May 25,2015 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

West Buiiding Ground Floor, Room w12-140 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590 

Subject: Petition for Exception to Operate the DJJ Phantom 3 Quadcopter Unmanned Aerial 

System for Commercial Aerial Video and Photography Purposes. 

Dear Sir or Madam: 

The purpose of this letter is to petition the Federal Aviation Administration for an exemption 

from certain Feder at Aviation Regulations in order for petitioner, David J. Robichaux, to operate 

an Unmanned Aerial System {UAS) with1n, but not limited to, the Houston, TX geographicai area 

of the Natf<Jnal Airspace System, in furtherance of my new business as an aerjaf v-ideo and stfll 

image photographer, concentrating but not limited to golf course and real estate photography. 

I currently hold a commercial pilots Hcense, rated for instrument flight, along with SEl, MEl, 

and 5£5 ratings. J have over 1100 hours Jogged. J aJso have a current CJass ll medical certifkate. 

Currently i hoid a CPC {certified professionai controiter) ticense, having been employed by the 

FAA at Houston Center for over 32 years. Due to mandatory retirement, I am going to pursue 

my interest mainly in aerial golf course and real estate photography. 

Accordingiy, and pursuant to 14 CFR 11.61-.103 and section 333 of the FAA Modernization and 

Reform Act of 2012, Pl 112-95 {February 14, 2012}, t am submitting the foUowing informatf<Jn 

with this request; 

Petitioner: David J. Robichaux 

5015 Echo Falls 

K~ngwood, TX 77345 

832-746-9626 

Djr1959@gmaH.com 

Petitioner: David Robichaux 
Description of Operations: 

David J. Robichaux is the owner of DJf Phantom 3 Aerial Kit unmanned aircraft with serial number 

P760CD18010041 and its portable ground station controller (together the "Subject UAS").The Subject 

UAS comes equipped with a mounted camera beneath .it piloted by a remote ground base .controller. It 

has a total weight of 1280 grams with a maximum speed of 36 mph. Ail operations will be conducted 

below 200 feet (AGL) above ground level and within visual sight of the aircraft. The Subject UAS has a 

flight time of 23 minutes, with a low battery return to home, along with a failsafe return to home in case 

of signal interruption for more than 3 seconds. 

Pilot in Command 

I (David J. Robichaux} began flying in 1977 and received a AS degree in Aeronautkaf Science from 

Nicholls State University, where ! received my Commercial Airplane license, with instrument rating, for 

SEL and MEl aircraft. I later received my SES rating. I have been an air traffic controller at Houston Air 

Route Traffic Control Center since 1982 and will end my career Det:ember 2015 due to a mandatory 

retkement law. 

Request waivers from applicable CfRs 

14 CfR 61.23(a}and (c), 61.101{e)(4}and{5}, 61.113(a}, 61.315(a), 91.7(a} 91.119(c), 91.121, 91.151(aH1}, 

91.405(a}, 91.407(a}(1}, 91.409{a)(1} and {2}, and 91.417(a} and {b), to the extent necessary to conduct 

operations in the Subject VAS in the nationat airspace system under Section 333 and request a simitar 

grant from the previously approved Grants of Exempt~ons Nos~ 11061, 11109, 11112, and 11213. 

Request waivers f.or any other appJicahle CFRs as deemed necessary by the fAA to conduct commerdal 

drone flight. 

S~nce Golf course video will be part of the Subject UAS operation, request a special exemption to 

operate the Subject UAS from a moving golf cart in order to enhance my ability to film a golf hole in its 

entrrety (this would be only time video taming would be from a moving vehide}. t would also like an 

exemption to be able to add same type of aircraft to this waiver, in order to have a backup if necessary, 

by submitting the serial number. 

The aircraft is equipped with a RTH (return to home) function for the following; 

Low Battery RTH alarm to allow aircraft to return and land at starting poinL 

Smart RTH Allows for aircraft to return to starting point and land. 

Failsafe RTH wiH automatically return to home if signal interruption for more than 3 seconds. 

David Robichaux 

Attached are the specifications for the Phantom 3. 

Petitioner: David Robichaux 
Appendix 

• Ain:ra1t 

Weight (Including Banery) 

Max. Ascent Speed 

Max_ Descent Speed 

Max. Speed 

Max. Right Altitude 

Max_ Right Trme 

Operating Temperature Range 

GPS 

• Gimbal 

Angular Vibrallon Range 

• Vision Posilioning 

Vefooi!y Range 

Alntude Range 

Operating Range 

t.'pmtting Elwir""""*ll 

• camera 

Senoor 

Lens 

ISO Range 

Bectronic Shutter Speed 

Image Max. SiZe 

S1ill-PhotographyVtdeo"Rerording"Modes 

Max. Bilrareof Video Storage 

Supp<Jft<ld File Fonr.ats 

SupjJ<lltedSDCardTypes 

Operating Temperature Range 

• Remote Controller 

Operating Frequency 

Max. Transmissi<ln Distance 

VIdeo OulpUI Port 

Operating Temperature Range 

Battery 

Mobile Device Holder 

T ransmi!!er Power (EIRP) 

Working Voltage 

•Charger 

Voltage 

Rated Power 

1280g 

5m/s 

3m/s 

16 m/s (Am mode. no wind) 

6000m 

Approximalely 23 minutes 

O'Cto40'C 

GPS/GlONASS 

Pitch: - 90" to +30" 

<B w./s (A!ti!ude2 m) 

3Qcm-300cm 

30cm-Joocm 

i 

!~ 

I~ __:t_ 

Su<f..ce wilh clear pattern and a<:lequate lighting (Lux> 15) 

Sooyf'XMOR 1f2_3~ Etlec!illepix.a!s:12.4M(to18Jpixels: 12.7&M) 

FOV (Re!d OfV!eW) 94" 20 mm (35-mm format equivalent) fi:<_s 

1(]().3200 (video) 100--1001 (photo) 

Ss- 1/BOOOs 

4QOO_x3QOO 

Single .shot 

Burst shooting: 3/517 frames 

Auto Exposure Bracketing (Affi)_ 3/5 bracketed frames at0.7EV Bias 

Time-lapse 

UHO: 4096x2160~t24125. 3840!c2160p24125/30 

FHD: 1920x1080p 24/25/.30148150160 

HD: 1260x720p 24/25/30148150/60 

60Mbps 

FAT32/exFAT Photo: JPEG, DNG VIdeo- MP4/MOV (MPEG-4 AVC!I-!.264) 

Micro-SD. Max. capacity: 64GB. Class 10 or UHS-1 Taling tequiled 

fJ'C to40'C 

2.400 Gl-lz-2.483 GHz 

2 km (outdoots and unobstructed) 

USB 

O'Cto40'C 

6000 mAh liPo 2S 

Tablets and smartphones 

FCC:20dbm: CE:16dbm 

1.2A@7_4V 

17.4V 

100W 

•IIJielljgel]t fli!l!!t~ {Ff-!3--44romAiFI52 ¥) 

Capacity 4480 mAh 

Voltage 15.2 V 

Banay Typa lif'o 4S 

Eil<lrgy 68Wh 

Net Weigbt 865 9 

OperatingTemperature -10"Gto40"C 

Max. Charging Power 100 W 

CE1313 &!lll!!S ;g 

* This Quick Start Guide is subject to change wilhout prim notice_ 

FCCiD: SS3-WM3231503 I=CCID: SS3.Gl300150l ~~a.mplie$wittlpm15oftheFCCRuies. 

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Petitioner: David Robichaux