April 3, 2015

Exemption No. 11259 Regulatory Docket No. FAA–2014–0933

Mr. Thomas L. Mounger Director of Operations/Chief Pilot The Dow Chemical Company 3259 Harriet Quimby Avenue Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport Baton Rouge, LA 70807

Dear Mr. Mounger:

This letter is to inform you that we have gran ted your request for exemption. It transmits our decision, explains its basis, and gives you th e conditions and limitations of the exemption, including the date it ends.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated November 3, 2014, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on behalf of The Dow Chemical Company (h ereinafter petitioner or operator) for an exemption. The exemption would allow the petiti oner to operate an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to conduct aerial inspection and envi ronmental monitoring of chemical plant production, transmission a nd storage facilities.

See Appendix A for the petition submitted to the FAA describing the proposed operations and the regulations that the petitioner seeks an exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the petitioner.2

Airworthiness Certification

The UAS proposed by the petitione r is an Aeryon SkyRanger.

The petitioner requested relief from 14 CFR part 21, C ertification procedures for products and parts, Subpart H—Airworthiness Certificates . In accordance with the statutory criteria provided in Section 333 of Public Law 112

− 95 in reference to 49 U.S.C. § 44704, and in consideration of the size, weight, speed, a nd limited operating area associated with the aircraft and its operation, the S ecretary of Transportation has de termined that this aircraft meets the conditions of Section 333. Therefore, th e FAA finds that the re quested relief from 14 CFR part 21, and any associated noise certific ation and testing requirements of part 36, is
not necessary.

The Basis for Our Decision

You have requested to use a UAS for aerial da ta collection. The FAA has issued grants of exemption in circumstances similar in all materi al respects to those pr esented in your petition. In Grants of Exemption No s. 11062 to Astraeus Aerial ( see Docket No. FAA

− 2014

− 0352), 11109 to Clayco, Inc. ( see Docket No. FAA

− 2014

− 0507), 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC ( see Docket No. FAA

− 2014

− 0382), and 11213 to Aeryon Labs, Inc. ( see Docket No.

FAA

− 2014

− 0642), the FAA found that the enhanced safety achieved using an unmanned aircraft (UA) with the specifica tions described by the petition er and carrying no passengers or crew, rather than a manned aircraft of signi ficantly greater proporti ons, carrying crew in addition to flammable fuel, gi ves the FAA good cause to find th at the UAS operation enabled by this exemption is in the public interest.

Having reviewed your reasons for re questing an exemption, I find that—

 They are similar in all material respects to relief previously re quested in Grant of Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and 11213;

 The reasons stated by the FAA for granting Exemption Nos. 11062, 11109, 11112, and 11213 also apply to the situ ation you present; and

 A grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

In consideration of the foregoing, I find that a gr ant of exemption is in the public interest. Therefore, pursuant to the authority contained in 49 U.S. C. 106(f), 40113, and 44701, delegated to me by the Administrator, The Do w Chemical Company is granted an exemption from 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(a)(1), 91.405( a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1 ) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b), to the extent necessary to allow the pe titioner to operate a UAS to perform aerial data collection. This exemption is subject to the conditions and limitati ons listed below.3

Conditions and Limitations

In this grant of exemption, The Dow Chemi cal Company is hereafter referred to as the operator.

Failure to comply with any of the conditions an d limitations of this grant of exemption will be grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption.

1. Operations authorized by this grant of ex emption are limited to the Aeryon SkyRanger when weighing less than 55 pounds includi ng payload. Proposed operations of any other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this exemption.

2. Operations for the purpose of closed-set motion picture and television filming are not permitted.

3. The UA may not be operated at a speed exceeding 87 knots (100 miles per hour). The exemption holder may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed to determine compliance with the 87 knot speed restricti on. In no case will the UA be operated at airspeeds greater than the maximum UA operating airspeed recommended by the

aircraft manufacturer.

4. The UA must be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL). Altitude must be reported in feet AGL.

5. The UA must be operated within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC at all times. This requires the PIC to be able to use human vision unaided by any device other than corrective lenses, as specified on the PIC’s FAA-issued airman medical certificate or

U.S. driver’s license.

6. All operations must utilize a visual observer (VO). The UA must be operated within the visual line of sight (VLOS) of the PI C and VO at all times. The VO may be used to satisfy the VLOS requirement as long as the PIC always maintains VLOS capability. The VO and PIC must be able to communicate verbal ly at all times; electronic messaging or texting is not perm itted during flight operations. The PIC must be designated before the flight and cannot transfer his or her designation for the duration of the flight. The PIC must en sure that the VO can perform the duties required of the VO.

7. This exemption and all documents needed to operate the UAS and conduct its operations in accordance with the conditions and limitations stated in this grant of exemption, are hereinafter referred to as the operating documents. The operating documents must be accessible during UAS operations and made available to the Administrator upon request. If a discrepa ncy exists between the conditions and limitations in this exemption and the pro cedures outlined in the operating documents,4

the conditions and limitations herein ta ke precedence and must be followed. Otherwise, the operator must follow the pr ocedures as outlined in its operating documents. The operator may update or revi se its operating documents. It is the operator’s responsibility to track such revisions and pr esent updated and revised documents to the Administrator or any la w enforcement official upon request. The operator must also present updated and revise d documents if it petitions for extension or amendment to this grant of exemption. If the operator determines that any update or revision would affect the basis upon which the FAA granted this exemption, then the operator must petition for an amendment to its grant of exemption. The FAA’s UAS Integration Office (AFS-80) may be contacte d if questions arise regarding updates or revisions to the operating documents.

8. Any UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that aff ect the UAS operation or flight characteristics, e .g. replacement of a flight cr itical component, must undergo a functional test flight prio r to conducting further opera tions under this exemption. Functional test flights may only be conducted by a PIC with a VO and must remain at least 500 feet from other people. The functi onal test flight must be conducted in such a manner so as to not pose an undue hazard to persons and property.

9. The operator is responsible for maintaining and inspecting the UAS to ensure that it is in a condition for safe operation.

10. Prior to each flight, the PIC must conduct a pre-flight inspection and determine the UAS is in a condition for safe flight. Th e pre-flight inspection must account for all potential discrepancies, e .g. inoperable components, items, or equipment. If the inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the UAS, the aircraft is prohibited from operating until the necessary maintenance has been performed and the

UAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight.

11. The operator must follow the UAS manu facturer’s maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspection, and life limit requ irements for the aircraft and aircraft
components.

12. Each UAS operated under this exemption mu st comply with all manufacturer safety

bulletins.

13. Under this grant of exemption, a PIC mu st hold either an airline transport, commercial, private, recreational, or sport pi lot certificate. The PIC must also hold a

current FAA airman medical certificate or a valid U.S. driver’s license issued by a state, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, a territory, a possession, or the Federal government. The PIC must also meet the flight review requirements specified in 14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PI C is rated on his or her pilot certificate.5

14. The operator may not permit any PIC to ope rate unless the PIC demonstrates the ability to safely operate the UAS in a ma nner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption, including evasive and emergency maneuvers and maintaining appropriate distan ces from persons, vessels, vehi cles and structures. PIC qualification flight hours and currency must be logged in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 61.51(b). Flights for the purposes of training the operator’s PICs and VOs (training, proficiency, and e xperience-building) and determining the PIC’s ability to safely operate the UAS in a manner consistent with how the UAS will be operated under this exemption are permitted under the terms of this exemption. However, training operations may only be conducted dur ing dedicated training sessions. During training, proficiency, and expe rience-building flights, al l persons not essential for flight operations are considered nonpartic ipants, and the PIC must operate the UA with appropriate distance from nonparti cipants in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.119.

15. UAS operations may not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1. All operations must be conducted under visual meteorological conditi ons (VMC). Flights under special visual flight rule s (SVFR) are not authorized.

16. The UA may not operate within 5 nautical mile s of an airport reference point (ARP) as denoted in the current FAA Airport/Facil ity Directory (AFD) or for airports not denoted with an ARP, the center of the ai rport symbol as denoted on the current FAApublished aeronautical chart, unless a lett er of agreement with that airport’s management is obtained or otherwise permitted by a COA issued to the exemption holder. The letter of agreement with the ai rport management must be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request.

17. The UA may not be operated less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud or when visibility is less than 3 statute miles from the PIC.

18. If the UAS loses communications or loses it s GPS signal, the UA must return to a predetermined location within the priv ate or controlled-access property.

19. The PIC must abort the flight in the even t of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.

20. The PIC is prohibited from beginning a f light unless (considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough available power for the UA to conduct the intended operation and to operate after that fo r at least five minutes or with the reserve power recommended by the manufacturer if greater.

21. Air Traffic Organization (ATO) Certificate of Waiver or Author ization (COA). All operations shall be conducted in accorda nce with an ATO-issued COA. The exemption holder may apply for a new or amended COA if it intends to conduct operations that cannot be conducted unde r the terms of the attached COA.6

22. All aircraft operated in accord ance with this exemption must be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification (NNumber) markings in accordance with 14 CF R part 45, Subpart C. Markings must be as large as practicable.

23. Documents used by the operator to ensure th e safe operation and flight of the UAS and any documents required under 14 CFR §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the

PIC at the Ground Control Station of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. These

documents must be made available to th e Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request.

24. The UA must remain clear and give wa y to all manned aviation operations and

activities at all times.

25. The UAS may not be operated by the PIC from any moving device or vehicle.

26. All Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet from all nonparticipating persons, vessels, vehicles, and structures unless:

a. Barriers or structures are present that sufficiently pr otect nonparticipating persons from the UA and/or debris in the event of an accident. The operator must ensure that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. If a situation arises where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and are within 500 feet of the UA, flight operations must cease immediately in a manner ensuring the safety of nonparticipating persons; and

b. The owner/controller of any vessels, vehicles or struct ures has granted permission for operating closer to those objects and the PIC has made a safety assessment of the risk of operating closer to those objects and determined that it does not present an undue hazard.

The PIC, VO, operator trainees or es sential persons are not considered nonparticipating persons under this exemption.

27. All operations shall be conducted over priv ate or controlled-access property with permission from the property owner/cont roller or authorized representative. Permission from property owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be conducted.

28. Any incident, accident, or flight operation that transgresses the lateral or vertical boundaries of the operational area as defined by the applicable COA must be reported to the FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS- 80) within 24 hours. Accidents must be reported to the National Transportation Sa fety Board (NTSB) per instructions

contained on the NTSB Web site: www.ntsb.gov

.7

If this exemption permits operations for th e purpose of closed-set motion picture and television filming and production, the following additional conditions and limitations apply.

29. The operator must have a motion picture and television operations manual (MPTOM)

as documented in this grant of exemption.

30. At least 3 days before aerial filming, the operator of the UAS affected by this exemption must submit a written Plan of Activities to the local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) with jurisdiction ove r the area of proposed filming. The 3-day notification may be waived w ith the concurrence of the FSDO. The plan of activities must include at least the following:

a. Dates and times for all flights;

b. Name and phone number of the operator for the UAS aerial filming conducted under this grant of exemption;

c. Name and phone number of the person res ponsible for the on-s cene operation of the UAS;

d. Make, model, and serial or N- Number of UAS to be used;

e. Name and certificate number of UAS PI Cs involved in the aerial filming;

f. A statement that the operator has obtain ed permission from property owners

and/or local officials to conduct the filming production event; the list of those who gave permission must be made av ailable to the inspector upon request;

g. Signature of exemption holde r or representative; and

h. A description of the flight activity, includi ng maps or diagrams of any area, city, town, county, and/or state over which film ing will be conducted and the altitudes essential to accomplish the operation.

31. Flight operations may be conducted closer th an 500 feet from pa rticipating persons consenting to be involved and necessary for the filming production, as specified in the exemption holder’s MPTOM.

Unless otherwise specified in this grant of exemption, the UAS, the UAS PIC, and the UAS operations must comply with al l applicable parts of 14 CFR including, but not limited to, parts 45, 47, 61, and 91.

This exemption terminates on April 30, 2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan Director, Flight St andards Service1

N ovember 3 , 2014

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

- 140 Electronically Submitted via 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE www.regulations.gov Washington, DC 20590

Regarding: The Dow Chemical Company Petition for Section 333 Exemption

p ursuant To Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act of 2012 and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations from 14 CFR Part 21; 61.113(a) and (b);
91.103; 91.119 (c) ; 91.121; 91.151(a ) (1) ; 91.405(a); 91.407(a)(1); 91.409(a) (1) and (2); 91.417(a) and (b).

Dear Sir or Madam :

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

“Refor m Act”) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, T he Dow Chemical Company (“Dow” or “Petitioner”) hereby submits this petition for exemption to authorize civil operations of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (“ sUAS ”) for the purposes of aerial inspection and environmental monitoring of chemical plant production, transmission and storage

facilities owned and operated by Dow and/or by Dow’s wholly

- owned subsidiaries,

located in the United States.

Operations will be conducted by Dow within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333.

As described below, the requested exemption woul d permit the operation of sUAS for inspection of chemical facilities in the United States owned and operated by Dow and/or by Dow’s wholly

- owned subsidiaries. For convenience, the petition will refer to these as

“Dow’s F acilities

. ” The sUAS will provide Dow maintenance and reliability engineers with high

- resolution imagery of plant infrastructure and equipment, including flare stacks, elevated pipelines and power lines, tanks, and roofs within the secured confines of

Dow’s Facilities . Such sUAS operation will provide safety enhancements in the facility and surrounding areas and increase efficiency and reliability of facility inspections. The

use of sUAS will reduce the risk of inspections by eliminating the need for human inspection by personnel on perma nent and temporary elevated structures currently being performed by rope access, scaffolding, bucket trucks, and ladders. S UAS operation will improve efficiency and reliability of inspections by allowing for higher q ua lity2

inspections which serve the publ ic interest by providing accelerated awareness of hazardous unexpected events that could impact plant personnel and the surrounding

environments and communities.

The Reform Act gives the Secretary of Transportation the authority to determine if

certain s UAS may operate safely in the national airspace system (“NAS”) before completion of the FAA’s plan and rulemaking to integrate sUAS into the NAS. The Act

directs the Secret ary to consider which types of sUAS as a result of their size, weight, speed, opera tional capability, proximity to airports and populated areas, and operation

within vis ua l line of sight do not create a hazard to users of the national airspace or a threat to national security. If the Secretary determines that such vehicles may operate

s afely in the NAS, the Secretary “shall establish requirements for the safe operation of

such aircraft.” 1 Dow’s request for exemption falls within the Section 333 requirements.

The granting of this exemption request will provide immediate benefit to Dow by authorizing highly controlled sUAS operations within a very restricted, secured environment at Dow’s owned and operated facilities. Failure to grant this exemption will

cause unnecessary delay of an active program within Dow to develop methods and standards for sUAS operations.

Dow is not an indirect service provider or contractor, but is a direct operator with an immediate need for the requested sUAS ex emption. The scope o f this request is narrow;

it is limited to Dow’s Facilities, which are chemical manufacturing, transmission and storage facilities in the United States , owned and operated by Dow and/or by Dow’s wholly

- owned subsidiaries

. The operation and inspection of D ow’s Facilities will comply with all Federal, State, and Local regulations . This operation will not be for compensation or hire

.

Given the direction of Section 333 of the Reform Act, the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed operation s, and the significant public interest benefits including the provision of more efficient and safer facility inspections, Dow respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested exemption.

The name and address of the applicant is:

The Dow Chemical C ompany Attn: Thomas L. Mounger, Director of Operations/Chief Pilot 3259 Harriet Quimby Avenue Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport

1 Reform Act § 333(b).3 Baton Rouge, LA 70807

Fax: 225

- 345

- 1561

Phone: 225

- 354

- 1559 Email: tlmounger@dow.com



### Chemical Plant I nspection by sUAS Serves th e Public I nterest

1. SUAS inspection is safer than human inspection. Plant inspection without sUAS requires q ua lified inspectors to be in close proximity to plant infrastructure and equipment, including flare stacks, elevated pipelines and power lines, tanks, and

roofs within the secured confines of Dow’s Facilities

. Inspectors need to climb

towers or otherwise perform elevated work, which exposes them to the risk of dangerous falls. In addition, proximity to the equipment involves a risk of exposure to hazardous chemicals or oxygen

- deficient atmospheres, burns from steam or from hot equipment, and other mechanical hazards associated with industrial equipment

.

2. SUAS inspection is of higher q ua lity, more reliable , and can be reviewed by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs)

. SUAS inspections allow for the collection

, dissemination and storage of vis ua l and other sensory data with greater precision

and duration.

3. SUAS inspection is more efficient and less costly.

4. SUAS inspection is safer than traditional manned commercial aircraft. In cases

where commercial helicopters are employed for plant inspection, a significant flight equipment malfunction can result in sev ere collateral damage to the plant

and personnel . S UAS ’s are less likely to cause damage in the ev ent of contact.



### The Dow Chemical Company Corporate S ummary

1. Dow combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate

what is essential to hum an progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation a nd conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's integrated, market

- driven, industry

- leading portfolio of specialty chemical s , advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics

businesses deliver a broad range of technology

- based products and s olutions to4 customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had ann ua l sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people

worldwide. The Company's more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. More information about Dow can be found

at www.dow.com

.



### Dow Aviation Experience and Prior Efforts

1. Dow currently operates and has operation al control of its own internal Corporate Flight D epartment which it has operated for more than fifty years. Currently Dow operates two (2) CRJ 700 aircraft under 14 CFR Part 125 in the furtherance of its U.S. Operations.

2. Dow directly employees eleven ( 1 1 ) FAA Licensed Airline Transport Pilots and

five ( 5 ) FAA Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Technicians in support of this operation. The current staff ha s over 75 ,000 accident free hours of commercial

f light experience and more than 100 years of t echnicia n experience

. Within this group we have several employees who are active within the noncommercial

remote controlled arena

. The Flight Department has also been monitoring the progress of commercial sUAS operations, both in the USA and overseas. Th is

prop osed sUAS operation shall be directed by Dow’s Corporate Flight Department and shall only be used for the benefit of Dow or its wholly owned

subsidiaries at their secure facilities.

3. This request for exemption authority is a contin ua tion of Dow’s research and development efforts to employ sUAS for chemical site inspection which began in

2012 as described in the following paragraph . FAA’s grant of this request is a necessary step in order to continue the vital work that Dow has done to date

, which will assist in protecting the public, Dow employees and infrastructure

.

4. Dow has worked in close cooperation with Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) under two Certificat es of Waiver or Authorization (COA ) permitting and regulating the resea rch use of u nmanned aircraft at Dow sites.

a. Certificate 2013

- CSA

- 14 issued by the FAA to Northwestern Michigan College is effective from March 11, 2013 to March 10, 2015. This COA

covers the “Operation of the Aeryon Scout Unmanned Aircraft System ( SUAS S) in Class G airspace at or below 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) at the Dow Chemical Facility in Freeport Texas under the jurisdiction of Houston Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON).”5 b. Certificate 2012

- CSA

- 36 issued by the FAA to Northwest Michigan

C ollege was effective from September 14, 2012 to September 13, 2014.

This COA covered the “Operation of the Aeryon Scout Unmanned Aircraft System ( SUAS

S) in Class G airspace at or below 400’ Above Ground Level (AGL) in the vicinity of Midland, MI under the jurisdiction of Minneapolis Air Traffic Control Center. ”

5. Dow understands that the FAA may be revising its views on private

- public cooperation of this type, 2 and this makes the granting of this exemption request even more important to achieving the safety and efficiency objectives that were being pursued under these COAs, and expanding the resulting benefits to

additional Dow facilities in the United States. Given the highly secured and regulated nature o f Dow’s Facilities

, the limited risk posed by such operations,

and the essential role Dow played in working with NMC to develop standards and guidelines for the safe and effective use of sUAS , Dow is requesting this exemption be given full consideration by the FAA.

6. Dow o perates in a hig hly regulated e nvironment. Dow has a robust regulatory compliance culture and a keen understanding of the importance of extensive security, planning, documentation and control of operations in a chemical plant environment; and as such Dow has the unique c apability of developing and exercising the necessary procedures for safe and effective operatio ns of sUAS at
such facilities.

7. Dow’s F acilities where flights would occur have restricted access and perimeter security. This includes a perimeter fence system , manned access gates, identification badges that must be displayed at all times on site, a site security force, and other measures to ensure that only authorized personnel are allowed

within the site. Visitors are escorted at all times. With these measu res, Dow is fully able to establish safe zones for flights, and to exclude from those safe zones anyone whose presence is not necessary for purposes of the flight.

8. Dow maintains compliance with all laws and regulations that govern its operations. This in cludes security of che mical sites as directed by the D epartment of Homeland Security. Dow has already studied and developed procedures for integrating sUAS operations in a manner that complies with those laws and regulations. This 333 exemption request c ontinues Dow’s commitment of

2 June 13, 2014 Memorandum from FAA Senior Attorney Karen Patronis to James Williams, Manager, FAA SUASS Integration Office.6 compliance in working with the FAA to serve the public interest , maintain the integrity of the NAS, and will not be a threat to national security.



### SUAS Description

– Aeryon SkyRanger

From the Internet site of the vendor: “ The Aeryon SkyRanger is a small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) that sets the standard in aerial inspection. With an intuitive touch screen user interface and autonomous intelligence, SkyRanger enables you to be in control of a professional quality aerial inspection. The Aeryon SkyRanger provides reliable flight performance even in demanding

weather conditions. ”

Endurance Up to 50

- minute flight time (with payload)

Wind tolerance +40 mph Environmental temperature range

- 22

- 122°F (

- 30

- 50°C) Launch & recovery method Vertical Take

- Off and Landing (VTOL)

Dimensions Deployed: 40 in. Diameter, 9.3 in. Height Weight (without payload): 5.3 lbs Radio frequencies: 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz

Note: Aeryon Sky Ranger Manufacturers Users Guide available upon request.



### Dow Should be Authorized to Operate sUAS to Inspect i ts F acilities in

the United States

1. Dow proposes to directly operate sUAS by Dow employees and contractors only

for the benefit of Dow and its wholly

- owned subsidiaries at Dow’s F acilities

. Dow shall not provide any sUAS services for compensation or hire.



### This Exemption Request Is for Use of sUAS Subject to Extensive Operational and Safety Requirements

1. Safety

a. The sUAS PIC shall possess at least a private pilot certificate and at least a

current third

- class medical certificate.

i. The PIC shall also meet the flight review requirements specified in

14 CFR § 61.56 in an aircraft in which the PIC is rate d on their pilot certificate.7 ii. The PIC shall be trained in the operation of the specific Make and Model of the sUAS being piloted

. iii. The PIC must have accumulated and logged, in a manner

consistent with 14 C FR § 61.51 (b), a minimum of 200 flight cycles and 2 5 hours of total time as a sUA S rotorcraft pilot and at least ten hours logged as a sUA S pilot with a similar sUA S type ( multirotor). Prior documented flight experience that was obtained in compliance with applicable regulations may satisfy this requirement

. iv. The PIC must have accumulated and logged, in a manner consistent with 14 CFR § 61.51 ( b), a minimum of five hours as

sUA S pilot o perating the make and model of sUA S to be utilized for operations und er the exemption and three take

- offs and three landings in the preceding 90 days.

v. Training, proficiency, and experience

- building flights can also be conducted under this grant of exemption to accomplish the required flight cycles and fligh t time.

1. During t raining, proficiency, and experience

- building flights, all persons not essential for flight operations are

considered non

- participants, and the PIC must operate the

s UAS with appropriate distance from non

- participants in accordance with 14 CFR § 91.119.

b. The PIC and Safety Observer (SO) will be designated before each flight

i. Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS PIC

and the SO

.

c. The PIC and SO will always be within visual line of sight ( VLOS ) of each

other and in direct verbal communication at all times

.

d. Safety Briefings will be conducted before each day’s activities to include,

but not limited to:

i. Designated roles of PIC and SO

ii. Risk Management and Mitigation

iii. Prior to the sUAS flight(s), a team comprised of the PIC,

Enviro nmental, Health & Safety (EH&S), and Process Safety from

the Dow facility will vis ua lly inspect the flight path and surrounding area and equipment to identify potential concerns. A8 sUAS s afety checklist will be completed by the review team to

ensure all a reas of concern have been identified and addressed. A flight will NOT be conducted if a concern cannot be resolved.

iv. On the day of the flight a Dow safe work permit will be issued by Dow Production Operations within the facility where sUAS

activities will be conducted . Work permits will only be issued if it

is determined the sUAS operation can be conducted safe ly within the facility

.

2. S UAS Specifications and Design:

a. All sUAS flown under this exemption shall be l ess than 55 pounds including aircraft and payload

. This exemption requests permission only with respect to the specific use of the Aeryon SkyRanger

, which weighs

less than 1 0 pounds including payload.

b. The radio frequency spectrum used for operation and control of the sUA S shall comply with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or other appropriate government oversight agency requirements.

c. Maximum speed shall be no more than 50 knots.

d. The sUAS shall be equipped with Inertial Navigation Sensor(s) (IRS/IRU/Accelerome ter)

.

e. The sUAS shall be equipped with a Compass (Magnetometer/Heading Source)

.

f. The sUAS shall be equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance system.

g. The s UA S shall be designed, should it lose communications or lose its

GPS signal , to return to a pre

- determined location within the security perimeter and land or be r ecovered in accordance with Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual

.9

3. Maintenance

a. S U A S shall be maintained in accordance with the manufacture r’ s recommendations

.

b. Dow will document and maintain a record of the sUA S maintenance, preventative maintenance, alterations, status of replacement/overhaul component parts, and the to tal time in service of the sUA S.

c. Dow shall comply with all manufacturer Safety Bulletins or equivalen t pertaining to their sUAS

.

d. Dow will maintain the sUAS under a Licensed Air frame and Powerplant

technician’s direction.

e. The PIC shall perform a preflight inspection of the sUAS , controller, and ground control station prior to each flight to ensure it is operational with no discrepancies

. If the pre flight inspection has any discrepancies that may affect a safe operation , repairs or maintenance shall be performed prior to flight . The sUAS will only be operated if it is free of all discrepancies

.

f. M aintena nce or repairs that may affect the sUAS operation or flight

characteristics shall undergo a test flight in accordance with Dow’s sUAS Operations Man ua l . Th is test flight shall be recorded in the sUAS ’s

records. If the test flight is completed successful ly, the sUAS will be returned to service by the PIC.

g. Dow shall follow the manufacturer’s sUAS maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspection, and life limit requirements. When not provided by the manufacturer , aircraft maintenance/component/overhaul, repl acement, and inspection/maintenance requirements shall be

established and i ncluded in Dow’s sUAS Operations Man ua l

. At a minimum, the following shall be i ncluded :

i. Act ua tors / Servos

ii. Powerplant (s) (motors)

iii. Propellers

iv. Electronic speed controller (s)

v. B atteries

vi. Remote controllers and Ground control station10 h. All sUAS shall be identified by serial number, registered in accordance with 14 CFR part 47, and have identification (N

- Number) markings in accordance with 14 CFR part 45, Subpart C , except with respect to the size of the markings . Markings shall be as large as practicable.

4. Permissions and Permitting

a. All required permissions and permits shall be obtained from territorial, state, county or city jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, or other appropriate governmental agencies.

b. At least three days before a scheduled operational flight

, Dow shall submit

a written Plan of Activities to the local flight standards district office ( FSDO ) with jurisdiction over the area of the proposed flight

. The 3

- day notification may be waived wi th the concurrence of the FSDO.

i. The plan of activities shall include at le ast the following:

1. Dates and times for all requested flights

2. Name and phone number of Dow sUAS Flight Operations

3. Name and phone number of the PIC responsible for the on

scene operation of the s UA S

4. Make, model, and serial or N

- number of sUA S to be used

5. Name and certificate number of sUA S PICs involved in the flight

6. A statement from Dow that it will be operating on its own property where the flight will be conduct ed ; the list of those who gave permission shall be made available to the inspector upon request.

7. Signature of exemption

- holder or representative

8. A description of the flight activity, including maps or diagrams of any area over which flights will be conducted

, the relationship of that area to any nearby city, town, etc.,

and the altitudes essent ial to accomplish the operation

c. D ocuments required under 14 CFR § 91.9 and § 91.203 shall be readily

available to the PIC an y time the aircraft is in operation

. These documents

shall be made available to the Administrator or any law enforcement official upon request.

d. Dow shall obtain a n Air Traffic Organization (ATO) issued Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) prior to conducting any operations under11 this grant of exemption. (For clarity, we are not referring to the type of COA that the FAA has previously issued

– as noted above

– to allow research flights at two Dow locations. Rather, we are referring to a type of authorization that is required when operating within a specified distance of an airport. Dow shall also request a Notice to Airman (NOTAM) not more

than 72 hours in ad vance, but not less than 48 hours prior to the operation.

e. Dow s hall obtain the consent of all persons involved in the operation and ensure that only consenting persons be allowed within 2 00 feet of the

“Safe Zone”.

5. Operations

a. The sUAS shall not operate in Class B, C, or D airspace without written approval from the FAA. The s UAS shall not operate within 5 nautical miles of the geographic center of a non

- towered airport as denoted on a

current FAA

- published aeronautical chart unless a le tter of agreement with that airport’s management is obtained, and the operation is conducted in accordance with a NOTAM as required by the operator’s COA. This letter of agreement with the airport management shall be made available to the Administrator upo n request.

b. The sUAS will only operate within the lateral boundaries of Dow’s owned and operated property. Confined “Safe Zones” within those boundaries will be established for each flight. These zones will be free of unnecessary

hazards or risks and non

- parti cipating personnel.

i. The sUAS shall only operate within a pre

- defined “Safe Zone” that shall be thoroughly inspected by the PIC for buildings, overhangs, obstacles, wires, poles, people, vehicles, sun angle, shadows, glare, reflective surfaces, clouds, smoke, and terrain among other potential hazards.

ii. The PIC and SO shall have current Dow specific safety training for

the area in which sUAS operations will take place.

c. Flights shall be conducted under d ay vis ua l meteorological conditions (VMC).

i. In addition, t he sUAS shall not be operated less than 500 feet below or less than 2,000 feet horizontally from a cloud or when visibility is

less than 3 statute miles from the PIC.12 ii. sUAS operations shall not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 CFR § 1.1.

iii. Flights shall not b e conducted under special vis ua l flight rules (SVFR).

d. Flights shall be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet above ground level (AGL), as indicated by the procedures specified in Dow’s

sUAS Operations Man ua l

.

e. The PIC shall be prohibited from operating the sUAS fro m any moving

device or vehicle.

f. The sUAS shall be operated within vis ua l line of sight (VLOS) of the PIC.

i. T he PIC shall maintain VLOS without the aid of telescop es,

cameras or other devices.

ii. The PIC will maintain VLOS with their own vision, which

includes the use of eyeglasses or corrective lenses as specified on

the PIC’s medical certificate

.

g. The sUAS shall remain clear and yield the right of way to manned operations and activities at all times (including, but not limited to, ultralight vehicles, parachute activities, parasailing activities, hang gliders, etc.).

h. Dow will require the PIC and Safety Observer (SO) to have successfully completed a q ua lification process, as outlined in the Dow sUAS Operator’s Man ua l.

i. The PIC’s primary responsibility while in flight is the safe operation of the

sUAS

.13

6. Flight Time

a. Each sUAS operation shall be completed within 30 minutes flight time or with 25% battery power remaining, whichever occurs first.

Sincerely,

Thomas L. Mounger Director of Operations/Chief Pilot The Dow Chemical Company

References available upon request: Aeryon SkyRanger Manufacturers User Guide

Included:

Exhibit A

– Regulation for which exemption s are requested

Exhibit B

– Dow Chemical Operations Manual (UAS) /Inspection Program14 

## Exhibit A

Regulations for Which Exemptions are R equested

1. Unless otherwise requesting an exemption , Dow, the PIC, the SO, and the sUAS shall comply with all applicable parts of 14 CFR including, but not limited to, parts 45, 47, 61, and 91.

2. Dow is requesting exemptions from the following Federal Aviation Regulations to

the exten t nec essary to enable the requested sUAS operations for the reasons

detailed belo w.



### Relief sought by Dow (14 CFR) Dow Reasoning

Part 21 Stated Below
61.113(a) and (b) Stated Below

91.103 Stated Below

91.119 (c) Stated Below

91.121 Stated Below
91.151(a ) (1) Stated Below
91.405(a) Stated Below
91.407(a)(1) Stated Below
91.409(a) (1) and (2) Stated Below
91.417(a) and (b) Stated Below



### 14 CFR Part 21

– Requirements to Secure Airworthiness Certificates

1. Certificate exemptions should be given beca use size, weight, and operation areas

of the s UAS meet the level of safety necessary for exemption under Section 333

of the Reform Act.

2. FAA has the authority to exempt aircraft from airworthiness certificate requirements under the Act (49 U.S.C. § 44701 (f )) and Section 333 of the

Reform Act.



### 14 CFR § 61.113 (a) and (b)

– Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations; Pilot

in C ommand15

1. Due to the fact that there are no standards for private or commercial sUAS operations, Dow requests to utilize at least private pilots with third class medicals in support of its own operations on its own property.

2. Knowledge of flight characteristics and the Federal Aviation Regulations ( FARs )

, along with the ability to physically manipulate the controls of the sUAS are th e critical aspects of the requested operation . Dow feels this can be accomplished with a private pilot that has specific training on the sUAS operated in accordance

with the Dow sUAS Operations Manual, and has satisfactorily completed the required trainin g

.

3. The risks associated with the operation of the sUAS are so diminished from the level of risk associated with commercial operations contemplated by Part 61 when drafted, that allowing operations of the sUAS as requested with a private pilot as

the PIC e xceeds the present level of safety achieved by 14 C.F.R. §61.113 (a) & (b).

4. Equivalent or better safety levels can be achieved as there will be no human beings on board the sUAS and the sUAS will be operated to mitigate risks on the air and on the ground.

5. FAA has authority to waive pilot requirements for commercial operations under 49 U.S.C §44701(f)

.



### 14 CFR § 91.103

– Preflight Action

1. The PIC shall perform a preflight inspection in accordance with the manufacturers

recommendations and the Dow sUAS Operations Manual of the sUAS, the controller, and ground control station prior to each flight to ensure it is free of all discrepancies.

2. Equivalent safety levels will be met through preparation and compliance according to Dow’s sUAS O peration s M an ua l ; including but not limited to, weather reports and forecasts, battery requirements, alternatives available if the planned flight cannot be completed, and other reliable information appropriate to the aircraft, relating to aircraft performance under expect ed values of airport elevation and runway slope, aircraft gross weight, and wind and temperature.16



### 14 CFR 91.119 (c)

– Requirements for Minimum Safe Altitudes for Civil Aircraft Operation

1. T he s UAS will be operated only within Dow owned and operated faciliti es below

400 feet AGL

.

2. Dow shall obtain the consent of all persons involved in the operation and ensure that only consenting persons be allowed within 200 feet of the “Safe Zone.”

3. The sUAS will only operate within the lateral boundaries of Dow’s owned and operated property. Confined “Safe Zones” within those boundaries will be established for each flight. These zones will be free of unnecessary hazards or

risks and non

- participating person nel.

4. Given the size, weight, speed, material, and operation of the sUAS , equivalent levels of safety will be achieved

.



### 14 CFR 91.121

– Altimeter Settings

1. S UAS may not have a barometric altimeter, and may use a GPS altitude read out

indication instead

, s o an exemption may be needed.

2. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the operator as the sUAS uses AGL height from its initialization (launch) point, cross

- referenced with Mean Sea Level ( MSL ) altitude of the launch point.



### CFR 91.151 (a ) (1)

– Fuel Requirements for Flights in VFR Conditions

1. As the sUAS is capable of approximately 5 0 minutes of flight time

, an exemption will be necessary.

2. As the sUAS is flown within Dow owned and operated facilities below 400 feet AGL

under controlled conditions as defined by the Dow sUAS Operations Manual, we feel an equivalent level of safety can be obtained by terminating the flight prior to 30 minutes or 25% battery power, whichever occurs first.

3. Dow feels an adequate reserve is provided at 25% bat te ry power which will allow for approximately 12 minutes of flight which is more than sufficient to land the aircraft safely within the “Safe Zone.”17

4. The Aeryon SkyRanger has a second level of safety that is achieved through the use of an aircraft battery monitoring system. The aircraft system will alert the operator of low battery voltage and return the aircraft to its take off location before battery capacity is depleted.

5. Dow will not operate sUAS at night.

6. Similar exemptions have been granted to othe r operations, including Exemptions 2689F, 5745, 10673, and 10808. Given the small size and operational purposes of the sUAS, it does not bear the same risks associated with this section’s requirements

.

7. FAA has previously issued exemptions for fuel require ments in VFR conditions; exemption numbers 10808, 2689F, 5745, & 10673

.



### 14 CFR 91.4 05 (a) Maintenance R equired

1. This section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate

, therefore these sections will not apply.

2. Maintenance will be accomplished by Dow pursuant to the manufacturer’s recommendations and Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual.

3. Maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration will be successfully accomplished by trained personnel under a License d Airframe and Powerplant technician’s direction

.

4. The sUAS shall be discrepancy free prior to initiating flight. This is more stringent than the standards for manned aircraft. FAA’s regulations for manned

aircraft allow possible flight despite certain m inor discrepancies that do not impair safety.

5. If a mechanical issue arise s the sUAS can land safely within the “Safe Zone. ”

6. Dow shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

7. The Dow sUAS Operations Manual detail s how to log scheduled and unscheduled maintenance or test flights that are performed

.18

8. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these sUAS are limited in

size and will and sh all fly only above Dow owned and operated facilities below

400 feet AGL.



### 14 CFR 407 (a) (1)

– Operation After Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, or A lteration

1. This section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, therefore these sections will not apply. In the absence of regulatory provisions dealing with sUAS operation after maintenance, preventive maintenance rebuilding or alteration, Dow has developed requirements to address this topic. Those requ irements are stated in Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual.

2. Maintenance will be accomplished by Dow pursuant to the manufacturer’s recommendations and Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual

.

3. Maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration will be successfully accomplished by trained personnel under a Licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician’s direction

.

4. The sUAS shall be discrepancy free prior to initiating flight.

5. If a mechanical issue arises the sUAS can land safely within the “Safe Zone.”

6. Dow shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

7. The Dow sUAS Operations Manual details how to log scheduled and unscheduled

maintenance or test flights that are performed.

8. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these sUAS are limited in size and will and shall fly only above Dow owned and operated facilities below

400 feet AGL.



### 14 CFR 409 (a) (1) and (2)

- Inspections

.

1. This sect ion and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, therefore these sections will not apply. In the absence of regulatory provisions19 dealing with sUAS inspections, Dow has developed requirements to address this topic. Those requireme nts are stated in Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual.

2. Maintenance will be accomplished by Dow pursuant to the manufacturer’s recommendations and Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual.

3. Maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration will be successfully accomplished by trained personnel under a Licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician’s direction

.

4. The sUAS shall be discrepancy free prior to initiating flight.

5. If a mechanical issue arises the sUAS can land safely within the “Safe Zone.”

6. Dow shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

7. The Dow sUAS Operations Manual details how to log scheduled and unscheduled maintenance or test flights that are performed.

8. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these sUAS are limited in size and will and shall fly only above Dow owned and operated facilities below

400 feet AGL.



### 14 CFR 417(a) and (b)

– Maintenance R ecords

.

1. This section and Pa rt 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, therefore these sections will not apply. In the absence of regulatory provisions dealing with sUAS maintenance records, Dow has developed requirements to address this topic. Those requirement s are stated in Dow’s sUAS Operations

Manual.

2. Maintenance will be accomplished by Dow pursuant to the manufacturer’s recommendations and Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual.

3. Maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration will be successfully ac complished by trained personnel under a Licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician’s direction

.

4. The sUAS shall be discrepancy free prior to initiating flight.20

5. If a mechanical issue arises the sUAS can land safely within the “Safe Zone.”

6. Dow shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

7. The Dow sUAS Operations Manual details how to log scheduled and unscheduled maintenance or test flights that are performed.

8. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these sUAS are limited in size and will and shall fly only above Dow owned and operated facilities below

400 feet AGL.



### §91.417 Maintenance R ecords

.

1. This section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, therefore these sections will not apply. In the absence of regulatory provisions dealing with sUAS maintenance records, Dow has developed requirements to address this topic. Those requirements are stated in Dow’s sUAS Operations

Manual.

2. Maintenance will be accomplished by Dow pursuant to the manufacturer’s recommendations and Dow’s sUAS Operations Manual.

3. Maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding, and alteration will be successfully accomplished by trained personnel under a Licensed Airframe and Powerplant technician’s direction

.

4. The sUAS shall be discrepancy free prior to initiating flight.

5. If a mechanical issue arises the sUAS can land safely within the “Safe Zone .”

6. Dow shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

7. The Dow sUAS Operations Manual details how to log scheduled and unscheduled maintenance or test flights that are performed.

8. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these sUAS are limited in size and will and shall fly only above Dow owned and operated facilities below

400 feet AGL.21

Other Regulatory Provisions

.

Dow has noticed that other petitions have requested exemption from a wide variety of additional regulations, as to which the FAA has concluded that the request was not

needed. In light of this, Dow has refrained from requesting exemption from provisions that we believe the Agency will say simply do not apply. Examples include:

 Requirements for lights. (Dow’s sUAS flights will occur only in daylight.)

 Requirements for safety belts, shoulder harnesses and child restraint systems.

 Requirements relating to emergency exits.

 Requirements relating to safety instructions for passengers.

 Requirements for dual controls.

 Requirements to place markings in several locations on the aircraft.

 Requirement s for the flight manual to be on board the aircraft.

 Requirements for the aircraft to physically “carry” and “display” documents showing certification and registration.

I f Dow has judged incorrectly and the FAA believes that exemption from additional

regu lations is necessary for Dow’s proposed sUAS operations, Dow would be happy to modify this application in response to feedback from the Agency.

Additionally, there are a number of regulatory provisions that will not apply to Dow’s proposed sUAS operations , but Dow is not requesting exemption. This is because, if the regulations ever did apply (which Dow believes will never happen), Dow would comply with these provisions. Examples include:

 Requirements relating to flights over the Atlantic Ocean.

 Requirements relating to flights over Cuba.

 Requirements relating to flights in restricted airspace, such as that associated with military facilities.

If the FAA feels that Dow should mention such regulations more specifically in this application, we woul d be happy to do so.