O c tober 21, 2015

U.S. D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n sport a t i on

Do c k e t Man a g e ment S y s tem

1200 N e w J e rs e y Av e

., S E

W a shin g ton, DC 20590

R e : P e t i t i on of E y e I n T h e S ky A e ri a l I m a g i n g

, L L C f or a n E x e mp t ion P ursu a nt

to S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e rni z a t i on a nd R e f orm Ac t of 2012

Dir e c tor: F l i g ht S tand a r d s S e rvi ce :

P ursu a nt to S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e rni z a t i on a nd R e fo r m A c t of 2012 ( " R e fo r m A c t " ) a nd

14 C

. F

. R

. Pa rt 11

, E y e I n The S k y A e ri a l I m a g i n g

, L L C ( “ S k y I m a g in g ” ) h e r e b y a ppl i e s f o r a n

e x e mp t ion f

r om the Fe d e r a l A vi a ti o n R e g ulations ( "F A Rs " ) identifi e d b e l o w to a l l ow c om m e r c ial

op e r a t i on of small un m a n n e d a ir c r a ft ( U A S ) f or a e ri a l pho t o g r a p h y , vide o g r a p h y

, m a pping a nd

inspe c t i on f

o r r e a l est a te, a r c hi t ec t u r e

, a gri c ul t ur e

, land su r v e y phot o g r a m met r y

, e n g in e e ring a nd

other pro fe ss i o n a l a c t i vi t ies; tel e vis i on, publ i c e v e nts, cin e matog ra p h y a nd n e ws g a the r i n g ; a e ri a l

inspe c t i on/pho t o g r a

p h y o f re sidenti a l / c om m e r c ial stru c tur e s, uti l i t y inf r a st r u c tur e ; and live vid e o

to assist wi t h s ea r c h a nd r e s c ue o p e r a t i on s

.

This peti t ion for e x e mp t i on is made b a s e d on inf o rm a t i on out l ined in th i s Pe t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion,

a s w e ll a s the a cc ompa n y ing S k y I m a g i n g do c um e nts.

1. F l i g ht O p e r a t i ons Manu a l a nd;

2. Op e r a t i ons M a n u a ls

(Col l ec t i v e l y r e fer re d to a s Op e r a t i ons M a nu a ls " )

3. Us e r G uide a nd;

4. F l i g ht Man u a l 1

(Col l ec t i v e l y r e fer re d to a s " M a n u fa c tur e r ' s M a n u a l " ).

S k y I m a g i n g submi t s these supporting mat e ri a ls a s c onfid e nt i a l docum e nts pursu a nt t o 14 C. F .R.

§ 1 1.35 ( b), a s the m a te r i a ls cont a in con f idential c o m m e r c ial a nd/or p r o p ri e t a r y i nfo r mation t h a t

S k y I m a g i n g h a s not a nd will not sh a re with o t h e r r e qu e st i n g p a rti e s. Addit i on a l l y , t h e se

do c uments c ontain op e ra t i ng c ondi t ions and p r o ce dur e s that a r e not gen e r a ll y a v a i l a ble to the

publ i c a nd a

re p rot ec t e d f

rom re le a s e und e r t h e F re e dom of I nfo r m a t i on A c t, 5 U.S. C . § 552 e t.

s e q.

F or y our c onv e nie n ce , t h is P e t i t i on is o r g a ni z e d a s follows:

1 T h e te r m " M a n u f

a c t u r e r 's M a nu al" also i n c l u d es all r el ev a n t m a nu f a c t u r er p u b licati o ns

, i n cl u d i n g

, b u t n o t l i m ited

t o : op e r ati o n s a n d f

l i g h t m a nu als, us er gu i d e s

, c o m po n e n t m ai n t e n a n ce m a nu a l s

, p il o t t r ai n i n g m a nu a l s

, s e r v ice

i n f o r m ati o n l e tte r s a n d

, s a f

e t y / s e r v ice b u ll e ti n s

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 2

I. D e s cr i p tion of P e ti t io n e r

II. D e s cr i p tion of P r o p os e d O p er ations

A. A e ri a l D i g i t a l P hoto g r a ph y a nd V ide o g r a p h y for R ea l Es t a te, M a ppi n g

, I n f ra str u c ture I ns p ec t i on a nd S ea r c h a nd R e s c u e S e rvi ce s

III. R e levant S ta t u to r y Au t h o r ity

IV. Sk y I m agi ng ’ s P r o p os e d U A S O p er ations Me e t t h e R e qu i r e me n ts of

S ec tion 333 of the Re f

o r m A c t

A. App r ov a l i s W

a r ra n t e d B a s e d on the U A S ' s S i z e

, W e i g ht, S p ee d, a nd

Op e r a t i on a l C a p a bi l i t y

B

. App r ov a l i s W

a r ra n t e d B a s e d on the O p e r a t i on a l R e strictions S e t F orth in the

Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls

V. R e g u latio n s F r o m W h i c h Ex e m p tion is R e qu e s t e d

A. 14 C. F

.R. P a rt 21, Subp a rt H

– Air w o rthin e ss C e r t ifi ca tes a nd 14 C. F .R. §

91.203 (a ) ( 1 )

B

. 14 C. F

.R. P a rt 27 Air w or th i n e ss S tand a rds: No r m a l C a te g o r y Rotor c r a ft

C

. 14 C. F

.R. §§ 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23(b) a nd 45.27 ( a ): Air c r a ft M a rki n g a nd

I d e nt i fi ca t i on R e quir e m e nts

D. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.405 (a ), 9 1 .407 (a ) ( 1 ), 91

. 409(a) ( 1) a nd ( 2 ); 91.417 ( a ) a nd ( b ):

M a in t e n a n c e I nsp ec t i ons

E. 14 C. F

.R. P a r t 61, 14 C

. F

.R. § 61.3, 14 C. F

.R. § 61. 1 13: P riv a te P i lot

P rivile g e s a nd L i m i t a t i o n s

F

. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.7 (a ): C i vil Air c r a ft Air w orthin e ss

G. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.9 ( b) ( 2): C iv i l Air c raft F l i g ht Man u a l i n the Aircr a ft a nd 14

C. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd ( b ): Ca rr y i n g Civ i l A i r c r a ft C e rtifi ca t i on a nd

R e g is t r a t i on

H. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.103: P r e fli g ht A c t i on

I

. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.109 (a ): F l i g ht I nstru c t i on

J

. 14 C. F

.R. § 91. 1 19( c ): M in i mum S a fe Alt i tudes

K. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.121: Alt i met e r Settin g s

L

. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.151 (a ): Fu e l R e quir e ments for F l i g ht i n V F R Condi t ions

V1. D r u g a n d Al c o h ol P r o g r a m

VII. P ub l i c I n t e r e s t

VIII. P r iv a c y

IX. F e de r al R e gis t e r S u mm a r y

X. Concl u sion

I. DE S C R I P TION O F P E TI T ION E R

S k y I m a g i n g , b a s e d in G rov e r B e a c h, CA provid e s ae ri a l pho t o g r a p h y , vi d e ogr a

p h y

, a nd

inspe c t i on f

o r r e a l est a te, a r c hi t ec t u r e

, a gri c ul t ur e

, land su r v e y phot o g r a m met r y

, e n g ine e ring a ndU.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 3

other pro fe ss i o n a l a c t i vi t ies; tel e vis i on, publ i c e v e nts, cin e matog ra p h y a nd n e ws g a the r i n g ; a e ri a l

inspe c t i on/pho t o g r a

p h y o f re sidenti a l / c om m e r c ial stru c tur e s, u t i l i t y inf r a st r u c tur e ; and live vid e o

to assist wi t h s ea r c h a nd r e s c ue o p e r a t i on s . The C ompa n y ’s Pri n c ipal a nd Chief P i l ot J e f f r e y

Goodhue is a c om m e r c i a l l y r a ted a irpl a ne a nd A T P r a ted h e l i c opter pi l ot w i t h ov e r 20 y e a rs o f

c om m e r c ial a i r c r a ft op e r a t i on a l e x p e ri e n c e a nd h a s b ee n f l y i n g UAV Q u a d c opte r s a s a h ob b y ist

without incid e nt.

Upon the gr a nt of the 3 3 3 E x e mp t ion t he S k y I m a g i n g will sp ec iali z e in a e ri a l pho t o g r a p h y

, video g r a p h y

, a nd insp e c t ion for r e a l e stat e

, a r c hi te c tur e

, a gri c ul t ure land s u rv e y

photo g r a m m e t r y

, e n g in e e ring a nd other p ro fe ss i o n a l a c t i vi t ies; tel e vis i on, publ i c e v e nts,

c inem a t o g r a

p h y a nd n e w s g a th e ri n g ; a e r i a l i nsp e c t i on/pho t o g r a p h y of r e si d e nt i a l / c om m e r c ial

stru c tur e s, uti l i t y inf

r a st r u c tur e ; and live vid e o t o a ss i st wi t h s ea r c h a nd r e s c ue op e r a t i on s

. I ts

sta f f a r e w e ll tr a i n e d a nd e x p e ri e n ce d in providi n g support a s visu a l obse r v e rs ( “ V O” ) for the

pi l ot i n c om m a nd ( “ P I C ” ) in addit i on to a n y oth e r n ee d e d on site a ss i sta n c e

.

All of the e quip m e nt o w n e d b y S k y I m a g ing is of the hi g h e st quali t y g e a r a nd h a s b ee n a ble to

provide these s e rvi ce s s a f e l y a nd without a n y c la i ms or incid e n t

. S k y I m a g i n g ’ s g o a l is to advise

the p e rsp e c t i ve c l i e nt t h a t S k y I m a g i n g is fol l owing a ll the a ppl i ca ble st a te a nd f e d e r a l rul e s to

e nsure the s a f

e t y of the p ubl i c while p r ovid i ng the c l i e nt wi t h a c ompeti t ive a nd c ost e f f e c t i ve

prod uc t.

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t ion t o a l l ow ae ri a l d i g i t a l photogr a p h y a nd v i d e ogr a p h y f o r re a l

e stat e , m a ppi n g a g r i c ul t ure a nd insp e c t i on s e rvi c e s. The c ont a c t i nfo r mation for P e t i t i on e r is a s

follows:

J e f f r e y Goodhue

E y e I n The S k y A e r i a l Im a g i n g

, L L C

654 Ro c k a w a y A v e nue

G r ov e r B e ac h, CA 93433

P hon e : 805.709.7787

Em a i l : info@ e y e in t h e s k y ae ri a l i m a g i n g

. c om

II. DE S C R I P TION O F P R O P O S ED O P ER A TION

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t ion pursu a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the R e fo r m A c t t o op e r a te D J I

P h a ntom 3 P ro; D J I S 1000; 3D Robotics A e r o

- M, X8 a nd D J I I nspi r e 1 ( r e f e r re d to a s S I

- UA S )

(a ll und e r 5 5lbs) f

o r the prop o s e d op e r a t i ons dis c ussed h e r e in b e lo w

. All UAS ope ra t i ons will

o cc ur u n d e r ti g ht l y c ont r ol l e d c ondi t ions on priv a te p r op e r t y or a ppro ve d l o ca t i on wh e r e S k y

I m a g i n g h a s r e ce ived v e r ifi a ble p e rmission t o op e r a te f rom the l a ndown e r

, c ontr o l l e r or

a uthori z e d r e pr e s e ntativ e

. The pro p os e d U A S op e r a t i ons will be c ondu c ted in a cc or d a n c e with

the c ondi t ions and lim i ta t ions of this P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion and S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls. As d e t a i l e d in S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls, all U A S op e r a t i ons will be li m i t e d

to d a y t i me V F R c ondi t ions, with i n visu a l l in e

- o f

- si g ht ( " V L O S " ) of the o p e r a to r , in un c ontroll e d

a irsp a c e

, a nd will o cc u r at l ea st 5 nm a w a y f r om a n a irpo r t ref

e r e n c e poin t

. Mor e ov e r

, S k y

I m a g i n g ’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a ls i n c orpo ra t e r e dun d a nt sa f e g u a rds to a ssu r e the a ir c r a ft do e s not

tr a v e l ou t side the c ontro l led a rea of U AS op e r a t i o ns, in c lud i ng GPS " g e o

- f e n c i n g " t ec hnol o g ies.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 4

A. A er ial Digital P h otog r a ph y a n d V i d e og r a ph y for R e al E sta t e , M a pp i n g,

I nf r ast r u c tu r e I n s p ec t i on a n d S e a r c h a n d R e s c u e S er vic e s

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks to use small S I

- UAS f o r the p u rpose of providi n g a e ri a l di g i t a l pho t ogr a p h y

a nd vide o g r a

p h y for r ea l e stat e

, surv e y i n g , mappi n g

, a gri c ul t ure insp e c t i on a nd l i st i ng s e rvi c e s

for their c l i e nt ba s e

. S k y I m a g i n g h a s purpos e fully tailor e d i t s op e r a t i ons to me e t t he

r e quir e ments e s t a bl i sh e d b y the F AA in prior gr a n ts of e x e m pt i on a uthori z i ng c om me r c ial use o f

U A S in t he r e a l est a t e ind u st r y , includi n g :

 T rude a u, R ea l t or® ( E x e mp t ion No. 1 1 138)

 Alon S ich e rm a n ( E x e mp t ion No. 1 1728)

 S okoler M e d l y ( E x e mp t i on No. 1 1341)

 J a r e d Ol e son ( E x e mp t ion No. 12682)

 Rick D o y le Pho t o g r a p h y ( E x e mp t ion No. 12681)

 R a v e n E x ec ut i ve ( E x e mp t ion No. 12639)

All UAS r e a l est a te pho t o g r a p h y a nd vide o gr a p h y op e r a t i ons will oc c ur on priv a te p r op e r t y o r

a ppro ve d lo c a t i on in a c o ntroll e d a rea a w a y f

r om s p ec tators a nd p e rsons not invo l v e d in t he

r e c ordi n g pr o ce s s

. I n a d d i t ion, t he filming will be c ondu c ted b e t w ee n d a wn a nd dusk to e nsure

ma x i m um s a f

e t y for the publ i c a nd those invo l v e d in t he manipulation a nd op e r a t i on of the U A S ;

V F R c ondi t ions, a t alt i tudes b e low 40 0 ' a bo v e g r o und lev e l ( “ AG L ” ).

As s e t fo r th belo w

, S k y Im a g i n g ’ s op e r a t i ons pro v ide a n e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y whi c h is

sup e rior to pe r fo r m i ng t h e s a me w ork u si n g c onv e nt i on a l fi x e d

- wing a ir c raft or h e l i c opte r s.

S mall UAS r e a l est a te v i d e o pr o du c t i on is also sa f e r th a n tr a di t ional mann e d a ir c r a ft p e r fo r mi n g

the s a me f

un c t i on. Vid e o g r a ph e r

- inspe c tors a lso f r e qu e nt l y n ee d to cli m b r o of top s , tr ee s, or

othe r wise p e r fo r m el e v a t e d wo r k, whi c h e x pos e s them to the r isk of d a n g er ous f a l l s,

e le c tro c ut i on or ot h e r w o rk re lat e d in j uri e s. I n a d d i t ion, dep e nding on the n a ture of the vi d e o

n ee d e d a nd insp ec t i on, p r o x i m i t y to equipment, a n d other me c h a n i ca l ha z a r ds a ssoci a ted w i t h

industri a l s i tes a nd c onstru c t i on f a c i l i t ies o f

ten in v olves a risk of e x posure t o h a z a rdous

c ondit i ons. The use of S I

- UAS m i t i g a tes th e se h a z a rds a nd is ul t i m a te l y a much s a f e r a nd c ost

ef fi c ient method of p e r f

o rming these a nd most o t h e r t y p e s of i nsp e c t i ons.

Mor e ov e r

, c onv e nt i on a l op e r a t i ons us i ng roto rc ra ft a nd fi x e d

- wing a ir c r a ft in l ow l e v e l

op e r a t i ons pr e s e nt risks a ssoci a ted w i t h v e hicl e s w e i g hi n g tens of thous a nds of p o unds

(in c lud i ng p a y l o a d) a nd ca r r y i n g l a r g e a moun t s of f u e l whi c h inh e r e nt l y p r e s e nts si g nifi c a nt fire

h a z a rds a s w e ll a s e x posure to o t h e r c h e m i ca l co n taminat e s

. I t i s i m port a n t t o note the use of

small UAS in t his a re a w i l l not on l y be s a fer a nd more c ost e f fe c t i ve to t he p e rsp ec t i ve u s e r or

pur c h a s e r of the s e rvi ce

, but t he qu a l i t y a nd e x p a nse of ac qui r e d info r mati o n will be f a r more

robust g iven the low c ost asso c iat e d with i ts ac qu i si t ion a nd other potential c onsum e rs a n

ine x p e nsive prod uc t.

U A S r e a l est a t e video p r odu c t i on is m ore r e l i a ble, a nd a l l ows f or the c ol l e c t i on, diss e m i n a t i on,

a nd stora g e of visual a nd other s e nso r y d a t a with g r ea t e r p r e c is i on a nd du r a t i on a t a v e r y low

c os t

. S mall UASs wi l l a l so be ca p a b l e of a c c e ss i ng a nd ins p ec t i ng a r ea s t h a t would o t h e r w ise be

ina cce ss i ble or h i g h l y d a n g e rous using c onv e nt i o n a l ai rc r a ft or oth e r insp e c t i on methods.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 5

III. RE L E V

A N T S T A TU T O R Y A U TH O RITY

This P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t i on is submi t ted pu r su a nt t o S ec t i on 333 (a ) th r o u gh ( c ) of the F A A

Mod e rni z a t i on a nd R e fo r m A c t of 2012 ( " R e fo r m A c t " ). Cong re ss has di r e c ted the F A A " to

s a f e l y a cce l e r a te t h e in te g r a t ion of c iv i l un m a nn e d a ir c r a ft s y s t e ms i nto t he n a t i on a l ai r sp a c e

s y stem

. " P ursu a nt t o S ec t ion 333 of the R e fo r m A c t, t he F AA Admin i str a t o r is to pe r m i t

unmann e d a ir c r a ft s y st e ms t o op e r a te in the Na t i on a l Ai r sp a c e S y stems ( "NAS " ) w h e re it is s a fe

to do so b a s e d on the f

ol l owing c onsi d e r a t i ons:

● The U A S ' s s iz e , w e i g h t, spe e d a nd op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y ;

● Op e r a t i on of the U AS i n c lose p r o x i m i t y to ai rp orts a nd populat e d a r ea s; a nd

● Op e r a t i on of the U AS with i n the visu a l l ine of si g ht of the o p e r a t o r

.

Addit i on a l l y

, the F AA A dm i nis t r a tor h a s g e n er a l autho r i t y to g r a nt e x e mp t ions f r om t he a g e n c y 's

s a f e t y re g u l a t i ons a nd m i ni m um s t a nd a rds w h e n the Admin i str a tor d e c ides a r e qu e s t e d

e x e mp t ion i s in the publ i c in t e r e st. S e e 49 U.S. C

. § 106 ( f) ( d e fini n g the a u t hori t y of the

Admin i str a tor ) ; 49 U. S .C. § 4 4701 ( f) ( p e rmit t ing e x e mp t ions f r om §§ 447 0 1( a ), ( b ) a nd §§

44702

– 44716, e t seq. )

. A p a r t y r e qu e st i n g a n e x e mp t ion m ust e x plain the r e a sons w h y the

e x e mp t ion: (1) would b e n e fit the publ i c a s a who l e

, a nd ( 2 ) would not adv e rs e l y a f f e c t s a f e t y ( o r

how it would provide a lev e l of s a f e t y a t l ea st e q u a l t o the e x is t ing rul e s). See 14 C. F .R. § 1 1.81

(p e t i t i ons for e x e mp t ion).

I V

. S K Y I M A G I N G’S P R O P O S ED S I

- UAS O P E R A TIONS M EET T H E

REQUI R E M ENTS OF S ECTI O N 333 OF THE RE F ORM A C T

The small S I

- UAS op e r a t i ons proposed b y S k y I m a g i n g a s not e d a bove in t his P e t i t i on for

E x e mp t ion quali f

y f o r e x p e di t e d a ppro va l p u rsu a n t t o S ec t i on 333 of the R e fo r m A c t a s e a c h of

the st a tu t o r y c rit e ria a nd r e lev a nt f ac tors a re s a t i sfi e d.

A. Ap p r oval i s W

a rr a n t e d Bas e d on the U AS ' s S i z e , W e ig h t, S p ee d , a n d

O p er ational Ca p a b i l ity

A G r a nt of E x e mp t ion i s a ppro p ri a te for op e r a t i o n s c ondu c ted usi n g the U A S s due to t h e ir si z e

w e i g ht, s p ee d, a nd o p e r a t ional ca p a bi l i t y

.

 The S I

- UAS ut i l iz ed b y S k y I m a g i n g h a s b ee n a p prov e d for u s e in prior Se c t io n

333 G ra nts of E x e mp t ion f r om t he F A A

. 2

 The S I

- UAS w e i g hs less t h a n 55 pounds, in c lud i ng p a y l o a d

 The S I

- U A S will not be f lown at a g round sp e e d in e x ce ss of 87 knots (100 m i les

p e r ho u r )

. The e x e mp t ion ho l d e r m a y use e i t h e r g r oundsp ee d or c a l i br a ted a i r sp ee d to

d e te r m i ne c omp l ian c e w i th t he 87 knot sp ee d r e st r ictio n

.

2 See e

. g

., G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n t o T r u d e a u

, R e a lt or ® ( E x e m p t i o n N o

. 11 1 38 ) ; G r a n t o f E x e m p ti o n to A l o n

Sic h e r m an ( E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1 1 728 ) ; G r a n t o f E x e m p ti o n to S o k o ler M ed ly ( E x e m p ti o n N o

. 1 1 3 41 )

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 6

 Alt i tude in f orm a t i on will be g e n e r a ted b y e quip m e nt onboa r d the U A S a s

sp ec ifi e d usi n g GPS tri a n g ulation, d i g i t a l l y e n c od e d b a rom e tric a l t i m e te r , radio

a l t i m e te r , or a n y c omb i n a t i on the re of. This i nfo r m a t i on will be tr a nsm i t t e d to t he pi l ot

via t e lem e tric d a t a fe e d.

 The S I

- UAS will h a ve s y stem r e dund a n c i e s a nd i n d e p e nd e nt fu n c t i on a l i t y t o

e nsure the o v e r a ll s a f

e t y a nd p re dict a bi l i t y of the s y s tem. I f c onn e c t i on to t he r e mo t e

c ontrol or g round c ontrol station i s lo s t, f a i l s a fe s y stems wi l l pe r m i t t he U A S s to

r e turn to a p r e d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on a nd s a f e l y l a nd without in

j u r y o r d a m a g e

.

 The r a dio f

r e qu e n c ies u s e d for op e r a t i ons a nd c o n trol of the S I

- UAS c omp l y with

the F e d e r a l C om m unic a t i ons C o m m i ss i on ( " F CC") a nd other a ppro p ri a t e gov e rnm e nt

ov e rsi g ht a g e n c y r e qui r e ments. The op e r a t i ng f r e qu e n c y for t h e S I

- UAS is 2.4 G H z

a nd 915 MHz f

re qu e n c y b a nds.

I f the s a me o p e r a t i ons w e re c ond u c ted usi n g a h e l i c opte r , the a i r c raf t ' s tak e

- o f f w e i g ht would

like l y e x cee d 6,000 pou n ds d e p e ndi n g on p a y load. The di f f e r e n c e in w e i g ht b e tw ee n the S I

- UAS

a nd a h e l i c opt e r si g nif

i c a nt l y r e d u ce s the pot e nt i a l h a rm to the p a rti c ipati n g a nd no n

p a rti c ipating ind i viduals a nd / or sur r oundi n g pro pe r t y in t he e v e nt of a n un i ntend e d a c c ident or

incid e nt. I n a ddi t ion, t he risk to t he onbo a rd pilot a nd ca m e ra op e r a tor is e l i m inat e d.

B

. Ap p r oval i s W

a rr a n t e d Bas e d on the Op er atio n al R e st r ic t io n s S e t F o r t h in

Sk y I m agi ng ’ s O p er at i o n s M a nu als

Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls and the M a nufa c ture r ' s M a n u a l for the s e l e c ted S I

- UA S will c ontain a ll the

pro c e du r e s a nd l i m i tations n ece ss a r y to sa fe l y a nd su cce ssful l y p e r f orm the op e r a t i ons spe c if i e d

in t his P e t i t ion for E x e m

pt i on. T o a ss i st t he F

AA i n making a s a f

e t y a sses s ment of S k y I m a g i n g ’s

prop o s e d op e r a t i ons, b e low is a summa r y of o p er a t i on a l l i m i t a t i ons a nd c ondi t ions t h a t S k y

I m a g i n g will a dh e re to, a nd whi c h will e nsure a n e quival e nt or h i g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y to

op e r a t i ons c ondu c t e d u n d e r c u r r e nt r e g ulato r y g u idelines:

1. The S I

- UAS w e i g hs l e ss than 55 pounds, with p a y load.

2. All ope ra t i ons shall be c o ndu c ted ov e r p riv a te or c ontroll e d

- a c ce ss prop e r t y with

v e ri f iable p e rmission f

r o m t he land o w n e r/ c ontro l ler or a uthori z e d r e pr e s e ntative.

P e rmission f

r om l a nd own e r/ c ontroll e r o r a uthori z e d r e p r e s e n tative w i l l be obtain e d

for e a c h s c h e du l e d fl i g ht prior to ope ra t i o n

.

3. All U A S s op e r a ted und e r the G r a nt of E x e mp t ion wi l l be id e nt i fi e d b y s e ri a l nu m b e r

,

re g is t e r e d in a cc o rd a n c e with 14 C F R p a rt 47, a nd h a ve identifi ca t i on ( N

- N umbe r )

ma r kin g s in a cc or d a nc e with 14 C F R p a rt 45, Subp a rt C. M a rki n g s will be a s la r ge a s

pr a c t i ca b l e

.

4. Min i mum c r e w f

or e ac h fli g ht ope r a t i on will c onsist of a pi l ot, who will be P i l o t

- in

Com m a nd ( " P I C ") of the S I

- U A S

, a nd one or mo r e V isual Obs e rv e rs ( " Ob s e rv e r ") a s

n ece ss a r y to s a f

e l y c on d u c t t he m i ss i on.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 7

5. P I Cs shall poss e ss e i t h e r a priv a te, r ec r ea t i on a l, or sport pi l ot c e rtifi ca te. T h e P I C

must a lso hold a c ur re nt F AA a i rm a n medi ca l ce r t ifi ca te or a v a l i d U.S. driv e r ’ s

l i ce nse is s u e d b y a stat e

, the D is t ri c t of Co l umb i a

, P u e rto Rico, a te rrito r y

, a

possession, or the Fe d e ral g ov e rn m e nt. The P I C w i l l also m ee t t he fli g ht r e view

r e quir e ments sp e c ifi e d in 14 C. F .R 61.56 in an a i r c r a ft in whi c h t h e P I C is r a ted on

his or h e r pilot ce rtifi c a t e

.

6. The S I

- UAS sh a ll be op e r a ted w i t hin V L OS of the P I C a nd Ob s e rver a t all t i m e s. The

P I C must use human vision un a ided b y a n y d e v i c e other than c o r r e c t i ve l e n s e s, a s

sp ec ifi e d on the P I C ' s F

A A

- is s u e d medi ca l c e rtifi c a te.

7. The P I C a nd Obs e r v e r desi g n a ted for a n y o p e r a t i o n will be a ble to c om m u n ic a te

v e rb a l l y a t all t i m e s.

8. El ec tronic mess a g i n g or t e x t i ng will not be p e rmit t e d du r ing fli g ht o p e r a t i o ns.

9. The a ddi t ional re qui r e m e nts i d e nt i fi e d in t he G ra n t of E x e mp t ion sh a ll be a dd e d to

the S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e rat i ons Manu a ls. The Op er a t i ons Manu a ls w i l l be m a in t a ined

a nd made a v a i l a ble to the Admin i str a tor upon re q u e st. I f a disc r e p a n c y e x is t s

b e tw ee n the c ondi t ions and lim i tations in the G rant of E x e mp t ion and S k y I m a g i n g ’s

Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls, t he c ondi t ions and lim i tatio n s in t he G ra nt of E x e mp t ion sh a ll

take pre ce d e n c e a nd must be f ol l ow e d. Oth e r wis e

, S k y I m a g i n g sh a ll foll o w the

pro c e du r e s outl i n e d in t h e ir O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls.

10. S k y I m a g i n g m a y upd a t e or re vise its Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls. R e vis i ons will be t rac k e d

a nd a r e vi s e d c o p y of the M a nu a l wi l l be pro v ided to t he Admin i str a tor upon re qu e st.

S k y I m a g i n g will a lso p r e s e nt an upd a ted a nd r e vised O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls i f it

p e t i t i ons for e x tension or a mendm e nt t o i t s G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. I f a n up d a te or

r e vis i on would a f

f ec t t he b a sis upon whi c h the F A A gr a nts t he e x e mp t ion, S k y

I m a g i n g will s ee k a n a m e ndment to i ts Gr a nt of Ex e mp t ion. S k y I m a g i n g will c onta c t

the F A A ’s U AS I nt e g r a t i on O f fi c e ( A F S

- 80) if q u e st i ons a rise reg a rdi n g u pd a tes or

r e vis i ons to the ope ra t i n g do c uments.

11. S k y I m a g i n g O p e r a t i ons M a nu a ls and its G ra nt of E x e mp t ion wi l l be a v a i l a ble to the

P I C a t t he g round c ontrol station a n y t i me the S I

- U AS is ope ra t i n g

.

12. The P I C is prohib i ted f r o m be g inn i n g a S I

- UAS f l i g ht un l e ss ( c onsid e ring wind a nd

fo re c a st w ea t h e r c ondi t i o ns) th e re is eno u g h p ow e r to f l y to t he f i rst in t e nd e d point of

landin g

, a nd a ssu m ing n o rm a l c r uis i ng s p ee d, to f l y a ft e r th a t f

o r a t l ea st 10 m i nutes.

13. M a x i m um to t a l fli g ht t i m e for e ac h o p e r a t i on a l fl i g ht us i n g the S I

- UAS w i ll be

l i m i ted to 40 m i n u tes or the a mount of time t he U AS c a n be flo w n a nd sti l l m a in t a in a

r e s e r v e b a t t e r y p o w e r o f no less than 25 % , whi c h e v e r o c c u rs f irst.

14. F l i g hts will be op e r a ted a t an a l t i t ude of no more t h a n 400 fee t A G L a nd w i ll n e v e r

e nter n a v i g a

b l e c ontroll e d a irsp a c e without t i me l y prior w r i t ten a uthori z a t i on a nd

a ppro va l f

r om t he F A A

. In the e v e nt t he stru c tu r e b e ing insp e c ted e x cee ds 400 fee tU.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 8

A G L , the U AS wi l l not be op e r a t e d more than 100 f e e t abo v e the h i g h e st p oint on the

stru c tur e

, a nd no mo r e t h a n 50 fee t h o ri z ontal l y f r om t he stru c tur e

.

15. F l i g ht op e r a t i ons must be c ondu c ted a t le a st 500 fe e t f r om all nonpa r t i c ipat i ng

p e rsons. ( p e rsons oth e r t h a n the P I C, V O , op e r a t o r t ra ine e s o r e ssential p er sons),

v e ssels, v e hicl e s, a nd st r u c tur e s unl e ss:

a

. B a r ri e rs or str u c tur e s a re pr e s e nt t h a t su f f i c ie n t l y p rot ec t nonpa r t i c i p a t i ng

p e rsons f rom the U A a n d /or d e bris in t he e v e nt of a n a c c ident. The o p e r a tor

must e nsure that nonp a

rt i c ipating p e rsons re m a in under su c h pr o t ec t i on. I f a

si t u a t i on a

ris e s wh e re n o np a rti c ipating p e rsons l e a ve su c h pr o t ec t i on a nd a re

with i n 500 fee t of the U A, f l i g ht op e r a t i ons must c ea se i m medi a t e l y a nd/ o r;

b. The a ir c r a ft is op e r a ted n ea r v e s s e ls, vehi c les or s t ru c tur e s w h e re t h e

own e r/ c ontroll e r o f su c h v e ssels, v e hicl e s or str u c tur e s h a s g r a nted p e rmission

a nd the P I C h a s made a s a f e t y a ssess m e nt of the r i sk of op e r a t i n g c los e r to

those obj ec ts and d e t e rmin e d that it do e s not pr e s e nt an undue h a z a rd, a nd;

c

. Op e r a t i ons n e a rer to the P I C, V O , o p e r a tor t r a in e e s or e ssential p e rsons do not

pr e s e nt an und u e h a z a rd t o those p e rsons p e r § 91

. 1 19( a ).

16. The S I

- UAS m a y not be op e r a ted l e ss t h a n 500 fe e t below or less than 2,0 0 0 f e e t

hori z ontal l y f

r om a c loud or w h e n vis i bi l i t y is l e ss t h a n 3 st a tu t e m i les f rom the P I C.

17. The S I

- UAS m a y not op e r a te w i t hin 5 nm of a n a i r port re fer e n c e point a s d e n oted on

a c ur r e nt F

A A

- publ i sh e d ae ron a ut ic a l ch a rt unless a letter of a g re e ment with t h a t

a irpo r t ’ s ma n a g e ment is obtain e d, a nd the op e r a t i on is c ondu c ted in a c c or d a n c e with

a N O T AM a s r e qui r e d b y the S k y I m a g i n g CO A

. The letter of a g re e ment with t he

a irport m a n a g e ment will be made a v a i l a ble to the Admin i str a tor upon re q u e st.

18. P rior to e ac h fl i g ht t he P IC sh a ll inspe c t t he S I

- U AS to con f irm th a t i t i s in a

c ondi t ion sa f

e for fli g ht. The pr e

- fli g ht i nsp e c t i on will acc ount for a ll disc r e p a n c ies,

e

. g . ino p e r a

ble c ompon e nts, i tems, or e quip m e nt, not a lr ea d y c o v e r e d in t he r e le v a nt

s ec t i ons of the op e r a t i ng do c uments a s w e ll a s e q u ip m e nt updat e s

. The P I C sh a ll not

op e r a te a n y S I

- UAS if t h e inspe c t i on r e v ea ls a c o ndi t ion t h a t a f f e c ts t he s a fe

op e r a t i on of the S I

- UAS unt i l t he n ece ssa r y main t e n a n c e h a s b e e n p e r fo r m e d a nd the

S I

- U AS is found to be in a c ondi t ion for s a f e fl i g ht. The g round c ontrol s t a t i on sh a ll

be includ e d in t he preflight inspe c t i on. All m a in t e n a n c e a nd a l t e r n a t i ons must be

prop e r l y do c umen t e d in t he U A S ’ s r ec o rds a s r e q u ir e d b y S k y I m a g in g ’ s O p e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls.

19. S k y I m a g i n g will t i me l y ca r r y out i ts m a in t e n a n c e , insp ec t i ons, a nd re c ord k ee pi n g

r e quir e ments in a cc or d a n c e with t he Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls. M a in t e n a n ce , in s p ec t i on,

a nd a l t e r a t i ons will be fu l l y noted in the S I

- U AS r ec ords, in c lud i n g to t a l t i m e in

s e rvi ce

, d e s c ription of w ork a cc omp l ished, d a te c omp l e ted a nd the si g n a t u re of the

a uthori z e d p e rson re turn i ng the S I

- UAS to se r vic e

.

20. A n y S I

- UAS that h a s u n d e r g one mainte n a n c e or a l t e r a t i ons th a t a f f e c t t he U A S

op e r a t i on or fl i g ht ch a ra c te r is t ics (e

. g ., r e p l ace m e nt of a fli g ht c ritic a l co m pon e nt)U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 9

must t i me l y und e r g o a f u n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht i n a cc ord a n c e with S k y I m a g i n g ’s

Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls. The P I C who c ond u c ts t he f u n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht m ust m a k e a n

e nt r y in t he U A S a ir c r a ft r e c ords o f the fl i g ht. The r e quir e ments a nd p roc e d ur e s for a

fun c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht and S I

- U AS r e c o rd e nt r y sh a l l be in c luded in the S k y Im a g i n g ’s

Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls.

21. The S I

- UAS will be op e r a ted a nd maintain e d acc o rding to t he M a n u f a c t u rer ' s

M a nu a ls and a n y r e quir e d manu fac tu r e r Sa f e t y / Se rvi c e B ul l e t i ns a nd p r od u c t updat e s

.

22. P rior to t he op e r a t i on, a Mi s sion P ac k e t wi l l be c r ea ted in a cc or d a n c e with t he

r e quir e ments on S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls.

23. S k y I m a g i n g will obtain an Air T r a f f i c O r g a ni z a t i on ( " A

T O " ) issu e d C e rti f

ic a te of

W a iver or Autho r i z a t i on, othe r wise known a s a CO A , prior to condu c t i n g a n y

op e r a t i ons und e r this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. A N O T AM w i l l be issued a s r e q uir e d b y

the CO A

. All ope r a t i ons will be c ondu c t e d in a cc o rd a n c e with ai r sp a c e r e q uir e ments

in t he A T O issued C O A i n c lud i ng c l a ss of a irsp ac e

, a l t i t ude lev e l and pot e nt i a l

tr a nspond e r r e quir e ment s

.

24. All r e quir e d p e rmissions and p e rmits will be obtain e d f r om t e r ritori a l, s t a t e

, c oun t y o r

c i t y jurisd i c t i o n s, including lo c a l l a w e nf o rc e men t , fi r e or oth e r a

ppro p ri a te

g ov e rnm e ntal a g e n c ies.

25. I f the S I

- UAS loses c o m mun i ca t i on with t he P I C

, it will h a ve the ca p a bi l i t y to s a f e l y

r e turn to a p r e

- d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on with i n the op e r a t i on a l a r e a a nd land s a f e l y

.

26. C ont i n g e n c y plans w i l l b e in p l ac e to s a f e l y te r m i n a te f

l i g ht i f t h e re is a lo s s of

c om m unic a t i on b e tw ee n the P I C a nd the Obs e r v e r

.

27. The S I

- UAS will h a ve t h e ca p a bi l i t y to sa f

e l y a b o rt f

l i g ht i n the c a se of u n pr e dict e d

obst ac les or e m e r g e n c ies.

28. P I Cs a nd Obs e rv e rs will h a ve a t le a st a c u r r e n t C lass I I I M e d i ca l C e rtifi c a te or a v a l i d

a nd c ur r e nt state driv e r ’ s l i ce nse is s u e d with i n the U ni t e d S tat e s

.

29. P rior to condu c t i ng o p e rat i ons for filmin g , the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d,

in a m a nn e r c onsistent w i th 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b), a m i ni m um of 200 f l i g ht c y c l e s a nd

25 hou r s to t a l t i m e a s a U A S roto rc r a ft pilot and a t l e a st 10 hours logg e d a s a U A S

pilot with a simi l a r S I

- U AS t y pe plat f o rm. This r e quir e ment c a n be a c hie v e d b y

fli g hts condu c t e d a nd l o g g e d a s a hob b y is t

.

30. P rior to condu c t i ng o p e rat i ons for filmin g , the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d,

in a m a nn e r c onsistent w i th 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b), a m i ni m um of hou r s pursu a nt t o 54

C F R § 61.51 ( b) a s U A S pi l ot ope ra t i ng the m a k e a nd model of S I

- UAS to be ut il i z e d

for op e r a t i ons und e r the e x e mp t ion and th re e tak e

- o f fs a nd t h r e e landi n g in the

pr e ce di n g 90 d a y s

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 10

31. Op e r a t i ons shall oc c u r d uring d a y t i me V F R M e t e orolo g i c a l C ondi t ions; fl ig hts und e r

sp ec ial visu a l fli g ht rul e s ( " S V F R " ) s h a ll not be c ondu c ted.

32. The S I

- UAS sh a ll r e m a in cl ea r a nd y i e ld t he r i g ht of w a y to all o t h e r m a n n e d

op e r a t i ons a nd a c t i vi t ies a t all t i m e s (in c lud i n g

, b ut not l i m i ted to, u l t r a l i ght vehi c les,

p a r a c hu t e ac t i vi t ies, p a

ra s a i l ing ac t i vi t ies, h a n g g l ide r s, e tc. )

.

33. S I

- U AS Op e r a t i ons und e r I nstrument F l i g ht R ules, a t n i g ht, or b e y ond V L O S a re

prohibit e d.

34. The U A S will not be op e r a ted f rom a n e le v a ted p l a tfo r m un l e ss des i g n e d a nd

e n g i n ee r e d sp ec if

i ca l l y f or su c h pu rpos e s a nd be i n c omp l ian c e with t he g e n e r a l

r e strictions i m pos e d b y t he a ppl i c a ble re g ulation s

. Addit i on a l l y no P I C will pro v ide

a n y fil m

- fli g ht op e r a t i o n s while in m ot i on f r om atop a n y e lev a t e d plat f orm v e hicle or

d e vic e

.

35. B e f o re c ond u c t i ng o p e r a t i ons, the r a dio f re q u e n c y sp ec trum used f o r op e r a t i on a nd

c ontrol of the S I

- UAS w i ll c omp l y with t he F e d e r a l C om m unic a t i ons C o m m i ss i on

( F CC) or other a ppro p r i a te g o v e rnm e nt ov e rsi g ht a g e n c y r e quir e m e nts.

V

. RE G UL A

TIONS F R O M WHICH EXE M P T I ON IS RE Q UE S T ED

The Fe d e r a l A

viation A c t e x pr e ss l y g r a nts t he F A A the a uthori t y to i ssue e x e mp t ions. T h is

statuto r y a uthori t y

, b y i t s te r ms, i n c ludes e x e mp t ing c iv i l ai r c raft, a s the t e rm is de f ined und e r §

40101 of the A c t, i n c lud i ng U A S s, f rom its sa fe t y re g ulations and min i mum stand a rds w h e n the

Admin i str a tor d ec ides a r e qu e sted e x e mp t ion i s in t he publ i c in t e r e st

. 3

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t ion f r om sev e r a l i nte r r e l a ted p r ovis i ons of T i t le 14 of the Code of

Fe d e r a l Re g ulations ( " 14 C. F .R " ) Pa r ts 21, 45, 61 a nd 91 f or p u rpo s e s of c o ndu c t i ng the

r e qu e sted o p e r a t i ons us i ng S I

- U AS plat f orms not e d a bove. L i sted b e low a r e : (1) the sp e c ific

s ec t i ons of 14 C. F

.R for whi c h e x e mp t ion i s sou g ht, and ( 2) the op e r a t i n g pro c e du r e s a nd

s a fe g u a rds th a t P e t i t i on e r h a s e stabli s h e d whi c h w i ll e nsure a le v e l of s a f e t y b e t t e r th a n or e qu a l

to t he rul e s f

r om which e x e mp t ion i s sou g ht. 4

U NM A N NED AI R C R A F T S YS T EM

A. 14 C. F

.R. P a r t 21, Su bp a r t H

– Ai r w o r thi n e ss C er ti f ica te s a n d 14 C

. F

. R.

§91.203 ( a) ( 1)

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s n ee d e d f r om t his s ec t i on if a finding is m a de un d e r the

R e fo r m A c t t h a t t he U A S s e le c ted p r ovi d e s a n e q u ival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y w h e n c ompa r e d to

a ir c r a ft no r mal l y us e d f

o r the s a me a ppl ic a t i on. T h e se c rit e ria a re met a nd in point of fac t

3 4 9 U

. S. C

. § 4 47 0 1( f

) ( a u t h or izi n g t h e g r a n t o f e x e m p ti on s fro m r e q u ir e m e n ts o f r e gu l a ti o n s pr es c r i b ed p u r su a n t to

Secti o n s 44701( a) a n d ( b ) a n d Secti o n s 4470 2

- 447 1 6)

.

4 1 4 C .F.R § 11

. 81( e )

, w h i c h r e q u ires a p etiti o n f o r e x e m p ti o n to i n c l u d e: T h e r e a s o n s w h y g r a n t i n g t h e e x e m p ti o n

w o u ld n o t ad v e r s e l y a f

f e c t s a f e t y

, o r h o w t h e e x e m

p ti o n w o u ld pro v i d e a le v el o f s a f e t y a t least e q u al to t h at

pro v i d ed b y t h e r u le f

r o m w h i ch y o u s e e k e x e m p ti o n

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 11

e x cee d e d, a nd t h e refo r e no e x e mp t ion i s n ee d e d. 5 I f, ho we v e r , the F AA d e te r m i n e s that th e re

a re some c h a r a ct e rist i c s of the c hos e n U AS t h a t f a il to m ee t t he r e quir e m e nts of the R e fo r m A c t,

a n e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted.

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

S k y I m a g i n g ’ s use of the S I

- U AS is s a fe w h e n tak i ng in t o a c c ount its si z e , w e i g ht, s p ee d, a nd

op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y

. As s e t fo r th i n the d e s c ript i on of pro p os e d op e r a t i o n s in S ec t i on I V ( A ),

the S I

- UAS w e i g hs less t h a n 55 pounds, including p a y l o a d a nd will not be f lown a t a g round

sp ee d in e x ce ss of 87 k n ots. The S I

- UAS is a lso equipp e d with s a f e t y f ea t ur e s whi c h will a l l ow

P e t i t i on e r to op e r a te the S I

- U AS s a f e l y a ft e r e x p e ri e nci n g c e rt a in i n

- fl i g ht contin g e n c ies or

f a i l ur e s a s not e d b e lo w

. 6 7 Addit i on a l l y , the S I

- UAS ca r r i e s n e i t h e r pilots nor p a sse n g e rs, ca rr ies

no e x plos i ve mat e ri a ls or f lammable l i quid fu e ls, or oth e r e le m e nts i d e nt i fi e d b y Hom e land

S ec uri t y a s b e i n g pro h ib i t i ve a nd op e r a t e e x c lus i v e l y with i n the p a r a met e rs stat e d in S k y

I m a g i n g ’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l s

.

Op e r a t i ons c ond u c ted u n d e r this e x e mp t ion wi l l b e c lose l y c ontroll e d a nd mon i tor e d b y the P I C

op e r a tor a nd will be c on d u c ted in c omp l ian c e with l o ca l pub l ic s a f e t y r e qui r e ments, to pr o vide

s ec uri t y for the a rea of o p e r a t i on. S k y I m a g i n g w i ll a lso provide the F AA with adv a n c e not ic e of

a ll op e r a t i ons via N O T

A Ms as re quir e d b y t h e a p pl i ca ble CO A

. I n a ll c a s e s, op e r a t i on of the S I

UAS und e r the pro p o s e d c ondi t ions will be a t l ea st as s a fe a s, or s a f e r th a n, c onv e nt i on a l

roto rc raft op e r a t i ng with a n a ir w orthin e ss ce rtifi ca t e

. L a st l y , the S I

- U AS do not ne e d a m e a ns to

c om m unic a te w i t h other a ir c r a ft or A TC, b ec a use those ca p a bi l i t ies w i l l be sole l y possess e d b y

5 See G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1 1 06 2 t o A s tra e u s Ae r ial ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0 3 5 2 at p gs

. 1 3

- 14

, 22 )

.

6 See e

. g

., G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1 1 18 4 t o L o w C o u n t r y R C

, C orp

. ( F A A

- 2014

- 080 3 at p g

. 3) : " T h e [ D J I S 1 000 ]

h as t h e c ap a

b ili t y to op e r ate s a f

e l y a f ter e x p e r ie n c i n g c er ta i n i n

- f l i g h t co n t i ng e n ci e s o r f

a i l u r es a n d us e s an a u t o

p il o t s y s t e m to m a i n t a in U AS s ta b ili t y a n d c o n tr o l. T h e U AS is also a b le to r es po n d to a l o s s o f g l ob a l po s itio n i n g

s ys t e m ( G P S) o r a l o s t

- l i n k e v e n t w i t h a pr e

- c oord i n ate d

, p r e d icta b le, a u t o m ated f l i g h t m a n e u v e r

, a n d m a nu a l f l i g h t

c o n tr o l f u n cti o n ali t y as a b a ck u p

. T h ese s a f e t y f e a t u r es pro v i d e an e q u i v al e n t l e v el o f s a f e t y c o m p a r ed to a m a n n ed

ai r c r a f t p e r f o r m i n g a si m ilar op e r ati o n ."

7 See e

. g

., G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1 1 18 4 t o VDOS Gl ob al, L L C

. ( F A A

- 2014

- 038 2 at p gs

. 4

- 5) : T h e J G

- UAS c a n b e

op e r ated e n tir e ly b y a t o u c h

- s c r e e n

, m a p

- b ased i n te r f a c e. T h is m e a n s t h e op e r at o r o n ly n e e d s to c o mm a n d t h e s ys t e m

w h e r e to g o

, a n d t h e s ys t e m do es all t h e f l y i n g f o r t h e op e r at o r

. T h e J G

- UAS c a n b e op e r ated in bo th s e m i a n d f u l l y

a u t o n o m ou s f

li g h t mod es, w i t h t h e op e r at o r s i m p l y clic k i n g o n a m ap to c r e a te a pr e

- p la nn ed f l i gh t p a t h

f o r a f l i gh t. I n a dd itio n

, t h e op e r a t o r c a n c r e a te n o f l y z o n e s o r m a x i m

u m f l i g h t r a n g es a n d altit u d es so t h e s ys t e m

c a nn o t e n ter a r e a s d e e m

ed u n s a f e o r u n n e c e s s a r y to f

l y o v e r

. T h e p etiti o n er s tates f u r t h er t h at t h e U AS h as b u i l t

- i n

i n tell i g e n t f

a u lt h a n d li n g w h i c h all o w s t h e J G

- U AS to d et e ct a s y s t e m f a u lt w h ile in t h e air a n d a u t o m a t ical l y f l y

b a c k to its ta k e o f

f l o c a ti o n a n d la n d

. Fa u lts t h at c a n b e d ete c ted i n cl u d e: l o s s o f c o mm un i c a ti o n ; e x c e e d i n g pr e

- s et

w i n d t h r e sh o l d s ; a n d l o w b att e r y l e v e l s

.

A ll f l i g h t op e r ati o n s a r e g l ob al po s iti o n i n g s y s t e m ( G P S) c o n tr o lle d

, m a k i n g t h e s ys t e m e a s y to n a v i g ate. A t a n y

po i n t if t h e op e r at o r is n o t e x p licit l y c o m m a n d i n g t h e s y s t e m to m o v e, t h e s ys t e m a u t o m a tical l y h o l d s its G P S

po s itio n

. T h e f

l i g h t co n tr o l s y s t e m e m

p l o y s n o t o n l y G P S po s itio n i n g b u t a v a r ie t y o f s e n s or s i n c l u d i n g s o n a r

, b a ro m et r ic pr es s u r e, t e m

p e r a t u r e, w i n d s p e e d a n d o t h e r s to e n s u r e s ta b ili t y s o l on g as w i n d t h r es h o l d s a r e n o t

e x c e e d e d

. A l s o a f

l i g h t te r m i n ati o n li n k

– to pr e v e n t a ' f l y a w a y ' o r o t h er po te n tial l y d a n g e ro u s s i t u ati o n

– is

a v aila b le to t h e op e r at o r ."U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 12

the P I C a nd Ob s e rve r

, w ho a re not onbo a rd the S I

- UA S

. 8 I n a ddi t ion, no s e nse

- a n d

- a void

te c hnolo g y is n e ce ss a r y f or the S I

- UA S s b e c a use t h e y will be op e r a t e d a t a l l t i m e s in V F R

c ondi t ions and w i t hin V L O S of the P I C a nd Op e ra to r

. 9

B

. 14 C. F

.R. P a r t 27 Ai r w o r thi n e ss S tan d a r d s: N o r m al C a t e go r y Ro t o r cr a f t

T i t le 14 C. F

.R. P a rt 27 s e ts fo r th t he pro c e d u r a l r e quir e ments for a i r wo r th i n e ss c e rtifi c a t i on of

norm a l c a t e g o r y roto r c raft. T o the e x tent that S k y I m a g i n g ’ s small S I

- UAS would othe r wise

r e quire ce rtifi c a t i on und e r Pa r t 27, P e t i t i on e r s ee k s a n e x e mp t ion f r om P a rt 27 ' s a i r wo r th i n e ss

stand a rds f

or t h e s a me re a sons i d e nt i fi e d in t he requ e st for e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F

.R. R. P a rt 21,

S ubp a rt H

, supra

.

C. 14 C. F

.R. §§ 91. 9 ( c ), 45

. 23(b) and 45.27 ( a): Ai r c r a f t M a r k i n g a n d I d e n t i f

ica t ion

R e qu i r e m e n ts

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t ion f r om t he a ir c r a ft ma r king a nd identifi ca t i on r e quir e ments

c ontain e d in 14 C

. F

.R. §§ 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23( b ) a nd 45

. 27( a ).

● 14 C. F

.R. § 91.9 (c ), Civ i l Air c r a ft F l i g ht Man u a l, Ma r king a nd P la c a rd

r e quir e ments, provi d e s that:

No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - re g is t e r e d c iv i l ai r c r a ft unless that a i r c raft

is i d e nt i fi e d in a cc or d a n c e with P a rt 45 of th i s c h a pte r

.

● 14 C. F

.R. § 45

. 23(b ) , M a rkin g s of t h e Ai r c raft, st a tes:

W h e n ma r ks in c lude only the Rom a n c a pi t a l l e t te r " N " a nd the r e g is tr a t i on

number is d i spl a y e d on l i m i ted, re strict e d or l i g h t

- sport ca t e g o r y a ir c r a ft

or e x p e rim e ntal or pro v i s ional l y c e rtifi ca ted a ir c raft, the op e r a tor must

a lso d i spl a y on that a i r c r a ft n e a r e a c h e nt r a n c e to the ca bin, c o c kpi t , or

pi l ot s t a t i on, in l e t t e rs n o t l e ss t h a n 2 inch e s nor m ore than 6 in c h e s h i g h,

the w ords " l i m i ted

, " "r e s t ri c ted," " l i g h t

- sport, " e x p e rim e ntal," o r

" provisional

, " a s a ppl ica b le.

● 14 C. F

.R. § 45.27 (a ), Ro t or c raft, stat e s:

E ac h op e r a tor of a roto rc r a ft must disp la y on that roto rc raft ho r i z ontal l y

on both sur fa c e s of the c a bin, fus e l a g e , boom, or t a il the m a rks re qui r e d b y

§ 45.23.

I n a pr e vious G r a nt of E x e mp t ion, t he F AA d e t e r m ined th a t e x e mp t ion f r om t h e se r e qui r e ments

w a s w a r r a nted p rovid e d t h a t t he a ir c r a ft " h a v e id e nt i fi ca t i on ( N

- Numb e r) ma r kin g s in

a cc or d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R P a rt 45, Subp a rt C i f the ma r ki n g s a r e a s l a r g e a s pr ac t i ca b l e

. " 10

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

8 See G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1 106 2 t o A s tra e u s Ae r ial ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0 3 5 2 at p g

. 1 3)

.

9

. I d

10 . FAA D o c k et N o

. F A A

- 201 4

- 0352.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 13

All S I

- UAS flo w n b y S k y I m a g i n g will b ea r N

- n u mber ma r ki n g s that a r e a s la r g e a s p r a c t ic a ble

in a cc or d a n c e with 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 45, Subp a rt C

. 11

D. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.40 5 (a )

, 9 1.407 ( a) ( 1), 9 1 .40 9 (a ) (1) a n d (2 ) ; 91. 4 17(a) a n d (b):

M ai n t e n a n c e I n s p ec tions

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t ion f r om t he mainten a n c e insp e c t i on r e quir e ments c ontain e d in 14

C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ), 91

. 4 0 7(a) ( 1 ), 91

. 409( a ) ( 2); 9 1.417 (a ) a nd (b )

. T h e se r e g u l a t i ons spe c i f y

mainten a n c e a nd insp ec t i on st a nd a rds in r e f e r e n c e to 14 C

. F

.R. P a rt 43. S ee

, e

. g

., 14 C

. F .R. §

91.405 (a ) ( stati n g that ea c h own e r o r op e r a tor of a n a ir c r a ft " [ s ] h a ll h a ve t h e a ir c r a ft insp e c ted a s

pr e s c rib e d in sub p a rt E o f this pa r t and sh a ll b e t w ee n r e qu i r e d insp ec t i ons ...h a ve disc r e p a n c i e s

r e p a i r e d a s p r e s c rib e d in p a rt 43 of th i s c h a p t e r" )

. An exe mption f r om th e s e r

e gula t ions i s n ee d e d

b ec ause Part 43 and t h e s e s ec t i ons only apply to a i r c raft wi t h an airwo r th i n e ss c e rt i f i c ate, whi c h

the U AS pla t forms t o be op e rated und e r th i s grant of e xe mption w i l l not h a v e . ( E mphasis a d d e d)

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hie v e d or e x cee d e d b e c a use mainte n a n c e a nd insp ec t i ons

will be t i me l y p e r fo r med in a cc or d a n c e with t he M a nuf a c t u r e r ' s M a nu a l and a n y r e qui r e d

manu fac tu r e r Sa f

e t y or Se r vice B ul l e t i ns. F urt h e r

, a s r e quir e d b y S k y I m a g in g ’ s Op e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls, t he P I C will c o ndu c t a p r e

- fli g ht i nsp e c t ion of the S I

- UAS a nd a l l asso c iat e d

e quip m e nt t o acc ount f

o r a ll disc re p a n c ies a nd/or i nop e r a ble c omponents. M a in t e n a n c e will be

p e r f orm e d a nd v e ri f

ied t o a ddr e ss a n y c ondi t ions potential l y a f fe c t i ng s a fe op e r a t i on of the S I

UAS a nd no f

l i g hts will o cc ur u n less, a nd unt i l, all fli g ht c r i t ic a l compo n e n ts of the S I

- UAS h a ve

b ee n fo u nd to be a ir w or th y a nd in a c ondi t ion sa f e for op e r a t i on. A fu n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht wi l l be

c ondu c ted f

ol l owi n g the r e pla c e ment of a n y fli g h t

- c ritic a l compon e nts. As r e quir e d b y S k y

I m a g i n g ’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a ls, t he P I C who c on d u c ts t he fun c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht wi l l m a ke a n

e nt r y in t he S I

- UAS a i r c r a ft r e c ords of the fli g ht.

S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a l also in c ludes r e quir e ments to follow the m a nuf a c tu r e r ’ s U A S

a ir c r a ft/ c omponent, mai n ten a n ce , o v e rh a ul, r e pla c e ment, insp ec t i on, a nd l if e l i m i t r e quir e ments

for the f ol l owi n g a ppl i c a ble c omponents: pow e rt r a in s y stem (p o w e rpl a nt), prop e l l e rs, a vio n ics

a nd c ontrol sur f

ace s (in c l uding a i l e rons / e levons )

, stru c tur e s & a ir f r a me, c a me r a s y stem,

e le c tri c a l s y stems (i n c lud i ng b a t t e r i e s), g round c o ntrol s t a t i on, h a z a rd a c ce ssori e s, a nd sp a r e

p a rts. F urt h e r

, S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls a lso i n c lude proc e dur e s t o do c ument a nd

maintain a r e c o rd of the S I

- U A S ’ s mainte n a n ce

, p r e v e ntative m a in t e n a n c e

, a l t e r a t i ons, s t a tus of

r e pla c e ment /ove r h a ul c o mponent p a rts, a nd the t o tal t i me in s e rvi c e of the S I

- U AS us e d und e r

th i s G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. As a whol e , the m a i nte n a n c e a nd insp e c t i on p r o c e dur e s r e qui r e d in S k y

I m a g i n g ’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a ls ensu r e that a n e qu i v a lent or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y will be

ac hiev e d.

P I L O T

- IN

- CO M M A N D OF THE U A S

E

. 14 C. F

.R. § 61

. 1 13: P r ivate P i l ot P r iv i leg e s a n d Li m ita t io n s

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C F R § 61. 1 13, whi c h r e str i c ts priv a te pilot ce rtifi ca te

holde r s f r om f l y i n g a i r c r a ft f

or c omp e ns a t i on or h ir e

, a nd would a lso r e quire a s e c ond c lass

11 See, e

. g

., F AA D o c k et N o

. F A A

- 2014

- 0352

, at 14

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 14

medi ca l c e rtifi ca te. The p urpose of Pa r t 61 i s to e n sure that the skill and c o mpet e n c y of a n y P I C

mat c h e s the a irs p ac e in whi c h the P I C will be o p e r a t i n g

, a s w e ll a s r e quir i ng c e rtifi c a t i ons if the

priv a te pilot is c a r

r y i n g p a sse n g e rs o r c a r g o for h i r e

. I n th i s ca s e

, while the S I

- U AS will be

op e r a ted a s p a rt of a c o m me rc ial op er a t i on, th e y c a r r y n e i t h e r p a sse n g e rs n or c a r g o. I n the G r a nt

of E x e mp t ion t o Astr ae us A e r i a l, t he F A A d e t e rmin e d that the unique c h a ra c te r is t ics of U A S

op e r a t i on outside of c on t roll e d a irsp a c e did not w a r ra nt t he a ddi t io n a l c ost and re strictions

a t t e nd a nt wi t h r e quiri n g t he P I C to ha v e a Com me r c ial P i l ot C e rtifi ca te a nd Class I I I M e di c a l

C e rtifi ca te

. 12 The ful f

i l l me nt of the a ddi t ional re qui r e ments for a p riv a te pilot to be c ome

qu a l i fi e d a s a c om m e r c i a l p i lot would not l ea d to a n y a ddi t ional s a f e t y b e n e fits wh e n U A S

op e r a t i ons a

r e invo l v e d.

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

The r e strictions S k y I m a g i n g h a s pl a ce d on i t s S I

- UAS op e r a t i ons m ee t or e x cee d the re str i c t i ons

si m i l a r l y i m pos e d on As t r a e us A e r i a l. S k y I m a g i n g will op e r a te on p r iva t e prop e r t y or a p prov e d

loc a t i on a w a y f

rom p e rs o ns a nd p r op e r t y not i nvolved in the op e r a t i on. S k y I m a g i n g will a lso

obtain a n A

T O iss u e d COA prior to cond u c t i ng a n y op e r a t i ons und e r this G r a nt of E x e mp t ion.

All ope ra t i ons will be c o ndu c ted in a c c ord a n c e w i th ai r sp ac e r e qui r e ments in the A T O issued

COA including c lass of a irsp ace

, a l t i t ude lev e l and potential tr a nspond e r re quir e ments. A

N O T AM w i l l also be is s u e d a s r e qui r e d b y the a p pl i ca ble CO A

.

I n a ddi t ion t o these fli g ht r e strictions, S k y I m a g i n g will fu r th e r e nsu r e s a f e op e r a t i on b y

re quiri n g that a n y P I C be thorou g h l y v e rs e d not o n l y in ai r sp a c e a nd c o m mun i ca t i on is s u e s

p e rt a in i ng to a ll a ir c r a ft o p e r a tors but also in the u nique a sp ec ts of S I

- UAS fli g ht. As s e t fo r th i n

the O p e r a t i ons Man u a ls, p i lo t s will h a ve e x p e ri e n c e not on l y in S I

- UAS op e r a t i ons g e n e r a l l y but

h a ve l o g g e d fl i g ht t i m e in t he sp ec ific ma k e a nd model us e d for the op e r a t ions b e fo r e th e y a re

p e rmit t e d to pa r t i c ipate i n c om m e r c ial fl i g hts on b e h a lf of S k y I m a g i n g

. The pi l ot qualifi ca t i on,

tr a in i n g

, a nd c ur r e n c y requir e ments in the O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls ensu r e t h a t S k y I m a g i n g pi l ots

a re c om p e tent a nd p r o fi c ient in t he S I

- U AS th e y a re op e r a t i n g

. S k y I m a g i n g ’ s tr a in i n g a nd

qu a l i fi ca t i on r e qui r e men t s a re c onsistent with those c ontain e d in prior F AA S ec t i on 333 G ra nts

of E x e mp t i on, a nd will p rovide a h i g h e r l e v e l of c ompet e n c y a nd p r o fi c ie n c y for i t s pilo t s a nd

will e nsure a t l ea st an e q uival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y to t he publ i c.

O P ER A TI N G P A R A M ETERS O F THE U A S

F

. 14 C. F

.R. § 91. 7 (a ) : Civil Ai r cr a f t Ai r w o r thi n e ss

I n a smuch a s th e re will be no a ir w orthin e ss c e rtifi c a te issued f or the U A S s, S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n

e x e mp t ion f

r om 14 C

. F

.R. § 91.7 (a ), w hich r e qui r e s that a c iv i l ai rc r a ft be in a ir w ort h y c ondi t ion

to be op e r a ted. The F

AA h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d for 14 C

. F .R. § 91.7 (a ) to the

e x tent that the re quir e m e nts of P a rt 21 a re w a ived or f ound inapplic a ble

. 13 A cc ordi n g l y

, P e t i t i on e r re qu e sts that the re qui r e ments for § 91. 7 ( a ) be t r ea ted in acc o rd a n c e with

S ec t i on V ( A ) , su p r a

.

12 E x e m p ti o n N o

. 110 6 2 ( FAA D o c k et N o

. F A A

- 2014

- 0352).

13 See Id

. at 1 3

- 14

, 22

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 15

medi ca l c e rtifi ca te. The p urpose of Pa r t 61 i s to e n sure that the skill and c o mpet e n c y of a n y P I C

§ 91.203 ( a) and (b): C a rr yi n g Civil Ai r c r a f t C e r ti f ica t ion a n d R e gist r ation

T i t le 14 C. F

.R. § 91.9 ( b) (2) a nd § 91.203 ( a ) a nd ( b) re quire t h e op e r a tor to ca r r y a ir w orthin e ss

do c uments a nd other a ir c r a ft m a nu a ls o n bo a rd the a ir c r a ft. Pursu a nt t o 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) ( 2 ):

(b) No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - re g is t e r e d c iv i l ai rc r a ft

–

... (2) F o r w hich a n Airpl a n e or Rotor c r a ft F l i g ht M a nu a l i s r e quir e d b y § 21.5 of this

c h a pte r , unless th e re is a v a i l a ble in the a ir c r a ft a c ur re nt app r o v e d Airpl a ne or Rotor c r a ft

F l i g ht Man u a l, app r o v e d manu a l m a te r ial, ma r ki n g s, a nd p l ac a rds, or a n y c omb i n a t i on

the re of.

P ursu a nt t o 14 C. F

.R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd (b ) :

( a ) E x ce pt as p r ovided in § 91.715, no p e rson m a y op e r a te a c iv i l ai r c r a ft u nless it h a s

with i n it the f

ol l owin g :

(1) An a ppro p r i a te a nd c ur re nt ai r w o rthin e ss c e rtifi ca te...

(b) No p e rson m a y op e ra te a c iv i l ai rc r a ft unless t he a ir w orthin e ss ce rtifi ca te re quir e d b y

p a ra g r a ph (a) of th i s se c t i on or a sp ec i a l fli g ht aut h ori z a t i on i s su e d und e r § 9 1 .715 is

disp la y e d a t t he ca bin o r c o c kpit e ntr a n c e so th a t i t i s le g ib l e to pass e n g e rs or c r e w

.

Giv e n the sm a ll si z e a nd c onfi g u r a t i on of the S I

- U A S , it would be i m poss i b le to k ee p

a ir w orthin e ss docum e nts a nd other a i r c raft m a nu a l s on bo a rd the S I

- UAS b ec a use t h e re is s i m p l y

no r o om and the S I

- UAS h a s no ca bin or c o c kpi t

. As a w a y to comp l y with the c ode S k y

I m a g i n g will maintain the do c uments with the P IC a nd make them a v a i l a b le f or insp ec t i on.

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

I n a n F A A O f fi c e o f Chi e f Couns e l ' s Opinion d a t e d A u g ust 8, 2014, a nd p r e p a r e d b y D ea n E.

G r i f fith, Attor n e y

, A G C

- 220, it w a s ac knowl e d g e d that the intent of 1 4 C. F .R. 91.9 ( b) a nd

91.203 (a ) a nd (b) is m e t i f the pi l ot of the u nman n e d a ir c r a ft h a s a c ce ss t o the U AS fli g ht

manu a l, r e g is t r a t i on c e rtifi ca te, a nd ot h e r r e quir e d do c uments f r om t he g r o und c ontrol s t a t i on

f r om which he o r she is o p e r a t i n g the a i r c raft

. 14 As th i s F AA O f fi c e o f Chief Couns e l Opin i on

c la r ifi e s, the int e nt of the rule is t o e nsure the pilot h a s ac c e s s to t h e se k e y d o c uments during

fli g ht. Th e r e f

o r e

, a n e qu i v a lent lev e l of s a f e t y will be ac hie v e d b y e nsuri n g that the pilot h a s

ac c e ss t o the do c uments a t t he gro u nd c ontrol s t a t ion f r om which he or s h e is p i lo t ing the U AS.

H. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.10 3 : Pr e f

l i g h t A c tion

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F

.R. § 91.103, whi c h r e qui r e s a P I C to b e c ome

f a m i l i a r w i t h sp ec ific in f

orm a t i on b e fo r e e a c h fl i ght, i n c lud i ng info r mation c ontain e d in t he

F A A

- a p p rov e d F l i g ht M a nu a l on boa r d the a i r c r a f t

. W hi l e the P I C will be fam i l i a r w i t h a ll

1 4 M e m or a n du m f

r o m M ar k B u r y

, F

AA As s i s t a n t C h i e f C oun s el f o r I n te r n ati o n al L a w

, L e g i s lati o n a n d R e g u lati o n

,

to J o h n D un c a n

, F

AA Fl ig h t S ta n d a rd s Se r v ice ( A ug

. 8

, 20 1 4) ; see also D o c k et N o

. F A A

- 2014

- 0 3 5 2 at 1 6

- 18.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 16

info r mation ne ce s s a r y to s a f e l y c ond u c t t he fli g ht, a n e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted to the e x tent that a n

F A A

- a p p rov e d F l i g ht M a nu a l i s r e quir e d.

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be pro v ided b y f

ol l owing t he S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls and the M a n u fa c tur e r ' s Man u a l. The P I C will p e r f orm a s e ri e s of c h ec kl i sts d e si g n e d to

identi f y a n y d e f ec ts or i n op e r a

ble c omponents in acc or d a n c e with t he S k y I m a g i n g ’ s O p e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls, i n c lud i ng c h e c kl i sts c ov e ring P r e

- F l i g h t

, L a u n c h, L a ndi n g

, a nd P os t

- F l i g ht pr o ce du r e s.

The P I C will a lso be r e q uir e d to r e view w ea t h e r

, fli g ht r e qui r e ments, b a t ter y c h a r g e , landi n g a nd

tak e o f f dista n ce

, U A p e r f

orm a n c e d a ta, a nd c ont i n g e n c y landi n g a r ea s

— b e f ore in i t i a t i on of

fli g ht. S k y I m a g i n g ’ s O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls and t h e M a nuf a c tu r e r ' s Man u a l will be k e pt at the

g round c ontrol s t a t i on a n d will be ac c e ss i ble to the P I C a t a ll t i mes w hi l e op e r a t i n g the U AS.

I. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.10 9 (a ) : Flig h t Inst r u c tion

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t ion from 14 C

. F .R. § 91.109 (a ), w hich p rov i d e s in p e rtin e nt pa r t

that " [ n ] o p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c iv i l ai r c r a ft ( e x c e pt a m a nn e d f r e e b a l l oon) that is b e ing us e d

for fli g ht i nstru c t i on unl e ss t h a t ai rc raft h a s ful l y f un c t i oning du a l cont r ols

. " U A S s a nd r e mo t e l y

pi l oted a ir c raft, b y t h e ir d e si g n, do not ha v e fun c t ional du a l cont r ols. I nst e a d, fli g ht con t rol is

acc omp l ished thro u g h t h e use of a d e vice t h a t c o m m unic a tes w i t h the a ir c r a ft via r a dio

c om m unic a t i ons. A c c or d in g l y

, a n e x e mp t ion wi l l be r e qui r e d for the f l i g ht ins t ru c t i on

r e quir e ments of 14 C

. F

.R. § 91.109 (a ).

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

Giv e n the si z e a nd sp ee d of the U A S s that S k y I m a g i n g in t e nds to us e

, a n e quival e nt l e v e l of

s a fe tr a in i n g c a n sti l l be p e r f orm e d without du a l c ontrols be ca use no pi l ot or p a sse n g e rs a r e

a bo a rd the U AS, and a s r e quir e d b y the S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a l s

, a ll p e rsons w i l l be a

s a fe dis t a n c e a w a y in t he e v e nt t h a t t he U A S e x p e ri e n ce s a n y di f fi c ul t ies d uring fl i g ht

ins t ru c t i on. Mor e ov e r

, a s r e quir e d b y the S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls, all fl i g ht t r a in i ng

will be c ondu c ted in c on t roll e d a nd st e rile e nv i ro n ment. As a whol e , t h e s a f e t y p roc e dur e s

provid e d for in S k y I m a gin g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a l s e nsure that the p r opo s e d U A S op e r a t i ons

provide a n e quiva l e nt or hi g h e r l e vel of s a f e t y th a n that p r ovided b y t h e fl i g ht i nstru c t i on

re g ulations.

J. 14 C. F

.R. § 91

. 1 19 ( c ): M i n i m u m S a f e Alti t ude s

S k y I m a g i n g r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om t he m i n i mum s a fe a l t i t ude r e qui r e ments of 14 C. F .R. §

91. 1 19( c )

. 15 S ec t i on 91. 1 19 p re s c rib e s t h e m i ni m um sa f e a l t i t ud e s und e r w hich a ir c r a ft m a y not

op e r a te, in c lud i n g 500 fe e t above the su r f a c e a nd a w a y f

rom a n y p e rson, v e ssel, v e hicl e , or

stru c ture in non

- c o n g e st e d a r e a s. Se e 14 C. F .R. § 91. 1 19( c ). S e c t i on 91. 1 1 9(d) a l l ows f or a

15 R eli e f f r o m § 91

. 1 19( a ) w ill no t b e n e c es s a r y b e c a u s e P etiti o n er w i l l b e a b le to p e r f

or m an e m

e r g e n c y la n d i n g

w i t h o u t u n d u e h a z a r d to p e r son s o r prop e r ty o n t h e g rou n d in t h e e v e n t o f a f a i l u r e. P etiti o n e r 's propo s ed U A S

op e r ati o n s w i l l n o t o c c u r o v er c o ng e s ted a r e a s , a n d t h e r e f or e an e x e m

p ti o n f r o m § 91

. 1 1 9 ( b ) w ill n o t b e n e c e ss a r y

. See e

. g

., G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1 1 15 7 t o Sl u g w e a r

, I n c

. , db a L i k e o n a tree A e r ial ( F A A

- 2014

- 0 5 3 4 at 1 5)

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 17

h e l i c opter to ope r a te a t le ss t h a n those m i ni m um a l t i tudes w h e n it ca n be o p e r a ted " without

h a z a rd to p e rsons or pro p e r t y on t h e sur f ace

, " p ro v ided th a t " e ac h p e rson o p e r a t i n g the h e l i c opt e r

c omp l ies w i t h a n y rout e s or a l t i t ud e s spe c ifi c a l l y pr e s c rib e d for h e l i c op t e rs b y t h e F A A

. "

An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d b eca use t h e pro p os e d S I

- UAS op e r a t i on will no r mal l y n e e d to o cc ur

b e low 400 fee t A G L

. I n c ir c ums t a n c e s wh e r e the S I

- U AS is u s e d to i nsp e c t a stru c ture who s e

h e i g ht e x c e e ds 400 f

e e t A G L , the S I

- UAS will n ot be op e r a ted m o re than 100 fee t abo v e the

hi g h e st po i nt on t he stru c tur e

, a nd with i n 50 f e e t hori z ontal l y o f the stru c tu r e . Ad d it i on a l l y , due

the n a ture of t h e pro p os e d op e r a t i ons, the P i l ot and/or Obs e rvers ( s) m a y n e e d to be l e ss t h a n 500

f e e t a w a y f

r om t he S I

- U A S

.

Eq u ivalent L eve l of Safety

Compa re d to fli g ht op e rat i ons with roto rc r a ft we i ghing far mo r e than t h e ma x i m um w e i g hts

p r opos e d h e r e in, and g i v e n the l ac k of fl a m m a ble fu e l wi t h the a bove noted U A S s, a n y risk

a ssoci a ted w i t h these o p e r a t i ons is f a r l e ss t h a n t h o s e whi c h pr e s e nt l y e x ist with conv e nt i on a l

a i rc r a ft. A n e quiva l e nt le v e l of s a f e t y will be ac h i e v e d g iven the si z e , w e i ght, and sp ee d of the

S I

- U A S

, a s w e ll a s the c ontroll e d loc a t i on wh e r e the op e r a t i ons will oc c ur. I n o rd e r to a v oid a n y

risk to m a nn e d a ir c r a ft, f

l i g ht ope r a t i ons will be r e strict e d to 400 f ee t A G L or b e low, or w h e n

inspe c ting a U.S. stru c tu r e whose h e i g ht e x cee ds 4 00 f e e t A G L

, with i n 100 fee t abo v e the

hi g h e st po i nt on t h a t s t ru c ture a nd 50 f e e t hori z o n tal l y of the str u c tur e

.

As s e t fo r th in t he Op e r a t ions M a nu a ls, t he S I

- U A S will be op e r a ted in a re strict e d a re a

, a nd a ll

fli g hts will be op e r a ted a t a lat e r a l d i stan c e of a t le a st 500 f e e t f rom a n y n o np a rti c ipating

p e rsons, unl e ss t h a t pe r s o n is i n a posit i on wh e re he or she is s hield e d f rom the S I

- UAS a nd a n y

poss i ble d e bris re sul t ing f r om its f a i l ur e

. As re qui r e d b y t h e Op e r a t i ons M a nu a ls, fl i g hts will be

te r m i n a ted if a non p a rti c i p a t i ng p e rson w i t hin 500 f ee t of the S I

- UAS le a v e s a shi e lded posit i on.

F urth e r , its op e r a t i ons will oc c ur a t le a st 500 f ee t a w a y f

rom v e hicl e s or st r u c tur e s unl e ss t he

prop e r t y own e r/ c ontroll e r t i me l y h a s g r a nted p er m i ss i on a nd the P I C h a s made a s a f e t y

a ssessment of the r isk of op e r a t i n g c loser to t hose obje c ts and, op e r a t i ons n ea r the P I C or

Obs e rver w i l l not p r e s e nt a n undue h a z a rd p e r § 9 1. 1 19( a ). Adh e r e n c e to t h e se r e str i c t i ons in

S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls wi l l ensu r e o p e r a t i ons ca n b e c ond u c t e d without

c ompromising publ i c s a f

e t y

. 16

K

. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.12 1 : Alt i me ter S e t tings

S k y I m a g i n g s e e ks a n e x e mp t i on f r om 14 C

. F

.R. § 91.121, whi c h r e qui r e s a p e rson op e r a t i n g a n

a ir c r a ft to m a in t a in c r uis i ng a l t i t ude or fli g ht l e v e l b y r e fer e n c e to an a l t i m e t e r th a t i s set to the

16 See e

. g

., G r a n t o f E x e m p ti o n N o

. 11 1 3 8 to D o ug las T r u d e a u ( F A A

- 2014

- 048 1 at 19 ) : " I f barr ie r s o r s tr u ct u r es a r e

pr ese n t t h at c a n s u f

f icie n t l y p r o tect n o n p a r tici p ati n g p e r s o n s f r o m t h e U A o r d e br is in t h e e v e n t o f an a c ci d e n t, t h e n

t h e U A m a y op e r ate cl o s er t h a n 50 0 f e e t to p e r s o n s a f

f ord ed su c h pro tecti o n

. T h e op e r a t o r m u s t a l s o e n s u r e t h at

n o n p a r tici p at i n g p e r s on s r e m a in u n d er su c h pro tecti o n

. I f a s it u ati o n a r i s es w h e r e n o n p a r t i ci p ati n g p e r s on s le a v e su c h

pro tecti o n a n d a r e w i t h i n 50 0 f e e t o f t h e U A

, f

l i g h t op e r ati o n s m

u s t c e a s e i m m e d iate l y

. W h en c on s i d e r i n g h o w to

i m m e d iat e l y c e ase op e r ati o ns

, t h e pr i m a r y c o n c e r n is t h e s a f e t y o f t h o s e n o n p a r tici p ati n g p e r s o ns

. I n a d d iti o n

, t h e

F AA f i n d s t h at op e r ati o n s m a y b e c o n d u cted cl o s er t h a n 50 0 f e e t to v es s e l s

, v e h icl e s a n d s tr u c t u r es w h en t h e

o w n e r /c o n tr o ller o f a n y s u ch v es s els, v e h icles o r s tr u c t u r es gr a n ts p e r m i ss i o n f o r t h e op e r ati o n a n d t h e P I C m a k e s a

s a f e t y a s s e ss m

e n t o f t h e r i s k o f op e r ati n g cl o s er to t h o s e ob jects a n d d ete r m

i n es t h at it do es n o t pr ese n t a n u n d u e

h aza rd ."U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 18

e lev a t i on of the d e p a

rtu r e a irpo r t or b a rom e tric p r e ssur e

. An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d to the e x tent

that the U ASs do not have a b a ro m e tric a l t i m e te r

, but r a ther a GPS a l t i t ude r e a d out.

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t a n e quival e nt l e v e l o f s a f e t y to t he r e quir e m e nts of 14 C. F .R. §91.121

ca n be ac hie v e d in ci rc u ms t a n ce s w h e r e : (1) the U A S s will be op e r a ted b e low 400 fee t A G L or

b e low 17

, (2) with i n V L OS, (3) wh e re GPS b a s e d a l t i t ude info r mation i s r e l a y e d in r ea l t i m e to t he

op e r a tor a t a g round

- b a s e d o n

- s c re e n displ a y a nd, (4) wh e re prior to eac h fli g ht, a z e ro a l t i t ude

in i t i a t i on point is establi s h e d for the P I C to con f i r m a cc u r a c y of t h e onbo a r d GP S

. 18

The S I

- UAS that S k y I m a g i n g in t e nds to use f o r t he pro p os e d op e r a t i ons will me e t all t h e se

op e r a t i on a l c h a ra c te r is t i c s. Mor e ov e r

, a s r e qui r e d b y S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t ions M a n u a ls, t he P I C

will be r e quir e d to c a l i b r a te the a i r c raft ' s GPS c ompass p r ior to eac h fli g ht op e r a t i on. L ike p r ior

F AA Se c t i on 333 G ra nts of E x e mp t ion, t he S I

- U A S S k y I m a g i n g in t e nds to us e

, a nd the s a f e t y

m i t i g a t i on p r o ce d u r e s c o ntain e d in t he Op e r a t i ons M a nu a ls, both ensu r e t h a t an e quival e nt l e v e l

of s a f e t y or gr e a t e r l e v e l will be ac hiev e d, a nd a G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o the re quir e ments of §

191.121 is the re fo r e a pp r opri a t e

.

L

. 14 C. F

.R. § 91.15 1 (a ) : Fu e l R e qu i r e m e n ts f or F l ig h t in V F R C o nd itio n s

S k y I m a g i n g r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F

.R. § 91.151 (a ) ' s f

u e l r e qui r e ments for fl i g ht i n

V F R c ondi t ions. S ec t i on 91.151 st a tes:

( a ) N o p e rson m a y b e g in a fli g ht i n a n a irpl a ne u n d e r V F R c ondi t ions unless (c onsid e ri n g

wind a nd f

o re ca st w ea th e r c ondi t ions) there is en o u g h f u e l t o f l y to t he fi r st po i nt of

in t e nd e d landing a nd, a s s um i ng norm a l c ruising s p ee d

– (1) Du r i n g the d a y , to f

l y a ft e r th a t f

o r a t l ea st 30 m i nutes; or

(2) At n i g ht, t o f

l y a ft e r t h a t for a t le a st 45 m i nutes.

H e r e , the t ec hnol o g ic a l l i m i t a t i ons on U A S b a t t e ry po w e r m ea ns t h a t no m ea ni n g ful f l i g ht

op e r a t i ons ca n b e c ond u c ted w hi l e st i ll maintaini n g a 3 0

- m i nute b a t t e r y r e s e rv e

. An e x e mp t ion

f r om t he fu e l r e quir e me n ts of 14 C. F .R. § 91.151 (a ) is the r e fo r e r e quir e d. Mor e ov e r , it is not

S k y I ma g i n g ’ s in t e nt i on to f l y the S I

- UAS a t n i g ht.

Eq u ival e n t L eve l of Safety

I n the G ra nt o f E x e mp t i o n to V D OS (E x e mp t ion No. 111 12), t h e F A A d e t e rmin e d that a n

e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f

e t y to t he fu e l r e qui r e ments for fli g ht i n V F R c ondi t i ons c ould be ac hie v e d

b y pro h ib i t i ng t h e P I C f

r om be g inn i n g a S I

- UAS fli g ht un l e ss ( c onsid e ri n g wind a nd f o re ca st

w ea ther c ondi t ions) the r e w a s e no u g h po w e r to f l y to t he fi r st i ntend e d point of l a nding a nd,

a ssu m ing norm a l c ruising sp e e d, to f l y a ft e r th a t f

or a t l ea st 10 m i nutes. I n r e ac hi n g th i s

17 I f t h e h ei g h t o f t h e s tr u c t u r e b ei n g i n s p e c ted e x c e e d s 40 0 f e e t A G L

, t h e U A S w i ll n o t b e op e r ated m or e t h a n 10 0

f e e t abo v e t h e h i gh e s t po i n t o n t h e s tr u c t u r e.

18 See G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1106 2 t o A s tra eu s A e r ial ( F A A

- 201 4

- 035 2 at 21)

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 19

c on c lus i on, the F

A A c o n side re d that the U AS bat t e ri e s for t h e S I

- UAS pr o vide a ppro x i m a te l y 50

m i nutes of pow e r e d fli g h t ( w i t h p a y loa d ) a nd p r o v ided b a t t e r y lev e l a nd b a t te r y t i me r e maini n g

in m inu t e s a nd s ec onds to the P I C

. 19 The F A A a lso c onsid e r e d the f

a c t t he S I

- UAS op e r a t i n g

manu a l s t a tes: “ sta r t e v e r y fl i g ht wi t h a ful l y c h a r g e d b a t t e r y in t he a e ri a l v e hicl e”

, a nd that in

the e v e nt t h a t t he S I

- UA S should run low on pow e r , the P I C will be a le r t e d a nd ca n s a f e l y land

the

- S I

- UAS a s soon a s p oss i ble. L ike the V D OS G ra nt of E x e mp t ion, S k y I m a g i n g ’ s use o f the

S I

- U A S

, c omb i n e d with t he r e qui r e ments of Peti t ione r ' s Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls, ensu r e that a n

e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f

e t y ca n be ac hie v e d a nd in f ac t e x cee d e d

.

S i m i l a r l y , in t he G r a n t of E x e mp t ion t o Al a n P ur w in (E x e mp t ion No. 11 161), the F A A

d e te r m i n e d that a n e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y to t he fu e l r e quir e ments f o r f l i g ht i n V F R c ondi t ions

c ould be ac h i e v e d b y pr o hib i t i ng the P I C f rom b e g inn i n g a fl i g ht wi t h the UA unless

( c onsid e ri n g wind a nd f

o r e ca st w ea th e r c ondi t ions), the r e w a s e no u g h po w e r to s a f e l y f l y a t

norm a l c r uis i ng s p ee d to the intend e d landi n g point a nd land the UA with 25% b a t t e r y po w e r

r e mainin g

. S k y I m a g ing will a dh e re to t his l i m i t a t ion for its S I

- U AS fli g ht s

.

The S I

- UAS includ e s a l ow b a t t e r y w a rni n g s y s t e m and the a mount of b a t t e r y r e s e rve p o w e r

r e maining is c ont i nuously tr a nsm i t t e d to t he P I C via t e lem e tric d a t a fe e d, whi c h downlinks f r om

the S I

- UAS to a g round

- b a s e d

- on

- s c re e n displ a y

. 20 As re qui r e d b y S k y I m a g i n g ’ s Op e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls, t he P I C will p r omp t l y f l y t h e S I

- UAS b ac k to t he home l a u n c h loc a t i on or pr e

d e t e rmin e d a b o rt lo ca t i on wh e re it m a y s a f e l y la n d, while still maintaining a m i ni m um of 25%

r e s e r v e b a t t e r y p o w e r

. S ky I m a g i n g submi t s that the pro c e d u r e s r e quiri n g fl i g hts t o be s a f e l y

te r m i n a ted on c e t h e b a t te ri e s f a ll b e low 25% ca p a c i t y

, c omb i n e d with t he r e quir e ment that f l i g hts

on l y be c ondu c ted w i t hin a s ec u r e , iso l a ted a r e a

, u sing a U AS w e i g hing l e ss t h a n 55 pounds, a nd

with i n V L OS of the P I C a nd Ob s e r v e r ( s), e nsure t h a t t he pro p os e d op e r a t i o n will pro v ide a n

e quival e nt or h i g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y to t he publ i c t o that p r ovided b y t h e re g ulations f r om which

e x e mp t ion i s sou g h t

.

VI. D R U G A ND ALCOHOL P R O G R AM

S k y I m a g i n g will h a ve p ol i c ies in pl ac e to e nsu r e that no p e rson m a y p a rti c ipate in S I

- UAS fli g ht

op e r a t i ons if th e y a re un d e r the influ e n c e of a lcoh o l or a n y d r u g

.

VII. P UB L IC INT E RE S T

The publ i c in t e r e st wi l l be s e rv e d b y gr a nt i n g S k y I m a g i n g ’ s P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion. Con g r e ss

h a s e stabli s h e d a n a t i on a l pol ic y that f a vors e a r l y i nte g r a t i on of U A S in t o the N AS i n c ontroll e d,

s a fe w o rking e nvironme n ts s u c h a s tho s e pro p os e d in t his P e t i t ion. G ra nt i ng th i s P e t i t i on f o r

E x e mp t ion helps ful f

i l l C on g r e s s ' g o a l i n p a ss i n g S ec t i on 333 (a ) th r o u g h ( c ) of the R e fo r m

A c t

— the F A A Admin i st r a tor ' s a ssessment of w h e t h e r c e rt a in UAS m a y op e r a te s a f e l y in the

N A S b e fo r e c omp l e t i on of the st a tu t ori l y r e quir e d rul e makin g

.

19

. G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1111 2 to VDOS Gl ob al, LL C ( FA A

- 2014

- 038 2 at 1 0)

.

20

. T h e J G

- U A S g ro un d c o n tr o l s tati o n d i s p l a ys

, t h e U A S po s i ti o n

, n a v i g a ti o n ro u te, tail n u m b e r

, alt i t u d e,

h e a d i n g

, n or th s e e k i n g a rr o w

, r a ng e to ta r g e t s

, c a lc u lated ta r g et po s itio n

, d ate/t i m e, a n d s e ns o r h e ad i n g a n d

or i e n tati o n r elat i v e to t h e U AS.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 20

The pro p os e d S I

- UAS op e r a t i ons in th i s P e t i t i on f or E x e mp t ion s i g nifi ca nt l y i m prov e s the s a f e t y

a nd r e du c e s risk of h a rm, p h y sic a l in j u r y a nd p r o p e r t y d a m a g e to the public a t l a r g e , the p rop e r t y

own e rs f rom w hom p e r m is s ion w a s g r a nted for u s e b y P e t i t i on e r a nd a but t ing pro p e rti e s, s t a f f of

P e t i t i on e r , unsuspe c t i ng p a sse r s b y , insp e c t i ng e n gine e rs fr om r e lev a nt o r g a ni z a t i ons a nd a ll those

who m a y b e in t he loc a l vicini t y

. T r a di t ional methods of providing sur v e i l lan c e a nd modeling

s e rvi ce s r e quir e s lo c a t i on p e rsonn e l to cli m b tow e rs , tr ee s, v e ntu r e onto pr e ca rious r oofs a nd

other d a n g e rous s ce n a ri o s , p e r f orm e l e v a ted w o rk for whi c h the ind i vidual is n e i t h e r t ra ined nor

e quipped to p e r f

o rm, whi c h e x pos e s them to unn ece ssa r y risk of s e rious p h y s ic a l in j u r y f rom

d a ng e rous f

a l l s or oth e r p h y sic a l m ishap s . Mo r e o v e r , insp ec tors/sur v e y ors a re oft e n

unn ece ss a ri l y e x pos e d to ha z a rdous c ondi t ions, uns a fe e nviron m e nts, cultu r a l l y tense si t u a t i ons

a nd other h a z a rds a ssoci a ted w i t h identi f y i n g sp e c ific loc a t i ons for potential r e c ordi n g si t e s to be

us e d in the e nd p r odu c t. The use of sm a ll U A S s c a n e l i m i n a te th e se h az a r d s a nd ul t i m a te l y

c r e a t e a much s a fer method of p e r f o rming the s e t y p e s of insp ec t i ons c r ea t i n g a s a fer e nvironme n t

for the public a s w e ll a s S k y I m a g i n g e mp l o y e e s.

The use of sm a ll U A S a l so e nh a n ce s s a f e t y a nd redu ce s risk to t he sur r ou n ding publ i c b e ca us e

, unl i ke mann e d a ir c r a ft w e i g hi n g thous a nds of po u nds, ca rr y i n g c r e w in a d d i t ion t o fl a m m a ble

fu e l, t he U A S c a rr y no p a sse n g e rs, c rew or e x plos i ve fu e l

. F u rth e rmo r e , in t he unl i k e l y e v e nt of

a n a c c ident, S k y I m a g in g ’ s small batt e r y po w e r e d S I

- U AS pr e s e nts s i g nifi c a nt l y less d a n g e r to

p e rsons on the g round w h e n c ompa r e d to ope r a t i ons b y c on v e nt i on a l m a n n e d a ir c r a ft

. 21 As

P e t i t i on e r ' s S I

- UAS a re b a t t e r y pow e r e d, the publ i c will a lso ben e fit f r om a r e du c t i on in ha r mful

p e trol e um b a s e d e m i ss i ons a ssoci a ted wi t h c onv e nt i on a l ai rc raft p e r f o rming in t he s a me

fun c t i ons propos e d h e r e i n. Air q u a l i t y will n a tur a l l y be i m prov e d with t he r e du c t i on of f u e l

pow e r e d v e hicl e s.

L a st l y

, a s r e c o g ni z e d b y t he F A A in prior Se c t i on 333 G ra nts of E x e mp t ion t o filmmak e rs, U AS

provide a n a ddi t ional e c o nom i c tool for the ae r i a l film i ng notwi t hstanding t he industr y

, a ddi n g a

g r ea t e r de g r e e of fl e x ib i l i t y

, whi c h suppl e ments the c ur r e nt c a p a bi l i t ies o f fer e d b y mann e d

a ir c r a ft

. 22 The qu a l i t y of t he finished p r odu c t i s e n h a n ce d a nd p rovid e s a g r ea ter finished prod uc t

d e mand w hich w i l l aid t h e c ur r e nt UAS i ndust r y a nd p r ovide a ddi t ional jobs a s the c ost of

providing the n e e d e d p r o du c t i s g r ea t l y r e d u ce d w hi l e r e du c i n g the di f fi c ul t y with whi c h the

finished p r odu c t i s c re a t e d

. The d e mand for the c ur re nt i ndustri a l produ c t is i n c r e a si n g a nd will

c ont i nue to i n c r e a s e g iv e n the e nh a n c e d fl e x ib i l i t y of p r odu c t i o n ; t h e refo re

, g iven the lo w e r c ost,

own e r/op e r a tors a nd oth e rs in the re lev a nt indust r y will be more inclined to ut i l iz e the s e rvi c e s of

c om m e r c ial U A S a lo n g with an a ppro p ri a t e l i ce n s e d P I C ’ s

.

21 See G r a n t o f E x e m

p ti o n N o

. 1115 8 t o T e a m 5 , L L C ( F A A

- 2 01 4

- 07 8 3 at 1 2 ) : " M a nn ed h e l ic op te r s c o n d u cti n g

a er ial f i l m i n g c a n w e i g h 6

, 00 0 po un d s o r m or e a n d a r e op e r a ted b y an o n bo a r d p il o t, in a d d ition to o t h er o n bo a r d

c r e w m e m b e r s

, as n e c e s s a r y

. T h e p etiti o n e r ’ s U As w ill w e i g h le s s t h a n 5 5 po un d s w i t h n o o n bo a r d p il o t o r c r e w

. T h e p il o t a n d c r ew w i l l b e r e m o te l y l o c a ted f r o m t h e ai r c r a f

t. T h e l i m ited w e i g h t s i g n ifi c a n t l y r e d u c e s t h e po te n tial

f o r h a r m to p a r tici p ati n g a n d no n p a r tici p ati n g i n d i v i d u a l s o r prop e r ty in t h e e v e n t o f a n i n c i d e n t o r a c c i d e n t.

R i s k to an o n bo a r d p il o t a n d c r e w d u r i n g a n i n ci d e n t o r a c ci d e n t is el i m i n ated w ith t h e us e o f a UA f o r t h e a er ial

f i l m i n g op e r ati o n ."

22 See e

. g

., G r a n t o f E x e m p ti o n N o

. 11 1 7 8 to P ict u r e Fact or y

, I n c. ( FA A

- 2014

- 079 4 at 1 8 )

.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 21

VIII. P R I V

A C Y

All S I

- UAS op e r a t i ons w i l l be c ondu c ted in a c c o r d a n c e with appli c a ble fe d e r a l, s t a te, a nd loc a l

la w s r e g a rdi n g priv a c y

. All ope ra t i ons shall be c o ndu c ted ov e r p riv a te or c o n trolled

- a c ce ss

prop e r t y with pe r m i ss i on f r om t he land o w n e r/ c o n troller or a uthori z e d r e p r e s e ntative. Pe r m i ss i on

f r om l a nd own e r/ c ontroll e r or a uthori z e d r e pr e s e n tative w i l l be obt a ined f o r e ac h fli g ht t o be

c ondu c ted.

IX. F EDER A L RE G I S TER SU MM A R Y

P ursu a nt t o 14 C. F

.R. P a rt 1 1, the f

ol l owing sum m a r y is provided f o r pu b l i ca t i on in t he

F E D ER A L RE G I S TER, should it be d e te r m i n e d that publ i ca t i on is n ee d e d : P e t i t i on e r s ee ks a n

e x e mp t ion f

r om t he following rul e s in T i t le 14 of t he Code of Feder a l Re g u lations:

P a rt 21, Subp a rt H ; P a rt 27; 45.23(b ) ; 45.27( a ); 6 1. 1 13; 91.7( a ); 91.9 ( b ) ( 2 ) ; 91.9( c );

91.103; 91.109( a ); 91. 1 1 9( c ); 91.121; 91.151( a ); 91.203 (a ) & (b ) ; 91.40 5 ( a ); 91.407 ( a ) (1);

91.409 (a ) ( 1 ) & (2 ) ; 91. 4 17 ( a ) & (b )

.

The e x e mp t ion wi l l enh a n c e s a f e t y b y r e d u c ing r i sk to the a ir c raft c r e w , p r odu c t i on c r e w

, g e n e r a l

publ i c , pro pe r t y own e rs a nd c i t y stru c tu r e s f r om t h e subs t a nt i a l ha z a

rds a s s o c iat e d with

p e r f ormi n g e quiva l e nt film wo r k a nd a e ri a l v i d e o prod uc t i on with conv e nt i on a l fi x e d

- wing

a ir c r a ft, r otor c r a ft, o r oth e r m e thods.

X. CON C LUSI O N

E y e I n The S k y A e r i a l Im a g i n g

, L L C ’s P e t i t i on f or E x e mp t ion satisfi e s t h e c rit e r i a a rti c ula t e d in

S ec t i on 333 of the R e fo r m A c t of 2012 whi c h i n c lu d e s w e i g h t ; sp ee d; op e r a t i ng c a p a bi l i t ie s ;

pro x i m i t y to a irpo r ts and populat e d a re a s ; op e r a t i on with i n V L OS and n a t i on a l se c uri t y

. The

prop o s e d S I

- UAS op e r a t i ons will ben e fit the publ i c a s a whole b y i m provi n g s a f e t y a nd r e du c i n g

risk b y a l l e v i a t i ng human e x posure to dang e r whi l e low e ri n g the a t t e n d a nt r e lat e d c osts the r e b y

inc rea si n g the d e mand f

o r the finished p r odu c t. I n c onsid e r a t i on of the fo r e g oi n g , th i s P e t i t i on

for E x e mp t ion provid e s the F A A with m ore than a d e qu a te justifi ca t i on f o r g r a nt i ng the r e q u e sted

e x e mp t ions allowing S k y I m a g i n g to use small S I

- UAS s in t he r e c or d e d p r odu c t i on of i t s

prod uc t.U.S D e p a rtm e nt of T r a n s port a t i on

O c tober 21, 2015

P a g e 22

W e thank y ou f

o r y our p r ompt c onsid e r a t i on of o u r re qu e sted e x e mp t ions.

R e sp ec tful l y S ubm i t t e d,

J e f f r e y Goodhue

E y e I n The S k y A e r i a l Im a g i n g

, L L C

654 Ro c k a w a y A v e nue

G r ov e r B e ac h, CA 93433

P hon e : 805.709.7787

Em a i l : info@ e y e in t h e s k y ae ri a l i m a g i n g

. c om

( T he followi n g a t t ac h e d i tems c ontain p r opri e t a r y a nd c om m e r c i a l i nfo r ma t ion e x e mpt f r om

disclosure und e r the F r e e dom of I n fo r mat i on A c t, 5 U.S. C . § 522 e t seq., a nd should be h e ld i n a

s e p a r a t e file pursu a nt t o 14 C. F .R. § 1 1.35 ( b) )

.

Atta c hments:

1. G e n e r a l Op e r a t i ons Manu a l

2. P I C Op e r a t i n g M a nu a l

3. Compa n y P roto c ols

4. L o c a t i on P roto c ols

5. F l i g ht C om m unic a t i ons P roto c ols

6. D e p a rti n g L o c a t i on P roto c ols

7. T r a nsm i t t e r Proto c ols

8. P r e fli g ht C h ec kl i st

9. P ost F l i g ht C h ec kl i st

10. Equipm e nt C h ec kl i st

1 1. U A S M a nufa c tur e r ’ s M a nu a ls

a . Us e r M a nu a ls

b. U A S M a in t e n a n c e M a nu a ls