SOURCE ENERGY SERVICES **I~** X()

0 '\t January

12

, 2016 U.S. Department ofTransp01tation Docket Management System 1200 New Jersey Ave.

, SE Washington

, DC 20590

2595
US Highway

8 Cameron,

WI 54822 p 715 859 6452 F 715 859 6455 www

. sou

r ceenergyserv

i ces

. com Re: Exemption Request Under Section
333 ofthe FAA Reform
Act and Part

11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations Dear Madam

, Sir

, Pursuant

to Section
333 of the FAA Modernization

and Reform
Act of2012
(the

" Reform Act") and
14 C.F.R. Pmt

11

, Source Energy Services

. ("SES"),

an operator

of the eBee Unmanned Aircraft System ("eBee

" ) seeks

an exemption
from the Federal Aviation Regulations

( " F ARs") listed below: • 14 C.F.R.

21 • 14 C.F.R. 61.133(a)

(b) • 14 C.F.R. 91.7(b) • 14 C.F.R. 91.119 • 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a) • 14 CFR Subpart

E (91.401

- 91.417) The following appendices

are included

in this document

for reference purposes.

SES requests
that the FAA treat these documents

as proprietary under

14 C.F.R. 11.35(b)

and not include these appendices

in the public docket: Appendix

A: SenseF!y- Justification

of airworthiness

eBee Appendix

B: SenseFly

- eBee User Manual

V 17 Appendix

C: SenseFly

- eBee training documentation Appendix

D: SenseFly

- eBee maintenance procedures The requested exemption would authorize commercial operations using the eBee for mapping

and survey applications.
These operations

will
be subject

to strict operating requirements defined

in the eBee user manual (SES requests

the FAA treat the User Manual

as proprietary
under

14 C.F.R. 11.35(b) and not include
this document

in the public docket)

and conditions defined

by the Safety Code

of the Academy

of Model Aeronautics

, in order

to ensure

at least
an equivalent
level
of safety

to currently authorized operations using manned aircrafts. The eBee will be operated

by an individual

who fulfills
the following requirements: Has successfully passed

a manufacturer

' s training program

for the eBee Has

a Private Pilot license1.CHARACTERISTICSOFTHEAIRCRAFTTheeBeeisasmall(37.8incheswingspan)andultra-light(maximumtake-offweightof1.7pounds)platformmadeofflexiblefoamthatperforms precisionaerialmappingmissionsthankstotheonboardGPSandtherelatedflightmanagementsoftware(eMotion)thatallowstheoperatortoplansafelyandefficientlyamissionin3D,andthenmonitoritinreal-time.Thankstotheembeddedcamera,protectedbyafoamenvelope,theeBeetakesacollectionofhigh-definitionstillimagesthatareusedlatertogeneratemapsandcontourlinesofthesurveyedarea.Thefourmaincharacteristicsofthe eBeeare:a.VerylightweightTheeBeeissolightthattheoperatorcanlaunchitbyhandandletitlandonalmostanysurfacewithoutrequiringaparachuteorlandingnet(bellyland).Itslowimpactenergyalsosignificantlyreducestheriskofhazardoussituations.Finally,thewingsoftheeBeearedetachableandmadeofflexiblefoamwithnosharporhardedgesandalmostnointernalstrengtheningstructure.b.Electric-poweredTheeBeeiselectricpowered.Abrushlessenginetechnologymakesitsilentandreliable.Thepropellerisattachedwitharubberbandtothebodyoftheplanesothatitcaneasilyflexawayincaseofcontactwithanyobject.c.Semi-automaticflightTheartificialintelligenceincorporatedwithintheeBeeautopilotsystemcontinuouslyanalyzesdatafromtheInertialMeasurementUnitandfromtheonboardGPSandtakescareofalltheaspectsoftheflightunderthesupervisionoftheoperator.d.OptionforManualcontrolAdditionally,theeBeeprovidesanoverridecapabilitythatallowstheoperatortotakemanualactionsduringtheflight(GotoHome,GoLand,HoldandResumethemission)andalsosuspendautomatedoperationsandtakemanualcontroloftheaircraftshoulditbecomenecessarytorespondemergentcircumstances,thankstotheremotecontrollerprovidedwiththesystem.2.APPLICATIONSSEShasrecentlypurchasedtheSenseFlyeBeeandrespectivelyrequestsexemptiontooperatethe eBeeforaerialsurveyingandmapping.3.APPLICABLELEGALSTANDARDUNDERSECTION333a.AirworthinessassessmentoftheeBeeSESnotesthattheailworthinessoftheeBeehasalreadybeendemonstratedfordifferentprojectsSOURCEENERGYSERVICES2595USHighway8,Cameron,WIUSA54822intheUnitedStates,involvingstate/federalagenciesoruniversities(amongotherstheNewMexicoStateUniversity:https://newscenter.nmsu.edu/Articles/view/10208/nmsu-uas-flight-testcenter-conducts-ebee-airworthiness-assessment,andtheUSACENewOrleans,whocoordinatedwiththeDepartmentofArmyandtheFAAtoobtainallauthorizationsrequiredinordertooperatetheeBeeUAS).MoreovertheeBeealreadyreceived15ExemptionsfromtheFAA.SenseFlyalsoobtainedflightapprovalsfortheeBee(deliveredbynationalcivilaviationauthorities)inmanycountries,amongothers:•Switzerland(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)•Canada(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)•Australia(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)•France(flightapprovalforExtended-VLOSoperations)•Germany(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)•UnitedKingdom(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)•Norway(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)•Sweden(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)•Denmark(flightapprovalforVLOSoperations)b.OperatingrequirementsGrantoftheexemptiontoSESfortheeBeewillbesubjecttothefollowingoperatingconditions:•1.OperationsauthorizedbythisgrantofexemptionarelimitedtotheSenseFlyeBeewhenweighinglessthan55poundsincludingpayload.Proposedoperationsofanyotheraircraftwillrequireanewpetitionorapetitiontoamendthisexemption.•2.Operationsforthepurposeofclosed-setmotionpictureandtelevisionfilmingarenotpermitted.•3.TheUAmaynotbeoperatedataspeedexceeding87knots(100milesperhour).Theexemptionholdermayuseeithergroundspeedorcalibratedairspeedtodeterminecompliancewiththe87knotspeedrestriction.InnocasewilltheUAbeoperatedatairspeedsgreaterthanthemaximumUAoperatingairspeedrecommendedbytheaircraftmanufacturer.•4.TheUAmustbeoperatedatanaltitudeofnomorethan400feetabovegroundlevel(AGL).AltitudemustbereportedinfeetAGL.•5.TheUAmustbeoperatedwithinvisuallineofsight(VLOS)ofthePICatalltimes.ThisrequiresthePICtobeabletousehumanvisionunaidedbyanydeviceotherthancorrectivelenses,asspecifiedonthePIC'sFAA-issuedairmanmedicalcertificateorU.S.driver'slicense.•6.Alloperationsmustutilizeavisualobserver(VO).TheUAmustbeoperatedwithinthevisuallineofsight(VLOS)ofthePICandVOatalltimes.TheVOmaybeusedtosatisfytheVLOSrequirementaslongasthePICalwaysmaintainsVLOScapability.TheVOandPICmustbeabletocommunicateverballyatalltimes;electronicmessagingortextingisSOURCEENERGYSERVICES2595USHighway8,Cameron,WI.USA54822not

p e rmitt

e d durin

g flight

op

e r a tion

s

. Th

e PIC mu

s t b e d e signat

e d b

e fo re th e flight and cannot transfer

his or her designation

for the duration

of th e flight.

Th

e PIC must

e nsur

e that
th e VO can perform

the dutie

s requir

e d of the VO. •

7

. This

ex emption

and
all docum

e nts ne
e ded

to operate

the UA

S and conduct

it s operations

in accordanc

e w ith
th e conditions

and limitations

stat

e d in this grant

of exemption

, are hereinafter referred

to as the operating documents.

The operating documents

must

be accessible during
UA

S operations

and made available

to the Administrator

upon request.

If
a discrepanc

y ex ists between

the conditions

and limitation

s 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 documents.

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 also present updated

and revised documents

if it petitions

for extension

or amendment

to this grant

of

e x emption.

If th e operator determines

that any update

or revision would affect
the basis upon which
the FAA granted
this exemption

, then the operator must petition

for an amendment

to its grant of exemption.

The FAA

' 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 affect
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 with aVO 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
U AS
is found to be in

a condition

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 manufacturer

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 va lid U.S. driver

' s license issued

by

a state, the District

of Colombia, Puerto Rico,

a territory

, a possession,

or the Federal government.

The PIC must SOURCE ENERGY SERV

I CES

2595
US Highway

8, Cameron

, WI USA 54822also meet the flight review requirements specified

in 14 CFR

§ 61.56

in an aircraft

in which
the PIC

is rated
on his or her 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

b e 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 (training, 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, training operations may only
be conducted during dedicated training sessions. During training

, proficiency

, and experience-building

flights,

all persons

not essential

for flight operations

are considered nonparticipants

, and the PIC must operate

the UA with appropriate 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 airport symbol

as denoted

on the current FAA- published aeronautical
chart, unless

a letter

of agreement

with that airport

's management

is obtained or otherwise petmitted

by

a COA issued

to the exemption holder. The letter
of agreement with the airport management

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 PIC

. • 18. If the UAS loses communications

or loses

its GPS signal

, the UA must return

to

a predetermined location within
the private

or controlled-access propetty. • 19. The PIC must abort the flight

in the event ofunpredicted 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 five 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 conducted

in accordance

with
an ATO-issued
COA. The exemption ho

l der may apply
for

a new

or amended COA

if it intends

to conduct operations

that cannot

be conducted under the terms

of the attached 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

(NSOURCE ENERGY SERVICES

2595 US Highway

8, Cameron,

WI USA 54822Number)markingsinaccordancewith14CFRpat145,SubpartC.Markingsmustbeaslat·geaspracticable.•23.DocumentsusedbytheoperatortoensurethesafeoperationandflightoftheUASandanydocumentsrequiredunder14CFR§§91.9and91.203mustbeavailabletothePICattheGroundControlStationoftheUASanytimetheaircraftisoperating.ThesedocumentsmustbemadeavailabletotheAdministratororanylawenforcementofficialuponrequest.•24.TheUAmustremainclearandgivewaytoallmannedaviationoperationsandactivitiesatalltimes.•25.TheUASmaynotbeoperatedbythePICfromanymovingdeviceorvehicle.•26.AllFlightoperationsmustbeconductedatleast500feetfromallnonparticipatingpersons,vessels,vehicles,andstructuresunless:•a.Barriersorstructuresarepresentthatsufficientlyprotectnonparticipatingpersonsfi·omtheUAand/ordebrisintheeventofanaccident.Theoperatormustensurethatnonparticipatingpersonsremainundersuchprotection.Ifasituationariseswherenonparticipatingpersonsleavesuchprotectionandarewithin500feetoftheUA,flightoperationsmustceaseimmediatelyinamannerensuringthesafetyofnonparticipatingpersons;and•b.Theowner/controllerofanyvessels,vehiclesorstructureshasgrantedpermissionforoperatingclosertothoseobjectsandthePIChasmadeasafetyassessmentoftheriskofoperatingclosertothoseobjectsanddeterminedthatitdoesnotpresentanunduehazard.ThePIC,VO,operatortraineesoressentialpersonsarenotconsiderednonparticipatingpersonsunderthisexemption.•27.Alloperationsshallbeconductedoverprivateorcontrolled-accesspropertywithpermissionfromthepropertyowner/controllerorauthorizedrepresentative.Permissionfi·ompropertyowner/controllerorauthorizedrepresentativewillbeobtainedforeachflighttobeconducted.•28.Anyincident,accident,orflightoperationthattransgressesthelateralorverticalboundariesoftheoperationalareaasdefinedbytheapplicableCOAmustberepottedtotheFAA'sUASIntegrationOffice(AFS-80)within24hours.AccidentsmustbereportedtotheNationalTranspmtationSafetyBoard(NTSB)perinstructionscontainedontheNTSBWebsite:www.ntsb.gov.3.CONCLUSIONBymovingsurveyingandmappingfunctionsfromagroundbasedhumanenterprisetotheaerialplatformoftheeBee,SESwillhavetheabilitytoincreasetheamountofgroundsurveydataobtained,reducethegroundsurveyorsexposuretopotentiallyhazardousconditionsandreducestooverallamountoftimespentonsurveyingactivities.ThecosttopurchaseandmaintaintheSenseFiyeBeeisnominalincomparisontothatofatraditionalmannedaircraft.SOURCEENERGYSERVICES2595USHighway8,Cameron,WIUSA54822Due
to its unique, lightweight

and compact design,

the SenseFiy eBee can be assembled

and deployed

in less than five (5) minutes after arriving onsite.

It can perform

its mission effectively

and efficiently

and literally land at your feet. The data from the mission

can begin being processed immediately

at the survey
site or in the office. Yours sincerely, **Jg:::r- ~**  General Manager Wisconsin Operations Source Energy Services SOURCE ENERGY SERVICES

2595 US Highway

8, Cameron,

WI USA 54822