Owner/Operator: Chris Mercer [908

- 783

- 5428]

310 Eastham Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 

## Mercer Design Center

310 Eastham Rd

Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

Phone: 908

- 783

- 5428

Email: mercer@m2menergy.com

August 4 , 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)

Docket Operations, M

- 30

1200 New Jersey Avenue., SE

Room W12

- 140, West Building Ground Fl oor

Washington, DC 20590

- 0001



### Re: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act of 2012

To wh o m i t m ay c o n c ern,

In accordance with the FAA’s Guidelines for Submitting a Petition for Exemption under section 333 of

the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012

, Mercer Design Center ( MDC )

, an o p era t o r o f s m all U n m a nn e d

Ai r cra f t S y st e m s (sU AS ), s e e k s e x em p ti o n f r o m the sections of Title 14 C.F.R [ Fe d eral Avi a ti o n Reg u lat i on s ] t o

permit c o mm e r cial o p e r ati o ns o f its s U A S fleet :

• DJI F450 Quadcopter w/ gop ro camera gimbal

• DJI S900 Hexacopter w/ SLR camera gimbal

• Matrix E Quadcopter w/ SLR camera gimbal

MDC's requested exemption would permit the following operation s of MDC's sUAS fleet to capture

photographic and video information for ( but not limited to ) t he telecommunications industry :

Telecommunications: Cellular tower inspections, audits, etc.

• operations are under controlled conditions within cellular tower airspace which is: (i) limited, (ii)

predetermined, (iii) subject to controlled access through o ur customers, and (iv) provides greater safety

in connection with aircraft operations in the telecommunication industry.

• mitigate the use of technician climbers on several scopes of work, lowering cost and saving lives

• increased turnover rates puts sites b ack on air/service faster, including emergency service s utilizing

cellular towers

The majority of MDC’s sUAS flights will be in the telecommunications industry and be flown to achieve an aerial

view and video recording of wireless provider antennas and li nes that are secured to vertical towers (also

commonly known as cell phone towers). MDC’s sUAS flights will also be used to view and record open antenna

locations on towers for potential future modifications and additions. Video data captured from the fl ights will be

analyzed to identify any site damage including: lightning strikes, FAA mandated tower strobe lights, shelter and

cabinet roofs, ice bridge infrastructure, tower steel components and coax cable tears. Sending a sUAS to view

and record the phy sical status of antennas saves multiple trips up and down the tower that are currently

performed by technicians. Strobe lighting is used to identify a tower in darkness or in bad weather conditions for

low flying airplanes or aircrafts. Without properly fu nctioning strobe lighting, towers and more importantly low

flying aircrafts could be at risk of hitting a cell tower. Equipment shelter and cabinets will also be viewed for

damage from falling tree limbs or leaks from weather damage can be assessed before being repaired. The ice

bridge protects the coaxial cables leaving the shelter or cabinet to the antennas from falling tree limbs, snow and

ice, tools from tower climbers, and debris or equipment falling from the tower. From the ground, a minimum

amount o f damage can be observed. Most auditors and technician would not have proper safety equipment onOwner/Operator: Chris Mercer [908

- 783

- 5428]

310 Eastham Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 hand to properly assess the shelter and cabinet roofs as well as the ice bridges. With a sUAS flight, these damages

can be assessed easily, safely and quickly.

In addition to telecommunications, the following industries will be included as part of MDC's sUAS service base.

As with cellular tower sites, construction and real estate work will be conducted on private, restricted properties

with little to no bystan ders in the vicinity of any sUAS operations.

Construction: Residential/Commercial

• aerial photos for design and construction planning

• aerial photos of construction progress and completion

• property, building and equipment inspections

• mapping and survey

Rea l Estate: Residential/Commercial

• property photos and video promotion

• property tours



## I n f o r m a ti o n S upp o r ti n g t h i s P e tit i o n as S p e cif i ed in 1 4 C. F .R. § 1 1

. 8 1

(a

) Y o u r n a me a n d m a i l i n g ad d

r e s s a n d

, i

f y o u wi s h

, o t h er c o n t a ct in f

o r

m a t io n s u c h a s a f a

x n u m b e r

, t el e p ho n e

n u m b e r

, o r e

- m a i l a d d r e s s;

Mercer Design Center

Christopher Mercer

President, CEO

Re: Ex e m p t i o n R eq u est

310 Eastham Rd

Point Pleasant, NJ 08742

P h o n e : 908

- 783

- 5428

E m ai l : mercer@m2menergy.com

(b ) T h e s p e c i fic sec t i o n o r sec t i o n s o f 1 4 C

. F

. R

. fr o m wh i c h MDC s e e k s a n ex e m p t io n

• 2 1

– S u bp art H C ertific a ti o n proced u r e s f o r p r o du c ts a n d parts, Air w o rth in e s s Certifica t es

• 45

. 2 3

– D i sp l ay o f m ar k s; g eneral

• 61

. 11 3

- P riv a te pi l o t p r i v i l eges and l i m itat i o n s: P i l o t in c om m a n d

• 91

. 10 3

– P r e fl igh t Act i o n s

• 91

. 10 5

– F l i gh t c r e w m e m b er s at s t at i on s

• 91

. 10 9

– F l i gh t i n s truct i o n ; S i m u lated i n s tru m ent fli gh t and certain f l i gh t t e s ts

• 91

. 11 9

– M i n i m u m safe a l t i tu d es: G eneral

• 91

. 12 1

– A l t i m e t e r se t ti ng s

• 91

. 15 1

– F u el req u ir e m ents f o r fli gh ts in V i su a l F l i gh t R u les ( V F R) c o nd it i o ns

• 91

. 2 0 3

– Civil ai r craf t : ce r t i ficati o n r eq u ired

• 91

. 40 5

– M ai n t ena n ce r e q u ired

• 91

. 40 7

– Operat i o n a f t e r m ai n t e n a n ce, p r e v entat i v e m ai n t e n a n c e, r eb u il d i ng , and

alterat i o n

• 91

. 40 9

– I n s p ec t i o n s

• 91

. 41 7

– M ai n t ena n ce r e c o r d s

 We bel i e v e an e x e m p t i o n f r o m t h e a bo v e r eg u lati o n s will a l l o w MDC t o c o ndu ct the

ne e d ed w o rk as d e scri b ed a b o v e.Owner/Operator: Chris Mercer [908

- 783

- 5428]

310 Eastham Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 ( c) Th e ext e n t o f r e li ef MDC s e e k s

, a n d th e r e a s o n MDC s e e k s t h e r e l

i ef

MDC s e e k s an e x e m p t i o n f o r s e v e ral pr o v is i o n s o f 1 4 C. F .R. P arts 2 1

, 45

, 6 1 , and 9 1 to t h e e x t e n t t o

o p e ra t e s m all U A Ss ar o un d cell u lar t o w e r s a n d c o m p o un d facilit i es.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 2 1 , S ubp art H which s t a t es the c ertific a t i o n pr o ced u res f o r p r o du cts

and par t s as w e ll as air w o rth in ess ce r tifica te s. D u e to t h e l i m i t ed airs p a ce that MDC will b e u si n g at cell u lar

l o c a ti o n s, we a r e s e e ki n g e x e m p t i o n t o t h e a i rw o rth i n ess cer t if i c a ti o n p r o c e ss. MDC has de v el o p ed o u r o wn

tr a i n i n g proced u res a n d r eg u lati o n s to p r o m o te and p r ov i d e safe fl y i n g e xperi e n ces f o r o u r P I C (s) whi c h c an be

v i e w ed in se c ti o n (e) o f t h is p e t it i o n

.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 4 5 .2 3

, w h ich d i scusses the dis p lay o f m ar k s. S p ecifical l y , sect i o n

4 5

. 2 3 s tate s , “(a) e ach o p er a t o r o f an aircra f t m u st d is p l a y o n t h at ai r cra f t m a r ks c o n sisti n g o f the R o m an ca p ital

l e t t er “ N ” ( d e n o ti n g Un i t ed Sta t es r eg i strat i o n ) f o l lo w e d b y t h e reg i str a ti o n n u m b er o f t h e aircra f t. Each suff i x

l e t t e r used in the m arks di s p lay e d m u st al s o b e a R om an ca p ital l e t t er ( b ) w h en m arks inc lud e o n l y t h e R o m an

ca p ital l e t t er “ N ” a n d t h e r e g ist r at i o n n umb er is d i sp l a y ed o n li m ited, r e str i ct e d o r li gh t

- s p o rt c a t e g o ry ai r craft o r

e xp eri m e n tal o r p ro v is i o n al l y certific a t e d ai r craft, the o p era t o r m u st a l so dis p lay o n that ai r craft n e ar e ach

e n tra n c e t o t h e ca b i n

, c o ckp i t, o r p i l o t st a ti o n , in le t t e r s n o t le s s t h an 2 i n ches n o r m o r e than 6 inc h e s hi gh

, t h e

w o r d s “ l i m ited

, ” “ re s tric t ed,” “ l igh t

- sport

, ” “ e x p eri m ental

, ” o r “ p r o v is i o n a l ,” as ap p l i ca b le ”

. MDC will ne e d

e x e m p t i o n fr o m t h is r eg u lati o n du e to t h e s m all size o f t h e aircraft a n d t h at t h ere is n o ca b i n

, c o c kp i t, o r p i l o t

st ati o n f o r t h e ai r cra f t.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 6 1 .1 1 3

, which d isc u sses p r i v ate pi l o t pr i v i leges a n d l i m itat i o n s f o r

t h e P i l o t in c o m m a n d ( P IC). S p ecifical l y

, s e ct i o n 61

. 1 1 3 s t a t e s “ ( a ) Ex c ept as p r ov i d ed in p ara g ra p h s ( b ) thro ug h

( h ) o f t h is se c ti o n

, n o pe r s o n who h o l d s a p r i v a t e p il o t c ertifica t e m ay act as p i l o t in c om m a n d o f an aircraft t h at is

car r y i n g passen g e r s o r p r o p er t y f o r c om p ensat i o n o r hi r e; n o r m a y t h a t p ers o n

, f o r c o m p ens a ti o n o r h i re, act as

p i l o t in c om m a n d o f an aircra f t. ( b ) A pr i v ate pi l o t m a y

, f o r c o m p ensat i o n o r h i re, act a s pi l o t in c om m a n d o f an

a i rcraft in c o nn e c ti o n with a n y b u si n ess o r e m p l o y m ent if: ( 1 ) T h e fl i g h t is o n l y inc id ental t o t h at bu si n ess o r

e m p l o y m e n t; a n d (2 ) T h e ai r cra f t d o es n o t car r y pas s en g ers o r p r op erty f o r c o m p ens a ti o n o r h ire (c) A pr i v a t e

p i l o t m ay n o t p ay less t h an t h e p ro rata share o f the o p er a ti n g e xpens e s o f a fl igh t wi t h passen g ers, p r ov i d ed the

e xpen s es i nv o l v e o n ly f u el, o il, air p o r t e x p en d it u res, o r ren t al f e es

. ( d ) A pr iv ate pi lo t m ay act as p il o t in c om m a n d

o f a ch a rita b le, n o np r o fit, o r c om m un ity e v ent fli gh t d e scr i b ed in § 9 1

. 1 46

, if t h e sp o n s o r and pi l o t c o m p ly with

t h e r e qu ir e m en t s o f § 91

. 14 6 . ( e ) A pr i v a te pi l o t m ay be r ei m bu r s ed f o r air c raft o p erating e xp enses that are

di r ec t l y r e l at e d to search a n d l o cat i o n o p erat i o n s, p r ov i d ed the e x p en s es inv o l v e o n ly fuel, o il, ai rp o rt

e x p en d it u re s

, o r r e n tal f e e s , and t h e o p e rat i o n is sa n ct i o n ed and u nd er t h e d irect i o n and c o n t r o l o f: ( 1 ) A l o cal,

St a t e

, o r F e d eral a g en c y ; o r ( 2 ) An o r g a n i z ati o n t h at c o ndu c t s s e a r ch a n d l o c a ti o n o p erat i o n s. (f) A pr i v a te pi l o t

who i s an aircr a ft sa l e s m an and w h o h a s at l east 2 0 0 h o u rs o f l o gg ed fli gh t ti m e m ay d e m o n str a te an ai r craft in

fl igh t to a p r o sp e c ti v e b u y er. (g) A p r i v ate p i l o t who m e e ts t h e req u ire m ents o f §6 1 .69 m a y act as a pi l o t in

c om m a n d o f an ai r craft t o wing a g li d er o r u np o w ered u ltrali gh t v eh i c l e. ( h ) A pr iv ate pi lo t m ay act as p il o t in

c om m a n d f o r t h e p u r p o se o f c o ndu cting a p r o du cti o n fli gh t t e s t in a l i gh t

- sport air c raft i n t en d ed f o r c ertific a ti o n

in the li ght

- sport c at e g o ry u nd er § 21

. 1 9 0 o f t h is c h a p t e r, p r ov i d ed t h a t

— ( 1 ) T h e ai r c r aft is a p o w ered pa r a ch u te

o r a w e i gh t

- sh i ft

- c o n t r o l ai r craft; (2 ) T h e per s o n has at le a st 1 0 0 h o u rs o f p i l ot

- i n

- c o m m a n d ti m e in t h e ca t eg o ry

and class o f ai r craft f l o wn; and ( 3 ) T h e p ers o n is fa m iliar w ith t h e p r o ce s s es a n d p r o ced u r es a pp lica b le t o t h e

c o ndu ct o f p r o du ct i o n fli gh t t e s ti ng

, t o inc lud e o p er a t i o n s c o ndu ct e d u nd er a sp e cial fli gh t p e r m it and a n y

as s o cia t ed o p erating l i m itat i o ns ”

. MDC is s e e ki n g e x e m p t i o n f r o m t h is r eg u latio n , b e ca u se MDC b elie v es that

t h e r e is i n c o n cl u si v e e v i d ence that a p e r s o n w i th a pr i v ate pi l o t ce r tificate can suc c essfu l ly m a n e u v er a sUAS

w i th o u t f irst ha n d fli gh t e x p erience with t h e partic u lar s U A S. Th er ef o r e, we b elie v e o u r o wn fli gh t trai n i n g w ith

t h e sU A S w ill be m o re t h a n sa t isfac t o r y

.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .1 0 3

, which d isc u sses p r e

- fl igh t act i o n s. S p ecifical l y , se c t i o n

9 1

. 1 0 3 s t a t es, “ E ac h pi l o t in c o m m a n d sha l l, b ef o re beg inn i n g a f l igh t, b e c o m e f a m iliar with all a v ai l a b le

in f o r m at i o n c o n c ern in g t h at fl igh t. T h is in f o r m at i o n m u st i n cl ud e : (a) F o r a fli gh t und er I F R o r a fl igh t n o t in the

v ici n ity o f a n air p o rt, w e a ther r ep o r t s a n d f o rec a sts, f u el r e q u ir e m ent s , al t ern a ti v es a v ai l a b le if t h e p la nn ed fli g h tOwner/Operator: Chris Mercer [908

- 783

- 5428]

310 Eastham Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 ca nn o t be c o m p le t ed, a n d any kn o wn tra f fic del a y s o f which t h e pi l o t in c o m m a n d has been advi se d by AT C ; (b)

F o r a n y fli gh t, ru n way l en g ths at air p o r t s o f i n t e nd ed use, a n d the f o l l o wing t a k e o ff and l a nd i n g dista n ce

i n f o r m at i o n : ( 1 ) F o r c i v il aircra f t f o r w h ich an a pp r o v ed A i r p la n e o r R o t o rc r aft Fl ig h t M a nu al c o n tai n i n g t a k e o f f

and la nd i n g dista n ce d ata is req u ire d

, the t ak e o ff a n d la nd i n g dista n ce d ata c o n tai n ed t h erein; and ( 2 ) F o r c i v il

aircra f t o th e r than t h o se s p ecified in p ara g r a p h ( b )( 1 ) o f th i s s e c ti o n

, o ther relia b le in f o r m a ti o n ap p r o p ri a te to t h e

ai r c raft, rel a ti n g t o aircra f t p erf o r m a n ce u nd er e x p ec t ed v al u e s o f air p o r t e l e v a t i o n and ru n w a y s l o p e, ai r c r aft

gr o s s w eig h t, a n d wind and t e m p eratu r e ”

. A n e x e m p t i o n is r eq u es t ed f r o m s e cti o n 9 1

. 1 03

, as F A A ap p r o v ed

r o t o rcraft fl igh t m a nu als will no t b e u se d . In t h e a b s ence o f the f li gh t m a nu als t h e P IC will t ake all p r e

- fl igh t

acti o n s, inc lud i n g re v i e w i n g w ea t h er, fl igh t b a t t e r y r e qu ire m ent s , la nd i n g a n d t a k eo ff d ista n c e s, and ai r cra ft

per f o r m a n ce data b ef o re s t arti n g a fl igh t.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .1 0 5

, which d isc u sses fl igh t cre wm e m b ers at s t at i o n s. S p ecifical l y

,

9 1 .1 0 5 s tat e s “(a) D u ri n g t ak e o ff a n d la nd i ng , and w h ile en r o u t e, e a c h r e qu ired fli gh t cre w m e m b er sha l l ( 1 ) B e a t

the cre wm e m b er st a ti o n un less the ab s ence is n e c e s sary t o p e rf o r m d u t i es in c o nn e c ti o n with t h e o p e rati o n o f

t h e ai r cra f t o r in c o nn ec t i o n w i th p h y s i o l o g i c al n e e d s; and ( 2 ) K e e p the saf e ty belt f a st e n ed w h ile a t the

c r e w m e m b er s t a t i o n . (b) E a ch req u ired fli gh t cre w m e m b er o f a U. S.

- reg i st e red ci v il ai r craft sha l l, d u ri n g t ak e o ff

a n d l a nd i ng

, k e e p his o r her sh o u l d er h ar n ess f a st e n ed whi l e at his o r her a ssi gn ed d u ty s t ati o n

. This p ara g ra p h

d o es n o t a pp ly if ( 1 ) T h e seat a t the cre w m e m b er's s t at i o n is n o t eq u i pp ed with a sh o u l d e r ha rn ess; o r (2 ) T h e

cr ew m e m b er w o u ld be un a b le t o p erf o r m req u ir e d d u ties w i th the shoul d er h ar n ess fas t ened. MDC wi l l need

e x e m p t i o n fr o m th i s r e gu lat i o n d u e t o the f act that t h e sU A S will n o t have a fli gh t c r ew o r crew s t ati o n s o ther

t h an t h e P IC. T h e P IC w ill al s o n o t h a v e to b e r e strai n ed i n t o a s eat v ia s h o u l d er h ar n ess o r safe t y belt at the t i m e

o f t h e fli gh t.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .1 0 9

, which d isc u sses fl igh t i n s truct i o n

, si m u la t ed i n strument

fli gh t

, a n d c ert a in fli gh t t e s t s. S p ecifical l y

, 91

. 10 9 s t a t e s “ ( a ) N o per s o n m ay o p erate a c i v il ai r craft ( e x c ept a

m a nn ed f ree b al l oo n ) t h at is b e i n g u sed f o r fli gh t i n struct i o n u n less that aircraft has f u lly fu n cti o n i n g d u al

c o n t r o ls. H o w e v er, instr u m ent f l i gh t i n structi o n m a y be gi v en in an air p la n e that is eq u i pp ed with a si ng le,

fu n cti o n i n g t h r o w o v er c o n t r o l w h e e l t h at c o n t r o ls the el e v a t o r and ai l e r o n s, in p lace o f fix e d

, d u al c o n tr o l s, w h en

( 1 ) T h e i n s truc t o r h as det e r m i n ed that t h e fl i gh t can be c o ndu ct e d safel y ; and ( 2 ) T h e p er s o n m a n i pu lati n g t h e

c o n t r o ls h as at le a st a pr i v a t e p il o t c ertifica t e w i th a pp r o p ri a te cat e g o ry and c lass rati ng s. (b) An air p la n e

e qu i pp ed with a sin g le, f u n cti o n i n g t h r o w o v er c o n t r o l w h e e l that c o n t r o ls t h e e l e v a t o r and aile r o n s, i n pl a ce o f

fi x ed, d u al c o n t r o ls m ay be u s ed f o r fl igh t i n structi o n t o c o ndu ct a fli gh t r e v i e w r eq u ired b y § 61

. 5 6 o f th i s c h a p t er,

o r to o b tain r ec e n t fli gh t e x p erien c e o r an i n str u m e n t p r o fic i ency check r e qu i r ed by §6 1 .57 w h en (1 ) T h e ai rp la n e

is eq u i p p ed with o p era b le ru dd er ped a l s at b o th p i l o t st a ti o n s ; ( 2 ) The p il o t m a n i pu lati n g t h e c o n t r o ls is q u al i f i ed

t o ser v e a n d s e r v e s as p i l o t in c o m m a n d d u ri n g t h e enti r e fl igh t; ( 3 ) T h e i n s truc t o r i s c u rre n t a n d q u al i fied to s er v e

as pi l o t in c o m m a n d o f t h e a ir p la n e, m e e t s t h e req u ir e m ents o f § 61

. 19 5 (b), and has l o gg ed a t least 2 5 h o u rs o f

p i l ot

- i n

- c om m a n d fli gh t t i m e in t h e m ake a n d m o d el o f air p la n e ; a n d (4 ) The p il o t in c o m m a n d and t h e i n s truc t o r

ha v e d e t e r m i n ed t h e fl i g h t can be c o ndu c t ed safe l y

. ( c) N o pe r s o n m ay o p era t e a ci v il ai r craft in s i m u lated

i n s tru m ent fli gh t un less ( 1 ) The o ther c o n t r o l seat i s occ up ied by a safety pi l o t w h o p o sses s e s at lea s t a pr i v ate

pi l o t ce r t i ficate with c a t e g o ry a n d c l ass ratin g s ap p r o p ri a te to the aircra f t b ei n g f l o wn. ( 2 ) The sa f e t y pi l o t has

a d e qu ate v is i o n f o rward and t o e a ch si d e o f the ai r craft, o r a c o m p e t e n t o b ser v er in t h e aircraft ade q u at e ly

su pp le m en t s the v isi o n o f t h e saf e ty pi l o t ; a n d (3 ) E xc e p t in t h e ca s e o f li gh t e r

- tha n

- air aircra f t, t h at ai r craft is

eq u i pp e d wi t h fu l ly f un ct i o n i n g d u al c o n t r o ls. H o w e v er, s i m u la t ed i n stru m ent fli gh t m a y b e c o ndu ct e d in a sin g l e

en g i n e ai rp la n e, eq u i pp ed with a si ng le, fu n ct i o n i ng

, t h r o w o v er c o n t r o l whe e l, i n pl a ce o f fi x ed, d u al c o n t r o ls o f

t h e e l e v a t o r a n d ai l er o n s, when ( i ) The saf et y pi l o t has d e t e r m i n ed th a t t h e fl igh t c an be c o ndu c te d safel y ; and ( ii)

T h e p ers o n m a n i pu lati n g t h e c on tr o ls h a s at l east a pr i v ate pi l o t c ertific a te with ap p r op ri a te ca t eg o r y and class

rati ng s. (d) No p er s o n m a y o p era t e a c i v il ai r craft t h at i s b ei n g used f o r a fli g h t t e s t f o r an a i rl in e tra n sport pi l o t

cer t if i cate o r a c lass o r t y p e rati n g o n t h at cer t if i cat e

, o r f o r a p art 1 2 1 p ro ficien c y fli gh t t e st, u n less t h e p il o t

se a t e d at t h e c o n tr o l s

, o ther than t h e p il o t b ei n g c h e ck e d

, i s fu l ly qu al i f ied t o a ct as p i l o t in c o m m a n d o f the

ai r craft ” . A g ai n

, MDC beli e v e s t h at t h ere i s inc o n cl u si v e e v i d en c e that a p er s o n with a p r i v ate pi l o t ce r tifi c ate o r

li c ense c an succ e ss f u lly m a n eu v er o r t ra i n s om e o n e t o use an sU A S with o u t first h a n d fli gh t e xp erienc e with t h e

p artic u l a r sU AS . The r ef o r e, we bel i e v e o u r o wn fli gh t trai n i n g and first h a n d e x p eriences w ith the s U A S will beOwner/Operator: Chris Mercer [908

- 783

- 5428]

310 Eastham Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 satis f ac t o ry. A l s o

, t h e sU A S will be o p e r at e d b y a r e m o t e c o n t r o l, which w ill o n ly r eq u ire a o n e p e r s o n o p era t o r

and d u al c o n t r o ls w ill n o t be n ec e ssa r y

.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .1 1 9

, which d isc u sses m i n i m u m s afe a lt it ud es. S p ecifical l y

, 1 4

C.F

. R. 9 1

. 11 9 s t a t e s “ E xc e p t w h en n e c essary f o r t a k e o ff o r la nd i ng , no per s o n m a y o p era t e an air c raft be l o w t h e

f o l l o wing alt i tu d es: ( a) A n ywhe r e. An a l titu d e al l o win g , if a p o w e r u n it fa i ls, an e m er g ency la nd i n g w it h o u t undu e

h a z ard t o p ers o n s o r p r o p e r ty o n t h e s u rfac e . (b) O v er c ong es t ed a r e a s. O v er a n y c o ng es t ed ar e a o f a c i t y

, t o wn,

o r s e t tl e m en t

, o r o v er a n y o p en air as se m b ly o f per s o n s, an altitu d e o f 1

, 0 0 0 f e et a b o v e the hi gh est o b st a cle

within a h o ri z o n t al ra d i u s o f 2

, 0 0 0 f e et o f t h e aircra f t. ( c) Ov e r ot h er t ha n c ong e s ted a r eas. A n altitu d e o f 5 0 0 f e et

a b o v e the su r face, e x cept o v er o p en w a t e r o r sp a rse l y p o pu la t ed are a s. In t ho se cases, t h e ai r craft m a y n o t be

o p erat e d cl o ser than 5 0 0 f e e t t o any per s on

, v e s sel, v eh i c l e, o r str u c t u re. (d) H elic op t e r s, p o w e r ed p a r a c hu te s

,

a n d weig h t

- shi f

t

- c on t r ol air c r a ft. If the o p er a ti o n i s c o ndu ct e d w i th o u t ha z ard t o pe r s o n s o r p r o p er t y o n t h e

su r face

— ( 1 ) A h eli c o p t e r m ay be o p era t ed at less t h an t h e m i n i m u m s p r es c ri b e d in p ara g ra p h ( b ) o r ( c) o f t h is

se c ti o n , p r o v i d ed e a ch p e rs o n o p e r ati n g t h e h e lic o p t e r c om p li e s w i th a n y r o u t e s o r altitu d es specif i cally

prescri b ed f o r helic o p t ers b y t h e F A A; a n d ( 2 ) A p o w ered pa r a ch u te o r weig h t

- sh i f t

- c o n t r o l ai r craft m ay be

o p era t ed at less t h an t h e m i n i m u m s prescri b ed in par ag ra p h ( c) o f t h is s e cti o n ”

. MDC se e ks e xe m p ti o n f r o m t h is

reg u lati o n d u e t o t h e fact t h at cell t o w e rs are l ess than 5 0 0 ft a n d we wi ll b e flyi n g in cl o s e p r o x i m ities o f t h e

t o w e rs to gat h er o u r i n f o r m a ti o n

.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .1 2 1

, As discussed in Exemption 11138 (DOUGLAS TRUDEAU) is

inapplicable since the UAS does not have an altimeter and instead utilizes electron ic GPS with a barometric

sensor for altitude information

.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .1 5 1

, which d isc u sses f u el r e qu ir e m en t s f o r fli gh t in V F R

c o nd iti o n s. S p ecifical l y

, 91

. 1 5 1 s t a t e s “ ( a ) N o per s o n m ay beg i n a fl igh t in an ai r p la n e und er V F R c o nd iti o n s u n less

( c o n si d e r i n g w i n d and f o r e cast w e a t h er c o nd it i o n s) there is e n o ug h fuel t o f l y t o t h e fi r st p o i n t o f inten d ed

la nd i n g an d , assu m i n g n o r m al c r u is i n g spe e d

— ( 1 ) D u ri n g t h e d ay, to fly a f t e r that f o r at lea s t 3 0 m i nu t e s ; o r ( 2 )

At ni gh t, t o fl y aft e r t h at f o r at lea s t 4 5 m i nu t e s. ( b ) N o per s o n m ay beg i n a fl igh t in a r o t o r craft u nd er V F R

co nd it i o n s u n less ( c o n si d eri n g w i n d and f o r eca s t w e ather c o nd it i o n s) there is e n o ug h f u el t o fly t o t h e first p o i n t

o f i n t en d e d la nd i n g an d , assu m i n g n o r m al cr u isi n g s p e e d

, to fly af t er that f o r at l east 2 0 m i nu t e s ”

. MDC ’s sU A S

h as a m a xi m u m fli gh t ti m e o f 2 5 m i nu t e s which is l ess than t h e 3 0 m i nu t e re s er v e m i n i m u m

. T h is re s er v e

m i n i m u m w o u ld n o t e v en al l o w MDC ’s S U AS a ch an ce t o f l y . In MDC ’s ai r c raft fli gh t m a nu al, the P IC i s instr u ct e d

t o m ai n tain fli g h t un til b a t t e ry p o w er reaches 2 5 %. MDC beli e v e s t h e r es t ra in t issued in o u r aircraft fl igh t m a nu al

a ch i e v es a s atis f ac t o ry safety s t a nd ard t o g o by. Th is res t ri c ti o n w o u ld a l so b e m o r e than ade qu a t e t o r e t u rn t h e

sU A S t o i t s h o m e p o i n t o r pr e

- d e t e r m i n ed la nd i n g

- z o n e fr o m a n y where in i ts al r eady l i m i t ed o p er a ti n g area.

MDC ’s sU A S will n o t b e fl o wn d u r i n g ni gh t o r l a t e e v en in g h ou rs.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .2 0 3

, which d isc u sses c i v il airc r aft r eq u ir ed cer t if i c a ti o n s.

S p e cif i cal l y

, 91

. 20 3 s t a t e s “ ( a ) E x cept a s pr o v i d ed in § 91

. 7 1 5

, n o p ers o n m a y o p era t e a ci v il aircra f t un less it h as

w i th i n it the f o l l o win g : ( 1 ) An a pp r o p ri a te and cu r rent ai r w o rth in e ss c ertific a t e . Each U. S . air w o rth in e s s c e r tificate

u sed t o c o m p ly wi t h t h is su bp ara g ra p h ( e x ce p t a sp e cial fli gh t p e r m it, a c o p y o f t h e ap p lica b le o p erati o n s

specifi c ati o n s iss u ed u nd er § 21

. 1 9 7 (c) o f th i s c h a p t e r, ap p r o p ri a te se c t i o n s o f t h e air carr i er m a nu al req u ired b y

parts 1 2 1 and 1 3 5 o f th i s c h a p t e r c o n tai n i n g t h at p o rt i o n o f t h e o p erat i o n s sp e cifica t i o n s issued u nd er § 21

. 19 7 ( c),

o r an a u t h o ri z at i o n u nd er § 91

. 6 1 1 ) m u st h a v e o n it the r egistrat i o n n u m b er assi gn ed to the ai r craft und er p art 4 7

o f t h is c h a p t er. H o w e v er, the ai r w o r th in ess c ertific a te n e ed not have o n it an a s si gn ed special i d entificat i o n

n u m b er b ef o r e 1 0 d a y s after th a t nu m b er is fir s t a f fixed t o t h e ai r cra f t. A r e v i s ed air w o rth in ess ce r tif i ca t e having

o n i t an assi gn ed special i d entificat i o n n u m b e r

, t h at has b e en aff i x e d t o an ai r craft, m a y o n ly b e o b tai n ed u p o n

a pp licati o n t o an F A A Fl igh t Sta nd ar d s district o ff i ce. (2 ) An e ff e cti v e U. S

. r egistrat i o n ce r tifica t e iss u ed to i t s

o wner o r, f o r o p erat i o n w it h in the Uni t ed St a t e s

, t h e s e c o n d c o p y o f t h e A i r craft r e g i s trat i o n A pp licati o n as

p r o v i d ed f o r in § 4 7

. 3 1 (c )

, o r a reg i s trat i o n ce r tificat i o n issued u nd er the l aws o f a f o r eign c o un tr y

. (b) N o per s o n

m ay o p er a te a civil aircraft u n l e ss t h e air w o rth in ess cer t if i c ate r e qu i r ed by p ara g ra p h ( a) o f t h is s ec t i o n o r a

special fli gh t aut h o r i z ati o n is sued u nd er § 91

. 71 5 is d is p l a y ed at t h e ca b in o r c o c kp i t e n tra n ce s o t h at it is legi b le

to p a sse n g ers o r cr e w. ( c ) N o per s o n m a y o p era t e an ai r craft with a f u el t a n k instal l ed w i th i n t h e p as s en g erOwner/Operator: Chris Mercer [908

- 783

- 5428]

310 Eastham Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 c o m p ar t m ent o r a b a gg a g e c om p a r t m ent u n less the instal l at i o n was a c c omp lished p u rs u a n t to part 4 3 o f th i s

c h a p t e r , and a c o p y o f F A A F o r m 3 3 7 a u th o ri z i n g t h at i n s t al l ati o n is o n b o ard t h e ai r cra f t. ( d ) N o per s o n m a y

o p era t e a ci v il air p la n e ( d o m es t ic o r f o rei gn ) i n t o o r o u t o f an air p o rt in t h e U n ited St a t e s u n less it c o m p lies w ith

t h e f u el v enti n g and e x h a u st e m i s si o n s r eq u ir e m ents o f part 3 4 o f th i s c h a p t e r ”

. MDC beli e v es t h at an

ap p r o p ri a te and cu r rent air w o rth i n ess c erti f icate w o u ld n o t b e n e c ess a ry t o f l y a sU A S gi v en t h e s i z e o f the

ai r craft and the ne c essa r y l e v el o f s kill n e e d ed t o o p era t e t h e ai r c raft. MDC s e e k s e x e m p t i o n fr o m t h is r e gu lat i o n

b ecause we b elie v e th i s ru l e was n o t m eant f o r a sU A S a n d o p era t o rs.

MDC s e e k s e x e m p ti o n fr o m 1 4 C. F .R. 9 1 .4 0 5

, 91

. 4 0 7

, 91

. 4 0 9 , and 91

. 4 1 7

, which d isc u sses req u ired

a ircraft m ai n t e n a n ce, o p erat i o n af t er m ai n t ena n ce, p r e v e n ti v e m ai n t en a n ce, reb u il d i ng

, o r alterat i o n

,

ins p e c ti o n s, and m ai n t ena n ce r e c o r d s. In MDC ’s ai r craft fl igh t m a nu a l

, m ai n t ena n ce a n d i n specti o n p r o c ed u res

h a v e b e e n es t a b lished f o r t h e ai r craft. MDC b e l i e v es t h e s e reg u lat i o n s a r e m eant f o r m a nn ed o p era t ed airc r afts

a n d n o t un m a n n ed s y s t e m s, t h ere f o re m aki n g th e m u nn e c essar y

. N e v e r theles s

, w e s e ek an e x em p ti o n f r o m any

such s p ecific p r ov is i o n s t o the e x te n t F A A f ind s it n ec e ssa r y t o gr an t t h is r eq u es t

.

(d) The reasons why granting MDC ’s request would be in the public interest; that is, how it would benefit the

public as a whole

MDC is class i fied as se r v ic e provider t o t h e wireless i ndu str y

. Wire l ess s e r v i ces h a v e b e c o m e a m aj o r

ba c kb o n e f o r nati o n w i d e 9 1 1 e m erge n c y respo n se a n d MDC ’s u s e o f a sU A S can assist in v erify i n g t hat the

c o m p o n ents t h at m ake u p that b ackb o n e are fu l l y fu n ct i o n al a n d in p r o p er rep a i r

. With M DC ’s sUAS u sa g e in t h e

w i r eless i ndu st r y

, we will b e a b le t o gat h er v al u a b le i n f o r m a ti o n to help incre a s e saf e ty and p r o du ct i v it y

. I n

ad d iti o n

, t h e sUAS fl igh ts will m i n i m i z e t h e n e ed f o r t e chnicia n s t o cl i m b t o w ers, pu t ti n g f e w er l i v es in da ng er.

Ulti m a t e l y , t o w er cl i m b ers w ill s till b e n e e ded t o install t o w e r e q u i p m ent, b u t a sU A S will d e cr e a s e the a mo un t o f

ti m e s a cl i m b er w ill b e n e ed ed.

( e) Th e r e a s o n s w h y g r an t i n g t h e e x e m p t i o n w o u l d n o t ad v e r s e l y a ff

e ct s a fet y

, o r h o w t h e e x empt io n w ou l d

p r o v id e a l e v e l o f saf e ty a t l e a st e q u a l t o t h a t p r o v id

e d b y t h e r ul e f r o m w h i c h MDC se e ks ex e m p t i o n

Our sUAS dep a r t m e n t will p r ov i d e a l e v el o f sa f e t y that e x c e e d s t h e l e v el o f safe t y r e qu ired b y t h e F A A f o r i ts u s e

o n s U A S. T h e f o l lo wing are MDC ’s sa f e t y pro c ed u res, f ea t u res, reg u lat i o n s, and o p erating s p ecificat i o n s f o r o u r

sUA S :

• The P il o t In C o m m a n d ( P I C ) a n d p o t ential o b se r v ers w ill be req u ired to w e ar hard hats, sa f e t y v es t s, and sa f e t y

glasses t o p r o t e c t t h e h ead a n d e y es fr o m p o t e n tial m is h a p s d u r i n g gi v en o p erat i o n al fl igh ts i n cl ud i n g t ra in i n g o r

t e sting o f s U A S.

• The fl igh t a r ea o f t h e sUAS will b e o b se r v ed f o r b e st t a ke o ff a n d la nd i n g l o c ati o n s. D esi r ed c o nd iti o n s inc lud e: fl a t

a n d le v el su r fa c es c l ear o f deb r is, at l east 15 f t f r o m p o w e r li n es a n d structu r es, and a m i n i m u m dista n ce o f 12 f t f r o m

t h e P IC a n d o b se r v e r s.

• The sU A S will a l s o be in the Vis u al L i n e o f Si gh t (VLO S ) to b o th t h e P IC a n d p o t e n t i al o b se r v e r s du ri n g all fl igh ts.

• F l i gh ts m u st t a k e p lace d u ri n g g oo d w e at h er c o nd iti o n s w ith n o rai n

, l o w la y i n g c l o ud s, o r he a v y win d s. A l l fl igh ts

will t a k e p lace d u ri n g dayli gh t h o u rs with no e v en in g o r late ni gh t fl igh ts.

• The P I C (s) o f the sU A S will at lea s t h a v e 7 t ra in i n g h o u rs o r 1 5 fli gh ts a c cr u ed be f o re b ei n g d esig n at e d w o rki n g

fli gh ts ar o un d cell u lar c om m un ic a ti o n t o w ers.

• The sU A S will h a v e sa f e t y b u m p ers, s o ld b y t h e m a nu facturer, i n s t alled a r o un d t h e p r o p el l ers t o p r o t e c t t h e

p r o p ellers, str u ctures a n d p e rs o n s fr o m d a m a g e a n d inj u r y

.

• A ll b a t t eri e s m u st b e c h ar g ed c o m p l e t e ly be f o re each fl igh t a n d e ach fli gh t m u st end w h en t h e b attery has a 2 5 %

p o w er l e v el r e m ai n i ng

.

• A v is u al sa f e t y ins p e c ti o n will o ccur b e f o re e ach fli g h t t e s ti n g pro p el l er tig h tn es s, lens cap re m o v als, bu m p er gu ar d s

i n stalled pro p erly, m o b ile d e v i c e p o s i ti o n ed c o rre c tly o n to r e m o t e , a n d pro p er sa f e t y e qu i pm e n t is a d o r n ed t o P IC

a n d o b ser v ers.

• The sUAS will b e f l o wn u nd e r a hei gh t o f 5 0 0 f t A G L a n d in less t h an a 1 0

, 0 0 0 sq u are f e et a r ea.

• N o o p era t o r o r p o t e n tial ob ser v er w ill en g a g e i n

, n o r m ay an o p era t o r o r p o t e n t i al o b se r v er p er m it, any a ct i v ity

d u ri n g a critical p h a s e o f fli gh t s o as t o e n su r e t h at the s U A S is in a c o nd iti o n f o r sa f e fl igh t o p erat i o n a n d in a

c o n fi gu rat i o n ap p r o p ri a te f o r t h e pu r p o s e o f t h e inten d ed fl igh t.Owner/Operator: Chris Mercer [908

- 783

- 5428]

310 Eastham Rd, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742 • If there i s mo r e than ju s t a n o p era t o r a t a site du ri n g a fli gh t, the o p er a t o r and ob ser v e r (s) will m ai n tain tw o

- w a y

c o m m u n ica t i o n with e a ch o ther d u ri n g all o p erat i o n s; if u n a b le t o m ai n tain tw o

- way c o m m un icat i o n s, o r if a n y

c o nd iti o n o c cu r s th at m a y o the r wise ca u se t h e o p e r ati o n t o b e un safe, the o p era t o r wi l l i m m ed i a t ely c o n cl ud e t h e

o p er a ti o n

.

• If the c o mm un ic a ti o n li n k i s l o s t

, t h e sUAS will g o i nto fa i l

- safe mo d e a n d safe l y d es c end t o i ts d esig n at e d h om e

p o i n t l o c ati o n . If t h e c o mm un ic a ti o n li n k is r e c o nn e c t e d d u ri n g fai l

- safe mo d e, c o n t r o l o f t h e sUAS can be reg a i n ed

be f o re la nd i n g o c cu r s at t h e hom e

- p o i n t l o c ati o n

.

• There is n o f u el o r pay l o ad t o the sU A S, t h e r ef o r e the r e will b e n o p o t ential e x p l o si v es o r risk o f e x p l o s i o n if a crash

o ccurs with t h e sUA S

.

• The sU A S will fe a ture a b u ilt in c om p a s s t h at w ill be r e cali b rated at e v e r y si t e t o m ai n tain accu r ate di r ec t i o n al

r e a d i ng s . The c o m p ass will a l s o h elp in k e ep in g t h e s U A S st a b le d u ri n g fl igh ts.

• The sU A S will r e c o rd G P S l o cati o n d a ta o n ce Ready t o F l y s t atus has b e en o b tai n e d . A m i n i m u m o f 6 sa t ellit e s w ill

a cti v ate t h e Rea d y t o Fly s t atus.

• sUAS to be utilized: DJI F450, DJI S900 and Matrix E. S pecifications on each model can be found in the attachments.

( f) A s u m m a r y FAA c a n p u b li s h i n t h e F ED E R

A L R E G I S T E

R, s t a t in g : ( 1 ) T h e ru l e f ro m w h i ch y o u s e ek th e

e

x e m p t i o n ; a n d ( 2

) A b r i ef d e s c ri p t

io n o f t h e n a t u r e o f t h e e x e m p t i o n you se e k

P etitio n e r : Mercer Design Center, LLC

S ecti on s of 1 4 C. F .R. A f fe c t ed : 2 1 S ubp art H ; 4 5

. 2 3 (b ) ; 61

. 1 1 3 (a ) ( b ); 91

. 1 0 3 ; 9 1

. 1 0 5 ; 9 1

. 1 0 9 ;

91

. 11 9 (c ) ; 9 1

. 1 2 1 (a) ( 1 )(iii ) ; 91

. 15 1 (a) ( 1 ); 9 1

. 2 0 3 ; 91

. 40 5 ; 91

. 4 0 7 ; 9 1

. 4 0 9 ; and 9 1

. 4 1 7

D es c r i p tion of Rel i ef S o ug h t : P e t i ti o n er s e e k s r elief f r o m t h e req u ir e m e n ts o f 1 4 C. F .R. 2 1

S u bp art H; 4 5

. 2 3 (b); 6 1

. 11 3 (a)( b ) ; 91

. 10 3 ; 91

. 1 0 5 ; 9 1

. 1 0 9 ; 91

. 1 1 9 ( c ); 91

. 1 2 1 (a ) ( 1 )(iii); 91

. 1 5 1 (a) ( 1 ) ;

91

. 20 3 ; 91

. 4 0 5 ; 9 1

. 4 0 7 ; 9 1

. 4 0 9 ; and 91

. 4 1 7 t o c o ndu ct cell u lar t o w er a n d c o m p o u n d surv e y s f o r wireless

pr o v i d ers o n their p r o p erti e s and su b je c t t o op erating pro c ed u res that m e et o r e xc e ed t h o se that F A A re qu ires.

(g

) A n y a dd i t

io n a l i n

f

o r

m a t io n

, v i ews o r a rg u m e n ts a v a i l a b l e t o s u p po r t y o u r r equ e s t

P lea s e s e e t h e i n t r o du cti o n t o th i s e x e m p t i o n r e qu e s t.

( h ) I f y o u w an t t o ex er

c i

se t h e p r i v

il e g es o f y o u r ex e m p t i o n o u ts i d e o f t h e U n i ted S t a te s

, t h e r eas o n w h y y o u

n e e d t o d o so

The Oper a ti o n s descri b ed i n t h is e x e m p ti o n r eq u est w ill be c o ndu ct e d wh o lly w i t h in t h e U n ited States.

Thank You,

Christopher Mercer

President, CEO

Mercer Design Center, LLC