**1**

**June 1, 2015 U.S. Department of Transportation**  **Docket Management Sy stem**  **1200 New Jersey**

**A ve., SE**  **Washington, DC 20590**
**Re: Exemption Request under Section 333 of the FAA Reform A**  **ct and Part 11 of the**  **Federal I A**  **viation Regulations**

**Dear Sir or Madam: Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA**  **Modernization and Reform A ct of 2012 (the**  **"Reform A ct") and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, A**  **lejandro A ray**  **a dba AA**  **FLYDRONESFL.llc, the operator of small Unmanned A**  **ircraft Systems ("sUA S"), seeks an exemption**  **from the Federal A**

**viation Regulations ("FA**  **Rs") listed below and discussed in Ap**  **pendix A.**  **A**

**ttached as A ppendix B is a summary**  **of this request.** The requested exemption would permit commercial operation of Alejandro Araya **dba AA**  **FLYD R**  **ONESFL sUA S's, w**  **hich weigh approximately 10 l**  **bs. An**  **d performs**  **aerial survey s and videography**  **that consists of still photographs and videograph**  **y taken by on board cameras. The sUA** **S's takes a series of high quality**  **, still digital images and video that are used to promote real estate sales and survey in Sou**  **th Florida. A dditional aerial inspections/survey**  **applications may**  **include construction jobsite monitoring, pipeline inspection and precision topological survey** **s. Use of the sUA S for aerial inspections and surveys reduce**  **the need to utilize conventional man ned aircraft, manned lifting devices or**  **manned climbing for the same purpose and provides very high quality imagery** 

**at a fraction of the cost. These savings result in enhanced safety**  **, efficiency and**  **productivity for the affected activities, as well as envi ronmental benefits.**  **Operations under the exemption will be subject to strict operating requirements and conditions to ensure at least an equivalent level of safety**  **to currently authorized operations using manned aircraft and under conditions as may**  **be mod**  **ified by**

**the FAA**

**as required by**

**Section 333. As**  **described more fully below**  **, the requested exemption would authorize commercial operations of aerial photos and inspections or surve**  **ys using the**  **sUA S's, w**  **hich weigh less than 10**  **lbs. and are small in size. (S ee attached O&M** **2**

**manuals for the 3DR SOLO ). The sUA**  **S's will be operated under controlled conditions at low altitude in airspace that is limited in**  **scope, as described more fully**  **herein; it will have automated control features as described below and in the O**  **&M manuals. The sUA S also will be operated by**  **an individual who has FAA**  **Priv ate Pilot License. Finally**  **, the airspace in which the sUA** **S will operate will be Class G airspace or airspace approved by the FAA**  **in advance.**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLYDRONESFL**  **res pectfully**  **submits that because these small, unmanned aerial**  **vehicles will be used in lieu of comparatively hazardous operations now conducted with fixed**  **wing and rotary conventional aircraft or**  **other manned means of inspections, the FAA can hav**  **e confidence**  **that the operations will achieve at least the equivalent level or greater level of**  **safety**
**. Ap**  **proval of the exemptions w ould thereby enhance safety**  **and fulfill the Secretary** 

**of Transportation's (the FAA**  **A dministrator's) responsibilities under**  **Section 333( c) of the Reform**  **Ac t to "establish requirements for the safe operation**  **of such aircraft sy stems in the national**  **airspace sy stem."**  **The name and address of the applicant are: Al**  **ejandro Ar**  **ay a**  **dba AA**  **FLYDRONESFL Att:**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a Ph:**  **954 -**  **661 -**  **7469 Email:**  **alexawl@bellsouth.net Ad**  **dress: 5900 NE 2 Terr** 

**Oakland Park,**  **FL 33334**  **The regulations from which the exemption is requested are as follows: 14 C.F.R. Part 21;**  **14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) & (b);**  **14 C.F.R. 61.133 (a); 14 C.F.R. 91.7(b);**  **1 4 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2);**  **14C.F.R. 91.109(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.119;**  **14 C.F.R. 91.121; 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a);**  **14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) & (b); 14 C.F.R. 91.405(a);** **3**

**14 C.F.R. 91.407(a)(1); 14 C.F.R. 91.409(a)(2};**  **14 C.F.R. 91.417(a) & (b). Ap**  **pendix A**  **discusses each rule lis ted above and explains why**  **exemptions pursuant to the**  **proposal set forth in this letter are appropriate, provide an equivalent level of safety, and are in**  **the public interest.**

**The A pplicable Legal Standard under Section 333**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLYDRONESFL**  **submits that grant of this exemption application for use of the**  **proposed UA S's in precision aerial inspections will**  **advance the Congressional mandate in Section 333 of the Reform A**  **ct to accelerate the introduction of UA**  **Ss into the national airs pace**  **sy stem ("NA**  **S") if it can be accomplished safely**  **. This law directs the Secretary of**  **Transportation to consider whether certain UA**  **Ss may operate safely** 

**in the NA S before**  **completion of the rulemaking required under the Section 332 of the Reform A**  **ct. In m aking**  **this determination, the Secretary**  **is required to determine which types of UA Ss do**  **not create a hazard to users of the NA** **S or the public or pose a threat to national security**  **in the light of the follow**  **ing:**

• **The UA S's size,**  **weight, speed and operationa l capability**  **;**

• **Operation of the sUA S in closed proximity to airports and populated**  **areas; and**

• **Operation of the UA S**  **within visual line of sight of the operator. Reform A**  **ct §333{a)(1). If the Secretary determines that such vehicles "may**  **operate saf ely** 

**in the national airspace sy** **stem, the Secretary shall establish**  **requirement for the safe operation of such aircraft in the national airspace**  **sy stem.**  **" ld. §333(c) (emphasis added). The Federal A** 

**viation A ct expressly** 

**grants the FAA**

**the authority to iss ue**  **exemptions. This statutory authority**  **, by its terms, includes exempting civil**  **aircraft, as the term is defined under §40101 of the A**  **ct, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have a current airworthiness**  **certificate and those regulations requi**  **ring commercial pilots to operate aircraft in commercial service:**  **The A dministrator may**  **grant an exemption from. a requirement of a regulation 4** 

**prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any of the sections**  **44702 -**  **44716 of this title if the A** **dministrator finds the exemption is in the public interest.**  **Ap plicant submits that this provision places a duty**  **on the A dministrator to not**  **only process**  **applications for exemptions under Section 333, but for the Ad**  **ministrator, if he deems the conditions p**  **roposed herein require modification in order to allow approval, to supply**  **conditions for the safe operation of UA S. Todd**  **Thomas dba Drone Pies welcomes the opportunity to consult with FAA**  **staff in order to address any** 

**issues or concerns that this proposal**  **may raise that they believe may** 

**require modification. 49 U.S.C. §44701(f). See also 49 U.S.C. §44711 (a); 49 U.S.C. §44704; 14 C.F.R.**  **§91.203(a)(1). The grant of the requested exemption is in the public interest based on the clear**  **direction in Section**  **333 of the Reform A ct; the additional authority**  **in the Federal Aviation**  **Ac t, as**  **amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the**  **proposed operations; and the significant public benefit, including enhanced**  **safety and cost savings associated w**  **ith transitioning to UA** **Ss for aerial inspections and survey**  **photography and real estate photography**  **. A ccordingly,**  **the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA**  **grant the requested exemption without delay** 
**. Ai**  **rw orthiness of the sUA**  **S A**  **critical element of the exemption application involves evidence of the**  **airworthiness of the**  **sUA S. The Federal Aviation**  **Ac t (49 U.S. C. §44701 (f) and**  **Section 333 of the Reform A ct both**  **authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the**  **requirement for an airw orthiness certific**  **ate, upon consideration of the size,**  **weight, speed, operational capability , and proximity**  **to airports and populated**  **areas of the particular sUA S. Our small UAS's will operate at low speed in a**  **controlled environment, at least five miles from an airport or densely**  **populated area. A**  **n analy** **sis of these criteria demonstrates that the UA S operated without an**  **airworthiness certificate, in the restricted environment and under the conditions**  **proposed will be a least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft**  **(fixed wing or helicopter) operating w**  **ith an air**  **worthiness certificate without the restrictions and conditions proposed.**  **Mandatory**

**Operating Conditions (see O&M and Safety lists)** **5**

**Grant of the exemption to Al**  **ej andro A**  **ra ya**  **dba AA FLY DRONESFL**  **will be subject to the follow**  **ing mandatory**  **conditions, which are based upon operating conditions set forth for operation of**  **sUA S by**  **public entities pursuant to Certificates of A**  **uthorization, with additional restrictions:**

• **Al l operations to occur in Class**  **G airspace.**

• **Operations to avoid congested or populated areas, which are depicted in y**  **ellow on VFR**  **charts.**

• **Operations to be conducted over private or controlled -**  **access property**
**.**
• **Permission from land ow ner/controller required before commencing**  **flight.**

• **Operat ions to occur during Visual Flight Rules Meteorological**  **Conditions (VMC).**

• **Ai rcraft to remain within Visual Line of Sight (VLOS).**  **V LOS guaranteed with**  **a cy linder**  **of operation around operator of 1⁄2**  **nautical miles**  **(NM). Cy**  **linder walls may**

**be expanded by**

**obse rver w**  **ith ability**

**to control aircraft.** 

• **Operations to occur during day light hours.** 

• **Ab ove Ground Level (A**  **GL) altitude to be restricted to 400 feet.**

• **Al l operations conducted in vicinity**  **of airport to remain more than 2.5 NM from** 

• **centerline azimuth of runway c**  **enterline measured from runway thresholds** 

• **Al l required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial,**  **state, county**

**or city** **jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, fire, or other appropriate**  **gov ernmental agencies.**  **Operator Requiremen ts**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLYDRONESFL**  **respectfully purposes that operator**  **requirements should take into account the characteristics of the particular UA** **S. Certain UA** **Ss, such as the 3DR SOLO**  **are characterized by a high degree of**  **control and various built -**  **i n technical capabilities**  **that limit the potential for operation outside of the operating conditions set forth above.**  **Please see details in the attached O&M manuals.**  **Ad ditional automated safety**  **functions and safety enhancing features of the**  **sUA S's include**  **the following:** **6**

• **Au to**  **- pilot detection of lost GPS or of insufficient satellites initiates an**  **immediate return to aircraft take**  **- off location ("home").** 

• **Low power on the aircraft triggers escalating alarms at GCS.** 

• **If the auto -**  **pilot detects a lost -**  **link to the GCS, landing procedure begins.** 

• **Pause Button**

• **The Pause button/Panic, will freeze Solo mid -**  **air and hover until given another command. This can be useful to stop Solo from hitting an**  **obstacle or to re -**  **orient Solo for navigation Given these safety** 

**features, A**  **lejandro Ar**  **ay a**  **dba AA**  **FLYDRONESFL proposes**  **that operators of the sUA S**  **shou l**  **d not be required to hold a commercial pilot certification. Instead, operators should be**  **required to:**

• **Hold a private pilot license**
**.**
• **Have completed the manufacturer's training**  **program for operation of**  **the sUA S's.**  **Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLYDRONESFL**  **notes that the FAA has found that safety**  **factors permitted operation of sUA**  **Ss by operators with these qualifications in the**  **case of operations pursuant to public COA** **s wh**  **en the mandato ry**  **operating conditions specified above were present. See**  **Federal A viation A**  **dministration, Notice N**  **- 8900.227, Unmanned A**  **ircraft Systems (UA S)**  **Operational A pproval, at**  **20 -**  **21 (July**

**30, 2013). The FAA**

**has the statutory authority to grant**  **exemptions to the req**  **uirements for and privileges associated with the grant of airmen's certificates. 49 USC §44701 (f).**  *** * *** **In summary , applicant seeks an exemption from the FA**  **Rs set forth above in Ap**  **pendix A**  **to allow commercial operations of a sUA** **S's conducting precision a**  **erial inspections or surveys and real estate photos.**  **Ap proval of the exemption allowing commercial operations of the sUA** **S for precision**  **inspection, survey**  **wo rk, and real estate photos will enhance safety**  **by reducing risk.**  **Conventional aerial inspection, survey operations, and real estate**  **photos, using jet or piston powered**  **aircraft present risks associated with vehicles that weigh in the neighborhood of 5,000**  **to 7,000 lbs., or more, carry large quantities of fuel, passengers, and, in some cases, cargo.**  **S uch aircraft**  **must fly to and from the survey location. Other conventional manned climbing or**  **manned lifts risk safety hazards associated with falls, electrical hazards, fuel related hazards,**  **and inhalation associated with the structures being inspected. In contrast, a sUA** **S weighing less than 15 lbs. and powered by**  **batteries eliminates a 7** 

**portion of that risk given the reduced mass and lack of combustible fuel carried**  **on board a manned aircraft and the lack of risks associated wit**  **h manned lifts or manned clim**  **bing apparatus. The sUA S will carry**  **no passengers or crew and, therefore; will not expose any**  **individuals to the risks associated with manned aircraft**  **flights, manned lifts or climbing hazards. Ad**  **ditionally, no national security issue is raised by** 

**the g rant of the requested**  **exemptions. Given the size, load carry**  **ing capacity , speed at which it operates,**  **and the fact that it carries no explosives or other dangerous materials, the sUA** **S poses no threat to national security** 
**. The operation of the sUA**  **S, weighing less than 15 lbs ., for inspections, surveys,**  **and real estate photos in accordance with the strict conditions outlined above,**  **will provide an equivalent level of safety**  **supporting the grant of the exemptions requested herein, including exempting**  **A lejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a dba**  **AA FLY DRONESFL**  **from the requirements of Part 21. The sUA** **S's satisfaction of the criteria set forth in Section 333 of the Reform A**  **ct**   ** size,** **weight, speed, operating capabilities, lack of proximity**  **to airports and populated areas, operati**  **on within visual line of sight, and national security**  **- and**  **it’s showing of an equivalent level of safety**  **as it may relate to the requirement for**  **FAA training, provide more than adequate justification**  **for the grant of the requested exemptions allo**  **wing commer cial operation of the sUA**  **S in the commercial aerial inspection, survey**  **, and real estate photo business. Very**  **truly yours,** 

**Al ejandro**  **Ar ay**  **a Ow**  **ner AA**  **FLYDRONESFL Enclosures:**  **Ap pendix**  **A: Exemption Request and Equivalent Level of Safety Showings under**  **Ap plicable Rules Subject to Exemption**  **Ap pendix B: Operation and Maintenance Manuals:**  **3DR SOLO Manual**  **Ap pendix C: Safety** 

**Checklists**