U.S.DepartmentofTransportationFederalAviationAdministrationWashington,DCSeptember10,2015PetitionerAndrewLevesque29384MaryStLindstrom,MN55045651-769-4070andy.m.levesque@gmail.comAndrewLevesquewillbeprovidingclientswithhighqualityimagingforavarietyofcommercial,public,andresidentialuses.HeisacurrentlicensedprivatepilotwithhoursofflyingexperienceandisseekinganexemptionfromthesespecificrequirementsofTitle14C.F.R.:I.61.113{a)and(b)II.91.119{b)and(c)Ill.91.1211V.91.151{a)IV.91.405{a)v.91.407{a){1)VI.91.409{a){1)and{2)VII.91.417{a)and{b)DefinitionsI.AGLAboveGroundLevelII.ATCAirTrafficControlIll.COACertificateofAuthorizationIV.FAAFederalAviationAdministrationv.FARFederalAviationRegulationVI.GPSGlobalPositioningSystemVII.NASNationalAirspaceSystemVIII.PICPilotinCommandIX.UAUnmannedAircraftX.sUASSmallUnmannedAerialSystemXI.VFRVisualFlightRulesXII.VLOSVisualLineofSiteSummaryIntheinstanceofgrantingexemption,AndrewLevesquewillbeoperatingthesUASinordertofulfillcontractedobligations,suchas:aerialphotographyandvideographyforrealestateagents,appraisers,propertymanagers,generalcontractors;solarpanelinstallationtechnicians;agriculturists;utilityinspections(onlywheresafeflightisattainable);chambersofcommerceandassociatedbusinesses;wildlifeconservationorganizations;publicdepartments;allotherinstitutionrequiringfilmography(safeflightpermitting)AircraftI.DJIPhantom3A.Weight(IncludingBatteryandPropellers)2.82lbsB.DiagonalSize(IncludingPropellers)23.23inC.MaxAscentSpeed11.2mphD.MaxDescentSpeed6.7mphE.MaxFlight23minutesF.RemoteControllerOperatingFrequency2.400GHz2.483GHzG.AutoTakeoff-RisestoapresetheightandwillhoverinplaceuntildirectedwheretogoH.AutoReturn-HomeRememberstheexactspotittookofffromtoenableatapofabuttontoreturnbackhomeI.LowBatteryFailsafe-IftheflightbatteryisrunrunningloworthePhantom3losesconnectionwiththeremoteitwillautomaticallyreturnbackhomeSpecificSectionsofC.F.RFromWhichAndrewLevesqueSeeksExemptionI.Section61.113(a)and(b)PrivatePilotPrivilegesandlimitationsSection61.113statesthatnopersonwhoholdsaprivatepilotcertificatemayactaspilotincommandofanaircraftthatiscarryingpassengersorpropertyforcompensationorhire;normaythatperson,forcompensationorhire,actaspilotincommandofanaircraft.ThesUASwillnotcarryapilotorpassengers.ThenthestatedoperationscanachievetheequivalentlevelofsafetybyrequiringthePICoperatingtheaircrafttohavecompletedFAAPrivatePilotGroundschoolinstructionandpassedtheFAAPrivatePilotwrittenexamtooperatethesesUAS.ThesesUASarenotcapableofcarryingapilotorpassengers,thereforedistinguishingthemasremotelycontrolledvehicles.Theareaofoperationiscontrolledandrestrictedprovidingasoundlevelofsafetyreferencedfromtheoperationsmanual.TheriskassociatedwiththeoperationofaUASaregreatlyreducedwithaprivatepilotactingasPICthusexceedingthepresentlevelofsafetyachievedbysection61.113.II.Section91.119MinimumSafeAltitudesSection91.119statespersonsmayoperateahelicopteratlessthantheminimumsprescribedinparagraph(b)or(c)ofthissection,providedeachpersonoperatingthehelicoptercomplieswithanyroutesoraltitudesspecificallyprescribedforhelicoptersbytheFAA.ThesUASmeetsthiscriteriaasahelicopterandrequeststheabilitytooperateataltitudesupto400'AGL.OnlyinaccordancewithpreobtainedconsentwillthesUASoperatewhilealsomaintaininganaltitudelessthan400'AGL.ForcomparisonwithtraditionalaircraftandrotorcraftthesUASweighslessthan101bs,whilealsopreventingpotentialrisksassociatedwithflammablefuel.Lastlythe400'AGLceilinglimitsanyabilityforthesUAStointerferewithconventionalaircraftoperatingatorabove500'AGL.Ill.Section91.121AltimeterSettingsSection91.121stateseachpersonoperatinganaircraftshallmaintainthecruisingaltitudeorflightlevelofthataircraft,asthecasemaybe,byreferencetoanaltimeterthatisset,whenoperatingbelow18,000feetMSL,tothecurrentreportedaltimetersettingofastationalongtherouteandwithin100nauticalmilesoftheaircraft.Inthecaseofanaircraftnotequippedwitharadio,theelevationofthedepartureairportoranappropriatealtimetersettingavailablebeforedeparture.ThesUASwillreferenceitsaltitudebasedonGPSandwillberestrictedtoa400'AGLceiling.ThePICwillalsoverifyGPSelevationfrommultiplegroundbasedsourcespriortotakeoff.IV.Section91.151FuelRequirementsforFlightinVFRconditionsSection91.151statesnopersonmaybeginaflightinarotorcraftunderVFRconditionsunless(consideringwindandforecastweatherconditions)thereisenoughfueltoflytothefirstpointofintendedlandingand,assumingnormalcruisingspeed,toflyafterthatforatleast20minutes.ThesUASbatterypoweredoperationalflighttimeisnotabletoincorporatea20minutereservewindowfollowingsuccessfulfirstpointofintendedlandingduetocurrentbatterycapacitylimitations.InordertoprovideadequatereservepowerforreturnlandingthesUASwillabidebya12minuteflighttimeor25%ofremainingbatterypower,whicheverhappensfirst.V.Section91.405(a),91.407(a)(l),91.409(a)(l)&(2),and91.417(a)&(b)Thesesectionsonlyapplytoaircraftwithanairworthinesscertificate,AndrewLevesquerequestsexemptionfromthesesectionsbecausetheDJIPhantom3doesnotrequireairworthinesscertificates.BothsUASareinaccordancewithFMRASection333foroperation,absentanairworthinesscertificate.Inordertoinsurepropermaintenancetheoperationsmanualwillbecitedfornecessarycorrectivemeasures.Inaddition,thePICisthepersonmostfamiliarwiththeaircraftandbestsuitedtomaintaintheaircraftinanairworthycondition,andanysUASconductedmaintenancewillbedocumentedforthelifeoftheaircrafts.PublicInterest•RealestateagentswillbeabletosettheirlistingsapartwithauniqueperspectiveonlyavailablefromsUASphotographicequipment,thereforeincreasingtheprospectofmeetingorexceedingtheaskingprice.•Propertymanagersandcontractorswillhavetheabilitytosurveytheirpropertyforanomalieswhilepreventinghumanendangermentduetohazardousconditions.•Solarpaneltechnicianscansafelyinspectpotentialinstallationlocationswithoutputtingthemselvesinhighelevationandslopingcircumstances.•Agriculturistswillhavetheabilitytosurveytheirlandinamoretimelymannerandbetterdocumenttheconditionoftheirproperty.•Marketingfirmsandotherbusinesseswoulduseuniqueaerialphotographyandpanographicvideotopromotemarketingcampaignsandincreaserevenue.•SearchandrescueentitiescouldutilizethesUAStohelpquicklyaidinfindingthelocationofperson(s)whileprovidingabettervantagepointincloserquarters.PublicSafetyPublicSafety•BothsUASwillreduceairandnoisepollution.dototheaircraftbeingpoweredbyabatteryandbrushlesselectricmotors.•Thesesmallaircraftcreatelesspotentialforharm,shouldanemergencysituationoccur,thankstotheirsizeandweight.•Furthermorethelackofcombustiblefuelalsosignificantlydecreasestheirchancesofproducingharm.ConclusionBasedonthecriteriaprovidedundertheFMRASection333,AndrewLevesquerequeststhattheFAAgrantshimexemptionfrom14C.F.RSections61.113(a)&(b),91.119(b)and(c),91.121,91.151(b),91.405(a),91.407(a)(1),91.409{a)(1)&(a)(2),and91.417(a)&(b)inordertoconductcontractedcommercialsUASoperationsusingtheDJIPhantom3forawiderangeofindustriesandapplications.Respectfully,AndrewLevesque