Submitted by:

Donald Collins Jr.

9415 West County Rd. 750 South

Paris Crossing, IN 47270

(812)569-0530

dj_collins81@hotmail.com

Plan:

Acquire photos and video for real estate listings, using the DJI Phantom 3 

Advanced Unmanned Aerial System.

UAV Phantom 3 Advanced:

The DJI Phantom 3 is a quad-rotor Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)

weighing less than 3 pounds. The UAS features a safety Return to Home 

function that in the event of a signal loss, the UAS will return to a preset 

position and land. The Return to Home feature can also be triggered 

manually. The remote connects to your phone or tablet, and a 720p HD 

view of everything your camera sees as you fly is displayed live.

From takeoff to landing, the Phantom 3 responds to commands while

automatically handling the most complex aspects of safe, stable flight.

Request:

An exemption from 91.7(a), 91.119, 91.121, 91.151(a), 91.405(a),

91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(2) and 91.417(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of

Federal Regulations (14 CFR) as was granted to Ralph J. Apel in 

Exemption

No. 11410

Petition:

I request an exemption from TITLE 14 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL

REGULATIONS SECTIONS 61.113 (a) and (b); 91.7 (a); 91.119 (c);

91.121; 91.151 (a); 91.405 (a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (1) and (2); 

91.417

(a) and (b)

The Extent Of Relief that Donald Collins Jr seeks

Extent of Relief that Donald Collins Jr seeks regarding Section 61.113 (a) 

and (b) Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations Relief from Section 61.113 

(a) and (b) is requested to allow a Pilot in Command holding a current 
Private Pilots Certificate to operate Donald Collins Jr’s Phantom 3. The 

flight would be complimented by a Visual Observer who, along with the 

pilot, will maintain Visual Line of Sight with the Phantom 3 at all times. All 

operations conducted will be incidental to Donald Collins Jr. The Phantom 

3 is not able to carry passengers.

2. Extent of Relief that Donald Collins Jr seeks in regards to Section 

91.7(a) Civil Aircraft Airworthiness

Relief from Section 91.7(a) is requested to allow Donald Collins Jr to 

determine airworthiness of the Phantom 3. As part of this determination the 

following will be adhered to:

a. Prior to the Phantom 3's flight the PIC will inspect the UA to ensure it is

in a condition that will be conducive for a safe flight.

b. Donald Collins Jr will follow the DJI Phantom 3’s aircraft/component,

maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspection and life limit requirements.

c. Donald Collins Jr will comply with all DJI manufacturer Safety Bulletins.

3. Extent of Relief that Donald Collins Jr seeks in regards to Section 91.119

Minimum Safe Altitudes General relief from 91.119 is requested to allow

Donald Collins Jr to operate the Phantom 3 at altitudes not to exceed 400’ 

AGL over private property at a distance at or greater than 5NM from the 

nearest airport as depicted on current Aeronautical Charts. Donald Collins 

Jr also wishes to be granted exemption to operate at an altitude not greater 

than 50’ AGL(below tree level) between 1NM and 5NM from the nearest 

airport as depicted on current Aeronautical Charts.

Donald Collins Jr will adhere to the following in order to maintain an 

acceptable level of safety associated with operations over private property:

(a) Donald Collins Jr will not allow the Phantom 3 to operate at a speed 

greater than 10kts.

(b) Donald Collins Jr will require the UAS operator (PIC) to be fully 

trained on the Phantom 3 by adhering to the recommendations 

contained within the Phantom 3’s operating manual

(c) Donald Collins Jr will have accumulated and logged, in a manner 

consistent with 14 CFR 61.51(b), a minimum of 25 hours of total time 

as a UAS rotorcraft pilot including at least 10 hours logged as a UAS 

pilot with a multi-rotor UAS. In addition the operator will have logged 

a minimum of 5chours as a UAS pilot operating the make and model 

UAS that Donald Collins Jr operates.

 Donald Collins Jr will be familiar with and able to manually institute the 

Phantom 3’s Return to Home (RTH) feature. This feature aborts a flight
 operation and automatically returns the UAS to a predetermined GPS 

safe point.

(d) Donald Collins Jr will not operate over private property without first 

finding a suitable alternate landing spot on the property.

(e) Donald Collins Jr will abort the flight in the event of unpredicted 

obstacles or emergencies in accordance with the operating 

documents.

(f) Donald Collins Jr will utilize a two man flight team consisting of the 

Pilot in Command (PIC) and a Visual Observer (VO). This team will 

maintain visual line of sight with the Phantom 3 at all times and 

remain within hearing distance of one another.

(g) Donald Collins JR will not permit flight around vessels, vehicles and 

structures without permission from the owner.

4. Extent of Relief that Donald Collins Jr seeks in regards to Section 91.121 

Altimeter Settings

Relief from 91.121 is requested because the Phantom 3 utilizes electronic

GPS with a barometric sensor.

In order to maintain an equal level of safety that 91.121 requires, the PIC of

the UAS will abort the flight in the events that the UAS loses

communications with the GPS signal.

5. Extent of Relief that Donald Collins Jr seeks in regards to Section 

91.151(b) Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

Relief from 91.151(b) is requested to the extent that allows Donald Collins 

Jr to operate the Phantom 3 up to a point (considering wind and forecast 

weather conditions) that there is enough power to fly at normal cruising 

speed to the intended landing point and land the UA with 30% battery 

power remaining.

6. Extent of Relief that Donald Collins Jr seeks in regards to Sections 

91.405(a),91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1), and (a)(2), 91.417(a) and (b) These 

are all associated a with Airworthiness certificate

Relief from 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), and (a)(2), And 91.417(a) and (b) is

requested to the extent that allows Donald Collins Jr to operate the 

Phantom 3 Quad-Copter as necessary.

These sections are all related to airworthiness certificates of aircraft. There 

is not currently an airworthiness certificate for small UAS’s.

Donald Collins Jr would comply in full to any conditions and
limitations that the Administrator would place in order to receive an

approved Grant of Exemption.

Public Interest:

Aerial photography has been around for many years. More and more real 

estate agencies are looking for a way to have these pictures/videos taken 

in a more cost effective way. This exemption would allow me to offer my 

services to real estate agencies at fraction of the cost of a helicopter or 

small manned aircraft. There is essentially no carbon foot print left from 

these UAS’. Aerial photography from a UAS, leaves no emissions, and 

minimal ecological damage. These items listed, will help my community, 

not only with finding local businesses a new location, but also with finding 

the people in my community a beautiful place to call home.

Conclusion:

As set forth herein, Donald Collins Jr seeks an exemption pursuant to 14 

C.F.R. § 11.61 and Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act 

of 2012 (FMRA), which will permit safe operation of the DJI Phantom 3 

UAS commercially within the Real Estate markets. The Administrator will 

be assisting small business and local residents, by granting this petition. In 

accordance with the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012,Donald 

Collins Jr respectfully requests that the FAA Administrator grants this 

petition for exemption from TITLE 14 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL 

REGULATIONS SECTIONS 61.113 (a) and (b); 91.7 (a); 91.119 (c); 

91.121; 91.151 (a); 91.405 (a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.409 (a) (1) and (2); 

91.417 (a) and (b)