Functional Fitness 

(585) 478-3063 

Dear Brittany Newton, 

 Thank you for processing our exemption request. We are appreciative of your concern in the 

impact of our use of unmanned air vehicles and it's impact on the general public. The use in terms of

filming athletes and fitness enthusiasts, is something original and new to the field, and we can 

understand the confusion on how that would be in the public interest. I assure you this new use of 

UAV,s will benefit our clients as well as the public as a whole. 

 The ability to film athletes, from a variety of angles is undeniably the best way to find weaknesses 

in their form and performance. By showing these weaknesses via a video feedback, athletes are better 

able to improve. Many athletes are visual and kinestetic learners, requiring the proper visual feedback 

in order to have them understand errors and correct them. One current tool used in the field is dart fish 

(http://www.dartfish.com/). The limitation in our field is the ability to capture overhead footage, which 

can only be gained via an aerial vehicle. 

 In the high level athletes we work with, We are consistently asked to share our footage with 

younger athletes, via their coaches, trainers, etc., so they can see the form of professionals, and work to 

improve their own. Through programs like DartFish, social media, and our website, We will be able to 

publish these demonstrations of proper form to help aspiring athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Not only 

on the individual level but through our connections at the high school level and connections with 

elite/olympic development programs. As you can see in this instance the general public being young 

athletes, will benefit from our findings and publishing. 

 

 When working with runners there have been many companies who film form from above 

while running on a treadmill, or in small indoor spaces. This is not the same as running outdoors and

form varies. This practice has little value for long distance runners who's form changes drasticly with 

fatigue. The public (aspiring athletes) as well, wants to see how these athletes run in form on the road 

and trail and this view can only be captured and shared with the use of a UAV and our media platforms.

 Not only will this filming be more effective and shareable, it will also be safer than trying to 

capture the footage with a traditional aerial vehicle. The ability for example to film a professional rock 

climber with a UAV will be much safer than attempting to hang from a rope in that location and move a 

round them during a climb. We would never position ourselves above a climber while filming for 

safety, however from high above a UAV, with altimiter limits, could safely capture this very important

view, for aspiring climbers to see proper arm movement without the trunk and legs in the way of the 

view. 

 Overall we believe our ability to film with UAV's will result in improved education for the public 

in sports and recreation as well as increased safety for both the athlete and photographers. We hope 

you now share the enthusiasm as we have explained the impact and grant us exemption from the 

restrictions keeping us from benefiting our athletes and the general public of athletes pursuing personal 

improvement, while maintaining safe operating procedures. 

Thank you for your further review, Sincerely, 

Michael Cocquyt 

Functional Fitness