July 21, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation Docket Operations West Building Ground Floor, Room W12

- 140 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE. Washington, DC 20590

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act, I, Daniel Se ttle, operator of an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), hereby apply for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of its UAS, so long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions outl ined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333 under the new blanket provisions for UAS COAs as discussed at https://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=82245

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This proposed exemption would allow the operation of unmanned aircraft sy stems (UAS) for the purpose of commercial aerial photography and cinematography of real estate, vacation rentals, golf courses, and events. Commercial operation of an UAS, as described herein, which ar e equipped with camera and sensors, would operate in the following

manner: (a) Aerial photography and/or video for public and/or private use including real

estate and other rel ated professional activities, (b) Aerial video and/or photography for public and/or private use including public and private events.

Applicant:

Daniel Settle

2590 Eastwood Drive Decatur, GA 30032

Regul ations from wh ich the exemption is requested, subject, and justification:

FAR	Section Subject Justification

14 CFR Part 21 Aircraft	certification requirements	and procedures Designed	for	manned	aircraft;	not

suitable	for	off

- the

- shelf	UAS

14 CFR 45.23 ( b) Requirement	to	display registration	number	of

vehicle Insufficient	space	on	vehicle

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b) Private	pilot	privileges	and limitations:	pilot	in

command sUAS	will	not	carry	a	pilot	or

passengers

14 CFR 61 Requirement	for	pilot

certif icate Designed	for	manned	aircraft,	not	UAS

14 CFR 91.7 (a) Airworthiness	requirement Designed	for	manned	aircrafe;	notsuitable	for	off

- the

- shelf	UAS 14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2) Requirement	for	manual	to be	available	in	cockpit UAS	is	unmanned	with	no	cockpit

14 CFR 91.103 Requirement	for preflight

action Unmanned	vehicle .	PIC	will	ensure flight	safety	based	on	weather conditions,	examining	of	UAS,	and following	UAS	manufacturer

instructions

14 CFR 91.109 Requirement	for	dual controls	during	flight

instruction No	one	aboard	to	operate	controls

14 CFR 91.119 Minimum	altitudes	for	safe flight Safety	requires	op eration	below	these

altitudes

14 CFR 91.121 Altimeter	settings No	one	aboard	to	read	altimeter

14 CFR 91.151 (a) Fuel	requirements UAV	does	not	use	fuel

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b) Requirement	for registration	and

airworthiness	certificates	to

be	onbo ard No	one	aboard	to	read	certificates

14 CFR 91.205(b) Cockpit	instruments No	one	aboard	to	read 14 CFR 91.215 (a) & (b) Transponder	requirement Vehicle	has	insufficient	useful	load; will	be	operated	below	ATC	radar

coverage 14 CFR 91.405 (a) Inspe ction	requirements Designed	for	manned	aircraft;	not

suitable	for	off

- the

- shelf	UAS 14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2) Civil	aircraft	flight	manual

in	the	aircraft No	space	for flight manual	on	sUAS, PIC	will	keep	manual	at	ground control	point	for	immediate	access. 14 CFR 407 (a) (1) Inspection	approval requirements Designed	for	manned	aircraft;	not

suitable	for	off

- the

- shelf	UAS 14 CFR 409 (a) (2) Airworthiness	inspection Desig ned	for	manned	aircraft;	not

suitable	for	off

- the

- shelf	UAS 14 CFR 417 (a) & (b) Maintenance	records requirements Designed	for	manned	aircraft;	not

suitable	for	off

- the

- shelf	UAS

As described fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of a UAS under controlled conditions in the NAS that would be a) limited, b) controlled, c) predetermined, and d) will provide safety enhancements to the already safe operations in the industry presently using conventional aircraft. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation responsibilities to “....establish requirements fo r the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.”As found in Exemption No. 11138 (Trudeau), the FAA recently approved similar use of a

PHANTOM 2 UAS. I will operate a s UAS, the DJI Phantom 3 Professional, Model W323, which i s comprised of an unmanned aircraft (UA or Phantom), an attached 4K camera and a transportable ground station.

The sUAS DJI Phantom 3 Professional is a quad

- copter with a gross weight of 2.8 pounds. It is equipped with four rotors that are driven by elect ric mot ors powered by

batteries. The Phantom 3 has a maximum airspeed of 16 m/s. It will be operated in

various locations within the United States to augment real estate listing videos, capture event areal video and photography, and related business operat ions.

UAS Operating Parameters

I will abide by the following additional operating conditions under this exemption, which ensures a level of safety at least equal to existing rules:

• operate UAS below 200 feet and within a radius distance of 1000 feet fr om the controller to aid in direct line of sight visual observation;

• obtain permission from the owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles and structures when operations may be conducted closer than 500 feet to any such vessels, vehicles or structures; I w ill conduct a safety assessment of the risk of operating closer to those objects and determine that it does not present an undue hazard;

• operate the UAS for a maximum of 25 minutes per flight;

• operate the UAS only during daylight hours

• land UAS prior to the manufacturer’s recommended minimum level of battery power (when no less than 25% battery is remaining)

• operate UAS within visual line of sight (VLOS);

• use the UAS’ global positioning system (GPS) flight safety feature whereby it

hovers and then slowly lands with preset GPS coordinate s if communication with

the remote co ntrol pilot is lost;

• stay certain distances away from airports or heliports: (a) 5 nautical miles (NM) from an airport having an operational control tower; or (b) 3 NM from an airport with a published instrument flight procedure, but not an operational tower; or (c) 2 NM from an airport without a published instrument flight procedure or an operational tower; or (d) 2 NM from a heliport with a published instrument flight procedure

• alwa ys obtain all necessary permissions prior to operation; have procedures in place to abort flights in the event of safety breaches or potential danger;

• only operate in safe environments that are strictly controlled, are away from power lines, elevated ligh ts, airports and densely populated areas (defined by areas depicted in “yellow” on VFR charts and through obtaining information regarding congested areas from the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO);

• conduct extensive preflight inspections and p rotocols, during which safety carries primary importance (reference PHANTOM Flying Flow Chart and User Manual).

Regarding UAS operational training, I have flown numerous practice flights in remote areas as hobbyists simulating flights for future commercia l use to gain familiarizationwith the characteristics of the UAS’ performance under different temperature and

weather conditions.

As PIC operating my UAS , I will have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 CFR 61.51(b), 25 hours of total time as a UAS rotorcraft pilot including at least 10 hours logged as a UAS pilot with a multi

- rotor UAS. As PIC , I will also have accumulated and logged a minimum of 5 hours as a UAS pilot operating the same make and model of UAS to be used for operations . In addition to the hour requirements, the I,

the PIC will accomplish 3 take

- offs and landings in the preceding 90 days (for currency purposes) prior to any flight.

Specific Exemptions Requested Given the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the UA, I feel an exemption from 14 CFR part 21, Subpart H (Airworthiness Certificates) and § 91.203(a) and (b) (Certifications required), subject to certain conditions and limitations, is warranted and meets the requirements for an equiva lent level of safety under 14 CFR part 11 and Section 333 of P.L. 112

- 95 (Section 333). I request an exemption from § 45.23 Marking of the aircraft because the UA will not have a cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which to mark certain words or phrases. F urther,

the two

- inch lettering is difficult to place on such a small aircraft with dimensions smaller than the minimal lettering requirement. Regardless of this, I can mark the UAS in the largest possible lettering by placing the word “Experimental” on its fuselage as required by § 45.29(f) so that anyone will see the markings. I request an exemption from § 91.7(a) which prohibits the operation of an aircraft without an airworthiness certificate, since there is currently no certificate applicable to our

op eration, this regulation is inapplicable. I request an exemption from §§ 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(2) and 91.417(a) and (b) Maintenance inspections since they only apply to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate. However, as a safety precauti on I will perform a preflight inspection of the UAS before each flight as outlined in the attached operating documents. I request an exemption from § 91.9(b)(2) which requires an aircraft flight manual in the aircraft, however since there are no pilots or passengers on board the aircraft and given its size, this regulation is inapplicable. I believe an equivalent level of safety will be achieved by maintaining a safety/flight manual with the UAS ground station. I request an exemption from § 91.119 which p rescribes safe altitudes for the operation of civil aircraft, but it allows helicopters to be operated at lower altitudes in certain

conditions. I will not operate our UAS above the altitude of 200 feet above ground level (AGL) and will also only operate i n safe areas away from the public and traffic, thus “providing a level of safety at least equivalent to or below those in relation to minimum safe altitudes.” Given the size, weight, maneuverability, and speed of the UAS, an equivalent or higher level of s afety will be achieved.

I request an exemption from § 91.121 Altimeter settings as it is inapplicable since the

UAS utilizes electronic GPS with a barometric sensor.

I request an exemption from § 91.151(a) Fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions. The UAV is 100% electric and two low battery alerts are issued

- per the operating documents, the UAV will be landed at the first alert. Also, our flights will last only at amaximum time of 25 minutes each, and the UAS has an automated function, which

res ults in immediate landing when a low battery is detected. The PIC will not begin a flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough power to fly to the first point of intended landing and, assuming normal cruising speed, lan d the

UA with 25 % battery power remaining.

Public Interest Aerial photography and videography for real estate and events are proven strategies to enhance marketing efforts and increase business success. The industry is not new. However, until recently i t was conducted through the use of costly manned aircraft, a prohibitive business activity for small companies. By granting this exemption I would be able to provide affordable services for small business owners, real estate agents, and

vacation rental own ers. Further, the small UAS will pose no threat to the public given its small size and lack of combustible fuel when compared to larger manned aircraft. Conventional photography operations, using jet or piston powered aircraft, at extremely low altitudes, often very close to the subject being filmed and in close proximity to people and structures; and present the risks associated with vehicles that exceed 3,000 lbs., carrying large amounts of jet A or other fuel. In contrast, a sUAS weighing fewer than 55 l bs. and powered by batteries eliminates virtually all of the risk given the reduced mass and lack of

combustible fuel carried on board. The sUAS is carried to the location. The sUAS will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not expose them to t he risks associated with manned aircraft flights Additionally, the operation of our UAS will minimize harm to the environment economic growth by providing information to companies and the public looking to relocate or build

in the metro areas I service. In addition, my request shows my desire to promote a safe

culture of UAS in the United States.

Summary

I will comply with all of the following conditions and limitations should this exemption be provided: 1) Operations will be limited to the following airc raft described in the operating documents, which is a quad

- rotor aircraft weighing 2.8 pounds: Phantom 3 Unmanned Aircraft System. 2) The UA will not be flown at an indicated airspeed exceeding 50 knots. 3) The UA will be operated at an altitude of no more than 200 feet above ground level (AGL), All altitudes reported to ATC must be in feet AGL. 4) The UA will be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the Pilot In Command (PIC) at all times. 5) All operations will utilize a visual observer (VO). The UA will be operated within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the VO at all times. The VO and PIC will be able to communicate verbally at all times. The PIC will be designated before the flight and will not transfer his or her designation for the duration of the flight. The PIC will ensure that the VO can perform the functions prescribed in the operating documents. 6) The operating documents will be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the Administrator upon request. Any revisions to the operating documentswill be presented to the Administrator upon request. 7) Prior to each flight, the PIC will inspect the UAS to ensure it is in a condition for safe flight. If the inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the UAS, the UAS will not be operated until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the UAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight. The Ground Control Station will be included in the preflight inspection. All maintenance and alterations will be pro perly

documented in the aircraft records. 8) Any UAS maintenance or alterations that affect the UAS operation or flight characteristics, e.g. replacement of a flight critical component, will undergo a functional test flight.

The PIC who conducts the functi onal test flight will make an entry in the aircraft records. 9) The pre

- flight inspection section in the operating documents will account for all discrepancies, i.e. inoperable components, items, or equipment, not already covered in the relevant

sections o f the operating documents. 10) I will follow the UAS manufacturer’s aircraft/component, maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements. 11) I will carry out maintenance, inspections, and record keeping requirements, in

accorda nce with the operating documents. Maintenance, inspection, and alterations will be noted in the aircraft records, including total flight hours, description of work accomplished, and the signature of the authorized person returning the UAS to service. 12) E ach UAS operated will comply with all manufacturer Safety Bulletins. 13) An authorized person will make an entry in the aircraft record of the corrective action taken against discrepancies discovered between inspections. 14) UAS operations will be conducte d by a PIC possessing at least a private pilot

certificate and at least a current third

- class medical certificate. The PIC will 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. 15) Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of aerial videography/photography and for real estate listing videos and public and private events and similar operations, the PIC will have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 CFR 61.51(b), a minimum of 25 hours of total time as a UAS rotorcraft pilot including at least 10 hours logged as a UAS pilot with a multi

- rotor UAS. 16) Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of aerial videography/photography and

for real estate listing videos and public and private events and similar operations, the PIC will have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 CFR 61.51(b), a minimum of 5 hours as UAS pilot operating the make and model of the UAS to be used in operations. The PIC will accomplish 3 take

- offs and landings in the preceding 90 days. 17) The PIC will not operate the UAS for the purpose of aerial videography/photography and for real estate listing videos and public and private events and similar operations,

unle ss the PIC has demonstrated and logged in a manner consistent with 14 CFR 61.51(b), the ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with the operating documents, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate

distances f rom people, vessels, vehicles and structures. 18) UAS operations will not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR 1.1. All operations will be conducted under visual meteorological conditions (VMC).19) The UA will not operate within 5 nautical mile s of an airport reference point as

denoted on a current FAA

- published aeronautical chart. 20) The UA will 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 PI C. 21) If a UA loses communications or loses its GPS signal, it will return to a predetermined location within the planned operating area and land or be recovered in accordance with the operating documents. 22) The PIC will abort a flight in the event of u npredicted obstacles or emergencies in accordance with the operating documents. 23) The PIC will not begin a flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough power to fly at normal cruising speed to the intended landing poin t and land the UA with 25% battery power remaining. 24) I will obtain an Air Traffic Organization (ATO) issued Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) prior to conducting any operations, and also request a Notice to

Air

- man (NOTAM) not more than 72 ho urs in advance, but not less than 48 hours prior to the operation. 25) Before conducting operations, the radio frequency spectrum used for operation and control of the UA will comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or other appropriate gov ernment oversight agency requirements. 26) The documents required under 14 CFR 91.9 and 91.203 will be available to the PIC at the Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the UAS is operating. These

documents will be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official
upon request. 27) The UA will remain clear and yield the right of way to all manned aviation operations

and activities at all times. 28) The UAS will not be operated by the PIC from any moving device or vehicle. 29) The UA will not be operated over congested or densely populated areas. 30) Flight operations will 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. I will 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 and/or; b. The aircraft is operated near vessels, vehicles or structures where the owner/controller of such vessels, vehicles or structures has granted permission and the PIC has made a safety asse ssment of the risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not present an undue hazard, and; c. Operations nearer to the PIC, VO, operator trainees or essential persons do not present an undue hazard to those persons per § 91.119 (a). 31) All operations will be conducted over private or controlled

- access property with permission from the land owner/controller or authorized representative. Permission from land owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each f light to be

conducted. 32) Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA will be reported tothe FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS

- 80) within 24 hou rs. Accidents will be reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) per instructions contained on the

NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov

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Similar exemption requests have been recently submitted by Chareles Howarth of Newport Beach, CA and Andrew L assiter of Folly Beach, SC.

Thank you for your consideration of my exemption request.

Sincerely,

Daniel Settle