Request for amendment to FAA 333 UAS exemption, Exemption 

No. 11530 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-00346, dated May 

7, 2015

Contact: Bill Reynolds, President and CEO

407-468-0008 

Leading Edge Associates (LEA)

Email: breynolds@leateam.com 

Website: www.leateam.com
Date: 

Re: Exemption No. 11530

Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-0346

Leading Edge Associates, Inc. (LEA) is requesting amendment to our existing 333 

exemption, Exemption No. 11530 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-00346, 

dated May 7, 2015 as listed and described below. As stated in our original 333 

Exemption, we request under 14 C.F.R §§ 61.113(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 

91.151(b), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) 

& (b), to operate an Unmanned Aircraft System pursuant to Section 333 

of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA). 

If this amendment is approved, request FAA extend the date of expiration 

accordingly. This certificate FAA-2015-0346-333E is effective from May 

9, 2015 to May 31, 2017.

1. Additional Aircraft

The purpose of this amendment request is to increase the flexibility of airframes 

offered to customers and to provide different models with different flight 

characteristics as the situation dictates. Different data acquisition hardware 

requires different configurations a mix of Remote Piloted Aircraft (RPA) can 

provide. Specifically, use of models already approved by FAA under the 333 

exemption is requested in this amendment and are as follows: 

DJI Phantom 2, Exemption 14662

DJI 3, Exemption 14666

DJI Inspire 1, Exemption 14662

DJI Spreading Wings S 800, Exemption 14666

DJI Spreading Wings S1000+, Exemption 14619

DJI Flame, Exemption 14664

3D Robotics Solo, Exemption 14666

Yuneec Typhoon Q500+, Exemption 14259

Blade Chroma, Exemption 14816
Vertitek V-1-X8a, Exemption 14749

Vertitek V2-H6a, Exemption 14749

RPA in support of LEA customers requires a mix of aircraft and will further 

enhance safety of lives by eliminating humans having to traverse through 

rugged terrain, swamps and marshes, yards, vacant lots and throughout the

agriculture and mosquito areas. LEA customer base is rapidly expanding 

throughout the United States as illustrated by the map below and these 

additional RPA will permit us to adjust to various conditions and flight 

missions. The map below illustrates our broad customer base and to why 

we need a variety of platforms in a variety of terrain and weather conditions

to carry out data acquisition missions.

According to most scientist, global warming, whether permanent or temporary,

will cause an increase in vectors which carry diseases such as Zika, Chikungunya,

Dengue and West Nile virus. All have been identified in one or more of the 50 

states.
2. Additional Missions

Various platforms and data acquisition hardware will permit close inspection of 

real estate and open fields which contain breeding grounds for the types of 

mosquitos carrying these diseases. We request approval to conduct flight 

operations over commercial, residential, real estate, farms, agricultural 

applications, orange groves, wetlands and ponds, all are likely areas for mosquito 

breeding. 

Under exemption 11530, FAA-2015-0346 LEA has flown missions for the Florida 

Keys Mosquito District located in the Florida Keys and provided data otherwise 

unable to be acquire by other means. We wish to expand this capability 

throughout the United States. Our request is similar in all material respects to 

relief previously requested in Grant of Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, 

11213, 14749 and 12645.

The reasons stated by the FAA for granting Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, 

11213, 14749 and 12645 also apply to LEA’s request.

A grant of exemption is in the public health interest as the breeding grounds for 

mosquitos infected with the above mentioned viruses continue to expand 

throughout our nation.