February 16, 2016

U. S. Department of Transportation 

Docket ManagementSystem

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590

Re: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations from 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 CFR Part 21; 14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b); 91.7 (a); 91.9

(b) (2); 91.103(b); 91.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.203(a) & (b); 91.405 (a); 91.407(a)(1);

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

Dear Sir or Madam:

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

14 C.F.R. Part 11, Brian Dombrowski, a freelance photographer, photojournalist and operator of 

a Small Unmanned Aircraft System ("sUAS"), hereby applies for an exemption from the listed 

Federal Aviation Regulations ("FARs") to allow commercial operation of his Small Unmanned 

Aircraft Systems.

Proposed operation would include aerial imagery for:

● Newsgathering/Media

● Weather Related Events andPhenomena

● Real Estate

● Marketing/Advertising

● Commercial and Film Production

● Sporting Events

● Inspection surveys for roofing, construction, and utilities

● Detection and monitoring of wild life

● Search and rescue to assist law enforcement

● Improve Safety for Current and Future UAS Utilization

As detailed in this document, the requested exemption would permit the operation of sUAS under 

controlled conditions in airspace that is limited, predetermined, controlled access and would 

provide safety enhancements to the safety procedures followed by Brian Dombrowski at each one 

of his shoots.

Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of 

Transportation's responsibilities as outlined in Section 333 (c) of the Reform Act.

The name and address of the applicant is: 

Brian Dombrowski

Phone: 941-685-9943

Email: bdom123@gmail.com

Address: 5620 Eastwind Dr., Sarasota FL 34233
Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

14C.F.R.Part21, 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b), 14C.F.R.61.113(a)&(b), 14C.F.R.91.7(a), 14 C.F.R. 91.9

(b)(2), 14 C.F.R. 91.103, 14 C.F.R. 91.109, 14 C.F.R. 91.119, 14 C.F.R. 91.121,

14C.F.R.91.151(a), 14C.F.R.91.203(a)&(b), 14C.F.R.91.405(a), 14 C.F.R. 407(a)(1),

14C.F.R.409(a)(2), 14C.F.R.417(a)&(b)

sUAS's submitted for exemption of the above safety regulations: 

• DJI Phantom 3

• DJI Inspire 1

• Yuneec Typhoon Q500

STATUTORY AUTHORITY FOR EXEMPTIONS

The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA authority to issue exemptions. This statutory 

authority includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under §40101 of the Act, including 

sUAS's, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have a current airworthiness certificate.

The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation prescribed under 

subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702-44716 of this title if the Administrator 

finds the exemption in the public interest. 49 U.S.C. §44701(f)

Section 333(b) of the Reform Act assists the Secretary in determining whether sUAS may operate 

in the National Airspace System (NAS) without creating a hazard to the user, the public, or a 

threat to national security. In making this determination, the Secretary mustconsider:

• The UAS's size, weight, speed, and operational capability;

• Whether the UAS operates within the visual line of sight of the operator

• Whether the UAS operates outside of highly populated areas and away from close proximity to 

airports

Reform Act §333(a). If the Secretary determines that a UAS "may operate safely in the national 

airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft 

in the national airspace system." Id.§333(c).

Brian Dombrowski’s sUAS's are quadcopters, weighing 10 pounds or less including payload. 

They operate under normal conditions at a speed of no more than 50 knots and have the 

capability to hover, and move in the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. The sUAS's will 

operate only in the pilot's visual line of sight at all times and contained, safe area.

Considering the small size of the sUAS's involved and the restricted and sterile environment which 

they will operate, his application falls within the zone of safety Congress envisioned the FAA, by 

exemption, allow commercial operations of sUAS's to begin immediately.
In addition to the small size of the sUAS's, the low altitudes and restricted areas in which his 

sUAS's will operate, approval of the application presents no national securityissue.

PUBLIC INTEREST

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress' goal in passing Section 

333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of Transportation to consider 

whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the NAS before completion of 

the rulemaking required under Section 332 of the Reform Act. By granting an exemption the FAA 

will fulfill Congress's intent of allowing UAS's to operate with significant safety precautions in low 

risk environments.

The use of sUAS's for newsgathering purposes can provide the general public an additional 

avenue for getting news quickly and efficiently. In many breaking news situations, it is imperative 

to get information to the general public without interfering with the situation efforts on the ground. 

UAS's allow media to gather information by providing live video with little interference. In many 

instances, media and emergency management work together. UAS's can provide a live view 

through video/photography that can be used to assist with search and rescue during emergencies 

or natural disasters in which a helicopter or other conventional aircraft may be a larger safety 

issue.

In addition to newsgathering and media-related uses, sUAS's allow the operator to survey and 

gather images/video of worksites, real estate and situations on the ground from a safe vantage. 

UAS's can significantly reduce risk associated with each worksite given the sUAS's size and 

innate safety features (GPS lock, auto "Go Home," failsafe, etc.).

EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

Brian Dombrowski proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have 

the characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for 

an equivalent or higher level of safety because operations will further enhance the safety of the 

persons and/or property using conventional aircraft.These limitations and conditions to which the 

applicant agrees to adhere to when conducting commercial operations under the FAA issued 

exemption as set forth in the Flight Operations Manual (FOM)include:

● The UASwill be less than 55 pounds.

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

● Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 15-20 minutes. The sUAS 

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

20% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 30 minute limit.

● Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL.

● The flights will occur no closer than a 5 mile radius of the geographic center/Airport 

Reference Point (ARP) of a tower controlled or uncontrolled airport.

● All flights will occur under Visual Flight Rules Meteorological Conditions (VMC) only.
● Crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS pilot who will keep the sUAS within 

his/her visual line of sight at all times. As well as a camera operator focusing on 

photo/video composition.

● The sUAS pilot will be trained in flight, operations, and safety procedures viaFAA 

regulations and the owner's manuals.

● A briefing will be conducted in regard to the planned sUAS operations prior to each day's 

production activities. It will be mandatory that all personnel who will be performing duties 

within the boundaries of the safety perimeter be present for thisbriefing.

● All onsite personnel will consent to the sUAS flyover on site by waiver, and the operator 

will obtain additional verbal or written consent of all persons who will be allowed within 100 

feet of the flight operation.

● The pilot will have been trained in operation of sUAS generally and received up-to-date 

information on the particular sUAS to be operated.

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

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

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

agencies.

● If the sUAS loses communications with the remote controller or loses GPS signal, the 

sUAS will have the capability to return to a pre-determined location within a designated 

location and land autonomously.

● The sUAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles, 

weather, or emergencies.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC REGULATIONS

14 CFR Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91203(a)(1)

Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requirements for the 

issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Given the size and 

limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by Brian Dombrowski, an 

exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under 

Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and 

Section 333 of the Reform Act both authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for 

an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, 

and proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular UAS. His small UAS will be 

operated at low speed in a controlled environment, at least five miles from an airport and more 

than three miles from any city or densely populated area. An analysis of these criteria 

demonstrates that the UAS operated without an airworthiness certificate, in the restricted 

environment and under the conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a 

conventional aircraft (fixed wing or helicopter) operating with an airworthiness certificate without 

the restrictions and conditions proposed.

The sUAS's to be operated are less than 10 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor passenger, 

carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclusively within a secured
area as set out in the Manual. Like other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be 

tightly controlled and monitored by the operator, pursuant to the Manual's requirements, and 

under the requirements and in compliance with local public safety requirements. Lastly, application 

of these same criteria demonstrates that there is no credible threat to national security posed by 

the UAS, due to its size, speed of operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or 

flammable liquid fuels, and ability to carry an external load no greater than two lbs.

14 C.F.R. 45.23(b): Marking of theAircraft

This regulation requires certain experimental, provisionally certificated aircraft, or light-sport 

category aircraft to be marked with letters between 2 inches and 6 inches high "limited," 

"restricted," "light-sport," "experimental," or "provisional," near each entrance to a cabin, cockpit, or 

pilot station.

Even though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be needed as the 

UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word "Experimental" 

can be placed. Given the size of the UAS, two-inch lettering will be impossible. The word 

"Experimental" will be placed on the fuselage in compliance with §45.29(f).

The equivalent level of safety will be provided by having the UAS marked on its fuselage as 

required by §45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer and others working with the

UAS will see the identification of the UAS as "Experimental." The FAA has issued the following 

exemptions to this regulation: Exemptions Nos. 10700, 8738,10167 and 10167A.

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b): Private pilot privileges and limitations: Pilot in command(PIC)

Sections 61.113 (a) & (b) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. Because the UAS will 

not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can achieve the equivalent level of safety 

of current operations by requiring the PIC operating the aircraft to have a private pilot’s license 

rather than a commercial pilot’s license to operate this small UAS. Unlike a conventional aircraft 

that carries the pilot and passengers, the sUAS is remotely controlled with no living thing on 

board. The area of operation is controlled and restricted, and all flights are planned and 

coordinated in advance as set forth in the Manual. The level of safety provided exceeds that 

provided by a single individual holding a commercial pilot’s certificate operating a conventional 

aircraft. The risks associated with the operation of the sUAS are so diminished from the level of 

risk associated with commercial operations contemplated by Part 61 when drafted, that allowing 

operations of the sUAS as requested with a private pilot as the PIC exceeds the present level of 

safety achieved by 14 C.F.R. §61.113 (a) & (b).).

14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a): Civil aircraft airworthiness

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy 

condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption 

be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of 

the aircraft and the requirements contained in the Manual for maintenance and use of safety 

checklists prior to each flight, as set forth in Section B and Section G, an equivalent level of safety
will be provided.

14 CFR 91.9 (b)(2): Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placardrequirements

The UAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual on 

the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because there is no room or capacity 

to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping 

the flight manual at the ground control point where the pilot flying the UAS will have immediate 

access to it. The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation: Exemption Nos.

8607, 8737, 8738,9299,9299A, 9565,9565B, 10167,10167A, 10602,32827, and 10700.

14 C.F.R. 91.103: Preflight Action

This regulation requires each pilot in command take certain actions before flight to ensure the 

safety of flight. An exemption is needed from this requirement as the pilot will take separate 

preflight actions, including checking for weather conditions, propeller inspection, checking flight 

battery requirements, checking takeoff and landing distances, and all other actions in the preflight 

checklist. These actions will provide an equivalent level of safety.

14 C.F.R. 91.109: Flight Instruction

Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) 

that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls.

By design, UAS and remotely piloted aircraft do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight 

control is accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via 

radio communications. The FAA has previously approved exemptions for aircraft without fully 

functional dual controls. See Exemption Nos.5778K & 9862A. The equivalent level of safety 

provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft, the ability to 

control the UAS via radio signals from the controller, and by the size and speed of the aircraft.

14 C.F. R. 91.119: Minimum Safe Altitudes

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d) allows 

helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person operating 

the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this 

exemption is for a sUAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests authority to operate at 

altitudes up to 400 AGL, an exemption may be needed to allow such operations. As set forth 

herein, except for the limited conditions stated in the Manual, the UAS will never operate at higher 

than 400 AGL. It will however be operated in a restricted area with security perimeter, where 

buildings and people will not be exposed to operations without their pre-obtainedconsent.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, and speed of the UAS as 

well as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the permission of the 

property owner or local officials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and 

participants in the filming activity, all affected individuals will be aware of the planned flight 

operations as set forth in the Manual. Compared to flight operations with aircraft or rotorcraft
weighting far more than the maximum 55lbs. proposed herein and the lack of flammable fuel, any 

risk associated with these operations is far less than those presently presented with conventional 

aircraft operating at or below 500 AGL in the movie industry. In addition, the low-altitude 

operations of the sUAS will ensure separation between these small-UAS operations and the 

operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119. The FAA has issued the 

following exemptions to this regulation: Exemption Nos. 8607, 8737, 8738,9299,9299A, 

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

14 C.F.R. §91.121 Altimeter Settings

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by 

reference to an altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate 

altimeter setting available before departure.” As the sUAS may not have a barometric altimeter, 

but instead a GPS altitude read out, an exemption may be needed. Anequivalent level of safety 

will be achieved by the operator, pursuant to the Manual and Preflight Checklist, confirming the 

altitude readout of the sUAS is set to 0ft (QFE operations) on the GPS altitude indicator before 

flight.

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane under VFR 

conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to 

the first point of intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed – (1) During the day, to fly 

after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.”

The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 40 minutes of powered flight. To meet the 

30 minute reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, sUAS flights would be limited to 

approximately 10 minutes in length. Given the limitations on the UAS’s proposed flight area and 

the location of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight 

in daylight or night VFR conditions is reasonable.

Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope of prior 

exemptions (11857, 11825, 11204). Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area where 

only people and property owners or official representatives who have signed waivers will be 

allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that 

Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the small UAS. 

Additionally, limiting sUAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the utility for which the 

exemption will be granted.

Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 30 

minutes or 30% of battery power whichever happens first. This restriction would be more than 

adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its limited operating 

area.
14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b): Carrying civil aircraft certification and registration

The regulation provides in part:

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the 

following:

(1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. ...

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by 

paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is displayed at 

the cabin or cockpit entrance so that it is legible to passengers or crew.

The UAS fully loaded weighs no more than 10 lbs and is operated without an onboard pilot. 

Therefore there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display 

them on the UAS.

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the ground flight 

control point where the pilot flying the UAS will have immediate access to them, to the extent they 

are applicable to the UAS. The FAA has issued numerous exemptions to this regulation. A 

representative sample of other exceptions includes Exemption Nos. 9565, 9665, 9789, 9789A, 

9797, 9797A, 9816A, and 10700.

14 CFR 91.405 (a); 407 (a)(1); 409 (a)(2); 417 (a) & (b): Maintenanceinspections

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner "shall have that aircraft inspected as 

prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in 

paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this 

chapter...," and others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43.

Given that these sections and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these 

sections will not apply to sUAS's. Maintenance will be accomplished by the operator pursuant to 

the flight manual and operating handbook as referenced in the Manual. An equivalent level of 

safety will be achieved because these small UASs are very limited in size and will carry a small 

payload and operate only in restricted areas for limited periods of time. If mechanical issues arise 

the UAS can land immediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL. As 

provided in the Manual, the operator will ensure that the UAS is in working order prior to initiating 

flight, perform required maintenance, and keep a log of any maintenance performed. Moreover, 

the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in 

an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided for publication in the Federal 

Register, should it be determined that publication isneeded:

Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules: 14 C.F.R. §21, subpart H; 14 C.F.R 

45.23(b);14 C.F.R. §§ 61.113( a) & (b);91.7(a); 91.9 (b) (2);91.103(b);91.109; 91.119; 91.121;

91.15l(a);91.203(a) and (b); 91.405 (a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2); 91.409 (a) (2) and 91.417

(a) & (b) to operate commercially a small unmanned vehicle (55bs or less) for videography 

and photography in news, real estate, media and marketing, inspections, and surveying.
Allowing commercial operations of UAS in aerial photography and videography enhance safety 

while reducing risk. These lightweight aircraft operate at slow speeds, close to the ground, and in 

a sterile environment, as a result, are far safer than conventional operations conducted with 

turbine helicopters operating in close proximity to the ground and people.

The Operations described in this exemption request will be conducted wholly within the United 

States.

As directed in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority contained in the Federal Aviation Act, 

as amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed operations, and the 

significant public benefit, including enhanced safety, the grant of the requested exemptions is in 

the public interest. Accordingly, Brian Dombrowski respectfully requests that the FAA grant the 

requested exemption without delay.

Sincerely,

Brian Dombrowski

bdom123@gmail.com

941-685-9943

 

Online Manuals for referenced sUAS:

• DJI Phantom 3

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual__V1.6.pdf

• DJI Inspire

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/inspire_1/en/Inspire_1_User_Manual_en_v2.0_1218.pdf

• Yuneec Q500 Typhoon

https://www.yuneec.com/download/manuals/typhoon_q500_instruction_manual_v2.1.pdf