er s e d e d b y oth e r wo r k or f or

1 y ea r af t e r t he wo r k is p erf

o r m e d.

( 2) The r ec o r ds s p ec i f

i e d in p ar a g r a ph ( a )( 2) of th i s s ec tion sh a ll be

re t a i n e d a nd t ra ns f

e rre d with the a i rcraf

t a t the time the a i r c raf

t is

sold.

( 3) A list of d e f

ec ts f u r n i sh e d to a r e g ist e r e d own e r or op e r a tor

und e r § 43.11 of this c h a pt e r sh a l l be re t a in e d until the d e f ec ts

a r e re p a i re d a nd the a i rc r af t is a pp r ov e d f

or r e tu r n to s er vi ce.

C. Th e E x te n t Of R e li e f GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

S ee k s A n d Th e R e ason GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

S ee k s Th e R e li e f

.

1. E x te n t Of R e li e f GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

S ee k s A n d Th e R e ason GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC S ee k s R e li e f F r o m Se ct ion 61. 1 13 ( a) A n d ( b )

.

R e li e f fr om S ec tion 61. 1 13 (a ) a nd ( b) e ntitl e d Pr i v ate pilot pri v il e g e s and limitations:

Pilot in c ommand , is re qu e st e d to the e x t e nt n ece s s a r y to a llow a P I C holding a p r iv a te

pilot or hi g h e r l e v e l c e r ti f i ca t e

, a s w e ll a s a c u r r e n t a nd v a lid a i r m a n m e di c a l cer ti f i c a t e

,11

a nd who h a s m e t c er t a in f li g ht

- hour a nd c u r re n c y re qui re m e nts, to c ond u c t the p r opos e d

UAS f li g ht op e r a tions f

o r c omp e ns a tion or hi r e

.

This re li e f is re q u e st e d sin c e the limit a tions s e t f o r th in S ec tion 61.113 (a ) a nd ( b) st a te th a t

a p r iv a te pilot m a y

, f

or c omp e ns a tion or hi re

, a c t a s P I C of a n a i r cr a f

t in c onn ec tion with

a n y busi n e ss or e mpl o y

m e nt i f : ( 1) The f

l i g ht is o n l y in c id e nt a l to th a t busi n e ss or

e mpl o y m e nt; a nd ( 2 ) The a i rc r af t do e s not c arr y p a ss e n g er s o r p r op e r t y f or c omp e ns a tion

or hi re

.

As s e t f o r th mo r e f

ul l y b e low, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

submits th a t a n e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y will be m a int a in e d b eca use no P I C will be

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m e t cer t a in f

li g ht

- ho u r a nd c u rre n c y re qui re m e nts, d e monst r a ting th a t the P I C is a ble to

s afe l y op e r a te e ith e r the D J I P h a ntom 3 or D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS in a m a nn e r c onsist e nt

with the op era tions sp ec i f i ca t i ons a s d e s cr ib e d in this e x e mption, in c luding e v a sive a nd

e m e r g e n c y m a n e u v er s, a s w e ll as m a int a ining a pp r o p r i a te dist a n ce s fr om p e op l e

,

v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s a nd st r u c t u re s.

F u r th er

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC submits th a t a ll f l ig hts of

the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s, c ondu c t e d b y t h e P I C p u r su a nt to the

g r a nt of this P e tition: ( 1) will be in c id e nt a l to GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s busin e ss; a n d ( 2) will not carr y p a ss e n g e r s or p r op er t y f or

c omp e ns a ti o n or hi re

.

2. E x te n t Of R e li e f GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

S ee k s A n d Th e R e ason GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC S ee k s R e li e f F r o m Se ct ion 91.7 ( a )

.

R e li e f fr om S ec tion 91.7 ( a ) e ntitl e d C i v il air c raft air w orthin e ss , is re qu e st e d to the e x t e nt

re qui re d to a llow GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC to d e t e r mine th a t the

D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s a r e in a i r wo r t h y c ondition p r ior to e v e r y f l i g ht b y

e nsu r i n g th a t the UAS is in c ompli a n c e with the o p era ti n g do c um e nts ( i. e

., the

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC A er i a l Op era tions M a n u a l, Month l y

M a int e n a n c e L o g

, a nd D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 I nst r u c tion M a nu a l )

.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s e e ks the re q u e st e d re li e f b eca use t h e

D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s do not r e qui r e a n a i r wo r thin e ss c e r ti f i ca te in

a c c o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 21, S ubp ar t H. Th e r ef o re

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will e nsu r e th a t the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s ar e in

a i r wo r t h y c ondition b a s e d upon its c ompli a n c e with the op era ti n g do c um e nts ( i. e

. ,

Month l y M a int e n a n c e Lo g

, a nd D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 I nst r u c tion M a nu a l)

p r i or to e v e r y f

l i g ht, a nd f

u r th er , d e t er mine th a t the a i rcraf t ar e in c ondition f

or s af e f li g ht,

a s st a t e d in the c onditions a nd limit a tions b e low.12 3. E x te n t Of R e li e f GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

S ee k s A n d Th e R e ason GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC S ee k s R e li e f F r o m Se ct ion 91. 1 21.

R e li e f fr om S ec tion 91. 1 21, e ntitl e d Altim e t e r s e ttin g s, m a y be re qui re d to a llow f li g ht

op era tions of the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s, whi c h utili z e a b ar om e t r ic

p re ssu r e s e nso r , G P S e q u ipm e nt, a nd a ra dio c o m muni ca tions t e l e m e t r y d a ta link to

downlink a ltitude in f

o r m a tion fr om the UA to the P I C a t the g r ound c ont r ol st a tion ( G CS )

.

S in c e the F AA re qui r e s th a t a n y a ltitude in f o r m a t i on c on cer ni n g UAS op e r a tions be

re po r t e d to a ir t ra f

f ic c o n t r ol ( AT C ) in fee t a bove g r ound l e v e l ( A G L )

, GHOSTRIDERS

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s e e ks the re qu e st e d r e li e f b eca u s e the D J I P h a ntom 3

a nd D J I I nspi r e 1

UA ’ s a ltim e t e r m a y b e s e t on the g r ound to z er o f e e t A G L

, ra t h e r th a n the l o ca l b ar om e t r ic

p re ssu r e o r f

i e ld a ltitud e

, b ef

o r e e a c h f li g ht.

C onsid er ing the limit e d a ltitude of the p r opos e d o p era tions, re li e f fr om 14 C F R 91.121 is

sou g ht to the e x t e nt n ec e ss a r y to c omp l y with the a ppli ca ble c onditions a nd limit a tions

st a t e d b e low. As mo r e f

u l l y s e t f o r th h e re in, a n e q uiv a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y w ill be

m a int a in e d sin c e the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs a r e e quipp e d w ith a b ar om e t r ic

p re ssu r e s e nsor a nd G P S e quipm e nt, whi c h a uto m a ti ca l l y e nsu re s th a t a g r o und l e v e l

p re ssu r e s e tting will be e st a blish e d p r ior to eac h f li g ht, a nd p r ovid e s t h e P I C with a ltitude

in f o r m a tion of the UA on the h ea ds

- up displ a y of t he G CS

.

4. E x te n t Of R e li e f GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

S ee k s A n d Th e R e ason GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC S ee k s R e li e f F r o m Se ct ion 91. 1 51 ( b )

.

R e li e f fr om S ec tion 91. 1 51 ( b) e ntitl e d F u e l re qui r e m e nts f or f l i g ht in V F R c onditions, is

re qu e st e d to the e x t e nt re qui re d to a llow f li g hts of the b a tt e r y pow e re d D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd

D J I I nspi r e 1 U As du r i n g d a y l i g ht hou r s in visu a l m e t e o r olo g i ca l c onditio n s ( VM C ) , und e r

visu a l f li g ht r ul e s ( V F R )

, f

or a tot a l du ra tion of 1 3 .5 minut e s to the f i r st point of int e nd e d

l a nding a nd, a ssuming n o r m a l cr uising s p ee d, to f l y a f t e r th a t f o r a t l ea st 4

. 5 minut e s.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s e e ks the re q u e st e d re li e f b eca use

without a n e x e mption fr om S ec tion 91.151 ( b ) , the f l i g ht time du ra tion of the b a tt e r y

pow e re d D J I P h a n t om 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs will s e v e r e l y c onst r a in the p r a c ti ca l it y of

a n y a e r i a l vid e o or s till photo f li g ht op e r a tions th a t GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC p r op o s e s to c ondu c t pu r su a nt t o this P e tition.

S i g ni f i ca nt l y

, a s s e t f

o r th b e low, the t ec hni c a l sp e c i f i ca tions of the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I

I nspi r e 1 UA S s, the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 op e r a ting d o c um e nt s

, a nd

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s p r opos e d op era ti n g limit a tions,

e nsu r e th a t GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will s afe l y op e r a te the13

b a tt e r y pow ere d D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs d u r ing d a y l i g ht hou r s in visu a l

m e t e o r olo g i c a l c onditions ( VM C ) , und e r visu a l f li g ht r ul e s ( V F R ) , with e nou g h b a tt e r y

po w e r to f

l y f o r a tot a l du r a tion of 13.5 minut e s to the f i r st point of int e nd e d l a nding a nd,

a s s uming no r m a l c r uising s p ee d, to f l y af t e r th a t f or a t l ea st 4.5 minut e s.

5. E x te n t Of R e li e f GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

S ee k s A n d Th e R e ason GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC S ee k s R e li e f F r o m Se ct io n s 91.405 ( a ) , 91.407 ( a ) ( 1 ) ,91.409 ( a )( 1) &

( a )( 2 )

, A n d 91.417 ( a) & ( b )

.

S in c e S ec tions 91.405 (a)

, 91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a)( 2 )

, a nd 91.417 ( a ) & ( b ) on l y

a pp l y to a i r c r af

t with a n a i r wo r thin e ss c er ti f i ca t e

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC r e qu e sts re li ef fr om th e se S ec tions b e c a use the D J I P h a ntom 3

a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s do not re qui r e a i r wo r thin e ss c er ti f i ca t e s. As s e t f

o r th mo r e f ul l y

b e low, the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s m ee t the c onditions of F M R A S e c tion

333 f or op era tion w i thout a n a i r wo r thin e ss c er ti f i ca t e

. A cc o r di n g l y

, GHOSTRIDERS

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will use t ra i n e d t ec hni c i a ns to p erf o r m m a int e n a n ce

,

a lt era tions, or p r e v e ntive m a int e n a n c e on t h e UA S s using the m e thods, t ec hniqu e s, a nd

p rac ti ce s p re s c r ib e d in the UAS op e r a ting d o c um e nts ( i. e ., the GHOSTRIDERS

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC A er i a l Op e ra tions M a nu a l, Month l y M a int e n a n c e L o g

,

a nd D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 I nst r u c tion M a n u a l )

. F u r th er m o re

,

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will do c um e nt a nd m a int a in a ll

m a int e n a n c e r ec o r ds f

o r the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1

UA S s.

D. Th e R e aso n s W h y G r a n t i n g GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC R e qu e st Wo u ld B e In The P ub lic I n tere s t ; Th at Is, How It Wo u l d B e n ef it

Th e P ub lic As A W h ol e

.

G ra nting t h e p re s e nt P e tition will f u r th e r the public int ere st b y a llowi n g

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC to s a f e l y

, eff i c i e nt l y

, a nd

ec onomi c a l l y p e rf

o r m a er i a l vid e o a nd photo g r a p h y of c onst r u c tion sit e s, rea l e st a t e

,

a nd l a nds ca pe o v e r c er t a in a r ea s of the Unit e d S t a t e s.

Addition a l l y , use of the D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s will d ecr e a se c o n g e stion

of the NA S

, re d u c e poll u tion, a nd p r ovide si g ni f i c a nt b e n ef

its to the e c on o m y . Not a b l y , the

b e n ef its of GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s p r opos e d op e ra tion of the

D J I P h a nt o m 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s will be r e a li z e d without imp l i ca ting a n y p r iv a c y

issu e s.

1. Th e P ub lic Will B e n e f it F r o m D e c re as e d C o n g e s t ion Of Th e NA S

.

The D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U As a r e b a tt e r y po w e r e d a nd s e r ve a s a s a f e

,

eff i c i e nt, a nd ec onomi c a l a lt er n a tive to the m a n n e d a i rc r af t t ra dition a l l y ut i li z e d to obt a in

aer i a l im a g e r y

. B y re d u c ing the a mount of m a nn e d a i rc r af t n ee d e d to p e r f

o r m aer i al14

ac quisitions, a n e x e mpti o n a llowing the use o f a D J I P h a ntom 3 or D J I I ns p i r e 1 UAS

would re du c e t h e a mount of m a nn e d a i r cr a f t in the NA S

, re du c e noise a nd a ir pollution, a s

w e ll a s in cr e a se the s afe t y of li f e a nd p r o p er t y in the a ir a nd on the g r ound.

F u r th er m o re

, b y r e du c i n g the numb e r of m a n n e d a i rc r af t op e r a ting in the NA S

, c ong e stion

ar ound a i r

po r ts ca us e d b y a rr ivi n g a nd d e p ar ti n g a i rc r af t will be re d u ce d. The D J I P h a ntom

3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs do not re qui r e a n a i r po r t to t a k e o f

f or l a nd. L

i k e w is e , a re d u c tion

of m a nn e d a i r cr a f

t c ond u c ting a er i a l vid e o a nd p h oto g ra p h y missions wou l d re sult in fe w e r

a i rc r af t th a t must be h a n d l e d b y a ir t ra f f ic c ont r ol du r ing the g r ound, t a k e o f f , d e p ar tu r e

,

arr iv a l, a nd l a nding p h a s e s of f light op era tions.

2. Th e P ub lic Will B e n e f it F r o m Th e S a f

et y A n d E f

f i c i e n c y O f Th e DJI

P h a n t o m 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 UA S s.

C ondu c ting a e r i a l a c quisitions with the D J I P h a nt o m 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s, inst ea d of

m a nn e d a i r c raf

t, will g r e a t l y b e n ef

it the public b y d ra sti ca l l y re d u c ing t h e l e v e ls of a ir a nd

noise pollution g e n e r a t e d du r ing t r a dition a l aer i a l vid e o a nd still photo g ra ph y f l i g ht

op era tions. B y usi n g b a t t e r y pow e r a nd e l ec t r ic m oto r s, the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e

1 UA S s p r odu c e no a i r p ollution, a nd is the most vi a ble e nvi r onm e nt a l l y c ons c ious

a lt er n a tive to the c a bin c l a ss, six c y lind e r int er n a l c ombustion e n g ine a i rc r a f t th a t ar e

t y pi ca l l y utili z e d f

or a e r i a l vid e o a nd phot o g ra p h y , while bu r ning a pp r o x im a t e l y 2 0

- 30

g a llons p e r hour of l e a d e d a vi a tion f u e l. The D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs, while

re du c i n g the c ar

bon f oo t p r int of aer i a l ac quisitions, a lso e limin a t e s noise pollution, a s the

UAs ar e p r op e ll e d b y b a tt e r y p o w e r e d e l e c t r ic m o to r s, ra th e r th a n a n int er n a l c ombustion

e n g i n e.

B y using t h e D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s to p erf o r m a e r i a l a c quisitions, the

subst a nti a l r isk to li f

e a nd p r op er t y in the a ir a nd on the g r ound, whi c h is u su a l l y

a sso c i a t e d with t ra dition a l m a nn e d a i r c raf t f l i g ht o p era tions, will be subst a n ti a l l y re d u ce d

or c ompl e t e l y e limin a t e d . Aside fr om the l ac k o f f li g ht cr e w m e mb er s lo c a t e d onbo ar d the

a i rc r af t, the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs ( w e i g hi n g less than 10 pounds a nd with

no f u e l on bo ar d ) , h a s l e ss p h y si ca l pot e nti a l f or c o l l a t era l d a m a ge to li f e a nd p r op er t y on

t h e g r ound, a nd in the a i r

, c omp are d to the m a nn e d a i rcraf t th a t t y pi ca l l y c ond u c t simil a r

op era tions ( w e i g hi n g a p p r o x im a t e l y 6,000 pounds with a win g sp a n o f a pp r o x im a t e l y 42

f e e t, a l e n g th of 34 fee t, a nd a f u e l ca p a c i t y of 180 g a llons )

.

3. P e r f o r m i n g A er ial V i d e o a n d P h o t og r a ph y O p er a t io n s Wi t h Th e DJI

Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 UA S s Will B e n e f i t Th e E c o n o m y.

I n a ddition to b e ing s a f

e a nd eff i c i e nt, the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s ar e a lso

a n ec onomi c a l a lt er n a ti v e to using m a nn e d a i r c ra f t to c ondu c t simil a r aer i a l op era tions. As

su c h, op era tion of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I n s pi r e 1 UA S s will a llow Unit e d S t a t e s

b a s e d c omp a ni e s, like GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC , to r e m a in15

c omp e titive a nd c ont r ibute to g r o wth of the U. S

. ec on o m y

. S p ec i f i c a l l y

, with the r ising c ost

of a vi a tion f

u e l a nd the Envi r onm e nt a l P r ot ec tion Ag e n c y ( “ E P A ” ) r e g u l a to r y ac tions

ph a si n g out l ea d e d a v i a tion f u e ls, U. S . own e d a nd o p era t e d c omp a ni e s must a dopt n e w a nd

a lt er n a tive t ec hnolo g y in o r d e r to re m a in c omp e titiv e . Op e r a ting the b a tt e r y pow ere d D J I

Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s is one su c h t ec h nolo g y th a t not on l y a llows c omp a ni e s

g r ea t e r o p era tion a l f

l e x ibil i t y c omp a r e d to m a nn e d a i r cr a f t, but p r ovid e s su c h f

l e x ibili t y

witho u t the hi g h op era tion a l c ost of a t ra d i tion a l m a nn e d a i r c raf t.

B y op e r a ting t h e D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s, c omp a ni e s su c h a s

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

, c a n re m a in c omp e titive a nd

p r o f it a bl e

, a nd th e r ef

o r e , p r ov i de g rea t e r job st a bili t y to e mpl o y e e s a n d c ont rac to r s,

whi c h will ultim a t e l y c ont r ibute to g r owth of the U. S

. ec ono m y

. I mp r ov e d f in a n c i a l

p e rf o r m a n c e of U. S

. c omp a ni e s, th r o u g h c omm erc i a l use of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I

I nspi r e 1 UA S s, p r ovid e s a st a ble w o r k f o rc e th a t in crea s e s c onsum e r s p e n din g ; imp r ov e s

lo ca l, st a t e

, a nd fe d e r a l t a x re v e n u e s; a nd a llows c omp a ni e s to inv e st in r e s earc h a nd

d e v e lopm e nt in o r d e r to re m a in c omp e t itive both in the Unit e d S t a t e s a nd a b r o a d.

4. Th er e A r e No P r iva c y Iss u e s.

S imil a r to the m a nn e d a e r i a l ac quisition f li g ht op e ra tions th a t h a ve b e e n c o ndu c t e d f or

d eca d e s, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s p r opos e d op e r a tion of the

D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s will not impli ca t e a n y p r iv a c y issu e s. S p e c i f i ca l l y

,

the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s will be o p era t e d on l y in c ompli a n c e with

op e r a ting d o c um e nts ( i. e ., the GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC A er i a l

Op e ra tions M a nu a l, Month l y M a int e n a n c e L o g

, a nd D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1

I nst r u c tion M a n u a l) whi c h re qui r e s p r op e r t y own e r involv e m e nt a s w e ll a s l o ca l l a w

e n f o r c e m e nt noti f

i ca tion, a nd in a c c o r d a n c e with the Fe d e ra l Avi a tion Re g ul a t ions,

in c luding the minimum a ltitude re qui re m e n ts of 14 C

. F

. R . §

91.119.

E

. Th e R e aso n s W h y G r a n t i n g Th e E x e m p t ion Wo u ld Not A d v er s e ly A ff ec t S a f et y,

Or How Th e E x e m p t ion Wo u ld P r ovi d e A L e v e l Of S a f et y At L e ast Equ al T o Th at

P r ovi d e d B y Th e R u le F r o m W h i c h GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC S ee k s E x e m p t io n.

1. R e aso n s W h y Th e DJI Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 UAs M e e t Th e

Co nd i t io n s O f T h e F A A M o d er n i z a t ion a n d R e f o r m A c t of 2012 ( F M RA)

S ect ion 333.

I n c onsid era tion of t h e si z e , w e i g ht, sp e e d, a nd l i mit e d op era ting a r e a a ss o c i a t e d with the

unm a nn e d a i r c raf

t a nd its op era tion, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s

op era tion of t he D J I P h a ntom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s m ee t the c onditions of F M R A16

S ec tion 333, a nd will not re qui r e a n a i r wo r thin e ss cer ti f i ca te in acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R

.

P ar t 21, S ubp ar t H.

S ec tion 333 p r ovid e s a u t ho r i t y f or a UAS to op e r a te without a i r wo r thin e ss cer ti f i c a tion

a nd s e ts f o r th r e qui re m e n ts f

or c onsid er i n g w h e th e r a UAS will cr e a te a h a z ar d to us er s of

the NAS or the publi c , or oth er wise pose a th rea t t o n a tion a l s ec u r i t y

. S p ec i f i ca l l y

, F M R A

S ec tion 333 st a t e s the f

ollowin g , in p ar t:

( a ) I n G e n e ral.

-- N

otw ithstanding any oth e r r e quir e m e nt of this subtitl e , a n d not

lat e r than 180 da y s aft e r the date of e na c tm e nt of t his A c t, the S ec r e tary of

T ransportation sh a ll d e t e rmine if ce rtain unmann e d air c raft s y st e ms may

op e rate saf

e ly in the national airspa c e s y st e m b e f ore c ompl e tion of the plan and

rul e ma k ing r e quir e d by s ec tion 332 of this A c t or the guidan c e r e quir e d by

s ec tion 334 of this A c t.

( b ) Ass e ssm e nt of Unma n n e d Air c raft S y st e ms.

- - I n ma k ing the d e t e rminati o n

und e r subs ec tion ( a ) , the S ec r e tary shall d e t e rmi n e , at a minimum

--

( 1 ) w hi c h t

y p e s of unma n n e d air c raft s y st e ms, if an y , as a r e sult of th e ir

siz e

, w e ight, sp ee d, op e r

ational c apabilit

y , pro x i mity to airports and

populat e d ar e as, and op e ration w ithin v isu a l line of sight do not c r e ate

a hazard to us e rs of the national airspa c e s y st e m or the public or pose a

thr e at to national s ec uri t

y ; and

( 2 ) w h e th e r a c e rtifi c ate of w ai ve r, ce rtifi c ate of authorization, or

air w orthin e ss ce rtifi c ati o n und e r s ec tion 44704 of title 49, Unit e d Stat e s

C od e , is r e quir e d for the op e ration of unmann e d air c raft s y st e ms

id e ntifi e d und e r paragraph ( 1 )

.

( c ) R e qui r e m e nts for Safe Op e ration.

-- I f the S ec r e tary d e t e rmin e s un d e r this

s ec tion that ce rtain unmann e d air c raft s y st e ms m a y op e rate saf e ly in the

national airspa c e s y st e m, the S ec r e tary shall e sta b lish r e quir e m e nts for the safe

op e ration of su c h air c raft s y st e ms in the national airspa c e s y st e m.

I n s ee ki n g this e x e mpti o n, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC submits

th a t the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s ca n o p e r a te s a f e l y in the NAS pu r su a nt to

F M R A S ec tion 333, a s d e monst ra t e d b y : ( a ) the c h ar a c t er isti c s of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd

D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s; ( b) the pilot cer ti f i ca tion re q ui re m e nt; a nd ( c ) the sp e c i f ic op e r a ting

limit a tions.

a. Th e Sp ec i f i c a t io n s Of Th e DJI Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 UA S s

D e m o n s tr a t e I t s S a f

e C h a r a cter is t i c s.17

The D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s do not crea te a h a z ar d to us e r s of the NAS or

the publi c , or oth er wise p ose a th r e a t to n a tion a l s e c u r i t y c onsid er i n g its si ze , w e i g ht,

sp ee d, a nd o p era tion a l ca p a bili t y

.

i. T ec hn i c al Sp ec i f

i c a t io n s Of Th e DJI Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1

UA S s.

The t ec hni c a l sp ec i f

i c a tions of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s ar e s e t f o r th b y

the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 Us e r M a nu a l s, a tt ac h e d h e re to a s Ap p e ndix A a nd B

.

ii. Th e DJI Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 UA S s A u t o n o m o u s F lig ht

A n d Naviga t ion M o d e s En a b le T h e UA S s T o R e m ain Wi t h in A

D e f i n e d O p er a t io n al A re a.

The D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s m a y be op era t e d in both m a nu a l a nd f ul l y

a utonomous f

li g ht mod e s . A c ompl e te d e s c r iption of the f li g ht a nd n a v i g a t i on a l mod e s of

the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s is p r o v id e d in the D J I P h a ntom and D J I

I nspi r e 1 Us e r M a n u a ls, a tt ac h e d h ere to as App e ndix A a nd B

.

iii. Th e DJI Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 UA S s A r e D e sig n e d F or

A u t o m a t ic R et u r n T o Ho m e Poi n t Or Hov e r I n Th e E v e n t O f L oss

Of T h e Co n tr ol L i n k O r Naviga t io n

.

W h e n the C ont r ol L

ink is lost, the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs w ill re m a in

st a tion a r y , in f

l i g ht, f or 3 s ec onds or mo re

. I f

, a f t e r 3 s ec onds, the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I

I nspi r e 1 UAs do not r e a c qui r e c ont r ol link d a ta f r om the G CS , the UAs will a ssume th a t

the C ont r ol L

ink is lost a nd the UAs will re tu r n to the home position ( i. e

., fa ils af e mod e )

via G PS

, a nd will d e s ce n d to the t a k e o f f position a nd shutdown.

A c ompl e te d e s c r iption of the Fa ils a f e F un c tions o f the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1

UA S s is p r o v id e d in the D J I P h a ntom and D J I I nspi r e 1 Us e r M a n u a ls, a tt ac h e d h ere to as

App e ndix A a nd B

iv. Th e DJI Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 G CS A n d I t s O p er a t io n.

A c ompl e te d e s c r iption of the op e r a tion a nd sp ec i f i ca tions of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I

I nspi r e 1 G C S a nd f

l i g ht c ont r ol so f

tw a r e is p r o v id e d in the D J I P h a ntom and D J I I nspi r e

1 Us e r M a n u a ls, a tt ac h e d h ere to as App e ndix A a nd B

b

. F lig h t O p er a t io n s Of DJI Phantom 3 a n d D J I I n s p i r e 1 UA S s A r e

L i m i te d T o Th e L i n e Of S i g h t Of A C ert i f i c a te d P ilot in C o m m a n d Wi t h

A S a f et y O b s er v er.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC operators operating under this

exemption w i ll be the on l y operators to a c t a s a pilot in c omm a nd ( P I C ) o f the D J I Phantom

3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s. Addition a l l y

, a s afe t y obs e r v e r will a ssist him du r ing f li g ht tim e

.18 c

. F lig h t s Of DJI Phantom 3 a n d DJI I n s p i r e 1 UA S s Will B e Co ndu cte d

P u r s u a n t T o Sp ec i f

ic O p er a t i n g L i m i t a t io n s.

I n s ee ki n g this e x e mpti o n, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC p r opos e s

to c omm erc i a lly op e ra te D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s f or the s p ec i a l pu rpose

of c ond u c ting a er i a l vid e o a nd photo g r a p h y ov e r cer t a in area s o f Unit e d S t a t e s, p u r su a nt

to the f ollowing s p ec i f

ic op era ti n g limit a tions:

1. Op era tions a utho r i z e d b y this g ra nt of e x e mpti o n will be limit e d to the

f ollowing a i r cr a f

t d e s c r ib e d in the op era ti n g do c u m e nts, r oto rcr a f t UA S s

w e i g hi n g l e ss th a n 55 p o unds m a x im u m g r oss w e i g ht: D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I

I nspi r e 1 Unm a n n e d Ai r c raf t S y st e ms. P r opos e d o p era tions of a n y oth e r a i r craf t

will re qui r e a n e w p e tition or a p e tition to a m e nd this g ra nt.

2. UAS op era tions und e r this e x e mption w i ll be l i mit e d to c ondu c ting op e r a tions

f or the pu rpose o f a er i a l vid e o a nd photog ra p h y

.

3. The UAs m a y not be f

lown a t a n indi ca t e d a i r s p ee d e x cee di n g 35 knots.

4. The UA must be op e r a t e d a t a n a ltitude of no m o r e th a n 4 00 f ee t a bo v e

g r ound l e v e l ( A G L )

.

5. The UAs must be op e r a t e d within visu a l line of si g ht ( V L O S ) o f the P I C a t a ll

tim e s. This re qui re s the P I C to be a ble to use hum a n vision un a id e d b y a n y

d e vi c e oth e r t h a n c o r rec t i ve l e ns e s, a s sp e c i f i e d on the P I

C ’ s F AA

- issu e d a i r m an

m e di ca l c e r ti f

i ca t e.

6 . All op era tions must ut i li z e a s afe t y obs er v e r ( S O ) . The S O m a y be u s e d to

s a tis f y the V L OS re qui r e m e nt a s long a s t h e P I C a lw a y s m a int a ins V L OS

ca p a bili t y . T h e S O a nd P I C must be a ble to c ommuni ca te v er b a l l y a t a ll tim e s.

7. El ec t r onic m e ss a g i n g or t e x ting is not p er mitt e d du r ing f l i g ht op e r a tions.

The P I C must be d e s i g n a t e d b ef o r e t h e f li g ht a nd ca n n ot t ra ns fe r his or h e r

d e si g n a tion f

o r the du r a tion of the f

li g ht. T h e P I

C must e nsu r e th a t the S O ca n

p erf o r m the f un c tions p r e s cr ib e d in the op e r a ting d o c um e nts.

8. The S O must not p erf

o r m a n y ot h e r duti e s b e y o nd a ssisting the P I C with

s ee ing a nd a voidi n g oth e r a ir t r a ff ic a nd ot h e r g r o und b a s e d

obst ac l e s/obst r u c tions a n d is not p er mitt e d to op era te the c a m er a o r oth e r

inst r um e nts.

9. The op e r a ting d o c um e nts a nd the g ra nt of e x e m ption must be acce ssible

du r ing U AS op era tions a nd m a de a v a il a ble to the Administ ra tor upon re q u e st. I f

a dis cre p a n c y e x ists b e tw ee n the c onditions a nd l i mit a tions c ont a in e d in the19 g r a nt of e x e mption a nd the p r o ce d u re s outlin e d in the op era ti n g do c um e nt s , the

c onditions a nd limit a tio n s c ont a in e d in the g ra nt o f e x e mption t a ke p rec e d e n c e

a nd must be f

ollow e d. O t h er wis e , the o p era tor m u st f ollow the p r o ce du r e s a s

outlin e d in its op era ting do c um e nts. The op e r a tor m a y up d a te or r e vise its

op era ti n g do c um e nts. I

t i s the op era to r ’ s re spons i bili t y to t r a c k su c h r e visions

a nd p re s e nt up d a t e d a nd re vis e d do c um e nts to the Administ ra tor upon re q u e st.

The op e r a tor must a lso p re s e nt upd a t e d a nd re vi s e d do c um e nts if it p e titio n s f or

e x t e nsion or a m e ndm e nt to the g r a nt of e x e mption. I f the op e r a tor d e t er min e s

th a t a n y up d a te or re vision would aff e c t the b a sis upon whi c h the F A A g r a nt e d

the e x e mption, th e n the op era tor must p e tition f or a m e ndm e nt to its g r a nt of

e x e mption. The F AA ’ s U AS I nt e g ra tion O ff

i c e (A F S

- 80) m a y be c ont ac t e d if

qu e stions ar ise r e g ar di n g upd a t e s or r e visions to the op era ti n g do c u m e nts.

10. P r ior to eac h f

l i g ht the P I

C must insp ec t the U AS to e nsu r e th a t it is in a

c ondition f

or s af e f li g ht. I f the insp ec tion r e v ea ls a c ondition th a t af f ec ts the

s af e op e ra tion of the UA S , the a i rcr a f t is p r ohibit e d fr om op era ti n g until the

n ece ss a r y m a int e n a n c e h a s b ee n p e rf o r m e d a nd t h e UAS is f

ound to be in a

c ondition f

or s af e f li g ht. The G r ound C ont r ol S t a tion must be in c lud e d in the

p ref l i g ht insp ec tion. All m a int e n a n c e a nd a lt e r a tions must be p r op er l y

do c um e nt e d in the a i r cr a f t rec o r ds.

11. A n y U AS th a t h a s u n d e r g one m a int e n a n c e o r a lt era tions th a t af f ec t the UAS

op era tion or f

l i g ht c h a r ac t er isti c s, e

. g

. re pl a ce m e nt of a f l i g ht cr iti ca l c ompon e nt,

must und e r go a f

un c tion a l t e st f

l i g ht. The P I

C who c ondu c ts t h e f

un c tion a l t e st

f li g ht mu s t m a ke a n e nt r y in the a i r craf t r ec o r ds.

12. The p re

- f

li g ht insp e c tion must acc ount f or a ll pot e nti a l dis cre p a n c i e s, e

. g

. inop era ble c ompo n e nts, it e ms, or e quipm e nt, not a l rea d y c o v ere d in the

re l e v a nt s e c tions of the o p era ti n g do c um e nts.

13. The op e r a tor must f

ollow the UAS m a nu f

a c tu r er’ s a i r cr a f

t/ c ompon e nt,

m a int e n a n ce , o v er h a ul, r e pl ace m e nt, insp ec tion, a nd li f e limit re qui re m e nts.

14. The op e r a tor must c a r r y out its m a int e n a n ce

, i nsp ec tions, a nd r e c o r d

k ee pi n g re qui r e m e nts, in acc o r d a n c e with the op e r a ting do c u m e nts.

M a int e n a n ce , ins p ec tion, a lt era tions, a nd st a tus of re pl a c e m e nt/ov er h a ul

c ompon e nt p ar ts must be not e d in the a i rc r af t r e c o r ds, in c luding tot a l time in

s er vi ce

, d e s cr iption of w o r k acc omplish e d, a nd the si g n a t u r e of the a utho r i z e d

p er son re tu r ni n g the U A S to s er vi ce

.

15. E ac h UA S s op e ra t e d und e r this e x e mption m u st c omp l y with a ll

m a nu fac tu r e r S a f

e t y B ul l e tins.20 16. The a utho r i z e d p er s o n must m a ke a n e nt r y in t he a i r c raf t r ec o r d o f the

c o rr e c tive a c tion t a k e n a g a inst dis c r e p a n c i e s dis c ov ere d b e t w ee n insp e c tions.

1 7 . The op e r a tor m a y not p er mit a n y P I C to op e ra t e unl e ss the P I C m e e ts the

op era to r’ s q u a li f

i ca tion c r it er ia a nd d e monst ra t e s t he a bili t y to s a f e l y op e r a te

the UAS in a m a nn e r c o n sist e nt with how the UAS will be op era t e d und e r the

e x e mption, in c luding e v a sive a nd e m e r g e n c y m a n e uv er s a nd m a int a ining

a pp r op r i a te dist a n ce s f

r o m p er sons, v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s a nd st r u c tu re s. P I C

qu a li f i ca tion f li g ht hou r s must be log g e d in a m a n n e r c onsist e nt with 14 C

. F

. R

.

§ 61.51 ( b )

. F l i g hts f

or t h e pu rpos e s of t r a ining the op era to r’ s P I C s a r e p er mitt e d

und e r the t e r ms of the e x e mption. How e v er , t r a ining o p era tions m a y on l y be

c ondu c t e d du r i n g d e di ca t e d t r a ining s e ssions. Du r ing t r a inin g , p r o f i c i e n c y

, a nd

e x p er i e n ce

- building f

li g hts, a ll p e r sons not e ss e nti a l f or f l i g ht op era tions a r e

c onsid e r e d nonp ar ti c ip a nts, a nd the P I C must op era te t h e UA with a pp r op r i a te

dist a n c e fr om nonp ar ti c ip a nts in acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R . § 91.119.

1 8 . UAS op era tions m a y not be c ondu c t e d du r i n g ni g ht, a s d e f in e d in 14 C

. F

. R

. § 1.1. All op era tions must be c ondu c t e d un d e r vi s u a l m e t e o r ol o g i ca l c ondi t ions

( VM C )

. I f f

l i g ht a t n i g ht is re qui re d, a s p ec i a l r e q u e st will be m a de a t the F AA

o ff i c e c los e st to p r opos e d are a o f op e r a tions. F l i ghts und e r sp ec i a l visu a l f l i g ht

r ul e s ( S V F R ) ar e not a u t ho r i z e d.

19 . The UA m a y not op e ra te within 5 n a uti ca l mil e s of a n a i r p o r t r e fe r e n c e point

a s d e not e d on a c ur re nt F A A

- publish e d a er o n a uti ca l c h a r t unl e ss a l e t t er of

a g r e e m e nt with th a t a i rpo r t ’ s m a n a g e m e nt is obt a in e d, a nd the op e ra tion is

c ondu c t e d in a cc o r d a n c e with a NOTAM a s r e qui r e d b y t h e op e r a to r’ s C O A. The

l e tt e r of a g r e e m e nt with the a i rpo r t m a n a g e m e nt must be m a de a v a i l a ble to the

Administ ra tor upon r e qu e st.

2 0 . The UA m a y not be o p era t e d l e ss th a n 500 f e e t b e low or l e ss th a n 2,000

fee t ho r i z ont a l l y f

r om a c loud or wh e n visibili t y is l e ss th a n 3 st a tute mil e s

fr om the P I

C

.

2 1

. I f the UA los e s c ommuni ca tions or los e s its G P S si g n a l, it must re tu r n to a

p re

- d e t er min e d lo ca tion within the pl a nn e d op era t ing a r e a a nd l a nd or b e

rec ov e re d in a cc o r d a n c e with the op era ti n g do c u m e nts.

2 2 . The P I

C must a bo r t t he f

li g ht in the e v e nt of u np re di c t e d obst a c l e s or

e m e r g e n c i e s in a c c o r d a n c e with the op e r a ting d o c um e nts.

2 3 . The P I

C is p r ohibit e d fr om b e g inning a f l i g ht unl e ss (c onsid er i n g wind a nd

f o re c a st w ea t h e r c onditi o ns) th er e is e no u g h po w e r to f l y a t no r m a l cr uisi n g21 sp ee d to the int e nd e d l a n ding point a nd l a nd the U A with 25% b a tt e r y po w e r

re m a inin g

.

24 . All a i rcr a f

t op e r a t e d i n acc o r d a n c e with the e x e mption must be id e nti f i e d b y

s er i a l numb er

, r e g ist ere d in acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R . p ar t 47, a nd h a ve

id e nti f i ca tion ( N

- Numb e r ) m ar ki n g s in a c c o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R . p ar t 45,

S ubp ar t C . M ar kin g s m u st be a s l a r g e a s p r a c ti ca b l e.

2 5 . The do c um e nts re qu i re d f e w e r th a n 14 C

. F

. R

. 91.9 a nd 91.203 must be

a v a il a ble to the P I C a t the G r ound C ont r ol S t a tion of the UAS a n y time the

UAS is op era tin g

. Th e se do c um e nts must be m a de a v a il a ble to the

Administ ra tor or a n y l a w e n f o r c e m e nt o ff

i c i a l up o n re qu e st.

2 6 . The UA must re m a in c l ea r a nd y i e ld the r i g ht of w a y to a ll m a nn e d a vi a tion

op era tions a nd a c tiviti e s a t a ll tim e s.

27 . The UAS m a y not be op era t e d b y the P I C f r o m a n y movi n g d e vi c e or

v e hi c l e

.

28

. F li g ht op e ra tions must be c ondu c t e d a t l ea st 5 0 0 fee t fr om a ll

nonp ar ti c ip a ting p er sons ( p er sons oth e r t h a n the P I C

, S O, op e ra tor t r a in ee s or

e ss e nti a l p er sons )

, v e ss e l s, v e hi c l e s, a nd st r u c tu r e s unl e ss:

a

. B a rr i e r s or st r u c tu r e s a r e p re s e nt th a t su ff i c i e nt l y p r ot e c t

nonp ar ti c ip a ting p er sons fr om the UA a nd/ o r d e b r i s in the e v e nt of

a n acc id e nt. T h e op e r a tor m ust e nsu r e th a t nonp ar ti c i p a ting p e r sons

re m a in und e r su c h p r o t ec tion. I f a situ a tion ar is e s wh e r e

n onp ar ti c ip a ting p er sons l ea ve s u c h p r ot e c tion a nd ar e within 500

fee t of the UA, f

l i g ht op era tions must cea s e imm e di a t e l y a nd/o r ;

b. The a i r c raf

t is op e ra t e d n ea r v e s s e ls, v e hi c l e s o r st r u c tu re s w h er e

t h e own er / c ont r oll e r o f su c h v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s or st r u c tu re s h a s

g r a nt e d p er mission a nd the P I C h a s m a de a s afe t y a s s e ssm e nt of

the r isk of op era ti n g c los e r to those obj ec ts a nd d e t e r min e d th a t it

do e s not p re s e nt a n undue h a z ar d, a nd;

c . Op e r a tions n ea r e r to t h e P I C

, S O, op e ra tor t r a in ee s or e s s e nti a l

p er sons do not p re s e nt a n undue h a z ar d to those p er sons p e r §

91.119 ( a )

.

29 . All op era tions sh a ll be c ondu c t e d o v e r p r i v a te or c ont r oll e d

- a c c e ss p r o p er t y

with p er mission fr om the l a nd own er / c ont r oll e r or a utho r i z e d re p re s e nt a tiv e

.

P er mission fr om l a nd own er / c ont r oll e r o r a utho r i z e d re p r e s e nt a tive will be

obt a in e d f

or e ac h f l i g ht t o be c ondu c t e d.22 30 . A n y in c i d e nt, a c c id e nt, or f li g ht op e r a tion th a t t ra ns g r e ss e s the l a t era l or

v er ti ca l bound a r i e s of the op era tion a l a re a a s d ef i n e d b y t h e a ppli ca b l e C OA

must be re po r t e d to the F AA ' s UAS I nt e g r a tion O f f i c e ( A F S

- 80) within 24

hou r s. A cc id e nts must be re po r t e d to the N a tion a l T ra nspo r t a tion S afe t y B o ar d

( NT S B ) p e r inst r u c tions c ont a in e d on the NT S B W e b sit e : www.ntsb. g ov.

2. R e aso n s W h y An E x e m p t ion F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s Of S ect ion

61.113 ( a) A n d ( b ) Wo u ld Not A d v er s e ly A ff ec t S a f et y.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s u bmits th a t the e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of

s a f e t y e st a blish e d b y S ec tion 61.113 (a ) a nd ( b) will be m a int a in e d b eca u s e no P I C will be

a llo w e d to op e ra te the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s unl e ss th a t P I C h a s

d e monst ra t e d, b y m ee ting minimum f li g ht

- hour a nd c u rre n c y re qu i re m e nts, t h a t the P I C is

a ble to s a f

e l y op e r a te the D J I Phantom 3 or D J I I n spi r e 1 UAS in a m a nn e r c onsist e nt with

the e x e mption, in c luding e v a sive a nd e m e r g e n c y m a n e uv er s a nd m a int a ining a p p r op r i a te

dist a n ce s fr om p e opl e , v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s a nd st r u c tu re s.

C onsid er ing GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s p r opos e d a r e a of

op e ra tions, a nd the op era ti n g limit a tions s e t f o r th

- a bov e ; the p ara ll e l n a tu r e of p r iv a te pilot

aer on a uti ca l knowl e dge re qui re m e nts to those of c omm erc i a l pilot re qui r e m e nts ( S e e

E x e mption No. 11062 ) ; a nd the a i r m a nship skills n e c e ss a r y to s a f e l y op e r a te t he D J I

Phantom 3 or D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

s u bmits th a t the a ddition a l m a nn e d a i r m a nship e x p e r i e n c e o f a c omm erc i a l l y c er ti f i ca t e d

pilot would not c o rre l a t e to the a i r m a nship skills n ece ss a r y f or GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s sp ec i f ic p r opo s e d f

li g ht o p era tions.

The F A A h a s p r e vious l y g r a nt e d r e li e f fr om Se c tion 61.113 (a ) a nd ( b) sp e c i f ic to UA S , in

c i rc umst a n c e s simil ar , in a ll m a t er i a l re s p ec ts, to those p re s e nt e d h e r e in (e

. g . E x e mption

Nos. 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136,

11138, 11150, 11153, 11156, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )

.

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC w i ll not a llow a n y P I C to op era te the

D J I Phantom 3 or D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS unl e ss th a t P I C h a s d e monst ra t e d, b y m e e ting

minimum f

li g ht

- hour re qui re m e nts or the D J I Phantom 3 or D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS t r a ining a nd

c u r r e n c y r e qui re m e n ts, th a t the P I C is a ble to s afe l y op e ra te t he D J I Phantom 3 or D J I

I nspi r e 1 UAS in a m a n n e r c onsist e nt with this e x e mp t ion, in c l uding e v a sive a nd e m e r g e n c y

m a n e u v er s a nd m a int a ining a pp r op r i a te dist a n ce s f r o m p e opl e , v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s a nd

st r u c tu r e s.

S p ec i f i ca l l y , the P I C mu s t h a ve a c c umul a t e d a nd l og g e d, in a m a nn e r c ons i st e nt with 14

C

. F

. R . § 61.51 ( b ) , 25 h o u r s of tot a l time a s a U A S r oto rcraf t pilot ( with a minimum of 5

hou r s of those hou r s a s a UAS pilot op era ting the s a me m a ke a nd mod e l of UAS to be us e d

f or op e r a tions und e r the e x e mption )

. I n a ddition to the hour re qui r e m e nts, the P I C must

acc omplish 3 t a k e o f

f s a n d l a ndin g s in the p r ece d i ng 90 d a y s (f or c u r r e n c y pu rpos e s )

.23

As in E x e mption Nos. 1 1 062, 11138, a nd 11153, p r ior do c um e nt e d f l i g ht e x p er i e n c e th a t

w a s obt a in e d in c ompli a n c e with a ppli ca b l e r e g u l a tions will e nsu r e a n e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of

s afe t y du r i n g GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s p r opos e d o p era tions.

The Administ r a tor h a s h e ld th a t p r ior do c um e nt e d f l i g ht e x p er i e n c e th a t w a s o bt a in e d in

c ompli a n c e w i th a ppli ca

ble r e g ul a tions would e nsu r e s af e op e ra tions, st a ting a s f

ollows:

I n E x e mption No. 11062, the F AA re qui re d t h a t p r ior to c ondu c ting o p era t i ons f or

the pu rpose of motion pi c tu r e f ilming ( or simil a r op era tions ) , the P I C must h a ve

acc umul a t e d a nd l o g g e d, in a m a nn e r c onsist e nt w i th 14 C F R 61.51 ( b ) , 25 hou r s of

tot a l time a s a UAS r oto r craf t pilot in c luding a t l e a st 10 hou r s logg e d a s a UAS

pilot with a multi

- r otor UA S

. P r ior to op era tions und e r E x e mption No. 11062, the

P I C must a lso h a ve a cc u mul a t e d a nd logg e d a m i nimum of 5 hou r s a s a U AS pilot

op era ti n g the s a me m a ke a nd mod e l of UAS to be us e d f or op e ra tions und e r the

e x e mption. F or c l ar i f

i c a tion, the F AA c onsid er s t h e se minimum hour re qui r e m e nts

to be in c lusive ra th e r t h a n a dditiv e ; i. e . 5 hou r s m a ke a nd mod e l time m a y be

in c lud e d in the 10 hou r s of multi

- r otor time a nd the 10 hou r s m a y be in c lu d e d in the

tot a l 25 hou r s of U A S r oto rcraf t tim e

. I n a ddition to the hour re qui re m e nts, the

P I C must acc omplish 3 t a k e o ff s a nd l a ndi n g s in the p re c e di n g 90 d a y s ( f or c u rre n c y

pu rpos e s ) . The F AA f

inds th a t a t a minimum, the f li g ht

- hour r e q ui re m e nts in

E x e mption No. 11062 ar e a p p r op r i a te to p rac ti c e a nd build p r o f i c i e n c y i n the skills

n ece ss a r y to s a f

e l y c ondu c t the p e tition er’ s p r opos e d op e r a tions. The F AA a lso f inds

th a t p r ior do c u m e nt e d f

li g ht e x p er i e n c e th a t w a s obt a in e d in c o m pli a n c e with

a ppli ca ble r e g u l a tions would s a tis f y this re q u i re m e nt. T ra ini n g , p r o f i c i e n c y

, a nd

e x p er i e n c e

- building f

li g hts ca n a lso be c ond u c t e d und e r the g ra nt of e x e mption to

acc omplish the re qui r e d f li g ht tim e . Du r i n g t ra i nin g , p r o f i c i e n c y

, a nd e x p er i e n ce

buildi n g f l i g h ts the P I C is re qui re d to o p era te the UA with a pp r o p r i a te dist a n ce s in

a c c o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F .R 91.119.

A cc o r di n g l y

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will e nsu r e s a f e

op e r a tions b y not a ll o wing a n y P I C to op era te the D J I Phantom 3 or D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS

u nl e ss th a t P I

C h a s d e mo n st ra t e d, b y m ee ting minimum f li g ht

- hour a nd c u r re n c y

re qui r e m e nts, th a t the P I C is a b le to s afe l y op era te the D J I Phantom 3 or D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS

in a m a nn e r c onsist e nt with the e x e mption, in c luding e v a sive a nd e m e r g e n c y m a n e uv er s

a nd m a int a ining a pp r op r i a te dist a n ce s fr om p e op l e , v e ss e ls, v e hi c l e s a nd st r u c t u re s.

3. R e aso n s W h y An E x e m p t ion F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s Of S ect ion 91.7 ( a)

Wo u ld Not A d v er s e ly Aff ec t S a f et y.

The e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y e st a blish e d b y Se c tion 91.7 (a ) will be m a int a in e d b eca u s e

p r ior to e v e r y f

li g ht, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will e nsu r e

th a t the D J I Phantom 3 or D J I I nspi r e 1 UAS is in a n a i r wo r t h y c ondition b a s e d u pon the

UA S ’ s c ompli a n c e with its op era ti n g do c um e nts a nd a s st a t e d in the c onditions a nd

limit a tions h ere in.24

Addition a l l y , the F AA h a s p re vious l y g r a nt e d r e li e f fr om S ec tion 91.7 ( a ) s p ec i f ic to UA S

,

in c i rc umst a n ce s simil ar

, in a ll m a t er i a l re sp e c ts, to those p re s e nt e d h ere in (e

. g . E x e mption

Nos. 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136,

11138, 11150, 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )

.

4. R e aso n s W h y An E x e m p t ion F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s Of S ect ion 91.121

Wo u ld Not A d v er s e ly Aff ec t S a f et y.

The e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y e st a blish e d b y Se c tion 91.121 will be m a int a in e d b eca u s e

the a ltitude in f

o r m a tion of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U As will be p r ovid e d to

the P I C via G P S e quipm e nt a nd a r a dio c ommuni ca tions t e l e m e t r y d a ta li n k, whi c h

downlinks fr om the UA t o the G C S f or ac tive m o nito r ing of the f l i g ht p a th a nd a ltitud e

.

This a ltitude in f

o r m a tion, c ombin e d with GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

LLC ’ s o p era ti o n of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs within visu a l line of si g ht,

a t or b e low 4 00 fee t A G L , will e nsu r e a l e v e l of s a f e t y e quiv a l e nt to S ec tion 91.121. The

a ltitude in f

o r m a tion will be g e n era t e d b y G P S e quipm e nt inst a ll e d onbo ar d the a i r c raf t.

P r ior to e ac h f

l i g ht, a z er o a ltitude initi a tion point is a utom a ti ca l l y e st a blish e d b y the

U A S s a t g r ound l e v e l.

The F A A h a s p r e vious l y g r a nt e d r e li e f fr om Se c tion 91.121 sp ec i f ic to U A S , in

c i rc umst a n c e s simil ar , in a ll m a t er i a l re s p ec ts, to those p re s e nt e d h e r e in (e

. g . E x e mption

Nos. 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11112, 11136, 11138,

11150, 11153, 11156, 11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )

.

5. R e aso n s W h y An E x e m p t ion F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s Of S ect ion

91.151 ( b ) Wo u ld Not A d v er s e ly A ff ec t S a f et y.

A g ra nt of this e x e mption would e nsu r e a n e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y e st a b l ish e d b y 14

C

. F

. R

. S ec tion 91.151 ( b) a s a re sult of ( 1) the t e c h ni ca l sp ec i f i c a tions of the D J I P h a ntom

2 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s; ( 2) the limit a tions on t he p r opos e d f

l i g ht op e r a t ions; a nd ( 3) the

lo ca tion of the p r opos e d f li g ht op e r a tions. A cc o r d in g l y

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will e nsu r e th a t it will s afe l y op e ra te the b a tt e r y pow e re d D J I

Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UAs du r i n g d a y l i g ht hou r s in V F R c o nditions, with e nou g h

b a t t e r y p o w e r to f

l y f or a to t a l du ra tion of 13.5 minut e s to the f i r st point of int e nd e d l a nding

a nd, a ssuming n o r m a l c r uising sp ee d, to f l y a f t e r th a t f or a t l e a st 4.5 minut e s.

H ere

, a s in E x e mption N o. 11109, the t ec hni ca l s p ec i f i ca tions of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd

D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s; the limit a tions on the p r opos e d f li g ht op e r a tions; a nd the lo ca tion of the

p r opos e d op e ra tions, will e nsu r e a n e qui v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y e st a blish e d b y 14 C

. F

. R

. S ec tion 91.151 ( b )

. F u r th er mo re , s a fe t y will be e n su re d a s the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I

I nspi r e 1 UA S s p r ovide a udible a nd visu a l w ar ni n g s to the P I C a t the G C S wh e n the UAs

e x p er i e n ce s low b a tt e r y volt a g e , t h e f i r st w a r ning o cc u rr i n g a t a pp r o x im a t e l y 33%

re m a ining b a tt e r y po w er

, a nd a g a in a t a pp r o x im a t e l y 10% re m a ini n g b a tt e r y po w er . At the25

cr iti ca l l y low b a tt e r y l e v e l, the D J I P h a ntom Vision+ a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 U A S s will d e s ce nd

a nd l a nd a utom a ti ca l l y

.

S i g ni f i ca nt l y , p re vious e x e mptions g ra nt e d b y the F AA c o n c e r ning Se c tion 91.151

e st a blish th a t s afe t y is not a dv er s e l y a ff e c t e d w h e n the t ec hni ca l c h a r ac t er i sti c s a nd

op era ti n g limit a tions of the UAS a r e c onsid e r e d. R e li e f h a s b ee n g ra nt e d f or m a nn e d

a i rc r af t to op e r a te a t l e ss th a n the minimums p re s cr ib e d in S ec tion 91.151, in c luding

E x e mption Nos. 2689, 5 745, a nd 10650. Mo re o v er , the F AA h a s p re viou sl y g ra n t e d re li e f

fr om S ec tion 91.151 sp e c i f ic to UA S , in c i rc umst a n ce s simil ar , in a ll m a t er i a l re sp e c ts, to

those p re s e nt e d h ere in ( e

. g . E x e mption Nos. 8811, 10808, 10673, 11042, 11062, 11063,

11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11136, 11138, 11150, 11153, 11156,

11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )

.

6. R e aso n s W h y An E x e m p t ion F r o m Th e R e qu i r e m e n t s Of S ect io ns

91.405 ( a ) , 91.407 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 91.409 ( a )( 1) & ( a )( 2 )

, A n d 91.417 ( a) & ( b ) Wo u ld

Not A d v er s e ly A ff

ec t S a f et y.

I n s ee ki n g this e x e mpti o n, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC submits th a t

the e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y with r e g ar d to the r e g ul a to r y m a int e n a n c e a nd a lt era tion

re qui r e m e n t s e st a blish e d b y S ec tions 91.405 (a) , 91. 4 07 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1) & (a)( 2 )

, a nd

91.417 ( a ) & ( b) will be m e t b eca use GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

will use t ra in e d t e c hni c i a ns to p erf o r m m a i n t e n a n ce

, a lt era tions, or p r e v e ntive m a int e n a n c e

on t h e UA S s using the m e thods, t ec h niqu e s, a nd p rac ti ce s p re s c r ib e d in the op era ti n g

do c u m e nts ( i. e ., the GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC A er i al Op era tions

M a n u a l, Month l y M a int e n a n c e L o g

, a nd D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 I nst r u c tion

M a nu a l )

. F u r t h er mo re

, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will do c um e nt

a nd m a int a in a ll m a int e n a n c e rec o r ds f or t he D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s.

S in c e the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s will be insp ec t e d a s p r e s c r ib e d b y t h e

op era ti n g do c um e nts, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will m a int a in

the e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y e st a blish e d b y Se c tions 91.405 (a)

, 91.409 ( a)( 1 )

, a nd

1.409 (a)( 2 ) . A c o p y of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 Us e r M a nu a ls a r e a t t ac h e d

h ere to a s App e nd i x A a nd B

.

L ik e wi s e , the e x e mption sou g ht will not a dv er s e l y aff e c t s a f e t y b e c a use

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC will use t r a in e d t ec hni c i a ns

to p er f o r m m a int e n a n ce

, a lt era t i ons or p re v e ntive m a int e n a n c e on the UAS using

the m e thods, t ec hniqu e s, a nd p r ac ti ce s p re s cr ib e d b y t h e op e r a ting do c u m e nts.

F u r th er m o re , the e x e mption sou g ht would m a int a i n a n e quiv a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y

e st a blish e d b y Se c tions 91.407, 91.417 (a ) a nd 91

. 417 ( b ) , b e c a use a ll m a in t e n a n c e of the

D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s will be p e rf o r m e d b y t r a in e d t ec hn i c i a ns.

M a int e n a n c e will be do c um e nt e d a nd m a int a in e d utili z ing the month l y m a i nt e n a n c e l o g

.

S i g ni f i ca nt l y , p re vious e x e mptions g ra nt e d b y the F AA c o n c e r ning Se c tions 91.405 (a)

,26

91.407 (a) ( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a ) ( 1 ) & ( a) ( 2 )

, a nd 91.417 ( a ) & ( b) e st a blish th a t s afe t y is not

a dv er s e l y af

f ec t e d w h e n the t ec hni ca l c h a r ac t er ist i c s a nd op e r a ting limit a tions of the UAS

ar e c onsi d ere d.

I n c onsid era tion of GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s p r op o s e d

op era ti n g limit a tions, the op era ti n g do c um e nts, a nd the t ec h n i ca l a sp ec ts of t h e D J I

Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC

s u bmits th a t s afe t y will not be a dv er s e l y a f fec t e d b y g r a nting e x e mption fr om 14 C

. F

. R

.

S ec tions 91.405 (a) , 9 1 .407 (a) ( 1 ) a nd ( a) ( 2 ) , 91

. 409 (a) ( 2 )

, a nd 91.417 (a ) a nd ( b ) . T h e

F AA h a s p re vious l y g r a nt e d re li e f s p ec i f ic to U AS in c i rc umst a n ce s simil ar , in a ll

m a t er i a l r e sp ec ts, to those p re s e nt e d h ere in ( e

. g . E x e mption Nos. 11062, 11063, 11064,

11065, 11066, 11067, 11080, 11109, 11110, 11112, 11136, 11138, 11150, 11153, 11156,

11157, 11158, 11159, 11160, 11161 )

.

7. Th e F AA M ay P r e s c r i b e A n y O t h e r Co nd i t i o n s F or S a f e O p er a t io n

.

I n acc o r d a n c e with S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e r ni z a tion a nd R ef o r m A c t of 2012

(F M R A) a nd 14 C

. F

. R . § 21.16 e ntitl e d S p ec i a l C onditions, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC re qu e sts th a t the F AA p r e s cr ibe sp e c i a l c onditio n s f or the

int e nd e d op e ra t i on of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s, whi c h c on t a in su c h

s afe t y st a n d ar ds t h a t the Administ ra tor f inds n ec e ss a r y to e st a blish a l e v e l of s afe t y

e qui v a l e nt to th a t e st a blish e d b y 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 21, S ubp ar t H, a nd 14 C

. F .R §§

61

. 113 (a ) & ( b ) , 91.7 (a) , 9 1 .121, 91.151 ( b ) , 91.405 ( a ) , 91

. 407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1) &

( a )( 2 )

, a nd 91.417 ( a ) & ( b )

. S u c h sp ec i a l c onditions will p er mit s af e op e r a tion of the

UAs f or the limit e d pu r p ose of c ondu c ting aer i a l vid e o a nd photo g r a p h y ov e r cer t a in

ar e a s of the Unit e d S t a t e s f or c omp e ns a tion or hi re

. F M R A S ec tion 333 s e ts f o r th the

re qui re m e nts f

or c onsid er ing wh e th e r a UAS will cr e a te a h a z ar d to us e r s of the NAS or

the publi c , or ot h er wise pose a th rea t to n a tion a l s ec u r i t y ; a nd f u r th er

, p r ovid e s the

a utho r i t y f

or su c h UAS to op era te without a i r wo r thin e ss ce r ti f i ca tion in acc o r d a n c e

with a n y re qui re m e nts th a t must be e st a blish e d f or the s a f e o p era tion of the U AS in the

NA S

.

L ik e wi s e , the Administ r a tor m a y p re s c r ibe sp ec i a l c onditions pu r su a nt to 14 C

. F

. R

. § 21.16, f or op e r a tion of the D J I Phantom 3 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s, sin c e t he

a i r wo r thin e ss r e g ul a tions of 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 21 do not c ont a in a d e qu a t e or a pp r op r i a te

s afe t y st a nd a r ds, due to the nov e l or unusu a l d e s i gn fea tu r e s of the a i r c r af t. S ec tion

21.16, e ntitl e d S p ec i a l C onditi o ns, st a t e s the f ollowin g :

I f the F AA f

inds th a t the a i r wo r thin e ss r e g ul a tions of this sub c h a pt e r do not c ont a in

a d e qu a te o r a pp r o p r i a te s afe t y st a nd a r ds f or a n a i r craf

t, a i rc r af t e n g in e

, o r p r op e ll er

b eca use o f a no v e l or u n usu a l d e si g n fea tu r e of t h e a i r c raf t, a i rc r af t e n g ine or

p r op e ll er , he p re s c r ib e s s p ec i a l c onditions a nd a m e ndm e nts th ere to f o r the p r odu c t.27 The sp ec i a l c onditions a r e issu e d in acc o r d a n c e w i th P ar t 11 of this c h a pt e r a nd

c ont a in su c h s a f

e t y s t a n d ar ds f

or the a i r c raf

t, a i rc r af t e n g ine or p r op e ll e r a s the

F AA f inds n e ce ss a r y to e st a blish a l e v e l of s a f e t y e quiv a l e nt to th a t e st a blish e d in

the r e g ul a tions.

S e e 14 C

. F

. R . § 21.16.

Th eref o re , in a cc o r d a n c e with F M R A S ec tion 333 a nd 14 C

. F

. R . § 21.16, the F AA m a y

p re s cr ibe s p ec i a l c onditions f or L ea di n g E d g e’ s int e nd e d op e r a tion of the D J I Phantom 3

a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 UA S s, whi c h c ont a in su c h s a fe t y st a nd a r ds th a t the Ad m inist ra tor f inds

n ece ss a r y to e st a blish a l e v e l of s a f e t y e quiv a l e nt to th a t e st a blish e d b y 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 21,

S ubp ar t H, a nd 14 C

. F .R S ec tions 61.113 (a ) & ( b )

, 91.7 (a) , 91.121, 91.151 ( b ) , 91.405 (a)

,

91.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a)( 2 )

, a nd 91.417 ( a ) & ( b )

.

• A Su m m a r y Th at Can B e P ub lis h e d In T he F ed er al R e gis t e r ,

s t a t i n g: Th e R u l e s F r o m W h i c h GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s E x e m p t io n:

GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC s e e k s ex e mption from the

r e quir e m e nts of 14 C .F.R S ec tions 61.113 ( a) & ( b ) , 91. 7 ( a )

, 91.121, 91.151 ( b )

, 91.4 0 5 ( a ) , 91.40 7 ( a )( 1 ) , 91.4 0 9 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a )( 2 ) , and 91.41 7 ( a ) & ( b )

.

A B r i e f D e s cr i p t ion Of Th e Na t u r e Of Th e E x e m p t ion GHOSTRIDERS

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC S ee k s:

T his exe mption w ill p e rmit GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC to

c omm e r c ially op e rate a n Unmann e d Air c raft S y st e m ( UA S ) for the purpose of

c ondu c ting a e rial v id e o and photography o ve r c e rtain ar e as of the Unit e d Stat e s.

• A n y A dd i t io n al I n f o rm a t io n , Vi e w s, Or A r g u me n t s Availa b le T o

Su p p o r t GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s R e qu e s t

.

This P e tition is m a de pu r su a nt to the F AA Mod e r ni z a tion a nd R ef o r m A c t of

2012 (F M R A) S ec tion 333, w h i c h di rec ts the S e c re t a r y of T ra nspo r t a tion to d e t e r mine if

cer t a in

UAS m a y o p era t e s a f

e l y in the NA S . As su c h, GHOSTRIDERS AERIAL

PHOTOGRAPHY LLC ’ s re q u e st f or e x e mption m a y b e g ra n t e d pu r su a nt to the

a utho r ity of F M R A S ec tion 333 a nd 14 C

. F

. R

. P ar t 11, a s s e t f o r th a bo v e

.

F M R A S ec tion 333 s e ts f o r th the re qui re m e nts f

or c onsid er i n g wh e th e r a U AS will

crea te a h a z ar d to us er s o f the N AS or the publi c , or oth e r wise pose a th r ea t to n a tion a l

s ec u r i t y ; a nd f

u r th er

, p r ovid e s the a utho r i t y f o r su c h UAS t o op era te without

a i r wo r t hin e ss cer ti f

i c a tion.