Aerial Earth PhotoDrones 

3700 Dean Drive #2802 

Ventura, CA 93003 

January 21, 2015 

US Department of Transportation and 

Federal Aviation Administration 

Docket Management System 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE 

Washington, DC 20590 

Re: Petition for Authorization/Permit 

US Congress PL 112-95, 2012, Section 333, FAA Reform 

Act, for limited, safe and responsible commercial use of 

Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) 

To Whom it May Concern, 

As the owner of Aerial Earth PhotoDrones, I am writing to request authorization or a permit to 

Section 333, for the commercial use of small, lightweight quadcopters (DJI Phantom Vision II) 

and hexacopters to fly: 

• Environmental and archaeological surveys and aerial videography 

• Limited special events such as aerial photography for weddings, birthday parties and 

other events. 

I am requesting a permit for commercial use as I am disabled and unable to continue working in 

my career field (biologist and archaeologist) and am currently on Worker's Compensation, 

placed on permanent partial disability. I am also a single mother with three children. I am, 

however, still able to use the controller and equipment required to fly and operate my SUAs. 

Therefore, this business will be my only method of earning a living. 

In addition, I am a graduate student in archaeology at the California State University, Northridge 

and would like to have my business available in conjunction with the university for archaeology 

projects. Aerial archaeology is becoming more popular in the United States and ifl am 

permitted to operate a small business for commercial purposes, I can assist archaeologists with 

aerial surveys. 

All business practices will follow guidelines and be operated by the pilot-in-command (PIC) in 

the line-of-sight, under 400 feet above ground level and not within 5 miles of any airport. 

The SUAs I use are available for purchase by the public and equipped with video/still cameras 

and GPS systems and are airworthy and operable for controlled flight. I will never fly in 

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Aerial Earth PhotoDrones 

3700 Dean Drive #2802 

Ventura, CA 93003 

hazardous conditions or out of line-of-sight, over populated areas or over gatherings of people 

and will maintain the strictest adherence to common sense safety practices. 

I am requesting this permit so I may use my SUAs commercially for business practices as stated 

above. As the owner of Aerial Earth PhotoDrones, I am a licensed pilot (Certificate No. 

93504636), a current member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) and aware ofthe 

F AAs regulations. I am also a professional environmental scientist and archaeologist, which 

gives me specific and unique knowledge for surveying and obeying safety rules and regulations. 

If I am permitted to operate Aerial Earth PhotoDrones as a commercial small business, I will 

again be a self-supporting person without receiving assistance from the government. On 

permanent partial disability, my income is only $800/month and I cannot afford to pay my rent 

or other bills. I am hereby requesting to be issued a permit for the commercial use ofSUAs. 

In closing, I would like to say that I appreciate the efforts the FAA places in protecting the 

public's safety through regulations and I wish to adhere to all necessary regulations with regard 

to operating my lightweight SUAs in a commercial function. I agree that SUAs/Drones should be 

regulated and have no issue with following permitted restrictions and guidelines. 

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter and I am available to answer any 

questions you might have. Please let me know if you require additional information or a more 

formalized application for a permit and I will be happy to comply immediately. I am including a 

stamped, self-addressed envelope for your convenience. 

Sincerely, 

D. Gail Bellenger 

Owner, Aerial Earth PhotoDrones 

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