October 19, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations West Building Ground Floor, Room W12

- 140 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC 20590

- 0001

RE: Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, 14 CFR 21 subpart H, and the following Sect ions:
14 CFR 45.23(b); 14 CFR 91.109; 14 CFR 91.405(a); 14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b); 14 CFR 119(c); 14 CFR 91.407(a)(1); 14 CFR 91.7(a); 14 CFR 91.121; 14 CFR 91.409(a)(1) and (2); 14 CFR 91.9(b)(2); 14 CFR 91.151(a); 14 CFR 91.417(a) and (b).
14 CFR 91.103; 14 CFR 91.203(a) and (b);

Dear Sir/Madam :

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act, I, Curtis R. Hatcher, FAA Certificated Airman and Pilot in Command (“PIC” or “operator”) of an Unmanned Aircraft System ( “ UAS ” ), hereby apply, on behalf of Hatcher Consultants, Inc. , for an exemption from the above

- referenced Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to allow commercial operation of the 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.

APPLICANT INFORMATION : Curtis R. Hatcher, Vice President Hatcher Consultants, Inc.
2955 SW Wanamaker Dr Topeka, KS 66614

- 5318 FAA Airman Certificate Number: 3628113
TSA Known Traveler Number: TT115G71F
Phone: 785

- 271

- 5557 Email: chatcher@hciks.net

In addition to private/recreational usage, commercial operation of an UAS, as described herein, equipped with camera(s) and sensors, would operate in the following manner:

 Aerial photography and/or videography for use in real estate, architecture

, construction, land surveying, engineering, and other related professional activities;

 Aerial photography and/or videography for inspection of residential/commercial structures, with prior authorization from the owner(s);

 Aerial photog raphy and/or videography for inspection of residential/commercia l construction sites and/or utility infrastructure, under contract with owner(s), which may include local government and/or utility companies;

Should an exemption be granted , m y intention is to operate the DJI Phantom 3 Professional (unmanned aircraft, or “UA”) and a transportable ground station utilized for remote control and media recording purposes. (Bi

- directional radiofrequency transmissions between the ground controller and UA occur with in the 2.4 and 5 GHz spectrums simultaneously , according to the manufacturer). The UA is a small quad

- copter design with a gross weight of no more than 3 lbs. Each of the 4 plastic rotors is powered by an electric motor supplied by electricity from an onbo ard low

- voltage battery. The UA has a maximum airspeed of approximately 16 meters per second. Given the small size of the UA and t he restricted range of operation, as well as sophisticated safety redundancies incorporated into the UA design

– such as

autom ated landing and return

- to

- home features

– the risk to public security and the National Airspace System would be
minimal. A registration number or small Experimental decal may be affixed to the UA.

### 2

The following limitations will be observed when operating the UAS:

 The UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.;

 Visual line of sight will be maintained at all times between the operator and UA;

 The duration of each flight will not exceed 30 minutes;

 Flights will be terminated at such a time as to ensure safe return of the UA to either the operator’s location (the preferred outcome) or an unpopulated and obstruction

- free area of the ground;

 Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 200 feet above ground level and : at least 5 nautical miles (NM)
fr om 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/control tower; or 2 NM from a he liport with a publis hed instrument flight procedure;

 The UAS will not be operated for commercial purposes in a major city, Flight Restricted Zone, Special Use Airspace (including Military Operations Areas), or in any location where the FAA prohibits UAS op erations ;

 Flights will occur during daytime VFR conditions when winds do not exceed the manufacturer’s specified limit

– a nearby AWOS station will be accessed, or a portable anemometer utilized, pri or to each flight to assess weather/wind
conditions ;

 A n exception to the above limitation s will only be made if the operator is granted a Certificate of Waiver or
Authorization (COA) that supersedes or appends the “blanket” 200

- foot COA that may be issued if this Section 333 exemption request is approved.

The operator will adhere to the following conditions a t all times prior to and during UAS operation:

 When applicable, advance notice will be provided to occupants within the intended perimeter of operation by means of posted placard(s), verbal communication, and/or by utilization of email or other telecommunication method s ;

 The operator has been trained in operation of the aforementioned UAS and has accumulated a minimum of 25 hours of operating experience;

 The operator has been an FAA Certificated Airman sinc e March 31, 2001, and is familiar with current rules and regulations governing our National Airspace System;

 Preflight inspections and procedures, as prescribed by the manufacturer, will be completed prior to UAS operation

– which includes verification tha t the latest firm ware/software has been installed, all sensors have been properly calibrated, adequate GPS signal reception is a ssured (outdoor operation), visual and/or ultrasonic ground detection sensors are enabled, rotors are free of debris, deformity, leading edge damage, etc. ;

 A “home point” will be established prior to each flight with software settings configured to ensure the UA safely returns to the home point coordinates in the following scenarios:

 Loss of signal between the ground station controller and the UA;

 Prior to total depletion of the onboard battery;

 Prior to total depletion of the ground station controller battery

.

For clarification, m y company provides management consulting services to ot her businesses primarily in the construction industry . T he majority of these services relate to safety and personnel management, but do not currently involve aerial photography/videography. However, utilizing a n UAS for jobsite safety evaluations (e.g. spo tting obstacles or hazards to equipment and personnel) is something in which my clients have expressed an interest. My c ompany also owns several commercial buildings and some agricultural property . Should an exemption be granted, the UAS would be used for inspection of these buildings and property as well

.

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact me if any additional information is needed.

Sincerely,

Curtis R. Hatcher, Vice President Hatcher Consultants, Inc.