Rupprecht Law P. A. 

324 Datura Street, Suite 200 | West Palm Beach, FL 33401 

P: (561) 222-6979 | E: jon@jrupprechtlaw.com | W: www.jrupprechtlaw.com 

April 12, 2015

U. S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, 

West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140,

Washington, DC 20590

Re: Request for Exemption under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act and 

Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations from 14 C.F.R. 61.23(a) and (c); 61.101(e)(4) and 

(5); 61.113(a); 61.315(a); 91.119(c); 91.121; 91.151(a)(1); 91.405(a); 91.407(a)(1); 

91.409(a)(1) and (2); 91.417(a) & (b).

PETITION FOR SUMMARY EXEMPTION

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the Reform Act) 

and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc., an operator of Small Unmanned Aircraft (UA) 

hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations ("FARs") to allow 

commercial operation of its UA. Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. is eligible for a summary exemption 

for film/television production because the company wants to conduct operations for “photography for 

motion picture, television, and the content creation industry for scripted closed set filming.”

QUICK REFERENCE SUMMARY:

 Types of aircraft to be flown: 

o DJI S900 (previously granted in Exemption # 11280).

o Cinestar 8 (previously granted in Exemption # 11284).

o Vulcan Raven x8 (A2 flight controller has been previously granted in Exemption # 11252

and the x8 airframe configuration has been granted in Exemption # 11062.)

 The manuals for all three UA have been placed in the docket.

 The operations will be aerial video and “photography for motion picture, television, and the 

content creation industry for scripted closed set filming.” This is exactly as Exemption # 11284.

 We already agree to all the restrictions listed in Exemption # 11284 which are listed below.

However, if the reviewer is able under a summary petition, we ask to be granted the battery 

reserve restrictions in Exemption # 11062 (“Each UAS operation must be completed within 30 
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minutes flight time or with 25% battery power remaining, whichever occurs first.”) instead of 

Exemption # 11284 (“intended operation and to operate after that for at least five minutes or with 

the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if greater.”). If evaluating the alternative 

25% reserve restriction would cause delay in granting the petition, we immediately agree to the 5 

minute reserve from Exemption # 11284 that is listed below.

Based upon the FAA’s recent guidance, this petition is eligible for summary exemption and should be 

granted immediately.

Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. requests that the publication and comment procedures be waived 

in accordance with 14 C.F.R. § 11.87 which states:

§ 11.87 Are there circumstances in which FAA may decide not to publish a summary of my 

petition for exemption?

The FAA may not publish a summary of your petition for exemption and request comments if 

you present or we find good cause why we should not delay action on your petition. The factors 

we consider in deciding not to request comment include:

(a) Whether granting your petition would set a precedent. 

(b) Whether the relief requested is identical to exemptions granted previously. 

(c) Whether our delaying action on your petition would affect you adversely. 

(d) Whether you filed your petition in a timely manner.

Corresponding to the above sub-sections, Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. has good cause to 

request the FAA to waive the comment period and not delay action on the petition because:

(a) Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. would not set any precedent. Precision Aerial Filmworks, 

Inc. agrees to the SAME exact limitations and aircraft (Cinestar 8) as Exemption # 11284, 

except we are proposing to additionally operate a DJI S900 which has been evaluated 

previously and granted in Exemption # 11280 and the petitioner’s Vulcan Raven x8 uses the 

same flight controller (A2) that has been previously approved in Exemption # 11252. The x8 

aircraft configuration has been granted in other exemptions such as Exemption # 11062.

(b) Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. agrees to the SAME exact limitations as Exemption # 11284.
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(c) Delaying the granting of this petition would adversely affect the public, the FAA, and 

Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. The public, as well as the FAA, would be better served by the 

FAA quickly granting this petition and thereby freeing up limited FAA resources and allowing 

FAA inspectors to dedicate their time and attention to much higher priorities. Moreover, 

Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. is adversely affected by the above listed regulations.

(d) The petition has been filed in a timely manner.

Petitioner’s contact info:

Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc.

Attn: Keith Colodny

Phone: 561-623-5305

Email: keith@pafilmworks.com

Address: 4440 PGA Blvd. Suite 600, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33410

Rupprecht Law, P.A.

Attn: Jonathan Rupprecht

Phone: 561-222-6979

Email: jon@jrupprechtlaw.com

Address: 324 Datura Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401

Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

 14 C.F.R. § 61.23(a) and (c)

 14 C.F.R. § 61.101(e)(4) and (5)

 14 C.F.R. § 61.113(a)

 14 C.F.R. § 61.315(a)

 14 C.F.R. § 91.7(a)

 14 C.F.R. § 91.119(c)

 14 C.F.R. § 91.121

 14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a)(1)

 14 C.F.R. § 91.405(a)

 14 C.F.R. § 91.407(a)(1)

 14 C.F.R. § 91.409(a)(1) & (2)

 14 C.F.R. § 91.417(a) & (b)

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress' goal in passing Section 

333(a) through (c) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. This law directs the Secretary of 
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Transportation to consider whether certain unmanned aircraft systems may operate safely in the national 

airspace system (NAS) before completion of the rulemaking required under Section 332 of the FAA 

Modernization and Reform Act. In making this determination, the Secretary is required to determine

which types of UA do not create a hazard to users of the NAS or the public or pose a threat to national 

security in light of the following:

 The UA’s size, weight, speed, and operational capability;

 Operation of the UA in close proximity to airports and populated areas; and,

 Operation of the UA within visual line of sight of the operator (VLOS).1

If the Secretary determines that such vehicles "may operate safely in the national airspace 

system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft in the national 

airspace system." Id. § 333(c) (emphasis added).2

The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA the authority to issue exemptions. This 

statutory authority by its terms includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under § 40101 of 

the Act that includes UAS’s, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have a current 

airworthiness certificate.

“The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation prescribed under 

subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702-44716 of this title if the Administrator finds 

the exemption in the public interest.” 49 U.S.C. § 44701(f). See also 49 U.S.C. § 44711(b).

OPERATING DOCUMENTS

Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. will operate only within the limitations below and the 

limitations listed in the DJI S900 user manual, the Cinestar 8 manual, and the Vulcan Raven x8 manual.

If there is a conflict between the documents, the limitations below from the previously granted 

exemption will take precedence over any manual.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

 

1

 FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 at § 333(a).

2 Applicant interprets this provision to place the duty on the Administrator to not only process applications for exemptions 

under section 333, but for the Administrator to craft conditions for the safe operation of the UAS, if it should be determined 

that the conditions set forth herein do not fulfill the statutory requirements for approval.
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The applicant proposes that the exemption requested herein applies to civil aircraft that have the 

characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for at least an 

equivalent or even higher level of safety to operations under the current regulatory structure.

These limitations and conditions are identical to Exemption # 11284 except for the difference in 

aircraft. Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. agrees to be bound when conducting commercial UA 

operations. The list of limitations and conditions include the following:

1. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption are limited to the DJI S900, Cinestar 8, and 

the Vulcan Raven x8 when weighing less than 55 pounds including payload. Proposed 

operations of any other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this 

exemption.

2. Operations for the purpose of closed-set motion picture and television filming are permitted.

3. The UA may not be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour). The 

exemption holder may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed to determine compliance 

with the 87 knot speed restriction. In no case will the UA be operated at airspeeds greater than 

the maximum UA operating airspeed recommended by the aircraft manufacturer.

4. The UA must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL). 

Altitude must be reported in feet AGL.

5. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. This 

requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by any device other than corrective 

lenses, as specified on the PIC’s FAA-issued airman medical certificate or U.S. driver’s 

license.

6. All operations must utilize a visual observer (VO). The UA must be operated within the visual 

line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC and VO at all times. The VO may be used to satisfy the VLOS 

requirement as long as the PIC always maintains VLOS capability. The VO and PIC must be 

able to communicate verbally at all times; electronic messaging or texting is not permitted 

during flight operations. The PIC must be designated before the flight and cannot transfer his 
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or her designation for the duration of the flight. The PIC must ensure that the VO can perform 

the duties required of the VO.

7. This exemption and all documents needed to operate the UAS and conduct its operations in 

accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this grant of exemption, are 

hereinafter referred to as the operating documents. The operating documents must be 

accessible during UAS operations and made available to the Administrator upon request. If a 

discrepancy exists between the conditions and limitations in this exemption and the 

procedures outlined in the operating documents, the conditions and limitations herein take 

precedence and must be followed. Otherwise, the operator must follow the procedures as 

outlined in its operating documents. The operator may update or revise its operating 

documents. It is the operator’s responsibility to track such revisions and present updated and 

revised documents to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request. The 

operator must also present updated and revised documents if it petitions for extension or 

amendment to this grant of exemption. If the operator determines that any update or revision 

would affect the basis upon which the FAA granted this exemption, then the operator must 

petition for an amendment to its grant of exemption. The FAA’s UAS Integration Office (AFS80) may be contacted if questions arise regarding updates or revisions to the operating 

documents.

8. Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS operation or 

flight characteristics, e.g. replacement of a flight critical component, must undergo a 

functional test flight prior to conducting further operations under this exemption. Functional 

test flights may only be conducted by a PIC with a VO and must remain at least 500 feet from 

other people. The functional test flight must be conducted in such a manner so as to not pose 

an undue hazard to persons and property.

9. The operator is responsible for maintaining and inspecting the UAS to ensure that it is in a 

condition for safe operation.
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10. Prior to each flight, the PIC must conduct a pre-flight inspection and determine the UAS is in 

a condition for safe flight. The pre-flight inspection must account for all potential 

discrepancies, e.g. inoperable components, items, or equipment. If the inspection reveals a 

condition that affects the safe operation of the UAS, the aircraft is prohibited from operating 

until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the UAS is found to be in a 

condition for safe flight.

11. The operator must follow the UAS manufacturer’s maintenance, overhaul, replacement, 

inspection, and life limit requirements for the aircraft and aircraft components.

12. Each UAS operated under this exemption must comply with all manufacturer safety 

bulletins.

13. Under this grant of exemption, a PIC must hold either an airline transport, commercial, 

private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate. The PIC must 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. The PIC must also meet 

the flight review requirements specified in 14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is 

rated on his or her pilot certificate.

14. The operator may not permit any PIC to operate unless the PIC demonstrates the ability to 

safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this 

exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate 

distances from persons, vessels, vehicles and structures. PIC qualification flight hours and 

currency must be logged in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 61.51(b). Flights for the 

purposes of training the operator’s PICs and VOs (training, proficiency, and experiencebuilding) and determining the PIC’s ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent 

with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption are permitted under the terms of 

this exemption. However, training operations may only be conducted during dedicated 

training sessions. During training, proficiency, and experience-building flights, all persons 
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not essential for flight operations are considered nonparticipants, and the PIC must operate 

the UA with appropriate distance from nonparticipants in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.119.

15. UAS operations may not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. All 

operations must be conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC). Flights under 

special visual flight rules (SVFR) are not authorized.

16. The UA may not operate within 5 nautical miles of an airport reference point (ARP) as 

denoted in the current FAA Airport/Facility Directory (AFD) or for airports not denoted with 

an ARP, the center of the airport symbol as denoted on the current FAA published 

aeronautical chart, unless a letter of agreement with that airport’s management is obtained or 

otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption holder. The letter of agreement with 

the airport management must be made available to the Administrator or any law 

enforcement official upon request.

17. The UA may not be operated less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet horizontally 

from a cloud or when visibility is less than 3 statute miles from the PIC.

18. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UA must return t predetermined 

location within the private or controlled-access property.

19. The PIC must abort the flight in the event of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.

20. The PIC is prohibited from beginning a flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather 

conditions) there is enough available power for the UA to conduct the intended operation and 

to operate after that for at least five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the 

manufacturer if greater. 

21. Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA). All operations 

shall be conducted in accordance with an ATO-issued COA. The exemption holder may 

apply for a new or amended COA if it intends to conduct operations that cannot be conducted 

under the terms of the attached COA.
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22. All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial number, 

registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification (N Number) markings 

in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. Markings must be as large as practicable.

23. Documents used by the operator to ensure the safe operation and flight of the UAS and any 

documents required under 14 CFR §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the PIC at the 

Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. These documents must 

be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request.

24. The UA must remain clear and give way to all manned aviation operations and activities at 

all times.

25. The UAS may not be operated by the PIC from any moving device or vehicle.

26. All Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet from all nonparticipating persons, 

vessels, vehicles, and structures unless:

a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently protect nonparticipating persons from 

the UA and/or debris in the event of an accident. The operator must ensure that 

nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises where 

nonparticipating persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the UA, flight 

operations must cease immediately in a manner ensuring the safety of nonparticipating 

persons; and

b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission for 

operating closer to those objects and the PIC has made a safety assessment of the risk of 

operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not present an undue hazard.

The PIC, VO, operator trainees or essential persons are not considered nonparticipating persons 

under this exemption.

27. All operations shall be conducted over private or controlled-access property with permission 

from the property owner/controller or authorized representative. Permission from property 
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owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be 

conducted.

28. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries 

of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA must be reported to the FAA's UAS 

Integration Office (AFS-80) within 24 hours. Accidents must be reported to the National 

Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions contained on the NTSB Web site: 

www.ntsb.gov.

For the purpose of closed-set motion picture and television filming and production, the following 

additional conditions and limitations apply.

29. The operator must have a motion picture and television operations manual (MPTOM) as 

documented in this grant of exemption.

30. At least 3 days before aerial filming, the operator of the UAS affected by this exemption must 

submit a written Plan of Activities to the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) with 

jurisdiction over the area of proposed filming. The 3-day notification may be waived with the 

concurrence of the FSDO. The plan of activities must include at least the following:

a. Dates and times for all flights;

b. Name and phone number of the operator for the UAS aerial filming conducted under 

this grant of exemption;

c. Name and phone number of the person responsible for the on-scene operation of the 

UAS;

d. Make, model, and serial or N-Number of UAS to be used;

e. Name and certificate number of UAS PICs involved in the aerial filming;

f. A statement that the operator has obtained permission from property owners and/or 

local officials to conduct the filming production event; the list of those who gave 

permission must be made available to the inspector upon request;
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g. Signature of exemption holder or representative; and

h. A description of the flight activity, including maps or diagrams of any area, city, town, 

county, and/or state over which filming will be conducted and the altitudes essential to 

accomplish the operation.

31. Flight operations may be conducted closer than 500 feet from participating persons 

consenting to be involved and necessary for the filming production, as specified in the 

exemption holder’s MPTOM.

STATUTORY CRITERIA PROVIDED IN SECTION 333 

The Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§ 44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both 

authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon 

consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated 

areas of the particular UAS. In all cases, an analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the UAS operated 

without an airworthiness certificate and under the restrictions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, 

than a conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without 

the restrictions and conditions proposed.

Since the UA fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs. and is operated without an onboard pilot, 

there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display them on the 

unmanned aircraft. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the 

ground control point where the pilot flying the UA will have immediate access to them. Given the size 

of the unmanned aircraft, the FAA registration number will be displayed on the airframe in as large a 

font as possible.

14 C.F.R. § 61.23(a) & (c): MEDICAL CERTIFICATES

Exemption # 11221, # 11284, and many others have provided that a U.S. driver’s license 

could be used in lieu of the medical certificate. 

14 C.F.R. § 61.101(e)(4) & (5): RECREATIONAL PILOT PRIVILEGES AND LIMITATIONS & 14 C.F.R.

§ 61.315(a): SPORT PILOT LIMITATIONS.
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Exemption # 11221, # 11284, and many others have provided that the “PIC must hold either 

an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pilot certificate.” Likewise, Precision 

Aerial Filmworks, Inc. is also performing commercial UAS work and is asking for the same 

restrictions which have been previously deemed to provide an equivalent level of safety as the 

burdensome regulations. 

14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a): PRIVATE PILOT PRIVILEGES AND LIMITATIONS: PILOT IN COMMAND.

Sub-sections 61.113(a) limit private pilots to non-commercial operations. Because the UAS 

will not carry a pilot or passengers, the proposed operations can achieve the equivalent level of 

safety of current operations by requiring the PIC operating the aircraft to have a private pilot's 

license rather than a commercial pilot's license to operate this small UAS. Unlike a conventional 

aircraft that carries the pilot and passengers, the UAS is remotely controlled with no living thing on 

board.

14 C.F.R. § 91.7(a): CIVIL AIRCRAFT AIRWORTHINESS.

Exemption # 11280 previously determined that a DJI S900 should not be required to have an 

airworthiness certificate based upon the authority of Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and 

Reform Act of 2012. Exemption # 11284 also determined the same for the Cinestar 8. The Vulcan 

Raven x8 uses the same flight controller (A2) that has been previously approved in Exemption # 

11252. The “x8” aircraft configuration, which the Vulcan Raven uses, has been granted in other 

exemptions such as Exemption # 11062. Therefore, none of the aircraft require an airworthiness

certificate based upon the FAA’s previous determinations.

14 C.F.R. § 91.119: MINIMUM SAFE ALTITUDES

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d) 

allows helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person 

operating the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. 

Because of the lack of flammable fuel, any risk associated with these operations is far less 

than those presently presented with conventional aircraft operating at or below 500 AGL. In 
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addition, the low-altitude operations of the UAS will ensure separation between these small UAS 

operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119.

14 C.F.R. § 91.121: ALTIMETER SETTINGS

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by 

reference to an altimeter that is set "... to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter 

setting available before departure." As the UAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS 

altitude read out, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the 

operator, pursuant to the operating manuals.

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): FUEL REQUIREMENTS FOR FLIGHT IN VFR CONDITIONS

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning "a flight in an airplane under VFR 

conditions unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the 

first point of intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed - (1) During the day, to fly after that 

for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes."

Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by restricting operations to 

“be completed within 30 minutes flight time or with 25% battery power remaining, whichever occurs 

first.” Exemption # 11062, at page 27. 

If, however, the above limitations are not satisfactory to the Administrator, the petitioner is 

prepared, in the name of expediency, to accept limiting the PIC from beginning a UAS flight unless 

(considering wind and forecast weather conditions and assuming normal cruising speed) “there is 

enough available power for the UA to conduct the intended operation and to operate after that for at least 

five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if greater.” Exemption # 

11284, at page 5.

14 C.F.R. § 91.405 (a); § 91.407 (a) (1); § 91.409 (a) (2); § 91.417(a) & (b): MAINTENANCE 

INSPECTIONS

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner "shall have that aircraft inspected as 

prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in 
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paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter"3and 

others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. Given that these sections and 

Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these sections will not apply to the 

applicant. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these small UAS’s are very limited in 

size and will carry a small payload and operate only in restricted areas for limited periods of time. 

Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the 

aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

CONCLUSION:

The operation of Precision Aerial Filmworks, Inc. using a small UAS, weighing less than 55 lbs., 

conducted under the proposed restrictions outlined above, will provide an equivalent level of safety 

supporting the grant of the exemptions requested herein. 

If I can be of any assistance to further expedite this petition, please do not hesitate to contact me at 

(561)222-6979 or at my email jon@jrupprechtlaw.com

Sincerely yours,

_____________________

Jonathan Rupprecht, Esq.

 

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14 C.F.R. § 91.405(a).