Highflightphoto

85 Conifer Court

Port Ludlow,Wash. 98365

Nov. 12, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave. SE

Washington, DC 20590

Re; Amendment to Exemption 11455 issued pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform 

Act and Part II of the Federal Aviation Regulation in Regulatory Docket No FAA 

2015-0228-0001

Dear Madam,Sir

Highflightphoto currently holds an Exemption numbered 11455 (hereinafter the 

Exemption) issued for the purpose of performing aerial imaging and data collection. 

Highflightphoto herby requests an amendment to that Exemption to include additional 

small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) that fully complies with the condition of the 

Exemption to support client request (public interest).

The requested system (to be used under the same terms and conditions contained in 

the original Exemption) to be added to our existing Exemption is cited below

 * senseFly- eXom

The eXom , weighing 3.7 pounds (Maximum Take-Off Weight) contains a rich array of 

advanced integrated sensors. These sensors work together to provide the user with full 

situational awareness and support obstacle avoidance:

 * Five “navcam” vision sensors allow the operator to see the direction the drone is 

moving via its flight control software, without needing to turn the system’s Triple View 

camera head. This technology is unigue in such a lightweight UAS, similar to the visual 

parking sensors in modern cars, but brought into a 3D flight environment. 

 * Five “ultrasonic proximity sensors work in harmony with eXoms navcams to ensure 

the operator always knows the drone’s distance from nearby object (The drone’s shock 

absorbent carbon fiber shrouding is also always on-hand to protect the rotors in case of 

surface contact)

 * Number of other sensors, including inertial measurement units, barometers, 

magnetometers, GPS and magnetic encoders; maximize the drone’s stability and safety.
The eXom offers different flight modes to suit every project; semi-automatic mode 

(waypoint navigation) or interactive ScreenFly mode (using the supplied joypad to 

navigate and orientate the drone via the computer screen) The ScreenFly mode 

includes flight assistance features such as cruise control and distance lock. In any 

situation, RD-based manual control always remains available as a backup function.

The eXom is particularly safe. It was developed with flexible material absorbing potential 

shocks, and senseFly R & D team developed a unigue, carbon-fiber shrouding 

protecting the propellers. They also programmed redundancy in the command and 

control system. In case something happens to the primary autopilot, the eXom will with 

automatically to the secondary autopilot.

 Highflightphoto will comply with all the conditions and limitations imposed in exemption 

11455 except that condition/limitation 1 will need to be revised to include the eXom 

UAS. The list of “operating Documents” will also need to be revised to include 

senseFly’s (operating manual and safety assessments) for the eXom UAS, which will be 

provided separately to the FAA. Other that these revision, there will be no change in the 

conditions and reason relative to public safety that were the basis for the initial grant of 

exemption.

Because the requested amendment would not set any precedent or otherwise raise any 

novel issues, and because Highflightphoto seeks to begin these operations without 

delay, we respectfully request the FAA determine good cause exists to dispense with 

publication of the summary of this petition in the Federal Register and grant the 

requested amendment expeditiously by summary means.

Thank You

Mike Porter

President

Highflghtphoto