US	Department	of	Transportation	UAS	FAA	Exemption	Request

Mark	Jacobs	

4209	W	172nd Street	Torrance,	California	90504

310.283.1748	mark.13@mac.com

The	following	request	and	subject	matter	is	regarding	a	DJI	Inspire	1 Pro Quad-Copter,	a	professional	

aerial	cinematography	platform	owned	by	Mark	Jacobs.	UAS	system	specifications,	camera	platform	

information,	pre	flight/flight/post	flight	procedures	and photos provided	within	this	document.	

The	following	is	a	request	for	exemption	of	airworthiness	certification	form	FAA.	Due	to	the	size,	

manufacturing	process	and	assembly	by	DJI	(Da-Jiang	Innovations	Science	and	Technology	Co.,	Ltd.)	

and	the	lack	of	flammables	or	person	on	board	along	with	built	in	safety	features	such	as	auto	land	to	

point	of	takeoff	in	the	event	that	communication	is	lost	and	the	ability	to	stay	in	flight	in	the	event	a	

single	motor	is	lost.	Not	to	mention	that	the	use	of	this	system	will	be	in	a	closed	commercial,	TV,	

Motion,	Picture	or	private	property	environment	with	a	line	of	sight,	under 400	feet.	

These	exemption	requests	are	similar	to	Grant	of	Exemption	No.	11062	and	are	hopeful	you	will	take	

that	into	consideration	please.	

Request	for	exemption	from,	14	CFR	§§	61.113(a)	and	(b);	91.119(c);	91.121;	91.151(a);	91.405(a);	

91.407(a)(l);	91.409(a)(1)	and	(2);	and	91.417(a)	and	(b)	to	the	extent	necessary	to	allow	Mark	

Jacobs	to	pilot	and operate	UAS	for	the	purpose	of	scripted,	closed-set	filming	for	the	motion	picture	

and	television	industry.	Extend	these	exemptions	to	flight	over	personal	property	for	mapping	

purposes	of	said	property;	home	at	the	request	of	the	property owner	within	all	lines	of	sight	with	an	

altitude	of	no	more	than	500	feet	(AGL).

Allowing	these	exemptions will	increase	the	safety	to	the	public	and	individuals	working	on	set	along	

with	material	equipment	in	its	proximity	due	to	the	nature	of	the	UAS	and	how	it	operates.	No	fuel	or	

flammable	liquids	or	solids	will	be	flown	overhead	or	be	stored	on	the	ground,	as	UAS	is	only	

powered	by	direct	current	battery	systems.

If	allowed	through	the	awarding	of	this	exemption,	it	will	allow	me	to	provide	a	public	service	

specific	to	property	mapping,	management	and	safety.	
I	have	over 30+	years	as	a	Journalist	and	currently	am	a Director	and	Director	of	Photography	based	

in	Los	Angeles,	CA.	My	contacts	with	local	public	safety	agencies	(fire,	police	and	coast	guard)	offers	

me	a	way	to	provide	a	public	service	in	the	search	of	persons	and/or	watercraft	along	the	coast	of	

Southern	California	as	well	as	any	needs	in	search	of missing	persons	or	overviews	of working	

incidents	in	need	of or	providing safer	ways	of	gaining	information	via	my UAS.	

I	have	been	in	the	public	service	arena	as	a	journalist	and	have	been	awarded	much	recognition from	

my	peers	and	public	service	agencies	for	my	involvement	in	providing	emergency	care	and/or	

guidance	during	incidents whilst	covering	said	events	as	a	journalist	in	a	public	information	role.

I	have	been	flying	UAS’s	for	over	3	years.		Additionally,	I	have	flown	with	the	United	State	ATF,	

Border	Patrol,	Las	Vegas	Metropolitan	Police	Department	as	well	as	over	10,000	hours	of	flight	time	

operating	numerous	camera	platform	systems,	(Cineflex,	FLIR,	Picture-vision,	Tyler	and	hand	held	

harness	shooting).		

Sincerely,	

Mark	Jacobs
UAS	Description	and	Specifications

This	petition	is	specific	to	the	Remote	Controlled	DJI	“Inspire	1	Pro”	Camera	Platform	with	Zenmuse	

X5	Camera	Attached.	

Four	Direct	Currant	DJI3510	Brushless	Motors	with	DJI1345	Propellers	attached	power	the	DJI	

Inspire	1	Pro.	

The	DJI	Inspire	1	UAS	is	supplied	with	retractable	landing	gear	and	on	board	lights	for	constant	

visual	observation.	

Altitude,	Flight	Speed,	Distance	are	all	monitored	through	on	board	Flight	Telemetry	to	Remote	UAS	

Control	Surface.

Additionally,	there	are	live	map	and	radar	capabilities	to	know	precisely	where	the	UAS	is	located.

Safe	Automatic	Takeoff	and	Landing	is	provided.

Power	is	supplied	to	the	motors	via	a	single	22.2	V,	4500	mAh,	99.9	Wh,	570g	TB47	Intelligent	Flight	

Battery	with	a	maximum	charging	power	of	180w.		

Battery	not	only	supplies	necessary	power	for	a	flight	time	(loaded	with	X5	camera)	of	

Approximately	18	minutes	but	also	provides	power	for	camera	and	flight	information,	camera	

controllability,	monitoring	and	management systems.	

Flying	weight	of	the	Inspire	1	Pro	is	2935g	or	Approximately	6.5	pounds.

Flight	is	assisted	by	on	board	GPS,	which	keeps	the	hovering	accuracy	to	a	Vertical	limit	of	0.5m	and	a	

Horizontal	limit	of	2.5m.

The	Maximum	Angular	Velocity	is	Pitch:	300degrees/s	and	Yaw:	150degrees/s.

Maximum	Ascent	speed	is	5	m/s.

Maximum	Descent	Speed	is	4	m/s.

Maximum	Speed	is	22	m/s	in	ATTI	mode	without	any	wind.

Maximum	Wind	Speed	Resistance	is	10	m/s

Maximum	Flight	Altitude	is	4500m

Remote	UAS	Control	Surface

C1	Remote	Controller

Frequency	Ranges	are	5.725-5.825GHz	2.400-2.483	GHz	

Transmitting	Distance	Outdoor	and	Unobstructed	is	2	km

EIRP	is	10dBm@900m,	13dBm@5.8G,	20dBm@2.4G

This	is	a	Dual	User	Capable	System	(flight	and	camera	control)

Powered	by	a	6000mAh	LiPo	2S	Battery

Gimbal	Specifications

Zenmuse	X5	

Weight	including	Standard	Lens,	Balancing	Ring,	Lens	Hood,	Micro	SD	Card	is	526g.

Static	Output	Power	is	8w.

Peak	Output	Power	is	13w.

Angular	Vibration	Range	is	+0.02degrees

Controllable	Range	is	a	Pitch:	of	-90degrees	to	+30degrees	a	Pan:	of	+320degrees

Maximum	Controllable	Speed	is	a	Pitch:	of	120degrees/s	a	Pan:	of	180degrees/s

Safety,	Pre	Flight,	Flight	and	Post	Flight	Policies

First	and	foremost	all	public	areas,	life	and	limb	are	of	the	first	importance	of	any	flight.

All	flights	will	be	no	closer	than	3	miles	distance	of	any	airport.

Flight	altitude	will	be	not	exceed	more	than	an	elevation	from	surface	of	200	feet.

Flights	will	not	take	place	in	winds	higher	than	20mph.

A	maximum	speed	vertical	or	horizontal	will	not	exceed	manufacturers	designed	limitations.

All	manufacturer	limiting	and	restriction	software	will	be	utilized	to	manage	said	limitations	stated	

here	in	regards	to	distance	from	any	and	all	airports	and	flight	altitude.	

Before	each	flight,	a	complete	and	full	safety	briefing	and	flight	pattern	will	be	discussed	with	all	

production	crew	and	persons	in	the	immediate	area	of	the	landing	and	takeoff	location.	
These	instructions	include	all	dangerous	aspects	of	flying	a	UAS	with	high	speed	rotating	propellers	

and	to	exercise	all	common	sense	around	the	UAS.	

Not	to	enter	a	safety	diameter	of	20	feet,	with	the	UAS	at	the	center	of	that	diameter,	rotor	start,	

takeoff,	landing	and	rotor	shut	down.	

Additionally,	no	person	shall	enter	that	diameter	but	the	pilot	and/or	spotter	for	each	individual	

flight.	

Each	flight	will	consist	of	three	crewmembers	communicating	via	two-way	radio	during	all	flights:	

Pilot will	be	in	charge	of	all	flight	operations,	safety	management,	and	equipment	maintenance	

during	preflight,	flight	and	post	flight	as	well	as	flight	pattern	distribution.	

Pilot	is	fully	versed	and	understands	all	operating	and	management	systems	both	on	board	DJI	

Inspire	1	UAS and	Remote	Control	Surface.

Pilot	is	in	constant	communication	with	Spotter	and	Pilot	via	two-way	radio.

Camera	Operator can	also	pilot	the	UAS	and	will	have	at	least	one	year	of	UAS	flight	experience.	

The	Camera	Operator	is	also	capable,	as	is	the	Pilot,	of	handling	both	roles	as	Pilot	and/or	Camera	

Operator.		

Camera	Operator	is	fully	versed	and	understands	all	operating	and	management	systems	both	on	

board	DJI	Inspire	1	UAS	and	Remote	Control	Surface.

Camera	Operator	understands	and	fills	the	roll	of	capturing	imagery	from	the	on	board	X5	Camera	

and	Gimbal	systems.

Camera	operator	is	in	constant	communication	with	Spotter	and	Pilot	via	two-way	radio.

Flight	Spotter will	walk	general	area	of	take	off	and	landing	for	any	obstructions	or	obstacles.		

Spotter	is	also	responsible	for	keeping	the	takeoff	and	landing	diameter	clear	and	free	of	any	

obstructions	and/or	persons.	Additionally,	spotter	will	aware	of	and	observant	of	any	obstacles	and	

other	aircraft	in	the	immediate	area	of	UAS	and	notify	the	pilot	and/or	camera	operator	of	those	

issues	via	two	way	radio	system	during	flight.	

Pre	Flight	Checks	are	as	follows:

All	four	propellers	are	checked	for	cracks,	breaks	and	are	locked	in	place	on	all	four	motor	spindles.

Landing	Gear	is	clean	and	free	of	any	breaks.	Additionally,	clean	and	level	surfaces	are	utilized	for	

landing	and	take	off.

Intelligent	Batteries	are	fully	charged	at	a	level	no	less	than	80%	and	locked	into	position	within	UAS.

Camera	and	Lens	is	checked	and	securely	locked	to	Gimbal	and	Gimbal	to	UAS.

Weather	conditions	are	noted	in	regards	to	the	limitations	written	within	this	petition	as	they	can	

change	at	a	moments	notice.

Remote	Control	Surface	is	fully	charged,	as	is	the	Remote	Monitor	for	Pilot	control	of	UAS,	Telemetry	

and	Visual	needs.

Flight	pattern	is	understood	between	Pilot,	Camera	Operator	and	Spotter.

Area	is	clear	of	any	obstacles	including	any	bystanders	in	the	general	vicinity	of	the	take	off	and	

landing	area.	

Verbal	command	that	UAS	is	ramping	up	to	take	off	speed	is	announced.	

Verbal	command	that	UAS	is	taking	off	is	announced.	
Photo’s	of	DJI	Inspire	1	Pro

Inspire	1	Pro	w/X5	Camera	mounted	front	view

Inspire	1	Pro	w/X5	Camera	mounted	rear	view
Inspire	1	Pro	Zenmuse	Gimbal	&	X5	Camera

Inspire	1	Pro	w/X5	“dismounted”	1⁄4	Front	View

Inspire	1	Pro	w/X5	Camera	Mounted	&	Remote	Control	Surface
Inspire	1	Pro	Additional	Remote	Control	Surface

Inspire	1	Pro	TB47	Intelligent	“On	Board”	DC	Power	Supply