May 11, 2015

Exemption No. 11541

Regulatory Docket No. FAA–2015–0423

Mr. Jonathan Rupprecht

Counsel for Vision Pictures, LLC

Rupprecht Law, P.A.

324 Datura Street, Suite 200

West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Dear Mr. Rupprecht:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our 

decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, 

including the date it ends.

By letter dated February 16, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 

on behalf of Vision Pictures, LLC (hereinafter petitioner or operator) for an exemption. The 

exemption would allow the petitioner to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to 

conduct aerial photography for the motion picture and television industry for scripted closed 

set filming.

See Appendix A for the petition submitted to the FAA describing the proposed operations and 

the regulations that the petitioner seeks an exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the petitioner.

Airworthiness Certification

The UAS proposed by the petitioner is a DJI S1000.
2

In accordance with the statutory criteria provided in Section 333 of Public Law 112−95 in 

reference to 49 U.S.C. § 44704, and in consideration of the size, weight, speed, and limited 

operating area associated with the aircraft and its operation, the Secretary of Transportation 

has determined that this aircraft meets the conditions of Section 333. Therefore, the FAA 

finds that relief from 14 CFR part 21, Certification procedures for products and parts, 

Subpart H—Airworthiness Certificates, and any associated noise certification and testing 

requirements of part 36, is not necessary.

The Basis for Our Decision

You have requested to use a UAS for aerial data collection and closed set motion picture and 

filming. The FAA has issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar in all material 

respects to those presented in your petition. In Grants of Exemption Nos. 11062 to Astraeus 

Aerial (see Docket No. FAA−2014−0352), 11109 to Clayco, Inc. (see Docket No. 

FAA−2014−0507), 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC (see Docket No. FAA−2014−0382), and 

11213 to Aeryon Labs, Inc. (see Docket No. FAA−2014−0642), the FAA found that the 

enhanced safety achieved using an unmanned aircraft (UA) with the specifications described 

by the petitioner and carrying no passengers or crew, rather than a manned aircraft of 

significantly greater proportions, carrying crew in addition to flammable fuel, gives the FAA 

good cause to find that the UAS operation enabled by this exemption is in the public interest.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that—

• They are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in Grant of 

Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and 11213;

• The reasons stated by the FAA for granting Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and 

11213 also apply to the situation you present; and 

• A grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

In consideration of the foregoing, I find that a grant of exemption is in the public interest. 

Therefore, pursuant to the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, and 44701, 

delegated to me by the Administrator, Vision Pictures, LLC is granted an exemption from 

14 CFR §§ 61.23(a) and (c), 61.101(e)(4) and (5), 61.113(a), 61.315(a), 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 

91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 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 the petitioner to operate a UAS to perform aerial data collection 

and closed set motion picture and filming. This exemption is subject to the conditions and 

limitations listed below.

Conditions and Limitations

In this grant of exemption, Vision Pictures, LLC is hereafter referred to as the operator.
3

Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be 

grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption.

1. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption are limited to the DJI S1000 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 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 
4

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 (AFS−80) 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.

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 Columbia, 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 
5

(training, proficiency, and experience-building) 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 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 to a 

pre-determined 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.

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.
6

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 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.

If this exemption permits operations 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.
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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;

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.

Unless otherwise specified in this grant of exemption, the UAS, the UAS PIC, and the UAS 

operations must comply with all applicable parts of 14 CFR including, but not limited to, 

parts 45, 47, 61, and 91.

This exemption terminates on May 31, 2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service
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 

February 16th, 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. 61.113(a) and (b); 

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).

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, Vision Pictures, LLC, a developer and operator of Small Unmanned 

Aircraft (UA) equipped to conduct aerial photography for the motion picture and television 

industry for scripted closed set filming, hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal 

Aviation Regulations ("FARs") to allow commercial operation of its UA, so long as such 

operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be 

established by the FAA as required by Section 333.1

Vision Pictures, LLC 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. 

 

1 The conditions proposed by the applicant are drawn from Order 8900.1 CHG 0, Volume 3, Chapter 8-Issue a 

Certificate of Waiver for Motion Picture and Television Filming.
Page 2 of 17

(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, Vision Pictures, LLC has good cause to request 

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

(a) Vision Pictures, LLC would not set any precedent. Exemption #’s 11062, 11063, 11064, 

11065, 11066, 11067, 11080 are all previously granted petitions to “allow operation[s] of 

unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the purpose of scripted, closed-set filming for the 

motion picture and television industry.” Vision Pictures, LLC agrees to the SAME exact 

limitations as the above listed exemptions, which are included below, “for the purpose of 

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

(b) This petition for exemption is requesting relief identical to the above mentioned seven 

petitioners. The regulations that Vision Pictures, LLC is seeking relief from were chosen 

based directly upon the FAA’s chart included in the seven exemptions mentioned above 

listing which regulations needed exempting. This was done so that the FAA could waive 

the comment period and rapidly grant this petition. Furthermore, much of the petition 

below is copied directly from the petitions of the seven, except we have eliminated 

certain flawed parts (communication between the spotter and pilot via text, etc.) and 

made minor edits to the spelling, citations, or style.

(c) Delaying the granting of this petition would adversely affect the public, the FAA, and 

Vision Pictures, LLC. 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, Vision Pictures, LLC is eagerly seeking to start commercial operations and is 

adversely affected by the above listed regulations.

(d) The petition has been filed in a timely manner.
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As described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of 

small, unmanned and relatively inexpensive UAS under controlled conditions in airspace that is: 

1) limited; 2) predetermined; 3) controlled as to access; and, 4) would provide safety 

enhancements to the already safe operations in the film and television industry presently using 

conventional aircraft. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the 

Secretary of Transportation's (the FAA Administrator's) responsibilities to "establish 

requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system." 

Section 333(c) of the Reform Act.

Petitioner’s contact info:

Vision Pictures, LLC 

Attn: Joel Petersen

Phone: 323-484-4022

Email: joel@visionpictures.net

Address: 6844 Cahuenga Park trail, Los Angeles, CA 90068

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. § 61.113(a) & (b)

 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 Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of 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 
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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).

Reform Act § 333(a). Lastly, 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).

Vision Pictures’ UA are rotorcraft, weighing 55 lbs. or less including payload. They 

operate, under normal conditions at a speed of no more than 50 knots and they have the 

capability to hover, and move in the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. They will 

operate only within VLOS and only within the sterile area described in the Confidential Motion 

Picture and Television Operations Manual and Flight Operations and Procedures Manual which 

is being mailed in separately (hereinafter "the Operating Manual").3Such operations will insure 

that the UA will "not create a hazard to users of the national airspace system or the public."4

 

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.

3

FAA Licensed Commercial Pilots, a Certified Flight Instructor, a FAA Designated Engineering Representative, 

and members of the motion picture industry have reviewed this manual and have found it acceptable for UA flight 
Page 5 of 17

Given the small size of the UA involved and the restricted sterile environment within 

which they will operate, the applicant falls squarely within that zone of safety (an equivalent 

level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow 

commercial operations of UA to commence immediately. Also, due to the size of the UA and the 

restricted areas in which the relevant UA will operate, approval of the application presents no 

national security issue. Given the clear direction in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority 

contained in the Federal Aviation Act, as amended; the strong equivalent level of safety 

surrounding the proposed operations, and the significant public benefit, including enhanced 

safety, reduction in environmental impacts, including reduced emissions associated with 

allowing UA for movie and television operations, the grant of the requested exemptions is in the 

public interest. Accordingly, the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested 

exemption without delay.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

The applicant proposes that the exemption requested herein apply 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 because the proposed operations represent a safety enhancement to the 

already safe movie and television filming operations conducted with conventional aircraft.

These limitations and conditions, taken directly from the seven exemptions granted to 

film companies (Exemption #’s 11062, 11063, 11064, 11065, 11066, 11067, 11080), Vision 

Pictures, LLC agrees to be bound when conducting commercial UA operations. These limitations

have already been written and incorporated into the Operating Manual. The list of limitations and 

conditions include the following:

 

operations in the film and television industry. Applicant submits this manual as a Confidential document under 14 

C.F.R. § 11.35(b) as the entire manual contains proprietary information that the applicant has not and will not 

share with others. The manual contains operating conditions and procedures that are not available to the public 

and are protected from release under the Freedom of Information Act 5 U.S.C. § 552 et. seq.

4 Reform Act Section 333(b).
Page 6 of 17

1. The UA weighs less than 55 pounds, including batteries and camera gimbal. Operations 

requested in this petition for exemption are limited to the following aircraft described in 

the proprietary operator’s manual for the DJI S1000. Proposed operations of any other 

UA will require a new petition or an amendment.

2. The UA shall not be flown at a speed exceeding a ground speed of 50 knots.

3. Flights must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level 

(AGL), as indicated by the procedures specified in the operator’s manual. All altitudes 

reported to ATC must be in feet AGL.

4. 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 medical certificate.

5. All operations must utilize a visual observer (VO). 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.

6. The operator’s manual shall be maintained 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 operator’s manual, the conditions and limitations 

herein take precedence and must be followed. Otherwise, the operator must follow the 

procedures as outlined in its operator’s manual. The operator may update or revise its 

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

updated and revised documents to the Administrator upon request. The operator must also 

present updated and revised documents if it petitions for extension or amendment. If the 

operator determines that any update or revision would affect the basis of this exemption, 

then the operator must petition for amendment to their exemption. The FAA’s UAS 

Integration Office (AFS-80) may be contacted if questions arise regarding updates or 

revisions to the operator’s manual.

7. Prior to each flight the PIC must 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 
Page 7 of 17

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. The Ground Control Station 

shall be included in the preflight inspection. All maintenance and alterations shall be 

properly documented in the aircraft records.

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 in accordance with the operator’s manual. The PIC who conducts the 

functional test flight must make an entry in the UAS aircraft records of the flight. The 

requirements and procedures for a functional test flight and aircraft record entry are 

included in the operator’s manual.

9. The operator shall follow the manufacturer’s UAS aircraft/component, maintenance, 

overhaul, replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements. An aircraft maintenance 

manual with maintenance/component/overhaul, replacement, and inspection/maintenance 

requirements has been established and included in the operator’s manual. 

10. The Pilot In Command (PIC) shall possess at least a private pilot certificate and at least a 

current third-class medical certificate. The PIC must also meet the flight review 

requirements specified in 14 C.F.R. § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is rated on 

his/her pilot certificate.

11. Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of motion picture filming (or similar 

operations), the PIC must have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 

C.F.R. § 61.51 (b), a minimum of 200 flight cycles and 25 hours of total time as a UAS 

rotorcraft pilot and at least ten hours logged as a UAS pilot with a similar UAS type 

(single blade or multirotor). Prior documented flight experience that was obtained in 

compliance with applicable regulations may satisfy this requirement. Training, 

proficiency, and experience-building flights can also be conducted under this grant of 

exemption to accomplish the required flight cycles and flight time. During training, 

proficiency, and experience-building flights, all persons not essential for flight operations 
Page 8 of 17

are considered non-participants, and the PIC must operate the UA with appropriate 

distance from non-participants in accordance with 14 C.F.R. § 91.119.

12. Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of motion picture filming, the PIC must 

have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 C.F.R. § 61.51 (b), a 

minimum of five hours as UAS pilot operating the make and model of UAS to be utilized 

for operations under the exemption and three take-offs and three landings in the 

preceding 90 days. During training, proficiency, experience-building, and take-off and 

landing currency flights all persons not essential for flight operations are considered nonparticipants, and the PIC must operate the UA with appropriate distance from nonparticipants in accordance with 14 C.F.R. § 91.119.

13. Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of motion picture filming, the PIC and 

visual observer (VO) must have successfully completed a qualification process, as 

outlined in the operator’s manual. The test has been developed by the operator and shall 

be implemented by a qualified person designated at the sole discretion of the operator. A 

record of completion of this qualification process must be documented and made 

available to the Administrator upon request.

14. Prior to operations conducted for the purpose of motion picture filming, a flight 

demonstration, administered by an operator-approved and qualified pilot must be 

successfully completed and documented. This documentation must be available for 

review upon request by the Administrator. Because the knowledge and airmanship test 

qualifications have been developed by the operator, the petitioner will conduct these tests 

in accordance with the operator’s manual.

15. The UA may not be operated directly over any person, except authorized and consenting 

production personnel, below an altitude that is hazardous to persons or property on the 

surface in the event of a UAS failure or emergency.

16. Regarding the distance from participating persons, the operator’s manual has safety 

mitigations for authorized and consenting production personnel. At all times, those 

persons must be essential to the closed-set film operations. Because these procedures are 
Page 9 of 17

specific to participating persons, no further FSDO or Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI) 

approval is necessary for reductions to the distances specified in the petitioner’s manuals. 

This is consistent with the manned aircraft procedures described in FAA Order 8900.1, 

V3, C8, S1 Issue a Certificate of Waiver for Motion Picture and Television Filming.

17. Regarding distance from non-participating persons, the operator must ensure that no 

persons are allowed within 500 feet of the area except those consenting to be involved 

and necessary for the filming production. This provision may be reduced to no less than 

200 feet if it would not adversely affect safety and the Administrator has approved it. For 

example, an equivalent level of safety may be determined by an aviation safety 

inspector’s evaluation of the filming production area to note terrain features, obstructions, 

buildings, safety barriers, etc. Such barriers may protect non-participating persons 

(observers, the public, news media, etc.) from debris in the event of an accident. This is 

also consistent with the same FAA Order 8900.1, V3, C8, S1.

18. If the UA loses communications or loses its GPS signal, the UA must return to a predetermined location within the security perimeter and land or be recovered in accordance 

with the operator’s manual.

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

accordance with the operator’s manual.

20. Each UA operation must be completed within 30 minutes flight time or with 25% battery 

power remaining, whichever occurs first.

21. The operator must obtain an Air Traffic Organization (ATO) issued Certificate of Waiver 

or Authorization (COA) prior to conducting any operations under this grant of exemption. 

This COA will also require the operator to request a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) not 

more than 72 hours in advance, but not less than 48 hours prior to the operation.

22. All aircraft operated in accordance with this exemption must be identified by serial 

number, registered in accordance with 14 C.F.R. part 47, and have identification (NNumber) markings in accordance with 14 C.F.R. part 45, subpart C. Markings must be as 

large as practicable.
Page 10 of 17

23. The operator has developed procedures to document and maintain a record of the UA 

maintenance, preventative maintenance, alterations, status of replacement/overhaul 

component parts, and the total time in service of the UA. 

24. Each UA must comply with all manufacturer Safety Bulletins and firmware updates.

25. The operator has developed UA technician qualification criteria and they are included in 

the operator’s manual.

26. The preflight inspection accounts for all discrepancies, i.e. inoperable components, items, 

or equipment, not covered in the relevant preflight inspection sections of the operator’s 

manual.

27. The radio frequency spectrum used for operation and control of the UA complies with the 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or other appropriate government oversight 

agency requirements.

28. At least three days before scheduled filming, the operator of the UAS affected by this 

exemption must submit a written Plan of Activities to the local FSDO with jurisdiction 

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

concurrence of the FSDO. The requirements for a plan of activities and a sample form are 

in the operator’s manual.

29. The documents required under 14 C.F.R. § 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.

30. The UA must remain clear and yield the right of way to all other manned operations and 

activities at all times (including, but not limited to, ultralight vehicles, parachute 

activities, parasailing activities, hang gliders, etc.).

31. UA operations may not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 C.F.R. § 1.1. All 

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

under special visual flight rules (SVFR) are not authorized.
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32. The UA cannot be operated by the PIC from any moving device or vehicle.

33. 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.

34. The UA may not operate in Class B, C, or D airspace without written approval from the 

FAA. The UA may not operate within 5 nautical miles of the geographic center of a nontowered airport as denoted on a current FAA-published aeronautical chart unless a letter 

of agreement with that airport’s management is obtained, and the operation is conducted 

in accordance with a NOTAM as required by the operator’s COA. The letter of agreement 

with the airport management must be made available to the Administrator upon request.

35. Any 1) incident, 2) accident, or 3) flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical 

boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA must be reported to 

the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) 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. Further flight 

operations may not be conducted until the incident, accident, or transgression is reviewed 

by AFS-80 and authorization to resume operations is provided.

Unless otherwise specified by the Administrator, the PIC, and operator must comply with all 

applicable parts of 14 C.F.R. including, but not limited to, parts 45, 47, 61, and 91.

STATUTORY CRITERIA PROVIDED IN SECTION 333

The UA proposed to be operated by the applicant weighs less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, 

carries neither a pilot nor passenger, carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and 

operates exclusively within a secured area as outlined in the operator’s manual. Unlike other civil 

aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by both the 

operator, pursuant to the criteria in the operator’s manual, and under the requirements and in 

compliance with local public safety requirements, to provide security for the area of operation as 

is now done with conventional filming. The FAA will have advance notice of all operations and 

has issued the aforementioned list of conditions and limitations. These safety enhancements, 

which already apply to civil aircraft operated in connection with motion picture and television 
Page 12 of 17

production, provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than 

conventional operations. Lastly, application of these same criteria demonstrates that there is no 

credible threat to national security posed by the UAS, due to its size, speed of operation, location 

of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry a 

substantial external load.

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, in the restricted environment and under 

the conditions 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.

As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the unmanned aircraft, and no FAA 

regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness of the UA, the requirements 

contained in the operator’s manual for maintenance and use of safety check lists prior to each 

flight, will provide an equivalent level of safety. 

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. § 61.113 (a) & (b): PRIVATE PILOT PRIVILEGES AND LIMITATIONS: PILOT IN 

COMMAND.

Sub-sections 61.113(a) & (b) 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 
Page 13 of 17

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. The area of operation is controlled and 

restricted, and all flights are planned and coordinated in advance as set forth in the Operating 

Manual. The level of safety provided by the requirements included in the Operating Manual 

exceeds that provided by a single individual holding a commercial pilot's certificate 

operating a conventional aircraft. The risks associated with the operation of the UAS are so 

diminished from the level of risk associated with commercial operations contemplated by 

Part 61 when drafted, that allowing operations of the UAS as requested with a private pilot as 

the PIC exceeds the present level of safety achieved by 14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a) & (b).

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. As this exemption is for a UAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests 

authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 AGL, or not more than 200 above an elevated 

platform from which filming is planned, an exemption may be needed to allow such 

operations. As set forth herein, except for the limited conditions stated in the Operating 

Manual, the UAS will never operate higher than 400 AGL. It will however be operated in a 

restricted area with security perimeter, where buildings and people will not be exposed to 

operations without their pre-obtained consent.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the 

UAS as well as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the 

permission of the property owner or local officials. Because of the advance notice to the 

property owner and participants in the filming activity, all affected individuals will be aware 

of the planned flight operations as set forth in Chapters 1 and 13 of the Operating Manual. 

Compared to flight operations with aircraft or rotorcraft weighting far more than the 

maximum 55 lbs. proposed herein and the lack of flammable fuel, any risk associated with 
Page 14 of 17

these operations is far less than those presently presented with conventional aircraft operating 

at or below 500 AGL in the movie industry. In 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 Manual and Safety Check list, confirming the 

altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS altitude indicator before flight.

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."

The battery powering the UAS provides approximately 40 minutes of powered flight. To 

meet the 30 minute reserve requirement in 14 C.F.R. § 91.151, UAS flights would be limited to 

approximately 10 minutes in length. Given the limitations on the UAS's proposed flight area and 

the location of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight 

in daylight or night VFR conditions is reasonable.

Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 C.F.R. § 91.151 (a) falls within the scope 

of prior exemptions. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to operate 

without compliance with FAR 91.151 (a)). Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area 

where only people and property owners or official representatives who have signed waivers will 

be allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that 

Section 91.151 (a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the small UAS. 
Page 15 of 17

Additionally, limiting UAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the utility for which the 

exemption will be granted.

Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 

30 minutes or 25% of battery power whichever happens first. This restriction would be more 

than adequate to return the UAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its limited 

operating area. Similar exemptions have been granted to other operations, including Exemptions 

2689F, 5745, 10673, and 10808

14 C.F.R. § 91.405 (a); § 407 (a) (1); § 409 (a) (2); § 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 paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of 

this chapter..." and 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. If mechanical issues arise the UAS 

can land immediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL. As provided in 

the Operating Manual, Chapters 11 and 12, the operator will ensure that the UAS is in working 

order prior to initiating flight, will perform required maintenance, and will keep a log of any 

maintenance performed. 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.
Page 16 of 17

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided for publication in the 

Federal Register, should it be determined that publication is needed:

Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules:

14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) and (b); 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) to operate commercially a small unmanned vehicle 

(55 lbs. or less) in motion picture and television operations.

Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of UAS’s in the film industry 

will enhance safety by reducing risk. Conventional film operations, using jet or piston power 

aircraft, operate at extremely low altitudes just feet from the subject being filmed and in extreme 

proximity to people and structures; and present the risks associated with aircraft that weigh in the 

neighborhood of 4,000 lbs., carrying large amounts of jet A or other fuel (140 gallons for jet 

helicopters shown below). Such aircraft must fly to and from the film location. In contrast, a 

UAS weighing fewer than 55 lbs. and powered by batteries eliminates virtually all of that risk 

given the reduced mass and lack of combustible fuel carried on board. The UAS is carried to the 

film set and not flown. The UAS will carry no passengers or crew; therefore, it will not expose 

them to the risks associated with manned aircraft flights.

The operation of small UASs, weighting less than 55 lbs., conducted in the strict 

conditions outlined above, will provide an equivalent level of safety supporting the grant of the 

exemptions requested herein. These lightweight aircraft operate at slow speeds, close to the 

ground, and in a sterile environment and, as a result, are far safer than conventional operations 

conducted with turbine helicopters operating in close proximity to the ground and people.

PRIVACY

All flights will occur over private or controlled access property with the property owner's 

prior consent and knowledge. Filming will be of people who have also consented to being filmed 

or otherwise have agreed to be in the area where filming will take place. The grant of this 

exemption request will provide improved safety over the use of manned aircraft.
Page 17 of 17

Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 2012-size, 

weight, speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation 

within visual line of sight and national security - provides more than adequate justification for 

the grant of the requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of applicant's UAS in the 

motion picture and television industry pursuant to the Operating Manual appended hereto.

Sincerely yours,

_____________________

Jonathan Rupprecht, Esq.