### Blackbird Aerial Systems, LLC

June25, 2015 F ro m: Thomas Brinton T o : F e de ra l Av i a t i o n Ad mi n i s t ra t i o n To W ho m it M a y C on ce rn , I n t h e FAA M od e rn i z a t i o n a n d R e fo r m Act of 2 012 , C o n g re s s d i re ct e d t h e FAA “ to s a fe ly a cce l era t e t h e i n te g ra t i o n of c i v il un m ann e d a i rc raf

t syste m s i n t o t h e na t i ona l a i rs pa c e syste m” a n d , und e r S e ct i o n 3 3 3 of t ha t l aw , ga v e t h e FAA pow e r to gran t i nnov a to rs “ex ped i te d op e ra t i ona l a u t hori z a t i on ” to d o s o . By t h is pe t i t i on , Blackbird Aerial Systems i s s e e k i n g au t h o ri z a t i o n to c o ndu ct s U A S ope ra t i on s o n ou r ow n s i te s to im p ro v e s a fe ty fo r o u r e m p l oy ee s a n d e n s ure q u a li ty a ss uran c e fo r t h e fa c il it i e s w e are i n s pe ct i ng . F u rt h e r , g ran t i n g t h is req u e s t w ill d o no t h i n g m ore t ha n a ll ow Blackbird Aerial Systems to d o w ha t t h o us and s o f h o bb y i s ts a n d m anu fa ct u rers o f m ode l a i rc ra f t d o e v er y da y , exc ep t w e w ill ab i d e b y m u c h st ronge r s afe ty m ea s ure s . Blackbird Aerial Systems ha s a li ce n s e d Airline Transport Pilot to m a n ag e ou r s U A S pro g ra m. U n d e r h is s up e rv i s i o n w e w ou ld pro v i d e a s afe l e v e l of o p era t i o n t ha t is s u p eri o r to c u rre n t reg u l a t i on s . H is e x peri en c e a s a FAA li ce n s e d ATP p il o t g i v e s h im a n und e rstand i n g o f how m a nn e d a i rc ra f t s a fe ly na v i ga t e t h e N a t i ona l A i rs p a c e Syst e m ( N AS ) . T h is i n va l uab le e x peri e n c e app l i e d to Blackbird Aerial Systems U AS prog ra m equa t e s to s afe s U A S u s e o n ou r proj e cts w i t h n o c on fli c t i o n w i t h m ann e d a i rc raft . **A .**  **M a**  **i l**  **i ng**  **a dd**  **res s**  **a nd**  **o t**  **h e**  **r c**  **on t**  **ac t**  **i n**  **f o**  **r m**  **a t**  **i on:**  **Thomas Brinton President,**  **B lackbird Aerial**  **Systems 13470 Lafayette St.**  **Thornton, CO 80241 720**  **- 235**  **- 7567**  **c e**  **l l**  **reachtom@g m**  **a il.**  **c om** 

### Blackbird Aerial Systems, LLC

**B .**  **The s**  **p e**  **c i**  **f i**  **c sect**  **i on or**  **s ect**  **i ons**  **o f**  **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R f** **r o**  **m w**  **h i**  **c h**  **Blackbird Aerial Systems seek** **s e**  **xe m**  **p t**  **i on.**  1 . 1 4 C FR P ar

t 21 , S ubpar

t H : A i r w ort h i ne s s C e r

t i fi c a te s . 2 . 1 4 C FR 91 . 20 3( a ) & (b ) C i v il a i rc ra ft : C ert i fi ca t i on s requ i red . 3 . 1 4 C FR 45 . 2 3 D i s p l a y of M arks ; Genera l a n d 45 . 2 9 S i z e of M a rks . 4 . 1 4 C FR 91 . 9 C i v il A i rc ra f

t Fli gh t M anua l, M a r k i ng , an d P l a c a rd R equ i re m en ts . 5 . 1 4 C FR 91 . 11 9 Mi n im u m S a fe A l t i t ude s . 6 . 1 4 C FR 91 . 12 1 A l t im e t e r S e tt i ng s . 7 . 1 4 C FR 91 . 15 1 F u e l R equ i re m en ts f o r Fli gh t in V FR C ond i t i on s . 8 . 1 4 C FR S ubpar

t E (91 . 40 1 - 9 1 . 4 1 7 ) - M a i n t enan ce , P re v e n t i v e M a i n t en a n ce , an d A l te ra t i o n s . 9 . FAA N o t i c e 8900 . 22 7 P a ra g ra p h 1 6 ( c ) (4 ) P I C M ed i c a l an d P ara g ra p h 16 ( e ) (1 ) O b s erv e r M ed i c a l. **C .**  **The exte**  **nt of**  **r e**  **li e**  **f Blackbird Aerial Systems**  **seeks ,**  **a nd**  **t he**  **r e**  **a s**  **on Blackbird Aerial Systems**  **seek s**  **t he**  **r e**  **li e**  **f .**  Blackbird Aerial Systems s ee ks exe m p t i o n fro m s ev era l i n terre l a te d p rov i s i on s of 1 4 C . F . R . P arts 21 , 45 , 91 , an d FAA N o t i c e 8900 . 22 7 to t h e ext en t ne c e ss ar y to e n gag e in c o mm e rc i a l op e ra t i on s o f a s U A S o n ou r ow n s i te s . I f gran t e d t he s e e x e m p t i on s w e w ou ld o p era t e t h e s U AS w i t h t h e prop e rty ow ne r’s w ri tt e n per mi s s i on . Blackbird Aerial Systems i n t en t is to u s e a s U AS fo r t h e fo ll ow i n g purposes : 1 . Qua li ty C on t ro l / Qua li ty As s uran c e I n s pe ct i o n s 2 . Aeri a l S u rv e ys 3 . Aerial Photography 4. Search and Rescue 5. Wi ldlife research We ha v e d e t a il e d b e l ow a s i gn i fi c an t s e t of s afegu a rd s t ha t w ill app ly to ou r pro po s e d s U A S op e ra t i on s . Ope ra t i on s un d e r t he s e s a fe g ua rd s w ill pro v i d e a l e v e l of s a fe ty e xc eed i n g t h e l e v e l o f s a fe ty requ i re d of s imi l a r s U A S opera t i o n s t ha t t h e FAA au t hori z e s c urre n t l y . I n add i t i on , ou r op e ra t i on s w ill no t c rea t e a ha z ard to u s e rs of t h e na t i o n a l a i rs pa ce syst e m o r t h e pub lic o r p o s e a t hrea t to na t i o n a l s e c ur i ty a n d are t h u s con s i s ten t w i t h t h e congre ss i o n a l m an d a te in S e ct i o n 33 3 of t h e F AA m odern i z a t i o n a n d R eform Act of 2012 , w h i c h g i v e s t h e FAA a m e c han i s m to a ll ow certa in U A S to opera t e s a fe ly in t h e na t i ona l a i rs p a c e syste m.

### Blackbird Aerial Systems, LLC

**D .**  **The r** **e as**  **ons w**  **hy g**  **ra n**  **t i**  **ng Blackbird Aerial Systems**  **r e**  **qu e**  **s t**  **w ould**  **be i**  **n t**  **he pu**  **b li**  **c i**  **n t** **e r** **e st**  **; t**  **h a** **t i**  **s ,**  **how i**  **t w** **ould b**  **e n**  **e f** **i t**  **t h**  **e pu**  **b li**  **c a**  **s a**  **w hol**  **e .**  T h is w ou ld benefit t h e pub lic b y g i v i n g Blackbird Aerial Systems a c apab le ri s k mi t i ga t e d p l a tfor m . T h e pro p o s e d s U A S g i v e s Blackbird Aerial Systems a n a l t erna t i v e to manned aircraft in orde r t o a cco m p li s h ne c e ss ar y an d re qu i re d operations . T h is in t ur n c ou ld pre v en t a cc i den ts and /o r dea t h s . T h is w ou ld ha v e a po s i t i v e t ri c k l edow n e ffe c t to fa mil i e s of ou r e m p l oy ee s an d p eop l e t ha t w or k o n s i t e w h i c h u l t im a t e ly bene fi ts t h e pub li c .

### Blackbird Aerial Systems, LLC

**E .**  **The r** **e as**  **ons w**  **hy g**  **r a**  **n t**  **i ng**  **t he**  **e xe**  **m p**  **t i**  **on w** **ould not**  **a d**  **v e**  **r s**  **e l**  **y a**  **f fe**  **c t**  **sa f** **e t** **y ,**  **or how**  **t he**  **exe m**  **p t**  **i on**  **w ould**  **p r** **o v**  **i de**  **a l**  **eve l**  **of s**  **a f** **e t** **y a**  **t l**  **e a**  **s t**  **e q**  **u a**  **l t** **o t**  **h a**  **t p**  **r o**  **v i**  **d e**  **d by**  **t h**  **e r**  **u l**  **e f** **r o**  **m w**  **h i**  **c h**  **Blackbird Aerial Systems seek** **s t**  **he exe**  **m p**  **t i**  **on.** Blackbird Aerial Systems s U A S opera t i on s w ill pro v i d e a l e v e l of s a fe ty t ha t fa r e xc eed s t h e l e v e l o f s a fe ty requ i re d b y t h e FAA fo r hobb y i s ts an d m anu fa ct u rers o f m ode l a i rc ra ft . T h e fo ll ow i n g op e ra t i n g p ro c e d u re s w ill app ly duri n g t h e s U A S op e ra t i on s u n d e r t h is e x e m p t i o n re q ue st . 1 . T h e s U A S t ha t Blackbird Aerial Systems ha s c ho s e n t o w o rk w i t h i s t h e P han to m V i s i o n 2 an d /o r 3 , DJI Inspire 1 a n d w ill b e pow ere d v ia a ba tt ery s ourc e . Blackbird Aerial Systems w ill on ly u s e s U AS t ha t are b e l ow 4 . 4 po u nd s now an d in t h e fu t u re . 2 Blackbird Aerial Systems opera t i o n s w ill b e condu ct ed : i. w i t h in t h e v i s ua l li n e of s i gh t of t h e P il o t in C o mm an d ( PI C ) a n d on e o r m o re V i s ua l Ob s erv ers (V O ) . ii. a t l e s s t ha n 40 0 fee t AG L ii i . w i t h in C l a s s G a i rs pa ce . 3 . Blackbird Aerial Systems opera t i o n s w ill b e c ondu cte d in a c on fi ne d are a o v e r i s o l a t e d p ri v a t e pro p erty l o c a t e d a t l ea s t 5 mil e s a w a y fro m an y a i rp o r t , he li port , s e ap l a n e b a s e , s pa ceport o r o t h e r l o c a t i o n w i t h a v i a t i o n a ct i v i t i e s , an d an y mil itar y o r U .S . go v ern m en t i n st a ll a t i on s o r a i rfi e l d s . I f w e are w i t h in t h e 5 mile rad i u s o f an y of t h e abov e i n st a ll a t i on s Blackbird Aerial Systems w ill s ee k w ri tte n appro v a l fro m t ha t i n st a ll a t i on ’s ow ne r be f o re s U AS ope ra t i on s t a k e p l a c e . I f s a id i n st a ll a t i o n ow ne r re qu i re s s t ri c t e r gu i de l i ne s fo r op e ra t i o n t he n Blackbird Aerial Systems w ill co m p l y . 4 . A ll s U A S opera t i on s w ill re m a in w i t h in t h e l a tera l an d v e rt i c a l bou n dar i e s of t h e opera t i n g a rea , ta k i n g i n t o a cc oun t a ll fa ctors , i n c l ud i n g w i nd , gro s s w e i gh t an d g li d e d i s t an c e s , t ha t m a y a ffe ct t h e c apab il ity of t h e s U A S to re m a in w i t h in t h e a i rs p a c e bo u nd a ry ; m oreo v e r , t h e ce il i n g he i gh t w ill b e n o m o re t ha n 4 0 0 fe e t AGL . 5 . Blackbird Aerial Systems s U A S opera t i on s u n d e r t h is ex e m p t i o n w ill b e condu ct e d un d e r t h e s uperv i s i o n d e s i gna te d PI C w h o u l t im a t e ly ha s fi na l re s pon s i b il ity fo r t h e op e ra t i o n in a cc ord a n c e w i t h 1 4 C . F . R . 91 . 3 an d h o l d s a FAA pri v a t e p il ot li c en s e . 6 . PI C w ill m a i n t a in t h e s U A S s yste m in a cond i t i o n f o r s afe ope ra t i on , an d c o n du ct a pre -fli g h t inspection pri o r to ea c h fli gh t s o a s to en s ure t ha t t h e s U A S , c on t ro l st a t i on , da t a li n k equ i p m e n t , c a m era , an d s upp o r t equ i p m en t a re in a c ond i t i o n fo r s afe o p era t i o n an d in a con fi g ura t i o n a p p ro p ri a te fo r t h e p urp o s e o f t h e i n te n de d fli gh t .

### Blackbird Aerial Systems, LLC

7 . T h e PI C an d V O w ill m a i n ta in tw o -w a y c o m m un i c a t i on s w i t h ea c h o t he r d u ri n g a ll o pe ra t i o n s ; if unab le t o m a i n ta in tw o -w a y c o mm un i c a t i on s , o r if an y c o nd i t i o n o cc urs t h a t m a y o t her w i s e c au s e t h e opera t i o n to b e un s afe , t h e op e ra to r w ill imm ed i a te ly con c l ud e t h e o p e ra t i on . 8 . E a c h s U A S t ha t Blackbird Aerial Systems w ill e m p l oy und e r t h is e xe m p t i o n w ill s a fe ly re t ur n au to m a t i c a lly t o a ho me l o c a t i o n de s i gna t e d b y t h e PI C i f t h e co mm un i c a t i on s l i n k is l o st . 9 . T h e a i rc ra f

t do c u m e n ta t i o n re qu i re d b y 1 4 C . F . R . § § 91 . 9 an d 9 1 . 20 3 ( b ) , a s app li c ab l e , w ill b e av a il ab le to t h e PI C re ferre d to abo v e a t a n y t ime Blackbird Aerial Systems s U A S are ope ra t i n g . Blackbird Aerial Systems w ill e f fe ct i v e ly opera t e u n de r o u r ow n standa rd op e ra t i n g p ro c e d u re s t ha t w ill pro v i d e add i t i o na l s afegua rd s t ha t g o fa r be yo n d t h e l e v e l of s afe ty fo r pub lic m ode l a i rp l a n e fi e l d s . **F. A**  **s um**  **m a**  **ry t**  **he F**  **A A**  **ca n**  **pu b**  **li s**  **h i**  **n t**  **he F**  **e d**  **e r** **a l**  **R e**  **g i**  **ste r,**  **s tat**  **i n**  **g :**  **( 1**  **) The**  **r u**  **l e**  **f r** **o m**  **w h**  **i c**  **h y**  **ou see**  **k t**  **he e**  **x e**  **m p**  **t i**  **on; a**  **nd (**  **2 )**  **A b**  **r i**  **e f**  **d e**  **sc r**  **i p**  **t i**  **on o**  **f t**  **he n**  **a t**  **u re**  **of t**  **he exe**  **m p**  **t i**  **on y**  **ou s**  **e e**  **k .**  1 . P e t i t i oner : Blackbird Aerial Systems 2 . S e ct i on s o f 1 4 C . F . R . Af

fe ct ed : § § P ar

t 21 , S ubp a rt H ; 91 . 203 ; 45 . 23 ; 91 . 9 ; 91 . 1 19 ; 91 . 1 2 1 ; 91 . 151 ; S ub p ar t E ; an d 8 9 00 . 2 2 7 p a ra ( 1 6 )( 4 ) . 3 . D e sc ri p t i o n of R e li e f S ough t : P e t i t i one r s ee ks re li ef fro m t h e requ i re m e n ts o f 1 4 C . F . R . § § P ar t 21 , S ubp a rt H ; 91 . 203 ; 4 5 . 23 ; 91 . 9 ; 91 . 1 19 ; 91 . 1 2 1 ; 91 . 1 5 1 ; S ubp a rt E ; an d 89 0 0 . 22 7 p a ra( 1 6) ( 4) in o rd e r to c ondu ct c o mm e rc i a l s m a ll un m an n e d a i rc ra f

t sys t e m opera t i on s o n s upporte d s i t e s w i t h ow ne r ap p ro v a l s ub j e ct to ope ra t i n g p ro ce d u re s t ha t m ee t o r e xc ee d t ho s e t ha t F AA requ i re s fo r s imi l a r ope ra t i on s . **G .**  **A ny**  **a ddi**  **t i**  **on a**  **l i**  **n f** **o r**  **m at**  **i on,**  **v i**  **ews ,**  **or a**  **r g**  **um e**  **n t** **s a** **v a**  **il a**  **b l**  **e t**  **o s**  **up p**  **o r** **t y**  **our r** **e qu**  **e s**  **t .**  P l ea s e s e e t h e i n t ro d u ct i o n to t h is e xe m p t i o n reque st . **H .**  **I f**  **y ou**  **wa nt**  **t o**  **exe r** **c i**  **s e**  **t he**  **p r**  **i v**  **il e**  **g e**  **s of**  **y our**  **exe m**  **p t**  **i on**  **ou t**  **s i**  **de of**  **t he**  **U n**  **i te**  **d S**  **t a**  **tes ,**  **t he**  **r e**  **as o**  **n w**  **hy y**  **ou n**  **e e**  **d t** **o do**  **s o.**  Blackbird Aerial Systems doe s not w i s h to exerc i s e t h e pri v il ege s of t h is ex e m p t i o n ou ts i d e of t h e U n i te d Sta te s a t t h is t im e .

### Blackbird Aerial Systems, LLC

T h an k y o u f

o r you r c on s i d era t i o n an d I l oo k fo rw ard to y ou r re s p o n s e . I c a n b e c on t a ct e d d i re ct ly v ia e m a il o r ce ll pho n e a t you r con v en i e n ce . S i nce re l y , Blackbird Ae rial Systems Thomas Brinton, President Blackbird Aerial Systems , LLC Thornton, CO 80241