Greg Prinkey

4590 Applecrest Circle

Castle Rock, CO 80109

gprinkey@184media.com

Business Name: 184Media

Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations from:

14 CFR 21 subpart H 

14 CFR 45.23(b) 

14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b)

14 CFR 91.7(a) 

14 CFR 91.9(b)(2) 

14 CFR 91.103 

14 CFR 91.109 

14 CFR 91.119(c) 

14 CFR 91.121 

14 CFR 91.151(a) 

14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b) 

14 CFR 91.405 (a) 

14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 

14 CFR 91.409 (a)(1) and (2) 

14 CFR 91.417(a) and (b)

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the “Reform 

Act”) and 14 CFR Part 11, Greg Prinkey, operator of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), hereby 

applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow 

commercial operation of designated UAS, provided such operations are conducted within and 

under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 

333.

Commercial operation of an UAS, as described herein, which are equipped with (1) 

camera capable of shooting ultra-high definition 4K video and 12 megapixel images, and sensors 

which would provide professional services in the following areas: 

1. Aerial photography and/or video for public and/or private use including real estate, 

architecture, land surveying, engineering and other related professional activities.

2. Aerial video and/or photography for public and/or private use including television, public 

events, cinematography and newsgathering. 

3. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial structures under contract with the 

owners or local government authority. 

4. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial utility infrastructure including but 

not limited to electrical power lines, wind turbines and cell towers. 
5. Aerial video/photography or providing live video feed to assist with search and rescue 

operations in cases of an emergency or natural disaster only when the local authorities or 

government has requested it by contract or donation. 

6. Training to persons individually or belonging to both private and/or public organizations to 

increase awareness and improve safety for current and future UAS operations within the NAS.

7. To aide in law enforcement and firefighters to provide an aerial perspective and surveillance 

of a particular area only if requested and under the close supervision and coordination of the 

local and state government.

As described fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of 

designated UAS as set forth in this document under controlled conditions in the NAS that would 

be a) limited b) controlled c) predetermined and d) safe. Approval of this exemption would 

increase public awareness of UAS operations and enhance safety to aid in fulfilling the Secretary 

of Transportation’s (the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to “....establish requirements for 

the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.”

I plan to operate a UAS, the DJI PHANTOM 3 Professional which is comprised of an 

unmanned aircraft (UA or Phantom 3) and a transportable ground station. The Phantom 3 is 

referred to as a quad-copter with a maximum gross weight of about 3 pounds. It is equipped 

with four rotors that are driven by electric motors powered by batteries. The UA has a maximum 

airspeed of 16 m/s.

Also, given the small size of the UAS involved and the restricted controlled environment 

within which they will operate, the applicant fits within that zone of safety (an equivalent level 

of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial 

operations of UASs to commence immediately. Also due to the size of the UAS and the 

controlled areas in which the relevant UAS will operate, approval of the application presents no 

national security issue. Given the following, the grant of the requested exemptions is clearly in 

the public interest: Greg Prinkey proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil 

aircraft that have the characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein. These 

limitations provide for an exceptional level of safety to operations. These limitations and 

conditions to which Greg Prinkey agrees to be bound when conducting commercial operations 

under an FAA issued exemption including:

1. The UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.

2. Flights will be operated within line of sight of operator.

3. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes.

4. Flights will be terminated at 30% battery power reserve.

5. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL

6. UAS operator will be trained in the proper safety and operations of the UAS.

7. The UAS will only operate within a controlled area as defined in the Procedures.

8. The operator will post advisor notice around the controlled area.

9. The operator will have been trained in operation of UAS generally and received up-to-date 

information on the particular UAS to be operated as required.

10. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UAS will have capability to 
return to a pre-determined location within the Security Perimeter and land.

11. The UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles or 

emergencies.

Accordingly, the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested 

exemption and are prepared to modify or amend any part of this request to satisfy the need for 

an equivalent level of safety. Please contact me at any time if additional information or 

clarifications are needed.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Greg Prinkey