March 27, 2015

Drone Services Hawaii LLC

Mike Elliott/George K. Purdy IV

Owners

98-1827A Kaahumanu St.

Aiea, Hi 96701

Phone (808) 225-2968 (Mike)

Phone (808) 559-0175 (George)

Fax (808) 445-1954

Re: Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FMRA and Part 11 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations, Seeking Exemption from:

14 C.F.R. Part 21 Subpart H

14 C.F.R. § 21.191(a)

14 C.F.R. § 45.23(b)

14 C.F.R. § 45.27

14 C.F.R. §§ 61.113(a) and (b)

14 C.F.R. § 91.l 19(c)

14 C.F.R. § 91.121

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a)

14 C.F.R. § 91.405(a)

14 C.F.R. § 91.407(a) (l)

14 C.F.R. §§ 91.409(a) (l) and (2)

14 C.F.R. §§ 91.417(a) and (b).

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA) and 14

C.F.R. Part 11, Drone Services Hawaii hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal 

Aviation Regulations (" FARs") and any other necessary to allow operation of its small 

Unmanned Aircraft Systems ("UAS") for commercial photography and video Education, 

Training and Demonstration for Hawaii’s Emergency First Responders to intergrade UAS into 

certain Departments of Government. Second is to educate Hawaii’s Public and students 

participating in Science Technology Engineering and Math (“STEM”) programs in the State of 

Hawaii. Drone Service Hawaii is owned and operated by two military Veterans deeply rooted in 

its communities. Early awareness and education on UAS Safety will have a major impact on the 

overall future of our youth and the ability to operate these UAS in a professional manner. 

Therefore by opening the door for future opportunities, employment, and business development.
Respectful and responsible UAS flying is of the highest priority and the corner stone of our 

company. UAS operations are conducted under the conditions outlined herein.

Drone Service Hawaii requests such authorization to conduct controlled training scenarios with 

local government departments. (ex: police, fire, department of land and natural resources, and 

local federal agencies such as National Oceanic Administration)

The Training Mission’s to include: Search and rescue, natural disaster, hazmat incidents, fire 

events, and public education. We are a mobile company designed to travel to all 8 Hawaiian 

Islands to educate government and communities on UAS. Drone Services Hawaii is sensitive to 

the unique situation of Hawaii and its native people. We are culturally sensitive to Hawaii’s 

needs and will personally protect Hawaii’s best interest because Hawaii is our home. Drone 

Services Hawaii’s training operations will help define the role of UAS technology intergraded 

with emergency services and the local population as they become more educated and define 

appropriate uses in the community. The opportunity for future employment in the field of UAS 

is promising and will provide Hawaii’s retuning Veterans, graduates with degrees in the field of 

STEM and the physically challenged a career in UAS. 

Co-Owner and Repair Shop Manager, Mr. George Purdy who resides on the Island of Lanai, and 

is currently an Airport Fire Equipment Operator at Lanai Airport, for the past 17yrs. George’s 

knowledge for the past 30 years of operating and building RC Models, from Cars to Quad 

copters and his trial and error with practical application makes him uniquely qualified. George’s 

first-hand knowledge of his community and its assets and limitations helped to create and 

develop the Lanai Airport Emergency Plan with the assistance of the Maui Airport District 

Office. This plan includes and is not limited to working with its community for an aircraft 

disaster and among other community emergencies that may arise. He knows the importance of 

FAA’s mission on air safety. His personal mission is to help the state of Hawaii should they

choose to use UAS and to become educated about how to implement a program and to intergrade 

FAA’s mission on being safe. He also has good working relationships with current Hawaii FAA 

Staff and the state of Hawaii’s Department of Transportation. This will assist in executing a 

well-organized education program based off of FAA and Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (“ARFF”)

training. George Purdy is a father of two and is very involved with his local school’s STEM 

programs, He was contacted by the school counselor because of his knowledge and practical 

application to give a couple of classes. The goal of these classes was to educate students and to 

introduction them to drone technology and air space safety in 2014. George is a strong believer 

in what the FAA is doing and understands the “Big Picture”. First responder education, 

community and personal safety along with training is his background. George strives daily to 

personally accomplish these goals and pass it on to the youth of his community.

Training syllabus for emergency service:

1. UAS Safety Over View Guidelines, FAA regulations and ARFF’s application on air safety.

2. Communications. What is available?

3. Privacy issues?

4. Permission to operate on property?

5. UAS Aircraft Familiarization.

6. Table top exercise. (Mutual-Aid Resources working together.)

7. UAS integration into actual real life scenario exercise.

8. Debrief: Does it work? What doesn’t work? What have we learned?
Public Education:

Attend Public events and distribute educational information from FAA News, UAS industry

news, keeping people informed and a simple flight demonstration if open space is available. 

Drone Services Hawaii’s goal is to be available to the community, to have that face to face 

interaction and educate our community. Provide information if questions arise. Also to be armed 

with information and supply resources to educate our communities.

STEM Programs Hawaii’s DOE:

Support our local students by explaining FAA regulation on air safety and why it is important to 

be respectful and responsible operators. Providing information to be sent home, therefore the 

influential adults in the student’s life know what the student has learned and what the 

responsibilities are if the household decides to purchase a UAS. A big goal of Drone Services 

Hawaii is to provide opportunities to our local youth and introduce them to the future of UAS 

technology in a professional, responsible, and educational environment.

We are writing to request that Drone Services Hawaii (“DSH”), an owner and operator of small 

unmanned aircraft, be exempted from the Federal Aviation Regulations ("FARs") listed below so 

that DSH, may operate its small unmanned aircraft systems ("UAS") for the purpose of 

education and safety in airspace regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration ("FAA"); as 

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. Drone Services Hawaii has been actively 

involved in the Education development of UAS/ UAV in Hawaii.

Aircraft

Drone Services Hawaii will operate the DJI Inspire 1, Model T600, with a total weight of 2935g 

or 6.47lbs. The dimensions are 438mm x 451mm x 301mm or 17.24inch x 17.75inch x 11.85 

inches. Under still air the Maximum speed is no more than 22m/s or 49mph with a cruising speed 

of 11m/s or 25mph. The DJI Inspire 1 has the ability to hover and move along a vertical and 

horizontal plane simultaneously. The DJI Inspire 1 has four motors, Motor Model DJI 3510, 

powered by a 6-cell 4500mAh or 5700mAh Lithium Polymer battery. There are four propellers, 

Propeller Model DJI 1345, in use. The DJI Inspire 1 will be controlled with the C1 remote 

controller with an operating frequency of 2.400GHz – 2.483GHz. The live video feed will have 

an operating frequency of 5.728GHz – 5.850GHz. DJI Inspire 1 has a program to limit height it 

will be set to 200ft AGL.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY.

The UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.

The UAS will have a maximum operating speed of no more than 50mph.

Flights will be operated within line of sight of the Pilot in Command (PIC) and/or Visual 

Observer (VO).

Maximum flight time for each operational flight will be 30 minutes. Flights will be terminated at

25% battery power reserve or 30 minutes of flight time whichever occurs first.

Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) and 

remain in the line of sight.

Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the UAS Pilot, the Visual Observer (VO) and 

may include but not limited to a Camera Operator.

The UAS pilot will be a designated Pilot in Command (PIC).

A briefing will be performed regarding the planned UAS operations prior to each day’s flight.
The flights will occur no closer than a 5 mile radius of the geographic center/Airport Reference 

Point (ARP) of a tower controlled or uncontrolled airport.

If operations will be within a 5 mile radius of the geographic center/Airport Reference Point 

(ARP) of a tower controlled or uncontrolled airport the respective airports will be contacted 

advising them of the estimated flight time, flight duration, elevation of flight and other pertinent 

information.

The PIC and VO will have been trained in operation of UAS and receive up-to-date information 

for the particular UAS to be operated.

The PIC and VO will be able to communicate by voice, radio, and/or text at all times.

If the UAS loses communications with the remote controller or loses GPS signal, the UAS will 

have the capability to return to a pre-determined location within a designated location and land

autonomously.

The UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles, weather, or 

emergencies.

UAS has in its program to limit height and distance from PIC.

See user manual for more information.