Gratiot Aerial LLC

Gratiot Aerial

, LLC 620 mariner Village Drive Morgantown

, WV 26508

- 9219 December 29

, 2 0 1 5

U

. S

. Depa rt men t o f Tr an s po r t a t i o n

D o c ket Ma n ag e ment S y s t em

1200 N ew Je r sey A v e. S E

W ash i n g t on, D C 2 0 590

Re : E xe m p ti on R equest S e c ti on 333 o f t he F AA R e f o r m A c t

D ear Si r/ M a d a m

,

P u r s u ant t o S ec t

i on 3 33 o f t he F A A M o de r n i z a t i on a n d R e f o r m A ct of 2 012 (t h e R e f o r m A c t) , and 14

C

. F

. R

. P a r t 11, Gratiot Aerial LLC ( GA )

, a li m i t ed l i a b i l i t y company ope r a ti ng S ma l l U n m an ned A i r c r a f t

S y s t em ( s UA S ) e q u i p p ed t o co n duct a e r i al p ho t og r aphy and su r v ey f or v a r i ous i n d us tri es, he r eby ap p l i es

f or a n ex e m p t i on f

r o m t he F ede r al A v i a t i on R e g u l a t i o ns ( F A R s) l i s t ed be l ow t o a l l ow ope r a ti on o f our

s U A S c o mme r c i a l l y i n a i r s p ace r egu l a t ed by t he F e d e r al A v i a t i o n A d m i n i s tr a ti on (F AA ) so l o n g as su c h

ope r a t i ons a r e co n duc t e d w i t h and u n der t he c o nd i t i ons ou t li n ed he r e i n or as m ay be es t a b l i s h ed by t he

F A A as r eq u i r ed by S ec ti on 3 3 3. The requested exemption is similar to previous FAA issued grants of

exemption including but not limited to Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, 11213 and 11295.



### Our commercial activities would includ e :

T he r e q ues t e d ex e mp t i o n w ou l d p e r m i t Gratiot Aerial t o pu r sue i t s comme r c i al i n t e r es t s i n p r o v i d i ng

s e r v i ces t o con su m e r s i n t e r e s t ed in training, research, and ae ri al d a t a cap t u r e us i ng a s m a l l a d v anced

s U A S i n t he f

o l l o wi ng a r e as:

• Aerial Photography and Videography for both Public and private customers involving real estate,

construction, mining and utilities industries

• Inspection and monitoring involving real estate, construction, mining and utilities industries

• Patrolling Utility, Pipeline and Railway right of ways

• Surveillance for security and controlled access

• Aerial Surveying

• Public Entity Support Operations

• Agricultural Surveyin g and Application

• Product Demonstrations

• Research and Development

• Video Documentation of Weddings, Sports and other Open Air Events

• Risk management and assessment

• Evaluation of disaster and catastrophe events.

• Aerial video and live video feed to assist with search and rescue operations under the authority

and support of local authority officials

• A erial video and photography for public and private use including television, public events, and

cinematography live feed and live newsgatheringGratiot Aerial LLC

Gratiot Aerial

, LLC 620 mariner Village Drive Morgantown

, WV 26508

- 9219 A l l GA s U A S f

li g h t s t hat w i l l occur o v er p r i v a t e or con tr o l l ed acc es s p r ope rt y w il l do s o w i t h t he

p r ope rt y o w ne r ' s p r i or c o nsent a n d k no w l e d ge . O n l y peo p l e w ho ha v e con s en t ed or o t he rw i se h a v e ag r e e d

t o be i n t he a r e a w he r e p h o t og r a p hy and v i deog r a p h y w il l t ake p l ace wi l l be cap t u r e d in any photos or

videos

.

A d d i t i o n a ll y

, all GA p i l o t s will h o l d an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot

certificate and also hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued

by a state, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a pos ses sion

, or the Federal g overnment. If

an obse r v e r is not a qu a l i f i e d p i l o t

, t hey w il l be tr a i n e d by GA p i l o t s t o unde r s t a nd t he p r o per r o l es of a n

ob s e r v e r

, com m u n i ca t

i on p r oc e du r es, p r op er v i sual s c an t echn i qu e s, ope r a t i ons at non

- t o w e r e d a i r

p o rt s,

and app r o p r i a t e s ec t i o ns o f t he A e r o nau ti c a l I n f o r m a t i on M a nu a l

.



### The Petitioner Requests Relief From the following regulations:

Re g u l a t i o ns f

r o m w h ich t h e ex e m p t

ion is r eq u es t ed: 14 CFR §§ 61.23(a) and (c), 61.101(e)(4) and (5),

61.113(a), 61.315(a), 91.7(a), 91.109, 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 91.215, 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1),

91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b), to the extent necessary to allow GA to operate a UAS to

perform training, research, and ae ri al d a t a collection.

W e a r e pe t

i t io n i n g for e x e m p t

ion t o e n a b le GA t o ope r a t e a series of UAS platforms that have been

previously approved by exemption. Namely:

D JI P h a n t o m 2

- Exemption 11398

D JI P h a n t o m 2 Vision

- Exemption 11310

D JI P h a n t o m 2 Vision+

- Exemption 11398

DJI Inspire

- Exemption 11398

DJI S1000

- Exemption 11416

DJI S900

- Exemption 11401

DJI S800

- Exemption 11721

Flamewheel 550

- Exemption 11397

3DRobotics IRIS+

- Exemption 11419

D JI P h a n t o m 3 Professional

- Exemption 1 3178

DJI Phantom 3 Advanced

- Exemption 1 3161

Q500 Typhoon

- Exemption 11703

T h ese s U A S a l l w e i gh l ess t h a n 5 5 l bs,

, ha v e a b u il t

- i n ca p ab il i t y t o l i m i t t he he i ght flown abo v e t he

g r ou n d, t o l i m i t t he r ad i u s of t he d i s t a nce i t fli es f r o m t he o pe r a t or a n d t o exc l ude i t f r o m Cl a ss B

, C and

D a i r sp a ce i n c l u d i n g a no f l y z one f e a t u r e. E ach s y s t em a l s o h as t he f a i l s a f e f unc t i on o f t he au t o p i l ot

s y s t e m

, w h i ch m e ans w h e n t he c o mmun i ca ti on be tw e e n t he Ma i n C on tr o l l er and t he t r an s m i tt er i s l os t

,

t he s y s t em w i l l au t o ma t i c a l l y t r i gger R e t u r n t o H o m e an d w i l l l a n d s a f e l y

.

This submission does not include the Operating Manuals for each model requested above, as they have

been reviewed by the Administrator in granting previous exemptions. Model specifics are listed in the

GA Operating Manual which is submitted separately . Copies of all Operating Manuals for the individual

models listed will be submitted on request.Gratiot Aerial LLC

Gratiot Aerial

, LLC 620 mariner Village Drive Morgantown

, WV 26508

- 9219 T he a bo v e spe c i fi c a t i o ns m e et s t anda r ds l i s t ed b e l o w :

• GA wi l l o n l y o p e r a t e i t s s UA S i n li n e of s i ght of a p i l ot and / or ob s e r v er and w il l ope r a t e at s i t es t hat

a r e a ' s u f f i c i ent d i s t a n c e' f

r o m p o p u l a t ed a r eas w i t h i n t he s t e ri l e a r ea de s c r i b ed i n t he ope r a t o r ’s

man u a l

. S u ch o p e r a t i ons wi l l i nsu r e t hat t he s U A S wi l l " n ot c r ea t e a ha z a r d t o use r s o f t he na ti on a l

a i r spa c e s y s t em or t he p u b l i c

. "

• GA will not o perate s U A V w i t h i n 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point ( ARP) as denoted in

the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory (AFD), unless a letter of agreement with that airport’s

management is obtained or ot herwise permitted by a COA issued to GA

.

• Max i m u m f

l i ght ti m e f

or e ach o p e r a t i o n a l f

li g ht w i l l be 60 m i nu t es.

• F l i gh t s wi l l b e t e r m i n a t ed at 25% ba tt e r y po w er r e s e r v e shou l d t hat o c cur p r i or t o t he 60 m i nu t e l i m i t

.

• T he s U A V wi l l b e p r og r a m m e d so t hat i t w i l l not be o pe r a t ed at an a l t i t u d e of n o m o r e t han 4 00 f eet

A G L.

• M i n i m u m c r ew f

or ea c h o pe r a t i o n w i l l c o ns i st of t h e s U A S P i l ot and t he Vi s u a l O bse r v e r

.

• T he s U A S P I C ' s ( P i l ot i n C o mmand) wi l l b e an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or

sport pilot certificate and also hold a current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s

license issued by a state, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the

Federal government.

• T he s U A S o pe r a t ed by t he pe t i ti o ner w e i ghs l ess t h an 55 p o un d s, i n c l u d i n g t he pa y l oad ( i

. e. c a m e r a,

l e ns, and g i m b a l )

.

• T he s U A S wi l l o pe r a t e at spe e ds o f no m o r e t h a n 5 5 kno t s.

• G i v en t he sma l l s i z e o f t he s U A S a nd t he r es tri c t ed s t e r i l e en v i r o n ment w i t h i n w h i ch t hey w il l

ope r a t e, our s U A S op e r a t i o n s ad h e r e t o t he R e fo r m A c t ' s s a f e t y r equ i r e men t s.

A d d i t i o n a ll y

, t he f

act t hat t he GA p i l o t s h o l d F A A P i l ot ce rti fi c a t es d e mons tr a t es t hat t hey ha v e a h i g h

r ega r d t o s a f

e o pe r a ti ons w i t h an u nde r s t a n d in g of F A R s, p r e

- f l i ght i n s pe c t i ons, m a i n t e n ance and r e p a i r

,

ope r a t i o n s w i t h i n a i r s p ace, as w e l l as b e i n g tr a i n e d t o h i g h s a f e t y s t anda r ds .

U n d er t he r eq u es t ed e xe m p t i on

, GA will e n su r e t hat a l l o pe r a t o r s h a v e c o m p l e t ed a sma l l u n m a n ned

a i r c r a f t s y s t ems ( U A S ) ed u ca ti on a n d tr a in i ng p r o g r a m i nc l u d i ng a l l app l i c a b l e r egu l a t i o ns a n d g u i d a nce

doc u men t s; i n c l u d i ng ae r o n au t i c al b a c kg r ou n d i n f o r m a t i on s uch as cha rt s, N O T A M S and Ai r c r a f t

C i r c u l a r s; R ad i o C o m m u n i ca t i o ns P r oce d u r es; H u man F a c t o r s a n d C r ew R es o u r ce Ma n ag e m en t ; B a s i c

S ma l l U A S A e r od y n a m i c s; W e a t h er f ac t o r s; Ai r m a n sh i p and D e c i s i on

- m a k i ng a nd S a f

e O pe r a t i ng

P r oc e du r e s.

W e r es p ec t f

u l l y r equest e x e m p ti on u n der S e c t i o n 3 33 t o ena b l e GA t o ope r a t e sa f e, l o w

- r i s k c o m m e r c i a l

s UA V ope r a ti ons f

or t he ac t i v i t i e s s t a t e d. GA at a l l ti m es wi l l r e s pect t he spa c e a n d p r i v acy of c i t i z ens

a nd p r o pe rt y w h il st kee p i ng our s k i es s a f e.



### Exemption Requests and Equivalent Level of Safety

GA r e qu es t s an ex e mp t i o n f r o m t h e f o llo w i n g r eg u la ti ons as w ell a s any ad d i t io n al r e gu l a t i o ns t hat m ay

t ech n ic a l ly apply to the ope r a t ion o f t he s U AV S y s t e m :Gratiot Aerial LLC

Gratiot Aerial

, LLC 620 mariner Village Drive Morgantown

, WV 26508

- 9219 14 CFR 61.23 Medical Certificates

The regulation provides that a person requires a first or second class medical to act as pilot in C o mmand

o f an a i r c r a ft f

o r compen s a t i o n or hi r e. O ur p r opo s ed o p e r a t io n s r eq u i r e t hat t he PI C must ho l d a current

FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a state, the District of Colombia,

Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the Federal government. S i n ce t he ai r c r a ft ca n not ca r r y

passenge r s or p r ope rt y

, w e feel w e m eet t he in t ent of 6 1

. 23 e v en t hough t he in t ent o f t his ap p li c a t i o n is t o

co n duct a busi n ess.

14 C FR 61.101, 14 CFR 61.113 , and 14 CFR 61.315 P il o t p r i v ileges and L i m i tatio n s

The r e g u l a t i o n p r o v ides t h at no pe r son t h at hol d s a Recreational Pilot, Sport Pilot, or P r i v a t e P ilot

ce rtif ica t e m a y act as pilot in C o mmand o f an a i r c r a ft f o r compen s a t i o n or hi r e. O ur p r opo s ed o p e r a t io n s

r eq u i r e t hat t he PI C must ho l d at le a st airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot

certificate. S i n ce t he ai r c r a ft ca n not ca r r y passenge r s or p r ope rt y

, w e feel w e m eet t he in t ent of 6 1

. 113

Su bp a r ag r a p h ( b) e v en t hough t he in t ent o f t his ap p li c a t i o n is t o co n duct a busi n ess.

14 C FR 91.7 Civil Aircraft Airworthiness

This Section p ro h ib i ts t he op e ra t ion o f an a i r c raft w i thout an a i r w ort h iness c e r t i f i c a t e . As no s uch

ce rtif ica t e wi ll be ap p l i ca b le in t he f o r m c on t e m p la t ed by t he F A R s, t his R e g u la t i o n is in a pp l i c ab l e.

14 CFR 91.109 Flight Instruction; Simulated instrument flight and certain flight tests

Section 91.10 9 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is

being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls. sUASs and

remotely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is

accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio

communications. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual

contro ls for a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. See Exemption

Nos.5778K & 9862A. The equivalent level of safety provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor

passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by the size and s peed of the aircraft

.

14 C FR 91.119 M i n im u m s a fe a l t itude s : Gen e r a l

The r e g u l a t i o n s t a t es t hat o v er spa r sely po p u l a t ed a r eas t he ai r c r aft c a nnot be ope r a t ed c lo s er t han 500 feet

t o any pe r s o n, v essel, v ehic l e, or s tr uc t u r e. Sin c e t he t y pical mi s sion o f t he s U AS w ould b e pho t o g r a p hy

or su r v ey of pe r sons, v ess e l s, v ehicles or s tr uc t u r es it w ould b e ne c essa r y t o ope r a t e c l oser t h a n 500 feet

t o t he i t e m s l is t e d. O pe r a t i o ns wi ll o nly be f lo w n o v er p r ope rt y or pe r so n s w he r e pe r mis s i o n has be e n

ob t a in e d and c a r e f

ul p r e

- pl a nn e d has be en pe r fo r m e d. The ai r c r a ft w i l l be o p e r a t ed at a low al t i t u de

a l lo w ing, i f a po w er u n it f a ils, an e m e r gency la n di n g w i t hout un d ue ha z a r d t o p e r sons or p r o pe rt y on t he

su r f a ce. T h e r e fo r e w e m a i n t ain t hat d u e t o t he sma l l si z e o f t he U AS, t he ha z a r d t o pe r sons, v ehi c l es and

s tr uc t u r es is mi n i mal c o mpa r ed t o m a nn e d ai r c r af t

, w hi c h s h ou l d be c o ns i de r e d in g r a n t ing t he e x e m p t ion.Gratiot Aerial LLC

Gratiot Aerial

, LLC 620 mariner Village Drive Morgantown

, WV 26508

- 9219 14 C FR 91.121 A ltimet e r s e t t i ng s

The r e g u l a t i o n r eq u i r es t h at ai r c r a ft sha l l m a in t a i n c r ui s ing a l t i t u des by r efe r en ce t o an al ti me t er se tt ing

a v a i l a ble w i t hin 10 0 NM o f t he ai r c r af t

. T h e sU A S wi ll a l w a y s fly b e low 400 f eet A G L a nd wi ll not need

t o m a in t a in c r u i s i ng al t i t

udes in o r d er t o p r e v ent conf l ict w i t h o t her a i r c r af

t

. An A bo v e Gr ound Le ve l

al ti me t er measu r e ment a b o v e t he t akeoff p o int is tr a ns m i tt ed v i a r adio f r o m t he s U AS on

- b o a r d c o m p u t er

t o t he dis p lay sc r e e n h e ld by t he P I C, p r o v id i ng a c o ns t an t l y upda t ed A G L r ead o u t

.

14 C FR 91.151 Fuel re q uireme n ts for f lig h t in VFR c ond i t i on s

The r e g u l a t i o n p r o v ides t h at no pe r son may begin a f l ight i n an a i r

p l ane u nder da y

- V F R co n di ti ons un l ess

t he r e is en o ugh f

u el t o f ly t o t he fi r st po i nt of in t e n ded l an d i n g and t o f ly af t er t hat for at l e ast 30 mi n u t es.

W e f e el t he i n t en t i o n of t h is pa r a g r a p h is t o p r o v ide a n ene r gy r e se r v e as a sa f e t y bu f fer for d e la y s t o

lan d i n g. The s U A S a r e ba tt e r y ope r a t ed a nd t he m a x i m u m du r a t ion o f f l ight f r o m a sin g le b a tt e r y cha r ge

is 12

- 45 ( d e pe n d i ng on w h i c h s U AS) minu t es w i t h a 2 0% r ese r v e. Si n ce t he ai r c r a ft w i l l ne v er fly m o r e

t han 1 / 2 NM f

r o m t he p o i n t of in t e n ded la n di n g, a f u ll ba tt e r y cha r ge at la u nch wi ll e nsu r e t hat w e m eet

t he r e s e r v e ene r gy r equi r e m ent o f t his p a r ag r aph. W e r e q uest an ex e m p t ion t o t he w o r d " f

u el" a n d a s k f

or

an e q ui v a l ent in t e r

p r e t a t ion w i t h t he w o r d "ene r g y ". W e also r e qu e st ex e m p t ion f r om t he 30 m i n r ese r v e

a n d a s k t hat our r ese r v e w i l l be t o fly t he mis s i o n t o t he po i nt of i n t en d ed l an d i ng and h a v e at least a 2 0 %

ba tt e r y r ese r v e af

t er t ha t

.

14 C.F.R. 91.215 ATC transponder and altitude reporting equipment and use:

This regulation states all aircraft operating within 30 nautical miles of class A, B and C airspace must be

equipped with automatic pressure altitude reporting equipment having a Mode C capability that

automatically replies to Mode C interrogations. D ue to the small size and lifting capabilities of our UASs

we cannot carry a traditional transponder. All of our operations will be under 250’ if we are operating

within the 30mi reach of a mode c vail.

14 C FR S ubpart E (91. 4 01

- 9 1 .417) M a intena n ce, P re v enti v e Mai n te n ance, A l t e r a t i on s

The r e g u l a t i o n p r o v ides t h at t he ope r a t or is p r i m a r ily r espon s i b le for m a i n t a i n i n g t he ai r c r a ft in a n

ai rw o rt hy con d i t ion, i nc l u d ing c o mp l i a nce w i t h p a r t 39 and 43. P a r ag r a phs 9 1

. 407 a n d 91

. 409 r e qui r e t hat

t he ai r c r aft be "a p p r o v ed f or re t u r n t o se r v ice by a pe r son au t ho r i z ed u nder 43

. 7" af t er m a in t e nan c e a nd

in s pec t ion. I t is our in t e n t ion t hat t he P I C pe r fo r m m a in t e n an c e and ins p ec ti on o f t he ai r c r aft a nd "be

au t h o r i z ed t o app r o v e t he ai r c r a ft for r e t u r n t o se r v ice

. "

The P I C wi ll e nsu r e t hat t he ai r c r aft is in an a i rw o rt hy condi ti on p ri or t o e v e r y fl i ght a n d in a d di t i on,

con d uct de t a i l e d in s pec t

i o ns af t er e v e r y tw o hou r s of f

l i gh t

. Main t e na n ce pe r f

o r m e d by t he P I C is l i mi t ed

t o r ep a i ri ng s m a l l c r a c k s, r ep l a c ing a p r o p e l l e r

, che c k i ng e l ec tr i c al c on n ec t io n s and upda t ing s of tw a r e a nd

f i r m w a r e for t he on

- boa r d c ompu t e r

. A ll o t her m a in t e nan c e w i l l be pe rf o r m ed by t he man u f

ac t u r er or

t heir de s ig n a t ed rep a ir fa c i l i t y

. The P I C wil l doc u ment w o r k pe rf o r m ed i n ac c o r da n ce w i t h 91

. 417. W e

f e el t hat due t o t he si z e, cons tr uc t i on, and s i m p li c i t y of t he ai r c r a f t

, t he P I C c a n e nsu r e an e q u i v al e nt le v el

of s a fe t y

.Gratiot Aerial LLC

Gratiot Aerial

, LLC 620 mariner Village Drive Morgantown

, WV 26508

- 9219 H ow this Request is to the Betterment of our Community

We believe that the use of UAS to perform agricultural land imaging creates a benefit to the public. The

ability to use an onboard geo

- referenced still camera to collect high

- resolution data that can be used to

increase crop production and reduce unnecessary chemical use will provide a less expensive and healthier

food supply to the public. The unmanned aircraft does not carry any persons or flammable liquids,

reducing public exposure in the event of an incident. Finally, the unmanned aircraft can be launched and

recovered from the property which we have been contracted to image. The ability to avoid overflying

private and public properties provides the public with the benefit of privacy from aircraft flying overhead.

U n man n ed A i r c r a f

t S y s t ems (s U A S) a r e also a f e as i b l e me t h od t o ob t a i n i n f o r ma t i on o f ag r i c u l t u r a l

c r o p l a n d t o de t e r m i n e op ti m u m i n p u t s t hat r esu l t i n cost s a v i ngs t o f a r me r s, y i e l d se cu r i t y

, and r educe

e n v i r o n m e n t al i m p a ct of exce s s f e rtil i z e r s and c he m i c a l s i n t he so i l

.



### Request for Blanket COA Approval

On March 24, 2015, the FAA announced that it has implemented a new policy of granting "blanket"

COAs to applicants requesting exemptions from the Federal Aviation Regulations under Section 333 of

the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012.

The Applicant hereby requests that a "blanket" COA that conform s to the terms set forth in

https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=82245 upon approval of GA ’ s exemption request.

S i nce r e l y

Timothy Ford

Agent for Gratiot Aerial , LLC

11523 Palmbrush Trail Suite 353

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

(314) 397

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