I, Thomas Goodall, have been flying UA's for 4 years, my most recent experience is with the Inspire 1 

built by DJI. I have been flying as a Hobbyist and now ready to bring my skills to a professional level for 

three reasons; Cinematography for Golf Courses, Special Events and Real Estate. In doing so I consider 

all safety precautions and regulations as foremost with each flight.

I seek exception from 14 C.F.R. 21, subpart H; 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 C.F.R. §§ 61.113 (a) & 

(b); 14 C.F.R. § 91.7 (a); 14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b)(2); 14 C.F.R. § 91.103(b); 14 C.F.R. § 91.109; 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) and (b); 14 

C.F.R. § 91.405 (a); 14 C.F.R. § 91.407 (a)(1); 14 C.F.R. § 91.409 (a)(2); 14 C.F.R. § 91.409 (a ) 

(2); and, 14 C.F.R. §§ 91.417 (a) & (b) to commercially operate.

Golf Course Cinematography: 

I, Thomas Goodall, considers safety and regulations as foremost with each flight. My small unmanned 

aircraft is designed to hover in place via GPS and operate in less than a 24 knot (15 mph) wind. For safety, 

stability and fear of financial loss I will not fly in winds exceeding 16 kph (10 mph) nor will I fly my UA 

faster than 30 mph nor go over 200 feet from ground, far safer then the 400 foot limit. Built in safety 

systems include a GPS mode that allows my UAS to hover in place when radio controls are released. 

With three modes to choose from, I utilize the Smart Mode for aerial videography/photography. This is 

the safest, most reliable and stable mode to prevent accident and hazard. When pilot communication is 

lost the UAS is designed to slowly descend to point of take off. I do not operate my UAS near airports, 

Hospitals nor Police heliports, I am also prepared to land/abort immediately to the nearest and safest 

ground point that I have planned ahead of take off. 

Aerial footage of Golf Courses would help give the public a geographical awareness of the course before 

playing. It helps Golfers improve their game when they have the ability to map out landing zones. Also 

using my UA avoids the high risks in the use of a helicopter with fuel and persons on board. 

After consent of the Golf Course I, Thomas Goodall operating the Dji Inspire 1, would first observe the 

flight area for any mobile phone base stations, radio transmission towers, power lines or any other 

electromagnetic interference that could disrupt flight. I would scan the area for any large buildings or 

trees that may affect with GPS accuracy or flight. I then would make sure the weather is flight ready to 

avoid wind speed exceeding 10m/s , snow, rain and smog also to be sure the UA and battery performance 

is subject to safe air density and temperature. For safety, stability and fear of financial loss I will not 

operate unless perfect conditions are present. I make sure I am in the 5 mile radius of any airports and to 

stay under 400 feet from ground. 

Next I would then coordinate a safe fly time where all Persons and property are in safe distance from my 

UA during take off and flight. Lastly I 

would go through my normal maintenance and pre-flight Checklist;

1. Remote controller, aircraft battery, and mobile device are fully charged. 
2. Propellers are mounted correctly and firmly.

 3. Micro-SD card has been inserted if necessary.

 4. Gimbal is functioning as normal.

 5. Motors can start and are functioning as normal. 6. 

DJI Pilot app connected to the aircraft. 

then following up with flight test procedures;

 1. Place the aircraft on open, flat ground with battery indicators facing towards me.

 2. Power on the remote controller and your mobile device, then the Intelligent Flight Battery.

 3. Launch the DJI Pilot App and enter the Camera page.

 4. Wait until the Aircraft Indicator blinks green. This means the Home Point is recorded via GPS

 5. calibrate the compass flight location.

 6. Push the throttle up slowly to take off 

 7. Shoot photos and videos using the DJI Pilot app.

 8. To land, hover over a level surface and gently pull down on the throttle slowly to descend.

 9. After landing, execute the CSC command or hold the throttle at its lowest position for 3 seconds or

more until the motors stop.

 10. Turn off the Intelligent Flight Battery first, followed by the Remote Controller. 

 

Special Event cinematography: 

Capturing those perfect moments during a special event is important. Capturing it with aerial 

cinematography will help give the host a professional recording to relive their special moments with out 

the dangers and expenses of a manned fixed wing aircraft or helicopter. 

Recording Special Events would be taken care of delicately with my UA. Firstly I, Thomas Goodall, 

would observe the flight area for any mobile phone base stations, radio transmission towers, power lines 

or any other electromagnetic interference that could disrupt flight. I would scan the area for any large 

buildings or trees that may affect with GPS accuracy or flight. lastly make sure the weather is flight ready 

to avoid wind speed exceeding 10m/s , snow, rain and smog also to be sure the UA and battery 

performance is subject to safe air density and temperature. Second go through the PRE FLIGHT 

CHECKLIST/maintenance and FLIGHT TEST PROCEDURES as normal in a secure area safe from 

persons and property. Thirdly capturing film from a safe distance from persons and property avoiding all 

crowds and hazards. 

Real Estate:

Arial cinematography in the housing market has been around for a long time through manned fixed wing 

aircraft and helicopters. For small budget real estate companies and average homeowners the expense of 
such aerial videography is cost prohibitive. Only large companies and high end Realtors or luxury 

homeowners can afford to absorb such expense. Depriving non-luxury homeowners and lower budget 

Realtors from a valuable marketing tool. Also using my UA avoids the high risks in a helicopter with 

fuel and persons on board. 

To make sure the operation will be safely conducted Firstly I, Thomas Goodall, would observe the flight 

area for any mobile phone base stations, radio transmission towers, power lines or any other 

electromagnetic interference that could disrupt flight. I would scan the area for any large buildings or 

trees that may affect with GPS accuracy or flight. I'd make sure the weather is flight ready to avoid wind 

speed exceeding 10m/s , snow, rain and smog also to be sure the UA and battery performance is subject to 

safe air density and temperature. Second go through the PRE FLIGHT CHECKLIST/maintenance and 

FLIGHT TEST PROCEDURES in a secure area safe from persons and property. Thirdly capturing film 

from safe distance from persons and property avoiding all hazards.

Its length x height x width dimensions without the propellers attached are 44 x 30 x 45cm (17.3 

x 11.8 x 17.7in). 

weight: Weight (Battery Included) 2935 g

Compliance: The Remote Controller is compliant with both CE and FCC regulations. stated on 

page 24 in DJI Inspire 1 flight manual attachment. 

Operating Frequency 922.7MHz~927.7 MHz 5.725~5.825 

GHz;2.400~2.483 GHz

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. stated on page 62 of the DJI Inspire flight 

manual.

the design and operational characteristics of the Inspire 1:

Three positioning modes; 

-GPS and vision positioning and uses GPS for positioning.

-Vision positioning is available but GPS is not 
-Neither GPS or vision positing is working and its only using its barometer for positing 

return to home are where you last record point of take off. There are three cases that will trigger 

RTH procedure; they are Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH and Failsafe RTH. 

Press and hold the button to start the Return to Home (RTH) procedure. Then the LED around 

the RTH Button will blink white to indicate the aircraft is entering RTH mode. The aircraft will 

then return to the last recorded Home Point. and to cancel it Press this button again and you 

will regain the control of the aircraft. 

Smart RTH: 

you may control the aircraft's orientation to avoid collision during the Smart RTH. Press the 

Smart RTH button once to start the process, press the Smart RTH button again to exit Smart 

RTH and regain the control. 

Low Battery RTH:

The low battery level failsafe is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is depleted to a 

point that may affect the safe return of the aircraft. Users are advised to return home or land the 

aircraft immediately when these warnings are shown. DJI Pilot app will advise user to return the 

aircraft to the Home Point when low battery warning is triggered. Aircraft will automatically return 

to the Home Point if no action is taken after 10 seconds countdown. User can cancel the RTH 

by pressing once on the RTH button. The thresholds for these warnings are automatically 

determined based on the current aircraft altitude and its distance from the Home Point.

Aircraft will land automatically if the current battery level can only support the aircraft to land to 

the ground from the current altitude. User can use the remote controller to control the aircraft’s 

orientation during the landing process.

The Battery Level Indicator is displayed in the DJI Pilot app, and is described below 

Failsafe RTH:

Failsafe RTH is activated automatically if remote controller signal (including video relay signal) 

is lost for more than 3 seconds provided that Home Point has been successfully recorded and 

compass is working normally. Return home process may be interrupted and the operator can 

regain control over the aircraft if a remote controller signal is resumed.

Max Height & Radius limit flying height and distance: 

The user may change these settings in the DJI Pilot App. Once complete, your Inspire 1 will fly 

in a restricted cylinder that is determined by these settings. The tables on page 45 in the flite 

manual attachment show the details of these limits.
On the DJI Inspire 1 as a default a “warning zone” has been set around safety zones. When you 

fly within 320 feet of the 5 mile radius of the restricted flying zone a warning message will 

appear on the DJI Pilot App. and there is a graph to show in detail on page 47 of Dji inspire 1 

flight manual attachment. That includes for category A areas and category B areas, big and 

small airports.

Respectfully Submitted,

Thomas Goodall,

210 Via Nada, San Clemente, CA.