Timothy Lanigan

1125 Kings Ridge Blvd

Wadsworth, Ohio 44281

Cell 614-535-5298

Email Tim@laniganslens.com

U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Management System 

1200 New Jersey Ave; SE 

Washington, DC. 20590

RE: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act of 2012

Attachments: 

1)DJI Inspire 1 User Manual v1.4

2)Inspire 1 Maintence Manual v1.0

3)Inspire 1 Safety Guidelines v1.0

References:

1) FAA Exemption No. 11138, Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-0481 in the matter of the 

petition of DOUGLAS TRUDEAU.

2) FAA Exemption No. 11136, Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-0508 in the matter of the 

petition of Advanced Aviation Solutions LLC.

3) FAA Exemption No. 11080, Regulatory Docket No. FAA- 2014-0355 in

the matter of the petition of FLYING CAM INC. 

4) FAA Exemption No. 11405, Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-0118 in

The matter of the petition of BRIAN CHERRY.

Dear Sir or Madam,

In accordance with the FAA's Guidelines for Submitting a Petition for Exemption under

Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, I Timothy Lanigan, referred to 

hereafter as the petitioner, request exemption from the following sections of Title 14, Code of 

Federal Regulations §§61.113(a); 61.113(b); 91.119(c); 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.405(a); 91.407(a); 

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

In order to operate small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) commercially in airspace regulated by 

the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) for the purposes of aerial photography, cinematography, 

Videography, mapping, crop surveying, inspections and other flight operations that could be 

Performed safely and more cost effectively with the use of small UAS at low altitude within the 

U.S. national airspace system as compared to a manned aircraft. Operations will be performed 

only at the request of and with the authorization and permission of clients or their authorized 

agents in order to facilitate commerce and raise awareness of the beneficial uses of small 

unmanned air systems. So long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions 

outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333. The conditions 
identified and proposed by the petitioner are drawn from references 1-3.

The FARS

The petitioner seeks exemption from the above mentioned FARs for the following reasons; 

61.113(a) & 9b); The petitioner requests relief in order to facilitate the utilization

of pilots who hold a Private Pilots (or greater) certificate. Any pilots operating under this 

exemption would be required to comply with any conditions as set forth and in a similar fashion 

to the previously granted exemptions.

91.119(c) As discussed in Exemption 11138 (DOUGLAS TRUDEAU), operations conducted 

closer than 500 feet to the ground may require that the UA be operated closer than

500 feet to essential persons, or objects that would not be possible without additional relief. 

The petitioner requests modification, waiver or exemption and clarification concerning the 

terms "congested areas" and "densely populated". The petitioner requests waiver for this 

condition to allow reasonable operations in areas of subdivisions and neighborhoods if 

required.

91.121 As discussed in Exemption 1138 (DOUGLAS TRUDEAU) is inapplicable since the 

UAS does not have an altimeter but instead utilizes electronic GPS with barometric sensors 

for altitude information.

91.151(a) As discussed in Exemption 11136 (ADV ANCED A VIA TION SOLUTIONS 

LLC) prior relief has been granted for manned aircraft to operate at less than the prescribed 

minimums, including Exemption Nos, 2689, 5745, and 10650. In addition, similar UASspecific relief has been granted in Exemption Nos, 8811, 10808, and 10673 for day time VFR 

conditions. The UAS provides battery power reaming in percent to the PIC. The UA batteries 

provide approximately 20 minutes of poweredflight. Information provided in the operating 

documents discuss procedures regarding remaining battery power management. Those 

documents contain a condition in which the PIC will initiate a landing procedure when 

battery remaining reaches a specified level. Given the limitations on proposed operations and 

the location of those proposed operations, the FAA found that a reduced minimum reserve 

for flight in day time VFR conditions was reasonable.

91.405(a); 91.407(a)(l); 91.409(a)(l) & (2); 91.417(a) & (b) As discussed in Exemption 1138

(DOUGLAS TRUDEAU). The petitioner proposes to inspect and ensure that the UAS is in a 

condition for safe flight in accordance with the operating documents. The FAA found that 

adherence to the petitioner's operating documents and the conditions and limitations 

specified, describing the requirements for maintenance, inspection and recordkeeping, were 

sufficient to ensure that safety would not be adversely affected.

The UAS

The DJI Inspire 1 is a highly successful professional grade small rotorcraft in the quadcopter 

configuration with an advertised weight of 6.4 pounds (2935 g) designed primarily to carry 

aloft a high definition camera. It has an advertised maximum speed of 42 knots (22m/s) and a 

maximum climb rate of less than 1200 feet per minute (5m/s). It is powered by four electric 

motors with a distance between motors of less than 24 inches.

exemption(s), should need arise. Operations within class B airspace are requested due to the 
lack of mode C transponder.

Public interest

Use o f the UAS in lieu of a manned aircraft would enhance safety and reduce the 

environmental impact as compared to similar operations conducted with manned aircraft of 

greater proportions, carrying a crew and flammable fuel. Additionally, use of the UAS in 

order to facilitate commerce could lead to economic growth. Operations for this petition will 

enable service for property owners or their designees seeking an enhanced perspective for 

characteristics, amenities and benefits of their desired photographic subjects that cannot be 

displayed through ground level videography/photography. Aerial photography is a valuable 

marketing tool that can lead to increased commerce and enhance personal photography. Crop 

surveying applications could lead to decreased use of pesticides and fertilizer and 

conservation of water as well as increased crop yields and decreased costs. Aerial surveying 

and inspections can increase work site efficiency, improve volumetric estimations and reduce

risk. The petitioner will provide clients with photographic data for these purposes on a "for 

hire" basis acting as an independent contractor. A visual observer will be utilized. Liability 

insurance will be obtained commensurate with the granting of this request for exemption. 

Flight data including UA flight time, Control Unit operation time, incident, accident and 

details concerning any deviations from normal operations will be available to FAA for use in 

collecting data regarding the use of the UAS as part of this application. This data may be 

submitted to FAA via traditional means (COA monthly reports), or other means as the 

Administrator may require.

Conclusion

The petitioner is requesting this exemption for the purposes of aerial photography, 

cinematography, videography, mapping, crop surveying, inspections and other flight 

operations. The reason for such a general and broad based request is that the petitioner wishes 

to utilize a business strategy of horizontal integration and maximize economies of scope in 

order to capitalize on opportunities as they may arise in the future, without the long 

turnaround time associated with additional exemptions. The petitioner's business model is 

based on the idea of offering ad hoc small UAS services to individuals or companies, who 

wish to employ these services as a safe, effective and legal option to enhance their business 

or hobby. The petitioner's own market research shows pent up demand for these services 

currently exist, in the real estate market and other markets are just beginning to emerge. The

petitioner has identified university's and other agencies that could benefit from the operation 

requested in this application.

A quick internet search will show that many are currently operating similar UAS in exactly 

the same fashion without, it is assumed FAA authorization. The petitioner has refrained from 

engaging in commercial use of the UAS. The primary purpose of seeking this exemption is to 

obtain the capability to offer those services while remaining in compliance. The petitioner 

has over 7 years in the radio control model aircraft hobby, along with 17 years of flight 

experience in both general and commercial aviation, holds an AIRLINE TRANSPORT 

PILOTS LICENSE

( #2745297 ), Three type ratings and over 6,000 hours of flight time in both domestic and 
international operations.

Respectively submitted,

Timothy Lanigan