### September 25, 2015

Exemption No. 12986

Regulatory Docket No. FAA

− 20 15

− 2348

Mr. Ryan Masterson

Aero Aperture

5101 Xerxes Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55410

Dear Mr. Masterson :

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 May 29, 2015 , you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on

behalf of Aero Aperture ( hereinafter petitioner or operator ) f or an exemption . The petitioner

requested to operate an unmanned ai rcraft system (UAS) to conduct aerial video and

photography for educational videos, documentaries and news reports , workplace safety,

agriculture, and sporting events 1



### .

See Appendix A for the petition submitted to the FAA des cribing 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

.

1 T he petitioner also requested authority to conduct UAS training. At this time, the FAA is unable to authorize

UAS operations for training until a further assessment is completed. When the FAA completes its review, we

will proceed accordingly and no further action will be required by the petitioner. However, the petitioner is

permitted to train its own pilot in commands and visual observers in accordance with condition no. 14 and the

other conditions and limitations in th is e xemption.

### 2

Airworthiness Certification

The UAS proposed by the petitioner is a DJI Phantom 3

.

In accordance with the statutory criteria provided in Section 333 of P ublic 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 Transportati on

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

finds that relief from 14 CFR part 21

, C ertification procedures for products and parts,

Subpart H

— Airworthiness Certificates , and any associated noise certificati on 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 2



### . The FAA has issued grants of

exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to those presented in your petition.

In Grants of Exemption No s

. 11062 to Astraeus Aerial ( see Docket No. FAA−2014−0352),

11109 to Clayco, Inc. ( see Docket No. FAA

− 20 14

− 0507), 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC ( see Docket No. FAA−2014−0382), and 11213 to Aeryon Lab s , 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 propo rtions, 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 a ll 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 th e Administrator, Aero Aperture 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,

2 Aerial data collect ion includes any remote sensing and measuring by an instrument(s) aboard the UA.

Examples include imagery (photography, video, infrared, etc.), electronic measurement (precision surveying, RF

analysis, etc.), chemical measurement (particulate measurement, etc.), or any other gathering of data by

instruments aboard the UA.

### 3

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

exten t necessary to allow the petitioner to operate a UAS to perform aerial data collection

. This exemption is subject to the conditions and limitations listed below.

Conditions and Limitations

In this grant of exemption, Aero Aperture is hereafter referred to as the operator.

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 exempt ion are limited to the DJI Phantom 3

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

not 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 PI C always maintains VLOS

capability. The VO and PIC must be able to communicate verbally at all times ;

e lectronic 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

### 4

documents must be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the

Administrator upon request. If a discrepancy exists between the conditi ons 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

docum ents. The operator may update or revise its operating documents. It is the

operator’s responsibility to track such revisions and present updated and revised

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

operator must a lso 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 mus t petition for an amendment to its grant of exemption. The FA A’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 aff ect 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 wi th 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 con dition 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 manu facturer

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 Col u mbia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the Federal

### 5

government. The PIC must also meet the flight revi ew requirements specified in

14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is rated on his or h er 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

(traini ng, 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,

traini ng operations may only be conducted during dedicated training sessions. During

traini ng, proficiency, and experience

- building flights, all persons not essential for

flight operations are considered nonparticipants, and the PIC must operate the UA

with app ropriate 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 ai rport symbo l 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 manage ment 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 P IC.

18. If the UAS loses communications or loses its GPS sign al, the UA must return to a

pre

- determined location within the pr ivate 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 5 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 cond ucted in accordance with an ATO

- issued COA. The

### 6

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 enclosed 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.

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 nonpartici pating

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 r emain 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 control led

- access property with

permission from the property owner/controller or aut horized 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 FA A's UAS Integration Office (AFS− 80) within 24 hours. Accidents must be

### 7

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.

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 a rea 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 th e 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 cer tificate 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 availa ble 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

es sential 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 spe cified 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.

### 8

This exemption terminates on September 30, 2017 , unless sooner super seded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/ s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service

Enclosures1 U N I T ED S T A T ES O F A M E R I C A

D E PAR T ME N T O F T RAN S POR T A T I O N

F ED E RA L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T RA T I O N

WA SH I NG T ON

, DC

R e g u l a t o r y D oc k

et N o.

IN T H E MA T TE R O F T H E P ET IT I O N FOR E X E M P T I O N O F :

AERO APERTURE

FOR A N EXE M P T I O N S EE K ING REL IEF F R O M THE RE Q U IR E ME N T S OF

T IT L E 14 O F T H E C O D E O F F EDERA L REG U LAT I O N S

S ECT I O N S 61.11 3 ( a ) & ( b), 91. 7 ( a )

, 91.1 2 1, 91. 1 5 1 ( b), 9 1.40 5 ( a )

, 91.40 7 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 91.4 0 9 ( a )( 1 ) &

( a ) ( 2 )

, AN D 91. 4 17 ( a ) & ( b) CON C ERN ING C O M ME R C IAL O P ERAT I O N O F T H E D JI

PHA N T O M 3 UN MA N NE D A IR C RA F T S Y S TEM

P UR S UAN T T O S ECT I O N 333 OF

T H E F A A M O DERN I Z AT I O N AN D RE FORM A C T O F 2012

( P U B L IC LA W 112 • 95)

Sub m itt ed o n M a y 29, 20 1 5

Ryan Masterson

of

Aero Aperture

5101 Xerxes Ave nue S outh

Minneapolis, MN 554102

TA B L E O F C O NTENT S

G L O S SAR Y O F ABBR E V I A T I ON S........................

. ................. . ........... . ........ . ... ............. . 3

S U M M AR Y

............................... . .......................................................................................... 4

I N T RODUC T I O N AN D I N T E R E S T S O F P E T I T I O N E R S

........................... . .....................4

BAC K GROUND

................................. . ......... . ... ............................................................... . .. 5

BA S I S FO R P E T I

T I O N

............................... . ............................................................. .......... 5

NA ME AN D ADDR E S S O F P E T I T I ON E R S

........................................................... .......... 6

T H E S P E C I

F I C S EC T I ON S O F 14 C .F. R

. F RO M W H I C H AERO APERTURE S E E K S

E X E M P T I O N

............................... . ................................... .................................................. . . 7

T H E E X T E N T O F R E L I

E F AERO APERTURE SEEK AN D T H E R E A S O N AERO

APERTURE S E E K S T H E R E L I E F

....................... ....................................... ...9

T H E R E A S ON S W H Y GRAN T I N G R E QU E S T W O U LD B E I N T H E PUB L I C

I N T E R E S T

..................................................................................... . . ...........11

T H E R E A S ON S W H Y GRAN T I N G T H E E X EM P T I O N WO U LD NO T AD V E R S E LY

A F F E C T S A F E T Y

.................... ................................ ........... . ....................................... .... . . 12

CONC L U S I O N

............................... . .................................................. ................................ . 22

APPENDICIES

............................... . ............................................................................... . ... 243 GL O S SAR Y O F AB B R EV IA T I O N S

AG L A bo v e Ground Le v el

A O I A r ea o f I n t e r e st

A T C A i r T r a f

fi c C o n tr o l

A T O A i r T r a f

fi c O r g an i z a t i on

A V A e ri a l V e h i c l e

C FR C ode of F ed e r al R e g u l a t i o ns

CO A C e r t i f

i c a t e o f A u t h o ri z a t i o n

F A A Fede r al A v i a ti on A d m i n i s t r a t i on

F A R Fede r al A v i a ti on R e g u l a t i o n

GC S G r ound C o n tr o l S t a t i on

G PS G l obal Po s i t i o n i ng S y s t em

L O L Loss o f Link

NA S N a ti o n al A i r sp a c e S y s t em

NO T A M N o ti c e t o A ir m an

P I C Pi l o t I

n C o m m and

Sec t i on 333 F A A Mod er n i z a t i on a nd R e f o r m A ct o f 2012 ( FM R A ) Se c ti o n 333

SO Sa f

e t y O bs er v er

S O P St a nd a

r d O p e r a t i ng Pro c e d

u r es

U A U n m anned A ir c r a f t

UA S U n m anned A ir c r a f t S y s t e m

V FR V i su a l F l i g ht R u l es

V L O S V i su a l Li n e of S i t e

V MC V i su a l M e t e o r o l o g i c a l C o nd i t i o n s

V T O L V e r t i c a l T a k eo f f and Lan d i ng4 S U MM AR Y

Ryan Masterson, under t he co m pany ti tl e, Aero Aperture

, see ks exe m p ti on fr om t he r eq u i r e m en t s

o f 1 4 C .F.R §§ 61.1 1 3 ( a ) & ( b )

, 91

. 7 ( a )

, 9 1.121, 91.1 5 1 ( b )

, 9 1 .405 ( a ) , 91.407 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 91.409 ( a ) ( 1)

& ( a ) ( 2 ) , and 91.417 ( a) & ( b )

, t o o p e r a t e an Un m anned A i r c r a f t S y s t em pu r su a nt t o Sec t i on 3 3 3 of

t he F A A M ode r n i z a t i on a n d R e f o r m A ct o f 2012 ( FM RA )

. T h i s e xe m p ti on wi l l p e r m

i t Aero

Aperture t o ope r a t e an U n m anned A i r c r a f t S y s t em ( UA S) f

or t he co m m

e r c i al pu r pose of

c ondu c t i ng ae r i al v i d eo and ph o t o g r aphy t o b e u s ed i n t e l e v i s i on and web b a se d media

,

educ a ti o nal v i de o s, docu men t a r i es and news r ep o rt s, training

, w o r k p l ace s a f e t y

, a g ri c u l t u r e, and

sp o r t i ng e v en t s o v er ce r t a i n a r e a s of t he U n it e d St a t e s

.

IN TR O DUCT I O N AN D IN TERE S T S OF T H E P ET ITI O NER S

Ryan Masterson i s t h e owner / operator o f Aero Aperture l o c a t ed i n Minneapolis

, MN

. Aero Aperture w a s

f ou n ded i n 2015 and i n c l udes r e a l t o r s, wed d i ng v i deo g r aph y

, w eb s i t e s

, and na t i on a l co r p o r a ti o ns a m o ng

our c l i e n t s. T h e o b

je c t ive o f Aero Aperture i s t o p r o v i de h i g h q u a l it y i m a g i ng f or a v a r i e t y of

co m m e r c i a l and pu b l i c u s e s, s p e c i f i c a l l y t a r g e ti n g :

● C r ea t i on of c o m m

e r c i al m e s s a g es f o r t e l e v i s i o n and w eb s i t es

● D ocu m en t a r i es

● Educa t i o n al and training v i deos

● Sa f e t y and t r a i n i ng

● A g ri cu l t u r e

● R eal E s t a t e

● 

### I n c re a sed p u bl i c knowl e d g e o f U AS and p r omo t e s a fe U A S op e r a t i ons5 B AC K GR O UN D

U n m anned A ir c r a f

t S y s t e m s: D J I Phan t om 3 UAS

Aero Aperture s e e k s an exe m p ti on t o o pe r a t e D J I s y s t e m s f or c o m pen s a t i on or h i r e wi t h i n t he NA S. T he

D J I Phan t om 3 i s a v e r t i c a l t a k eo f f and l an d i ng ( V T O L) U n m anned A i r c r a f t ( UA ) wi t h a G r ound C on t r ol

S t a ti on ( GC S) u t i li z i ng e l e c t r on i c t a b l et o r s m a r t phone s y s t e m s. T he D J I Phan t om 3 has a m ax i m u m

g r oss w e i g ht of 2 pound s 1 3.1 ou n c e s, a l e n g t h of 16.2 i n c he s

, w i d t h o f 16.6 i nc h e s , he i g ht o f 10.5

i n che s

, and a m ax i m

u m sp e ed of app r ox i m a t e l y 31.1 k no t s. T h e D JI Phan t om 3 U A is equ i p p ed w i t h f o u r

m a i n r o t o r s ; d ri v en by Li t h i um Poly m er ba tt e r y po w e r ed e l e c t ri c m o t o r s. T he D J I Ph a n t o m 3 U A t hat

wi l l b e ope r a t ed by Aero Aperture a nd wi l l be reg i s t e r ed i n a c co r d ance w it h 49 U .S. C

. 44103,

r e g i s t r a t i on of Ai r

c ra f t

, as w e l l as 14 C .F.R P a r t 47, A i r c r a f t Re g i s t r a ti o n

, and m a r k

ed in acc o r da n ce

wi t h 14 C .F. R

. Pa r t 45, I

de n t i fi c a t i on a n d Reg i s t r

a t i on M ar k i ng

.

B A SIS FOR P ET IT I O N

Pe t i t i on e r s, Ryan Masterson of Aero Aperture Produ c t i ons p u r s ua n t t o t he p r o v i s i ons o f t h e Fede r al

A v i a t i on R e g u l a t i o ns ( 14 C .F. R

. § 11.6 1 ) a nd t h e F A A Mod e r n i za ti on a nd R e f o r m A ct of 20 1 2 ( FM RA )

,

S e c t i on 333, S

p e c i a l Rul e s f

o r C e r t a i n U

n m anned A i r

c r a f t Sy s t ems

, h e r eby pe t it i on t h e A d m i n i s t r a t o r t o

co m m e r c i a ll y op e r a t e t he D J I Phan t o m 3 UA S i n t he N a t i on a l A ir s p ace S y s t em ( NA S), and f o r an

e x e m p ti on fr om t he r eq u i r e m en t s o f 14 C .F.R §§ 61.113 ( a) & ( b )

, 91

. 7 ( a )

, 91.12 1

, 91.151 ( b ) , 9 1 .40 5 ( a )

,

91.4 0 7 ( a ) ( 1 ) , 91.4 0 9 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 ) , and 91.41 7 ( a ) & ( b )

.

I n con si d e r a ti on o f t he s p e ed, w e i g h t

, s i z e, and li m it e d ope r a ti ng a r e a a s s o c i a t e d w it h t he un m anned

a i r c r a f t and i t s op e r a ti o n

, Aero Aperture’s op e r a t i on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 U AS m ee t s t he con d i ti o n s o f

F MRA Se c ti on 333 and t h er e f o r e, wi l l n o t r equ i r e an a ir w o r t h i ne s s c e r t i fi c a t e i n a c co r dan c e w i t h 14

C .F

. R . Pa r t 21, Sub p a

r t H. A cco r d i n g l y

, Aero Aperture r eque s t s r e l i e f f r om Sec ti ons 9 1 .40 5 ( a )

,

9 1 .407 ( a )( 1 )

, 91.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91

. 417 ( a) & ( b )

, as t he s e s e c t i ons s e t f o rt h r eq u i r e m en t s f

o r

m a i n t e nance t h a

t o n l y app l y t o a ir c r a f

t w it h an a ir w o rt h i ne s s ce r t i f i c a t e.

Aero Aperture s u b m

it s t h a t t he r equ e s t ed r e l i ef i s p r o p er s i n c e an eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y w il l be

en s u r e d

. Aero Aperture w i l l u s e ex pe ri e n ced pe r sonn e l o r t ech n i c i a n s t o pe r f o r m m a i n t enan c e,

a l t e r a t i ons, o r p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce on t he U A S u s i ng t he m e t ho d s, t e chn i que s , and p r a c t i ces

p r e s c r i b e d i n t he ope r a t i ng docu men t s ( i .e., Mon t h l y M a i n t e n a n ce Lo g , and D J I Phan t om 3

I ns tr uc t i on M a nu a l)

. F u rt h e r m o r e, Aero Aperture wi l l d o cu m ent and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i n t ena n ce r ec o r ds

f or t he Pha n t om 3 UA S.

R e l i ef fr om ce r t a i n r e qu i r e m en t s of Se c t i on 61. 1 13 ( a) and ( b ) , e n t i t l ed P r i v a t e p il ot p r i v il e ges and

li mi t a ti o n s: P i l ot i n com ma n d

, i s r e q ue s t ed by Aero Aperture t o t he ex t ent n ec e s s a r y t o a l l ow a P i l ot i n

C o mm and ( P I C ) ho l d i ng an a i r m an m ed i cal ce r t i fi c a t e, and w h o has d e m ons tr a t e d, by m

ee ti ng m i n i m u m

fli g h t hour and cu r r ency r eq u ir e men t s, t hat t h e P I C i s ab l e t o s a f e l y o pe r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S in a

m anner co n s i s t ent wi t h t h i s e x e m p ti on, i n c l ud i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s a nd m a i n t a i n i ng

app r o p r i a t e d i s t an c es fr om peop l e, v e s s e l s

, v eh i c l e s a n d s t r u c t u r e s

.6

Aero Aperture seeks relief from Section 91.7(a), entitled Civil aircraft airworthiness, because the DTI

Phantom 3 UAS does not require an airworthiness certificate in accordance with 14 C.P.R. Part 21, Sub p a r t

H

. A s su c h, Aero Aperture su b m it s t h at t h ey w i l l e ns u r e t hat t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i s i n an a ir w o rt hy

co n d i t i on, p ri o r t o e v e r y fli g h t

, by de t e r m i n i ng t h a t t h e UA S a r e i n co m p li a n ce w it h t h e o pe r a t i ng

docu me n t s (i

. e., Mo n t h l y M a i n t e na n ce Lo g

, a nd D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a n ua l ) , and t h a t t he a i r c r a f t is

i n a co n d i t i on f

or s a f e f li g h t

.

Aero Aperture a l s o s e e k s a n exe m p ti on f r om t he r eq u i r e m en t s of S ec t i on 91.121, e n t i t l ed Al t i m e t er

S e t t i n g s , as t h e D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l not h a v e a t y p i c a l b a r o m e t r i c a l ti m

e t er onbo a

r d. H o w e v e r

,

a l t i t ude i n f

o r m a t i on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l be p r o v i ded t o t he PI C v i a Global Pos i ti o n i ng

S y s t em ( G P S ) equ i p m

ent a n d r a d i o co m m

un i ca ti o ns t e l e me tr y da t a li n k

, w h i ch do w n l i n k s fr om t he

U A S t o t h e GC S f

o r a c ti v e m

on it o r i ng of t he f

li g ht p a t h. T h i s a l t i t ude i n f

o r m a ti on, co m

b i n e d w it h Aero

Aperture ’ s op e r a t i on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S wi t h i n v i su a l l i ne of s i g h t

, a t or be l ow 500 f e e t AG L,

w i l l e nsu r e a l e v el of s a f

e t y eq u i v a l ent t o S e c t i on 9 1.121.

A dd i t i on a ll y

, Aero Aperture s ee k s an exe m p ti o n fr om t he r eq u i r e men t s of Sec t io n 91

. 151 ( b ) , en t i t l ed

Fu e l r e q u i r

emen t s f or f li g ht i n VF

R co n d i ti on s

. Aero Aperture sub m it s t h a t s a f e t y w il l not b e a f

f e c t ed

by ope r a t i on of t he Pha n t om 3 U A S du ri ng da y li g ht hou r s i n v i su a l m e t e o r o l o g i c al cond i t i ons ( V MC)

u nd e r v i su a l f

l i g ht r u l e s ( V F R )

, w i t h enou g h ba t t e r y po w er t o fl y f or a t o t a l d u r a ti on of ap p r o x i m a t e l y

15 m i nu t e s t o t he f

i r s t p o i nt o f i n t en d ed l a nd i ng and, a s s u m i ng n o r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed, t o f l y a f t er t h a t f o r

a t l ea s t 4.5 m

i nu t e s

.

I n acco r d a nce wi t h 14 C .F

. R

. § 11.81, Aero Aperture p r o v i de s t h e f o ll o w i ng i n f

o r m a ti o n in suppo r t

o f t h e i r p e t i t i on f

or exe m p ti o n :

A

. N a m e A n d A d d r e ss O f T he P e t i t i oner.

T he na m e and ad d r e ss o f t h e Pe t i t i on e r a nd p o i nt of co n t a c t i s:

Ryan Masterson

Aero Aperture

5101 Xerxes Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55410

E m a il : ryan@aeroaperture.com7

B

. T he S p ec i f

i c Se c t i ons O f 1 4 C

. F

. R

. F r om Wh i ch Aero Aperture S ee ks E x e m pt i on.

1. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p t i on F r om T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 61.11 3 ( a) A nd ( b).

Sec t i on 61. 1 13, e n t i t l ed P r i v a t e p i l ot p ri v i l e g es and li m it a ti o n s: P il o t i n com m a n d

, sub s e c t i ons ( a) and

( b) P r e s c r i be t he f

o l l o wi n g

, i n r e l e v a n t p a

r t :

( a) N o pe r s o n w ho h o l ds a p r i v a t e p i l ot ce r t i f i c a t e m ay act as a p il o t i n co m m and ( P I C ) of an a ir c r a f t t hat

i s c a rr y i ng pa s s e n g e r s or p r op e rt y f or co m pen s a ti o n or h i r e; n o r m a y t hat pe r so n

, f or co m pen s a t i on o r

h ir e , a c t a s P I C of an a i r c r a ft

. ( b) A p ri v a t e p il o t m a y

, f or c o m pen s a ti on o r h ir e, act as P I C of an a i r c r a f t i n c onn e c t i o n w i t h any

bus i n e s s or e m

p l o y m ent i f

—

( 1) T he f li g ht i s o n l y i n c i de n t a l t o t hat bu s i ne s s or e m p l o y m en t ; and

( 2) T he a i r c r a f

t d o es n o t c a

r r y pa s s e n g e r s o r p r o pe r t y f or c o m pen s a ti o n or h i r e.

2. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91. 7 ( a )

.

Sec t i on 9 1 .7, e n t i t l ed Ci v i l a i r c ra f t a i rwo r t h i ne s s , su bs ec t i on ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o l l o w i n g :

( a) N o pe r son m ay ope r a t e a c i v i l a i r c r a f t u n l e ss i t i s i n an a i r w o r

t hy con d i t i on.

3. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91.121.

Sec t i on 9 1 .121, e n t i t l ed A l t i m e t er s e t ti n g s, s u bs e c t i on ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o ll o w i n g

, i n pa r t :

( a) Each p e r son op e r a t i ng an a ir c r a f t sh a l l m a i n t a i n t he c r u i s i ng a l t i t ude o r f li g ht l e v el o f t h at a i r c r a f

t

,

as t h e c a se m ay be, by r e f e r ence t o an a l ti m

e t e r t h at i s s e t

, w hen o p e r a t i ng ;

( 1) B e l ow 18,0 0 0 f

e et MSL, t o

(i ) T he c u r r ent r epo r t ed a l t i m e t er s e t ti ng of a s t a t i on a l o n g t he r ou t e and w it h i n 100 nau t i c a l m il e s of

t he a ir c r a f

t ;

(ii ) I f t he r e i s no s t a ti on wi t h i n t h e a r ea p r e s c r i bed i n p a

r ag r aph ( a ) ( 1 ) ( i ) o f t h i s s e c t i on, t he cu r r e n t

r ep o rt e d a l t i m

e t er s e t ti ng of an ap p r o p ri a t e a v a il a b l e s t a t i on; or

(iii ) I n t he case of a

n a i r c r a f t n ot eq u i pp e d w i t h a r a d i o, t he e l e v a ti on o f t he de p a r t u r e a ir p o r t o r an

app r o p r i a t e a l t i m

e t er s e t ti n g a v a il ab l e be f

o r e dep a r t u r e.

4. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91.151 ( b )

.

Sec t i on 9 1 .151, e n t i t l ed F u el r equ i r e m e n t s f or f l i g h t i n V F R cond i t i on s

, su b s e c ti o n

( b )

, s t a t e s t h e f

o l l o wi n g :

( b) N o pe r son m ay b eg i n a f

l i g h t i n a r o t or c ra

f t u n d e r VF

R con d i t i o n s un l e s s ( con si d e r i ng w i n d and

f or e ca s t w ea t h er co n d i ti on s) t he r e i s enou g h f u e l t o f l y t o t h e f i r s t p o i n t of i n t en d

ed l an d i ng and,

as s u m i n g norm a l c ru i s i ng s peed, t o f l y a f t er t h a t f o r a t l ea s t 20 m i n u t e s

.

5. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m ent O f S e c t i o n 91.405 ( a )

.

Sec t i on 91. 4 05, e n t i t l ed M a i n t enan c e r e q u i r

e d

, su b s e c t i on ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o l l o wi n g : Each o w ner or

ope r a t o r of an a i r c r a f

t

—

( a) Sh a l l ha v e t h a t a i r c r a f t i nsp e c t ed as p r e s c r i b e d i n s ubpa r t E of t h i s p a

r t a n d sh a l l b e t w een r eq u ir e d

i nsp e c t i o n s, ex c ept as p r o v i ded i n pa r a g r aph ( c) of t h i s s e c t i on, ha v e d i s c r epa n c i e s r ep a i r ed as

p r e s c r i bed i n p a

r t 43 o f t h i s ch a

p t e r[

. ]

6. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p ti on From T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i on 91.407 ( a ) ( 1)

. Se c t i on 91. 40 7, en t i t l ed O p e r a ti o n a f t e r m a i n t e n an c e, p r

eve n t i ve m a i n t enan c e, r e bu i l d i ng, o r a l t e r a t i on

,

s ubs e c ti o n ( a ) ( 1 )

, s t a t e s t h e f o l l o w i n g :

( a) N o pe r s o n m ay ope r a t e any a i r c r a f t t h at h as u n de r g one m a i n t ena n ce, p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce,

r eb u il d i n g , or a l t e r a t i on u n l e s s ;1

( 1) I t has been a p p r o v ed f

or r e t u r n t o s e r v i ce by a p e r s o n a u t ho r i z ed un d er § 43.7 o f t h i s c ha p t e r

.

7. Aero Aperture Seek E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i ons 91.40 9 ( a )( 1 ) A nd

91.409 ( a ) ( 2 )

.

Sec t i on 9 1 .409, e n t i t l ed I n s pec t i on s , su b s e c ti o n ( a )

, s t a t es t he f o l l o wi n g :

( a) Except as p r o v i ded i n p a r ag r aph ( c ) of t h i s s e c ti on, n o pe r son m ay ope r a t e an a i r c r a f t u n l e s s

, w i t h i n

t he p r e c ed i ng 12 ca l end a

r m on t hs, i t has h ad

( 1) A n ann u al i n sp e c t i on i n a c co r d a nce wi t h p a r t 4 3 o f t h i s cha p t e r a nd h as been a p p r o v ed f or r e t u r n to

s er v i ce by a pe r s on a u t h o r i z ed by § 43.7 of t h i s cha p t e r ; or

( 2) A n i ns p ec t i on f

or t he i s su a nce of an a

ir w o r t h i n e s s ce r t i fi c a t e i n acc o r d a nce w it h pa r t 21 o f t h i s

chap t e r

.

8. Aero Aperture Seeks E x e m p t i on F r om T he R equi r e m en t s O f Se c t i ons 91.41 7 ( a ) A nd

91.417 ( b).

Sec t i on 9 1 .417, e n t i t l ed M a i n t enan c e r e co r

d s , su b s e c t i ons ( a) a nd ( b )

, s t a t e t he f o ll o w i n g :

( a) Except f

or w o r k pe r f

o r m ed i n acc o r da n ce w i t h §§ 91

. 411 and 91.413, e ach r e g i s t e r ed o w ner or

ope r a t o r sh a l l k

eep t h e f o l l o w i ng r ec o r ds f

or t he pe r i o ds sp e c i f

i ed i n pa r a g r aph ( b) of t h i s s e c ti o n :

( 1) R eco r d s of t he m a i n t e n an c e, p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce, and a l t e r a t i on a n d r e co r d s of t he 1 0 0

- hou r

,

annu a l , p r o g r e s s i v e, and o t her r eq u ir e d or ap p r o v ed i n sp e c ti o n s, a s a p p r o p ri a t e, f or e a ch a i r c r a f

t

(i n c l u d i ng t h e a i r f

r a me) a n d e a ch en g i ne, p r o p e l l e r

, r o t o r

, and a p p l i an c e o f an a i r c r a ft

. T he r e co r ds

m ust i nc l u d e ;

(i ) A de s c r i p ti o n ( o r r e f

e r e n ce t o d a t a a cc e p t a

b l e t o t he A d m

i n i s t r a t o r ) o f t he w o r k pe r f o r m ed; a n d

(ii ) T he d a t e o f co m

p l e t i on o f t he work pe r f

o r m ed; and

(iii ) T he s i g n a t u r e, and ce r t i f i c a t e n u m ber o f t h e p e r son a p p r o v i ng t he a i r c r a f t f o r r e t u r n t o s e r v i ce.

( 2) R eco r d s c o n t a i n i ng t he f o ll o w i ng i n f

o r m a ti o n :

(i ) T he t o t a l t i m

e i n s e r v i ce o f t he a i r f

r a me, each en g i n e, e ach p r op e l l e r

, a nd e a ch r o t o r

. (ii ) T he c u rr e n t s t a t us o f l i f e

- li m it ed pa r t s o f e ach a i r f

r a m e, en g i ne, p r o p e l l e r

, r o t o r

, a nd app l i a n ce.

(iii ) T he ti m

e s i n ce l a s t o v e r h a ul of a l l i t e m s i ns t a l l ed on t he a i r c r a f t w h i ch a r e r eq u i r ed t o be

o v e r hau l ed on a s p e c i f

i ed ti m e ba si s.

( i v ) T he c u rr e n t i ns p ec t i on s t a t us of t he a i r c r a f

t

, i nc l ud i ng t he ti m

e s i n ce t he l a s t i ns p ec t i on r eq u i r ed by

t he i ns p ec t i on p r o g r am under w h i ch t he a i r c r a f t and i t s app l i a n ces a r e m a i n t a i n e d.

( v ) T he cu r r e n t s t a t u s of a pp li cab l e a i r w o r t h i ne s s d i r e c t i v es ( AD ) and s a f e t y d i r e c t i v es i nc l u d i n g

, f or

each, t h e m

e t hod o f c o m

p l i ance, t h e A D or s a f

e t y d ir e c ti v e n u m

ber and r e v i s i on da t e. I

f t he A D or

s af e t y d i r e c ti v e i n v o l v es re cu r r i ng a c ti on, t h e t i m e and da t e w h en t he n ext ac t i on i s r eq u ir e d.

( v i ) C op i es of t he f

o r m s p r e s c ri bed by § 43. 9 ( d) of t h i s c h ap t e r f or e ach m a

j o r a l t e r a t i on t o t h e a i r f

r a me

and c u rr e n t l y i ns t a l l ed en g i ne s

, r o t o r s, p r o p e l l e r s, a nd app l i an c e s

. ( b) T he o w ner or o pe r a t o r s h a l l r e t a i n t he f o ll o w i ng r ec o r d s f

o r t h e p e ri o d s p r e s c r i be d :

( 1) T he r ec o r ds sp e c i f

i ed i n p a r a g r aph ( a )( 1 ) of t h i s s e c t i o n sh a l l be r e t a i n ed u n t i l t h e w o r k i s r ep e a t e d

or su p e r s eded by o t h e r w o r k or f or 1 y e a r a ft e r t he wo r

k i s pe rf o r m ed.

( 2) T he r e co r d s s p ec i f

i ed i n p a r a g r aph ( a ) ( 2) of t h i s s ec t i o n sh a l l b e r e t a i n e d and t r a n s f e rr e d w i t h t h e

a i r c r a f t at t he t i m

e t he a ir cr a f

t i s s o l d.

( 3) A li s t of d e f

e c t s f u r n i sh e d t o a r e g i s t e r ed o w n e r or o pe r a t o r un d er § 4 3 .11 of t h i s chap t er s h a l l be

r e t a i n ed u n t i l t he d e f

e c t s a r e r e p a i r ed and t he a i r c r a f t i s a p p r o v ed f

o r r e t u r n t o s e r v i ce.9

C

. T he E x t ent O f R e l i e f Aero Aperture S e e ks A nd T he R e a son Aero Aperture S eek T he R e l i e f

.

1. E x t ent O f Aero Aperture A nd T h e Reason Aero Aperture Se e ks R e l i e f Fr o m

Sec t i on 61. 1 13 ( a ) A nd ( b).

R e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 61

. 11 3 ( a) and ( b) en t i t l ed P r i va t e p il o t p r i v i l eges and li m it a t i ons: P il o t i n

com m and

, i s r e que s t ed t o t he e x t e n t ne c e s s a r y t o a l l o w a P I C h o l d i ng a v a li d a i r m an m ed i cal

ce r t i fi c a t e, a n d w ho h as met c e r t a i n f li g h t hour a nd c u rr e ncy r eq u i r e men t s, t o c onduct t h e p r opo s ed

UA S f li g ht o p e r a t i ons f

or c o m pen s a ti o n or h i r e.

T h i s r e l i ef i s r equ e s t ed s i n ce t he l i m it a t i ons s et f

o rt h i n S ec t i on 61.1 1 3 ( a ) and ( b ) s t a t e t h a t a p ri v a t e

p il o t m a y

, f

or co m pen s a ti o n or h i r e, a c t a s P I C of an a i r c r a f t i n con n ec t i on w it h any bus i n e ss or

e m p l oy m ent i f : ( 1) T he f

l i g ht i s o n l y i n c i de n t a l t o t h at bu s i ne s s o r e m p l oy m en t ; and ( 2 ) T h e a i r c r a f

t

does n o t c a

r r y pa s s e n g e r s o r p r o pe r t y f or co m pen s a t i o n or h i r e.

A s s e t f o r t h m o r e f u ll y b e l o w

, Aero Aperture sub m i t s t h a t a n e qu i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y wi l l be

m a i n t a i n ed b eca u se no P I C w il l be a l l o w ed t o op e r a t e t he D J I Phan t om UA S un l e ss t h a t P I C has m

et

ce rt a i n f l i g h t hour and cu r r ency r e q u i r e men t s, de m ons tr a t i ng t h a t t h e P I C i s ab l e t o s a f e l y op e r a t e t he

D J I Phan t om UA S in a m anner con s i s t e n t w i t h t h e ope r a t i ons sp e c i f i c a t i ons as de s c ri b ed i n t h i s

exe m p ti on, i n c l u d i ng e v a s i v e and e me r g ency m aneuve r s, as w e l l as m a i n t a i n i ng ap p r op r i a t e d i s t a n ces

fr om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es and s tr u c t u r e s

.

Fur t h e r

, Aero Aperture sub m it s t h a t a l l f

li g h t s of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, conduc t ed by t h e P I C

pu r su a nt t o t he g r ant of t h i s Pe t i t i o n : ( 1) wi l l be i nc i d en t al t o Aero Aperture’s b u s i n e s s ; and ( 2 ) wi l l

not ca r r y pa s se n g e r s o r p r o p e r t y f or co m pen s a ti on or h i r e.

2. E x t ent O f R e l i e f Aero Aperture Seeks A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture Seeks R e l i e f F r o m Se c t i on

91.7 ( a )

.

R e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 91

. 7 ( a ) en t i t l ed C i v i l a i r c ra f t a i r w or t h i n e s s

, i s r equ e s t ed t o t he e x t e n t r e qu i r ed to

a l l ow Aero Aperture t o de t e r m i ne t h a t t he D J I Phan t om UA S a r e i n a i r w o rt hy co n d i ti o n p ri o r t o e v e r y

f l i g ht by e n su r i ng t h a t t he UA S i s i n c o m p li a nce w it h t h e o pe r a t i ng do c u m en t s ( i .e., t h e Aero Aperture

A e r i a l O pe r a ti o n s M anu a l

, Mo n t h l y M ai n t e n an c e Lo g

, and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a n ua l )

.

Aero Aperture s e e k s t he r eq u e s t ed r e l i ef b e c au s e t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A does not r equ i r e a n

a ir w o rt h i n e ss c e r t i fi c a t e i n acc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R

. Pa r t 21, S u bp a r t H

. T h e r e f

o r e, Aero Aperture

wi l l en s u r e t h a t t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i s i n a ir w o rt hy con d i t i on b a s e d upon i t s co m p li ance w it h t he

op e r a t i ng doc u m

en t s ( i .e., M o n t h l y M ai n t e n ance Lo g

, and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a n ua l ) p r

i or t o

e v e r y fli g h t

, and f

u rt h e r

, de t e r m

i ne t h a t t h e a i r c r a f

t a r e i n con d i t i on f

o r s a f e f l i g h t

, as s t a t ed i n t he

con d i ti o n s a nd l i m

it a t i ons be l o w

.

3. E x t ent O f Aero Aperture S eeks A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture S e eks R e li e f F r o m Se c t i on

91. 12 1.

R e l i ef f r om Sec t i on 9 1.12 1

, e n t i tl e d Alt i m e t er s e t t i n g s, m ay be r eq u i r ed t o a l l ow f l i g ht o p e r a t i ons of

t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, w h i ch u t il i z e a b a r o m e tr i c p r e s s u r e s en s o r

, G PS eq u i p m en t

, a nd a r a d i o10

co m m un i ca t i ons t e l e me tr y da t a l i nk t o do w n l i nk a l t i t u de i n f o r m a ti on fr om t he U A S t o t he P I C at t he

g r ound co n tr o l s t a t i on ( G C S). Si n ce t he F A A r equ i r e s t h a t any a l t i t ude i n f o r m a t i on con c e r n i ng UAS

ope r a t i ons be r ep o rt e d t o a i r t r a f f i c co n tr o l ( A T C ) i n f

e e t abo v e g r ound l e v el ( A G L), Aero Aperture

s e e k s t he r eq u e s t ed r e l i e f b ecau s e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA ’ s a l ti m e t e r m ay be se t on t he g r ound t o

z e r o f e e t AG L, r a t h e r t h an t he l ocal ba r o m e tri c p r e s s u r e o r fi e l d a l t i t ude, be f o r e each f

l i g h t

.

C ons i d e r i ng t he l i m

it ed a lti t ude of t h e p r op o s e d op e r a t i ons, r e l i ef f

r om 14 C FR 9 1.121 i s sou g ht t o t h e

ex t e n t n ec e s s a

r y t o co m p l y w it h t he app l i c ab l e con d i t i ons and l i m it a t i ons s t a t e d b e l o w

. A s m o r e f u l l y

se t f o rt h h e r e i n, an eq u i v a l ent l e v el of s a f e t y w i l l be m a i n t a i n ed s i n ce t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S is

equ i p p ed w i t h a ba

r o m e tri c p r e s s u r e s en s o r a nd G PS equ i p m en t

, w h i ch a u t o m a t i ca l l y en s u r es t h a t a

g r ound l e v el p r e s su r e s e t ti n g w il l be e s t a b l i sh e d p r i or t o e a ch f

l i g h t

, and p r o v i d e s t he P I C w it h a l t it u de

i n f o r m a ti on of t he UA on t h e hea d s up d i sp l ay of t h e GC S.

4. Aero Aperture Seeks A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture S eeks R e l i e f F r o m Se c t i on 91.15 1 ( b).

R e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 91

. 15 1 ( b) e n t i t l ed F uel r e q u i r e men t s f or f l i g ht i n V FR con d i ti o n s, i s r equ e s t e d to

t he ex t ent r e qu i r ed t o a l l ow f l i g h t s of t he b a t t e r y po w e r ed D J I Phan t om 3 U A S du r i ng da y li g ht h o u r s

in v i su a l m

e t eo r o l o g i c a l con d i t i ons ( V M C )

, und e r v i s u al f l i g ht r u l es ( V F R )

, f

or a t o t al d u r a ti on of 13

. 5

m i nu t es t o t he f

i r st p o i nt o f i n t ended l and i ng and, a s s u m i ng no r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed, t o fl y a f t er t h at f o r

at l e a st 4.5 m

i nu t e s

. Aero Aperture s ee k s t h e r equ e s t e d r e l i e f b eca u se w it ho u t an exe m p ti on fr om

Sec t i on 91

. 151 ( b )

, t h e f

l i g ht t i m e du r a ti on of t h e ba t t e r y po w e r ed D J I Ph a n t om 3 U A S w il l s e v e r e l y

con s tr a i n t he p r a c t i c a l i t y of any ae ri a l v i deo or s t i l l pho t o f l i g ht ope r a ti ons t h a t Aero Aperture

p r op o s e s t o c o n duct p u r s ua n t t o t h i s P e t i ti on.

Si g n if i ca n tl y

, a s s et f

o r t h b e l o w

, t he t ech n i c al sp e c i fi c a t i ons of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, t he D J I

Phan t om 3 ope r a t i ng doc u m en t s, a nd Aero Aperture’s p r op o s e d o pe r a ti ng li m it a t i ons, en s u r e Aero

Aperture w i l l s a f

e l y ope r a t e t he ba t t e r y po w e r ed D J I Phan t om 3 U A du ri ng da y li g ht hou r s i n v i s u al

m e t e o r o l og i cal c ond i t i ons ( V MC )

, u nder v i s ual f li g ht r u l es ( V F R )

, wi t h e n ou g h ba t t e r y po w er t o fl y f or

a t o t a l d u r a ti on of 1 3.5 m i nu t e s t o t he f

ir s t p o i nt of i n t end e d l and i n g and, as s u m i ng no r m al c r u i s i ng sp e e d,

t o f l y a ft e r t hat f

o r a t l ea s t 4.5 m

i nu t e s

.

5. E x t ent O f R e li e f Aero Aperture See k s A nd T he R ea s on Aero Aperture Seeks R e l i e f F r o m

Se c t i o n s 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91.40 7 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a )( 2 )

, A nd 91.417 ( a) & ( b )

.

Sin c e S e c ti o n s 91. 4 05 ( a )

, 9 1.407 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 9 1.40 9 ( a ) ( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 ) , and 9 1.41 7 ( a) & ( b) on l y app l y t o

a i r c r a f t wi t h an a i r w o r t h i n e ss c e r t i f i ca t e, Aero Aperture r e q ue s t r e li e f f r om t he s e S e c t i ons beca u se t he

D J I Phan t om 3 UA S does not r eq u i r e an a ir w o r t h i ne s s c e r t i f i c a t e. A s se t f

o r t h m o r e f

u l l y be l o w

, t he

D J I Phan t om 3 UA S m

ee t s t he co n d i ti o n s of FM R A S e c ti on 333 f o r ope r a t i on wi t ho u t an

a ir w o rt h i n e ss c e r t i f

i ca t e. A cco r d i n g l y

, Aero Aperture w i l l u s e t r a i ned t echn i c i ans to pe r f o r m

m a i n t en a nce, a lt er a t i ons, or p r e v en ti v e m a i n t enan c e on t h e UA S u s i ng t he m e t hods, t ech n i q u e s

, and

p r a c t i ces p r e s c r i bed i n t h e UA S ope r a t i ng docu m en t s (i .e

. , t he Aer o Aperture A e r i a l O pe r a ti o n s

M a n ua l

, Mo n t h l y M ai n t ena n ce Lo g , and D JI Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on Ma nua l ) . Fu r

t h e r m o r e, Aero

Aperture wi l l do c u m

ent and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i n t e n an c e r ec o r ds f or t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S.11

D

. T he R ea s ons Why G ra n t i ng Aero Aperture’s Req u e s t Wo u l d B e I n T he P u bl i c In t e r e s t ; T h a t I s , H o w It Would B e ne fi t T he P u b l i c A s A Wh o l e.

G r an t i ng t he p r e s e n t P e t i ti o n w i l l f u r t her t he pub l i c i n t e r e s t by a l l o w i ng Aero Aperture t o s af e l y

,

e f f i c i en t l y

, and ec o no m

i ca ll y p e rf

o r m ae r i al v i deo and ph o t o g r aphy of c ons t r u c ti o n s i t e s

, c l o s e d f i l m i ng

s et s, r eal e s t a t e, a n d l an d s c a p e o v er c e r t a i n a r e a s of t he U n i t ed S t a t e s

.

A dd i t i on a ll y

, u se o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w i l l d ec r e a s e con g e s ti o n o f t he NA S, r edu c e p o l l u t i on

,

and p r o v i de s i g n i f

i ca n t b e ne f

i t s t o t he e cono m

y

. N o t a b l y

, t he ben e f

i t s of Aero Aperture’s p r opo s ed

op e r a ti on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l b e r e a l i z ed w it h out i m p li c a t i ng any p ri v acy i s s ue s

.

1. T he P u b l i c W i l l B en e f i t From D e cre a s e d C on g e s t i o n O f T h e NA S.

T he D J I Phan t om 3 UA s ar e b a t t e r y po w e r ed and s e r v e as a s a f e, e f f i c i en t

, a n d e cono m

i cal a lt e r n a ti v e

t o t he m anned a i r c r a f

t t r a d i ti o n a l l y u t i li z ed t o o b t a i n a e r i al i m a g e r y

. B y r educ i ng t he a m ount of

m anned a i r c r a f

t n ee d ed t o pe r f

o r m ae r i al a cq u i s i t i ons, an exe m p ti on a l l o w i ng t he use of a D J I Phan t om

3 UA S w ou l d r e duce t he a m ount of m anned a ir c r a f

t i n t he NA S, r ed u ce no i se a n d a i r p o l l u t i on, as w e l l

as i n c r e a s e t he s a f

e t y of l i f e and p r op e rt y i n t he a i r and on t he g r ou n d. Fur t h e r m o r e, by r ed u c i ng t he

nu m ber of m anned a i r c r a f

t op e r a t i ng i n t he N A S, c on g e sti o n a r ound a ir p o r t s ca u s e d by a r ri v i ng and

d ep a r t i ng a i r c r a f

t w i l l be r edu c ed. The D J I Phan t om 3 UA S do es n o t r eq u ir e a n a i r p o r t t o t a k eo f f or

l and. L i k ewi s e, a r e du c t i on o f m anned a i r c r a f t c on d uc t i ng ae r i al v i d eo a n d pho t o g r aphy m i s si o n s w ou l d

r e s u l t i n f ewer a i r c r a f

t t h at m ust be ha n d l e d by a i r t r a f f i c co n tr o l d u ri ng t he g r ound, t a k eo f f

, d ep a rt u r e,

a r r i v a l , a n d l a nd i ng ph as es of f l i g ht o p e r a t i ons.

2. T he P u b l i c W i l l B en e f i t From T he S a f

e t y A nd E ff

i c i ency O f T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 UA S.

C onduc t i ng ae r

i a l a c qu i s i t i ons w i t h the D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, in s t ead o f m anned a i r c r a f t

, wi l l g r e a t l y

bene f i t t he p u b l i c by d r a s t i ca l l y r ed u c i ng t h e l e v e l s of a i r a n d n o i se p o ll u t i on g e n e r a t ed du r i ng

tr a d i ti o n al ae r i a l v i deo and s t i l l ph o t o g r aphy f l i g ht op e r a t i on s

. B y us i ng ba t t e r y p o w er and e l ec t r i c

m o t o r s, t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S produ c e s no a i r po l l u t i on, a n d i s t h e m ost v i ab l e en v ir on m en t a ll y

con s c i ous a l t e r n a t i v e t o t he cab i n c l a s s, s i x c y l i nd e r i n t e r n al co m bus t i on en g i ne a ir c r a f

t t h at a r e

t y p i c a ll y u t i li z ed f

or a e r i al v i deo and ph o t o g r ap h y

, w h il e b u r n i ng app r o x i m a t e l y 20 to 30 g a ll ons p e r

ho u r of l ea d ed a v i a t i on f

u e l

. T h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S

, w h i l e r edu c i ng t h e c a r b on f oo t p ri n t of a e ri a l

acqu i s i t i ons, a l so e li m

i n a t e s no i se p o l l u t i on, as t he U A S a r e p r op e ll e d by ba t t e r y po w e r e d e l e c t r i c

m o t o r s, r a t h e r t han a

n i n t er nal c o m bus ti on en g i ne.

B y us i ng t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S t o pe r f o r m ae r i al a c qu i s i t i on s

, t he sub s t a n t i al r i sk t o l i f e and p r o p e r t y

i n t h e a i r and on t he g r o u n d

, w h i ch i s u su a ll y a s s oc i a t e d w it h t r ad i t i on a l m anned a ir c r a f t f l i g ht ope r a t i on s

,

wi l l be su b s t a n t i a l l y r e duced o r c o m p l e t e l y e l i m

i na t e d. A s i de f

r om t h e l ack of f

li g ht c r ew m

e m be r s

l oc a t ed onbo a

r d t he a i r c r a f

t

, t he D J I Phan t o m 3 U A ( w e i g h i ng app r ox i m a t e l y 2 pounds 13

. 1 ounces

r e s p ec t i v e l y

, at i t s m ax i m u m g r oss w e i g ht wit h a l en g t h of 16

. 2 i nc h es a nd w i d t h of 16.6 i nch e s, and

w i t h no f u el on bo a

r d )

, h a s l e s s ph y s i c a l p o t e n t i al f o r c o l l a t e r al da m a g e t o l i f e and p r o pe r t y on t he

g r o u nd, a n d i n t he a ir

, c o m pa r ed t o t h e m anned a i r c r a f t t h at t y p i c a ll y co n duct s i m il a r op e r a ti o ns

( w e i g h i ng ap p r o x i m a t e l y 6 ,000 p o unds wi t h a wi n g sp a n o f a pp r o x i m a t e l y 42 f

e e t

, a l en g t h o f 34 f

e e t

,

and a f u e l ca p a c it y of 1 8 0 g a ll on s )

.12

3. P er f o r m i ng A e r i al V i deo and P h o t ogra p hy O p era t i ons W i t h T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 UAS

W i l l B en e f

i t T he E co n o m y.

I n add iti on t o b e i ng s af

e a n d e f f i c i e n t

, t h e D J I Phan t o m 3 U A S i s a l so an e c on o m i cal a l t e r na t i v e to

us i n g m anned a ir c r a f

t t o c o nduct s i m

il a r a e ri a l o p e r a t i ons. A s su c h, op e r a ti on of t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S w il l a l l ow U n it e d St at es ba s ed co m pan i e s, l i k

e Aero Aperture

, t o r e m a i n co m pe t i ti v e

and co n t r i bu t e t o g r o w t h of t he U .S. econo m y

. Spec i f i ca l l y

, w it h t he r i s i ng co s t o f a v i a t i on f u e l a n d t h e

En v ir on m en t a l P r o t e c ti o n A g ency ( “EP A ”) r e g u l a t o r y ac t i ons p h a s i ng out l ea d ed av i a ti on f u e l s, U. S

.

o w ned and o p e r a t ed co m pan i e s m ust adopt n ew and a l t e r n a t i v e t ech n o l o g y i n o r der t o r e m a i n

co m pe ti t i v e.

O pe r a ti ng t h e b a tt e r y po w e r ed D J I Phan t om 3 UA S is one s u ch t echn o l o g y t hat n ot o n l y a ll o w s

co m pan i es g r e a t e r op e r a t i o nal f l e x i b i l it y co m

pa r ed t o m anned a ir c r a ft

, b ut p r o v i des s u ch f l e x i b il it y

w it ho u t t he h i g h ope r a t i on a l co s t o f a tr a d i ti o nal m an n ed a i r c r a ft

.

B y ope r a ti ng t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, c o m pan i es s uc h as Aero Aperture

, can r e m a i n co m pe ti t i v e and

p r o f it a b l e, and t h e r e f

o r e, p r o v i de g r e a t er j ob s t a b i l it y t o e m p l o y ees a nd c on t r a c t o r s

, w h i ch w i l l u l t i m a t e l y

con t r i bu t e t o g r o w t h o f t h e U. S

. econo m y

. I m p r o v ed fi na n c i al p e r f

o r m ance of U .S. co m

pan i e s

, t h r ou g h

co mm e r c i al u se of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, p r o v i des a s t a b l e w o r k f o r ce t h a t i nc r ea s es co n su mer

sp e n d i n g ; i m

p r o v es l oca l

, s t a t e, a nd f

ed e r a l t ax r e v enue s ; a n d a ll o w s c o m pan i es to i n v e s t i n r e s e a r c h

and de v e l op m

ent i n o r d er t o r e m a i n co m pe ti t i v e bo t h i n t he U n i t ed S t a t e s a n d a b r oad.

4. T here A re N o Pr i v acy I s s ues.

Si m il ar t o t h e m anned a e r i al acq u i s i t i on f li g ht op e r a ti ons t h a t h a v e be e n c ondu c t ed f or de c ade s

, Aero

Aperture ’ s p r op o s e d o pe r a t i on of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S wi l l not i m p l i c a t e any p r i v acy i s s u e s

. S p e c i f i c a ll y

, t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l be o pe r a t ed o n l y i n co m p li ance w it h ope r a t i ng docu m en t s ( i .e.,

t h e Aero Aperture A e r i a l O pe r a ti o ns M a nu a l

, Mo n t h l y M a i n t e nan c e Lo g , and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr u c ti on

M a nu a l ) w h i ch r e qu i r es p r o pe rt y o w n e r i n v o l v e ment as w e l l as l oc a l l aw en f o r ce m ent n o t i f

i c a ti o n, a nd i n

ac c o r d ance w i t h t he Fede r al A v i a ti o n R e g u l a ti o ns, i nc l ud i ng t h e m i n i m u m a ltit u d e r e qu i r e m en t s of 14

C .F. R . § 91.1 1 9.

E

. T he R ea s o n s Why G ran t i ng T he E x e m p t i on Wou l d N ot A dv e r s e l y A ff e c t S a f e t y, O r H o w T he

E x e m pt i on Wo u l d P r o v i d e A L ev e l O f S a f e t y A t L ea s t E q u al T o T hat P ro v i ded B y T he R ule

F r o m w h i ch Aero Aperture S eeks E x e m p ti on.

1. R ea s ons Why T he D JI P h antom 3 U A Mee t s T he C on d i t i ons O f T he F A A Moder n i z a ti on

and R e f o r m A ct o f 20 1 2 ( F MR A ) Se c ti on 33 3

.

I n con si de r a

t i on o f t h e s i z e, w e i g h t

, s p eed, and l i m it e d ope r a t i ng a r e a a s so c i a t ed w it h t he u n m anned

a i r c r a f t and i t s op e r a ti o n

, Aero Aperture’s o p e r a ti on of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S mee t s t he cond i t i ons o f

F MRA Se c t i on 333, and w i l l n o t r eq u i r e an a i r w o r t h i n e s s c e r t i f i c a t e i n a cc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R . Pa r t

21, S ubp a r t H.13

Sec t i on 333 p r o v i des a u t h o r i t y f or a UA S t o ope r a t e w it ho u t a i r w o r t h i ne s s ce r t i fi c a t i on and s e t s f o r t h

r eq u ir e m en t s f or con s i d e r i n g w he t her a UA S w i l l c r e a t e a ha z a r d t o u s e r s o f t h e NA S or t he pu b l i c, or

o t h e r w i s e p o se a t h r e a

t t o na t i on a l s e c u r i t y

. Spe c i f i ca ll y

, FM R A S e c ti on 333 s t a t es t h e f o l l o wi n g

, in

pa r t :

( a ) I n G en e ra l

. N

o t wi t h s t an d i ng any o t h e r r e q u i r e m e n t o f t h i s sub t i t l e, and n o t l a t er t han 1 8 0 d a ys a f t er

t he d a t e o f e na c t m ent of t h i s A c t

, t he Se c r e t ary o

f Transp o r t a t i on sh a l l d e t e r m i ne i f c e r t a i n un m anned

a i r c r a f t s y s t ems m ay op e ra t e s a

f e l y i n t he na t i onal a i r

s p a ce s y s t em b e

f o r e com p l e ti o n of t h e p l an and

r u l ema k i ng r e q u i r e d b

y s e c ti o n 3 3 2 o

f t h i s Act or t

he g u i dan c e r e q u i r

ed by s ec t i on 334 of t

h i s

Ac t

. ( b ) Ass e s sment of U

n m an n ed Ai r

c r a f t S y s t em s

. I n m a k i ng t he d

e t e r m i n a t i on un d

er sub s e c t i on ( a )

, t he

Secr e t a r y s h a l l d e t e r

m i ne, at a m i n i m u m

( 1 ) w h i ch t

yp e s o f un m an n ed a i r c r

a f t s y s t ems, i f a n y, as a r e s u l t o

f t h e i r s i z e

, w e i g h t

, sp e ed,

ope r a ti o nal c apa b i l it

y

, pr o x i mi t y t o a i r po r t s and p op u l a t ed ar e as, and o pe r a t i o n w it h i n v i su a l l i ne of

s i g h t do n o t c r e a t e a haz ar d t o us e rs o

f t he n a ti o n al a i r

s p ace s y s t em or t he pu b l i c or pose a t h r eat to

na t i onal s e c ur i t

y ; and

( 2 ) w he t h e r a c e r t i

f i c a t e of w a i ve r

, c e r ti fi c a t e of a u t ho r i z a ti o n, o r a i rwo r t h i ne s s c e r t i fi c a t i on und e r

s e c t i on 44704 o

f t i t l e 49, U

n i t ed S t a t es C o de, i s r e q u i r ed f o r t he ope r

a t i on o f u n m anned a i r c ra

f t

s y s t ems i de n t i

f i ed un d er p a rag r aph ( 1 )

.

( c ) Requ i r

eme n t s f or S a f e O p e ra t i on. If t he S ecr e t a ry d e t e r m i n e s un d

er t h i s s e c t i on t hat c e r t a i n

un m anned a i r c ra

f t s y s t ems m ay ope r

a t e s a f e l y i n t h e n a ti o nal a i r

s pace s y s t em, t h e Sec r

e t a ry s h a l l

e st a b l i sh r e q u i r e m en t s f

o r t he sa f e op e ra t i on of su c h a i r c ra f t s y s t ems i n t

he na ti onal a i r

spa c e s y s t em.

I n s e e k i ng t h i s exe m

p ti on, Aero Aperture s u b m it s t h a t t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S can op e r a t e s af e l y i n t h e

NA S pu r su a n t t o FM R A S e c ti on 333, a s de m ons tr a t ed b y : ( a) t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i cs of t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S; ( b) t he p i l ot c e r t i f

i c a ti o n r eq u ir e men t ; and ( c) t h e s p e c i f i c o p e r a t i ng li m

it a ti o n s.

a. T he S p ec i f

i ca t i ons O f T he D JI P h ant o m 3 UA S D e m on s t r a t es I t s Sa f e C ha r ac t e r i s t i c s

. T he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S does n o t c r e a t e a ha z a r d t o u s er s of t h e NA S o r t he p u b li c, or o t he r w i se po s e

a t h r e at t o n a t i on a l s ecu r

i t y con s i de r i ng i t s s i z e, wei g h t

, sp e ed, and o pe r a t i on a l c a pab i l i t y

.

i

. T ech n i c al S p e c i f

i ca t i ons O f T he D JI P ha n t om 3 UA S.

T he t ech n i c al sp e c i f

i ca t i o n s of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S a r e s et f o r t h by t he D J I Phan t om 3

Spec i f i ca t i o n s and D a t a S h ee t

, a t t ac h ed h e r e t o a s Ex h i b it

.

ii

. T he D JI P ha nt om 3 UA S A utono m o u s Fl i g h t A nd N av i ga t i on Mod e s E na b l e T he UAS

T o R e m a i n W i t hin A D e f i ned Op e ra t i on a l A rea.

T he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S m a y be op e r a t ed i n b o t h m anual a n d f u l l y au t ono m

ous f li g ht m ode s

. A

co m p l e t e de s c r i p t i on of t h e f

l i g ht and na v i g a ti o nal m

odes o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i s p r o v i d e d at

pa g es 12 • 16 and 45 • 50 of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U s e r M a nua l

, a t t ac h ed h e r e t o a s E x h i b i t B.

iii

. T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 UA S I s D e s i g n ed F o r A u t o m at i c R e t urn T o H o m e P o i n t O r H ov e r In

T he E vent O f L o s s O f T h e Co n t r o l L i nk O r N a v i g a ti on.

When t he C o n tr o l Link i s l os t

, t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A w il l r e m a i n s t a t i on a r y

, i n f li g h t

, f or 3 s econ d s

or m o r e. I f

, a ft e r 3 s e cond s

, D J I Phan t om 3 U A do not r e a cq u ir e co n t r ol l i nk da t a fr om t he GC S, t he

U A w il l a s su me t hat t h e C o n tr o l Link i s l ost a nd t h e U A w il l r e t u r n t o t he ho m e pos i ti on (i

. e., f

a i l s a f e

m ode) v i a G P S, and wi l l de s c end t o t he t a k eo f f po s i t i o n and s hu t d o w n. A co m p l e t e de s c r i p t i on o f t he

Fa i l s a f e Fu n c t i ons of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S a r e se t f o r t h a t pa g es 13 t h r ou g h 15 o f t he D J I Phan t om14

3 U s e r M a n u a l

, a t t ac he d he r e t o as Ex h i b i t A.

i v. T he D JI P ha n t o m 3 GC S A nd I t s O pe r a t i on.

A co m p l e t e d e s c ri p ti o n of t he op e r a ti on and s pe c i f i c a t i ons o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 GC S and f l i g ht

con t r ol s o ft w a r e i s p r o v i d e d at p a g es 40 t h r ou g h 47 of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U s e r M anua l

. D J I Phan t om 3

U s e r M a n u al i s a t t ac h ed h e r e t o as E x h i b i t A.

b. Fl i g h t O p e ra t i ons O f D J I P ha n t o m 3 UA S i s L i m i t ed T o T h e L i n e O f S i ght O f A

C er t i f i ca t ed Pi l ot i n C o m m and W it h A S a f e t y O b s erver.

Aero Aperture w i l l on l y u t i li z e c e r t i f i c a t ed p il o t s t o a c t as a p i l ot i n c o m m and ( P I C ) of t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S. A dd i t i on a ll y , a s a f

e t y obs e r v er w i l l a s s i s t a l l p i l o t s d u ri ng f l i g ht ti m e.

c. Fl i g h t s O f T h e D JI P ha n t om 3 UA S W i l l B e Co n d u c t ed P u r s ua n t T o S p e c i fi c

O per a t i ng L i m it a t i ons.

I n s e e k i ng t h i s e x e m

p ti o n, Aero Aperture p r o pos e s t o co m m e r c i a ll y op e r a t e t he D J I Phan t om 3

UA S f or t he s pec i al p u r

p o se o f cond u c t i ng ae r i al v i d e o and p ho t o g r aphy o v er ce r t a i n a r e a s of

U n i te d S t a t e s , pu rs uant t o t he f o l l o w i ng sp e c i f

i c o p e r a t i ng li m

it a t i on s :

1. O pe r a ti o n s a u t h o ri z ed by t h i s g r a n t of exe m p ti on w i l l b e li m

i t ed t o t h e f

o ll o w i ng a i r c r a f

t d e s c ri b ed

i n t he o pe r a t i ng docu men t s

, r o t o r c r a f t UA Ss w e i g h i ng l e s s t han 55 po u nds m ax i m u m g r o s s w e i g h t : D J I

Phan t om 3 U n m anned A ir c r a f t S y s t e m s. P r op o s e d o p e r a t i ons of any o t h e r a ir c r a f t w il l r e q u i r e a new

pe t i t i on o r a p e t i t i on t o a mend t h i s g r a n t

.

2. UA S ope r a t i ons u n der t h i s exe m p ti on wi l l be l i m

it ed t o condu c ti ng ope r a t i ons fo r t he p u r po s e of

ae r i al v i deo a n d ph o t o g r a p h y

.

3. T he UA s m ay not be fl o w n at an i n d i c a t ed a i r s p eed ex c eed i ng 20 k no t s.

4. T he U A m

ust be op e r a t ed a t an a l t i t ude o f no m o r e t h a n 500 f

eet abo v e g r ound l ev el ( AG L), as

i nd i c a t ed by t he p r o c ed u r e s sp e c i f i ed i n t he op e r a ti ng docu m en t s un l e ss a sp e c i a l r eq u e s t i s m ade and

app r o v ed by A T C

. A l l a l t it udes r ep o rt e d t o A T C m ust be i n f e e t AG L.

5. T he UA s m

ust b e o p e r a t ed w it h i n v i s ual l i ne of s i g ht (V L O S ) o f t he P I C at a l l ti m e s

. T h i s r eq u i r es

t he P I C t o be a b l e t o use h u m an v i s i on u na i ded by a n y de v i ce o t h e r t han c o rr e c ti v e l en s e s

, as sp e c i f i ed

on t he P I C ’ s F A A i s s ued a i r m an m ed i c a l c e r t i f

i c a t e.

6. T he use of f

i r st p e r son v i e w ( F PV ) by t he P I C or s a fe t y obs er v er ( S O ) i s n o t p e r m itt ed.

7. A l l o p e r a t i ons m

ust u t i li z e a s a f

e t y ob s e r v er ( S O )

. T he SO m a y be u s ed t o s a t i s f y t he V L O S

r eq u ir e m ent as l ong as t h e P I C a l w a y s m a i n t a i ns V L O S cap a b i l i t y

. T h e SO and P I C m ust be a b l e to

co m m un i ca t e v e r b a l l y at a l l ti m e s . El e c t r o n i c me s s a g i n g or t ex t i ng i s not p e r m i t t ed du r i ng fli g ht

ope r a t i ons. T h e P I C m

ust be de s i g na t e d b e f

o r e t h e f l i g ht and ca n not t

r an s f er h i s or h e r d e s i g na t i on f or

t he du r a t i on of t h e f

l i g h t

. The P I C m

ust en s u r e t h a t t h e SO c an pe r f o r m t h e f un c t i ons p r e s c ri b ed i n t h e

ope r a t i ng docu m

en t s.

8. T he SO m

ust not p e r f

o r m any o t her d u t i es be y ond a s s i s ti ng t he P I C w it h s e e i ng and a v o i d i ng o t h er

a i r tr a f f i c a nd o t h er g r ound ba s ed o b s t a c l e s / ob s tr u c t i o ns and i s not p e r m it t ed t o ope r a t e t he c a m e r a or

o t h e r i n s tr u m

en t s.

9. T he op e r a ti ng docu men t s a nd t he g r a nt o f e x e m p ti on m ust be ac c e s s i b l e d u ri ng UA S ope r a ti o n s a n d

m ade a v a il ab l e t o t he A d m i n i s t r a t or up o n r e q ue s t

. I

f a d i s c r ep a ncy ex i s t s b e t w ee n t he c o nd i t i ons a n d15

li m it a ti o ns c on t a i n ed i n t he g r ant o f e x e m p ti on and t h e p r o ced u r es o u t l i ned i n t h e op e r a ti ng docu m en t s

,

t he c ond i t i ons and l i m

it a ti o ns c o n t a i ned i n t he g r a n t o f exe m p ti on t a k e p r e ce d ence and m

ust be f o l l o w ed.

O t h e r wi s e

, t h e o pe r a t or m ust f o l l ow t he p ro cedu r es as o u t l i ned i n i t s o pe r a ti ng d o cu m en t s. T he ope r a t or

m ay upda t e o r r e v i se i t s op e r a ti ng doc u m en t s. I t i s t h e op e r a t o r ’ s r e s pon s i b i l it y t o t r a ck s uch r e v i s i ons

a nd p r e s e nt upda t ed a n d r e v i s ed d o cu m en t s t o t he Ad m i n i s t r a t o r u pon r e que s t

. T he ope r a t o r m ust a l so

p r e s e nt upda t ed a n d r e v i s ed d o cu m en t s i f i t p e t i ti o ns f or e x t en s i on o r a m end ment to t he g r ant o f

exe m p ti o n. I f t he ope r a t o r d e t e r m

i nes t h a t any upda t e or r e v i s i o n w ou l d a f f e c t t h e ba s i s upon w h i ch t h e

F A A g r a n t ed t he exe m

p ti o n

, t hen t h e ope r a t o r m ust p e t i t i on f

o r a m en d m ent t o i t s g r ant of e x e m

p ti on.

T he F A A ’ s UA S I

n t e g r a ti on O f

f i ce ( A F S

- 80) m ay be con t a c t ed i f que s t i o n s a ri s e r e g a r d i ng upda t e s o r

r e v i s i ons t o t h e op e r a ti ng do c u m en t s.

1 0

. Pr i o r t o e ach f

l i g ht t he P I C m

ust i n s pe c t t he UA S t o e nsu r e t h at i t i s i n a c o nd i ti o n f o r s a f e f li g h t

. If

t he i nsp e c t i on r e v ea l s a c o nd i t i on t h a t a f f e c t s t he s a f

e ope r a t i on of t he UA S, t h e a i r c r a f t i s p r o h i b i t ed

fr om ope r a t i ng un t i l t h e n e ces s a r y m a i n t enan c e has be en pe r f o r m ed and t h e UA S i s f

ound t o be i n a

cond i t i on f

or s a f e f li g h t

. The G r o und C o n t r ol S t a t i on m ust be i n c l ud e d i n t he p re f l i g ht i nsp e c t i on. Al l

m a i n t enan c e a n d a l t e r a ti o n s m ust be p r o p e r l y docu m en t ed i n t he a i r c r a f t r ec o r ds.

1 1

. A ny UA S th a t has und e r g one m a i n t e n ance or a l t e r a t i o ns t h at a f f e c t t h e U A S op er a t i on or f li g ht

cha r ac t e r i s ti c s, e. g

. r ep l ac e m ent of a f l i g ht c r i t i c a l c o m

ponen t

, m

ust und e r g o a f

unc t i on a l t e s t f

l i g h t

.

T he P I C w ho conduc t s t he f un c ti o n al t e st f

l i g ht m ust m a k e an en t r y i n t h e a ir c r af

t r e c o r d s.

1 2

. T he p r e fli g ht i ns p e c ti on m ust accou n t f

o r a l l p o t e n t i al d i s c r e pan c i e s, e. g

. i no p e r a b l e c o m ponen t s,

it e m s, or equ i p m

en t , not a l r eady co v e r ed i n t h e r e l e v a n t s e c t i ons of t he o p e r a t i ng docu m en t s.

1 3

. T he op e r a t or m

ust f o l l ow t he U A S m anu f

ac t u r e r’ s a i r c r a f

t / co m ponen t

, m a i n t en a nce, o v e r h au l

,

r ep l ace m en t

, i ns p e c ti o n , a n d l i f

e li m i t r e q u i r e m en t s.

1 4

. T he op e r a t or m

ust c a r r y out it s m a i n t e n ance, i n sp e c t i o n s, a nd r ec o r d k ee p i ng r eq u i r e men t s, in

acc o r da n ce wi t h t he o p e r a ti ng docu men t s. M a i n t ena nc e, i n s pe c ti o n, a l t e r a t i ons, an d s t a t us of

r ep l ace m en t / o v e r ha u l c o m

ponent p a r t s m ust be no t ed i n t he a i r c r a f t r ec o r ds, i n c l ud i ng t o t al t i m e in

s er v i c e

, d e s c r i p ti on of w o r k acco m p li sh e d, and t h e s i g na t u r e of t he a u t ho r i z ed p e r son r e t u r n i ng t he

UA S to s e r v i ce.

1 5

. Each UA S op e r a

t ed u n der t h i s e xe m

p ti on m ust co m p l y w it h a l l m anu f

a c t u r er S a f

e t y B u ll e ti n s.

1 6

. T he a u t ho r i z ed p e r son m u s t m a k e an en tr y i n t he a i r c r a f

t r e c o r d of t he c o r

r e c ti v e ac t i on t a k

en

a g a i nst d i s c r epan c i e s d i s c ov e r e d b e t w een i n s pe c ti o ns.

1 7

. T he P I C m

ust m eet po s s e s s at l ea s t a cu r r e n t m ed i c a l c e r t i f

i c a t e.

1 8

. T he op e r a t or m ay not pe r m i t a ny P I C t o ope r a t e un l e s s t he P I C m ee t s t he o p e r a t or ’ s qu a l i f i c a ti on

c r i t e ri a and de m ons t

r a t es t he ab i l i t y t o s a f

e l y ope r a t e t he UA S i n a m anner con s i s t e n t w i t h how t he

UA S w il l b e op e r a t ed u nd e r t h e exe m p t i on, i nc l ud i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m a neu v e r s a n d

m a i n t a i n i ng app r o p r i a t e d i s t an c es f r om pe r son s

, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es and s t r u c t u r e s. P I C qua li f i c a t i on

f l i g ht hou r s m

ust be l o gg ed i n a m anner c o ns i s t ent w it h 14 C .F. R

. § 61.5 1 ( b )

. F li g h t s f or t he p u r p o s e s

of t r a i n i ng t h e op e r a t o r ’ s P I C s ar e pe r m i t t ed u nder t h e t e r m s of t h e exe m p t i on. H o w e v e r

, t r a i n i ng

ope r a t i ons m ay on l y be c o nduc t ed d u r i ng ded i c a t ed t r a i n i ng s e s s i ons. D u r i ng t r a i n i n g

, p r o fi c i e n c y

,16

and expe r i e n ce bu il d i ng f l i g h t s, a l l pe r sons not e s s en t i a l fo r f li g ht o p e r a

t i ons a r e con s i de r ed

n on

- pa rti c i pa n t s, a n d t he P I C m ust ope r a t e t h e U A w i t h app r o p r i a t e d i s t a n ce f ro m nonpa r t i c i pa n t s in

acc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R

. § 91.119.

1 9

. UA S ope r a t i ons m ay not b e co n du c t ed du r i ng n i g h t

, a s d e fi n ed i n 14 C .F. R

. § 1

. 1. Al l o p e r a t i ons

m ust be co n du c t ed und e r v i su a l m e t e o r o l o g i cal co n d it i ons ( V M C )

. I f f l i g ht a t n i g ht i s r eq u i r ed, a

sp e c i al r e q ue s t w i l l be m ade at t he F A A o f fi c e c l os e st t o p r o p os e d a r e a of o pe r a t i ons. F li g h t s und e r

sp e c i al v i su a l f

li g ht r u l es ( S V F R ) a r e not a u t h o ri z ed.

2 0

. T he U A m a y not op e r a t e w it h i n 5 n au t i c al m il e s of an a ir p o r

t r e f e r e n ce p o i nt as d eno t e d on a

cu r r ent F AA pub li sh e d a er onau t i c a l ch a r t u n l e ss a l e tt er o f a g r ee m ent w it h t h a t a

ir p o r t ’ s m ana g e ment

i s o b t a i ned, and t he o pe r a ti on i s cond u c t e d i n ac c o r da nce wi t h a N O T A M as r e q u ir e d by t he o pe r a t o r ’ s

COA

. T he l e t t er of a g r ee ment w it h t h e a ir p o r t m ana g e ment m

ust be m ade a v a i l a b l e t o t he A d m i n i s t r a t o r

upon r e que s t

.

2 1

. T he U A m ay not be ope r a t ed l e ss t h an 500 f e e t b e l ow or l e ss t han 2, 0 00 f e et h or i z on t a ll y fr om a

c l oud or w h e n v i s i b i l it y i s l e s s t han 3 s t a t u t e m il e s f r o m t he P I C

.

2 2

. I f t he U A l os e s co m m

un i c a t i ons o r l os e s i t s G PS s i g na l

, i t m ust r e t u r n t o a p r ede t e r m

i ned l o c a ti on

w it h i n t h e p l anned o pe r a t i n g a r ea and l and o r be r eco v e r ed i n a c co r dan c e w i t h t h e ope r a t i ng docu men t s.

2 3

. T he P I C m

ust abo r t t he f

l i g ht i n t h e e v ent of u n p r e d i c t ed ob s t a c l es or e me r g en c i es i n a cc o r da n ce

w it h t he o pe r a t i ng docu men t s.

2 4

. T he P I C i s p r oh i b i t ed fr om be g i nn i ng a f li g ht u n l e ss ( c ons i d e r i ng w i nd and f o r e ca st w e a t her

cond i t i on s ) t he r e i s enou g h po w er t o fl y a t n o r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed t o t he i n t e n ded l an d i ng po i nt and l and

t he UA wi t h 2 5 % b a

t t e r y p o w er r e m a i n i n g

.

2 5

. T he op e r a t or m

ust o b t a i n a n A i r Tra f

f i c Or g an i z a t i on ( A T O ) i s s u ed C e r t i f i c a t e o f Wa i v er or

A u t ho r i z a t i on ( COA ) p r i o r t o condu c t i ng any ope r a t i ons un d er t he g r ant of ex e m p ti on. T h i s CO A w i l l

a l so r equ i r e t h e o pe r a t o r t o r e q ue s t a N o ti c e t o A ir m an ( N O T A M) n o t m o r e t h a n 72 h ou r s i n ad v ance,

but n o t l e ss t han 48 h ou r s p ri o r t o t he o pe r a t i on. Al l ope r a t i ons s ha l l be condu c t ed i n a cc o r da n ce wi t h

a i r sp a c e r eq u ir e men t s i n t h e A T O i s su e d CO A i n c l u d i ng c l a s s of a i r s p ace, a l t i t u d e l e v el and po t en t i a l

tr a n spon d er r eq u ir e men t s.

2 6

. A l l a i r c r a f

t op e r a t ed i n a cc o r da n ce w i t h t he e xe m p ti on m ust be i d e n t i f

i ed by s e r i al nu m

be r

,

r e g i s t e r e d i n a c co r d ance wi t h 14 C .F. R

. pa r t 4 7

, and h a v e i den t i f i c a t i on ( N • N u m

be r ) m a r k i n g s in

acc o r da n ce wi t h 14 C .F. R

. pa r t 45, Su b pa r t C

. M a r k

i ng s m ust be a s l a

r g e as p r a c t i ca b l e.

2 7

. B e f o r e co n du c ti ng op e r a ti o ns, t he r a d i o f r e q uency s pe c tr um us e d f o r o p e r a t i on a nd co n tr o l o f t he

U A m ust co m p l y w it h t h e Fede r al C o mm un i ca ti o n s C o m m

i s si on ( F CC ) or o t h e r app r o p r i a t e

g o v e r n m ent o v e r s i g ht a g e n cy r equ i r e m en t s.

2 8

. T he d o cu men t s r eq u i r ed f e w er t han 14 C .F. R

. 91

. 9 an d 91.2 0 3 m ust b e a v a il a

b l e t o t h e P I C at t he

G r ound C o n tr o l St at i on of t he UA S any ti m e t he UA S i s op e r a ti n g

. The s e docu men t s m ust be m ade

a v a il a b l e t o t he Ad m

i n i s t r a t or or any l aw e n f

o r ce m ent o f f i c i al upon r e que s t

.

2 9

. T he U A m

ust r e m a i n c l e ar and y i e l d t he r i g ht o f w ay t o a l l m anned a v i a ti o n o p e r a t i ons and17

ac t i v it i es a

t a l l ti m e s

.

3 0

. T he UA S m a y not be o p e r a t ed by t he P I C fr om any m o v i ng de v i ce or v eh i c l e.

3 1

. Fl i g ht o p e r a t i ons m

ust be c onduc t ed a

t l ea s t 5 0 0 f

e et f r om a l l nonp a

r t i c i p a ti ng p er sons ( p e r s ons

o t h e r t han t he P I C

, S O

, ope r a t or t r a i nees or e s s e n ti a l pe r s o ns )

, v e s s e l s, v e h i c l e s

, and s t r uc t u r e s u n l e s s:

a. B a r r i e r s or s t r u c t u r es a r e p r e s e n t t h at su f f i c i e n t l y p r o t e ct no n pa

r t i c i p a t i ng pe r s ons fr om t he UA

and / o r d eb r i s i n t he e v ent of an a c c i d en t

. T he o pe r a t or m ust e n su r e t h at non p a

r ti c i p a t i ng pe r s o ns r e m a i n

under s uch p r o t e c ti on. I

f a s it u a t i on a

r i s e s w h e r e n o n

pa r t i c i p a t i ng pe r so n s l e a v e su c h p r o t e c t i on a n d a r e

w it h i n 500 f

e e t o f t h e U A

, f

li g ht o p e r a t i ons m

ust c ea s e i m m

ed i a t e l y and / o r ;

b. T he a i r c r a f

t i s o p e r a t ed ne a r v e s s e l s, v eh i c l e s or s t r u c t u r es w h e r e t he o w ne r / c o n t r o l l er o f su c h v e s s el s,

v e h i c l es o r s tr u c t ur es h a s g r an t ed p e r m i s si on and t h e P I C has m ade a s a f e t y a s s e s s m

ent of t he ri sk of

o p e r a t i ng c l os e r t o t hose o b j e c t s a nd d e t e r m

i n e d t h a t i t does not p r e s ent a n undue ha za r d, an d ;

c. O pe r a ti o n s n e a r e r t o t h e P I C

, S O

, ope r a t o r t r a i ne e s or e s s e n t i al pe r sons do n o t p r e s e n t an u ndue

ha z a r d t o t h o se p e r s ons p er § 91.119 ( a )

.

3 2

. A l l op e r a ti o n s sh a l l be co n duc t e d o v er p r i v a t e or c on t r o l l ed acce s s p r o p e r t y w it h pe r m i s si o n fr om

t he l and ow n e r

/ co n t r o l l er o r a u t ho r i z ed r ep r e s e n t a ti v e. Pe r m i s si o n f r om l and own e r/ c o n t r o l l e r or

au t h o ri z ed r e p r e s en t a t i v e wi l l be o b t a i n e d f o r e a ch fl i g ht t o be c o ndu c t ed.

3 3

. A ny i nc i den t

, ac c i de n t

, or f l i g ht ope r a

t i on t h at t r a n s g r e s s e s t he l a t e r a l or v e r t i c al bound a ri e s of t h e

ope r a t i on a l a

r ea as d e fi n ed by t he a p p l i ca b l e CO A m u st b e r ep o rt e d t o t he F AA ' s UA S I n t e g r a ti on

O ff i ce ( A F S • 80) w it h i n 24 hou r s. A c c i de n t s m ust be r epo r t ed t o t h e N a t i on a l Tr a nspo r t a ti o n S a f

e t y

B oa r d ( N T S B ) p e r i n s t r u c t i ons c o n t a i ned on t he N T SB Web s i t e: www .n t sb. g o v

.

2. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R equi r e m e nts O f Se c ti on 6 1.11 3 ( a) A nd ( b) Would

N o t A dver s e l y A ff

e c t S a f e t y.

Aero Aperture s u b m

it s t h a t t he eq u i v a l e n t l ev el of s a f e t y e s t a b l i sh e d by Sec t i on 61.11 3 ( a ) a nd ( b) wi l l b e

m a i n t a i ned b ec a use no P I C w il l be a ll o w ed t o op e r a t e t h e D J I Phan t o m 3 UA S un l e s s t hat P I C has

de m ons tr a t ed, by m

ee ti ng m i n i m u m fli g h t h our and cu r r e n cy r eq u i r e m en t s, t hat t he P I C i s a b l e t o s a f e l y

o p e r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i n a m ann e r con s i s t ent wi t h t he e x e m p t i on, i nc l ud i ng e v a s i v e an d

e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s a nd m a i n t a i n i ng ap p r op r i a t e d i s t an c es fr om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es a nd s tr u c t u r e s.

C ons i d e r i ng Aero Aperture’s p r opo s ed a r e a of o p e r a t i ons and t he op er a t i ng li m it a t i ons s e t f

o r t h

abo v e; t he p a r a l l el n a t u r e o f p r i v a t e p i l ot ae r ona u t i c a l k no w l ed g e r e qu i r e men t s t o t ho s e of co m m e r c i al

p i l ot r e q u i r e men t s ( See E x e m p ti on N o. 11 062 ) ; and t he a i r m an s h i p s k i l l s n e ce s s a

r y t o s af e l y ope r a t e

t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, Aero Aperture sub m it s t h a t t he add i ti o nal m anned a ir m an s h i p exp e r i en c e of

a co m m e r c i a l l y ce r t i f

i c a t ed p il o t w ou l d not c o r r e l a t e t o t he a ir m an s h i p s k i l l s nece s s a

r y Aero

Aperture s p ec i f

i c p r op o s e d f

li g ht op e r a t i o n s.

T he F A A has p r e v i ou s l y g r an t ed r e l i ef fr om Sec t i on 6 1.113 ( a) a nd ( b ) s p e c i f i c t o UA S, in

c i r cu m s t anc e s s i m

i l a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e s p e c t s, t o t ho s e p r e s en t ed h e r e i n ( e. g

. E x e m p ti on N os. 11062,

11063, 110 6 4, 11065, 1 1 0 66, 11067, 11 0 80, 111 0 9, 11110, 111 1 2, 11136, 1 1 1 38, 11150, 11 1 53,

11156, 11 1 58, 11 1 59, 11 16 0, 1116 1 )

.18

Aero Aperture wi l l n o t a ll ow any P I C t o ope r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 U A S un l e s s t h at P I C ha s

d e m ons tr a t e d

, by m

ee t i ng m i n i m u m fli g h t hour r e qu i r e men t s or t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S tr a i n i ng and

cu r r ency r equ i r e m

en t s, t h a t t he P I C i s a b l e t o s a f

e l y ope r a t e t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i n a m anner

con s i s t ent w it h t h i s e xe m p ti on, i n c l ud i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s a nd m a i n t a i n i ng

app r o p r i a t e d i s t anc e s f

r om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es a n d s tr u c t u r e s

.

Spec i f i ca l l y

, t he P I C m

ust ha v e accu m

u l a t ed a n d l o gg ed, i n a m anner c o ns i s t ent w it h 14 C .F. R . §

61.51 ( b )

, 2 5 ho u r s of t o t a l ti m e as a UA S r o t o r c r a f

t p i l ot ( wi t h a m

i n i m u m of 5 h ou r s of t h o se h ou r s as

a U A S pi l o t o p e r a

t i ng t he s a m e m a k

e and m odel of U A S to be u s e d f

or op e r a t i o n s und e r t h e

exe m p ti on )

. I n add i t i on t o t he hour r eq u ir e men t s, t he P I C m ust acco m

p li s h 3 t a k

eo f f s and l a n d i n g s in

t he p r e c ed i ng 90 da y s (f

o r cu r r ency pu r p os e s )

.

A s i n E x e m

p ti on N o s. 11 0 62, 1113 8

, and 111 5 3, p r i o r do c u m en t ed f li g ht ex p e ri ence t h a

t w a s o b t a i ned

i n co m p li a nce w it h a p p li ca

b l e r e g u l a ti o n s w i l l en s u r e an eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y du ri ng Aero Aperture

p r opo s ed o pe r a t i on s

. T he Ad m i n i s t r a t o r has h e l d t h a t p r i o r docu m e n t ed f l i g ht ex p e r i en c e t h a t w as

ob t a i n ed i n co m

p l i an c e wi t h a pp l i c a

b l e r e g u l a t i ons w o u l d en s u r e sa f e o pe r a ti o ns, s t a t i ng as f

o l l o w s :

I n Ex e m p ti on N o. 11062, t he F A A r equ i r ed t h at p r i or t o cond u c t i ng ope r a t i ons f or t he p u r p o se of

m o ti on p i c t u r e f

il m i ng ( or s i m

il ar op e r a t i o n s )

, t he P I C m ust ha v e accu m

u l a t e d and l o gg ed, i n a m anner

con s i s t ent wi t h 14 C FR 61

. 51 ( b )

, 25 hou r s o f t o t al t i m e as a UA S r o t o r c r a f t p i l ot i n c l ud i ng at l e a st 10

hou r s l o gg ed as a UA S p i l ot w i t h a m u lti r o t or UA S. Pr i o r t o o pe r a t i ons u nder E xe m p ti on N o. 11062,

t he P I C m

ust a l so ha v e ac c u m

u l a t ed and l o gg ed a m

i n i m u m of 5 hou r s as a UA S p il o t op e r a t i ng t he

s a m e m a k e and m odel of UA S t o be u s e d f or o pe r a ti ons un d er t he e xe m p ti on. F or c l a

r i f i c a t i on, t he

F A A con si d e r s t h e s e m

i n i m u m hour r equ i r e men t s t o be i n c l u s i v e r a t h er t h an a d d i t i v e; i .e. 5 ho u r s m a k e

and m odel ti m e m a y be i n c l uded i n t he 10 h o u r s o f m u l t i r o t or t i m

e and t he 10 h ou r s m ay be i nc l u d ed i n

t h e t o t a l 25 hou r s of U A S ro t o r c r a f t ti m e. I n add iti o n t o t he h o ur r eq u i r e men t s, t he P I C m ust a cco m

p li sh 3

t a k eo f f s and l an d i n g s i n t he p r e c ed i ng 90 da y s (f or c u rr e ncy pu r p o s e s )

. T h e F A A fi nds t h a t at a

m i n i m u m

, t he fli g h t hour r equ i r e men t s i n Exe m p ti on N o. 11062 a r e a

p p r op r i a t e t o p r a c t i c e and

bu i l d p r o f

i c i ency i n t h e s k

i ll s ne c e s s a r y t o s a f

e l y c on duct t he p e t i ti o ne r ’ s p r o p o s e d op e r a ti o ns. T h e

F A A a l so fi n ds t h at p r i o r docu men t ed f l i g ht exp e r i en c e t h a t w as ob t a i n e d i n co m p l i ance wi t h app l i ca b l e

r e g u l a ti o n s w o u l d s a t i s f

y t h i s r eq u i r e m en t

. T r a i n i n g

, p r o f i c i e n c y

, and expe r i e n ce bu il d i ng f l i g h t s c a n

a l so b e con d uc t ed und e r t he g r a n t of exe m p ti o n t o acco m

p l i sh t he r e q u ir e d f

li g ht ti m e. D u ri ng t r a i n i n g

,

p r o f i c i en cy

, and exp e r i ence bu il d i ng f l i g h t s t he P I C i s r eq u ir ed t o o p e r a t e t he U A S w i t h app r o p r i a t e

d i s t anc e s i n ac c o r da n ce wi t h 14 C

. F .R 91

. 119 Exe m p ti on N o. 11 1 38 a t p ag e 15.

A cco r d i n g l y

, Aero Aperture wi l l en s u r e s a f e ope r a ti o n s by not a l l o w i n g a n y P I C t o ope r a t e t he D J I

Phan t om 3 UA S u n l e s s t h a t P I C has de m ons t r a t ed, by m ee ti ng m i n i m u m fli g h t hour and cu r r ency

r equ i r e m en t s, t h at t he P I C i s a b l e t o s a f e l y o pe r a t e t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S i n a m anner con s i s t ent

wi t h t h e exe m

p t i on, i n c l u d i ng e v a si v e and e m e r g ency m aneu v e r s and m a i n t a i n i ng app r o p r i a t e

d i s t a n ces f

r om peop l e, v e s s e l s, v eh i c l es a n d s t r u c t u r e s

.19

3. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r om T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f Se c t i on 91

. 7 ( a ) W ould N o t A dv e r s e l y

A ff e c t S a f e t y.

T he eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s af e t y e s t ab l i s h ed by Sec t i on 91.7 ( a ) wi l l be m a i n t a i n e d beca u se p ri o r t o e v e r y

f l i g h t

, Aero Aperture wil l e nsu r e t h a t t he D JI Phan t om 3 UA S i s i n an a ir w o rt hy c ond i t i on ba s ed up o n

t he UA S’s co m

p l i a nce wi t h i t s o pe r a t i ng d ocu m en t s a nd as s t a t e d i n t he c o nd i t i ons and li m it a ti o ns

h e r e i n.

A dd i t i on a ll y

, t h e F A A has p r e v i ou s l y g r an t ed r e li e f fr om Sec ti on 91

. 7 ( a ) s p e c i f i c t o UA S, in

c i r cu m s t anc e s s i m

i l a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e s p e c t s, t o t ho s e p r e s en t ed h e r e i n ( e. g

. E x e m p ti on N os. 11062,

11063, 110 6 4, 11065, 1 1 0 66, 11067, 11 0 80, 111 0 9, 11110, 111 1 2, 11136, 1 1 1 38, 11150, 11 1 53,

11156, 11 1 57, 11 1 58, 11 15 9, 11160, 1 116 1 )

.

4. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r om T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f Se c t i on 91

. 121 W o uld N ot A dve r s e l y

A ff e c t S a f e t y.

T he e q u i v a l e nt l e v el o f s a f e t y e s t a b l i sh e d by Se c ti o n 91.121 w i l l b e m a i n t a i n ed beca u se t he a l t it u de

i n f o r m a ti on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l be p r o v i de d t o t he P I C v i a G P S equ i p m ent and a r ad i o

co m m un i ca t i ons t e l e m e tr y da t a l i n k

, w h i ch do w n l i n k s fr om t he U A S t o t he GC S f or a c t i v e

m on it o r i ng of t h e f

li g ht p a t h and a l t i t u de. T h i s a l t it u d e i n f o r m a ti o n, co m

b i ned w i t h Aero Aperture’s

ope r a t i on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w it h i n v i s u al l i ne of s i g h t

, at or b e l ow 500 f eet AG L, w i l l en s u r e

a l e v el of s a f

e t y eq u i v a l e n t t o Sec t i on 91.121. The a l t i t u de i n f o r m a t i on wi l l b e g en e r a t ed by G PS

equ i p m ent i n s t a l l e d onb o a

r d t he a i r c r a f

t . P r i o r t o ea c h f

l i g h t , a z e r o a l t i t ude i n i t i a t i on p o i nt i s

au t o m a t i ca l l y e s t ab l i s h ed b y t he U A S at g r ound l e v e l

.

T he F A A has p r e v i ous l y g r an t ed r e li e f fr om Sec t i on 91.121 s pe c i f i c t o UA S, i n c i r cu m s t an c es s i m il a r

,

i n a l l m a t e r i a l r e s pe c t s, t o t hose p r e s e n t ed h e r e i n ( e. g

. Exe m p ti on N o s

. 1 1 062, 1 1 063, 1 1 064, 11065,

11066, 110 6 7, 11080, 1 1 1 09, 11112, 11 1 36, 111 3 8, 11150, 111 5 3, 11156, 1 1 1 57, 11158, 11 1 59,

11160, 1116 1 )

.

5. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f S e c t i on 91

. 151 ( b ) Would N ot

A dver s e l y A ff

e c t S a f e t y.

A g r ant of t h i s exe m

p ti o n w ou l d en s u r e an eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y e s t a b l i sh e d by 14 C .F. R

. S e c t i on

91.151 ( b) as a r e s u l t o f ( 1 ) t h e t ech n i c al sp e c i f i ca t i o n s of t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S; ( 2) t h e li m it a ti o ns on

t he p r op o s e d f

l i g ht op er a t i on s ; and ( 3) t he l oc a ti o n of t he p r o p os e d f

l i g ht op er a t i ons. A c c o r d i n g l y

, Aero

Aperture wi l l e n su r e t h a t i t w i l l s a f e l y ope r a t e t he b a t t e r y po w e r e d D J I Phan t om 3 UA du ri ng d a y li g ht

h ou r s i n V FR con d i t i ons, wi t h enou g h b a t t e r y po w e r t o fl y f or a t o t a l d u r a ti o n o f 15 m i nu t es t o t he f

i r st

p o i nt o f i n t ended l and i ng and, a s s u m i ng no r m al c r u i s i ng sp e ed, t o fl y a f t er t h at f o r at l ea s t 4.5 m

i nu t e s

.

H e r e, as i n Exe m

p ti o n N o. 11109, t he t ech n i c al sp e c i f i c a t i ons of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S; t he

li m it a ti o n s on t he p r op o s e d f l i g ht ope r a

t i on s ; and t h e l oca t i on of t he p r opo s ed o p e r a ti o n s, w i l l en s u r e an

equ i v a l e nt l e v el of s a f

e t y e st a b l i sh e d by 14 C .F. R

. S e c t i on 91.1 5 1 ( b )

. Fu r t h e r m o r e, s a f e t y w il l be

en s u r ed as t he D J I Phan t o m 3 UA S p r o v i des au d i b l e and v i su a l w a r n i n g s t o t he P I C at t he GC S w hen20

t he U A exp e r i enc e s l ow b a t t e r y v o l t a g e, t h e f i r s t w a r n i ng occu r

ri ng a t ap p r ox i m a t e l y 33% r e m a i n i ng

ba t t e r y po w e r

, and a g a i n at app r o x i m a t e l y 10% r e m a i n i ng ba t t e r y po w e r

. A t t he c r i t i c a ll y l ow ba t t e r y

l e v e l

, t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l de s c end a nd l and a u t o m a ti c a l l y

.

Si g n if i ca n tl y

, p r e v i o u s ex e m

p ti ons g r an t e d by t he F A A conce r n i ng Sec t i on 91 .1 51 e s t ab l i sh t h a t s a f e t y

i s n ot ad v e r s e l y a f

f e c t ed w hen t he t e c hn i cal c h a r a c t e ri s t i cs and o pe r a t i ng l i m it a ti ons o f t he UA S a r e

con s i de r ed. R e l i e f has b ee n g r an t ed f o r m anned a ir cr a f

t t o ope r a t e at l e s s t han t he m i n i m u m s p r e s c ri b ed

i n Se c ti on 91

. 151, i n c l u d i n g Ex e m p ti on N os. 2689, 5 745, and 10650. Mo r eo v e r

, t he F A A has p r e v i ou s l y

g r an t ed r e l i ef fr om Sec ti on 91.151 s p ec i f i c t o UA S, i n c ir c u m s t ances s i m il a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e s p ec t s, t o

t ho s e p r e s e n t ed he r e i n ( e. g

. Exe m p ti on N o s. 8811, 108 0 8, 10673, 1 1 0 42, 11062, 11 0 63, 11064, 110 6 5,

11066, 1 1 0 67, 11080, 11 1 09, 111 1 0, 11136, 111 3 8, 11150, 1 1 1 53, 11156, 11 1 57, 11158, 11 1 59, 11 1 60,

11 1 61 )

.

6. R ea s ons Why A n E x e m p t i on F r o m T he R eq u i r e m e nts O f Se c t i ons

91.405 ( a )

, 91.40 7 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1 .409 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, A nd 9 1.417 ( a ) & ( b) Wo u l d N o t A dve r s e l y A ff e ct

S a f e t y.

I n s e e k i ng t h i s e x e m

p ti on, Aero Aperture s u b m it s t h a t t h e eq u i v a l e n t l ev el of s a f e t y w i t h r e g a r d t o

t he r e g u l a t o r y m a i n t ena n ce and a l t e r a ti on r equ i r e men t s e s t a b li s hed by Se c ti o n s 9 1.40 5 ( a )

,

91.407 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 91.40 9 ( a )( 1 ) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91.41 7 ( a ) & ( b) w i l l be m et Aero Aperture w il l u se t r a i ned

t ec h n i c i a n s t o pe r f

o r m m a i n t enan c e, a lt e r a ti o ns, or p r e v en t i v e m a i n t ena n ce on t he UAS us i ng t he

m e t hods, t ech n i q ue s , a n d p r ac t i c es p r e s c r i b e d i n t he o p e r a t i ng docu men t s ( i .e., t h e Aero Aperture A e ri a l

O p e r a ti o ns M a nu a l , M o n t h l y M ai n t enan c e Lo g , and D J I Phan t om 3 I ns tr uc t i on M a nu a l )

. Fu r t h e r m o r e,

Aero Aperture w i l l d ocu ment and m a i n t a i n a l l m a i n t enan c e r ec o r ds f o r t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S.

Sin c e t he D J I Phan t om 3 U A S w il l be i nsp e c t ed as p r e s c r i bed by t he op e r a ti ng d o cu men t s, Aero Aperture

wi l l m a i n t a i n t he eq u i v a l e n t l e v el of s a f e t y e st ab l i s h ed by Se c ti o n s 9 1.405 ( a )

, 91. 4 09 ( a ) ( 1 ) , and

91.4 0 9 ( a ) ( 2 )

. A c o py of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 U s e r M a nu a l s a r e a t t a ched h e r e t o as Ex h i b i t C and D ; a

copy of t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S M ai n t ena n ce L O G i s a t t ach e d he r e t o as Ex h i b i t C. Li k ewi s e, t he

exe m p ti o n s ou g ht w i l l n o t a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t s a f e t y beca u se Aero Aperture w i l l use t r a i n ed t e c hn i c i a ns t o

p e rf o r m m a i n t enan c e, a l t e r a ti o n s o r p r e v en t i v e m a i n t e nance on t he UAS us i ng t he m e t hod s

, t e ch n i qu e s,

a n d p r a c t i c e s p r e s c ri b ed by t h e op e r a t i ng docu men t s. Fur t h e r m o r e, t he e x e m

p ti o n sou g ht w ou l d m a i n t a i n

a n equ i v a l ent l e v el o f s a f

e t y e st a b l i sh e d by Sec t i ons 91

. 407, 91.4 1 7 ( a ) and 91.417 ( b )

, b e cau s e a l l

m a i n t e n ance o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S w il l be pe r f o r m ed by tr a i ned t ec hn i c i an s

.

M a i n t en a nce w i l l be docu men t e d and m a i n t a i ned u t i l i z i ng t he m on t h l y m a i n t en a nce l o g . Si g n if i ca n tl y

,

p r e v i ous e x e m

p ti ons g r an t ed by t h e F A A conc e r n i ng Sec t i ons 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91. 4 0 7 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 91

. 409 ( a ) ( 1) &

( a ) (2 )

, a n d 91. 4 17 ( a) & ( b) e s t a b l i sh t h a t s a f e t y is not a d v e r s e l y a f

f e c t ed w he n t he t e c hn i cal

ch a r a c t e r i s ti cs and op e r a t i ng li m it a t i ons of t h e U A S a

r e con s i de r ed.

I n con si de r a t i on of Aero Aperture’s p r o pos e d op e r a ti ng l i m it a t i o n s, t he op e r a t i ng docu m en t s, a nd t he

t ech n i c al a s p e c t s o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, Aero Aperture s u b m it s t h a t s af e t y w i l l not be ad v e r s e l y

a f f ec t ed by g r an t i ng exe m

p ti o n f r om 14 C .F. R . Sec t i o ns 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91.407 ( a ) ( 1) and ( a )( 2 )

,

9 1.409 ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91

. 417 ( a) and ( b )

. T he F A A has p r e v i ou s l y g r an t ed r e l i e f sp e c i f i c t o UA S i n

c i r cu m s t ances s i m

il a r

, i n a l l m a t e r i al r e sp e c t s, t o t h o se p r e s e n t ed h e r e i n ( e. g . Exe m p ti on N os. 11062,

1 1 063, 11064, 1 1 065, 11 0 66, 11067, 11080, 1 1109, 1 11 10, 11112, 11 1 36, 11138, 111 5 0, 11153,21

11156, 11 1 57, 11 1 58, 11 15 9, 11160, 1 116 1 )

.

7. T he F A A M ay P r e s c r i be A ny O t h er C on di ti ons F o r S a f e O p e ra t i on.

I n acco r dan c e w i t h Se c t i on 333 of t he F A A Mod e r n i z a t i on and R e f o r m A ct of 2 012 ( F MR A ) and 14

C

. F

. R

. § 21.16 e n t i t l ed S p e c i al C o nd i t i o n s, Aero Aperture r eq u e s t t h a t t he F A A p r e s c r i be sp e c i al

con d i t i o n s f

o r t he i n t end e d op e r a ti o n of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, w h i ch c o n t a i n s u ch s a f

e t y s t an d a r d s

t hat t he A d m

i n i s t r a t o r fi n d s n e ce s s ar y t o e s t a b l i sh a l e v el o f s a f

e t y equ i v a l e n t t o t h at e st a b l i sh e d by

14 C .F. R . P a

r t 21, Subp a

r t H

, and 14 C .F.R §§ 61.11 3 ( a ) & ( b ) , 91

. 7 ( a ) , 91.1 2 1, 91.151 ( b )

,

91.40 5 ( a )

, 9 1

. 4 07 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1.40 9 ( a ) ( 1) & (a )( 2 )

, a nd 9 1 .417 ( a) & ( b )

. Such s pe c i a l c o nd i t i ons w il l

pe r m i t s a f e op e r a ti o n o f t h e U A s f

o r t he l i m it ed pu r pose of cond u c t i ng ae r i al v i deo and pho t o g r aphy

o v er c e r t a i n a

r eas o f t he U n i t ed St a t e s f o r co m pen s a t i on o r h i r e. F MRA Se c ti o n 3 3 3 s e t s f o r t h t he

r e q u i r e m en t s f

or c ons i d e r i ng w he t h er a UA S w il l c r e a t e a ha za r d t o u s e r s of t h e NA S o r t he pub l i c,

o r o t he r w i se pose a t h r eat t o n a t i on a l s ec u r i t y ; and f u r t he r

, p r o v i d es t he a u t ho r i t y f or s u ch UAS t o

op e r a t e w i t ho u t a ir w o r t h i ne s s c e r t i f i c a t i on i n a c co r d ance w it h any r eq u ir e men t s t h a t m ust be

e st a b l i sh e d f o r t he s a f e op e r a t i on o f t he U A S in t h e NA S.

Li k ewi s e, t he Ad m

i n i s t r a t o r m ay p r e s c r i be s p e c i al co n d i t i ons pu r su a n t t o 14 C

. F

. R .§ 21.16, f o r op e r a ti o n

of t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, s i n ce t h e a i r w o r t h i ne s s r e g u l a t i ons o f 14 C .F. R

. P a r t 21 do n o t co n t a i n

a d equ a t e or ap p r o p r i a t e s a f e t y s t an d a r ds, due t o t he no v el or u nusu a l d e s i g n f e a t u r es of t h e a ir c r a ft

. S e c ti on 21. 1 6, en t i t l ed S pe c i a l C on d i t i o ns, s t a t es t he f o ll o w i n g :

I f t he F A A fi nds t h at t he a i r w o rt h i ne s s r e g u l a t i o n s of t h i s s u bch a p t e r do n ot con t a i n adeq u a t e or

app r o p r i a t e s a f

e t y s t a n da r d s f

or an a i r c r a ft

, a i r c r a f

t eng i ne, or p r op e l l er b e ca u se of a no v el or unu s ual

de si g n f ea t u r e of t he a

i r c r a f t

, a ir c r a f t e n g i ne o r p r o pe ll e r , he p r e s c ri b es s p e c i al c o nd i t i o n s a nd

a m en d m en t s t h e r e t o f

or t h e p r o d uc t

. T h e s pe c i al c o nd i ti o n s a r e i s s u e d i n acc o r d a nce w it h P a

r t 11 of

t h i s c ha p t er and c o n t a i n s u ch s a f e t y s t and a

r ds f o r t he a i r c r a ft

, a i r c r a f

t en g i n e o r p r op e l l er as t h e F A A

fi n d s n e ces s a r y t o e s t ab l i sh a l e v el of s a f e t y equ i v a l e n t t o t h a

t e s t a b l i sh e d i n t h e r e g u l a t i ons. See 14

C. F

. R . § 21

. 16.

T h e r e f o r e, i n a c co r d ance w it h F MRA Se c ti o n 333 and 14 C

. F. R . § 21.1 6

, t h e F A A m a y p r e s c r i be sp e c i al

con d i t i o n s f

o r Aero Aperture i n t e n d e d ope r a t i on o f t he D J I Phan t om 3 UA S, w h i ch con t a i n su c h s a f e t y

s t and ar ds t h at t he Ad m

i n i s t r a t o r f

i nds n e ces s a r y t o e s t ab l i sh a l e v el o f s a f e t y equ i v a l e nt t o t hat

e s t a b l i s h ed by 14 C .F. R

. P a

r t 21, S ubpa

r t H

, and 14 C .F.R S e c t i ons 61.11 3 ( a ) & ( b )

, 91.7 ( a )

, 91. 1 21,

91. 1 51 ( b )

, 91.405 ( a )

, 9 1.40 7 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 9 1.417 ( a) & ( b )

.

● A S u mm a ry T h at C an B e P u b li s h ed In T he F ede r al R eg i s t er, s t a t i ng:

● T he R ul e s From Wh i ch Aero Aperture S eeks E x e m p t i on:

Aero Aperture se eks exem p ti o n f rom t he r e q u i r e m e n t s o

f 14 C .F.R S ec t i ons 61.113 ( a ) & ( b )

,

91.7 ( a )

, 91.121, 91.1 5 1 ( b )

, 91.405 ( a )

, 91.407 ( a )( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a )( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 91.417 ( a) & ( b )

.

A B r i e f D e s c r i p ti on O f T he N a t ure O f T he E x e m p t i on Aero Aperture S e ek s :

This e x emp t i on wi l l p e rmit Aero Aperture t o com m e r c i a l l y op e ra t e an U

n m anned Ai r c ra

f t Sy s t em

( U AS) f or t h e pur

p ose o f con d uc t i ng ae r i al v i deo and p ho t o grap h y o v er cer t

a i n ar e a s of t h e U

n it ed

S t a t e s

.22

● A ny A d d it i onal I n f

o r m a t i on, V i e w s, O r A r gu m en t s A va il a b l e To S u p p ort Aero Aperture

R eq u e st

.

T h i s P e t it i on i s m ade pu r s u ant t o t he F A A Mo d e r n i z a ti on and R e f o r m A ct o f 2 0 12 ( FM RA ) S e c ti on 333,

w h i c h d i r e c t s t he Se c r e t a r y of T r an s p o r t a t i on t o de t e r m i n e i f c e r t a i n UA S m ay ope r a t e s a f e l y i n t h e NA S.

A s su c h, Aero Aperture’s r e q ue s t f or e x e m p ti o n m ay be g r an t ed pu r s u ant t o t he a u t h o r i t y of FM R A

Sec t i on 333 and 1 4 C .F. R

. Pa r t 1 1, as s et f o r t h abo v e.

FM R A Sec t i on 333 s e t s f o rt h t he r eq u ir e m

e nt s f or c o ns i d e r i ng w he t her a UA S w il l c r e a t e a ha z a r d to

us e r s o f t he NA S or t he p u b l i c, o r o t h e r wi se pose a t h r e a t t o n a t i on a l s e c u r it y ; a n d f u rt h e r

, p r o v i des t h e

au t h o r i t y f

or su c h UA S t o o pe r a t e w it h o ut a ir w o r t h i n e s s c e r t i f i c a t i on.

A s d i s c us s e d i n d e t a

i l abo v e, Aero Aperture w il l o pe r a t e t he D J I Phan t o m 3 U A S s af e l y in t he NA S,

w it h out c r e a t i ng a ha z a r d t o u s e r s of t he N A S, or t he pu b l i c, o r o t he r w i s e po s e a t h r e at t o na t i on a l

s ec u r i t y

.

C O NCLU SI O N

A s se t f o r t h he r e i n, Aero Aperture s ee k s an e xe m p ti on pu r su a n t t o 14 C

. F. R

. § 11.61 and Sec t i on 3 3 3 of

t he F A A M ode r n i z a t i on a n d R e f o r m A ct o f 2012 ( FM RA )

, w h i c h w il l pe r m i t s a f e ope r a t i on o f t he D J I

Phan t om 3 UA S co m m

e r c i a l l y

, w it ho u t an a i r w o r t h i n e s s c e r t i f i c a t e, f or t he li m it ed pu r po s e of

co n du c ti ng ae r

i al v i deo and ph o t o g r aphy o v er ce r t a i n a r e a s of t h e U n i t ed St a t e s

. B y g r an ti ng t h i s

Pe ti ti on, t h e F A A A d m i n i s t r a t or wi l l be f

u l f i l l i ng t he Con g r e s s i on a l m anda t e of t h e F A A Mod e r n i z a t i on

and R e f o r m A ct of 2 0 12, w h i l e a l so adv an ci ng t he i n t e r e s t s o f t h e pub l i c, by a l l o w i ng Aero Aperture t o

s af e l y , e f fi c i e n tl y , and eco n o m

i ca ll y ope r a t e t h e D J I Phan t om 3 UA Ss co m m e r c i a l l y w it h i n t he N A S.

W H ER E F O R E

, i n ac c o r d ance w i t h t he F ed e r al A v i a ti on R e g u l a ti o ns and t he F A A Mod e r n i z a t i on and

R e f o r m A ct of 2012, S ec ti on 333, Aero Aperture r e s p e c tf u ll y r e q ue s t s t h a t t h e A d m i n i s tr a t or g r ant t h i s

P e t i t i on f or an e x e m

p ti on f r om t he r e qu i r e m en t s of 14 C .F.R Se c ti o ns 6 1.113 ( a) & ( b )

, 91.7 ( a )

, 9 1.121,

91.1 5 1 ( b )

, 91.40 5 ( a )

, 91

. 407 ( a ) ( 1 )

, 9 1.409 ( a ) ( 1) & ( a ) ( 2 )

, and 9 1.417 ( a) & ( b )

, a nd pe r m i t Aero Aperture

t o o p e r a t e t he D J I Ph a n t om 3 UA Ss co m m e r c i a ll y f or t he pu r p ose of condu c ti ng a e r i al v i d e o and

p ho t o g r a p hy o v er ce r t a i n a r eas of t he U n i t ed S t a t e s

.23

D a t e d : May 2 9

, 2 015

R e s pe c tf u ll y sub m

i t t ed,

Ryan Masterson

Ryan Masterson

Aero Aperture

5101 Xerxes Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 5541024

A ppend i ce s :

A

– D J I Phan t om 3 Spec i f i ca t i ons D a t a S he e t

A P P E N D I

X

– A

D JI P H ANTO M 3 TECHN IC A L S P EC I F IC A T I O N S

h t t p : / / www

. d j i

. co m / p r odu c t/ p ha n t o m

- 3 / sp e c

Aero Aperture o n l y u t i li z es s a f e and r e li a

b l e UA Ss. D J I i s an i n d

us t r y l ead e r i n s m a l l UAS p r odu c t i on.

D J I UA Ss a

r e l oaded w i t h g r ound b r ea k i n g so ft w a

r e ena b l i ng t he u se r t o s et p a r a m e t e r s w h i ch wi l l n o t

a l l ow f li g ht i n t o c on t r o l l ed a i r sp a ce. P a r a me t e r s c an a l so be s et t o li m i t f li g ht t o no h i g her t han a

p r ed e t e r m

i ned and s e t a l t i t u d e a s w e l l a s l i m i t f l i g ht t o a p r ed e t er m

i ned and s e t d i s t an c e. I

n add i t i on,

D J I so ft w a r e p r o v i des r ea l

- ti m e a l t it u d e a nd l oc a t i on i n f o r m a ti o n t o t he P I C v i a t he li n k ed m on it or

( s m a r t pho n e / t a b l e t de v i ce s )

D JI P H ANTO M 3 U S E R MA N UA L

h t t p : / / w w w

. d ji

. c o m/ p r o du ct / ph a n t o m

- 3/ d o wn l o ad25

APPENDIX

- B

DJI PHANTOM 3 Maintenance Log

Month:______________ Year:____________________

UAS#

______ Date Issue

Discovered Date Issue

Addressed Issue Description & Maintenance Conducted Maintenanc e

Performed by:

Initials

Software

Updates

Airframe

Engines

Propellers

Camera Gimbal

Landing Gear

Vibration

Dampening

Other: