Northwest Drone Services

8425 49 th LP Se Ol ympia , WA December 23 , 2 01 5 U.S. De part

m e n t o f T ran s p o rtat i o n D o c ke t M a

n a g e m e nt S y s t e m 1 20 0 N e w J e r s e y Av e ., SE Wa s h ing to n D C 20 5 9 0 R e : E xe mp t i o n R e qu e st P u rs u ant t o S e c ti o n 3 3 3 o f th e FAA R e f o r m A c t an d P art 1 1 o f the F e d e ral Av i at i o n R e gu lati on s f

ro m : 1 4 CFR 2 1 sub p art H ; 1 4 CFR 45
. 2 3 ( b ); 1 4 CFR 6 1
. 1 13 ( a); 1 4 C F R 9 1
. 7 ( a ) ; 1 4 CFR 91
. 9 (b) ( 2 ) ; 1 4 CFR 9 1
. 103 ; 1 4 CFR 91
. 10 9 ; 1 4 C F R 91
. 1 1 9 ( c ) ; 1 4 CFR 9 1
. 1 2 1 ; 1 4 CFR 91
. 1 51 ( a); 1 4 CFR 91
. 2 0 3 (a) and (b); 1 4 CFR 91
. 40 5 (a ) ; 1 4 CFR 9 1
. 40 7 ( a) ( 1 ) 1 4 CFR 91
. 40 9 (a ) ( 1 ) an d ( 2 ); 1 4 CFR 91
. 4 1 7 ( a ) a

n d ( b ) To wh o m i t m ay co n c e rn: P urs u ant t o S ec t i o n 3 3 3 o f the FAA M o d e rn i z at i o n an d Re f o r m A ct o f 2 01 2 and 1 4 CFR P art 11 , Northwest Drone Services , o p e rat o r s o f s m all Unm ann e d A e r i al S y s t e m s (UA S), h e r e by ap p li e s f o r an ex e mp t i o n f

ro m th e lis te d F e d e ral A v iat i o n Re gul a t i o n s t o al l o w c omm e rcial o p e rat i o n o f a s m all UAS, s o l o n g as su ch o p e rat i o n s ar e c o n d u c t e d w ithin and u

n d e r th e c o n d i ti o n s o u

tli n e d h e r e in o r as m y b e e stabli s h e d b y th e F AA as r e qu ir e d b y S e c ti o n 3 33
. C omm e rcial o p e r a

ti o n s m all UAS, as d e s cri b e d h e r e i n , wh ich ar e e qu i p p e d w i th c am e r a s and s e n s o r s , wo u ld o p e rat e in th e f

o l l ow ing m ann e r: 1
. A e rial p h o t o gr a

p h y an d / o r v i d e o f

o r p ub l i c an d

/ o r pri v at e use i n c lu d i n g r e al e st at e , ar c h i te ctur e , l a

n d sur v e yin g , e ng i n ee ri n g and o th e r r e l a te d p ro f e s s i o n al act iv i t i e s. 2
. A e rial v i d e o an d

/ o r p h o t o grap h y f

o r p ub l i c an d

/ o r pr i v at e u s e i n cl u d i n g t e l e v i s i on , p u b lic e ve nt s, an d ci n e m a

to gr a p h y . 3
. A e rial i n s p e c t i o n

/ p h o to gr a p hy o f r e sid entia l/ c o mm e rcial str u ctur e s un d e r c ontract w i th the o wn e rs o r l o cal g o v e rnm e nt au th o ri ty . 4
. A e rial v i d e o/

p h o t o gr a p h y o r p ro v i d i n g li v e v i d e o f ee d to assist w i th s e arch an d r e s c u e o p e r a t i o n s in cas e s o f an em e rg en c y o r n atural d is a st e r o n l y wh e n th e l o cal aut h o r i t i e s o r g o v er nm e nt ha s r e q

u e s te d it by c o ntr a ct o r do n ati on . As d e s c ri b e d ful l y b e l o w , t h e r e qu e s te d ex e mp t i o n w ou ld p e r m it th e o p e rat i o n o f s m all UAS un d e r c ontr o l l e d co n d iti on s in t

h e N AS that wo u ld be a) l i m i t e d b) c o nt r o ll e d c ) p r e d et e r

m i n e d and d) w ill p ro v i d e s af

ety e nh an c e m e nts t o th e al r e ady safe o p e ra ti o n s in the i n d

u stry p r e s e nt l y usi n g c o n

v e nti o n al a ircraft. Ap p ro v al o f this e xe mp t i o n w o u ld th e re by e nh an c e sa f et y and f u l fill the S e cr e t ary o f T ran s p o rtat i on ’s ( th e FAA A dm i n istr a to r ’ s) r e s p o n si b i liti e s to “
... . e s t ablish re qu i r e m e nts f o r th e sa f e o p e rat i o n o f s u ch airc r af

t s y s te m s in the nat i on al a i rspa c e s y s t em .” The n a m e , p h on e , e m ail and ad dr e ss o f th e ap p l i cant :N am e : Northwest Drone Services

P h o n e : ( 360) 489
- 4720 E m ail: northwestdroneservices@yahoo.com Ad dr e s s : 8425 49 th LP Se Ol ympia WA, 98513 R e gu lati on s f

ro m which th e ex e mp ti o n is r e q u e s te d : 1 4 C F R P ar

t 2 1 sub p art H 1 4 C F R 45
. 2 3 ( b ) 1 4 C F R 61
. 1 1 3 ( a ) 1 4 C F R 9 1 .7 (a) 1 4 C F R 91
. 9 ( b ) ( 2 ) 1 4 C F R 91
. 1 0 3 1 4 C F R 91
. 1 0 9 1 4 C F R 91
. 1 1 9 ( c ) 1 4 C F R 91
. 1 2 1 1 4 C F R 91
. 1 5 1 (a) 1 4 C F R 91
. 2 0 3 (a) & (b) 1 4 C F R 91
. 4 0 5 (a) 1 4 C F R 91
. 4 0 7 (a) ( 1 ) 1 4 C F R 91
. 4 0 9 (a) ( 2 ) 1 4 C F R 91
. 4 1 7 (a) & (b) The s m all UA S ’s we w ill b e u s in g are mu l t i
- r o t o r cr a ft w e i ghi n g n o m o re than 5 5 l b s. in clu d i n g pa yl o a d
. Un d e r n o r

m al c o n d i ti o n s th e y o p e rate at sp e e ds o f n o m o r e t h an 4 5 Mp h o r 3 9 K

n o ts a n d hav e th e a

b ili ty h o v e r a

n d m o v e al on g a v e rtical and h o ri z o ntal plan e s i m u lt a n e ou sl y . T h e y w ill o p e r a te in l i n e o f sight on l y and by th e ex e mp te d p e r s o n on l y ob e yi n g all o th e r l o cal an d f e d e ral law s. Gi v e n th e s m all size o f th e s m all UAS an d th e c ontro l l e d e nv i ro n m e nt p r o v i de d t

h e p r o p o s e d o p e rat i o n s w i l l adh e re to th e R e f o r m A c t’s saf

e ty r e qu ir em e nts. T h e ap p r o v al o f this ap p licat i o n pr e s e nt s no n a

ti o n al s ec uri ty

iss u e s. R e g ardi n g th e l eve l o f sa f et y sur r o un d i n g th e p r o p o s e d o p e rat i o n s and th e pu

b lic b e n e fit, r e d

u c t i o n i n e nv ir o nm e ntal i mp acts, i n c lu d i n g b ut n o t l im it e d to r e d u c e d e m i s si o ns an d n o i s e , th e grant o f th e r e qu e s te d ex e mp t i o n is in th e pu b l i c inte r est
. A c c o r d ing l y th e a p p licant r e qu e s t s th a

t the F AA grant the r e q

u e s te d ex e mp t i o n w ith m i n i mum d e lay . **AI R**  **C R**  **A FT**  **AN D**  **EQ U**  **I V** **A L**  **E N**  **T LE**  **V EL**  **OF S**  **A F**  **E T**  **Y** The o p e r a t i o n l i m i t at i o n s p r o p o s e d f o r an e qu i v al e nt o r high e r l e v e l o f saf ety b e ca u se o p e rat i o n s w ill f urt h e r e nh an ce the saf

ety o f the p e r so n s a

n d/ o r p r o p e rt y us in g c o nve nti on al airc raft. Th e se l i m i t a

ti o n s and co n d iti o n s t o which th e ap p lican t agr ee s to adh e re t o wh e n co n d u cting c o m m e r c i al Operations un d e r the FAA i ssu e d e x e mp ti o n a s se t f o r t h in th e Fli ght Op e r at i o n s M anu al ( FO M ) i n c l u d e :
 The s m all UAS w ill w e i gh l e ss th an 5 5 lbs.  Fli ghts w ill b e o p e r a

te d w i t h in li n e o f sight o f a p i l o t a n d the o b s e r

ve r.  M axi m u

m flight t i m e f

o r e a ch o p e r a

t i o n al fl i ght w ill be 3 0 m inut e s. Fli ghts w ill b e te r m i n ate d a t 2 5 % b att e ry po we r re s e r

v e o r 20 m inute s o f fli ght t i m e whi c h eve r o ccurs f i r s t.  Fli ghts w ill b e o p e r a

te d a t an a l titu d e o f n o m o r e t h a n 4 0 0 f e e t Ab ov e G ro un d L eve l ( A G L ) an d n o t m o r e than 2 0 0 f

ee t a b o v e an e l ev ate d pl at f

o r m f ro m which fil m i n g i s p lann e d.  M i n i m u

m c re w f o r e ac h o p e rat io n w ill c o n sist o f t h e s m all UAS P il o t in C omm an d ( P IC ), th e Vis u al Obs e r

ve r (V O ) and maintenance crew on hand
.  6
. The s m all UAS p i l o t w ill b e Mitchel Lan yon, Brandon Renner or Raul Hilderbrandt O N L Y n o t al l o w ing an y o th e r p e rs o n (s) t o op e rat e the s m all UA S in a c o m m e rcial c a p a c ity . 7
. A b r i e fi n g w ill be p e r f o r m e d r e gard i n g t

h e p lann e d s m all UAS op e r a ti on s pr i o r t o e ach d ay ’s flight co n sist i n g o f all the d ay s’ p r o d u c t i o n a ct iv iti e s.  8
. The P IC w ill ob tain v e r ba l/wri tt e n co n s e nt o f all p e r s o n s i nv o l v e d w ith the p l ann e d o p e r a ti o n and e ns ur e that o n l y c o n s e nti n g p e r s on s w ill b e al l owe d w i th in 10 0 f ee t o f the fl i ght o p e rat i o n , and th e r a d i u s m a

y be r e d u c e d t o 3 0 f

ee t ba s e d u

p o n an e qu i v al e nt l e v e l o f saf e t y d e te r m i n at i o n , as r e qu ir e d un d e r the F O M
. W ith th e a dv an c e d p e r m iss i o n o r di re ct i o n o f th e F S D O, o p e r a t i o n s a t cl o se r range m ay b e ap p r ove d.  9
. The P IC an d VO w ill h a v e b ee n tr ai n e d in o p e r a

t i o n o f s m all UAS an d r e c e i v e up - t o - d ate i n f o r m a t i o n f o r the p arti c u l ar s m all UAS t o b e o p e ra te d and w ill b e a

b l e t o s h o w u

p o n r e qu e s t th e ir c o mp ete nt a

b ility t o o p e rat e the s m all UAS an d / o r C a m e ra.  10
. The P IC an d VO w ill b e a b le t o c omm un i cat e b y vo ic e at all times  11
. W ri tte n an d

/ o r ve r b al p e r m iss i o n and p e r

m its w ill b e o b ta i n e d fro m t e rri to r i al, s t a t e , co u nty o r c i ty j uris d ict i on s, inc l ud i n g l aw e nf o r ce m e nt, f

i r e o r o th e r ap p r o p r i ate g o ve rnm e ntal ag e nci e s wh e n n e e d e d.  12
. If the s m all UAS l o s e s c omm un ic a t i o n s o r l o s e s G P S sign al, the s m all UAS w ill h a v e th e c a p a b il i ty t o r e turn to a p r e - d ete r m i n e d l oc a

ti o n w ithin a d e sign ate d l oc a ti o n a n d lan d aut o n o m ou s l y .  13
. The s m all UAS w ill h a v e th e c a p a b ili ty to a b o rt a f light i n ca s e o f unp r e di c t e d o b s t ac l e s, we ath e r, o r e m e rg e n ci e s. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R . P**  **ar t**  **21 ,**  **Sub p**  **a r**  **t H:**  **A i**  **r w**  **o r**  **t h**  **i n**  **e s**  **s C**  **e r**  **t i**  **f i**  **c a**  **t es**  **1 4**  **C. F**  **. R**  **. §**  **91 .**  **2 0**  **3 (**  **a )**  **(1 )**  S u b p art H, e ntitl e d Ai r

w o rt h i n e ss C e rti f

i c a t e s, e s ta b li s h e s the pro c e d

ural r e q u ir em e nts f

o r th e i ss u an c e o f air w o r th i n e s s c e rtifi c a

te s a s r e qu ir e d b y FAR § 91
. 2 0 3 (a) ( 1 ). G i ve n th e si z e an d l im it e d o p e rati n g ar e a ass o ci a

te d w ith th e ai rcr a f

t t o b e utili z e d b y th e Ap p l ic ant, an e x e mp t i o n f ro m P ar t 2 1 Sub p art H m e et s the r e qu ir e m e nts o f an e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty un d e r P a

rt 1 1 and S e c ti o n 33 3 o f the R e f o r m A c t. T h e F e d e ral Av iat i o n A ct ( 4 9 U.S.C
. § 4 47 0 1 (f)) and S ec ti o n 3 3 3 o f t h e R e f o r m A c t b o th auth o ri z e the FAA t o e x e mp t ai rc raft fr o m th e r e qu ir e m e nt f o r a n air w o r thi n e ss c e r

tifi c a te , u p o n co n si d e rat i o n o f th e s i z e , we ight, sp e e d , o p e ra t i o n al ca p a b ili ty , and p ro x i m i ty t o air p o r ts and po p u lat e d ar e as o f the par tic u lar s m all U

AS. In all c a s e s, an an al ys i s o f th e se cri t e ria d e m o n s trat e s that th e s m all UAS o p e r a t e d w i th o ut an ai r

w o rth i n e s s c e rti f

i c ate , in th e r e str i c t e d e nv ir o nm e nt an d un d e r t h e c o n d it i o n s p ro p o s e d w ill b e a

t l e a s t a s sa f

e , o r sa fe r, th an a c o nv e nti o n al aircr a f t (fix e d w i n g o r r o to rcr a f

t) op e rating w i th an ai r

w o rth i n e ss c e rtif

i c at e w i th o ut th e r estric t i on s and co n d i t i o n s p r o p o s e d. The s m all UAS t o be op e rat e d h e r e un d e r is l e s s th an 5 5 lbs. f u lly l o a d e d, c arri e s n e ith e r a p i l o t n o r pa s s e n g er , carr i e s n o e xpl o si v e m ate r i als o r f la mm a b l e liqu id fu e l s, and o p e rate s e x cl u si v e l y w ithin a se cur e d an d d e sign ate d ar e a. Un like o t h e r ci v il airc raft, o p e rat i on s un d e r this ex e mp t i o n w ill b e tightly c ontr o l l e d and mo n i t o re d by b o th the o p erato r and u n d e r th e r e qu i re m e nts an d in c o mp lian c e w ith l o cal p ub lic sa f et y r e qu ir e m e nts. T h e s e saf e ty e nh a n c e m e nts pr o v i d e a gr e at e r d e gr e e o f saf ety t o t h e pu b lic a n d p ro p e rty o w

n e rs than co nv e n t i on al o p e rat i on s co n d u c t e d w ith air

wo rt h i n e ss c e r tificat e s issu e d u

n d e r 1 4 C.F.R. P art 2 1 , Sub p art H. L ast l y , ap p licat i o n o f th e se s a m e cri t e ria d e m o n s tr a

te s th a t th e r e is n o c r e di b l e thr e a

t to na t i o n al s e cur i ty p o s e d by th e s m all UAS, d u e t o its siz e , s p ee d o f o p e r a ti o n , l o c at i o n o f o p e r at i o n , lack o f e x p l o s i v e m at e ria l s o r fl a mm a b l e liqu id fu e ls, and i n abili ty to c ar ry a sub st an

tial e xte r n al l o a d
. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R . §**  **4 5.**  **2 3**  **( b**  **) .**  **Ma r**  **k i**  **ng o**  **f t h**  **e A**  **i r**  **cr a**  **ft** The r e gu lat i o n r e qu ir es : Wh e n m ar ks i n cl ud e o n l y th e R o m an ca p ital l e tt e r " N " a

n d th e r e g is trat i o n numb e r i s d is p laye d o n l i m i te d , r e s tr i c te d o r l i ght - sp o r t c a te g o ry aircraft o r ex p e r i m e nt al o rpr o v i si on al l y c e r tific at e d aircraft, th e o p e rat o r mu st also dis p lay o n th a t a i r cra f t n e ar e a ch e ntr an c e t o th e ca b i n , c o c kp i t, o r pi l o t s tat i o n , in l ette r s n o t l e s s th an 2 i n c h e s n o r m o r e than 6 inc h e s high, th e wo r d s "l i m i te d , " "r estr i c t e d , " "light - s p o rt ," "e xp e r i m e nt al," o r "p ro v i s i o n al," as ap p lica b l e . E ve n th o u gh th e s m all UAS w ill h a v e n o air w o rth i n e ss c ert ifi c a

te , an e x e m p t i o n m ay

be n e e d e d a s th e s m a l l UAS w ill h av e n o e ntran c e t o th e ca b i n , c o ckp it o r pi l o t s t a

ti o n o n wh ich the w o rd “ E xp e ri m e n tal” can be p l ac e d. Gi v e n th e s i z e o f t h e s m all UAS, tw o - i n ch le tte ri n g w ill be i mp o ssi b l e . T h e w o rd
“ E x p e r im e nt al ” w ill be p l ac e d o n the fus e l a g e in c o mp lian c e w ith § 45
. 2 9 (f). T h e e q u i v a l e nt l e v e l o f s af e ty w ill be p r o v i d e d by h a v i n g th e s m all UAS m ar

ke d o n i ts f

u s e l a ge as r e qu ir e d b y § 45
. 2 9 (f) wh e re the pil o t , o b s e r

v e r and o th e rs w o rki n g w ith t h e s m all UAS w ill se e the i d e ntificat io n o f th e s m all UAS as “ Exp e r im e ntal
. ” **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R . §**  **6 1.**  **1 1**  **3( a**  **) :**  **P r**  **iv a** **te P**  **i l**  **o t**  **P ri**  **vi l**  **e g**  **es an**  **d L**  **i m** **i t**  **a ti**  **on s**  **: P**  **il o**  **t i**  **n C**  **o m**  **m a**  **n d.**  P urs u ant t o 1 4 CFR 61
. 1 1 3 (a), n o p e r s o n wh o h o l d s a p ri v at e pi l o t c ert if i cate m a y act as a pil o t in c omm an d o f an aircraft th a t is carryi n g p as s e ng e r s o r p ro p e rty f o r c o mp e nsat i o n o r hir e . O ur s m all UAS d o es n o t car

ry an y p il o ts o r p as s e n g e rs n o r p ro p e rty th e r e f o re we Northwest Drone Services are s e ek i n g an ex emp t i o n t o 1 4 C F R 61
. 11 3 (a). A l th o ugh h e l p f ul, a p i l o t’s li c e nse w ill n o t e ns ure r em o t e co ntr o l pi l o t i n g s kil l s. All three of us, Co
- Owners of Northwest Drone Services serve in Arm y Aviation with a total combined experience of 25 years. Brandon Renner and Raul Hilderbrandt understand Aviation, Inherent Risk, Accident Avoidance and Aerospace surveillance both serving (Currentl y) in Special Operations Aviation . Mitchel Lan yon is currentl y seeking his Privates Pilots L icense and holds an Airframe and Power
- plant certification. T h e risks at t e n d ant t o th e op e rat i o n o f s m all UAS is far l e ss than th e r is k le v e ls i nh e r e nt in t

h e c omm e rcial a c t i v i ti e s outli n e d in 1 4 C F R 6 1
. I f ee l th e o p e rat i o n a

n d li m itat i on s se t f o rth in t he FOM w ill e q

u at e to th e sa f

e o p e ra t i o n o f t

h e s m all UA S. The safe o p e rat i o n and c o ntr o l o f th e UAS as d e scri b e d in this applicat i o n d o e s n o t d e p e nd o n the ty pe o f FAA li c e nse h e ld by th e P IC
. That kn o w l e dge can b e and is gain e d pr i m arily thr o ugh practi c e and e xp e ri e n c e and n o t thro u gh flight training in fix e d w i n g o r ro t o r airc raft, n o r is i t d e p e nd e nt o n the acquisiti o n o f a c omm e rc i al o r pr i v ate pil o t ’s c e rtificat e . Th o s e c e rtific a t e s d e mo nstrate kn o w l e dge o f th e fac t o rs and skills n ee d e d f o r th e s afe o p e r a

ti o n o f th o se t y

p e s o f aircra f t (f i x e d w ing o r r o t o rc ra ft). It cann o t be ass um e d th a t any ty pe o f pil o t, app ro v e d t o o p e r a te a h e li c o pt e r o r f

ix e d w ing aircra f

t, has the skill o r abili ty to saf e l y o p e rat e a s m all unm ann e d a e rial v e hicl e , o p e r ating at 4 0 0 AGL o r l o we r, w ithin stri c tly c o ntr o ll e d p r e - appr o v e d a i rspa c e . Fr o m a practical standp o int, th e r e are r e lat i ve l y f e w lic e ns e d ful l
- sca l e aircra f t p il o ts who are a l so qualifi e d to f l y th e ty pe o f UAS that are utiliz e d f o r infrastructure i m ag e - captu re o p e rat i o ns. Th e r e are e v e n f e w e r pil o ts th a

t can f l y th e se UAS

– to the p o int that t o do b o th is c o n sid e r e d rare **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R .**  **§ 9**  **1.7 (**  **a )**  **: C**  **i vi**  **l A**  **i r**  **cr a**  **ft A**  **ir w**  **o r**  **t h**  **i n**  **e s**  **s .**  The r e gu lat i o n r e qu ir e s th a t n o p e r so n m ay o p e rat e a ci v il ai r cr a f t u n l e ss i t is in a ir

wo rthy c o n d i t i o n . As th e r e w ill b e n o ai r w o rth i n e ss c e rtif

i cate iss u e d f

o r th e air c raft, s hou ld th i s e x e mp ti o n b e grant e d , n o FAA r e gu l at o ry s t an d ard w ill e x i st f o r d et e r m i n i n g airw o rth i n e ss. G i v e n the si z e o f th e aircraft f

o r m ai n te n an c e an d use o f saf e ty ch e ckli s t s pri o r to e a ch f l ight an e qu i v a l e nt l e ve l o f s a f

e ty w ill b e pr o v i d e d. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R . §**  **9 1.**  **9 (**  **b )**  **(2) :**  **Ci v**  **i l**  **A ir**  **cr a**  **ft F**  **l ig**  **h t**  **M an**  **u a**  **l i**  **n t**  **h e**  **A i**  **r cr**  **a ft**  **.** S e ct io n 91
. 9 ( b ) ( 2 ) p r o v i d e s: No p e r s o n m ay o p e r a te a U.S
. - r e gis t er e d c iv il airc raf t ... ( 2 ) F o r wh ich an Air

p l a n e o r R o t o rcr af

t Fli ght M anu al is n o t r e qu ir e d b y § 21
. 5 o f t h is ch a p te r , un le ss th e re i s av aila

b l e in the aircraft a cur

r e nt ap p ro ve d airpl a

n e o r R o t o rcr af

t F light M anu al,ap p r ov e d m a

nu al m ate r ia l, m ar

ki n gs, and placar d s, o r an y c o mb i n at i o n th e r eo f. Th e s m all UAS, g i ve n i ts size an d c on figur a ti o n has no a

b ility o r pla c e t o carr

y such a fl i ght m a

nu al o n th e aircr a f t, n o t o n l y b e ca

u se t h e re is no p i l o t o n b o ar d , but b e c a u s e th e r e is n o roo m o r c a p aci ty t o carry such an ite m o n th e a i rc ra f t. T h e e qu i v a l e nt le ve l o f sa f et y w ill b e m ai nt ai n e d by k e e pi n g th e f l ight m anu al a

t th e gro un d c ontro l p o i nt wh e re the pi l o t f l yi n g t h e s m all UAS w ill h av e imm e diat e a c c e ss t o i t. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R . §**  **9 1.**  **1 0**  **3 :**  **P r**  **e f**  **l ig**  **h t**  **A cti**  **o n**  **.** This r e gu lati o n r e qu ir e s e ach p il o t in c omm an d to t a ke c e r tain a ct i on s b e f

o r e fli g ht to ins ur e th e s af et y o f fl i ght. As FAA a

p p r o ve d ro to rcraft fli ght m an u als w ill n o t b e p ro v i d e d f o r the ai rc r aft a n ex e mp t i o n w ill b e n e e d e d. T h e O P E RA TOR w i l l t a ke all a ct i on s inc l u d i n g re v i ew ing w e ath e r, fl i ght b atte ry r e q

u ir e m e nt s , lan d i n g and t ake o ff d ist an c e s and ai r craft p e rf o r m an c e data b e f

o r e i n itia t i o n o f f l ight. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R .**  **§ 9**  **1.1 09**  **: F**  **l ig**  **h t**  **I n**  **str u**  **cti o**  **n .**  S ect i o n 91
. 10 3 p ro v i de s th at n o p e rs o n m ay o p e r a te a c iv il ai rcra f

t ( e x c e pt a m a

nn e d fr e e bal l o o n ) th a t is b e i n g u s e d f

o r fli ght instr

u c t i o n u n l e ss that ai rcraft has f

u lly fun c ti o n i n g du al co ntro ls. S m all UAS an d r em ote ly p i l ote d ai rcraft, b y th e ir d e s i gn d o n o t h a v e f u l l y f un c t i on al d

u al c ontro l s. Flight c ontro l is a cc o mp lish e d thr o ugh th e u se o f a c ontro l b o x that c ommun icat e s w ith th e airc ra ft v i a r a d io c omm un ic a t i o n s. Th e FAA h as ap p r o v e d ex emp t i o n s f o r flight t rai n i n g w i th o ut f u lly fun c t i o n al d

u al co ntr o ls f

o r a nu mb e r o f a i rcr a f

t an d f o r fli ght i n s truc t io n in ex p e r i m e nt al aircraf

t
. The e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l o f sa f e ty pr o v i d e d b y th e fact th at n e ith e r a pil o t n o r p a s s e ng e rs w ill b e c arr i e d i n th e aircr a f t an d b y th e si z e an d sp ee d o f th e a ircr a ft. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R .**  **§9 1.1**  **19 :**  **M i**  **n im**  **u m**  **Sa fe**  **A l**  **t it**  **u d**  **e s**  **.** S e ct io n 91
. 1 1 9 e s t a

b lish e s safe al t i tu d e s f

o r o p e r a t i o n o f c i v il ai r craft. S e c t i o n 9 1
. 1 1 9 ( d ) al l o w s h e li c o p t e rs t o b e o p e rat e d at l e ss than th e m i n i m u m s p r e s c ri b e d, p rov i d e d the p e r s o n o p e r a ti n g t h e h e li c o p te r c o mp l i e s w i t

h a ny r o ut e o r alt i tu d e s pr e sc rib e d f o r h e l i c o p t e rs b y th e FAA. As th is ex e mp t i o n i s f

o r a s m all UAS that is a h e l i c op te r an d th e ex e mp ti o n r e qu e s t s auth o ri t y t o o p e r a te a t a l titu d e s u

p t o 40 0 A G L , o r n o t m o re than 20 0 ab o v e an e l e v a te d pla t f o r m f ro m wh i ch fil m i n g is p l a nn e d, an exe mp t i o n m ay be n ee d e d to al l o w s u ch o p e rat i o n s. As s e t f o rth h e r e i n , th e s m all UAS w ill n e ve r o p e r at e a

t h igh e r th an 4 0 0 A G L w ith the e xc e pt i o n that in ci rc um stanc e s wh e re the s m all UAS is us e d t o sur

v e y o r p h o t o gra

p h a s tr u cture wh o se h e i ght ex c ee ds 4 0 0 fe e t A G L , th e s m a ll UAS w ill n o t b e o p e r a te d m o r e than 100 ' a

b o v e th e h i gh e st p o i nt o n the s tr uctur e . It w ill h o w e v e r b e o p e r a

te d in a r estr ic te d ar e a w ith s e curity p e rim ete r , wh e re b u i l d ings and p eo p l e w ill n o t b e ex p o s e d to o p e rati on s w i tho ut th e ir p re - o b tai n e d c o n s e nt. T h e e q u i v al e nt l ev e l o f saf

ety w ill b e a c h i e v e d gi ve n th e si z e , we ight, s p ee d o f th e s m all UAS as w e ll as the l o c at i o n wh e r e it is o p e rat e d. No flight w ill b e t ak e n w i th o ut t h e p e r m issi o n o f t

he p ro p e rty own e r o r l oc a l o fficials. B e cau s e o f th e a d

v an ce n o ti c e to th e p r o p e rty own e r and parti c ip ants in th e f i l m i n g a ct i v i t y , all af fec te d i nd i v id

u als w ill b e aw a

re o f th e p lann e d f

l ight o p e rati on s. C o mp ar e d to flight o perations w i th aircr a f

t o r r o t o rcraft we ighti n g f a r m o re than th e m ax im u

m 5 5 l b s. pr o p o s e d h e r e in and th e la c k o f fl a mm a b le f u e l, any r is k ass o ci a

te d w ith th e se op e rati o n s is f ar l e ss th an th o s e pr e s e nt l y pr e s e nt e d w ith c o nve nti on al airc raft o p e r a ti n g at o r b e l o w 50 0 A G L
. In ad d i ti o n , th e l o w - a l ti tu d e o p e r a ti o n s o f the s m all U A S w ill e ns ure s e para t i o n b et w e e n th e s e s m all
- UAS o p erati o n s and t he o p e r a t i o n s o f c o nve nti on al airc raft th a t m u st c o mp ly w i th S ect i o n 91
. 11 9
. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R .**  **§ 9**  **1.1 2**  **1 Al**  **t im**  **e t**  **e r**  **S et**  **ti n**  **gs .** This r e gu lati o n r e qu ir e s e ach p e r so n o p e rati n g an air craft to m ai ntain cr u is i n g a l ti tu d e b y r e f e r e n c e t o an alti m ete r that is s e t “
... to t h e e l e v a t i o n o f th e d e p a

rtu re air p o rt o r an ap p ro p r i at e al t im e t e r s etti n g av aila

b l e b e f o re d e p artur e . ” As the s m all UAS m ay no t h a v e a baro m etric al t i m et e r, b ut in s t e ad a G P S a l titu d e re ad o ut, an e x e mp t i o n m ay be n e e d e d. An e qu i v al e nt le ve l o f s a f e ty w i l l be achi e ve d b y th e o p e rat o r, p urs u ant to the s af e ty c h e c k list and l i v e fl i ght d ata mo n i t o r i ng, c o n fi r

m i n g th e a l ti tu d e o f the la u n ch si t e s h own o n the GP S alti tu d e in d ic at o r b e f o re fl i ght.**1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R . §**  **91 .1**  **5 1(**  **a )**  **: F**  **u e**  **l R**  **e q**  **u ir**  **e m**  **e n**  **ts f**  **o r**  **F lig**  **h t**  **i n**  **V FR**  **C on**  **d iti**  **o n**  **s** S e ct io n 91
. 1 5 1 (a) p ro h ib i t s an in d i v i d u al fr o m b e g i nn i n g “ a flight in an a i rplan e u n d e r VFR c o n d i ti o n s un l e s s ( c o n si d e ri n g w ind a nd f o re c a st we ath e r c o n d i t i o n s) th e r e is e n o u gh f u e l to fl y t o th e first p o i nt o f i nt e n d e d l a n d ing, an d , a ss u

m i n g n o r m al c r u i s i n g s p e e d

– ( 1 ) Duri n g t h e d ay , t o f l y a f te r th a t f o r at l e a s t 3 0 m inut e s ; o r ( 2 ) At night, t o fly a f te r th a t f o r a t l e a st 4 5 m inut e s . ” The b att e ry p o w e ri n g th e s m all UAS p r o v i d e s a p p ro x i m at e l y 3 0 m inute s o f p o w e r e d fl i ght. To m ee t th e 3 0 m i n

ut e r e s e rv e r e qu ir em e nt in 1 4 CFR § 9 1
. 1 51 , s m all UAS fli ghts w o u ld be l i m i t e d to ap p r o x i m at el y 1 0 m inut e s in l e ngth. Gi ve n th e l i m itat i o n s o n the s m all UA S’s pr o p o s e d f l ight ar e a an d th e l o c at i o n o f i t s p r o p o s e d o p e r at i o n s w i thin a p r e d e t e r m i n e d ar e a, a l o ng e r t i m e fr a m e f o r flight in d a ylight o r tw il i ght V F R c o nditi o n s is re a s o n a b l e . Ap p licant b e li e v e s th at an e xe mpti o n f

ro m 1 4 CFR § 9 1
. 1 5 1 ( a) f a lls w i th in th e s c op e o f pr i o r ex e mp t i o n s. O p e rati n g the s m all UAS, in a tight l y c o ntr o l l e d ar e a wh e re o n l y p e o p le and p r o p e rty own er s o r o f f icial r e pr e s e ntat i v e s wh o h a

v e s ign e d w a i v e rs w ill b e a ll o w e d, w ith l e ss t h an 3 0 m inut e s o f r e s e r

v e f u e l, d oe s n o t e ng e n d e r th e ty p e o f ri s ks th at S ect i o n 91
. 1 51 ( a) w a s int e n d e d t o all e v i a te gi ve n th e size and s p ee d o f th e s m all UAS. A d d i t i o n al l y , l i m i ti n g s m all UA S f l igh ts t o 1 0 m inute s wo u ld g re at ly r e d

u c e th e utili ty f

o r wh ich th e ex e mp t i o n w ill b e gran te d
. Ap p li ca

nt b e li e v e s th a

t an e qu i v a l e nt l e ve l o f saf ety c an be a c h i e ve d by l im iti n g f lights to 3 0 m inute s o r 25 % o f batt e ry p o w e r
— whi c h e v e r hap p e ns first. T his r estric t i o n w o u ld be mo r e t h an ad e qu a

te to r eturn th e s m all UAS t o i ts plann e d la n d i n g z o n e fr o m anyw h e r e in its li m i te d o p e rating ar e a. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R .**  **§ 9**  **1.2 0**  **3 (**  **a )**  **an d**  **( b**  **) :**  **C a**  **r r**  **yi n**  **g C**  **i v**  **i l**  **Ai r**  **c ra**  **ft C**  **e rti**  **f i**  **c a**  **t i**  **o n**  **an d**  **R e**  **g ist**  **ra t**  **i o**  **n** The r e gulat i o n p ro v i d e s in p e rtin e nt p a rt : (a) E x c e pt a s pr o v i d e d in § 91
. 71 5 , n o p e r s o n m ay o p erate a ci v il a i rcraft un l e ss it h as w i th in it th e f o l l o w ing: ( 1 ) An ap p ro p ri a

te and c ur re nt ai r w o r thi n e s s ce rtific at e . . . . (b) No p er s o n m ay o p e rat e a ci v il air c ra f t un l e s s the a ir

wo rthi n e ss c e r

tifi c a te re q u i r e d by p aragra

p h (a) o f th is s e c ti o n o r a sp e cial f light a uth o r i z at i o n iss u e d u

n d e r § 91
. 71 5 is d i s p laye d a

t the ca b in o r c o ckpit e ntr a

n ce s o th a t it is l e gi b l e to pass en g e rs o r c re w . The s m all UAS f

u l l y l o a d e d we ighs n o m o re than 5 5 l b s. an d is o p e rate d w i th o ut an o nb o ard pi l o t. As su c h , t

h e re is no abili ty o r pla c e t o c ar ry c e r tific a t i o n and r e gi s tr at i o n do c u m e nt s o r t o dis p lay th em o n th e s m all UAS. An e qu i v al e nt le ve l o f sa f e ty w ill b e a c h ie ve d b y k ee p in g th e se d o c u m e nt s at th e gr o un d co ntro l p o i nt wh e r e the p il o t f

l yi n g the s m all UAS w ill h av e imm e d i at e a c c e ss to th em ; to th e e xte nt th e y are a p p lica b le to the s m all UAS. **1 4**  **C .**  **F .**  **R .**  **§ 9**  **1.4 0**  **5 (**  **a )**  **; 40**  **7 (**  **a )**  **( 1**  **) ;**  **4 0**  **9 (**  **a )**  **(2) ;**  **41 7(**  **a )**  **& (**  **b )**  **: Ma**  **i n**  **te n**  **a n**  **c e**  **In s**  **p e**  **c t**  **i o**  **n s**  **.** Th e se r e gu l a

ti on s r e q u ire t h at an airc r a ft o p e rat o r o r own e r “ shall hav e t h at air c raft i n sp e c t e d as p r e scr i b e d in sub p art E o f th is par t an d s h all b etw e e n r e qu ir e d ins p ect i on s, e x ce p t as p ro v i d e d in p aragra p h (c) o f th is s e c ti on , h av e d is c re pan ci e s r e pa i r e d as p r e s cr i b e d in p art 4 3 o f th ischa

p t e r... , ” and o th e r s shall ins p e ct o r m ai n tain t h e aircra f t in c o mp l i an ce w ith P art 43
. G i ve n that th e s e s ect i o n and P ar

t 4 3 ap p l y on ly to aircr a f

t w ith an air

w o r thi n e ss c e rtif

i c a te , t h e s e s ect i o n s w ill n o t a pp ly to the ap p licant. M ai nt e n a n ce w ill b e a c c o mp lish e d b y th e o p e ra to r p ur s u ant t o th e fl i ght m an

u al an d o p e rating h and

b o o k. An e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l o f sa fety w ill be a c h ie v e d b e cau s e th e se s m all UASs ar e v e ry l i m i te d in si z e and w ill carry a s m all p ayl o ad a n d o p e rat e o n ly in r e s tri c te d ar e as f

o r l im it e d p e ri od s o f t i m e . If m e chan ical issu e s arise th e s m all UAS c an l a n d i mm e diat e l y and w ill b e o p e rating f ro m n o hi gh e r t

h an 4 0 0 f ee t A G L
. T h e o p e r ato r w ill e ns ure that t h e s m all UAS is in w o r

ki n g o r d e r p ri o r to i n i t iati n g flight, p e r f o rm r e qu i r e d m ai nt e nan c e , an d kee p a l o g o f any m ai nte n an c e p e r f o r m e d. M o re o v e r , th e o p e r at o r is t h e p e r s o n m o s t f

a m iliar w it h the ai rcra f

t and b es t sui t e d to m ai ntain th e aircraft i n an ai r wo r thy c o n d i t i o n to p r o v i d e th e e qu i v a l e nt l e ve l o f sa f e t y . An e qu i v al e nt le ve l o f sa f e ty w ill b e a c h ie ve d b e cause m ai nte n a n c e an d ins p e c t i on s w ill be p e rf o r m e d in ac co r d an c e w i th the s m all UAS M anu facture r's M a nu al, as r e f

e r e n c e d in th e Air craft Op er a

t i o n s M a nu al ( A OM ). As p r ov i d e d in th e F OM , th e o p e rat o r w ill e n s ure that th e s m all UAS is in w o rki n g o r d e r pri o r t o i n itiat i n g fli ght an d p e rf o r m r e qu i r e d m ai nte n an c e n ee d e d. **S m**  **a l**  **l U** **A S**  **I n**  **f**

**or m**  **a t**  **i o**  **n** S m all UAS’s to be u s e d ar e as f o l l o w s but n o t l i m i t e d to pr o v i d i n g th e y ar e w i thin th e s c o p e o f th e ex e mp t i o n grante d by the FAA:
1
. D JI P h anto m 3 P ro ( P 3 VP ) ***** **S ee**  **A tt**  **a c**  **h ed**  **U s**  **er M anua**  **l for**  **F ul**  **l Sp**  **e c**  **s** ***** 2
. 3D R SO L O ***** **S ee**  **A tt**  **a c**  **h e**  **d U**  **s er**  **M anua**  **l f**  **o r**  **A l**  **l Sp**  **e c**  **s** ***** 3
. 3D R IR IS + ***** **S ee**  **A tt**  **a c**  **h e**  **d U**  **s er**  **M anua**  **l f**  **o r**  **A l**  **l Sp**  **e cs** *

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