Resource Management Associates LLC .

Office: 6 Crockett Ave. Onancock, VA 23417 / Mail: PO Box 119, Locustville, VA 23417 / Phone: 757.787.2637

October 16, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations

West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Re: Petition for exemption to operate unmanned aircraft in the National Airspace System

pursuant to FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Section 333, Special Rules for Certain 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and 14 C. F. R. Part 

11, Resource Management Associates LLC (RMA) of Onancock, Virginia seeks exemption from 

federal aviation regulations to operate UASs in the National Airspace System (NAS). 

Specifically, RMA seeks exemption from the following regulations:

 14 C.F.R. Part 21 

 14 C.F.R. 45.23 (b) 

 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) and (b) 

 14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a) 

 14 C.F.R. 91.9 (b) (2) 

 14 C.F.R. 91.109 

 14 C.F.R. 91.119 

 14 C.F.R. 91.121 

 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a) 

 14 C.F.R. 91.203 (a) & (b) 

 14 C.F.R. 91.205 (b) 

 14 C.F.R. 91.215 

 14 C.F.R. (91.401 - 91.417)

Specifically, RMA seeks exemption for the operation of the following UASs:

 DJI Inspire 1 quadcopter

 senseFly eBee, eBee-Ag, & eBee-RTK 

 Precision Hawk Lancaster HawkEye Mark III
Resource Management Associates LLC .

Office: 6 Crockett Ave. Onancock, VA 23417 / Mail: PO Box 119, Locustville, VA 23417 / Phone: 757.787.2637

Specifications and user manuals for each UAS are attached. Each UAS will be registered in 

accordance with 14 CFR part 47 and will display the appropriate identification (N−Number) 

markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C. No UAS will exceed a weight of 55 lbs 

including payload.

RMA is a natural resource management and consulting firm that provides land management 

services on over 365,000 acres of farm and forests throughout the Atlantic region and beyond. 

RMA will use the aforementioned UASs for data collection, specifically, GPS locations, aerial

photography, and aerial videography. All data and video collected will be used to support 

natural resource management services associated with forestry, agriculture, wildlife, species 

habitat, invasive species control, land cover management, environmental and water resources,

geographic information technology, and education. Videography, specifically, will be used for 

project monitoring, documentation, and inspection. The services provided by RMA encourage 

conservation and proper management of natural resources thereby benefiting future generations 

and general public interest. RMA has over 30 years each of experience in the field of natural 

resources consulting, utilizing geospatial technology and remotely sensed data to provide 

solutions. It is the intent of RMA to use UASs to acquire remotely sensed data to further 

enhance the consulting services currently provided.

Safe operation of each UAS will be promoted by performing pre-flight inspections as described 

by the manufacturer of each UAS to verify flight readiness. All software and hardware will be 

kept up-to-date and verified prior to take-off. The UAS will only be flown during favorable 

environmental conditions, specifically low moisture, low wind, and high visibility, to ensure 

proper functionality and control. A flight and mission plan will be developed to ensure sufficient 

distances are kept from restricted areas, populated places, and/or unfavorable overhead tall 

structures such as power-lines. In addition, the flight plan will incorporate each UAS’s 

autopiloting system to prevent the UAS from entering no-fly zones or classes B, C, and D NAS. 

Each UAS will be flow within visual line of sight (VLOS) and be observed by a minimum of two 

people; pilot in command (PIC) and visual observer (VO). 

Individuals serving as PICs will hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, 

recreational, or sport pilot certificate. Additionally, he/she will hold a current FAA airman 

medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license. 

Again, safe operation of each UAS will be a priority. As previously mentioned all UASs will be 

operated and maintained according to the manufacturers guidelines, which will be available at all 

times during operation. Specifically, no UAS will be operated at speeds exceeding 80 knots, no 

UAS will be operated at altitudes greater than 400ft above ground level (AGU), all UASs will be 

operated within VLOS at all times and aided by a VO, and no UAS will be flown during night. 
Resource Management Associates LLC .

Office: 6 Crockett Ave. Onancock, VA 23417 / Mail: PO Box 119, Locustville, VA 23417 / Phone: 757.787.2637

Additionally, each UAS’s return-to-home safety protocol will be implemented upon loss of GPS 

signal, low battery, and/or if a post take-off risk becomes present. 

Sincerely, 

Stephen D. Mallette

Resource Management Associates LLC

President/Owner

6 Crockett Avenue, Onancock, VA 23417

Attachments:

DJI_Inspire_1.pdf

PrecisionHawk_LancasterHawkEye.pdf

senseFly_eBee.pdf

senseFly_eBee_Ag.pdf

senseFly_eBee_RTK.pdf