November 11 , 2015

U. S. Department of Transportation Docket Management System 1200 New Jersey Avenue Washington, DC 20590 **RE: Exemption Request Under Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations**  Dear Sir or Madam: Pursuant to the Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 ) Dakota McAfee (the "applicant"), operator of an Unmanned Aircraft System ("UAS") requests and exemption from the Federal Aviation Regulations to allow for commercial operation fo r aerial photography and cinematography of real estate properties and events (weddings, sports, portrait sessions, and parties). **Applicant:** Dakota McAfee 1291 Coventry ct. Maryvile, TN 37803 **Aircraft Type** & **Specifications:** Make: DJ I Model: Phantom 3 Advan ced Weight: 2.82 Ibs. Diagonal Size: 23.22 in. **Regulations from which the exemption is requested:** 14 CFR Part 21 subpart H 14 CFR 45.23 (b) 14 CFR 91.7 (a) 14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)
14CFR91.103
14 CFR 91.10914 CFR 91.119 ©

14 CFR 91.121 14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b) 14 C F R 91.405 ( a) 14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 14 CFR 91.409 (a) (2) 14 CFR 91.417 (a) and (b) **Extent of relief, and reason why: 14 CFR Part 21 subpart H**  The UAS to be operated carries neither pilot nor passenger and carries no explosive materials or flamm able liquids. I request exemption because of the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized. In the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed operation will be at least as safe, or safer, than a conventional aircraft operating with an airworthiness certificate without said restrictions. **14 CFR 45.23 (b)** Due to the size of the UAS, it does not have a cockpit, cabin, or pilot station on which to market certain words or phrases. Lettering would be very difficult to place on such a small aircraft and dimensions would need to be smaller than required minimum. Understanding the importance of lettering, I will mark my UAS with the largest possible ietters by placing the word "Experimental" or assigned number or name, based on request/ruling of FAA, on UAS fuselage. The equivalent level of safety will be provided by having the UAS marked on its fuselage as required. **14 CFR 91.7 (a)** As there will be no airworthiness certificate for the aircraft, should th is exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft for maintenance and use of safety check list prior to each flight, an equivalent level of safety will be provided.**14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)** 

Given the size and configuration, the UAS has no ability to carry a flight manual on the aircraft. There is no room, capacity, or pilot on board to adequately carry flight manual. An equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping the flight m anual at ground control point where the pilot will have immediate access
to it.
**14 CFR 91.103** As FAA approved flight manuals will not be provided for the aircraft, an exemption will be needed. Normal procedures including but not limited to: reviewing weath er, flight battery requirement, landing and takeoff distances, along with all of those found in attachment "Safety Guidelines." An equivalent level of safety will be provided by preflight protocol to properly match the machine.
**14 CFR 91.109** UAS and remote ly piloted aircr aft do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is achieved through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio communications. The equivalent l evel of safety provided because neither a pil ot nor pa ssenger will be carried in the aircraft, and by the speed and size of the aircraft. **14 CFR 91.113 (a) and (b)** I can achieve an equivalent level of safety as achieved by current regulations because my UAS does not carry pilot nor passenger. While helpful, a pilot's license will not ensure remote control piloting skills.
**14 CFR 91.121** The UAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead does have a GPS altitude read out. I believe an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety is achieved by the operator receiving live flight data monitoring and confirming current altitude along with altitude of launch site shown on GPS altitude indicator.**14 CFR 91.203 (a) and (b)**

Similar to, 14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2), given the size and configurati on, the UAS has no ability to carry certificate and registration documents on the aircraft. There is no room, capacity, or pilot on board to adequately such documents. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents, to the extent they are applicabl e to the UAS, at the ground control point where pilot has immediate access to them. **14 C FR 91.405 (a), 14 C FR 91.407 (a) (1), 14 C FR 91.409 (a) (2), 14 C FR 91.417 (a) and (b)**  Given these section only apply to aircraft with an airwort hiness certificate, theses sections do not apply to this applicant. As a safety precaution, operator will perform preflight inspections and ensure UAS is in working condition before initiating each flight. Dakota McAfee is seeking relief from all FARs abov e preventing applicant from conducting aerial photography and video of real estate properties and events, taken at levels less than 200ft, at a speed less than 50 mph, and with a maximum flight time of 25 minutes. The drone to be used is a DJI Phantom 3 Ad vanced. At 2.82 pounds, the weight of the UAS meets the definition of "small unmanned aircraft" found in section 331 "The Reform Act". In order to obtain high quality photography and video the UAS will be used at speeds much less than it's top speed of 50 mph for better picture quality. Due to the UAS being battery powered there are no combustible fuels onboard. Maximum flight time for this particular UAS is 25 minutes battery life, flights to be terminated with 25% battery life remaining. Given the size, w eight, speed, and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized i find this exception to be reasonable with an equivalent, or greater, level of safety to be reached by the operator. **Safety** *Please see attachment "Safety Guidelines" for safety precautions I use for every flight.**Additionally:**

1) I do not operate within 5 miles of an airport unless prior contact to Air Traffic Control or the airport manager has been made. 2) 1 land my UAS prior to manufacturer recommended minimum level of battery power 3) I pilot my UAS through remote control by line of sight 4) My UAS uses GPS and a flight safety feature whereby it returns to a

preprogrammed position and then slowly l ands if communication with the remote control pilot is lost 5) 1 activel y analyze flight data and other sources of information to constantly update and enhance safety protocols. 6) I conduct extensive pre

-flight inspections and protocol, during which safety carries primary importance. 7) 1 always obtain all necessary permissio ns prior to operation; and, 8) I have procedures in place to abort flights in the event of safety breaches or potential danger. 9) All flights will occur over private or controlled access areas with the property owner's prior consent and knowledge. Filming will be only of people who have given their consent or otherwise have agreed to be in the area where filming will take place.

**Public Interest** The use of an UAS in real estate and marketing provide businesses with a much lower cost solution to highlight aspects of their businesses and communities. Aerial photography and videography can enable homes to sell quicker and thus help the economy. The use of an UAS in photographing events, such as portrait sessions, sports, weddings, and parties (from a safe distance away from people and never above them), provides a higher level of service for clients while being conservative withfuel, time, emissions, noise, and other resources a nd safer than other

means to capture a photo or video from a higher perspective. Considering size, weight, speed, and absence o f combustible fuels, my UAS will pose much less of a safety concern for the general public when compared to larger manned aircraft.

Thank you for your consideration.

Dakota McAfee