DU PAGE COUNTY

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

Daniel J. Cronin, County Board Chairman

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT  STORMWATER REGULATORY SERVICES  NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

REGIONAL FLOOD CO NTROL OPERATIONS

421 N. County Farm Road (630) 407-6700 Phone Wheaton, IL 60187 (630) 407-6701 Fax www.dupageco.org/swm

U

. S

. D epa r tment o f T r an s po r tation March 27, 2015

D ocket Operations

1200 N e w J e rs ey A ve., S E

Wa s hingto n , D C 20590

Re: P etition o f DuPage County Stormwater Management f o r

Exemption P u rs uant to

S ection 333 o f the FAA M ode r nization and Re f o r m A ct o f 2012

To Whom It May Concern:

P u rs uant to S ection 333 o f the FAA M ode r nization and Re f o r m A ct o f 2012 (FMRA)

and 14 C. F .R. P a r t 11, DuPage County Stormwater Management he r eby applie s f o r

an exemption fr om F ede r al A viation Regulation s identi f ied belo w

.

Thi s exemption i s in acco r dance w ith p r otocol s outlined in thi s petition f o r

exempti o n, the enclo s ed UAS manu f actu r e r's o pe r ation s and/o r in s t r uction s manual and any othe r

r e q ui r ement s e s tabli s hed by the FAA pu rs uant to S ecti o n 333 o f the FRMAPage 2

F o r y ou r convenience, the petition i s o r ganized a s f ollo ws :

I

. Pe t i t io n er' s D e s cri pt io n

II

. R eleva nt St a tut ory Auth ori t y

III

. Q u ali f ica t io ns f or App roval Und er S ec t io n 333 o f th e R e f or m A c t

IV

. D e s cri pt io n o f Pro p o s e d O p era t io ns

V

. R eg u la t io ns Fro m W h ic h Exe mpt io n i s R e qu e st e d

A

. 14 C .F. R

. Par t 21, Subp ar t H

– A ir w or th i n e ss C er t i f ica t e s a nd 14

C .F. R

. § 91.203

B. 14 C .F. R

. Par t 27 A ir w or th i n e ss St a nd ar ds: N or m al C a t egory
R o t orcra ft

C

. 14 C .F. R

. § § 91.9 ( c )

, 45.23 (b) a nd 45.27 ( a ): A ircra ft Mar k i n g a nd

Id e nt i f ica t io n R e qu ire m e nts

D

. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.9 (b)( 2 ): C ivil A ircra ft Flig ht Ma nu al i n th e A ircra ft

E. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.7 ( a ): C ivil A ircra ft A ir w or th i n e ss F. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.103 : Pre f lig ht A c t io n G. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.109 ( a ): Flig ht Inst r u c t io n H. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.119 : Mi n i mum S a f e A l t i tud e s
I

. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.121 : A l t i m e t er S e tt i n g s J. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.151 ( a ): F u el R e qu ire m e nts f or Flig ht i n V F R

C o nd i t io ns K. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.203 ( a ) a nd (b): C arryi n g C ivil A ircra ft C er t i f ica t io n a nd

R egi st ra t io n L. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.405 ( a )

, 91.407 ( a )( 1 )

, 91.409 ( a )( 2 ); 91.417 ( a ) a nd (b):

Mai nt e n a n ce Insp ec t io ns

VI

. P ub lic Int ere st

VII. Privacy

VIII

. Fe d eral R egi st ry Summ ary
IX

. C o n cl us io nP age 3

I

. Pe t i t io n er' s D e s cri pt io n

DuPage County Stormwater Management wa s established in 1989 in recognition of the critical

need to limit the reoccurrence of extensive flood da mage to various communities within the County. The County owns and operates several flood control faci lities that help to provi de this essential flood

relief. One of these facilities includes the Elmhurst Quarry Fl ood Control Facility. This 8,300 acrefoot facility (containing two lobes at a depth of 200’) has the capacity to hold 8.7 billion gallons of

flood water that would otherwise inundate seve ral communities along Salt Creek. Other major

facilities include the Fawell Dam on the West Branch of the DuPage River, and the Wood Dale/Itasca Reservoir. Because the operation of these various f acilities is so critical, exhaustive maintenance and quality control inspection is one of our top priorities.

There is an inherent danger when working in the waterways, around large scale hydraulic structures, and near the high walls of a stone quarry. Our emphasis on maintenance inspections and efficient operation analysis has led us to explore better ways to perform these critical tasks. The safety of our communities and of our inspection team is pa ramount. We have an obligation to identify and control potentially dangerous situat ions through early intervention in the safest and most efficient manner possible.

John Blickem DuPage County Stormwater Management 421 N County Farm Rd Wheaton, IL 60187

630-407-6721 john.blickem@dupageco.orgP age 4

II

. R eleva nt St a tut ory Auth ori t y

Thi s petition f o r

exemption i s s ubmitted to f ul f ill Cong r e ss' goal in pa ss ing S ection

333 ( a ) th r o u gh ( c ) o f the Re f o r

m A ct. Cong r e ss ha s di r ected the FAA " to s a f ely accele r ate the integ r ation o f civil unmanned ai r c r a f t s y s tem s into the national ai rs pace s y s tem. " P u rs uant to

S ection 333 o f the Re f o r

m A ct, the FAA A dmini s t r ato r i s to con s ide r w hethe r ce r tain unmanned

ai r c r a f t s y s tem s may ope r ate s a f ely in the N ational A i rs pace ("NAS") be f o r e completion o f the

f o r mal UAS r ulemaking, ba s ed on the f ollo w ing con s ide r ation s :

 The UAS's s ize, w eight, s peed, and ope r ational capability;

 O pe r ation o f the UAS i n clo s e p r oximity to ai r po r t s and populated a r ea s ; and

 O pe r ation o f the UAS w ithin the vi s ual line o f s ight o f the ope r ato r

. 2

If

the S ec r eta r y dete r mine s that s uch vehicle s " may ope r ate s a f ely in the N ational

A i rs pace S y s tem, the S ec r eta r y sh all e st a b li sh re qu ire m e nts f o r

the s a f e ope r ation o f s uch

ai r c r a f t in the N ational A i rs pace S y s tem " ( empha s i s added )

. 3

A d d itionally, the FAA A dmini s t r ato r ha s gene r al autho r ity to g r ant exemption s fr om it s

s a f ety r egulation s and minimum s tanda r d s w hen the A dmini s t r ato r decide s a r eque s ted exemption i s in the public inte r e s t. See 49 U

. S .C. § 44701 (f) ( pe r mitting exemption s fr om §§

44701 ( a )

, ( b ) and §§ 44702 – 44716, et s eq

. )

. A pa r ty r eque s ting an exemption mu s t explain the

r ea s on s w h y the exemption: ( 1 ) w ould bene f it the public a s a w hole, and ( 2 ) w ould not adve rs ely

a ff ect s a f ety ( o r ho w it w ould p r ovide a level o f s a f ety at lea s t equal to the exi s ting r ule s)

. See

14 C. F .R. § 11.81 ( petition s f o r

exemption )

.

2 I d. at § 333 ( b )( 1 )

.

3 I d. at § 333 ( c )

.P age 5

III

. Q ua li f ica t io ns f or App roval Und er S ec t io n 333 o f th e R e f or m A c t

The p r opo s ed ope r ation s in thi s petition f o r

exemption quali f y f o r

expedited app r oval

unde r S ection 333 o f the Re f o r m A ct. Each o f the s tatuto r y c r ite r ia and othe r r elevant f acto rs

a r e s ati sf ied.

The p r opo s ed ope r ation s w ould pe r mit the u s e o f s mall and r elatively inexpen s ive UAS

unde r cont ro lled condition s in ai rs pace that i s : ( 1 ) limited; ( 2 ) p r edete r mined; ( 3 ) cont r olled a s

to acce ss ; and that ( 4 ) p r ovide s an inc r ea s ed level o f s a f ety beyond that exi s ting w hen f ixed o r

r oto r w ing ai r c r a f t a r e u s ed to accompli s h the s ame pu r po s e.

P etitione r’s UAS a r e r oto r c r a f t, w eighing approximately 3 pound s . They ope r ate, unde r no r mal condition s , at lo w s peed and have the capability to hove r , and move in the

ve r tical an d ho r izontal plane. P etitione r’s UASs w ill ope r ate in line o f s ight and w ill only

ope r ate w it h in a s te r ile a r ea de s c r ibed in the enclo s ed M anual. 4

G iven the s mall s ize o f the UASs involved and the r e s t r icted s te r ile envi r onment w ithin

w hich they w ill ope r ate, thi s petition exemption f all s w ithin the zone o f s a f ety i.e., an equivalent level o f s a f ety, in w hich Cong r e ss de s i r ed the FAA to pe r mit comme r cial UAS

ope r ation s by exemption pending completion o f f o r mal r ulemaking. A l s o, due to the s ize o f

the UASs and the r e s t r icted a r ea in w hich the UASs w ill ope r ate, app r oval o f the application

p r e s ent s no nati o nal s ecu r ity i ss ue.

Con s ide r ing the clea r di r ectio n in S ection 333 o f the Re f o r

m A ct, the autho r ity

contained in the F ede r al A viation A ct, a s amended, the equivalent level o f s a f ety s u rr ounding the p r opo s ed ope r ation s , and the s igni f icant public bene f it, the g r ant o f the r eque s ted exemption s i s al s o i n the public inte r e s t.

A cc or dingly, P etition r e s pect f ully r eque s t s the FAA g r ant the r eque s ted exemption w ithout delay.

4 See M anual S ection s 11P age 6

IV

. D e s cri pt io n o f Pro p o s e d O p era t io ns

The enclo s ed M anual de s c r ibe s , in detail, the policie s and p r ocedu r e s f o r P etitione r's

p r opo s ed UAS ope r ation s . To a ss i s t the FAA in it s s a f ety a ss e ss ment o f P etitione r's p r opo s ed

UAS ope r ation s , belo w i s a s umma r y o f ope r ational limitation s and condition s w hich w ill

en s u r e an equivalent o r highe r level o f s a f ety to ope r ation s conducted unde r cu rr ent r egulato r y guideline s :

1. The UAS w ill w eigh approximately 3 pounds.

2. F light s w ill be ope r ated w ithin line o f s ight o f a pilot and/o r ob s e r ve r

.

3. M aximum total f light time f o r

each ope r ational f light w ill be limited to the

amount o f time the UAS can be f lo w n and s till maintain a r e s e r ve batte r y po w e r

o f

no le ss than 25 %

.

4. F light s w ill be ope r ated at an altitude o f no mo r e than 400 f eet above g r ound level ("AG L ")

.

5. F light s w ill be ope r ated at a late r al di s tance o f lea s t 100 f eet fr om any inhabited

s t r uctu r e s , building s , vehicle s , ve ss el s , o r people not a ss ociated w ith the ope r ation

o r w ho have not s igned a w aive r in advance o f the ope r ation.

6. M inimum c r e w f o r

each ope r ation w ill con s i s t o f the UAS P ilot, a V i s ual

O b s e r ve r , and a S en s o r O pe r ato r

.

7. The UAS P ilot w ill be an FAA licen s ed ai r man w ith at lea s t a p r ivate pilot 's

ce r ti f icate and s econd cla ss medical ce r ti f icate.

8. The UAS P ilot w ill be P ilot in Command ("PI C ")

. If a pilot ce r ti f icate holde r othe r than the UAS P ilot, w ho po ss e ss e s the nece ss a r y PI C quali f ication s , i s al s o

p r e s ent, that pe rs on can be de s ignated a s PI C.

9. The UAS w ill ope r ate only w ithin a con f ined "S te r ile Ar ea " a s de f ined in t h e
M anual. 5

10. Pr io r to the ope r ation, a p r oject packet w ill be c r eated w hich include s all s a f ety and ope r ational in f o r mation nece ss a r y to s a f ely ca rr y out the f light.

11. A b r ie f ing w ill be cond u cted in r ega r d to the planned UAS ope r ation s p r io r to each day 's mi ss ion s

. I t w ill be mandato r y that all pe rs onnel w ho w ill be

pe rf o r ming dutie s w ithin the bounda r ie s o f the s a f ety pe r imete r be p r e s ent f o r

thi s b r ie f ing.P age 7

12. P ilot, V i s ual O b s e r ve r and S en s o r O pe r ato r w ill at all time s be able to communicate by voice and/o r text.

13. P ilot, V i s ual O b s e r ve r and S en s o r O pe r ato r w ill have been t r ained in ope r ation s

o f UAS gene r ally and r eceived up

- to

- date in f o r

mation on the pa r ticula r UAS to be

ope r ated a s r equi r ed in the M anual.

14. W r itten and/o r o r al pe r mi ss ion fr om the r elevant p r ope r ty holde rs w ill be

obtained.

15. A ll r equi r ed pe r mi ss ion s and pe r mit s w ill be obtained fr om te rr ito r ial, s tate,
county o r city ju r i s diction s , including local la w en f o r cement, f i r e o r othe r

app r op r iate gove r nmental agencie s

.

16. The ope r ato r w ill f ile a FAA F o r m 7711

- 1, o r it s equivalent, a s modi f ied in light

o f

the r eque s ted exemption, w ith the app r op r iate F light S tanda r d s D i s t r ict Off ice ("FSDO")

.

17. If the UAS lo s e s communication s o r lo s e s it s GPS s ignal, the UAS w ill ha v e the capability to r etu r n to a p r e

- dete r mined location w ithin the S te r ile Ar ea and land.

18. Contingency plan s w ill be in place to s a f ely te r minate f light i f the r e i s a lo ss o f

communication bet w een the pilot and the ob s e r ve r

.

19. The UAS w ill have the capability to abo r t a f light in ca s e o f unp r edicted

ob s tacle s o r eme r gencie s

.

6 See 49 U

. S .C. § 44701 (f) ( autho r izing the g r ant o f exemption s fr om r equi r ement s o f r egulation s

p r e s c r ibed p u rs uant to S ection s 44701 ( a ) and ( b ) and S ection s 44702

- 44716 )

.P age 8

V

. R eg u la t io ns Fro m W h ic h Exe mpt io n i s requested

The F ede r al A viation A ct exp r e ss ly g r ant s the FAA the autho r ity to i ss ue exemption s

. Thi s s tatuto r y autho r ity, by it s te r m s , i n clude s exempting civil ai r c r a f t, a s the te r m i s de f ine d

unde r § 40101 o f the A ct, including UASs

, fr om it s s a f ety r egulation s and minimum s tanda r d s

w hen the A dmini s t r ato r decide s a r eque s ted exemption i s in the public inte r e s t. 6

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om s eve r al inte rr elated p r ovi s ion s o f 14 C. F .R. P a r t s 21,

45 and 91 f o r

pu r po s e s o f conducting F la r e S tack in s pection s u s ing UASs . Li s ted belo w a r e ( 1 )

the s peci f ic s ection s o f 14 C. F .R. f o r w hich exemption i s s ought, and ( 2 ) the ope r ating

p r ocedu r e s and s a f egua r d s that P etitione r ha s e s tabli s hed w hich w ill en s u r e a level o f s a f ety

bette r than o r equal to the r ule s fr om w hich exemption i s s ought. 7

A

. 14 C .F. R

. Par t 21, Subp ar t H

– A ir w or th i n e ss C er t i f ica t e s a nd 14 C .F. R

. §

91.203 ( a )( 1 )

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om 14 C. F .R. P a r t 21, S ubpa r t H

, w hich e s tabli s he s the

p r ocedu r al r equi r ement s f o r

the i ss uance o f ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f icate s a s r equi r ed by 14 C. F .R. § 91.203 ( a )( 1 )

. G iven the s ize and limited ope r ating a r ea a ss ociated w ith the UAS to be utilized by the P etitione r , an exemption fr om P a r t 21, S ubpa r t H , meet s the r equi r ement s o f an equivalent

level o f s a f ety unde r P a r t 11 and S ecti o n 333 o f the Re f o r m A ct.

The F ede r al A viation A ct and S ection 333 o f the Re f o r m A ct both autho r ize the FAA to exempt ai r c r a f t fr om the r equi r ement f o r

an ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f icate, upon con s ide r ation o f the

s ize, w eight, s peed, ope r ational capability, and p r oximity to ai r po r t s and populated a r ea s o f the

pa r ticula r UAS

.

I n all ca s e s , an analy s i s o f the s e c r ite r ia demon s t r ate s that the UAS ope r ated w ithout an

ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f icate, in the r e s t r icted envi r onment and unde r the condition s p r opo s ed, w ill be

at lea s t a s s a f e a s , o r s a f e r

than, a conventional r oto r c r a f t ope r ating w ith an ai rw o r thine ss

ce r ti f icate w ithout r e s t r iction s and condition s o f the p r opo s ed UAS ope r ation s

.

7 See 14 C. F .R. § 11.81 ( e )

, w hich r equi r e s a petition f o r

exemption to include:

The r ea s on s w hy g r anting the exemption w ould not adve rs ely a ff ect s a f ety, o r ho w the exemption w ould p r ovide a le v el o f s a f ety at lea s t equal to that p r ovided by the r ule fr om

w hich you s eek exemption.P age 9

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

The UAS to be ope r ated he r eunde r , DJI Phantom 2 Vision + multi -r oto r r oto r c r a f t,

w eigh s approximately 3 pounds, ca rr ie s neithe r a pilot no r pa ss enge r , ca rr ie s no explo s ive

mate r ial s o r f lammable liquid f uel s , and ope r ate s exclu s ively w ithin a s ecu r ed and s te r ile a r ea.
U nlike othe r civil ai r c r a f t, the p r opo s ed ope r ation s w ill be cont r olled and monito r ed by the

ope r ato r , a s w ell a s an ob s e r ve r and s en s o r ope r ato r , pu rs uant to the M anual 's r equi r ement s

. M o r eove r , the FAA w ill have adva nce notice o f all ope r ation s conducted unde r thi s exemption.

The s e s a f ety enhancement s , w hich al r eady apply to civil ai r c r a f t ope r ated in connection

w ith exi s ting in s pection ope r ation s , p r ovide a g r eate r deg r ee o f s a f ety to the P etitione r's employee s , membe rs o f the public, and p r ope r ty o w ne rs than conventional ope r ation s cond u cted

w ith ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f icate s i ss ued unde r 14 C. F .R. P a r t 21, S ubpa r t H . La s tly, application o f

the s e s ame c r ite r ia demon s t r ate s that the r e i s no c r edible th r eat to national s ecu r ity po s ed by the

UAS , due to it s s ize, s peed o f ope r ation, lack o f explo s ive mate r ial s o r f lammable liquid f uel s , and inability to ca rr y a s ub s tantial exte r nal load.

B. 14 C .F. R

. Par t 27 A ir w or th i n e ss St a nd ar ds: N or m al C a t egory
R o t orcra ft

14 C. F .R. P a r t 27 s et s f o r th the p r ocedu r al r equi r ement s f o r

ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f ication o f

no r mal catego r y r oto r c r a f t. To the extent the P etitione r's UAS w ould othe rw i s e r equi r e

ce r ti f ication unde r P a r t 27, P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om P a r t 27 's ai rw o r thine ss s tanda r d s f o r

the s ame r ea s on s identi f ied in the exemption r eque s t fr om 14 C. F .R. P a r t 21, S ubpa r t H

.

C

. 14 C .F. R

. § § 91.9 ( c )

, 45.23 (b) a nd 45.27 ( a ): A ircra ft Mar k i n g a nd

Id e nt i f ica t io n R e qu ire m e nts

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om the ai r c r a f t ma r king and identi f ication r equi r ement s contained in 14 C. F .R. § § 91.9 ( c ) , 45.23 ( b ) and 45.27 ( a )

.

 1 4 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( c ) , Civil A i r c r a f t F light M anual, M a r king and P laca r d r equi r ement s , pr ovide s that:

N o pe rs on may ope r ate a U

. S

. -r egi s te r ed civil ai r c r a f t unle ss that ai r c r a f t i s identi f ied in acco r dance w ith P a r t 45 o f thi s chapte r

.

 1 4 C. F .R. § 45.23 ( b )

, M a r king s o f the A i r c r a f t, s tate s :

When ma r k s include only the Roman capital lette r "N" and the r egi s t r ation

numbe r i s di s played on limited, r e s t r icted o r light -s po r t catego r y ai r c r a f t o r

expe r imental o r p r ovi s ionally ce r ti f icated ai r c r a f t, the ope r ato r mu s t al s o di s play

on that ai r c r a f t nea r each ent r ance to the cabin, cockpit, o r pilot s tation, in lette rs not le ss than 2 inche s no r mo r e than 6 inche s high, the w o r d s " limited, "

"r e s t r icted, " " light -s po r t, " expe r imental, " o r " p r ovi s ional, " a s applicable.P age 10

 1 4 C. F .R. § 45.27 ( a ) , Roto r c r a f t, s tate s :

Each ope r ato r o f a r oto r c r a f t mu s t di s play on that r oto r c r a f t ho r izontally on both

s u rf ace s o f the cabin, f u s elage, boom, o r tail the ma r k s r equi r ed by § 45.23.

Exemption fr om 14 C. F .R. § 45.23 ( b ) i s w a rr anted becau s e the UAS ha s no ent r ance to the cabin, cockpit, o r pilot s tation on w hich the w o r d " Expe r imental " can be placed. M o r eove r , given the s ize o f the UAS , t w o

- inch lette r ing w ill be impo ss ible.

G iven the natu r e o f the s peci f ic r elie f s ought by thi s exemption r eque s t, P etitione r

r equi r e s r elie f fr om the a ss ociated ma r king and identi f ication r equi r ement s o f § 45.27 ( a ) and § 91.9 ( c )

, w hich w ould r equi r e compliance w ith § 45.23 ( b )

.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

The equivalent level o f s a f ety f o r

exemption s to the ai r c r a f t ma r king and identi f ication

r equi r ement s o f §§ 91.9 ( c ) , 45.23 ( b ) and 45.27 ( a ) w ill be p r ovided by having the UAS ma r ked

on it s f u s elage a s r equi r ed by § 45.29 (f)

.

The FAA ha s p r eviou s ly i ss ue d the f ollo w ing exemption s to the ai r c r a f t ma r king

r equi r ement s o f § 45.23 ( b ) : Exempti o n N o s . 10700, 10167 and 10167 A

.

D

. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.9 (b)( 2 ): C ivil A ircra ft Flig ht Ma nu al i n th e A ircra ft

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om the f light manual r equi r ement s o f 14 C. F .R. §

91.9 ( b )( 2 )

, w hich s tate s :

( b ) N o pe rs on may ope r ate a U

. S

. -r egi s te r ed civil ai r c r a f t –

...

( 2 ) F o r w hich an A i r plane o r Roto r c r a f t F light M anual i s not r equi r ed by § 21.5 o f

thi s chapte r , unle ss the r e i s available in the ai r c r a f t a cu rr ent app r oved ai r plane o r
Roto r c r a f t F light M anual, app r oved manual mate r ial, ma r king s and placa r d s , o r any combination the r eo f

.

G iven it s phy s ical dimen s ion s , con f igu r ation and load capacity, the UAS ha s no ability

to ca rr y s uch a manual on the ai r c r a f t, not only becau s e the r e i s no pilot on boa r d, but becau s e the r e i s s im p ly no r oom o r capacity to ca rr y s uch an item on the ai r c r a f t.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

The s a f ety r elated pu r po s e o f t h i s manual r equi r ement can be equally s ati sf ied by maintaining the UAS f light manual at the g r ound cont r ol point w he r e the pilot f lying the UAS

w ill have immediate acce ss to it. A cco r dingly, P etitione r r eque s t s an exemption fr om 91.9 ( b )( 2 )'s f light manual r equi r ement s , on the condition that the UAS f light manual be

available at the cont r ol point du r ing each ope r ation.P age 11

E. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.7 ( a ): C ivil A ircra ft A ir w or th i n e ss

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om 14 C. F .R. § 91.7 ( a )

, w hich r equi r e s that a civil

ai r c r a f t be i n ai rw o r thy condition to be ope r ated. I na s much the r e w ill be no ai rw o r thine ss

ce r ti f icate i ss ued f o r

the UAS

, s hould thi s exemption be g r anted, no FAA r egulato r y s tanda r d

w ill exi s t f o r

dete r mining ai rw o r thine ss

.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision + ha s a s tella r s a f ety r eco r d, demon s t r ating that the UAS i s ai rw o r thy. F u r the r , given the s ize o f the UAS and the r equi r ement s contained in the M anual f o r maintenance and p r e -f light s a f ety check li s t s , an equivalent level o f s a f ety w ill be p r ovided.

The FAA ha s i ss ued the f ollo w ing exemption s to thi s r egulation: Exemption N o s . 8 6 07, 8737, 8738, 9299, 9299 A , 9565, 9565B, 10167, 10167 A , 10602, 32827, and 10700.

F. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.103 : Pre f lig ht A c t io n

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om 14 C. F .R. § 91.103, w hich r equi r e s a PI C to bec o me f amilia r w ith s peci f ic in f o r mation be f o r e each f light, including in f o r

mation contained in the

FAA- app r oved F light M anual on boa r d the ai r c r a f t. While the PI C w ill be f amilia r w ith all

in f o r mation nece ss a r y to s a f ely conduct the f light, an exemption i s r eque s ted to the extent that an

FAA- app r oved F light manual i s r equi r ed on boa r d the ai r c r a f t.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

A n equivalent level o f s a f ety w ill be p r ovided by f ollo w ing the A i r c r a f t O pe r ation s
M anual. The PI C w ill take all r equi r e d p r e f light action s

- including r evie w ing w eathe r , f light

batte r y r equi r ement s , landing and takeo ff di s tance, and ai r c r a f t pe rf o r

mance data

- be f o r e initiation o f f light. The A i r c r a f t O pe r ation s M anual w ill be kept at the g r ound s tation w ith the

ope r ato r at all time s

.

G. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.109 ( a ): Flig ht Inst r u c t io n

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om 14 C. F .R. § 91.109 ( a )

, w hich p r ovide s that "[ n ] o

pe rs on may ope r ate a civil ai r c r a f t ( except a manned fr ee balloon ) that i s being u s ed f o r f light

in s t r uction unle ss that ai r c r a f t ha s f ully f unctioning dual cont r ol s

. " UASs and r emotely pil o ted

ai r c r a f t, by thei r de s ign, do not have f unctional dual cont r ol s

. I n s tead, f light cont r ol i s accompli s hed th r ough the u s e o f a box that communicate s w ith the ai r c r a f t via r adio

communication s

.P age 12

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

G iven the s ize and s peed o f the UAS , an equivalent level o f s a f e t r aining can s till be

pe rf o r med w ithout dual cont r ol s becau s e no pilot o r pa ss enge rs a r e aboa r d the UAS , and all

pe rs on s w ill be a s a f e di s tance a w ay in the event that the UAS expe r ience s any di ff icultie s du r ing f light in s t r uction.

The FAA ha s app r oved exemption s f o r f light t r aining w ithout f ully f unctional dual

cont r ol s f o r

a numbe r o f ai r c r a f t and f o r f light in s t r uction in expe r imental ai r c r a f t. Exemption s include: N o s . 5778 K and 9862 A

.

H. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.119 : Mi n i mum S a f e A l t i tud e s

P etitione r r eque s t s an exemption fr om the minimum s a f e altitude r equi r ement s o f 1 4

C. F .R. § 91

. 119. S ection 91.119 p r e s c r ibe s the minimum s a f e altitude s unde r w hich ai r c r a f t may
not ope r ate, including 500 f eet above the s u rf ace and a w ay fr om any pe rs on, ve ss el, vehicle, o r

s t r uctu r e in non

- conge s ted a r ea s

. See 14 C. F .R. § 91.119 ( c )

. S ection 91.119 ( d ) allo ws f o r

a helicopte r to ope r ate at le ss than tho s e minimum altitude s w hen it can be ope r ated "w ithout

haza r d to pe rs on s o r p r ope r ty on the s u rf ace, " p r ovided that " each pe rs on ope r ating the helicopte r complie s w ith any r oute s o r altitude s s peci f ically p r e s c r ibed f o r

helicopte rs by the FAA

. "

To pr ovide the intended flood control facility in s pection s , the UAS i s always ope r ated

bel ow 400 f eet AG L. A dditionally, due the n atu r e o f the p r opo s ed ope r ation s , the UAS w ill

maintain a late r al di s tance o f at lea s t 100 f eet fro m inhabited s t r uctu r e s , building s , vehicle s , and

ve ss el s , and fr om people not a ss ociated w ith the ope r ation.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

Compa r ed to f light ope r ation s w ith r oto r c r a f t w eighing f a r

mo r e than the maximum 25 pound s p r opo s ed he r ein, and given the lack o f f lammable f uel, any r i s k a ss ociated w ith the s e

ope r ation s i s f a r

le ss than tho s e that p r e s ently exi s t w ith conventional ai r c r a f t. A n equivalent

level o f s a f ety w ill be achieved given the s ize, w eight, and s peed o f the UAS , a s w ell a s the

location w he r e it i s ope r ated. As s et f o r th in the M anual, the UAS w ill be ope r ated in a

r e s t r icted and s te r ile a r ea, w he r e building s and people w ill not be expo s ed to ope r ation s w ithout

thei r p r e

- o b tained con s ent. Becau s e o f the advance notice to the p r ope r ty o w ne rs and

pa r ticipant s , all a ff ected individual s w ill be w ell a w a r e o f the planned f light ope r ation s a s s et
f o r th in the M anual.

F u r t h e r mo r e, by ope r ating at s uch lo w e r altitude s , the UAS w ill not inte rf e r e w ith o the r ai r c r a f t that a r e s ubject to the minimum s a f e altitude r egulation s

. F inally, the s ucce ssf ul s a f ety

r eco r d o f the DJI Phantom 2 Vision + demon s t r ate s that the UAS can be s a f ely u s ed at the s e lo w e r altitu d e s and clo s e r o pe r ating envi r onment s

.P age 13

I

. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.121 : A l t i m e t er S e tt i n g s

Thi s petition s eek s an exemption fr om 14 C. F .R. § 91.121, w hich r equi r e s a pe rs on

ope r ating an ai r c r a f t to maintain c r ui s ing altitude o r f light level by r e f e r ence to an altimete r that

i s s et to the elevation o f the depa r tu r e ai r po r t o r ba r omet r ic p r e ss u r e. A n exemption i s r equi r ed

becau s e the UAS doe s not have a ba r omet r ic altimete r , but r athe r a GPS altitude r ead out.

Eq u ivale n t Level o f S a f

ety

A n equivalent level o f s a f ety w ill be achieved by f ollo w ing the p r ocedu r e s s et f o r th in the

M anual. As p r e s c r ibed in the M anual, the ope r ato r w ill con f i r m the altitude o f the launch s ite

s ho w n on the GPS altitude indicato r be f o r e f light. M o r eove r , the PI C w ill u s e the GPS altitude

indicato r built in to the UAS to con s tantly monito r height, thu s en s u r ing ope r ation at s a f e altitude s

.

J. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.151 ( a ): F u el R e qu ire m e nts f or Flig ht i n V F R

C o nd i t io ns

P etitione r r eque s t s an exemption fr om 14 C. F .R. § 91.151 ( a )'s f uel r equi r ement s f o r f light

in VF R condition s

. S ection 91.151 s tate s :

( a ) N o pe rs on may begin a f light in an ai r plane unde r VF R condition s unle ss ( con s ide r ing w ind and f o r eca s t w eathe r condition s) the r e i s enough f uel to f ly to

the f i rs t point o f intended landing and, a ss uming no r mal c r ui s ing s peed –

( 1 ) D u r ing the day, to f ly a f te r that f o r

at lea s t 30 minute s ; o r

( 2 ) A t night, to f ly a f te r that f o r

at lea s t 45 minute s

.

H e r e, the batte r y po w e r ing the DJI Phantom 2 Vision + p r ovide s app r oximately 15

minute s o f po w e r ed f light. To meet the 30 minute s r e s e r ve r equi r ement in 14 C. F .R. § 91.151,

UAS f light s could not be conducted. G iven the limitation s on the UAS’s p r opo s ed f light a r ea and

the location o f it s p r opo s ed ope r ation s w ithin a p r edete r mined a r ea, a s a f ety ma r gin ba s ed on a

r e s e r ve amount o f batte r y li f e i s needed. P etitione r w ill not be conducting any UAS f light s at night.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

A n equivalent level o f s a f ety w ill be achieved becau s e the ope r ation s w ill be conducted

on -s ite w ithout s igni f icant t r an s it time by the UAS

. A ll f light s w ill be planned to be te r minated

w ith no le ss than 25 % r e s e r ve batte r y po w e r s till available. Thi s r e s t r iction w ould be mo r e than adequate to r etu r n the UAS s a f ely to the g r ound and it s planned landing zone fr om any w he r e in

it s limited ope r ating a r ea even in the event o f an unexpected occu rr ence. O pe r ation o f the UASP age 14

w ith le ss than 30 minute s o f r e s e r ve f uel doe s not include the type o f r i s k s that S ection 91.151 ( a )

w a s intended to alleviate given the s ize and s peed o f the s mall UAS , and the p r oximity o f t h e f light ope r ation to the landing zone. M o r eove r , ope r ation w ill be limited to cont r olled a r ea s

w he r e only people and p r ope r ty o w ne rs , o r o ff icial r ep r e s entative s w ho have s igned w aive rs

. w ill

be allo w ed.

Thi s r eque s t f o r

exemption f all s w ithin the s cope o f p r io r exemption s , including Exemption N o s . 10673, 2689 F , 5745, 1 0673, and 10808.

K. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.203 ( a ) a nd (b): C arryi n g C ivil A ircra ft C er t i f ica t io n

a nd R egi st ra t io n

P etitione r s eek s an exemption fr om civil ai r c r a f t ce r ti f ication and r egi s t r ation

r equi r ement s o f 14 C. F .R. § 91.203 ( a ) and ( b ) . The r egulation s tate s in pe r tinent pa r t:

( a ) Except a s p r ovided in § 91.715, no pe rs on may ope r ate a civil ai r c r a f t unle ss it

ha s w ithin it the f ollo w ing:

( 1 ) A n app r op r iate and cu rr ent ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f icate...

( b ) N o pe rs on may ope r ate a civil ai r c r a f t unle ss the ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f icate r equi r ed by pa r ag r aph ( a ) o f thi s s ection o r a s pecial f light autho r ization i ss ued unde r § 91.715 i s di s played at the cabin o r cockpit ent r ance s o that it i s legible to

pa ss enge rs o r c r e w

.

I n addition to the f act that P etitione r i s s eeking an exemption fr om the ai rw o r thine ss

ce r ti f icate r equi r ement s , an exemption to thi s r egulation i s nece ss a r y becau s e: ( 1 ) the UAS’s

con f igu r ation, load capacity and s ize doe s not allo w it to ca rr y ce r ti f ication and r egi s t r ation

document s ; ( 2 ) the UAS doe s not ha v e a cabin o r cockpit ent r ance at w hich document s co u ld be

di s played; and ( 3 ) the r e a r e no pa ss enge rs o r c r e w f o r w hom the ce r ti f icate s need to be

di s played.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

To t h e extent the s e r egulation s a r e applicable to the p r opo s ed UAS ope r ation s , an equivalent level o f s a f ety w ill be achieved by keeping the s e document s at the g r ound cont r ol point w he r e the PI C w ill have immediate acce ss to them.

The FAA ha s i ss ued nume r ou s exemption s to thi s r egulation, including: Exemption N o s

. 9565, 9665, 9789, 9789 A , 9797, 9797 A , 9816 A , and 10700.P age 15

L. 14 C .F. R

. § 91.405 ( a )

, 91.407 ( a )( 1 )

, 91.409 ( a )( 2 ); 91.417 ( a ) a nd (b):

Mai nt e n a n ce Insp ec t io ns

P etitione r al s o s eek s an exemption fr om the maintenance in s pection r equi r ement s containe d in

14 C. F .R. § 91.405 ( a ) , 91.407 ( a )( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a )( 2 ) ; 91.417 ( a ) and ( b ) . The s e r egulation s s peci f y maintenance and in s pection s tanda r d s in r e f e r ence to 14 C. F .R. P a r t 43. See, e.g., 14 C. F .R. §

91.405 ( a ) (s tating that each o w ne r o r ope r ato r o f an ai r c r a f t "[s] hall have the ai r c r a f t in s pected a s

p r e s c r ibed in s ubpa r t E o f thi s pa r t an d s hall bet w een r equi r ed in s pection s ...have di s c r epancie s

r epai r ed a s pr e s c r ibed in pa r t 43 o f thi s chapte r")

. A n exemption to the s e r egulation s i s needed

becau s e P a r t 43 and the s e s ection s only apply to ai r c r a f t w ith an ai rw o r thine ss ce r ti f icate, w hich

the UAS w ill not have.

E qu ivale nt Level o f S a f e t y

A n equivalent level o f s a f ety w ill be achieved becau s e maintenance and in s pection s w ill be pe rf o r med in acco r dance w ith the A i r c r a f t O pe r ation s M anual a s r e f e r enced in the M anual.

As p r ovided in the M anual, the ope r ato r w ill en s u r e that the UAS i s in w o r king o r de r p r io r to initiating f light, pe rf o r

m r equi r ed maintenance, and keep a log o f any maintenance pe rf o r med. The ope r at or i s the pe rs on mo s t f amilia r w ith the ai r c r a f t and be s t s uited to maintain the ai r c r a f t
in an ai rw o r thy condition to p r ovide the equivalent level o f s a f ety.

If

mechanical i ss ue s a r i s e, the UAS’s s ize and ca rr ying capacity, and the f act that f light

ope r ation s w ill only take place in r e s t r icted a r ea s f o r

limited pe r iod s o f time du r ing daylight

hou rs , c r eate s le ss r i s k than that a ss ociated w ith conventional r oto r c r a f t pe rf o r

ming the s ame

ope r ation.

VI

. P U BL IC IN TE R E S T

Gr anting DuPage County Stormwater Management’s exemption r eque s t f u r the rs the public inte r e s t. N ational policy s et by Cong r e ss f avo rs ea r ly integ r ation o f UAS into the national

ai rs pace in cont r olled, s a f e w o r king envi r onment s s uch a s tho s e p r opo s ed in thi s petition.

By thei r nature, flood control facilities p r e s ent unique di ff icultie s f o r

pe rs on s attempting

to in s pect and maintain thi s vital piece o f in fr a s t r uctu r e. S ending personnel to inspect dam structures and high walled flood storage facilities put s personnel at risk. The s e r i s k s can be avoided by u s ing a s mall UAS unde r cont r olled condition s to photog r aph and document the

s tate o f the equipment. Thi s help s to f acilitate r epai rs and ide n ti f y i ss ue s be f o r e they become

p r oblem s . The public deserves to have the highest leve l of quality control as they rely heavily on these facilities for flood protec tion. Employing the UAS in this capacity will further help to insure their safety.P age 16

VII

. Privacy

A ll f light s w ill occu r ove r p r ope r ty w ith the p r ope r ty o w ne r's p r io r con s ent and

kno w ledge.

VIII

. Fe d eral R egi st ry Summ ary

P u rs uant to 14 C. F .R. P a r t 11, the f ollo w ing s umma r y i s p r ovided f o r

publication in the

F ede r al Regi s te r , s hould it be dete r mined that publication i s needed:

DuPage County Stormwater Management s eek s an exemption fr om the f ollo w ing r ule s :

14 C F R P a r t 21, S ubpa r t H ; 1 4 C F R P a r t 27; 14 C F R 45.23 ( b ) ; 14 C F R 91.7 ( a ) ; 14 C F R

91. 9( b )( 2 ) ; 14 C F R 91.103; 14 C F R 91.109 ( a ) ; 14 C F R 91.119; 14 C F R 91.121; 14 C F R

91. 1 51 ( a ) ; 14 C F R 91.203 ( a ) & ( b ) ; 14 C F R 91.405 ( a ) ; 14 C F R 91.407 ( a )( 1 ) ; 14 C F R

91. 4 09 ( a )( 2 ) ; 14 C F R 91.417 ( a ) & ( b )

.

A p pr oval o f the s e exemption s allo w ing comme r cial ope r ation s o f s mall and light w eight

unmanned ai r c r a f t ("UAS") to conduct f la r e s tack in s pection s w ill enhance s a f ety by r educing

r i s k to DuPage County Stormwater Management employee s , the gene r al public and p r ope r ty

o w ne rs

.

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision + UAS

, w eighing approximately 3 pound s and po w e r ed by

batte r ie s , eliminate s vi r tually all o f that r i s k given the r educed ma ss and lack o f combu s tible

f uel ca rr ied on boa r d. The UAS i s t r an s po r ted to the de s ignated s u r vey a r ea s et up. I t i s not
f lo w n fr om an exte r nal location to the w o r k -s ite. The UAS w ill ca rr y no pa ss enge rs o r c r e w and, the r e f o r e, w ill not expo s e them to the r i s k s a ss ociated w ith manned ai r c r a f t f light s

.

The ope r ation o f thi s s mall UAS w ill p r ovide an equivalent level o f s a f ety, s uppo r ti n g the

g r ant o f the exemption s r eque s ted he r ein, including exempting the applicant fr om the

r equi r ement s o f P a r t 21 and allo w ing comme r cial ope r ation s . The s e light w eight UASs ope r ate at

s lo w s peed s , clo s e to the g r ound, and in a s te r ile envi r onment. As a r e s ult, they a r e f a r s a f e r

than

conventional ae r ial s u r vey and in s pection ope r ation s conducted w ith f ixed w ing ai r c r a f t o r helicopte rs

.P age 17

IX

. C o n cl us io n

S ati sf action o f the c r ite r ia p r ovided in S ection 333 o f the Re f o r m A ct o f 2012— s ize,

w eight, s peed, ope r ating capabilitie s , p r oximity to ai r po r t s and populated a r ea s and ope r ation

w ithin vi s ual line o f s ight and national s ecu r ity—p r ovide s mo r e than adequate ju s ti f ication f o r the g r ant o f the r eque s ted exemption s to pe r mit DuPage County Stormwater Management to

ope r ate a UAS in s uppo r t o f its flood control facility in s pection s in acco r dance w ith the m anual appended he r eto.

If

additional in f o r mation i s r equi r ed, o r i f you have any que s tion s r ega r ding thi s P etition

f o r

Exemption, plea s e contact the unde rs igned o r at:

John Blickem GIS Analyst Stormwater Management 421 N County Farm Rd Wheaton, IL 60187
630-407-6721 john.blickem@dupageco.org