1 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment BASIS FOR THE AMENDMENT TO EXEMPTION #11307**  Price Aviation Group (PAG) received a 333 Exemption #11307 to operate a 3DR X8+ for aerial data collection. The aircraft is appropriate for missions that require a heavy payload. P AG is requesting an amendment to Exemption #11307 to operate a Fixed

- Wing UAS for missions that require a longer duration

. The platform will be a Bormatec MAJA with a 3DR Pixhawk control package. PAG will continue to use 3DR X8+ and PAG X4 technology when necessary . PAG is requesting thi s amendment to operate a fixed wing UAS when the mission requires

. Th e technology that is available from this company includes the necessary restrictions on performance to compl y with FAA requirements:

Maximum Altitude* 200ft Range* 984ft from launch point GPS Lock GPS lock required at all times Maximum estimated flight time 30 min Payload capacity 1 K g (2.2 lbs. ) Bormatec’s design utilizes the same flight controller and R/C system as the X8+. Details of this design are included at the end of this document. All operations manuals approved for the 3DR X8+ will continue to be followed for the including recommended safety and maintenance checks. Modified checkli st and design information is included in the Appendix. **Summary for Federal Register publication. The Rules From Which PAG Seeks Exemption:**  Conditi ons and Limitations #1 of Exemption #11307. **A. Brief Description Of The Nature Of The Amendment PAG Seeks:**  Price Aviation Group (PAG) seeks an amendment to exemption #11307 to operate a small UAS with an equivalent level of safety

. The amendment requests use of a fixed wing design to perform aerial data collection.
**CONCLUSION**2 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** PAG is requesting an amendment to #1 of the Conditions and L imitatio ns issued with Exemption #11307 inclu ded as an appendix to this document which states PA G will only operate a 3DR X8+. Allowing PAG to operate a Bormatec MAJA will allow an equivalent level of safety using a proven design and the reliability of proven 3DR technology

.

Submitted By :
Christopher Lawler Price Aviation Group July 21, 20153 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**

**APPENDIX Conditions and**  **Limitations** In this grant of exemption, Price Aviation Group is hereafter referred to as the operator. Failure to compl y with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption. 1. Operations authorized b y this grant of exemption are limited to the 3DR X8+ when weighing less than 55 pounds including payload. Proposed operations of any other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this exemption. 2. Operations for the purpose of closed

- set motion picture and television filming are not permitted. 3. The UA may

not be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour). The exemption holder may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed to determine compliance with the 87 knot speed restriction. In no case will the UA be operated at airspeeds greater than the maximum UA operating airspeed recommended by the aircraft manufacturer. 4. The UA must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL). Altitude must be reported in feet AGL. 5. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, as specified on the PIC’s FAA

- issued airman medical certificate or U.S.	driver’s license. 6. All operations must utilize a visual observer (VO). The UA must be operated within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PI C and VO at all times. The VO may be used to satisfy

the VLOS requirement as long as the PI C always maintains VL OS capability . The VO and PIC must be able to communicate verball y at all times; electronic messaging or texting is not permitted during flight operations. The PIC must be designated before the flight and cannot transfer his or her designation for the duration of the flight. The PI C must ensure that the VO can perform the duties required of the VO. 7. This exemption and all documents needed to operate the UAS and conduct its operations in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this4 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** grant of exemption are hereinafter referred to as the operating documents. The operating documents must be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the Administrator upon request. If a discrepancy exists between the conditions and limitations in this exemption and the procedures outlined in the operating documents, the conditions and limitations h erein take precedence and must be followed. Otherwise, the operator must follow the procedures as outlined in its operating documents. The operator may update or revise its operating documents. It is the operator’s responsibility to track such revisions an d present updated and revised documents to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. The operator must also present updated and revised documents if it petitions for extension or amendment to this grant of exemption. If the operator determines that any update or revision would affect the basis upon which the FAA granted this exemption, then the operator must petition for an amendment to its grant of exemption. The FAA’s UAS Integration Office (AFS

- 80) may be contacted if questions ari se regarding updates or revisions to the operating documents. 8. Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS operation or flight characteristics, e.g. replacement of a flight critical component, must undergo a functional test flight prior to conducting further operations under this exemption. Functional test flights may onl y be conducted b y a PI C with a VO and must remain at least 500 feet from other people. The functional test flight must be conducted in such a manner so as to not pose an undue hazard to persons and property. 9. The operator is responsible for maintaining and inspecting the UAS to ensure that it is in a condition for safe operation. 10. Prior to each flight, the PIC must conduct a pre

- flight inspection and determine the UAS is in a condition for safe flight. The pre

- flight inspection must account for all potential discrepancies, e.g. inoperable components, items, or equipment. If the inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the UAS, the aircraft is prohibited from operating until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the UAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight. 11. The operator must follow the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspection, and lif e limit requirements for the aircraft and aircraft components. 12. Each UAS operated under this exemption must comply with all manufacturer safety bulletins. 13. Under this grant of exemption, a PI C must hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC must also5 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, a territory , a possession, or the Federal government. The PI C must also meet the flight review requirements specified in 14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PI C is rated on his or her pilot certificate. 14. The operator may

not permit any

PI C to operate unless the PI C demonstrates the ability to safel y operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and structures. PI C qualification flight hours and curren cy must be logged in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 61.51(b). Flights for the purposes of training the operator’s PI Cs and VOs (training, proficiency , and experience

-building) and determining the PIC’s ability to safel y operate the UAS in a manner cons istent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption are permitted under the terms of this exemption. However, training operations may onl y be conducted during dedicated training sessions. During training, proficiency , and experience

-building flights, all persons not essential for flight operations are considered nonparticipants, and the PI C must operate the UA with appropriate distance from nonparticipants in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.119. 15. UAS operations may

not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. All operations must be conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Flights under special visual flight rules (SVFR) are not authorized. 16. The UA may

not operate within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point (ARP) as denoted in the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory

(AFD) or for airports not denoted with an ARP, the center of the airport s ymbol as denoted on the current FAA

- published aeronautical chart, unless a letter of agreement with that airport’s management is obtained or otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption holder. The letter of agreement with the airport management must be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. 17. The UA may

not be operated less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet horizontally

from a cloud or when visibility is less than 3 statute miles from the PI C. 18. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UA must return to a pre - determined location within the private or controlled

- access property. 19. The PI C must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or6 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** emergencies. 20. The PI C is prohibited from beginning a flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough available p ower for the UA to conduct the intended operation and to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if greater. 21. Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). All op erations shall be conducted in accordance with an ATO

- issued COA. The exemption holder may appl y for a new or amended COA if it intends to conduct operations that cannot be conducted under the terms of the attached COA. 22. All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification (N

- Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. Markings must be as large as practicable. 23. Documents used b y the operator to ensure the safe operation and flight of the UAS and any documents required under 14 CFR §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the PI C at the Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. These documents must be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. 24. The UA must remain clear and give way to all manned aviation operations and activities at all times. 25. The UAS may

not be operated b y the PIC from any moving device or vehicle. 26. All Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet from all nonparticipating persons, vessels, vehicles, and structures unless: a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect nonparticipating persons from the UA and/or debris in the event of an accident. The operator must ensure that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the UA, flight operations must cease immediatel y in a manner ensuring the safety of nonparticipating persons; and b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission for operating closer to those objects and the PI C has made a safety assessment of the risk of operating clo ser to those objects and determined that it does not present an undue hazard. The PI C, VO, operator trainees or essential persons are not considered nonparticipating persons under this exemption.7 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment** 27. All operations shall be conducted over private or controlled

- access property with permission from the property owner/controller or authorized representative. Permission from property owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be conducted. 28. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA must be reported to the FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS

- 80) within 24 hours. Accidents must be reported to the National Transp ortation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions contained on the NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov

.8 **Price Aviation Group Exe**  **mption #11307 Am**  **endment**

**Technical data:** Wingspan: 180 cm L ength: 120 cm W eight without LiPo: 1,5 kg P ayload: 1,5 kg Electronics: 3DR Pixhawk, Spektrum Radio Control Equipment. **Failsafe:** The AFS failsafe s ys tem supports five of types of failsafe events:

 G eofence breach

 M aximum pressure altitude breach

 GPS loss

 Ground station or Radio Control communication loss

 B arometer failure