Carolina Aerial Media, LLC 2664 Little River Ct Lincolnton, NC 28092 October 23, 2015 United States Department of Transportation Docket Management System 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE We st Building Ground Floor Room W1 2
- 140 W ashington, DC 20590 **Re : Exemption Request under Section 333 of the FAA Reform A** **ct and Part 11 of the Federal A** 

**viation Regulations** Dear Sir or Madam, Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the “Reform Act”) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Carolina Aerial Media, LLC (hereafter as Petitioner) seeks an exemption from Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) detailed below for the following described small U nma nned Aerial Sys tem (sUAS) which includes an Unmanned Aircraft and ground station
- based equip me nt and crew. **Request** Pursuant to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2 0121 (the "Reform Act") and the proc edures contained in 14 C.F.R. 11, to request that an owner and operator of a DJI Inspire 1 sUAS be exemp t ed from the Federal Aviation Regulations ("FARs") listed below so that, may operate its DJI I nspire 1 commercially in airspace regulated by t he Federal Aviation Adm inistration ("FAA"); as long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined here in or as ma y be established by t he FAA as required by S ection 333. The conditions identified and proposed by the applicant are: To operate the DJI Inspire 1 within the proposed regulations as listed in the recently pu b lished “Small sUAS Notice of Proposed Rule
- ma king (NPRM) to add Part 107, released Fe b ruary 23, 2015. Petitioner	is	seeking a n e x e m p tion fr om	p a rt 2 1,	Subp art	H ( §§21.171
- 21.199 ) ,	p art	27, §§ 45.23 ( b ) ,	45.27 (a) ,	61.113,	91.7 (a) ,	91.9 ( b )( 2) a nd ( c) ,	91.103, 91.109 (a) ,	91.119,	91.1 2 1, 91.151 (a) ,	91.203 (a ) a nd ( b ) ,	91.405 (a) ,	91. 407 (a)( 1 ) ,	91.409 (a)( 2 ) , a nd	91.417 (a ) a nd ( b) of T i tle 14,	Code of F e d era l R e gul a tions ( 14	C F R)
. The p eti tion e r re qu e s ts re li e f fr om the fo l l o w i n g re gula tions: P art 21, Subp art H p r e s cr ib e s, in p ertin e nt p art, the p r o ce du ra l re qui re m e nts f or	iss uing a i rw o rthin e ss certi f

i cat e s. P art 27 p r e s cr i b e s, in p ertin e nt p a rt, a i rw o rthin e ss sta nd ar ds f or the issue of typ e ce rti f i c a t e s, a nd c h a n g e s to	those certi f i cat e s, f or n o r m a l ca t e go r y r oto r c raf t . S ec tion	45.23 ( b) p re s cr i b e s,	in	p ertin e nt	p art, th a t wh e n	m ar ks in c lude on l y the Rom a n ca pita l	l e tte r “N ” a nd	the re gi s tra tion	numb e r is	di s pl ay e d	on	limit e d, re str i c te d	or li ght
- spo rt ca t e go r y a i rcraf

t	or e x p e rim e nta l	or p r ovi s ion a l l y certi f i ca te d a i rcraf

t,	the o p era tor must a lso	displ ay on	th a t a i rcraf t	n e a r eac h e ntra n c e to	the c abin, c o c kpit,	or pilot s ta ti on,	in	l e t-t er s	not	l e ss	th a n	2	in c h e s	nor m o r e th a n	6	in c h e s	hi gh,	the w o r ds “limi te d,” “re str i ct e d,”

“li ght
- spo rt,” “ ex p er i m e ntal,” o r “ p r ovision a l,” a s a pp l i c a bl e . S ec tion	45.27 (a ) p re s cr i b e s,	in	p ertin e nt	p art, the re qui re m e nt f or r oto r c raf

t op era to r s	to di s pl ay c erta in	m ar ks	on both	sid e s	of the ca bin, f us e l a g e ,	boom	or ta il. S ec tion	61.113 (a ) a nd ( b) p re s cr ib e ,	in p ertin e nt	p a rt,	th a t
— N o	p e r s o n who h o l ds a p rivate p i l o t ce rti f i c a te m ay ac t a s	a p i l o t in c o mm a n d ( P I C)	of a n a i rcraf t th at is car rying p a ss e n g er s or p r o p ert y f or c omp e ns ation or h i r e ; n or	m ay th a t p e rso n, f or c o m p e ns ation or h i re , a ct a s P I C	of a n a i rcra f t. A p rivate p i l o t m ay

, f or c omp e ns ati o n	or h i re , a ct a s P I C	of a n a i rcraf t in c o nn e cti o n wi th a n y bu s i n e s s or e m p l o y

m e nt i f

— T he f l i ght i s o nly in c id e n ta l to th at b u s i n e s s or e m plo ym e nt; a nd T he a i rcra f

t do e s no t car r

y p a ss e n ger s or p r o p erty f or c o m p e n s a ti o n o r h i r e .	S ec tion	91.7 (a ) p re s cr ib e s,	in	p ertin e nt	p art, th a t n o	p er son	m ay op era te a c ivil a i rcraf t unl e ss	it	is	in a n a i rw o rthy c ondition. S ec tion	91.9 ( b )( 2) p r ohi b its	op era tion	of U .S.
- re gist ere d c ivil a i rcraf t	unl e s s	th er e is ava il able in	the a i rcraf

t	a c u rre nt a pp r ove d Ai r pl a n e or Roto rcraf t F li ght	M a nu a l, a pp r ov e d	m a n ua l	m a ter i al, m ar kin gs, a nd	pl acar ds,	or a n y c ombin a tion	th ere o f
. S ec tion	91.9 (c ) p r o h i b i ts op er ati on of U
. S.
- re gi s te r e d c i vil a i r c raf t u nl e ss th at a i rcra f

t is	id e nti f i e d in acc o r d a n c e wi th p art 4 5. S ec tion	91.103	p re s cr ib e s,	in	p ertin e nt	p art, th a t e ac h	pilot	in c omm a nd	s h a ll,	b ef o r e	b e gi nni n g a f li ght,	b ec ome fa mili a r w ith all ava il able in f o r m a tion c on c e r n i ng th a t f li ght,	to	i nc lud e — F or a f li ght	und e r I FR	or a f

li ght	not	in	the vi c ini ty o f a n a i r po rt, wea th e r re po rts a nd f o r eca sts, f u e l re qui re m e nts, a lt er n a tive s ava il a ble if the pl a nn e d f li ght ca nnot	be c ompl e te d, a nd a n y kn o w n	traff

ic d e l ay s	of whi c h the pilot	in c o m m a nd	h a s b ee n a dvis e d b y AT C; F or a n y f l i ght, r un w ay l e n gths a t a i r po rts	of i n te nd e d	us e , a nd	the f oll o wing ta k e o f

f a nd l a n d ing dista n c e in f

o r m a tion: F or c ivil a i rcraf

t f or whi c h a n a pp r ov e d Ai r p l a ne or Roto rcraf t F li ght	M a nu a l c onta ining ta k e o f f a nd	l a nding dista n c e d a ta is re qui re d,	the ta k e o f f a nd	l a nding dista n c e d a ta c o nta in e d	th ere in; a nd F or c ivil a i rcraf

t o th e r th a n	those sp ec i f i e d in p ara gra ph ( b )( 1) of this	s ec tion,	oth e r re li a ble i n f o r m a ti o n a pp r op r i a te to	the a i rc raf t, re l a ting to a i rcraf

t	p erf o r m a n c e und e r ex p e cte d	va lu e s	of a i r po rt e l e va tion a nd r un w ay slop e , a i r craf t gr oss we i ght, a nd wind a nd	t e mp era tu re. S ec tion	91.109 (a ) p re s cr ib e s, in	p ertin e nt	p art, th a t no	p er son	m ay op era te a c ivil a i rcra f t (e x ce p t	a m a nn e d fre e b alloon) th a t	is	b e ing us e d f or f li ght	instr u c tion	unl e s s	th a t a i rcraf t h a s f ul l y f un c tioni n g du a l c ontr ols.S ec tion	91.119	p re s cr ib e s	th a t, ex ce pt wh e n	n ece s s a ry f or ta ke o f f or l a ndin g

,	no	p er son	m a y o p era te a n a i rcraf

t	b e low the f

ollo w ing a ltitud e s: A n y wh ere . A n a ltitude a llo w in g ,	if a po we r unit fa ils, a n e m er ge n c y l a nding w ithout	undue h a z ar d	to p er sons	or p r op erty on	th e su rface
. O v e r c on ge st e d area s . O ve r a n y c o n ge st e d ar e a of a c i ty ,	to w n, o r s e ttl e m e nt,	or	ov e r a n y op e n a ir a ss e mb l y of p er sons, a n a ltitude of 1,000 fee t a bove the h i gh e st	obstac le w ithin	a ho r i z o n ta l r a dius	of 2,000 fee t	of the a i rcraf t. O v e r oth e r th a n con g e st e d area s. A n a ltitude of 500 fee t a bove the su rfa ce , e x ce pt ov e r op e n wa te r or sp ars e l y popul a te d area s. I n th o se ca s e s, the a i rcraf t m a y not be op era te d c los e r th a n 500 fee t to a n y p e rson, ve ss e l , v e h i c l e , or st r u ctu re
. He li c opters, po were d p arac hute s, a nd we i g ht
- shi f t
- c ont rol a i rcraf

t. If the op era tion is condu ct e d w ithout h a zard to p ersons or p rop erty on the su r face

— A h e li c opte r m a y b e op era te d a t l e ss th a n the minimums p re s c rib e d in p ara g ra ph ( b) or (c ) of this s e ction, p rovid e d eac h p erson op e ra ting the h e li c opte r c o m pli e s w ith a n y rout e s or a ltitu d e s sp ec i fi ca l l y p re s cr ib e d for h e li copt ers b y the FAA; a nd A po were d p arac hute or we i g ht
- shi f t
- c ont rol a i rcraf

t m a y be op era te d a t l e ss th a n the minim u ms p re s c r ib e d in p a ra g ra ph (c ) of this s ection. S ection 91.121 re qui re s, i n p er tin e nt p art, eac h p e r

son op era ting a n a i rcraf t to m a inta in cr uising a ltitude b y refe re n c e to a n a ltim e te r th a t is s e t “ ...to the e l e va tion of the d e p ar tu re a i r po rt or a n a pp rop r i ate a ltim e te r s etting a v a il a b l e b efo re d e p artu re .” S ection 91.151 (a ) p re s cr i b e s th a t n o p erson m a y b e g in a fli g ht in a n a i r pl a ne und e r V F R c onditions unl e ss ( consi d er ing w ind a nd f o re ca st wea th e r conditions) th ere is e nou g h fu e l to fl y to the fi rst point of inte nd e d l a nding a nd, a s suming no r m a l crui s ing sp e e d , du r ing the d a y, to fl y af t e r t h a t f or a t l ea s t 30 min u te s. S ection 91.203 (a ) p rohib i ts, in p er tin e nt p a r

t, a n y p erson from op era ting a c ivil a i rcraf t unl e ss it h a s w ithin it ( 1) a n a pp rop r i a te a nd c u rre n t a i rwo rthin e ss cert i fi ca t e ; a nd ( 2) a n effe ctive U .S. re g ist ra ti o n cer ti fi ca te i s su e d to its o w n e r o r , f or op era tion w ithin the U nite d Sta te s, the s econd co p y o f the A i rcraf t R e g ist ra ti o n A ppli ca tion a s p rovid e d for in 14 C F R 47.31 (c)

. S ection 91.203 ( b) p re s cr i b e s, in p ertin e nt p ar t, th a t no p erson m a y op era te a c ivil a i rc raf t unl e ss the a i rwo rthin e ss certi fi ca te or a sp e c i a l fl i g ht a utho r i z a tion issu e d und e r 14 C F R 91.715 is displ a y e d a t the ca bin or c o c kpit e n t ra n ce so th a t it is l e g ible to p a s s e n g ers or crew. S ection 91.405 (a ) re qui re s, in p er tin e nt p art, th a t a n a i rcraf t op era tor or o w n e r sh a ll h a ve th a t a i rcraf t insp ecte d a s p re s cr ib e d in Subp a r t E of the s a me p art a nd sh a l l, b e twee n re qui re d insp ections, ex ce pt a s p ro vid e d in p ara g ra ph (c ) of the s a me s ect i o n, h a ve dis cre p a n c i e s re p a i re d a s p re s cr ib e d in p ar t 43 of t he c h a p t er
. S ection 91.407 (a)( 1) p ro hibits, in p er ti n e nt p art, a n y p erson from op era ting a n a i rcraf t th a t h a s und erg one m a inte n a n ce , p re ve ntive m a inte n a n ce , re buildin g , or a ltera t i on unl e ss it h a s b ee n a pp rov e d for re tu r n to s er vi c e b y a p erson a utho r i z e d und e r § 43.7 of t he s a me c h a pt er
. S ec tion	91.409 (a)( 2) p re s cr ib e s,	in	p ertin e nt	p a rt, th a t	no	p er son	m ay op era t e a n a i rcraf t unl e ss, w ithin	the p rece d i ng 12 ca l e nd a r months,	it	h a s	h a d a n	insp ec tion f or the issu a n c e of a n a i rw o rthin e ss certi f

i c ate in acc o r d a n c e w ith p a rt	21	of this c h a p ter . S ec tion	91.417 (a ) a nd ( b) p re s cr ib e s,	in	p e rtin e nt p art,	th a t
—Eac h re gist ere d	o w n e r or op era tor sh a ll	k ee p the f ollo w ing rec o r ds f

or the p er iods	sp ec i f

i e d in	p a r a gra ph ( b) of this	s ec tion: R ec o r ds	of the m a in te n a n ce ,	p re v e ntive m a in te n a n ce , a nd a ltera tion a n d rec o r ds	of the 100
- hou r, a nnu a l, p r o gre ssiv e , a nd	oth e r re qui re d	or a p p r ov e d	insp e c tions, a s a pp r op r i a t e , f or eac h a i rcraf

t ( in c lu d ing the a i rfra m e ) a nd eac h e n gin e ,	p r op e ll er, r oto r, a nd a pp li a n c e of a n a i rcraf t. T he r e c o r ds	must	in c lud e — A d e s cr iption ( or ref

e re n c e to	d a ta acce pta ble to	the A dministra to r) of the w o r k	p e r f o r m e d; a nd T he d a te of c omp l e ti on	of the w o r k	p erf o r m e d; a nd T he si gn a tu re , a nd certi f i ca te numb e r of the p er son a pp r oving the a i rcraf t f or re tu r n	to	s e rvi ce . R ec o r ds c onta ining the f ollo w ing in f

o r m a tion: 5 T he tota l	time in	s ervi c e of the a i rfra m e , e ac h e n gin e , eac h	p r op e ll er, a nd eac h r oto r . T he c u rre nt	status	of l i fe
- lim i t e d	p arts	of eac h ai rfra m e , e n gin e ,	p r op e ll e r, r oto r, a nd a ppl ia n ce . T he time sin c e l a st o verh a ul	of a ll	it e ms	insta l l e d	on	the a i rcraf t whi c h ar e re qui re d	to	be ov erh a ul e d	on	a sp ec i f

i e d time b a sis. T he c u rre nt	insp ec ti o n	status	of the a i rcr a f t,	i n c luding the time sin c e the l a st	insp ec tion r equi re d b y th e insp ec tion	p r o gra m	und e r whi c h	the a i rcraf t a nd its a ppli a n ce s ar e m a i nta in e d. T he c u rre nt	sta tus	of a ppli ca ble a i rw o rthin e ss di rectiv e s (AD ) a nd	s afe ty di rec tiv e s	in c lu din g , f or eac h,	the m e thod	of c omp l i a n ce ,	the A D or s afe ty di rec tive numb e r a nd re vision	d a t e . I f the A D or s af

e ty di rec tive involve s rec u rr ing ac tion,	the time a nd	d a te wh e n	the n ex t a ction	is re qui re d. Copi e s	of the f

o r ms p re s cr ib e d b y § 43.9 ( d) of this c h a pte r f or eac h	m ajor a l tera tion	to	the a i rfra me a nd c u rre ntl y insta ll e d e n gin e s, r oto r s,	p r op e ll er s, a nd a pp li a n ce s. T he o w n e r or op era to r sh a ll re ta in	the f ollo w i n g rec o r ds f

or the p er iods	p r e s cr ib e d: T he rec o r ds	sp ec i f

i e d in	p ara gra ph (a)( 1) of this	s ection	sh a ll	be re ta in e d	until	the w o r k	is re p ea t e d	or s up er s e d e d b y oth e r w o r k or f or 1 y ea r af te r the w o r k is	p e r f

o r m e d. T he rec o r ds	sp ec i f

i e d in	p ara gra ph (a)( 2) of this	s ection	sh a ll	be re ta in e d a nd	tra ns ferre d w ith	the ai rc raf

t a t	the time the a i rcra f

t is	sold. A list	of d efec ts f

u r n i sh e d	to	a re gist ere d	o w n e r or op era tor und e r §	43.11	of this c h a pte r sh a l l	be re tain e d until	the d efec ts a r e re p a i re d a nd	the a i rcraf t i s a p p r ov e d f

or re tu r n	to	s e rvi ce .The p et i t ion e r suppo rt s i ts re qu e st w i t h t he fol l o w ing i n fo r m a t ion:

Authorization for this request is to use the sUAS to support ;

-Aerial photography and vi deo primar i ly of real property

-Aerial cinemato g raphy on closed and open sets

-Aerial data collection

- S urvey and inspection work for structures, pipelines , cellular telephone towers and agriculture

-Assist in any search and rescue missions if requested by local law enforcement or emerg ency services agenc y. Approval of these requests wil l serve the Public Interest by providing a valuable service to local e me rgency

service providers , real estate professionals, infrastructure inspection personnel and agricult ural interests. The flight operations proposed by Petitioner will improve S afety by elim inating the use of manned aircraft to obtain lo w level (low altitude) photos and video . The sUAS is better suited for this type of operation than a manned aircraft, a nd the DJI Inspire 1 was specif ically de signed by DJI with this market in mind. **sU AS Operator**  The sUAS Operator W arren Burton Smathers, owner of Carolina Aerial Media, LLC, is a l i censed Commercial Pilot, Airplane Single and Multi
- Engine Land with Instrum ent rating. Mr. Smathers is acting as President and Chief Pilot for Carolina Aerial Media, LLC. Petitioner is currently the holder of North Carolina driver license (Commercial) , satisfying the me d ical requirements outlined in the Reform Act

. The (pilot) o perator for Petitioner maintains flight log books all it ’ s sUAS utilized in their opera tions, tracking flight times, battery use, performance as well as all maintenance tasks performed on the sUAS. Petitioner is a U.S. citizen, in possession of Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TW IC) . Pet itioner hold s a U.S. passport

. Copies of all pertinent documents will be sent under separate cover to the email address provided in the “Part 333 Checklist” at www.faa.gov

. **sU AS** 
The sUAS is a DJI Inspire 1 , 4 motor/rotor system weighing 2935 g with battery and camera system. A factory

designed and installed gimbal and camera sys tem are built into the sUAS as a com plete s ys tem from the factory. The top speed of the Inspire 1 is 22 m/s (ATTI mode, no wind) Th e DJI Inspire 1 is designed to be operated utilizing a single controller or by utilizing a dua l co ntroller system, where the (pilot) operator controls the sUAS with a Master transmitter and the (camera) operator controls the gimbal camera and recording fun ctions. Included in this applic ation is the I n spire 1 User Manual, Inspire 1 Safety Guidelines and the Inspire 1 Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines.The DJI Inspire 1 is produced and sold without airworthines s certificate.

The guidelines for mai ntenance will strictly adhere to the DJI Inspire 1 safety guidelines e n closed. Additionally , Petitioner proposes to adhere to the Operation Limitations proposed in the NPRM and set forth in the pending exemption request. In any area of doubt, the course o f action resulting in “ safety of flight ” remaining the prime co ncern will be the course u n dertaken. **General Guidelines** The UAS will only be operated Visual Line of Sight ( VLOS ) . Night and/or IFR oper a tions will not be conducted under any circumstances. The following conditions will apply to all Aircraft Operations : (a) No flight will be made with a sUAS Gross weight exceeding the standard fa ctory configuration of 2935 g ( DJI Inspire 1) (b) All operations must occur in FAA Cl ass G airspace at no more than 2 00 ft

. AGL, at an ai rspeed of no more tha n 22 m/s and within VLOS of PIC (c) All operation s must be conducted only after a thorough review of current and anticipated We ather Conditions (d) Operations will be restricted to flights over private property wi th the permi s sion of the property owner (e ) The PIC must have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 61.51 (b), a min i mu m of 100 flight cycles and 25 hours of total time as a UA rotorcraft pilot and at least ten hours logged as a UA p ilot with a similar UA type (f) All required permits will be obtained from state and local government prior to operation (g) The UAS will not be operat ed over densely populated areas (h) The UAS will not be operated over any open - air assembly

of people (i) The UAS will not be operated over heavily traffick ed roads unless under the specific direction of law enforcement officials. (j) The UAS will not be operated within 5 NM of an airport or heliport unless ATC has been not ified of said operation and confirms there will be no conflict with air traffic . A ircraft communic ations will be monitored with a hand held aircraft transceiver; and ATC will be not i fied of flight start and stop times. (k ) Operations will be restricted to day light only and weath er condition s equivalent to VFR (l) The PIC will conduct a written “ Risk Assessment ” before the first flight at each new loc a tion to ensure that all Hazards to Flight are identified and the risk mitigated or eliminated (m ) No flight may be made without a Pre
- Flight In spection by the PIC before each operation to ascertain that the sUAS is in a condition safe for flight (see I n spire 1 Safety Guidelines).I submit that the combination of the sUAS's light weight , flight performance envelope optimized

for low altitude fligh t , a fully qualified flight crew and strict operation under the guidelines esta blished in 8900.227, and u nder all of the Restrictions (a) through (m) listed above, the FAA can have full confidence that the operation will have an equivalent or greater level of safety than ma nned aircraft perfor m ing the same mission. I respectfully request the FAA issue an exemption from Part 333 under the conditions stipulated above. The name and contact information of the applicant is ; Carolina Aerial Media, LLC Wa rren Burt on Smathers, President and Chief Pilot 2664 Little River Ct Lincolnton, NC 28092 713
- 825
- 0749 Sincerely yours, Wa rren B. Smathers Carolina Aerial Media, LLC