Au g 16 t h

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U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spor t a t ion

Dock e t M a n a g e m ent S y s tem

1200 N e w J er s e y Av e

., S E

W a sh in g ton, DC 20590

R e : P e tition of 323 Unmanned Flight Services LLC , for a n E x e mpt i on P u rsu a nt t o S ec t i on 3 3 3 of

the F AA Mo d e rni z a t i on a nd R e f o r m A c t of 2 012

To Wh o m it M a y Con c e r n:

P u r su a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e rn i z a t i o n a nd R ef o r m A c t of 2 0 1 2 ( " Re f

o r m A c t " ) a nd 1 4 C. F

.R.

P ar t 1 1, 323 Unmanned Flight Services LLC ( " 323 " ) h e r e b y a ppl i e s f o r a n e x e m pt i on f

r o m the F e d e r a l

A via t ion R eg ula t ions ( " F

A R s " ) i d en t i f

ied b e low t o a l l ow co m m er c ial o p e r a t i on of s m all u n m a nn e d ae r i a l

v e h i c les ( i.e., " s m all un m a nn e d a i r c r a f t " or " UA S " ) for t h e pu rpose o f c ondu c tin g : ae r i a l r e a l es ta t e and

construction v ide o g r a p h y , photo g ra p h y , mapping and insp e c t i on

.

T his p e ti t ion f

or e x e m pt i o n a ddr e s s e s p e r t i n e nt F AA FAR ’ s and C F R ’ s a s w ell a s , but n o t l imi t e d to,

th e s e a c c om p a n y

i n g S h o wca s e ’ s d o cu m e nt s

.

1. P I C F li g

ht O p e r a tio n s M a nu a l and;

2. Op e r a t i o ns M a nu a ls"

(c ol l e c tiv e l y r e f

e rr ed to a s " 323 ' Do c u m e n ts & M a nu a l s" )

3. Us e r Guide a nd;

4. F l i g ht M a nu a l

(c ol l e c tiv e l y r e f

e rr e d to a s " M a n u f

a ct u r e r ' s Ma nua ls ")

. 1

The 323 su b m it s t h e se a s w e l l a s o ther 323 s u p p or t ing m a t e r i a ls as c o n fi d e nt i a l do c u me nts

p u r s u a nt to 1 4 C. F .R. § 11.35 ( b )

, a s t he m a t er i a ls cont a in c on f i d e n t i a l c o m m e r c ial a nd / or pro p r i e t a r y

i n f o r m a t i on that t he 323 h a s n o t a nd will n o t sh ar e with oth e rs. Ad d i t i o n al l y

, t h e se do c u m e nts c on t a in

op e r at i ng c ond i t i o ns and p r o c edu r e s that a r e not g e n e r a l l y a v ai l a b l e to t he pu b lic a nd ar e pr o t e c ted f r o m

r e l ea s e un d e r the F r e e d o m o f I n f or m at i on A c t, 5 U. S

. C

. § 552 e t seq.

1 The t er m " M a n u f

ac tu r e r ' s M a n u a l" a lso inc l u d e s a ll r e l e v an t m anu f a c t u r e r p ubli ca tio n s

, in c lud in g

, but not

li m i t ed to: o p er a t i ons a n d f li g h t m a n u a l s

, us e r g

u i d e s

, c o m p on e n t m a i n t e nan c e ma n u a ls

, pilo t t r a i n i n g

m an u a ls, s e rv i c e info r m a t i on l et t e rs a nd, s a f e t y / s e r vi c e b u l l e tins).U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

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P a g e 2

T h is P e t i ti o n is o r g an i z e d a s follows:

I. P e ti t io n e r

II. D e s cr i p t i on of P r o p o s ed O p er a t i o n s

A. R ea l E s t a te and Construction Ae r i a l V ide o g r a p h y , Photo g ra p h y, Mapping and Insp e c t i on.

III. R e levant St at u to r y A u t h o r ity

IV. 323 ’ s P r o po s e d 323

- UAS O p er a ti o n s Mee t t he R e qu i re m e n t s of S e c t io n 333 of t h e

Re f o r m A c t

A. Ap pr ov a l i s W a rra nted B a s e d on the 323

- UAS ' s S i z e

, We i g ht, S p e e d, a nd O p er a tion a l C a p a b i li t y

B

. App r ov a l is Wa rr an te d B a s e d on the O p er a ti o n a l R e strict i ons S e t F o r th i n the O p er a t i ons

M a nu a ls

V. R e g u la t i on s F r o m Wh i c h E x e m p tion is R e qu e s t e d

A. 14 C

. F

. R. P a rt 21, S u bp a rt H

– A ir wo r th i n e ss C er t if i c a tes a nd 14 C. F .R. § 91.20 3 ( a ) ( 1 )

B . 14 C. F .R. P a rt 27 Airwo r t h in e ss S tan d a rds: N o r m al C a t e g o r y Rot orc r a f t

C .14 C. F

. R. §§ 91.9 (c ), 45 .23(b) a nd 45.27 ( a ): A i r c r a ft M a rki n g a nd I d en ti f i ca tion Re qui r e m e nts

D. 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.405 (a ), 91.40 7 ( a ) ( 1 ), 9 1 .409 ( a) ( 1) a nd (2); 9 1.417 ( a ) a nd ( b ) : Main t e n a n c e I nsp e c t i ons

E. 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 61, 14 C. F .R. § 61.3, 14 C

. F .R. § 61.113: P riv a te P i l o t P r i v i l e g e s a nd L i m i t a ti o n s

F . 14 C. F

. R. § 91.7 (a ): Civil Ai r c r a ft A i r wo r thi n e ss

G. 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.9 ( b )( 2 ) : C ivil Air c r a f t F l i g ht M a n u a l in t h e Air c r a ft a nd 1 4 C

. F .R. § 91.20 3 (a ) a nd ( b ) :

C a rr y i n g C i v il Air c r a ft Ce r ti f

i ca tion a nd R e g ist r a t i on

H. 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.103: P r e f l i g h t A c tion

I . 14 C. F .R. § 91.10 9 (a ): F l i g h t I n stru c t i on

J . 14 C. F .R. § 91.11 9 ( c ) : M ini m u m S a f e Alt i tudes

K. 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.121: A l t im e t e r Set t in g s

L . 14 C. F

. R. § 91.151 (a ): F u e l R e qu i r e m e nts for F l i g h t i n V F R C o nd i t i o n s

VI. Dr u g a n d Al c o h ol P r o g r a m

VII. P ub lic I n t e re s t

VIII. P r iv a c y

IX. F e d er al R e gi s t e r S u m m a r y

X. C onc lu sionU. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

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P a g e 3

I. D ESC R I P T ION O F P E T I T IONER

323 Unmanned Flight Services LLC is based in Lynchburg VA and is focused on providing ae r i a l r e a l es ta t e

and construction v ide o g r a p h y , photo g ra p h y, mapping and insp e c t i on to the local and regional area.

Additionally, the company is exploring opportunities in the general aerial video markets, capturing images

for outdoor large events. Ben Clark the president of the company started in the hobby of flying radio control

airplanes in his early teens after his grandfather helped him purchase and build his first model airplane. His

interest in that hobby led to an interest in flying manned aircraft, and over the years his logbook has

accumulated over 60 hours in fixed wing aircraft as well as a handful of hours in helicopters. Ben started

323 Unmanned Flight Services in honor of his grandfather who was so instrumental in Ben’s interest in the

remotely piloted aircraft industry. Ben and his wife Sue Ellen are originally from western NY but have lived

in Lynchburg, VA since 2010. He is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA), the United States Association of Unmanned Aerial Videographers

(UAVUS), and the Remote Control Aerial Platform Association (RCAPA).

The c ont ac t in f

o r m a t i on f

or Pe t i t io ne r i s as f

o l l o w s:

Benjamin Clark

323 Unmanned Flight Services LLC

, 1034 Ardmore Drive

Lynchburg, VA

, 24501

P hon e : 434

- 515

- 2369

E m a i l : ben@323ufs.com

II. D ESC R I P T ION O F P R O P O SE D O P E RA T I O N

323 Unmanned Flight Services s ee ks a n e x e m p t i on pursu a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the R e f orm A c t t o

o p er a te the D J I S 1000 , Inspire 1 P h a nt o m I I and III ( 323

- U A S ) f o r t he p r opos e d o p e r a t i ons d is c us s e d

b e l o w. UA S ope ra t i o n s will o c c ur und e r t i g h t l y c ont r o l l e d c ond i tions o n pr i v a te p ro p er t y w h er e 323 h a s

r ec e ived p e r m is s ion t o op er a te f r o m the landown e r, c on t roll e r or a u t hor iz e d r e p r e s en tat iv e s

. The pr o pos e d

UA S op e r a t i ons will be c ondu c ted in a cc o r d a n c e with t h e c ondi t ions a n d l i m i t a t ions of th i s P e ti t ion f or

E x e m p t i on and 323 ’s Op er a t i ons M a n u a ls. As d e tailed in 323 ’ s Op er a t i ons Man u a ls, all U A S op er a t i ons

will be l i m i t ed to d a y

t i m e V FR c ondi t ions, wit h in v i s u a l lin e

- o f

- s i g ht ( " V L O S " ) of the op er ato r

, in

unco n t r o l l e d a irs p ace

, a nd will o c c ur a t l eas t 5 n m a w a y f rom a n a irp o r t

. Mo re ov er

, 323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons

Man u a ls i nc o rpo r a te r e dund a nt s af e g u a rds to a ssu r e that t h e a i r c ra ft d o e s not t r a v e l ou t side the c ont r o l l e d

a r e a o f U A S op e r a t i ons, in c lud i n g G P S " g e o

- f e n c i n g" t ec hno l o g ie s

.

A. A er ial Vi d e og r a ph y a n d P h otog r a ph y of R e al E sta t e

323 s ee ks to use s m a ll 323

- UAS s for the p u rpose of c ondu c ti n g a e ri a l vi d eog r a p h y

, photo g ra p h y a nd insp ect i on of r e a l es ta t e p ro p e r t y

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

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P a g e 4

323 h a s t a ilo re d i t s ope r a t i ons to mee t t he re qu i r e m ents e st a b l is h e d b y t h e F A A in p r i o r g ra n ts of

e x e m pt i ons a utho r i z ing c o m m er c ial use o f 323

- UAS for r ea l e s t a te and c onstruction a e r i a l v ide o g r a p h y

,

p hoto g ra p h y , m apping and i nsp e c t i on includi n g :

 T r ud ea u, R e a l t o r® ( E x emp t ion No. 11138);

 A lon S ich e rm a n ( E x e mp t i on N o. 1172 8 ) ;

 S okol e r M e d l e y ( E xe m p t i on N o. 1134 1 )

323

- UAS s eeks t o use s m all UASs for t he purp o se of conducting aer i a l v i d e o g r ap h y

, phot o g r a p h y a nd

i n sp e c tion of r e a l es ta t e p r op er t y o p e r a tions. Such work wi l l be c on d u c ted on p ri v a te p r o p e r t y in a

c ont r ol l e d ar e a

, a w a y fr om s p ec ta t ors a nd p e r s ons not i n vo l v e d in t he a e r ia l vide o gr a p h y , pho t o g r a

p h y a nd

insp e c tion of r e a l es ta t e p ro p e r t y

. 323

- UAS v ideo a n d i n sp e c t ion wo r k will be co ndu c ted d u r i n g d a y l i g h t

hours, V F R c ond i t i o n s, a t alti t u d es b e l o w 4 0 0 ' AG L

. As s e t fo r th b e low, 323 ’ s o p e r a tions pro v ide a

s u p e r i or l e v e l of s a f

e t y a nd q u a lity com pa re d to pe r f or m ing the s a m e video wo r k using c onvention a l f i x e d

wing a i r c r a ft or he l icopt e rs.

The pro p os e d 323

- UAS op e r a t i ons in th i s P e t it i o n for E x e mp t ion s i g nifi c a nt l y i m prov e s s af e t y a nd

r e du c es r i sk, h a rm or s er i o us inju r y to real e st a te and construction video g rap h e rs and i nsp e c t or s.

T r ad itio n al m ethods of re a l es t a te and construction v i d e o prod uc tion a nd insp e c t io n of s truc tu r e s, e x p o se

video g rap h e r

- insp e c t o rs to h i g h e r risks of s e r i ous i n j uri e s, or d e a th. Vid e o g r a ph er

- i nsp e c to r s n e e d to

c l i m b roof tops or o t h e rw ise p e r f o r m e l e v a t e d wo r k, wh i c h e x po se s th e m to t he r isk of d a n g e rous f a lls,

e le c t r oc u t ion or other wo r k r e l a ted e x tr em es. I n a ddi t i o n, d e p e n d i n g on the na tu r e of the video n ee d e d a nd

the i n s p ec t i on wo r k, p r o x i m i t y to e quip me nt and o t h e r h a z a rds a ss o ci a ted w i th i n dustri a l real es t a te s i tes

a nd real esta t e c ons t r u c t i on loc a tions o f ten i n v o lves a great deal of r i sk to a c co mpl i sh the job. T he use o f

323

- UAS m i t i g a tes th e se h a z a rds a nd is ul t i ma t e l y a m uch s a f e r me th o d of p e r f

o r m i n g these an d m o st

o t h e r t y p e s o f ins p e ct i o n s.

323

- UAS r e a l es t a te v i d e o pr o du ct ion a nd i nspe c t i on of str uc tu r e s is m u ch s af e r t h a n t r a d itional

m ann e d a ir c r a ft p e r f

o rming the s a m e fu n c t i on. C o nv e n t i o na l ope rat i ons u s i ng ro t o r c r a ft a nd fi x e d

- w ing

a ir c r a ft in l o w l e v e l op e r a t i ons p r e s e nt ve r y h i g h r isks with vehi c les w e i g h i ng thou s a nds of pound s

,

ca rr y i n g p as se n g e rs a nd l a

r g e a m ou n t s of f

u e l. I t i s impor t a nt t o note t h a t t he use of sm a ll 323

- UAS in

t his a r e a wi l l not o n l y be s a fer a nd m ore c ost e f f ec t i v e

, but t h e qu a li t y of c ol l e c t e d d a ta a nd inf o r ma t i on is

f a r sup e rio r

.

323

- UAS r e a l es t a te v i d e o prod uct ion a nd inspe c t i on of str uc tu r e s is m o re r e l i ab le, a nd a l l ows f or t he

c ol l e c t i on, d is s e m i n a t i o n

, a nd stor a g e o f visu a l co ntent a nd o t h er s e nso r y d a ta w i t h g r e a t e r p r e c ision a nd

dur a t i on. 323

- UAS s a r e a lso c a p ab le of a c ce s s i n g fin i sh an d str u c t u r a l q u a l i ty t h r o u g h the u s e of vid e o a nd

inspe ct i ng are a s that w o u ld o t h e r w ise be in a c c es s i b le t o hu m ans a nd would be i m poss i ble to be comp l e ted

with con v en t i on a l a i r c r a ft or other i n spe ct i on m e t hods.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

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P a g e 5

IV. R ELE V ANT S T AT U T ORY AU T H O RI T Y

This P e titi o n f

or E x e m p t i on is s ubm i tted pu r su a nt t o S e c t i on 333 (a ) t h ro u g h ( c ) of the F AA

Mo d e rni z a t i on a nd R e f

o r m A c t of 2 012 ( " Re f

o r m A c t " ). Co n g r e ss h a s d i r e c ted t h e F AA " to s a f e l y

a c ce le ra te t h e i n t e g ra tion of civil u n m a n n e d a ir c r a ft s y ste m s in t o t h e n a tio n a l ai r sp ac e s y ste m

. " P ur s u a nt t o

S e c t i on 333 of the R e f

o r m A ct, t he F AA Ad m in i s tr a tor is to p e r m it u n m a n n e d a i rc r a f t s y st e m s to o p er a te i n

the N at i on a l Air Sp ac e ( "NA S " ) wh er e it is s a f e to do so b a s e d on the f

ollo w i n g c onsi d er a t i on s :

● The UAS ' s s iz e , w e i g ht, spe e d a nd o p e r a tio n a l c a p ab i l i t y ;

● Op er a tion of the UAS in c l o s e pr o x i m i t y to a i r p o r t s a nd populated a r eas ; a n d

● Op er a tion of the UAS with i n the v i s u a l l i ne of si g ht of the op e r a t o r.

Addit i o n al l y , the F AA A d m i n i s t r a t o r ha s g e n e r a l a uth o ri t y to g ra nt e x e mp t i ons f r om the a g e n c y ' s

s a f e t y r e g u l a t i ons a nd m in i m u m s t a nd a rds wh e n t he A d m in is tr a tor d ec i d es a r e q u es ted e x e m pt i on i s in the

pub l i c i n t er e st. S e e 49 U

. S

. C . § 106 ( f ) ( d e fini n g t he a u t hori t y of t h e Ad m i n istr a t o r ) ; 4 9 U .S .C. § 4470 1 ( f )

( p e r m i t ting e x e mpt i ons f

r o m §§ 447 0 1 (a ), ( b ) a n d §§ 44702

– 44716, e t se q

. ). A p ar t y re qu e sti n g a n

e x e m pt i on m u s t e x p l a in t

he r e aso n s w h y the e x e m pt i on: (1) would b e n e fit the pub l ic a s a who l e

, a nd ( 2)

would not adv er s e l y a f

f e c t s a f e t y ( or h o w it wou l d pr ov ide a le v e l of s a f e t y a t l ea st e q u a l t o the e x i st i ng

r ule s )

. Se e 14 C. F .R. § 1 1.81 ( p e t i t i ons for e x em pt i on).

IV. 323 'S P R O P O SE D UAS O P E RA TI O NS M EE T T HE R EQ UI R E M E NTS OF

SE CT I ON 333 OF T HE R E F O RM ACT

The 323

- UAS op e r a ti o n s p r opos e d b y 323 i n this P e tition for E x e mp t i on qu a li f y f o r e x p e di t e d

ap pr o v a l purs ua nt to S ec t i o n 333 of the R e f orm A c t a s e a c h of t h e st a t u to r y c rit e r i a a nd r e le v a nt f a cto r s

a re s a t i sfi e d.

A. A pp r o v al i s W a rra n t e d Bas e d on t h e UAS 's S i z e, W e ig h t, S p ee d

, a n d O p er a t io n al

Ca p a b ility

A Gr a nt of E x e m

pt i on is a pprop r ia t e f

o r op e r a tio n s c ondu c ted usi n g the 323

- UAS s due to its s i z e w e i g ht,

sp ee d, a nd o p er a t i on a l c a p a bili t y

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 6

o T he 323

- UAS h a s b e en a ppr o v e d for u s e in pr i or S e c t i o n 333 G ra nts of E x e m p t i on f r om the F A A

. 2

o The 323

- UAS w e i g hs l e ss t ha n 5 5 pounds, i nc lu d ing p a y l o a d.

o The 323

- UAS will not be f lown a t a g r ound s p e e d in e x c e ss of 50 knots.

o Alt i tu d e i n f

or m at i on w i ll b e g e ne ra ted b y e q u i p m e nt onbo a r d the UA a s s p ec ifi e d using G P S

tr i an g u l a t i o n , d i g it a l l y e n c o d e d b a ro m e tric a ltim e t er

, ra dio a lti m e t er , or a n y co m bin a t i on the r e o f

. This in f o rm at i on w i ll be t ra ns m itt e d to t he p i lot v i a te l e m e t r ic d a ta f e e d.

o The 323

- UAS s will h a ve s y s tem r e dund a n c ies a n d i nd e p e nd e nt fu n c t i on a li t y t o e nsu r e the ov e r a ll

s a f e t y a nd p r e dict a b i li t y of the s y ste m

. I f c on n ec t ion to t he r e m ote c ontrol or g round c ont r ol station

is lost, fa ils af

e s y s t e m s w i ll pe r m it t he 323

- UAS to r e tu r n to a p re d e t e r m in e d lo c a tion a nd s a f e l y

l a nd w i thout in

j u r y o r d am a g e

.

o The ra d i o f

r e qu e n c ies u s e d for o p e r a tions an d c o n t r o l of the 323

- UAS c o m p l y with t he Fe d e r a l

Co m m uni c at i ons C om m is s ion ( " F CC " ) a n d other a ppr o p r i at e g o v e rn me nt ove r s i g ht a g e n c y

re qu i r e m ent s

. The op e r a ti n g f re q u e n c y for t he 323

- UAS are 2.4 G H z

.

I f the s a m e o p e r a tions w er e c on d u c ted u s i n g a h e li c op t e r , t h e a i r c r af t ' s t a k e

- o f f w e i g ht would l i ke l y e x cee d

6,0 0 0 pounds car

r y i n g a pi l ot, c a m e r a op e r a t o r a n d V O

- visual obs e r v er

- n a vi g a t o r. T h e dif f e r e n c e i n

we i g ht b e t w ee n t h e 323

- UAS a nd a h e li c op t e r s i g ni f i c a n t l y r e du ce s t h e p otential h a rm to t he p a r

t ic ip a t i ng

a nd no n

- p a rti c ip a ting in d iv i du a ls o r pr o p er t y in t h e e v e nt o f a n acc i d en t o r i n c i d e nt. I n a ddition, the r isk t o

the onb o a rd pilot a nd c am er a op e ra tor is eli m ina t e d.

2 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e m pt i on to Shotover C am er a S y st e m s L

. P

. ( E x e m p t i on No. 1115 9 ) ; G r a nt of

E x e m pt i on t o V D OS G l o b a l, L L C ( E x e mpt i on No. 11112 ) ; G r a nt of E x e m pt i on to L ow C oun t r y R C

, Corp.

( E x e m pt i on No. 11184 ) ; G ra nt of E x e mpt i on to A l a n P urwin ( E x e mpt i on No. 11161); G r a nt of E x e m pt i on

to H e lin e t A viation S e rvi ce s (E x e mpt i on No. 11 1 60 ) ; G r a nt o f E x e mpt i on to Total S a f e t y U. S

., I

n c

. ( E x e m pt i on No. 11156 )

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 7

B

. A pp r oval i s Wa rra n t e d B a s e d on t h e O p e r a t i o n al R e s t r i ct io n s S e t F o r th in 323 ’s

O p er a t io n s M a nu als

323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a ls an d the M a n u f a c t u r e r ' s Manu a l f

o r t h e s e l e c t ed 323

- UAS s will c onta i n

a ll t h e p r o ce dures a nd li m i t at i ons n ecess a r y to sa f e l y a nd s u cce s s f

ul l y p e r f o r m t h e op e r a ti o ns spe c i f i e d in

th i s P e tition f

or E x e m pt i o n . To a s sist the F AA in m a king a s a f e t y a sse s s m ent of 323 ’s p ropo s e d

o pe r a t i ons, b e l o w is a sum ma r y o f o p e r a t ional li m i tations a nd c ondi t ions t h at 323 will a dh er e to, and

w h i c h wi l l e nsure a n e q u i v a l e n t o r h i g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y to o p e r a tions c on d u c ted und e r c u rre nt r e g u l a t o r y

g u i d e lin e s:

1. The 323

- UAS w e i g h s l e ss t h a n 55 pounds, ful l y loa d e d

.

2. All o p e r a ti o ns shall b e c o ndu c ted ov e r pr i v a te or c ont r o l l e d

- a cce ss p r ope r t y with p e r m is s ion f

r o m

the land own er

/ c on t rol l e r or a

ut h or i z e d r e p re s en ta t i v e. P e r m is s ion f r om l a nd own er

/ c ont r ol l e r o r

a utho riz e d r e p re s e ntati v e wi l l be obt a in e d for eac h f l i g h t o p e r a t i on.

3. All 323

- UAS s op er a ted un d e r the Gr a nt of E x e m pt i on will be i d e n t i f

i e d b y s e r i a l n u m b er

,

r e g ist e r e d in ac cor d a n c e with 14 C F R p ar t 47, and h a ve identifi ca tion ( N

- N u m b er ) mar ki n g s in

acc o r d a n c e with 14 C F R p a rt 45, Subp a rt C. M a rk i n g s w i ll be a s la r g e a s pr a c t i ca ble.

4. Mi n i m u m c re w f

or ea ch fli g ht ope ra tion will c o n si s t of a p i l o t, who will b e P i l o t

- in Co m m a nd

( " P I C " ) o f t he 323

- UAS

, a nd one o r m o r e Vis u a l Ob s e rv e rs ( " Ob s er v e r " ) a s ne c es s a r y to s a f e l y

c o ndu c t t h e m is s ion.

5. P I Cs s h a ll p os s e ss at l e a s t a P r i v a te Pilo t ' s C e rti f ic a te a nd c u rre nt C lass I I I M e d i c a l C e r t ifi c a t e

. The

P I C will a lso m ee t the f

l i g ht r ev i e w re qui r e m ents sp e c ifi e d in 14 C

. F

. R 61

. 56 in an a ir c r a ft in wh i c h

the P I C is r a ted on h i s o r h e r p i l o t c e rtifi ca te.

6. The UA sh a ll be o p er a t e d with i n V L OS of the P IC a nd Obs e rv e r a t al l ti me s. The P I C m ust use

h u m an vi s i o n u n a ided b y a n y d e v i c e other th a n c o rr e c t i ve l e n s e s, a s sp e c if i e d on the P I

C ' s F A A

is su e d m ed i ca l c e rti f

i c at e

.

7. The P I

C a nd Obs e r v e r d es i g n a t e d for a n y o p e r a t i o n will be ab le to c o m m u ni c a te v e r b a l l y a t all

ti m e s.

8. E l e c t r on i c m es s a g i n g o r t e x t i ng wi l l n ot be p e r m i t te d du r ing f l i g ht o p e r a t i o ns.

9. The a ddi t io n al re qu i r em e nts id en t i f i e d in t he G r a n t of E x e m p t i on s h a ll b e a d d e d to t h e 323 ’s

O p er a ti o ns M a nu a ls.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 8

The Op e r a t i ons M a nu a ls will be m ain t ai n e d a nd m ade a v a il a ble t o the A d m in i st r a tor upon re q u es t. I f a

dis c re p a n c y e x is t s b e tw e e n the c on d itions and l i m i t at i ons in the G ra nt of E x e m pt i on a nd 323 ’ s Op er a t i ons

M a nu a ls, t h e c ondit i ons and l i m i t at i o n s in the G ra nt of E x em pt i on sh a ll t ake pr ec ede n c e a n d m ust be

f ollo we d. Oth e r wise, 323 sh a ll f o l low the p r o c e du re s out l i n e d in t he ir O p e r a t i ons M a nu a ls.

10. 323 m a y u p d a te or r e vis e it s O p e ra tio ns M a nu a ls

. R e vision s w il l b e t r ac k e d an d a r e vi s e d c o p y

of t he M a n u a l w il l b e p r ov i d e d to t h e A d m i n i st r a to r u po n re q u e st

.

323 w il l a ls o p re s en t a n u pd a t e d a n d r evi s e d O p e r a ti o n s M a n u a l s i f i t p e tition s f o r e x t e nsio n o r a m en dm e n t

t o it s G r a n t o f E x e m

ptio n

. I f a n up d a t e or r e vision would a f f e c t t he b as is u pon whi c h t h e F A A g r ants t h e

e x e m pt i on, 323 will se e k a n am e n d m ent t o its Gr a nt of Exe mpt i on. 323 w i l l c o nt a c t t h e F A A’s 323

- UAS

I nt e g r at i on O ff

i c e ( A F S

- 80) i f q u e st i o n s a ri s e r e g a rd i n g u pd a tes o r r e vi s ions to t he o p e r a t i n g d oc u m e n ts.

11. 323 ’ s O p e r a t i on s M a n u a l s a nd it s G r a n t of E x e mptio n w il l be a v a i l a bl e to th e

P I C a t the g ro u n d con t r o l st a tio n a n y

t i m e the 323

- UAS is op e ra ti n g

.

12. The P I

C is proh ib i t e d f

r o m be g inn i n g a 323

- UAS f li g ht un l es s ( c on s id e r i n g wind a nd f o r eca st

w ea th e r c o n di t ions) the r e is e n o u g h po w e r t o f l y to t he f i rst i n t e nd e d point of l a ndin g

, a nd a ssu m i n g n o r m a l

c ru i si n g s p e e d, to f

l y a f t e r t hat for a t l ea st 10 m inu t es.

13. M a x i m u m t o t a l fli g ht ti m e f or eac h o p er a t i on a l f

l i g ht u s i n g t h e 323

- UAS will be l i m i t ed to 40

m inu t es or t he a m ount o f t i m e the 323

- UAS ca n be flo w n a nd s till m ain t ain a re s e rve b a t t e r y po w e r of no

le s s than 2 5 % , whi c h e v e r o c cu r s fi r s t

.

14. F li g hts will be o p e r a ted a t an a l t itu d e of no m ore t h a n 400 f e e t A G L a nd w i ll n e v e r e n t e r n a v i g ab le

c o nt r o l l e d a irsp ac e without pr i o r w r it t en a uthori z a t i on a nd a p p r o v a l f r om t he F A A. I n the e v en t t he

st r u c tu r e b e i n g in spe c ted e x ce eds 4 0 0 f e e t A G L

, t h e 323

- UAS will not be op e r a ted m o r e t h a n 100 f ee t

a bo v e the h i g h e st po i nt o n the stru c t u r e

, a n d no m ore than 100 f ee t h o r i z onta l l y f

r om the s t ru c tur e

.

15. F li g ht op e r a tions m ust be c ondu c ted a t l eas t 500 f e e t f r om all nonpa r ti c ipat i ng p e rsons. ( p e rsons

ot h e r t h a n t h e P I

C, V O, op er at o r t ra i n e e s o r e ss e n t i a l p e r so n n e l ), ves se l s

, v e hicl e s, a nd s t r u c tu r e s u n l e s s :

a

. B a rr i e rs or s t r u c tu r e s a re p re s e nt t h a t suf f i c i e nt l y p ro t ec t nonpa r ti c i p a t i ng p e rsons f rom the UA

a n d /or d ebri s in t he e v en t of a n acc i d ent. The ope r a tor m ust e nsu r e t h at n on p a rti c ipat i ng

p e rsons rem ain u nd e r s u c h p r ot e c ti o n. I f a si t u a t i o n a ris e s w her e nonp a rt ic i p at i n g p e rsons l ea ve

su c h p r ot e c tion a nd a r e with i n 500 fe e t of the U A, f l i g h t ope ra t i ons m ust c ea se im m e d i a t e l y

a nd/o r ;U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 9

b. The a i rc r a ft is op e r a ted n ea r v e s s e ls, vehi c les or s t r u c tu r e s w h e r e t h e own e r / c ont r o l l e r of su c h

v e sse l s, v eh icl e s or s tr u c t u r e s h a s g r a nted pe r m ission and t he P I C h a s m ade a s a f

e t y as s e ss m e nt

of the r isk of op e r a ti n g c l os e r t o tho s e obj e c ts a n d d e ter m in e d that it do e s not p r e s e nt an undue

h a z a rd, a nd;

c

. Op er a t i ons n ea rer to the P I C, V O , op e r a tor t r a i n e e s or e ssen t ial p e rsons d o not p r e s en t an

undue h a z a rd to those p e rsons p e r § 91.119( a ).

16. The UA m a y not be o p e r a ted l e ss t ha n 500 f ee t b e low or less than 2,000 f e e t h ori z on t a l l y f

rom a

c loud or w he n vi s i b ili t y i s l e ss th a n 3 s t a tu te m i l es f r o m the P I

C.

17. The UA m a y not op e r a t e with i n 5 n m of a n a i rp o r t ref e r e n c e point a s d en o t ed on a curr e nt F A A

pub l is h e d a e ro n a

ut i c a l c h a rt un l ess a le t ter of a gr e e m ent wi t h that a irpo r t ’ s m an a g e m e nt i s obta in e d, a nd

the o p e r a t i o n is c ondu ct e d in accor d a n c e with a N O T AM a s re qui r e d b y t h e 323 CO A

. T h e l e t t e r of

a g r ee m ent with t he a i rp o r t m an a g e m ent will be m ade a v a il a ble t o the A d m in is t r a t o r up o n re qu es t.

18. P r i or to e ac h fl i g ht the P IC sh a ll inspe c t t he 323

- UAS to co n f i r m t h a t i t i s in a c ondit i on s a f e f or

f l i g ht. The p re

- fl i g ht i n s p ect i on will acc ount for a ll d is c re p a n c ie s

, e .g. i n o p e ra ble com ponent s , ite m s

, or

e qui p m e nt, not a lr ea d y c ov er e d in the r e l e v a nt s e c t i o n s o f the op er a ti n g d o c u m ent s

. The P I C s h a ll n o t

op er a te t he 323

- UAS if t he i n sp e c t i on r e v ea ls a c ondit i on t h at a ff ec ts the s a f

e op er a t i o n o f the 323

- UAS

unt i l the ne c e ss a r y m a i n t e n a n c e h a s bee n p e r f o rm ed a nd the 323

- UAS is found to be in a c onditi o n for s a f e

f l i g ht. The g r ound c ont r ol s tati o n s h a ll be inc l u d e d in t he p r e f l i g ht i n s p e c t i on. All ma in t e n a n c e a nd

a l t er n a t i o n s m ust be p ro p er l y do c u m en t e d in t he 323

- UAS re c o r ds a s r e qui r e d b y 323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls.

19. 323 will c a rr y o u t its m a in t ena n ce , in s p e c t i ons, a nd r e c o rd k e e p i n g r e qui r e m ents in ac co r d a n c e

with t he O p e r a t i ons Ma n u a ls. M a i n t e n a n ce

, inspe c t i on, a nd a lt e r a t i ons will be no t e d in t he 323

- UAS

r e c o r ds, in c l u di n g to t a l ti m e in s e r vic e

, d e s c r i p t i o n of w o r k a c c o mp l i shed, a nd the si g na tu r e of the

a uth o r i z e d p e rson r e tu r ni n g t h e 323

- UAS t o s e r vi c e

.

20. A n y 323

- UAS that h a s un d e r g one m a in t e n a n c e or al t e r a t i o ns that a f

f e c t t h e 323

- UAS

op er a t i on or f

l i g ht c ha ra ct eri s tics ( e .g

. , r e p l ace m e n t of a f l i g ht c r i tic a l c o mp on e nt) m ust und er g o a

f un c ti o n a l t e st fl i g ht i n a cc o r d a n c e w i t h 323 O p er a t i o ns Manu a ls. The P I C w h o c ondu c ts t h e fu n c t i on a l test

fli g ht m ust m ake a n e n t

r y i n th e 323

- UAS a i rcr a f t r e c o rds of the fli g ht. T h e r e qu i r em e n t s a n d p r o c edu r e s f or

a f u n c tio na l t es t fl i g ht a nd 323

- UAS r e c o r d e nt r y s h a ll b e includ e d i n the 323 ’ O p er a t i ons M a n u a ls.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 10

21. The 323

- UAS will be o p e r a t e d a nd m ain t ai n e d a c c o rd i ng to the M a n u f a c t u r e r ' s M a nu a ls a nd a n y

r e qui r e d m a n uf

a c tu r e r S a f

e t y / S e rvi c e B ul l e t i ns.

22. P r i or to the op er a t i on, a Mi s s ion P a c k e t wi l l b e c r ea ted in ac c o r d a n c e wi t h the r e q u i r em ents on

323 ’ s Op e r a t i ons M a n u a ls.

23. 323 will ob t ain a n A i r T r a f fic O r g a ni z a t i o n ( " AT O " ) i ss u e d C er ti f i c a te of Wa iver or

Author i z a t i o n, oth e r wise known a s a C O A , pr i or t o c ondu c ti n g a n y op e r a t i ons und e r this G ra nt o f

E x e m pt i on. A N OTAM will be is s u ed a s r e qu i r e d b y the CO A

. All op e r a t i o n s will b e c ondu c ted in

ac co r d a n c e with a i r sp a c e r e qui r e m ents in t h e A T O is su e d C O A i n c lud i n g c l a ss of a irs p ace

, a ltit u de l e v e l

a nd poten t ial t r an spond e r re qui r e m ent s

.

24. All r e qu i r e d p e r m is s ions a nd p e r m i t s will be o b tain e d f r o m t err i t o r i a l, s t a t e

, c oun t y or c i t y

j u risd i ct i o n s , inc l u d ing l o c a l l aw e n f or c e m e nt, fi r e or ot h e r a

ppr o p r i at e g ov e rn me nt a l a g e n c ies

25. I f the 323

- UAS lo s e s c om m u ni c a tion with t he p i lo t

, it wi l l h a ve the ca p a bil i t y t o r e t u rn t o a p r e

de t e r m in e d lo c a t i on w i t h in t he op er a tion a l a re a a n d land s a fe l y

.

26. Con t in g en c y plans w i ll b e in p l ac e to sa f e l y t e r m i n a te f

li g ht i f t h e r e is a lo s s of c o mm uni c a t i on

betw ee n the P I

C a nd the Obse r v e r

.

27. The 323

- UAS will h av e the ca p a b i li t y to s a f e l y a bort f

l i g h t in the ca se o f u n pr e dict e d obs t ac les or

em e r g e n c i e s

.

28. P I

Cs a nd Obs e r v e r s w i ll h a ve a t l eas t a c u r r e nt C l a ss I I I M ed i ca l C e rtifi c a t e

.

29. P r i or to co n du c t i ng o p e r at io n s for f il m in g , the P I

C will h a ve acc u m ul a ted a nd log g e d, in a m a nn e r

c on s ist e nt w i t h 14 C F R § 61.5 1 ( b ) , a m in i m u m o f 200 f l i g ht c y c l e s a nd 2 5 ho u rs t o tal t i m e a s a 323

- UAS

ro t or c r a f t p i l o t and a t l e a s t 10 ho u r s lo g g e d a s a 323

- UAS p i l ot w i th a s i mi l a r 323

- UAS t y p e

.

30. P r i or to co n du c t i ng o p e r at io n s for f i l m i n g , the P I

C will h a ve acc u m ul a ted a nd log g e d, in a m a nn e r

c on s ist e nt w i t h 14 C F R § 61.5 1 ( b ) , a m in i m u m o f 5 4 C FR §6 1.51 ( b ) , a m i n i m u m of 10 l ogged h o urs a s

323

- UAS p i l ot ope rat i n g the ma ke and m odel of 323

- UAS t o be util i z e d f or op er a t i ons und e r t he

e x e m pt i on a nd t h i r

t y ta k e

- o ff

s a nd th i r t y land i n g in t he pr e ce di n g 90 d a y s.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 11

31. Op er a t i ons shall o c c u r d u r ing d a y t i m e V F R M e t e o r olo g i c a l Condi t ions; f l i g hts u nd e r Sp ec i a l

V i su a l F l i g h t R ul e s ( " S V F R " ) sh a ll n o t be c ond u c ted.

32. The UA sh a ll r e m ain c le a r a nd y ie l d the r i g h t of w a y to all oth e r ma nn e d ope r a t i ons a nd ac t i v ities

a t all ti m e s (i n c lu d in g

, b ut not l i m i t e d to, u lt r a l i g ht v e hicl e s, p a r a c hute a c t i v i t i e s, p ar a s a ili n g ac ti v i t i e s

, hang g l i d e rs, e tc

. )

.

33. 323

- UAS O p er a t i ons u n d e r I nst r u m ent F l i g ht R u l es, a t n i g ht, or b e y ond V L OS a r e p ro hib i ted.

34. The 323

- UAS will not be op e r a ted f r o m a n e le v a t e d platfo r m or m ovi n g d e v i c e / v e hic l e

.

35. B e f

o r e c ond u c t i n g o p e r a t io n s, the r a dio f re q u e n c y sp e c t r um used f o r o p e rat i on a nd c ont r ol of the

U A w i ll com p l y with t h e Fe de ra l C omm uni c a ti o n s C o m m is s ion ( F C C ) or other a ppro pr i a te g o v er n m e nt

ov e rsi g ht a g e n c y re qu i re m e nts.

V. R E G ULAT I ONS F R O M WHICH E X EM P T I O N IS R E Q U E S T E D

The Fe d e r a l Aviat i on Ac t e x p re ss l y g r a nts the F A A the a uthori t y to is s u e e x e mp t i ons. T h is s ta t u to r y

a uthor i t y

, b y i t s t e r m s, i n c ludes e x e m pt i ng c i v il a i r c r a ft, a s t he t er m is d e f i n e d und e r § 4 0 101 of the A c t

,

inc l u d ing 323

- UAS s, f

r om i t s s a f

e t y r e g u l a tio n s a nd m in i m u m s t a nd a rds w h e n the A d m in is t r a t o r d ec ides a

r e qu e st e d e x e m

pt i on is i n the public in t e r e st

. 3

323 s ee ks a n e x e m p t i on f r o m se v e r a l in t e r rela t e d p ro vi s ions of T i t l e 14 of the Code of F e d e r a l

Re g ulations ( " 14 C

. F

. R " ) P a r ts 21, 4 5, 61 a nd 91 f or pu rpo s e s o f c ondu c ti n g the r e q ue st e d o p e r a ti o n s u s ing a

323

- UAS

. L

is t e d b el o w a r e : (1) t h e s p ec ific s e c ti o ns of 14 C

. F .R f or whi c h e x e m p t ion is s o u g h t , and ( 2)

the o p e r a ti n g p r o ce du re s a nd sa f

e g u a r ds th a t P e ti t i o n e r h a s es tabli s he d wh ic h will e n s u re a l e v e l of s a f e t y

b e tt e r t h a n o r e qu a l t o t h e r u l e s f r om which e x e mpt i on is so u g ht. 4

3 49 U. S .C . § 44701 ( f

) ( a u thori z ing t h e g ra nt of e x e m pt i ons f r o m r e qui r em e n ts of r e g ulations p resc rib e d

p u rsu a nt to S ec t i ons 4 4 7 01( a ) a nd ( b ) a nd S ecti o n s 44702

- 44716 )

.

4 14 C

. F .R § 11.81 (e ), which re qu i r e s a p e t i tion f or e x e mpt i on to i n c l u d e:

The r e a sons w h y g r a nt i n g the e x e m p t i on would not a dv er s e l y a f f ec t s a f e t y

, or how the e x e m

pt i on w ould

prov i de a lev e l o f s a f

e t y a t l e a s t e qu a l to that p ro vided b y t h e ru l e f rom wh i ch y

ou s ee k e x e m pt i on.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 12

U N M AN NED A I RC RA F T S YS T EM

A. 14 C

. F

. R. P a r t 21, Sub p a r t H

– A i r w o r th i n e s s C ert i f ica t e s a n d 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.20 3 ( a ) (1)

The F A A has s t a ted th a t no e x e mpt i on is n e e d e d f r om th i s s ec tion if a f

ind i ng is m a de und e r t he

R e f o r m A c t t h a t t h e 323

- UAS s e l ec ted p r ov i d e s a n e quiva l en t l e v e l of s a f e t y wh e n com pa re d to a ir c r a ft

no r m a l l y u se d f

o r t he sa m e a pp l i ca tion. Th e se c r i t e r i a a r e m e t, and t h e re f o r e no e x e m

p t i on is n e e d e d

. 5 I

f,

howe v e r, t h e F AA d e t er m in e s th a t t h er e a r e so m e c h a r ac t e ri s t i cs of the c h o s e n 323

- UAS that f a il to mee t the

re qui r e m e n t s of the R ef

o r m A c t, an e x e mpt i on i s re qu e st e d.

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of Sa

f e ty

323 ’s use of the 323

- UAS i s s a f e w h e n tak i n g in t o a cc ount their s i z e , w e i g ht, s p ee d, a nd op e r a t i on a l

c a p a bili t y

. A s set f

o r th i n the d e s c ript i on of pr o pos e d op er a tio n s in S ec t i on I V ( A ) , the 323

- UAS

w e i g hs l e ss t h a n 55 po u n d s, i n c lu d ing p a y load a n d will not be f

lown a t a gr ound s p ee d i n e x c ess of

50 knots. 323

- UAS i s a lso e quipped w i t h s a f e t y f ea tu r e s that w i l l al l ow P et i t i o ne r t o op e r a te t h e

323

- UAS sa f

e l y a f t e r e x p er i e n c e c e r tain i n

- fl i g h t conti n g e n c ies or f a ilu r e s

. 6 7

5 S e e G ra nt o f E x e m pt i on No. 11062 to Ast r a e us A er i a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g s. 1 3

- 1 4, 2 2 ).

6 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e m

pt i on No. 11184 to L

ow Coun t r y R C , Corp. (F A A

- 2014

- 08 0 3 a t p g . 3):

" The [ 323

- UAS ] h a s t h e ca p a b i l i t y to op e r a te s a f e l y a f t e r e x p er i e n ci n g c e r tain i n

- fl i g ht c onti n g e n c ies o r

f ai l u re s a nd us e s a n a ut o

- p i lot s y s t e m t o m ain t a i n 323

- UAS st a b i l i t y a nd c ont r o l. The 323

- UAS is a lso

a ble to re sp o nd to a loss o f g lobal pos i t i oni n g s y s t e m (G PS ) or a los t

- link e v e nt wi t h a p r e

- c oo r di na te d,

p r edict a ble, a u t o m a t e d fli g ht m an e u v er

, a nd m a n u a l fl i g h t co nt r ol f u n c t i o n a l i t y a s a b ac kup. Th e s e s a f e t y

f e a tu r e s p ro vide a n e q u i v a l e nt le v e l of s a f e t y c o m pa re d to a m ann e d a irc r a ft p e r f o r mi n g a si m il a r

op e r a t i o n. "

7 See e .g

., G r a nt of E x e m pt i on No. 11184 to V D OS Glob a l, L LC. ( FA A

- 2 0 14

- 03 8 2 a t p g s. 4

- 5) :

" The 323

- UAS w it

h i t s u p g ra d e ca n be o p er a ted ent i r e l y b y a tou c h

- s c r ee n

, m a p

- b a sed i nter f ace

. T his

m e a ns the o p e r a tor on l y n ee ds to comma nd the s y s tem w h e r e to g o, a nd t he s y st e m d o e s a ll the f l y i n g f o r

the o p er a t o r. The 323

- UAS c a n b e op e r a ted in b o th s e m i a nd ful l y a uton o m ous fli g ht m od e s, with t he

op er a tor simp l y cl i c ki n g on a m ap to cr e a t e a p re

- p la n n e d f l i g ht p a th f or a f l i g ht. I n a d d i t i on, the o pe r a t o r ca n

c r eat e no f

l y z on e s or m a x i m u m fli g ht r a n g e s a nd a ltitu d e s so the s y st e m c a nnot e n t er a r e a s d ee m e d uns a f e

or un n ece ss a

r y to f l y o v e r. The p e titi o n e r stat e s f u r t h e r t h a t the 323

- UAS h a s bui lt

- in i n t e lli g e nt f a u l t

handl i ng w h i c h a l l ows t h e 323

- UAS to d e t ec t a s y st e m f a ult while in t h e a i r a n d a ut o ma ti ca l l y f l y b ac k to its

tak e o f f lo c a t i on a nd l a nd. F aul t s t h at ca n be d e t e c t e d inc l u d e : l o s s of c o m mu ni c a t i on; e x cee di n g p r e

- s e t

wind th r e s h olds; and l o w b a tte r y l e v e ls.

{foo t n o te co n t i nu e d}U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 13

Addi t ion a l l y , the 323

- UAS s c a r r y ne it h e r pilots nor p a ss e n g e rs, c a rr y no e x plo s i v e m a t er ia l s o r

f lam m a ble l iqu i d f

u e ls, a nd ope r a te e x c lu s iv e l y w i t hin the p a ram e t e rs s t a t e d in t he 323 ' s

Ope r a t i ons M a n u a ls.

Op e r a t i ons c ond u c ted u n d e r t h i s e x e m p t i on will b e c lose l y c ont r ol l e d an d m on i to r e d b y the o p e r a t o r

a nd will be c ondu c ted in c o mp l ia n c e with l o c a l p u blic s a f e t y re qui r e m ent s

, to p r ov i de s ec u r i t y f o r t he a r e a o f

op e r a t i on. 323 w i l l a lso p r o vide t he F A A with a dv a n c e not i c e o f a l l op e r a t i o ns via N O T A M s a s r e qui r e d b y

t h e a pp l i ca b l e C O A. I n a ll ca s e s, o p e r a t i on of the 323

- UAS u nd e r t he p r o pos e d c onditions wi l l be at l eas t as

s a f e a s, or s a f

e r t h a n, c onv e nt i on a l r oto r cr a ft o p e r a ti n g w i th a n a ir w o r thi n e ss c e rtifi c a t e

.

L a s t l y

, the 323

- UAS s d o not n e e d a m e a ns to c om m uni c a te wi t h other a ir c r a ft o r A T C, b eca use tho s e

c a p a b i l i ties w i ll be poss e ssed b y t h e P I C an d Obs e rv e r, who ar e not o nbo a rd the 323

- UAS

. 8 I n a dd i tion, no

s e ns e

- a n d

- a void t e chn ol o g y is n e ce s sa r y for the 323

- UAS s b eca use t h e y will b e op er a t e d a t all t i m es i n V F R

c ondi t ions and w i t h in V L OS of t h e P I C a n d Op er a t o r

. 9

B

. 14 C

. F

. R. P a r t 27 A i r w o r th i n e ss Sta n d a r d s: No r m al Ca t e g o r y Ro t o r c r a f t

Ti t le 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 27 s e ts fo r th t h e pr o c e d u r a l r equi r e m ents for a i r wo r t h i n e ss ce rtifi ca t i on of nor m a l

ca t e g o r y ro t o r c r a ft. To t he e x tent t h at the 323 ' s s m a ll 323

- UAS s would ot h e r wise r e q u i re ce rti f i ca tion und e r

P ar t 2 7, P e tition e r s ee ks a n e x e mpt i on fr o m P a rt 2 7 ' s a i r wo r t h in es s s t a nd a rds f or the s a m e r e a sons id en t ifi e d

in t he re qu e st f

o r e x e m pt i on fr o m 14 C

. F

. R. P a rt 21, S u b p a rt H

, supr a

.

{ c on t inu e d from p r ev io u s pag e }

7 See e .g

., G r a nt of E x e m pt i on No. 11184 to V D OS Glob a l, L LC. ( FA A

- 2 0 14

- 03 8 2 a t p g s. 4

- 5) :

All fli g ht o p e r a t i o n s a r e g lo b a l p o s i tion i ng s y s t e m (G PS ) c ont r o l l e d, m a king the s y s t e m ea s y t o

n a v i g a te. At a n y point i f t h e op e r a t o r is not e x pl i ci t l y c o m m a ndi n g the s y st e m to m ove, the s y st e m

a ut o m a ti ca l l y holds its G P S pos i t i o n. The fli g ht c ont r o l s y s t e m e m pl o y s n ot on l y G P S pos i t io n i n g bu t

a va r i e t y of s e nsors i n c l u ding sona r

, b a ro me t r i c p re ssu r e

, te m p er a tu r e

, wind sp ee d a nd oth e r s t o e ns u r e

st a bi l i t y s o l o n g a s wind th r e sh o lds a r e not e x c e e d e d. Also a f l i g ht t e r m in a t i on link

– to p re v e nt a 'f l y

a w a y ' or other po t e n t i al l y d a n g erous si t u a t i on

– is av a il ab le t o the o pe r a t o r

. "

8 S e e G ra nt of E x e m pt i on No. 11062 t o Ast r a e us A er i a l ( F AA

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g

. 1 3 ).

9 Id.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 14

C. 14 C

. F

. R. §§ 91.9 ( c ), 4 5. 23(b) and 45.27 ( a ) : Ai r c r a f t M a r k i n g a n d Id e n t i f

ic a t ion R e qu i re m e n ts

323 s ee ks a n e x e mp t i on f r o m the a i r c r a f

t mar ki n g a nd iden t if

i cat i o n r e q ui r e m ents c ontain e d in

14 C. F .R. § § 91.9( c ) , 45.23 ( b) a nd 4 5.27( a ).

● 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 (c ), C i v il A i r cr a f t F l i g h t M an u a l, M ark ing a nd P l a c a rd r e q u i r e m ent s , p r ovides th a t:

No p e rson m a y op e ra te a U. S

. - r e g ist e r e d c ivil ai r c r a ft unless that a i r cr a ft is i d en t i f i e d in

acc o r d a n c e with Pa rt 45 of th i s c h a pt e r

.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.23 ( b )

, Ma rkin g s of t h e Aircr a f t , s ta te s :

Wh e n m ar ks include only the Ro m an ca p i t a l le t ter " N " a nd t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n nu m ber is

dis p l a y e d on l i m i t ed, res t ri c t e d or li g h t

- sport ca t e g o r y ai r c raft or e x peri me n tal or

p r ovi s io na l l y c ert i f

i ca ted a i r c r af

t

, t h e op er a tor m ust a lso disp la y o n t ha t a i r c r a f t n e a r eac h

e nt r a n c e to the ca bin, c o c kpi t

, o r p i lot s t at i on, i n lett e r s n o t le s s t h a n 2 i n c h e s nor m o r e

than 6 i nch e s h i g h, the w o r ds " li m i t ed

, " " r e s tr i c t e d," " l i g h t

- s p o rt, " e x p e r i m en t a l," or

" p rovisiona l

, " a s a pp l i c a

ble.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.27 (a ), R o t o rc r a ft, s ta t es:

E ac h o p er a tor of a ro t o r c r a f t m ust d i s pl a y on that r oto r c r a f t hor iz o n ta l l y o n both s u r f ace s o f

the ca bin, f

use l a g e

, bo o m

, o r t a i l t h e m a rks re q ui r e d b y § 4 5.23.

I n a p r e vio u s G r a nt of E x e mpt i on, the F AA d e t e r m i n e d that e x e m p t ion f r o m the s e r e qui r e m ents w a s

w a r ra n ted p r ovided t h a t t he a i r c r a f t " h a v e i d en t i f

ica t i on ( N

- Nu m b er ) m ar k i n g s in a c c or d a n c e w i th 14 C

. F .R

P a rt 45, Su b p a rt C if the m ar ki n g s ar e a s l a r ge a s pr ac ti c a bl e

. " 10

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of Sa

f e ty

All UA f lo w n b y 323 will b ea r N

- n u m b e r mar kin g s t h a t a r e a s la r g e a s p r ac ti c a b l e in

acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R. P a rt 45, Sub p a rt C

. 11

1 0 F AA D o ck e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 03 5 2.

11 S ee

, e .g., F AA D o c k e t No. F A A

- 2 0 14

- 0352, a t 14.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 15

D. 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.405 ( a )

, 9 1.407 (a)( 1 ) , 91.40 9 ( a ) (1) a n d (2) ; 91

. 417(a) a n d ( b ) : Ma i n t e n a n c e

I n s p ec t i ons

323 s ee ks a n e x e mp t i on f r o m the m ain t e n a n c e insp e c tion r e qu i r em ents cont a in e d in

14 C

. F .R. § 91.40 5 (a ), 9 1.407 ( a )( 1 ), 91 .409( a )( 2 ) ; 91.417 ( a ) a nd ( b ) . Th e s e r e g u l at i o ns s pe c i f y m a in t e n a n c e

a nd in sp ec t i on s t a nd a rds in r ef e re n c e to 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 43. S e e

, e .g., 14 C. F .R. § 91.4 05 (a ) (s tat in g t h a t e ac h

own e r or o p e r a tor of a n a ir c r a f t " sh a ll h a ve t h e a i r c r a ft in s pe c ted a s p res c r i b e d in sub p art E o f th i s p a rt and

sh a ll b e t w e e n r e qu i r e d i n sp ec t i ons h a ve dis c re p a n c i e s r e p a i r e d a s p r e s c ri b ed in p a rt 43 of this c h a p t e r " )

. An

e x e m pt i on f r om th e se re g ulations is n ee d e d b ec a use P a rt 43 a nd these s e c ti o ns on l y a p p l y to a i r c r a f

t with an

a i r wo r t h in es s c e rtifi ca te, whi c h the 323

- UAS t o b e op e r a ted un d e r t h is g r a nt of e x emp t ion wi l l not h a v e

.

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quiva l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hi e v e d be c a use ma in t e n a n c e a nd i n s p ec tions w i l l be p e r f o rm e d

in a c c o r d a nce with t he M a nu f a ct u r e r ' s M a nu a l a nd a n y re q u ir e d m anu f ac t u r e r S a f

e t y o r Ser vi c e B ul l et i n s.

F u r th e r

, a s r e qui r e d b y 323 ’ s O p er a t i ons M a nu a l s, the P I C will c ondu c t a p r e

- f

l i g ht i n sp e c ti o n of the 323

-

UAS a nd a ll a ssoci a ted e qui p m e nt t o acc o u nt f o r a ll d isc re p a n c ies a nd/or ino p e r a ble c o m p o ne n ts.

M a i n te n a n c e will be p e r fo r m e d a nd v er i f i e d to a dd r e ss a n y c ondi t ions p o t e n t i al l y a f f e ct i n g s a f e o p e r a t i on of

the 323

- UAS a nd no fl i g hts will o c c ur u n le s s, an d unt i l, a ll f l i g h t c r iti c a l c o m po n e nts of t he 323

- UAS h a ve

b ee n fo u nd to be a ir w o rth y a nd in a c ondi t ion sa f e f o r o p er a tion. A f

u n c ti o n a l t e st fl i g

ht w i ll b e co n du c t e d

f ol l owi n g t h e r e p l a ce m e n t of a n y f l i g h t

- c ritic a l co m pon e nts. As r e qui r e d b y 323 ’ s O p er a tio n s M a nu a l s, t

h e

P I C w ho c o nd u c ts the f

u n c t i on a l t e st fli g ht will m a k e a n e nt r y in t he 323

- UAS a ir c r a f t r e c o r ds of the f

l i g ht.

323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons Ma nu a l also in c ludes req u i re m ents to follow the ma n u f a c tu r e r ’ s 323

- UAS

a i r c raft / c o m pon e nt, m a i n te n a n c e, o v er h a ul, re pla c e m e nt, i ns p e c t i on, a nd li f e l i m it r e qui r e m ents f

o r t he

f ol l owing ap pl i c a ble co m p o n e nts: p ow er t ra in s y st e m ( pow e rp l a nt )

, pr op e ll e rs, a vioni c s a nd c on t rol s u r f ace s

( i n c lud i n g ai l e rons/ e le vo ns ) , st ru c t ure s & a i r f ra m e

, ca m e r a s y s t e m , e l ec t r i ca l s y st e m s ( in c lud i n g ba tt e r i e s),

g round c o n t rol sta t ion, h a z a rd a c cess or i e s, a nd s p ar e p a rts. F u r th e r

, 323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons M an u a l s a lso i n c lu d es

pr oce du r e s to do c u m ent a n d m ain t ain a r ec o r d o f t h e 323

- UAS m ai n t e n a n ce , p r e v e n t at i v e m a i nte n a n ce

,

a lt e r a t i ons, s t a tus of r e pl a ce m ent / o v er h a ul co m pon e nt p a rts, a nd the t o tal t i m e in s er v i c e of the 323

- UAS s

us e d und e r t

his G r ant of E x e m pt i on. As a whol e , the ma in t e n a n c e a nd ins p ec t i o n p roce du re s r e q u i r e d in

323 ’ s Op e r a tions M a nu a l s e n s ure t h a t an e quiva l en t or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hie v e d.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 16

PI L O T

- I N

- CO M M A N D O F T HE 323

- UAS

E

. 14 C. F

. R. § 61.113: P r i v ate P i l ot P r iv i leg e s a n d L i m

ita t i o n s

323 s ee ks e x e mp t i on f

r om 14 C F R § 61.113, w h ich r e st r icts p r i v a t e pi l ot c e rtifi ca te hold er s f r o m

f l y i n g a i r c ra ft f

or c o m p e ns a t i on or h i re

, a nd would a lso r e qui r e a s e c o nd c la s s m ed i ca l c e rtif ic a t e . T h e

purpose of Pa rt 61 i s to ensure that the skill and c o m pe t e n c y of a n y P I C m a t c h e s the a irs p ac e in whi c h the

P I C will b e o p er a ti n g

, a s w e ll as r e q u ir i ng ce rtif i c a t i ons if the p r ivate pi l o t is c a r r y i n g p a ss e n g e rs o r c a r g o for

hi r e

. I n t h is c a s e

, whi l e t he 323

- UAS s will be o p er a ted a s p a r t of a c o mm e r c ial op e r a t i on, it ca r r i e s n ei t h e r

p a s s e n g e rs n o r c a r g o.

I n t h e G r a nt of E x e m pt i o n to Ast r aeu s A er i a l 1 2

, t h e F A A d e t e r m ined t h a t the unique ch a r a c t e ristics o f

323

- UAS op er a t i on out s ide of c on t roll e d a irsp a c e did not w a r ra nt t h e a d d i t ion cost an d r e strictions a tt e nd an t

with r e quir i n g a the P I

C t o h a v e a Co m me r c ial Pi l o t C e rtifi c a te a nd C l as s I I M e di c a l C e r t ifi c a te. T he

ful f i ll m e nt of the a ddi ti o n a l re qu i re m ents for a p ri v a te pi l o t to b ec o m e qu a l i f i e d a s a c om m e rc ial pi l ot would

not l ea d to a n y a ddi t ional s a f e t y b e n e fits wh e n 323

- UAS ope r a t i ons a r e i n volv e d.

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of Sa

f e ty

The re strict i ons the 323 h a s pl ace d on i t s 323

- UAS o p er a t i ons mee t or e x ce e d t he re s tri ct i ons

si m i l ar l y i m po s e d on As t r ae us A er i a l. 323 w i ll op e r a te on p r iva t e p r op er t y a w a y f r o m p e rso n s a nd p r o p e r

t y

not invo l v e d in t he ope r a

ti o n

. 323 will a lso obt a i n a n A T O i ssued C O A prior to condu c ti n g a n y o p er a t i o ns

u n d e r this G ra nt of E x e mpt i on. A l l op e r a t i o ns will b e co n d u c ted in a c co r d a n c e w i t h a i r s pa c e r e qu i r e m e n t s

in t he A T O is s u e d C O A i n c lud i ng c l a ss of a i r s p ace

, a ltitu d e l e v e l a n d p otenti a l t r a n s p ond e r re qui r e m ent s . A

N O T A M will also be i s s u e d a s r e qui r e d b y t h e a pp l i cab l e C OA.

I n a dd i t i on to the s e f

l i g h t re stri c t i on s , the 323 will f u r t h er e ns u r e s a f

e o p e r a t i o n b y r e qui r i n g that a n y

P I C be tho r o u g h l y v er s e d n o t o n l y in a i r s p ac e a nd co m m uni ca t i o n is su e s p e r taining to a ll a i r c r a ft o p e r a tors

b u t a l so in t he u nique a sp e c ts of 323

- UAS f li g ht. As set f

o r t h in the Op e r a t i ons Ma n u a ls, p i lots will h a ve

e x p er i e n c e not on l y in 323

- UAS op e r a t io n s g e n e r a l l y but h av e l o g g e d fl i g h t ti m e in t h e sp e c ific m a k e a nd

m odel u s e d for the o p e r a t i o ns b e f o r e t h e y a re p e r m i t t e d to p a r ti c i p ate i n c om mer c ial fl i g h t s on b e half of 323

.

T h e p i l o t qualif

i ca t i on, t r a i n in g

, a nd c u r ren c y r e q u i re m ents in the Op e r a t i o ns Man u a ls e ns u r e t h a t 323 ’ s

p i l ots a r e c o m

pe t e nt and p r o f

i c ient in t he 323

- UAS th e y a r e o p e rat i n g

. 323 ’s t ra i n i n g a nd qu a li f i ca tion

r e qui r e m ents a re c on s is t e nt w i t h th o se c ontain e d in p r i o r F AA S ec t i on 3 33 G ra nts of E x e mpt io n, a nd will

p r o vide a h i g

h e r le v e l of c o m pe t e n c y a nd pr o f ic i e n c y for i t s p il o ts a nd w i ll e nsure a t l ea st a n e q u i v a l e nt l e v e l

of s a f e t y

.

1 2 E x e m pt io n No. 11062 ( F AA D o c k e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 0352 )

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 17

O P E R AT I NG P

AR A M ET E RS OF T HE 323

- UAS

F

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.7 ( a ) : C i vil Ai rcra f t A i r w o r th i n e ss

A lth o u g h the r e will b e n o a ir w o r t h i ne ss c e rtifi c a t e i s s u e d f or the 323

- UAS s, 323 s ee ks a n

e x e m pt i on f r om 14 C

. F. R. § 91. 7 ( a ) , whi c h r e q u i r e s that a c i v il a i r c r a f t be in ai r wo r t h y c ondition to be

op er a ted. T he F A A h a s s t a ted t h a t n o e x e mpt i on i s r e qu i r e d for 14 C. F .R. § 91.7 (a ) t o the e x tent t h a t t he

r equi r e m e n t s of P ar t 21 ar e w a ived or f ound inap p lic a bl e

. 1 3 A cc o r di n g l y

, P e tition e r r e qu e sts t h at t he

r equi r e m e nts for § 91.7 (a ) be t r e a t e d in a cc o r d a n c e with S ec tion V ( A )

, supra.

G

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.9 ( b )( 2 ) : Civil Ai rc r a f t F l ig h t M a nu al i n t h e Ai rcr a f t a n d 14

C. F

. R. § 91.203 ( a) a n d ( b ) : Ca rr y i n g Civil Ai r c r a f t C erti f i c a t i on an d R e gis t r ati o n

Ti t l e 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2) a nd § 91

. 203 (a ) a nd ( b) re qu i re t h e op e r a tor to carr y ai r w o r th i n es s

do c u me nts a nd other ai r c r a ft ma nu a l s onbo a rd t he a i r c r a ft. Pursu a nt to 14 C. F .R. § 91 .9 ( b )( 2 ) :

(b) No p e rson m a y o pe r a te a U. S

. - r e g is t e r e d c ivil air c r af t

–

(2) F o r wh i ch a n Airp l ane or Roto r c r a f t F l i g h t M a nu a l is r e qui r e d b y § 21

. 5 of th i s c h a pt e r, un l e s s

th er e is av ai l a ble in the a i r c r a f t a curre nt app r o v e d A i rp l a ne or Rotor cr a f t F li g h t M a n u a l, ap p r ov e d

m a n u a l m a t er ia l

, m a r ki n g s, a nd pl a ca rds, or a n y c o m bin a tion the r e o f

.

P u r su a nt t o 14 C

. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd ( b ) :

( a ) E x ce pt a s p r ovided i n § 91.715, no p e rson m a y op er a te a c iv i l a i r cr af t u n le s s i t h a s wit h i n it t h e

f ol l owi n g :

(1) An a p p r o pr ia t e a nd c u rr e nt ai r w o r t h i n e ss c e rtifi ca te...

(b) No p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c i v il a i r c r af t unl e s s the ai r w o r t h in e ss ce r t ifi c a te r e qu i r e d b y p a ra g ra ph

( a ) of th i s s e c t i on o r a s p ec ial fli g h t a uth o r i z a t i on i ssued und e r § 91.715 is di sp l a y e d a t t h e cab in or

c o c kpit e n tra n c e so that i t i s l e g i b le to p a ss e n g er s o r c r e w.

1 3 S e e id. a t 13

- 14, 22U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 18

Giv e n the s m a ll si z e an d c onfi g u r a t i on of the 323

- UAS s, it would be im p o s s ib l e to ke e p

a ir w o r th in e s s docu me nts a nd other ai r c r a ft m a nu a l s on bo a rd the 323

- UAS b e c a use th er e is s i m p l y no

room a nd t h e 323

- UAS h a s n o ca bin or c o c kp i t.

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of S a

f e ty

I n a n F AA O f

f i c e of C h i e f C ouns e l ' s Opinion d a t e d A u g u s t 8 , 2014, a nd p r e pa re d b y D ea n E.

G r i f fith, Att o r n e y

, AG C

- 220, it w a s a c k n owl e d g e d that the i n tent of 14 C

. F

. R. 91.9 ( b) a nd 91.2 0 3 (a ) a nd

( b) i s m et i f the p i lot of the un m anned a i r c r a ft h a s ac c e ss to the 323

- UAS f l i g ht ma nu a l, r e g is t r a tion

c ertifi ca te, a nd ot h e r re q ui r e d do c u m ents f r om t h e g r ound co nt r ol st a tion f r o m which he o r she i s o p er a ti n g

the ai r c r a f

t

. 1 4 As th i s F AA O f

f i c e of C hief Co u n s e l Op i ni o n c l ar ifi e s, t h e i nt en t of the r ule is to e n s ure t h e

pi l ot h a s a c c e ss t o t h e s e k e y d o c u m ents duri n g f l i g h t. The r ef

o re

, a n e q u i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be

a chi e v e d b y e nsur i n g t h a t t he p i l o t h a s acce ss t o th e d o c u m e n ts a t t he g r o u nd c ont r o l s t a t ion f r om which he

or s h e i s p i l ot i n g the 323

- UAS

.

H. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.103: P r e f l i g h t A c t i o n

323 s ee ks a n e x e m pt i on f r o m 14 C

. F .R. § 91.103, wh i c h r e qui r e s a P I C to b e c o m e f

am i li a r w i th

s p ec if i c in f or m at i o n be f

o r e e ac h fl i g ht, i n c l u ding info r m a t i on c on t ai n e d in the F AA

- a ppr o v e d F l i g ht

M a nu a l on boa r d the ai r cr a ft. W hi l e the P I C w i l l be f

a m i li a r with a ll info rm at i on ne c es s a r y to s a f e l y

c ond u c t t h e f

li g ht, a n e x e mpt i on is r e qu e st e d to t h e e x tent t h at a n F AA

- a p p r o v e d F l i g ht M a nu a l is re qu i r e d.

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quiva l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y w i ll b e pr o vided b y f

ol l owing t h e 323 ’ s O per a t i o ns Man u a ls a nd the

M an u f ac tu r e r ' s M a n u a l . T h e P I C w i l l p e r f

o r m a s er i e s of c h ec klists d es i g n e d to i d en t i f y a n y d e f ec ts or

i n op er a b l e com ponents in acc o r d a n c e with t he 323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a ls, i n c lu d i ng c h ec kl i s ts c ov e ri n g

P r e

- F l i g h t

, L

a u n c h, L a ndi n g

, a nd P o s t

- Fl i g ht pr o ce d ur e s. The P I C will a lso be r e q u i r e d to r e v i ew w ea t h er

,

f l i g h t r e q u i r e m ent s , b a t t e r y ch a r g e

, l and i n g a nd ta k e o f f di s t a n ce

, U A p e r f

o r m an c e d a ta, a nd c on t i n g e n c y

landi n g a r e a s

—

b e f o r e i n i t iation of f

l i g ht. 323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons Ma n u a ls a nd t h e M a nu f a c tu r e r ' s M a n u a l will

be k ep t at t he g round c ont r ol s t a t i on a nd will be acce ss i b le to the P I C a t a ll t i m es whi l e op er a ti n g t h e 323

-

UAS

.

I. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.109 ( a ) : F lig h t In s t r u c t i on

1 4 M e m o ra nd u m f

r o m M a r k B u r y

, FAA Assi s t a nt C hief Coun s e l for I n te r n a t i on a l L

a w, L e g is l a tion a nd

R e g u l a t i o n, to J ohn Dun ca n, F A A F l i g h t S ta nd a rds Se rv i c e ( A u g . 8, 201 4 ) ; s e e a lso Do c k e t No. F AA

2 0 14

- 0352 a t 16

- 18.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 19

323 s ee ks a n e x em pt i on f r o m 14 C

. F .R. § 91.1 09 (a ), which p rovid e s in p e rti ne nt p a r t t h a t " [ n ] o

p e rson m a y o p e r a t e a c i v il air c r a ft (e x ce pt a ma nn e d f r e e b a l l oo n ) t h a t i s b e ing us e d for f l i g ht ins t ru c t i on

u n le ss th a t ai r c raft h a s ful l y f un c t i on i n g du a l cont r ol s

. " 323

- UAS s a nd r e m ot e l y pi l o ted a ir c r a ft, b y t h e ir

d e si g n, do not h a v e f

un c t ional d u a l contro l s. I ns t e a d, f l i g h t con t rol i s acc o m pl i shed th r o u g h t h e use of a

d e v i ce t h a t c o m m uni c a tes w i t h t h e a i rc r a ft via ra dio c o mm unic a tions. A cc o r d i n g l y

, a n e x e mpt i on will be

r e qu i r e d for the f

l i g h t i n s t r u c t i on r e qui r em ents of 14 C

. F .R. § 91.10 9 ( a ).

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of Sa

f e ty

Giv e n the s i z e a nd sp e ed of the 323

- UAS s that 323 i n t e nds to u se

, a n e quiv a lent le v e l of sa f e

t ra in i n g ca n s t i ll be p e r f

o r m ed without du a l c ont r o ls b e c a u s e no pilot or p a ss e n g e rs a r e a bo a r d the 323

-

UAS

, a nd a s r e q u ir e d b y the 323 ’ s O p er a t i ons Man ua ls, a ll p e rsons w i ll be a s a fe d i s t a n c e a w a y in t h e

e v e nt t h a t t h e 323

- UAS e x p er i e n ce s a n y dif f i c u l ties du r i n g f

l i g ht i n s t r u c tion. Mo r e ov e r

, a s r equi r e d b y

t h e 323 ’ s O p er a t i o ns M a nu a ls, a ll f li g h t t r a i n i n g wi l l be c ond u c ted i n c on t r o l l e d a nd st e rile

e n v iro n me nt. As a who l e

, the s a f e t y p r o c e du re s p r o v i d ed f or in t he 323 ’ s O p e r a t i ons

M a nu a ls e n s ure that the p r opo s e d 323

- UAS ope r a t i o n s p r o v i d e a n e quiva l e nt o r h i g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y th a n

that p r o v ided b y t h e f

l i g h t i n str u c ti o n r e g u l atio n s.

J. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.119 ( c ): M i n i m u m Sa f e Alti t ud e s

The 323 re qu e sts a n e x empt i on f r o m the m in i m u m s a f

e a l t i t ude r e qu i r e m e nts of 14 C. F

. R. §

91.119( c )

. 1 5 S ec t i on 91

. 119 p re s c ri be s t h e m in i m u m s a f e a l t i tu d e s und e r whi c h airc r a ft m a y not op e ra te,

in c ludi n g 5 0 0 f

e e t a bo v e the s ur f

a c e a nd a w a y f

r o m a n y p e rson, v e sse l

, v e hicl e , or st r u c tu r e in no n

c o n g e st e d a

r e a s. S e e 14 C

. F .R. § 91.119 (c ). S ec t ion 91. 1 1 9 (d ) a l l ows f or a h e li c o p ter to op e r a te a t l e ss

th a n those m in i m u m a l t i tudes wh e n it ca n be o p e r a ted " without h a z a rd t o pe rsons or pro per t y on t h e

su r f ace

, " p r ovided t h a t " e ac h p e rs o n o p er a t i n g t h e h el i c opter c o m pl i es wi t h a n y r outes o r a ltitu de s

spe c ifi ca l l y p re s c rib e d for h e l i c o p t er s b y the F AA

. "

An e x e m pt i on is r e q u i r e d b eca use t h e pr o pos e d 323

- UAS o p e r a t i ons w i ll nor ma l l y n ee d to o ccu r

below 4 00 f

e e t A G L

. I

n c i rc u m s t a n ce s wh er e the 323

- UAS is u s ed to i n s p ec t a s t r u ctu r e whose he i g ht

e x cee ds 400 f

ee t A G L

, t he 323

- UAS will not be op er a t e d m ore t h a n 100 f ee t ab o v e t h e h i g h e st po i nt on

the s tru c t u r e

, a n d with i n 100 f e et ho r i z ontal l y o f t he s t r u c tur e

. A d ditional l y

, d u e the n a tu r e of the p ropo s e d

o p er a t i o n s, the P i l ot and/or Obs e rv e rs( s) m a y n e ed t o be less t han 500 f ee t a w a y f

rom the UA S

.

15 R el i e f f rom § 91.119( a ) will n o t b e n ece ss a r y b e ca use P e tit i on e r wi l l b e a b le to pe r f orm an e m e r g e n c y

land i n g wit h out undue h az a rd to p e r s o ns o r p r o per t y on t h e g r o und in t h e e v e nt of a f a ilu re

. P et iti o n e r ' s

pro p os e d U AS op er a tio n s wi l l not occ ur ov e r co n g e s t e d a r e a s, a nd t h e r ef o r e a n e x e mp t i on f

r om §

91.119 ( b) wi l l n o t be n e c e ss a r y

. S e e e .g

., G ra nt of E x e mpt i on No. 11157 to S lug w e a r

, I n c ., d b a L i k e on a

t r ee A e r i a l ( F A A

- 2 014

- 0 534 at 15)U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 20

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of S a

f e ty

Co mp a re d to fl i g ht op e r a t ions with rotor c r a ft w e i ghing f a r mo r e than t h e m a x i m u m w e i g hts

propo s e d h e r e in, a nd g i v e n the l ac k o f f l a mma ble f

u e l w i th t he 323

- UAS s

, a n y r isk a s soc i a ted w ith these

o p e r a tions is fa r l e ss t h a n t h ose t h a t p r e s e nt l y e x ist with con v e nt i on a l a ir cr a ft. A n e quiv a l en t l e v e l o f

sa f e t y will b e ac h ie v e d g i v e n t h e s i z e , w e i g ht, and s p ee d of t he 323

- UAS s, a s w e ll t h e c ont ro ll e d lo c a tion

wh er e t h e o p e r a t i o n s w i ll o c c u r

. I n o r d e r t o a v o id a n y risk to m a nn e d a i r c r a ft, f l i g h t op e r a t i ons will be

r es t ricted t o 400 f

e e t A G L o r b e lo w

, o r wh e n insp ec t i ng a s tr u c tu r e w h o s e h e i g h t e x c e eds 400 f ee t A G L

,

wit h in 100 f

ee t a bove t h e h i g h es t point on that st r u c tu r e a n d 1 00 f e e t ho ri zonta l l y of t h e st r u c tu r e

.

As s e t fo r th in t he O p e r a

t ions M a nu a ls, t he 323

- UAS s wi l l be op er a ted in a r e s tr ict e d a r e a

, a nd a ll

f l i g hts will b e o p er a t e d a t a l a t e r a l d i s t a n c e of a t l e a st 500 f ee t fr o m a n y no np a rti c ipat i n g p e rsons, u n l e ss

th a t p e r s o n i s in a positi o n wh er e he or s h e i s shie l d e d f r o m t he 323

- UAS a nd a n y pos s i b le d e b r is resu l ting

f r o m 323

- UAS f

a ilu re

. As r equi r e d b y t h e O p e r a t i ons M a n ua ls, f li g h ts wi l l b e t er m i n a ted i f a

nonp ar ti c ipating p e rson with i n 500 f e e t of the 323

- UAS l ea v e s a sh i e lded posit i on. F u r th e r

, 323

- UAS

op e r a t i ons will o ccu r a t l ea st 500 fe e t aw a y f rom v e hic l e s o r st r u c tu r e s un l e ss the p r o p er t y ow n e r / c o n t r ol l e r

h a s g r a n t e d p e r m is s ion and t he P I C h a s m ade a s a f

e t y a ssess m e nt of the ri s k of o p er at in g c los e r to t hose

obj e c ts and, o p er a t i ons n ea r t he P I C o r Obs e rv e r will not prese nt an und u e h a z ar d per § 9 1.119 (a ).

Adh e r e n c e to the s e r e str i ct i ons in the e le v a tion of the d e p a r ture a i rpo r

t or b a ro me t r i c pr e ss u r e

. An

e x e m pt i on i s r e quir e d to the e x tent t h at t he 323

- UAS s do n ot have a b a ro me t r ic a lt ime t er , but r a t h er a

G P S a l t i t u d e r e a d out. 323 ’ s O p e r a tions M a nu a ls wi l l e nsure op e r a t i ons ca n be c ond u c ted w i t hout

c o m pr o m is i ng s a f

e t y

. 16

K

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.121: A l t i m e ter S e t ti n gs

323 s ee ks a n e x e mp t i on f r o m 14 C

. F .R. § 91.121, wh i c h r e qui r e s a p e r s on o p e r a ti n g a n ai r c r a ft to

ma in t a in c r uising a ltitude or f l i g h t l e v e l b y r ef

e r e n c e to an a lti m e ter that is s e t t o t h e e le v a tion of the

d ep ar t u re a i rpo r t or b a

ro me t r i c p r e s s ure An e x e m pt i on is r e qui r e d to the e x tent that th e 323

- UAS s do not

h a ve a b a ro m e t r ic a ltim e t er , b u t r a t h e r a GPS a lt i t u de r e a d o u t.

16 S e e e .g.

, G r a nt of E x e m pt i on No. 11138 to Dougl a s T r ud e a u ( F A A

- 2014

- 0481 a t 1 9 ) :

" I f b a rri e r s or st r u c tu r e s ar e p r e s e nt that ca n suf f i c ient l y p rot e c t nonp a rt ic i p a t i ng p e rsons f r o m t h e UA or

d eb r is in the e v e nt of a n a cc iden t

, th e n the UA m a y op e r a te c loser than 500 f e e t to p e rs o ns a ff

o r d e d s u c h

pr o t e c t i on. The o p er a t o r m u st a lso e nsure t h a t n onp a rt i c i p a ting p e rsons r e m a in un d e r s u c h p rot e c t i on. I f a

s i tuation ari s e s w h er e nonp a rti c ip a t i n g p e rsons l e a v e su c h p rot e c tion a nd a r e wit h in 5 0 0 f e e t of the U A,

f l i g ht o p e r a t i ons m ust c e a s e im m ed i a t e l y

. W h e n c onsi d e r in g h ow to i m m e d i a t e l y cea s e op e r a t i on s

, the

p r i m a r y c on c e r n is the s a f e t y o f those nonp a rti ci p a t i ng p e rs o n s

. I n a dd i tio n

, the F AA finds that o p e r a t i o n s

m a y b e c on du c ted c l o s e r than 500 f e e t t o v e s s el s

, v e hic l e s a nd st r u c tu r e s w h e n the o w n er / c ont r o l l e r o f a n y

s u c h v e ssels, v e hic l e s or s t r u c t u r e s g r a nts p e r m i ss i on f o r th e o p e r a t i on a nd t h e P I C m a k e s a s a f

e t y

a sse s s m ent of the r i sk o f op e r a ti n g c los e r to t h os e ob j e c ts a n d d e t e r m in e s t h a t it does not p r e s en t an u ndue

ha z ar d.”U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 21

E q u iva l e n t L e v e l of S a

f e ty

The F A A h as s t a ted th a t a n e quiv a l en t l e v e l o f s a f e t y to the r e qui r e m e nts of 14 C. F

. R. § 91.121 ca n be

a chi e v e d in c i rc u m s t a n ce s wh e r e : ( 1 ) the 323

- UAS s will be op e r a ted b e l o w 400 f e et A G L or b e l o w 17

, (2 )

wit h in V L O S , (3) w h e r e G P S b a s e d a l t itude inf o rm at i o n is r e l a y

e d in r e a l t i m e to t he op er a tor a t a g rou n d

bas e d o n

- s cr ee n di s pl a y a nd, (4) w h er e p r i o r t o e ac h fl i g h t, a z e ro a lt i tude in i ti a tion p o int is es t abl i s h e d for

the P I C to c o n f i r m a cc u r a c y of the o nbo a rd G PS

. 18

The 323

- UAS s th a t 323 i n te nds to use f or the p r o p o se d op er a t i o n s will m ee t a l l t h e se op er a t i o n a l

c h a r ac t e r ist i c s. Mo r e o ver

, a s r e qu i r e d b y 323 ’ s O p e r a ti o ns M a n u al s

, t h e P I C w i l l be r equi r e d to c a lib r a t e

the a i r c r a f

t ' s GPS c o mpa s s prior to e ac h fli g ht op e r a t i o n. L ike p rior F A A S ec t i on 333

G r ants of E x e mpt i on, the 323

- UAS s 323 in t e nds to u s e

, a nd the sa f e t y m i t i g a tion p r o ce du r e s c onta i n e d in

t he Op e r a ti o ns Manu a l s

, both ensu r e that a n e q u iva l en t l e v e l o f s a f e t y will b e ac hie v e d, a nd a G r a nt of

E x e m pt i on to t h e re qui r em ents of § 191

. 1 2 1 is th e r e f o r e a ppr o p r i a te.

L

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.151 ( a ) : F u e l R e qu ir e m e n ts f or F lig h t i n V F R C o n d i t io n s

323 r e qu e sts a n e x e m

pt i on fr o m 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.15 1 (a ) ' s f u e l r eq ui r e m ents f

o r f l i g ht i n VF R

c ond i tions. S ec t i on 91. 1 51 s t a tes:

( a ) No p e rson m a y b e g i n a f l i g h t in a n a i rp l a ne und e r V F R c ondi t io n s u nle s s ( c on s i der i n g wind a nd

f or e ca st w e at h e r c ondit i o ns) th e r e is e no u g h f u e l t o f l y to the f i r st po i n t of i n t e nd e d l a n ding a nd,

a ssu m ing no r m a l c r ui s i n g s p ee d

–

(1) Du r i n g t h e d a y

, to f

l y a f t e r t ha t f o r a t l eas t 3 0 m i n ute s ;

or

(2) At ni g h t, to f

l y a f t e r t h a t for a t l e a st 45 m inu t e s.

H e r e , the t e c hnol o g i ca l l i m i t at i ons on 323

- UAS b a tt e r y po w e r mea ns th a t no mea ni n g ful fl i g h t

ope ra t i o n s c a n be c ondu c ted while still m ain t a ining a 3 0

- m i n ute b a tte r y r e s er v e . An e x e mpt i on f r o m the

f u e l r e qui r em ents of 14 C

. F .R. § 91.15 1 (a ) i s ther ef o r e r e quir e d.

1 7 I f t h e h e i g ht o f the st ruc t ur e b e i n g i n spe c ted e x c ee ds 400 f ee t AG L

, the 323

- UAS w i ll n o t be op e r a ted

m ore than 100 f

ee t a bo v e the h i g h e st p o int on t he st r u c tu r e

.

1 8 S e e G ra nt of E x e mpt i o n No. 11062 to Ast r a e us A er i a l ( F AA

- 201 4

- 0352 a t 21 )

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 22

I

n the G ran t o f E x e m

p t ion t o V D OS ( E x e m p t i on No. 11112 ) , the FAA d e te r m i n e d that a n

e quiva l en t l e v e l of s af

e t y to t he f

u e l r e qu i r e m ents for fl i g ht in V F R c on di t io n s cou l d be ac hi e v e d b y

proh i b i t i ng t h e P I C fr om b e g inni n g a 323

- UAS fli g ht un l e ss ( c onsid e r i n g wind a nd f ore ca st w e a t h e r

c onditions) t h e r e w a s e n ou g h po w e r t o f l y to t he fi r st i nten d e d point of l a nding a nd, a ssu m ing no r m a l

c ru i s ing s p e e d, to f

l y af t e r t h a t for a t l e as t 10 m i nute s

.

I n r e a c h i n g t h i s c on c l u sion, the F AA c onsid e r e d t h a t t he 323

- UAS b a t t e r i e s for the 323

- UAS

prov i d e d pr o vide a p p r o x im a t e l y 2 0 m i nutes of p o w e r e d fli g h t ( w i th p a y l o a d) a nd p ro vided b a t t e r y l e v e l

a nd b a t t e r y t i m e r e m ain i ng in m inu t e s a nd s e c on d s to t he P I C

. 1 9 The F AA a lso c onsi d e re d the f a c t t h a t t he

323

- UAS o p e r a ti n g m a n u a l s t a tes: “ st a r t e v e r y f l i g ht w i t h a ful l y c h a r ge d b a tt e r y in the a e ri a l vehi c l e ”

, a nd

that in t he e v e nt t h a t t he 323

- UAS should run l o w on po we r, t he P I C w i l l be a l er ted a nd c a n land t he Hu P

UAS a s soon as possi b le. L ike t h e V D OS G r a nt of E x e mp t ion, 323 u se of the 323

- UAS

, c o m b i n e d with t he

r e qui r e m ents of P e tit i on e r ' s Op e r a t i ons M a nu a ls, e n su r e t h a t an e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y ca n be ac hie v e d.

Si m i l a r l y

, in t he G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o Al a n P u r w in ( E x e mp t ion No. 11 1 6 1 ), t he F A A d e t e r m i n e d

that a n e q u i v a l e nt l e v e l o f s af e t y to the f

u e l r e qu i r e m e n t s for f

l i g ht i n V F R c onditions could be a c h i e v e d b y

proh i b i t i ng t h e P I C fr om b e g inni n g a fli g ht wi t h t h e 323

- UAS unle s s (co n s id e r ing w i nd a nd fo r eca st

w ea ther c o n di t io n s), t h e r e w a s e no u g h p o w e r t o f l y a t no r mal c r u i s in g s pe e d to t he i n t e nd e d land i ng point

a nd land t he UA with 2 5 % b a t t e r y p o w e r r e m ainin g

. 323 will a d h e r e to t h is l im i t a t i on fo r 323

- UAS fli g hts.

The 323

- UAS inc l ud e s a low b at t e r y w a rn i ng s y s t e m and the a m ount of b a t t e r y r e serve po w e r

r em ain i ng is tr a ns m i tt e d to t he P I C v i a t e le me t r i c d a t a f

e e d, whi c h downl i n ks f

r om t he 323

- UAS t o a

g roun d

- b a s e d

- on

- scr e e n dis p l a y

. 2 0 A s re qui r e d b y 323 ’ s O p e r a t i o n s M a nu a ls, the P I C w i l l p r o mp t l y f

l y the

323

- UAS b ac k to the ho m e lau n c h lo c a tion or pr e

- d e te r m i n e d a bo r t l o cat i on wh e re the 323

- UAS m a y

s a f e l y land, w hi l e s t i l l ma in t a ining a m i ni m u m of 2 5 % r e s e rve b a t t e r y pow e r. 323 sub m i t s th a t the

p r o ce d u r e s r e qu i r i ng fli g hts t o be s a f e l y te r m i n a ted o n c e t h e b at t er i e s f a ll b e low 2 5% ca p aci t y

, c o m b i n e d

w i th t h e r e qu i r e m ent t hat f l i g hts on l y b e c ondu c ted with i n a s e c u r e , iso l at ed a r ea , usi n g a Hu P

- UAS

w e i g h tin g less than 25 pounds, a nd with i n V L OS of t h e P I C a nd Ob s e rv e r(s )

, e ns u re that the prop o s e d

o pe r at i on will pro v ide a n e quiv a l e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y to t h a t p r ovi d ed b y the r e g u lations fr o m

which e x e m

p t ion is sou g ht.

1 9 G ra nt of E x e mp t ion N o. 11112 to VDOS Glob a l, L L C ( F A A

- 201 4

- 03 8 2 a t 10 )

.

2 0 The UAS g round c on t r ol s t at i on d ispl a y s, the U A S s po s i tion, n a vi g a tion r o ute, t a il nu m be r

, a l t i t ud e

,

h ea di n g , north s ee k i n g a rro w , r a n ge to t a r g e ts, c a l c ula t e d t a r ge t po s it i on, d a te/t i m e, a nd s e nsor he a d ing a nd

or i e n t at i on r e lative t o t h e UA S

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 23

VI. D RU G A N D A LC O H O L P R O G R AM

The 323 will h av e poli c ies in p l ac e to ensu r e that no pe rson m a y p a r t ic i p a te in 323

- UAS

fli g ht op e r a t i ons if t h e y a re und e r t h e influ e n c e of a lcoh o l or a n y dr u g

.

VII. P U B LI C I N T E R ES T

The publ i c i n t e r e s t will be s e rv e d b y gr a nt in g 323 ’ s P e tit i on fo r E x e mp t ion. C on g r e ss has

e st a b l is h e d a n a t i on a l p o li c y that f a vors e ar l y i n t e gr a t i on of 323

- UAS i n t o the N AS i n c on t ro ll e d, s a fe

wo r king e n v i r on m e n ts s u c h a s th o se pro p os e d in t h i s P et i t i o n . G ra nt i ng t h i s P et i t i on fo r E x e m p t ion h e lps

ful f i l l C on g r e s s ' g o a l i n p a ss i ng S e c t i on 333 ( a ) th r ou g h ( c ) of t h e R ef orm A c t

— the F

AA Ad m in i st r a to r ' s

a sse s s m ent of wh e t h e r c e rt a in 323

- UAS m a y op e r a te s a f e l y in t he N A S b e fore c o m p l et i on of the

st a t u tori l y r e qui r e d ru l e m a kin g

.

The pro p os e d 323

- UAS op e r a t i ons in th i s P e t it i o n for E x e mp t ion s i g nifi c a nt l y i m prove s a f e t y a nd

r e du c e risk, h a rm or s e r i o us inju r y to re a l es t a te insp ec t o rs and pro p e r t y a sse s so r s . Tr a dition a l m ethods of

r e a l es t a te v i d e o prod uc tion a nd insp e c t io n of s truc tu r e s, e x p o se video g rap h e r

- insp e c t o rs to h i g h e r r i sks of

s e r i ous in j uri e s, or d e a t h

. Vide o gr a p h e r

- i nsp e c tors n e e d to c l i m b roof tops or o t h e r w ise p e r f o r m e l e v a t e d

wo r k, wh i c h e x pos e s them to the r isk of d a n g e rous f a l l s, e le c t ro c ut i on o r o t her wo r k r e l a ted e x tr em es. I n

a dditi o n, d e p e ndi n g on t he n a tu r e of the video n e e d e d a nd the i nsp e c t i on work, p r o x im i t y to e qu i pm e nt and

oth e r h a z a

rds a ssoc i a ted with i ndu s tr ia l real estate s i tes a nd real estate c o n s t r u c t i on locatio n s o f ten in v olves

a gre a t de a l of r i sk to a c co mpl i sh the jo b

. T he use o f 323

- UAS s m i t i g a tes t h e se h a z a rds a nd is ul t i ma t e l y

a m uch s a f

e r me thod of p e r f

or m i n g t h ese a nd m o st o t h e r t y pe s o f insp e c t i o ns.

The use of s m a ll 323

- UAS s a lso e n h a n ce s s a f e t y a nd r e du c e s risk b e ca u s e , unl i k e m a nn e d a ircr a ft

w e i g hi n g t h ous a nds o f p ounds, carr y i n g c r e w in a ddition t o f

l amma ble f

u e l, t he 323

- UAS s c a rr y n o

p a sse n g e rs o r c r e w. F u r t h e r, i n t h e un l i k e l y e v en t of a n a c c i d ent, the 323 s m a l l bat t e r y p o w e r e d 323

- UAS s

p r e s e nts s i g n ifi ca n t l y less d a n g e r to p e rsons on t h e g round w h e n c o m pa r e d to op e r a tions b y c onv e nt i on a l

ma nn e d a i r c r a f

t

. 2 1 As Petit i on e r ' s 323

- UAS s a r e b a t t e r y p o w e r e d, the p u blic will a lso ben e fit fr o m a

re d u c t i on in ha r m ful e m i ss i o n s a ssoc i a ted with con v en t i on a l a i r c r a ft p e rf o r m i n g in t he s am e fu n c t i ons

pro po s e d h e r e i n. L a st l y

, a s r e c o g ni z e d b y the F AA in p r i o r S e c t i on 333 G r a nts of E x em p t ion t o

filmm a k e rs, 323

- UAS s prov i de a n a ddi t io n al to o l for the a er ia l fil m i ng i n dus t r y

, a d di n g a g re a ter d e gr e e of

f le x ib i l i t y , whi c h sup p le me nts t he c ur r en t c a p abi l i t i e s of

f er e d b y m an n e d a ir c r af

t

. 22

_________________________

21 S e e G ra nt of E x e mp t i o n No. 11158 to T ea m 5, L L C ( F A A

- 2014

- 0783 a t 12):

" M a n n e d h e l i c o p t e r s co n du c t i ng a er i a l fil m i ng c a n w e i g h 6,000 pounds o r m ore a nd a re oper a ted b y a n

onbo a rd p i l o t, i n ad d i t i on to o t h e r on b o a rd crewm e m b e r s, a s ne ce s s a

r y . T h e p e tit i on e r ’ s 323

- UAS will

w e i g h l e ss th a n 55 poun d s with no onbo a rd p i l o t or c rew. T h e pi l ot and c rew w i l l be r e m o t e l y lo c a t e d fr om

the ai r c r a ft. The l i m i ted w e i g ht s i g n i fi c a n t l y r ed u ce s the po t e nti a l for h a r m to p a r t i c i p at i ng a nd

nonp a rti c ipating in d i vi d u a ls or p r o pe r t y in t he e v e nt of a n i n ci d e nt o r a c c i d e nt. T h e risk to an on b o a rd pilot

a nd c rew d u r i n g a n i n c id e nt or a c c ident is e l i m i n a ted w i t h the use of a U A for the a er i a l fil m i ng o pe r a t i on

. "

2 2 S e e e .g

., G ra nt o f E x e m p t ion No. 11178 to P i c t ure F ac t o r y

, I n c

. ( F A A

- 2 014

- 0794 a t 18 )

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 24

VIII. P RI V A C Y

All 323 323

- UAS op e r a t i ons will be c o n d u c ted in a c c ord a n c e w i th a pp l i cab le f e d e r a l, s t a te, or l o ca l

l a ws r e g a rdi n g p riv a c y . All ope r at i ons shall be c ond uc ted o v e r p r i v a te or c on t roll e d

- a c ce ss

prop e r t y wi t h pe r m i ss i on fr o m t he land o w n e r/ c o n t r o l l e r or a uthor i z e d r e pr e s en tati v e. Pe r m i ss i on f r o m l a nd

own e r/ c ontrol l e r o r a

ut h o r i z e d r e p r e s e ntative w i ll be ob t a ined f or e a c h flight to b e co ndu c ted.

IX. F EDE R A L R E G I S T E R SUM M A R Y

P urs u a nt t o 14 C. F .R. P a

rt 11, the f

ol l owing su m m a r y is p rovid e d for pub l i c at i on in t h e F E D E R A L

RE G I S TE R

, sho u l d i t be d e te r m i n e d that pu b l i c a t i on i s n ee d e d:

P e t i t i on e r s e e ks a n e x emp t ion f r om t he following ru l e s in T i t le 14 of the Code of F e d e r a l Re g ula t ions:

P a rt 21, Su b p a rt H ; P a rt 27; 45.23 ( b ) ; 45.27 ( a ); 6 1.113; 91.7( a ); 91.9 (b ) (2); 91. 9(c ); 9 1.103; 91. 10 9 ( a );

91.119 (c ); 9 1.121; 91. 15 1( a ); 91.203 ( a ) & (b ) ; 9 1 .405 (a ); 9 1 .407 ( a ) (1 ); 9 1

. 409( a ) ( 1 ) & ( 2 ) ; 91.417 ( a ) &

(b )

.

The e x e m

p t ion wi l l en h a n c e t h e qua l i ty o f r e a l es t a te and construction v i d e o cap t u re and inspection

t h a t cou ld neve r b e pe r f

o r m ed b y conven t iona l a i rc r af t an d i n c r e ase s s a f

e t y an d g r e a t

l y r e d u c es r i sk to real

estate v ideographe r s a nd insp e c to r s. Addit i on a l l y reduc e s the danger t o o n si t e e mploye e s, the pub l i c a nd

p r op e r t y own e rs f

r o m the subst a n t ial ha z a rds a s so c ia t e d w i th p e rf o r m ing equiva l en t a e r i a l v i d e o g r a p h y

, photo g rap h y a nd insp ect i on of r e a l e state pro p e r t y w i th con v e n t i o n a l fi x e d

- w i ng a i r c r a ft, r oto r cr a ft, or

oth e r me thods.

X. C ONC L U S ION

The 323 P e t i t i o n for E x e mp t i o n sa t isfi e s t h e c rit e r i a a rti c u l a t e d in S ec t i on 333 of the R ef o rm A c t of

2012 inc l u d ing we i g ht, s p ee d, o p e r a t in g c a p a bi l i t ie s

, p r o x i m i t y to a i rp or ts a nd popu l a ted ar ea s, op e r at i on

w i t h i n V L OS a nd n at i on a l se c uri t y . T h e pro p o s e d 323

- UAS o p e r at i ons w i ll reduce the inhere n t dange r s and

r i sks of re a l es t a te and construction v ideographe r s and i ns p e c to r s that curr ent l y u s e sca f folding and l adde r s.

Addit i on a l l y

, 323

- UAS op e r at i ons will bene f it t h e pub l i c a s a whole i m p rov i ng s a f e t y a nd r e d u c i n g r i sk by

t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f co n v e n t i o n a l a i rcr a f t al l e viati n g h u m an e x posure to da n g e r. I n c o n si de r a t i on of the

f o r e g oi n g

, t h i s P et i t i on fo r E x e m p t ion p r ov i d e s the F A A w i t h m ore t h a n a d e q u a te ju s t i fi cat i on fo r g r a nt i ng

the r e q u e st e d e x e m

p t ions a l l owing t h e 323 to use s m all 323

- UAS s for ae r i a l r e a l es ta t e and construction

v ide o g r a p h y , photo g ra p h y, mapping and insp e c t i on

.U. S . D e p a rt m e nt o f T r a n spo r t a t i on

Au g 16 t h

, 20 1 5

P a g e 25

`

W e thank y o u f

o r y our p r o m

pt c onsi de r a t i on of o u r re qu e sted e x e m p t ions.

R e sp ec tfu l l y S ub m i t t e d,

Benjamin Clark

323 Unmanned Flight Services LLC,

1034 Ardmore Drive

Lynchburg, VA, 24501

S hould y ou h a ve a n y q u e s t i ons, or if y ou n e e d a n y a dd i t ional info r m at i on t o support t h e re qu e st e d

e x e m p t ions, pl e a se c on t a c t t he und e r s i g n e d at:

323 Unmanned Flight Services LLC,

P hon e : 434

- 515

- 2369

E m a i l : ben@323ufs.com

( The follow i n g a t t a c h e d i te m s c onta i n p r opr i e t a r y a nd c o m m e r c i a l i nf or m a t ion e x e m pt fr o m d i s c los u re

und e r t he Fr e e dom o f I n fo r m a t i on A c t, 5 U. S .C. § 522 e t s e q

. , a nd should b e h e ld i n a s e p a r a t e file p ursu a nt

to 14 C

. F .R. § 11.35 ( b) )

.

A t ta c h me n ts:

1. G e n e r a l Op e r a t i ons Manu a l

2. P I C O p e r a t in g M a nu a l

3. S how ca se P ro t o c ols

4. L o c at i on P ro t o c ols

5. F l i g ht C om muni c a t i o ns P ro t o c o l s

6. D e p a rt i n g L o c a t i on P roto c ols

7. T ra ns m i t t e r Prot o co ls

8. P r e fli g ht C h ec kl i st

9. P ost F l i g h t C h e ckl i st

10. Equip m ent C h ec klist

11. U A S Manu f

a c t u r e r’s M a nu a ls

a . Us e r M an u a ls

b. U A S M a in t e n a n c e M a nu a ls