August27,2015U.S.DepartmentofTransportationDocketManagementSystem1200NewJerseyAve.SEWashington,DC20590RE:ExemptionRequest PursuanttoSection333oftheFAAModernizationandReformActof2012DearSirofMadam:ThesubjectpetitionisbeingsubmittedwithoutconsultingorlegalservicesasDAAerialVisionisastartupsmallbusiness.IalsoholdAnAirlineTransportPilotCertificateRating.PursuanttoSection333oftheFAAModernizationandReformActof2012(thereformact),and14C.F.R.Part11,DAAerialVisionwishestooperatesmallUnmannedAircraftSystem{UAS)equippedtoconductaerialphotographyandsurveyforvariousindustriesandherebyappliesforanexemptionfromtheFederalAviationRegulations(FARs)listedbelowtoallowofmyUAScommerciallyintheNationalAirspaceSystem{NA:S)solongassuchoperationsareconductedwithandundertheconditionsoutlinedhereinorasmaytieestablishedbytheFAAasrequiredbySection333.TherequestexemptionwouldpermitDAAerialVisiontopursueitscommercialinterestsinprovidingservicestoconsumersinterestedinaerialphotographyusingsmall,commercial-offtheshelf(COTS)UASinthefollowingareas:•RealEstatePhotography•AgriculturalLandSurveysandmonitoring•LandDevelopmentSurveys•UASOperatorTraining•PromotmgtheSafeandEffectiveUseofSmallUASTechnologyDAAerialVisionUASoperationswillonlyoccurinareasapprovedforusewithpriorverbalorwrittenconsent.FlightoperationswillnotbeconductedunderanycircumstanceswithintheWashington,DCSP.ecialFlildltRulesArea(SFRA)ortheWashington,DCFlightRestrictedZone(FRZ)anaanyotherTFRsissued.DAAerialVisionUASflightswillbepilotedbyindividualswhohold,atminimum,PrivatePilotCertificatesanaifobserversarenotqualifiedpilots,theywillbetrainedbytounderstandtheproperrolesofanobserver,communicationprocedures,propervisualscantechriiques,operationsatnontoweredairports,andappropriatesectionsoftheAeronauticalInformationManual{AIM).Propertramingandsafetywillbeofupmostimportance.Regulationsfromwhichtheexemptionisrequested:14C.F.R.Part2114C.F.R.45.23(b)14C.F.R.61.113(a)and(b)14C.F.R.91.7(a)14C.F.R.91.9(b)(2)14C.F.R.91.10914C.F.R.91.11914C.F.R.91.12114C.F.R.91.151(a)14C.F.R.91.203(a)&(b)14C.F.R.91.205(b)14C.F.R.91.21514C.F.R.(91.401-91.417)UnmannedAircraftSystem(UAS)DAAerialVisionrequesttooperateDllPhantom2VisionPlus,DllPhantom3Pro,andDnInspire1multi-rotorUASequippedwithathreeaxisgimbalmountedcamera.TheUAS'sweighslessthan251bs,havebuilt-incapabilitytolimitheighttheUAS'sfliesabovetheground,tolimittheradiusofthedistanceitfliesfromtheoperatorandtoexcludeitfromClassA,B,CandDairspaceincludinganoflyzones.Eachsystemalsohasthefailsafefunctionoftheautopilot,whichmeanswhenthecommunicationbetweenthemaincontrollerandtlietransmitterislost;thesystemwillautomatically"returntohome"andwilllandsafely.TheseVAS'sareconsideredCOTSproductsandwillnotbealteredormodifiedinanyway.ThepetitionerwillonlyoperateitsUASinlineofsightofapilotandorobserverandwilloperateatsitestliataresafedistancefrompopulatedareas.UASoperatorswillinsurethatUASwillnotcreateanuisanceorhazardforusersoftheNAS,thegeneralpublic,livestock,pets,orwildlife.WhenconductingUASflightswithin5runofana41Jort,airportoperatorswillbenotifiedandtheUASoperatorwillgivetherightofwaytoavoidflyingintheproximityoffullscaleaircraft.Alloperationsintheseareaswillbeconductedatanattitudeoflessthan200feetAGL.Themaximumflighttimeforeachoperationalflightwillnotexceed60minutes.Flightswillbeterminatedat25%batterypowerreserveshouldthatoccurpriortothe6ominutelimit.TheUASwillbeprogrammedtolimitflightaltitudeto400feetAGL.AllUAS'swillbemaintainedinaccordancewiththemanufacturesrecommendations.BeforeeachfligptathoroughpreflightinspectionwillbeperformedtovalidatetheairworthinessoftheUAS.Noflightwillbeperformedwithanun-airworthyUASunderanycircumstance.TheUASoperatorwillbeanFAAlicensedairmanholdingatminimumanFAAPrivatePilotCertificateTheUAS'sproposedbythepetitionerweighslessthan55pounds,includingallpayloads(i.e.camera,lens,andgimbal).TheUASwilloperateatspeedslessthan55knots.GiventhesmallsizeoftheUASandtherestrictedenvironmentwithinwhichtheyoperate,thepurposedUASoperationsadheretotheReformAct'ssafetyrequirements.AllUASoperatorswillbeappropriatelytrainedinsmallUASoperationsincludingfamiliarizationwithapplicabferegulationsandguidancedocuments:localareacharts,currentNOTAMSandAircraftCirculars;RadioCommunicationsProcedures;HumanFactorsandCrewResourceManagement;BasicSmallUASAerodynamics;Weatherfactors;AirmanshipandDecision-makingandsafeoperatmgprocedures.DAAerialVisionrequestexemptionunderSection333toenabletooperatesafe,low-riskcommercialsmallUASoperationsfortheactivitiessummarizedinthisrequest.Sincerely,DanielK.AndersonPresidentDAAerialVision824MossCliffCircleMcKinneyTX75071gxcaptain@yahoo.com(214)886-5216Attachments:A.ExemptionRequestandEquivalentLevelofSafetyB.MaintenanceLogC.FlightLogAttachmentAEXEMPTIONREQUESTANDEQUIVALENTLEVELOFSAFETYDAAerialVision,requestsanexemptionfromtbefollowingregulationsaswellasanyadditionalregulationstbatmayapplytotbeoperationoftbeUAS:14CFRPart21,AinvorthinessCertificatesThispartestablishestheproceduresfortheissuanceofanairworthinesscertificate.WhiletheFAAcontinuestoworktodevelopairworthinessstandardsforUnmannedAerialSystems.werequestanexperimentalcertificatebeissuedfortheDJIPhantom2VisionPlus.PhantomandInspire1UAS.14CFR45.23Displayofmarks;generaland45.29Sizeofmarks.Theseregulationsprol<idcthateachaircraftmustdisplay"N"andtheregistrationnumberinlettersatleast3incheshigh.Additionally.theaircraftmustdisplaytheword"EXPERIMENTAL"inlettersatleast2incheshighncartheentrancetothecabin.cockpit.orpilotstation.ThesmallUASdocsnothaveanentranceinwhichtheword"EXPERIMENTAL"canbeplaced.andmaynothavearegistrationnumberassignedtoitbytheFAA.Weproposetoachieveanequivalentlevelofsafetybyincludingtheword"EXPERIMENTAL"intheplacardonthetopoftheUAS.14CFR61.113Pri,•atepUotprilileaesandUmitations:PUotinCommandand61.133Commercialpllotpril-Degesandllmltations.TheregulationprovidesthatnopersonthatholdsaPrivatePilotcertificatemayactasPilotinCommandofanaircraftforcompensationorhire.Subparagraph(b)allowsaprivatepilottoactasPilotinCommandofanaircraftinconnectionwithanybusinessoremploymentif:(1)Theflightisonlyincidentaltothatbusinessoremployment:and(2)Theaircraftdocsnotcanypassengersorpropertyforcompensationorhire.OurproposedoperationsrequirethatthePICmustholdatleastaPrivatePilotCertificateissuedbytheFAAandsincetheaircraftcannotcanypassengersorproperty.wefeelwemeettheintentof61.113Subparagraph(b)eventhoughtheintentofthisapplicationisto conductabusiness.14CFR91.7ProhibitstheOperationofanaircraftwithoutanairworthinesscertificate.AsnosuchcertificatewillbeapplicableinthefonncontemplatedbytheFARs.thisRegulationisinapplicable.14CFR91.9Chilm1htmanual,markin1,andplarardrequirements.Thisregulationpro,idesthatnopersonmayoperateanaircraftunlessaCUITellt.approvedflightmanualisintheaircraft.Weassumethattheintentofthisrequirementistoensurethatflightmanualinformationisavailabletotheaircrewwhileoperatingtheaircraft.Werequestanexemptiontothisrequirementsincetheaircraftisnotonlytoosmalltocanydocumentation.thedocumentationwouldnotbea'\-ailabletothecrewduringflightoperations.Toobtainanequivalentlevelofsafetyandmeettheintentof91.9,weproposethatacUITellt.approvedUASFlightManualmustbeavailabletothecrewatthegroundstationatalltimes.14CFR91.109FU1htSimulatedinstrumentm1htandm1httestsTheregulationstates''Nopersonmayoperateacivilaircraftthatisbeingusedforflightinstructionunlessthataircrafthasfullyfunctioningdualcontrols."TheUASSystemground-basedcontrolstationconsistsofasmallhand-heldradiotransmitterandwhileitdoesnotofferasecondsetof"controlsu.boththestudentandinstructorcan.andwill.operatethesinglesetofcontrolssimultaneously.Withbothstudentandinstructorha"-ing"hands-on'*thecontrolsduringflight.wefeelthatthistechniquemeetstheintent91.109andprovidesanequivalentlevelofsafety.14CFR91.1191\IIDfmumsafealtitudes:Theregulationstatesthatoversparselypopulatedareastheaircraftcannotbeoperatedcloserthan500feettoanyperson.vessel.vchic:le.orstructure.SincethetypicalmissionoftheUASwouldbephotographyorsurveyofpersons.'\·essels.vehiclesorstructuresitwouldbenecessarytooperatecloserthan500feettotheitemslisted.Operationswillonlybeflownoverpropertyorpersonswherepennissionhasbeenobtainedeitherverballyorinwriting.Theaircraftwillbeoperatedatalowaltitudeallowing.ifthereisalossofpropulsion.anemergencylandingwithoutunduehazardtopersonsorpropertyonthesurface.ThereforewemaintainthatduetothesmallsizeoftheUAS.thehazardtopersons.vehiclesandstructuresisminimalcomparedtomannedaircraft.whichshouldbeconsideredingrantingtheexemption.14CFR91.121Altimetersettin1s.Theregulationrequiresthataircraftshallmaintaincruisingaltitudesbyreferencetoanaltimetersettingavailablewithin100NMoftheaircraft.TheUASwillalwaysflybelow600feetAGLandwillnotneedtomaintaincruisingaltitudesinordertopreventconflictwithotheraircraft.AnAGLaltimetermeasurementabovethetakeoffpointistransmittedviaradiofromtheUASon-boardcomputertothedisplayscreenheldbytheUASoperator.providingaconstantlyupdatedAGLreadout.14CFR91.151FuelrequirementsformghtinVFRTheregulationpro,.idesthatnopersonmaybeginaflightinanairplaneunderday-VFRconditionsunlessthereisenoughfueltoflytothefirstpointofintendedlandingandtoflyafterthatforatleast30minutes.Wefeeltheintentionofthisparagraphistopro\ideanenergyreserveasasafetybufferfordelaystolanding.TheUASarebatteryoperatedandthemaximumdurationofflightfromasinglebatterychargeis12-45(dependingonwhichUAS)minuteswitha20%resetV"e.Sincetheaircraftwillneverflymorethan112NMfromthepointofintendedlanding.afullbatterychargeatlaunchwillensurethatwemeettheresetV"eenergyrequirementofthisparagraph.Wealsorequestexemptionfromthe30minreserveandaskthatourreservewillbetoflythemissiontothepointofintendedlandingandha\·eatleasta20%batteryreserveafterthat.14CFR91.203(a)&(b)Chilrequired.Theregulationpro,.idesthatanairworthinesscertificate.withtheregistrationnumberassignedtotheaircraftandaregistrationcertificatemustbeaboardtheaircraft.Additionally.subparagraph(b)providesthattheainvorthinesscertificatebe..displayedatthecabinorcockpitentrancesothatitislegibletopassengersorcrew."AsmallUASistoosmalltocanydocumentation.doesnotha\·eanentrance.andisnotcapableofc811}'ingpassengersorcrew.Toobtainanequivalentlevelofsafetyandmeettheintentof91.203.weproposethatdocumentsdeemedappropriateforthisaircraftbytheFAAwillbecollocatedwiththecrewatthegroundcontrolstationandavailableforinspectionuponrequest.Inordertoidentifytheaircraft.weproposethattheinformationfoundonairworthinessandregistrationcertificatesbepermanentlyaffixedtotheaircraft\iaplacardcontainingthefollowinginformationplustheword0EXPERIMENTAV•tosatisfytherequirementof14CFR45.23.14CFRSubpartE(91.401-91.417)-:Maintenance,Pre\·entil·eMaintenance,AlterationsTheregulationpro'\idesthattheoperatorisprimarilyresponsibleformaintainingtheaircraftinanairworthycondition.includingcompliancewithpart39and43.Paragraphs91.407and91.409requirethattheaircraftbe"approvedforreturntoservicebyapersonauthorizedunder43.7"aftermaintenanceandinspection.ItisourintentionthatthePICperfonnmaintenanceandinspectionoftheaircraftand111beauthorizedtoapprovetheaircraftforreturntoset\ice.''TheUASoperatorwillensurethattheaircraftisinanainvorthyconditionpriortoeveryflightandinaddition.conductdetailedinspectionsaftereverytwohoursofflight.MaintenanceperfonnedbytheUASoperatorislimitedtorepairingsmallreplacingapropeller?checkingelectricalandupdatingsoftwareandfinnwarefortheon-boardcomputer.Allothermainteoancewillbeperfonnedbythemanufacturerortheirdesignatedrepairfacility.TheUASoperatorwilldocumentworkperformedinaccordancewith91.417intheattachedMaintenanceLog.ATTACHMENTBMAINTENANCELOGMODEL:--------SERIALNimmER:-------DATESUMMARYOFMAINTENANCERETURNSIGNATURETOSERVICEATTACHl\IENTBFLIGHTLOGLOCATIOOPERATOR&00\"IRAIRSAPCEDATENOBSER\"ERCVSTOliiRlDSSIONCONDmONSSTATI1SNOTESNAMEEXIST