June 23, 2015

Docket!Operations,!M730

U.S.!Department!of!Transportation

1200!New!Jersey!Avenue,!SE.,!Room!W127140

West!Building!Ground!Floor

Washington,!DC 2059070001

Subject: Section!333!Petition!for!Exemption!14!CFR!!§ 11.81

Submission via electronic communication

This!letter!serves!as!a!petition!for!exemption!from!specific rules!contained!in Title!14!of!the!Code!of!

Federal!Regulations (14CFR),!regarding!the!operation!of!a!small,!unmanned!aircraft!system!(small!

UAS)!in!the!National!Airspace!System!(NAS).!!This!petition!has!been!prepared!and!filed!in!

accordance!with 14!CFR!§ 11.81.!

Operation*of*the*Unmanned*Aircraft

The!UAS!will!be!used!for!commercial!operations!by!Zeis Consulting Services,!a!professional residential 

and commercial property consulting!firm,!for!the!purpose!of!conducting!site!reconnaissance!for!both!

public!and!private!construction!projects, insurance risk damage asessment, high pitch roof 

inspections, catastrophic loss analysis and real estate marketing. !The!UAS!will!be!used! to!gather!

aerial!still!photography,!and!videos.!!These!operations!would!benefit!the!public!as!a!

whole!by!reducing the risk to human safety associated with performing traditional structural 

inspections (reducing use of ladders, scaffolding,etc.) while also reducing the environmental and 

economic impact associated with manned aircraft reconnaissance. 

We!intend!to!implement!all!of!the!Operational+Limitations,!outlined!in!Proposed!Part!107!of!the!

Notice!of!Proposed!Rulemaking!(NPRM),!at!a!minimum.!!These!limitations!will!ensure!the!same!

level!of!safety!offered!by!the!rules!for!which!the!exemption!is!sought.!!By!adhering!to!the!

Operational+Limitations,!the!proposed!UAS!operation!will!minimize!risk!to!the!NAS,!and!to!persons!

and!property!on!the!ground.!!The!UAS!will!be!operated!in!Class!G!airspace!only,!and!flights!will!

not!exceed!400!feet!in!elevation!above!ground!level.!

Operations!will!be!limited!to!daylight only!in!Class!G!airspace,!using!visual!line of sight!(VLOS).!!

Operations!will!also!remain:!

• 5!nautical!miles!(NM)!from!an!airport!having!an!operational!control!tower;!or

• 3!NM!from!an!airport!with!a!published!instrument!flight!procedure,!but!not!an!operational!tower:

or

• 2!NM!from!an!airport!without!a!published!instrument!flight!procedure!or!an!operational!tower;!or

• 2!NM!from!a!heliport!with!a!published!instrument!flight!procedure.

Zeis Consulting Services, LLC

EIN # 46-4534919

2188 Nesconset Hwy. #167, Stony Brook NY 11790 Licensed, Bonded & Insured
Section!333!Petition!for!Exemption!14!CFR!!§"11.81!

June 23, 2015

Page!2!

Prior! to! each! flight,! the! Pilot! In! Command! (PIC)! will! perform! a! preflight! inspection! of! the! UAS,! and!

follow!the!manufacturer’s!preflight!checklist.!!In!addition,!an!Airplane!Flight!Manual/(DJI Phantom 3, DJI 

Inspire) User!Manual!(AFM)!will!also!be!available!for!each!flight.!

The!UAS!specifications!can!be!found!in!the!DJI Phantom 3 and DJI Inspire!User!Manuals,!which! have

been!included!in!this!submittal.!!The!aircraft!loads!will!include!a!video!camera,!and!intelligent!flight!

battery,!and!are!included!in!the!total!weight!of!the!aircraft,!which!is!roughly!7!lbs.!!The!DJI Phantom 3 and 

Inspire!1!Safety!Guidelines!also!provide!recommendations!for!the!safe! operation!of!the!UAS,!and!

potential!hazards.!

Unmanned*Aircraft*Pilot*in*Command*(PIC)*

The!Pilot!in!Command!(PIC) will hold appropriate airman certificate and for the typical operations 

conducted under Section 333 related grants of exemption required persuant to current FAA regulations 

at the time of operation.!!The PIC will assume final authority and responsibility for the operation and 

safety of the flight. The PIC will also be responsible for staying abreast of the latest FAA regulations 

through the "Know Before You Fly" program. 

Unmanned*Aircraft*System

The!UAS!will!be!the!Phantom 3 & Inspire 1,!which!are!manufactured!by!DJI.!!All!manufacturers!

recommendations!related!to!safety!guidelines!will!be!referenced!to!ensure!the!safe!operation!of!the! small!

UAS! in! the! NAS.! This! includes! all! DJI! instructional! videos,! and! written! Safety! Guidelines.! Both 

aircraft are equipped with "auto home" functions in case of remote signal loss or if the battery reaches 

minimum capacity not to be less than the time it would take to return to safely to home station. Both 

aircraft are also equipped with visual positioning and gps positioning systems for increased stability and 

safety. 

The PIC!will!implement!the!Operational+Limitations!outlined!in!Proposed!Part!107!of!the!Notice!of!

Proposed!Rulemaking!(NPRM),!Volume!80,!No.!35!of!the!Federal!Register,!dated!Monday,!

February!23,!2015.!!

Maintenance!and!repair!will!be!performed!as!necessary,!and!a!maintenance!record!will!be!recorded!in!a!

repair!logbook.!This!will!ensure!that!the!UAS!is!in!a!safe!condition!for!flight.!!The!Operators/Maintenance!

Manual!for!the!Phantom 3 and Inspire!1!will!be!used!as!a!reference,!and!has!been!included!in!this!

submittal.!!Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alteration that affect operation or flight 

characteristics must undergo a functional flight test by a PIC with a VO conducted at least 500' from 

other people.The!UAS!will!also!be!registered!in!accordance!with!Part!47!of!the!49!UCS!§ 44711.!

Rules+for+which+we+seek+exemption+are+summarized+below,+and+include:

1) 14!CFR,!Part!21,!Subpart!H!7!Airworthiness*Certificates

i. This!section!pertains!to!requirements!for!the!issue!of!airworthiness!certificates.

Proposed!Part!107!of!the!NPRM!concluded!that,!requiring!small!UAS!operators!to

conduct!inspection!and!maintenance!of!the!small!UAS!pursuant!to!the!existing

regulations!of!14!CFR!part!43,!or!to!obtain!a!permit!to operate!(PTO),!would!not

result!in!significant!safety!benefits.

2) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.1037! Preflight*Action

i. This!section!pertains!to!preflight!actions!for!IFR!flights,!and!reviewing!information

related!to!runway!lengths,!and!takeoff!and!landing!distances.!!The!small!UAS!will

never!be!flown!under!IFR!conditions,!and!takeoff!and!landing!distances!are!not!a

factor!on!a!rotorcraft.!!The!small!UAS!will!undergo!a!preflight!assessment,!which!will

include:!(1)!Local!weather!conditions;!(2)!local!airspace!and!flight!restrictions;!(3)

the!location!of!persons!and!property!on!the!ground;!(4)!any!other!ground!hazards.

Zeis Consulting Services

EIN # 46-4534919
Section!333!Petition!for!Exemption!14!CFR!!§"11.81!

June 23, 2015

Page!3!

i. This!section!pertains!to!aircraft!being!used!for!flight!instruction.!!The!small!UAS!will

not!be!used!for!flight!instruction.

4) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.1197! Minimum*Safe*Altitudes

i. This!section!pertains!to!minimum!altitudes!for!flight,!which!are!a!minimum!of!500

feet!above!the!surface,!and!greater.!!The!small!UAS!will!be!flown!at!a!maximum

altitude!of!500!feet above!the!surface.!!This!rule!would!not!be!applicable!to

Proposed!Part!107!of!the!NPRM.

5) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.1217! Altimeter*Settings

i. This!section!pertains!to!cruising!altitudes!and!flight!levels as!referenced!by!altimeter

settings.!!In!addition,!the!rule!pertains!to!flights!that!are!above a!minimum!altitude

of!500!feet.!!The!small!UAS!does!not!contain!an!altimeter,!and!will!be!flown!at!a

maximum!altitude!of!500!feet.!!This!rule!would!not!be!applicable!to!Proposed!Part

107!of!the!NPRM.

6) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.1517! Fuel*Requirements*for*VFR*Conditions

i. This!section!pertains!to!fuel!requirements!in!VFR!conditions!when!flying!an!aircraft

to!the!first!point!of!intended!landing.!!The!small!UAS!will!be!flown!on!battery!power,

and!will!remain!within!a!visual!line7of7sight!(VLOS)!at!all!times.!!This!rule!would!not

be!applicable!to!Proposed!Part!107!of!the!NPRM.

7) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.203(a)(1)7! Civil*Aircraft*Certifications

i. This!section!pertains!to!airworthiness!certificates!originally!designed!for!manned

aircraft.!!It!is!not!practically!feasible!for!small!UAS!manufacturers!to!complete!the

certification!process required!of!manned!aircraft.!!Proposed!Part!107!of!the!NPRM

has!accommodated!non7recreational!small!UAS!use!through!a!certificate!of!waiver

or!authorization!(COA).!!The!UAS!will!be!registered!with!the!FAA,!and!a COA!would

be!requested!subsequent!to the!Section!333!exemption!process.

8) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.4057! Maintenance*Required

i. This!section!pertains!to!the!maintenance!of!manned!aircraft.!!Proposed!Part!107!of

the!NPRM!concluded!that,!requiring!small!UAS!operators!to!conduct!inspection!and

maintenance!of!the!small!UAS!pursuant!to!the!existing!regulations!of!14!CFR!part!43,

or!to!obtain!a!permit!to!operate!(PTO),!would!not!result!in!significant!safety

benefits.

9) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.4077! Operation*After*Maintenance,*Preventative*Maintenance

i. This!section!pertains!to!aircraft!maintenance,!preventative!maintenance,!and

alterations!for!manned!aircraft.!!The!small!UAS!will!not!carry!persons,!and!will!not

be!altered!to!change!flight!characteristics.

10) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.4097! Inspections

i. This!section!pertains!to!manned!aircraft!inspections.!!Proposed!Part!107!of!the

NPRM!concluded!that,!requiring!small!UAS!operators!to!conduct!inspection!and

maintenance!of!the!small!UAS!pursuant!to!the existing!regulations!of!14!CFR!part!43,

or!to!obtain!a!permit!to!operate!(PTO),!would!not!result!in!significant!safety

benefits.

11) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.4177! Maintenance*Records

i. This!section!pertains!to!maintenance!records!for!manned!aircraft for!the 1007hour,

annual,!and!progressive periods.!!These!rules!are!impractical!for!a!small!UAS,!and

would!not!result!in!significant!safety!benefits.!!Maintenance!records!for!the!small

UAS!will!be!kept!as!required and test flights under controlled conditions and in

sterile operating environments will be completed after any maintenance is

performed to the aircraft or it's controllers that include part replacement or

significant adjustments.

Zeis Consulting Services

EIN # 46-4534919

3) 14!CFR,!part!91!§ 91.1097! Flight*Instruction
Section!333!Petition!for!Exemption!14!CFR!!§"11.81!

June 23, 2015

Page!4!

Summary!of!Rules!for!Exemption:!

Sections!of!14!CFR:!parts!21 and!91.!!Specifically including!sections: part!21,!Subpart!H,!§ 91.103,

§ 91.109,!§ 91.119,!§ 91.121,!§ 91.151,!§ 91.203(a)(1),!§ 91.405,!§ 91.407,!§ 91.409,!§ 91.417.

Description!of!Relief!Sought:

Zeis Consulting Services!is!seeking!an!exemption!to!commercially!operate!a!small!unmanned! aircraft!system!

(sUAS),!15!pounds!or!less!including!payload,!to!perform!various!operations!which!include,!but!are!not!

limited!to:!aerial!acquisition!and!research!in!support!of!public!and!private!!

construction!projects,!aerial!photography!for!utility companies,!local!infrastructure,!flood!studies, 

catastrophic loss analysis, emergency management, roof inspections, surveying, and real estate marketing.!

Conclusion

Due!to!their!light!weight,!small unmanned!aircraft!generally!pose!a!significantly!lower!risk!to!people!and!

property!on!the!ground,!as!compared!to!manned!aircraft.!!The!size,!weight,!speed,!and!

capability!of!the!Phantom 3 and Inspire!1 small UAS!will!not!create!a!hazard!to!the!users!of!the!NAS!or!

the!general!public,!nor!will!they!pose!a!threat!to!national!security.!!

Additionally, Zeis Consulting Services will create opportunities to expand public knowledge of the use 

of small UAS's in commercial operations and promote safety awarness for both commercial and 

recreational use of small unmanned aircraft. This will be achieved, at minimum, by distributing the 

"Know Before You Fly" brochure. 

Granting!this!request!for!exemption!would!not!adversely!affect!safety,!and!would!be!in!the!public!

interest.!

The!UAS!will!be!registered!with!the!FAA,!and!upon!receiving!a!grant!of!exemption a!“blanket”!2007

foot!Certificate!of!Waiver!or Authorization!(COA)!would!be!requested.

Respectfully,!

Zeis Consulting Services

Cindy Zeis

Principal/Licensed Adjuster

Office Phone: 631-403-0487 

Email: zeisconsultingservices@gmail.com

Zeis Consulting Services

EIN # 46-4534919

Attachments: DJI Phantom 3 Professional User's Manual V1.2

DJI Phantom 3 Professional Safety Guidelines & Disclaimer

DJI Inspire 1 User Manual V1.2

DJI Inspire 1 Safety Guidelines

DJI Inspire 1 Maintenance Manual V1.0

AUVSI Code of Conduct

In addition to the minimum safety requirements to operate a UAS for commercial purposes in the 

NAS, Cindy Zeis, proprietor of Zeis Consulting Services, has military experience in the area of 

helicopter maintenance (US Army 67V10) and will command the same level of maintenance and 

safety to that of manned aircraft operations. This shows an additional level of aeronautic 

competency beyond that currently required by regulation regarding UAS maintenance.

Zeis Consulting Services has adopted the AUVSI Code of Conduct for all UAS operations.

(manual too large for upload - see link)

(manual too large for upload - see link)