Paul Douglas

HITEC

15805 Venice Rd.

Aquasco, Maryland 20608

Paul@hitecs.com

888-206-2727 (fax)

Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations from: 14 CFR 21 subpart H

14 CFR 45.23(b)

14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b)

14 CFR 91.7(a)

14 CFR 91.9(b)(2)

14 CFR 91.103

14 CFR 91.109

14 CFR 91.119(c)

14 CFR 91.121

14 CFR 91.151(a)

14 CFR 91.203(a) and (b)

14 CFR 91.405(a)

14 CFR 91.407(a)(1)

14 CFR 91.409(a)(1) and (2)

14 CFR 91.417(a) and (b)

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the "Reform Act") and 14 

CFR Part 11, Paul Douglas, operator of an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), hereby applies for an 

exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations ("FARs") to allow commercial operation of a 
designated UAS, provided such operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined 

herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333.

Commercial operation of an UAS, as described herein, which are equipped with camera(s) and sensors, 

would provide professional services in the following areas:

1. Aerial photography and/or video for public and/or private use including real estate, architecture, land 

surveying, engineering and other related professional activities.

2. Aerial video and/or photography for public and/or private use including television, public events, 

cinematography and newsgathering.

3. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial structures under contract with the owners 

or local government authority.

4. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial utility infrastructure including buy not 

limited to electrical power lines, wind turbines and cell towers.

5. Aerial Video/Photography or providing live video feed to assist with search and rescue operations in 

cases of an emergency or natural disaster only when the local authorities or government has requested 

it by contract or donation.

6. Training to persons individually or belonging to both private and/or public organizations to increase 

awareness and improve safety for current and future UAS operations within the NAS.

As described fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of designated UAS as set 

forth in this document under controlled conditions in the NAS that would be a) limited b) controlled c) 

predetermined and d) safe.

Approval of this exemption would increase public awareness of UAS operations and enhance safety to 

aid in fulfilling the Secretary of Transportation's goals and the FAA Administrator's responsibilities to 

"...establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the National Airspace 

System."

I plan to operate the Typhoon Q500 4K UAS and it's transportable ground station developed by Yuneec. 

The Q500 4k is referred to as a quad-copter with a maximum gross weight of about 3.75 pounds. It is 

equipped with four rotors that are driven by electric motors that are powered by batteries. The UA has 

a maximum airspeed of 8 m/s.

Also, I plan to operate the Tornado H920 and it's transportable ground station developed by Yuneec. 

The Tornado H920 is a professional multirotor with a maximum gross weight of about 11 pounds. It is 

equipped with six rotors that are driven by electric motors that are powered by batteries. The UA has a 

maximum airspeed of 21 m/s.
Also, given the small size of the UAS' involved and the restricted controlled environment within which 

they will operate, the applicant fits within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) in which 

Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of UAS' to 

commence immediately. Also due to the size of the UAS' and the controlled areas in which the relevant 

UAS' will operate, approval of the application presents no national security issue.

Given the following, the grant of the requested exemptions is clearly in the public interest: Paul Douglas 

proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have the characteristics and 

that operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for an exceptional level of 

safety to operations. These limitations and conditions to which Paul Douglas agrees to be bound when 

conducting commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption including:

1. The UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.

2. Flights will be operated within line of sight of the operator.

3. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes.

4. Flights will be terminated at 15% battery power reserve.

5. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level.

6. UAS operator will be trained and certified in safety and operation of the UAS.

7. The UAS will only operate within a controlled area as defined in the Procedures.

8. The operator will post advisor notices around the controlled area.

9. The operator will have been trained to operate the UAS generally and will have received up-to-date 

information on the particular UAS to be operated as required.

10. If the UAS loses communication or loses it's GPS signal, the UAS will have the capability to return to a 

pre-determined location within the security perimeter and land.

11. The UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.

Accordingly, the applicant respectfully ask that the FAA grant the requested exemption, and is prepared 

to modify or amend any part of this request to satisfy the need for an equivalent level of safety. We 

look forward to working with your office. Please contact us at any time if you need clarification or 

additional information.
Sincerely,

Paul Douglas