November 18

th, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington, DC 20590

RE: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act of 2012

References:

 FAA Exemption No. 11138 to DOUGLAS TRUDEAU, Regulatory Docket No. 

FAA20140481

 FAA Exemption No. 11136 to ADVANCED AVIATION SOLUTIONS LLC, 

Regulatory Docket No. FAA–2014–0508 

 FAA Exemption No. 11080 to FLYING CAM INC, Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-

0355 

 FAA Exemption No. 12646 to MEASURE, Regulatory Docket No. FAA–2015–1602

Dear Sir or Madam,

In accordance with the FAA’s Guidelines for Submitting a Petition for Exemption under Section 

333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, The Branch Group, Inc. (herein 

referred to as the petitioner), requests exemption from the below listed sections of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations, in order to operate small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) 

commercially in airspace regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the 

purposes of aerial data acquisition, so long as such operations are conducted within and under 

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

The conditions identified and proposed by the petitioner are drawn from references listed above.

As detailed in this document and the attached Appendix of UAS, the requested exemption

would permit the operation of UAS under controlled conditions in the United States. Approval 

of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation’s 

responsibilities to “...establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the 

national airspace system.” Section 333(c) Reform Act.

Authority for Exemptions

The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA authority to issue exemptions. This

statutory authority includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined under §40101 of the 

Act, including UAS, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must have a current

airworthiness certificate. The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a 

regulation prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections §44702-44716 of 

this title if the Administrator finds the exemption in the public interest. 49 USC §44701(f). See 
also 49 USC §44711(a); 49 USC §44704; 14 CFR 91.203(a)(1). Section 333(b) of the Reform 

Act assists the Secretary in determining whether UAS may operate in the national airspace 

system without creating a hazard to the user, the public, or a threat to national security. In 

making this determination, the Secretary must consider:

• The UAS’ size, weight, speed and operational capability;

• Whether the UAS operates within the visual line of sight of the operator;

• Whether the UAS operates outside of highly populated areas and away from close

proximity to airports.

Reform Act 333(a). If the Secretary determines that a UAS “may operate safely in the national 

airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft 

in the national airspace system.” Id. 333(c).

Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

14 CFR Part 21, Subpart H

14 CFR 45.23(b)

14 CFR 61.113(a) & (b) 

14 CFR 91.7(a)

14 CFR 91.9(b)(2)

14 CFR 91.103

14 CFR 91.109

14 CFR 91.119

14 CFR 91.121

14 CFR 91.151(a)

14 CFR 91.203(a) & (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) & (b)

Name and address of the applicant:

The Branch Group, Inc.

J. William Karbach, CEO

P.O. Box 40004

Roanoke, VA 24022

540-982-1678

The FARs

The petitioner seeks exemption from the above mentioned FARs for the following

reasons;
Part 21, Subpart H;

Subpart H, establishes the procedural requirements for the issuance of airworthiness certificates 

as required by FAR §91.203(a)(1). Given the size and limited operating area associated with the 

aircraft to be utilized by the petitioner, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the 

requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. 

The Federal Aviation Act (49 USC §44701(f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both 

authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon 

consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability and proximity to airports and 

populated areas of the particular UAS. In all cases, an analysis of these criteria demonstrates 

that the UAS operated without an airworthiness certificate, in the restricted environment and 

under the conditions proposed, will be at least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft 

operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and conditions proposed. 

45.23(b);

This regulation requires that certain experimental, provisionally certified aircraft, or light sport

category aircraft to be marked with letters between 2 inches and 6 inches high “limited”, 

“restricted,” “light-sport,” “experimental,” or “provisional,” near each entrance to a cabin, 

cockpit or pilot station. Even though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an 

exemption may be needed as the UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station 

on which the word “Experimental” can be placed. Given the size of the UAS, 2 inch lettering 

may be impossible. The petitioner will mark the UAS as practicable.

61.113(a) & (b);

As discussed in Exemptions 11138, 11136, 11080, and 12646, the petitioner requests relief in 

order to facilitate the utilization of an experienced UAS operator with the addition of a trained 

observer. All pre-flight inspection, maintenance and flight logs will be saved and made 

available to the FAA and Secretary of Transportation (SoT) for review; with the purpose of 

safely integrating civil UAS operation in the National Airspace System.

91.7(a)

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy

condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft the petitioner 

contemplates operating, should this exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will 

exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft and the operational restrictions 

put on the aircraft, an equivalent level of safety will be provided.

91.9(b)(2)

The UAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual 

on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because there is no room or 
capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be maintained 

by keeping the Operating Manuals at the ground control point where the pilot flying the UAS 

will have immediate access to it.

91.103

This regulation requires each pilot in command take certain actions before flight to ensure the 

safety of flight. An exemption is needed from this requirement, as the pilot will take separate 

preflight actions, including checking for weather conditions, checking flight battery or fuel 

requirements, checking takeoff and landing distances, and all other actions in the Operating 

Manual and safety checklists. These actions will provide an equivalent level of safety.

91.109

This regulation provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free

balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual 

controls. By design, UAS do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is

accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio 

communications. The equivalent level of safety is provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor 

passengers will be carried in the aircraft, the ability to control the UAS via radio signals from 

the controller and by the size and speed of the aircraft.

91.119(c)

As discussed in Exemptions 11138, 11136, 11080, and 12646, operations conducted closer than 

500 feet to the ground may require that the UA be operated closer than 500 feet to essential 

persons, or objects that would not be possible without additional relief. The petitioner requests 

modification, waiver or exemption and clarification concerning the terms “congested areas” and 

“densely populated”. The petitioner requests waiver for this condition to allow reasonable and 

responsible operations in populated areas if required. The petitioner will primarily operate the 

UAS between ground level and 400 feet AGL. The UAS will be operated over designated 

properties with the consent of the owner/controller/authorized representative and while 

maintaining a safe distance from persons. The petitioner will compile flight data from the logs. 

This data may assist the FAA in development of regulations for commercial operations in lowrisk, controlled environments.

91.121

As discussed in Exemptions 11138, 11136, 11080, and 12646, 91.121 is inapplicable since

the UAS does not have an altimeter and instead utilizes electronic GPS with a sensor for altitude 

information.

91.151(a)
As discussed in Exemptions 11138, 11136, 11080, and 12646, prior relief has been granted for 

manned aircraft to operate at less than the prescribed minimums. In addition, similar UAS

specific relief has been granted in for daytime, VFR conditions. The UAS provides battery

power remaining in percent to the PIC. The UA batteries provide approximately 25 minutes of 

powered flight. Information provided in the operating documents discusses procedures 

regarding remaining battery power management. Those documents contain a condition in which 

the PIC will initiate a landing procedure when battery remaining reaches a specified level. 

Given the limitations on proposed operations and the location of those proposed operations, The

FAA found that a reduced minimum power reserve for flight in daytime VFR conditions was 

reasonable.

91.203(a) & (b);

The UAS has no cabin, cockpit or pilot station and is operated without an onboard pilot.

Therefore, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to 

display them on the UAS. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these 

documents at the ground control point where the pilot flying the UAS will have immediate 

access to them, to the extent they are applicable to the UAS.

91.405(a); 91.407(a)(1); 91.409 (a)(1) & (2); 91.417(a) & (b) 

As discussed in Exemptions 11138, 11136, 11080, and 12646, the petitioner proposes to inspect 

and ensure that the UAS is in a condition for safe flight in accordance with the operating 

documents. The FAA found that adherence to the petitioner’s operating documents and the 

conditions and limitations specified, describing the requirements for maintenance, inspection, 

and recordkeeping, were sufficient to ensure that safety would not be adversely affected.

The UAS

Similar to Exemption 12646, the petitioner requests to operate a variety of UAS. The UAS that 

the petitioner contemplates operating are listed in Attachments 1 and 2. Attachment 1 includes 

UAS previously approved under various Exemptions, including 12646. Attachment 2 includes 

newer models of UAS from manufacturers whose models have previously been approved. All of 

these UAS weigh less than 55 pounds and will operate at speeds less than 87 knots. 

Risk Mitigation

The petitioner has reviewed the Conditions and Limitations sections of the referenced 

Exemptions and believes that the procedures specified therein are reasonable and will be

utilized in order to manage and mitigate risk and ensure public safety. A preflight checklist will 

be developed and employed to ensure that the UAS airworthiness will be verified before launch. 

Airworthiness will be maintained by performance of routine inspections before each flight, 

maintaining flight and maintenance logs to record time on failure prone components. These 

documents will be made available to the FAA and SoT to assist in future implementation of 
safety standards and regulations. The petitioner will only operate the UAS over designated 

properties with the owner/controller/authorized representative’s consent. Flight plans will be 

predetermined to limit the UASs flight time and limit safety concerns. The petitioner will take 

into account distance from persons and potential flight obstacles prior to operating the UAS. 

UAS operation will always be within VLOS of the PIC and the observer.

Public Interest

Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of UASs for aerial acquisition of data 

enhances safety while reducing risk. Manned aircraft in certain application such as pipeline 

monitoring create a greater risk because the aircraft are much larger and carry an onboard 

human pilot. In contrast, a UAS weighing 55 pounds or less will carry no passengers or crew 

and, therefore, will not expose them to the risks associated with manned aircraft flights. In 

addition, additional streams of aerial data will allow large commercial entities to make decisions 

about how to best deploy ground resources and ensure the safety and cost-effectiveness of their 

operations.

Equivalent Level of Safety

The petitioner proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have the

characteristics and that operate within the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for 

at least an equivalent or even higher level of safety to operations under the current and proposed 

regulatory structure.

Federal Register Summary

Petitioner: The Branch Group, Inc.

Part 21 and §§ 45.23(b), 61.113(a) and (b), 91.7(a), 91.9(b)(2), 91.103, 91.109, 91.119,

91.121, 91.151(a), 91.203(a) and (b), 91.405(a), 407(a)(1), 409(a)(1) and (2), 417(a) and (b) of

Title 14, Code of the Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

Description of Relief Sought: The petitioner is seeking an exemption to conduct commercial

aerial data acquisition using unmanned aircraft systems.

Based upon the foregoing, the petitioner requests that the FAA grant it the necessary

exemptions under Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act as requested herein to allow for

commercial operations of UAS within the United States.

Sincerely,

J. William Karbach, CEO

The Branch Group, Inc.

P.O. Box 40004

Roanoke, VA 24022

540-982-1678
Attachment 1

1. 2AgEagle

2. 3D Robotics Aero-M

3. 3D Robotics Iris

4. 3D Robotics Iris+

5. 3D Robotics X8

6. 3DRobotics Fixed Wing

7. 3DRobotics Multirotor

8. 3DRobotics Quadrotor

9. 3DR Solo

10. 3DR Spektre

11. 3DRobotics Spektre Industrial Multi-Rotor Aerial Vehicle

12. 3D Robotics Solo

13. 3DRobotics X8+

14. 3D Robotics X8-M

15. 3D Robotics Y6

16. Aerial Mob Heavy Lifter

17. Aerial Mob Light Lifter

18. Aerial Remote Mineral Detection System (ARMDS)

19. Aerialtronics Zenith with intergrated Airware system

20. Aerialtronics Altura Zenith ATX8

21. Aerigon

22. Aerobo

23. AeroCine Kopterworx Hammer X12

24. Aeromao AeroMapper 300

25. Aeromao Talon

26. Aeromao Aeromapper 300

27. Aeromao Aeromapper EV-2

28. AeroVironment Shrike

29. AeroVironment Puma

30. Aeronavics X4 Titanium

31. Aeryon Sky Ranger

32. Aervonics Sky Jib frame with a DJI A2 flight system

33. Aero-M

34. Aeryon Scout

35. Aeryon SkyRanger

36. AgEagle

37. AgEagle Robotic

38. AgScout

39. AgScout Mini

40. Agribotix Hornet Drone

41. Agribotix Enduro Quad
42. AgriView VK Ranger EX

43. Aibot

44. Aibotix X-6

45. Air Rover AR-3000

46. AirCover QR-425s

47. AirRobot AR 180

48. AirRobot AR 100

49. AirRobot AR200

50. Air-X

51. Align M690

52. Altavian Nova

53. Altavian Nova F6500

54. Altavian Nova R8400

55. Altus X-4

56. Altus X-8

57. American Drones, LLC Eagle

58. Apprentice

59. Arch Aerial OCTO multi-rotor UAS

60. Arris hexacoper

61. AR-960 Hex Rotor

62. AR-540 Quad Rotor

63. ARF-MikroKopter OktoXL

64. ARF-MikroKopter OktoXL +

65. ArrowLite

66. AscTec Falcon

67. AscTec Falcon 8

68. Astraeus Aerial Cinema System V.3CS

69. Atlantic RC Aircraft LC04

70. Auburn Trimble UX5

71. Auburn War Eagle

72. Auburn EasyStar

73. Auburn

74. AV44

75. Bixler 3DR Plane

76. Blade 350QX

77. Bixler 2

78. Boomerang Carbon Fiber Frame (The Identified System)

79. Bormatec Maja UAV

80. BOSH Technologies Super Swiper

81. Bumblebee-S

82. C-Astral Bramor gEO

83. CarbonCore Octocopter 1000

84. Carbon Core Cortex Quadcopter

85. CCO w/Wkm M
86. Chameleon Pro

87. CinesStar

88. Cinestar 6

89. Cinestar X8

90. Cinestar 8

91. Cinestar 8 HL

92. Cinestar 8 Okto XL

93. Coaxial Quad Multirotor VAO1-V1

94. Coaxial Quad Multirotor VAO2-V2

95. CopelandRED LLC Delta Wing Aircraft

96. CyberQuad Maxi

97. DJI Flame Wheel F450

98. DJI Flame Wheel F550

99. DAx8

100. DJI Inspire

101. DJI Inspire 1

102. DJI Inspire 2

103. DJI M P330z

104. DJI Phantom

105. DJI Phantom 1

106. DJI Phantom 2

107. DJI Phantom 2+

108. DJI Phantom 2 Vision

109. DJI Phantom 2 Vision+

110. DJI Phantom Vision +

111. DJI Phantom 3

112. DJI Phantom FC40

113. DJI Spreading Wings S900

114. DJI Spreading Wings S1000

115. DJI Spreading Wings S1000+

116. DJI S800

117. DJI S800 EVO

118. DJI T600

119. Draganflyer Guardian

120. Draganflyer X4ES

121. Draganflyer X4P

122. Draganflyer X6

123. DT-18

124. DYS D800-X8

125. Eagle VTOL

126. Eagle V2

127. E-Flite Apprentice

128. Event 38 E384 129. F-450

130. Falcon VTOL
131. Fire Fly 6

132. First Aerial Responder UAV

133. Flame Wheel G4 7.8 Skycrane

134. Flying-Cam 3.0 SARAH

135. Foxtech Kraken 130 V2

136. FreeFly Systems ALTA RTF

137. FreeFly Systems Octocopter Airframe (Legacy)

138. G4

139. G4 models

140. GeoStar

141. GerMAP G220

142. GerMAP G180

143. goFarm GF-1

144. Gryphon Dynamics X8

145. GT80X

146. Harris 18 HL

147. HEFF

148. Helicopters West DJI Inspire

149. Helicopters West SkyJib 8

150. Helios 960

151. Hawkeye Mk-III

152. HexaCrafter HC-1100 85.

153. HexaCrafter HO-1250

154. HH Blade 350QX2 AP

155. Hobbyking “Bixler” Fixed Wing Trainer

156. HoneyComb AgDrone

157. Horizon Hobby Blade 350 Qx2 quadcopter

158. Hoverfly LiveSky, BigSky 60 and H-Frame

159. Hubsan X4 micro drone

160. HVP 14301 Multi Rotor

161. Identified System

162. IMT Global xFold Cinema

163. Indago

164. InovalDrone:Inova One

165. InstantEye Mk-2

166. InstantEye Mk-2 Gen2

167. Intuitive Aerial Aeragon

168. K130 Octocopter

169. KongCopter X8

170. Kopterworx Hammer X12

171. Latitude HQ-4 Hybrid Multirotor

172. LB700

173. Leading Edge Precision Vision 10

174. Leptron Avenger
175. Lewis Realty Associates Hexacopter 650

176. Liberty 1

177. Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk III

178. Lockheed Martin Indago

179. Matrix quad copter

180. MaxFlight 181. MD4-200 182. MD4-1000

183. Mikrokopter 2.5

184. MLB Company Super Bat

185. MU-1H

186. Multirotor G4 7.8 Skycrane

187. Nighthawk

188. Nighthawk VTOL

189. OktoXL 6S12

190. PAG X4

191. Parksone Radian RTF

192. Parrot Bebop drone

193. Parrot PF 725100 Bebop Drone 14MP

194. Parrot Skycontroller

195. Patriot X4

196. Patriot X8

197. Finwing Penguin V2

198. Birdseyeview FireFly 6

199. Phoenix

200. Phoenix VTOL

201. Phoenix 60

202. Phoenix 60LE

203. Pixhawk

204. Precision Drone Pacesetter

205. PrecisionHawk

206. PrecisionHawk Hawkeye Mk-III

207. PrecisionHawk Lancaster

208. Precision Lancaster MK3

209. Prioria Hex

210. Prioria’s Maveric

211. Pulse Aerospace, PA 01 Vapor

212. Pulse Aerospace Pulse Vapor 35

213. Pulse Vapor

214. Puma AE DDL

215. PV 14817 Multi Rotor

216. PV HL1

217. PV HL2

218. Q1

219. Quadcopter LLC MikroKopter

220. Quiet UAV
221. Qube

222. R/C Rotors and Aerial Media: Matrix Prof. Multi Rotor Frame & Octo Heavy Lift Prof. 

Multi Rotor

223. Frame Ronin Edition Microdrones:MD4-1000

224. RCTimer Hexacopter

225. RDASS

226. REHawk 500

227. REHawk 680

228. RF-70

229. Riegl RiCopter

230. RITEWING Z3 Spade 47”

231. Ritewing Drake 60”

232. RITEWING Z3 Spade 70”

233. RITEWING Z4 Spade 52”

234. RMAX

235. Roboflight

236. Rotomotion SR-15

237. RV Jet

238. Scout X4

239. SD02

240. Seahawk 1.2

241. SelectTech Geospacial’s EH-4

242. SenseFly eBee

243. SenseFly eBee RTK

244. SenseFly eXom

245. Sensurion Magpie MP-1

246. Service-Drone Recon One

247. Service-Drone Blackbird

248. SH 900

249. ShadowHawk

250. Shrike

251. Sirius

252. SkyCatch

253. SkyJib 8 v.2 Heavy Lifter

254. SkyPhilly MI

255. Skywalker Aero

256. Skywalker Flying Wing X8

257. SnapRoll Media SUAS

258. Solutions Phoenix 30

259. SteadiDrone

260. Steadidrone Quad

261. Steadydrone QU4D

262. Steadidrone Mavik

263. SuperX/P2 Multirotor
264. Swift Radioplanes Lynx

265. Tali 500

266. Talon 120LE

267. Tarot FY690S Hexacopter

268. Tarot quadcopter

269. Tarot 680pro

270. Tarot 690

271. Tarot 900

272. Tarot 960

273. Tarot T-15

274. Tarot T15 C/F Folding Octocopter

275. Tarot T18 UAV

276. Tarot T690

277. Tarot T810

278. Tarot T960

279. Tarsier Systems MoAC

280. Tayzu Robotics Titan X8

281. TBS Discovery Pro

282. Team Black Sheep Discovery Pro Tarot T15

283. T-Rex 700E F3C

284. TREX 800E DFC PRO

285. Trimble UX5

286. Trimble UX5 hp

287. Trimble ZX5

288. Turningy Talon 500

289. TUP X8-800

290. Turbo Ace CINEWING 6

291. TurboAce Matrix-G quadcopter

292. Turbo Ace matrix-E

293. Turbo Ace MATRIX-1

294. UAV Solutions Phoenix 60

295. Universeye Penguin

296. Unmanned Flying Rolling Orb “UFRO”

297. US2 GreenHawk

298. UtiliCopter ITX8

299. VA03-v1

300. VA04-v1

301. VA07-v1

302. Viking UAS Multicopter (VTOL)

303. Viking UAS FF-X4/X8

304. VK-Patriot X4/X8

305. Viking UAS Patriot X4/X8 Multirotor 

306. Viking UAS X6 Model 800

307. Viking UAS Viking ONE
308. VK-450

309. Viking Unmanned Aerial Systems, LLC AgriView VK Ranger EX

310. Viking VK-FF-X4

311. VK- Ranger EX- SAR Fixed Wing UAS

312. Volantex Raptor Tarot T-18

313. Volt Aerial Robotics Octane

314. Vulcan frame controlled by a DJI A2 flight controller

315. Vulcan Mantis

316. Vulcan Octocopter

317. Vulcan Raven

318. Vulcan UAV

319. Walkera TALI H500

320. Walkera Scout X4

321. Wookong DJI 5800

322. xCel Drones XD550CDR

323. XFold Rig with four configurations: Quadcopter, Hexcopter, Octocopter and x12 Copter

324. X8-M
Attachment 2

1. Tarot X4

2. Tarot X6

3. Tarot X8

4. Tarot Iron Man 1000/1000S

5. DYS D800-X4

6. DYS D800-V6

7. DYS D1100-V8