January'23,'2016

U.S.'Department'of'Transportation'Docket'Management'System

1200'New'Jersey'Ave.

Washington,'D.C.'20590

RE:'Exemption'Request'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'(the'

"Reform'Act"),'Matthew'Thomas'Knighton (the'"applicant"),'operator'of'an'

Unmanned'Aircraft'Systems'("UAS")'seeks'an'exemption'from'the'Federal'Aviation'

Regulations'("FARs")'to'allow'commercial'operation'of'its'UAS,'so'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.'

Commercial'operation'of'an'UAS,'as'described'herein,'which'are'equipped'with'

camera(s)'and'sensors,'would'operate'in'the'following'manner:'

• Aerial'video'and/or'photography'for'public'and/or'private'use'for'the'

Chicago'Park'District'including'marina'surveying,'coastal/municipal'

property mapping,'and'recreational/commercial'asset'imagery.

• Aerial'video'and/or'photography'for'public'and/or'private'use'including'

television,'public'events,'cinematography,'newsgathering,'and'other'related'

professional'activities.

• Aerial'inspection/photography'of'residential/commercial'structures'under

contract'with'the'owners'or'local'government'authority.'

• Aerial'video/photography'or'providing'live'video'feed'to'assist'with'search'

and'rescue'operations'in'cases'of'an'emergency'or'natural'disaster'only'

when'the'local'authorities'or'government'has'requested'it'by'contract'or'

donation.'

As'described'fully'below,'the'requested'exemption'would'permit'the'operation'of'a'

UAS'under'controlled'conditions'in'the'NAS'that'would'be'a)'limited'b)'controlled'c)'

predetermined'and'd)'will'provide'safety'enhancements'to'the'already'safe'

operations'in'the'industry'presently'using'conventional'aircraft.'

Applicant:

Matthew'Thomas'Knighton

2530'N.'Ashland'Ave.'#2N

Chicago,'IL'60614
Attachments'DJI'Inspire'1'User'Manual:

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/inspire_1/en/Inspire_1_User_Manual_en_v2.0_12

18.pdf

Regulations'from'which'the'exemption'is'requested:'

14#CFRPart#21#subpart#H#14#CFR45.23#(b)#14#CFR91.7#(a)#14#CFR91.9#(b)#(2)#

14#CFR91.103#14#CFR91.109#

14#CFR91.119#(c)#14#CFR91.121#14#CFR91.203#(a)#and#(b)#14#CFR91.405#(al#14#

CFR91.407#(a]#(1)#14#CFR91.409#(a)#(2)#14#CFR91.417#(a)#and#(b)#

Extent'of'Relief'and'Why:

14#CFRPart#21#subpart#H#

The'UAS'to'be'operated'carries'neither'pilot'nor'passenger'and'carries no'explosive'

materials'or'flammable'liquids.'Given'the'size,'weight,'speed'and'limited'operating'

area'associated'with'the'aircraft'to'be'utilized,'I'request'exception.'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#CFR45.23#(b)#

Due'to'the'size'of'this'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'

minimums.'

14#CFR91.7#(a)#

As'there'will'be'no'airworthiness'certificate'for'the'aircraft,'should'this'exemption'

be'granted, no'FAA'regulatory'standard'will'exist'for'determining'airworthiness.'

Given'the'size'of'the'aircraft'for'maintenance'and'use'of'safety'checklist'prior'to'

each'flight'an'equivalent'level'of'safety'will'be'provided.'

14#CFR91.9#(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'

manual'at'ground'control'point'where'the'pilot'will'have'immediate'access'to'it.'

14#CFR91.103#

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'weather,'

flight'battery'requirement,'landing'and'takeoff'distances,'along'will'all'of'those'

found'in'attachment'"'Pilot'Training".'An'equivalent'level'of'safety'will'be'provided'

by'preflight'protocol'to'properly'match'the'machine.'

14#CFR91.109#

UAS'and'remotely'piloted'aircraft'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'level'of'safety'provided'because'

neither'a'pilot'nor'passenger'will'be'carried'in'the'aircraft,'and'by'the'speed'and'

size'of'the'aircraft.'

14#CFR91.113#(a)#and#(b)#

I'can'achieve'an'equivalent'level'of'safety'as'achieved'by'current'regulations'

because'my'UAS'does'not'carry'a'pilot'or'passengers.'While'helpful,'a'pilots''license'

will'not'ensure'remote'control'piloting'skills.'

14#CFR91.121#

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#CFR91.203#(a)#and#(b)#

Similar'to,'14'CFR91.9'(b)'(2),'given'the'size'and'configuration,'the'UAS'has'no'

ability'to'carry'certificate'and'registration'documents'on'the'aircraft.'An'equivalent'

level'of'safety'will'be'achieved'by'keeping'these'documents; to'the'extent'they'are'

applicable'to'the'UAS,'at'the'ground'control'point'where'pilot'has'immediate'access'

to'them.'

14#CFR91.405#(a),#14#CFR91.407#(a)#(1),#14#CFR91.409#(a)#(2),#14#CFR91.417#

(a)#and#(b)#

Given'these'sections'only'apply'to'aircraft'with'an'airworthiness'certificates,'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.'

Matthew'Thomas'Knighton'is seeking'relief'from'all'FARs'above'preventing'

applicant'from'conducting'aerial'photography'and'video'of'property and'vacant'

land'with'the'DJI'Inspire'1,'taken'at'levels'less'than'400ft,'at'a'speed'less'than'30'

mph,'and'with'a'maximum'flight'time'of'less'then'30'minutes,'the'drone'to'be'used'

is'less'then'15'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'33.5'mph.'Due'to'the'UAS'

being'battery'powered'there'are'no'combustible'fuels'onboard.'Maximum'flight'

time'for'this'particular'UAS'is'less'then'30'minutes.'Flights'to'be'terminated'with'no'

less'then'25%'battery'life'remaining.'Given'the'size,'weight,'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:#

An'equivalent'level'of'safety'will'be'achieved'because'maintenance'and'inspections'

will'be'performed'in'accordance'with'the'UAS'Manufacturer's'User'Manual.'As'

provided'in'the'FOM,'the'operator'will'ensure'that'the'UAS'is'in'working'order'prior'

to'initiating'flight'and'perform'required'maintenance'needed.'

Please'see'attachment'“DJI'Inspire'1 User'Manual"'for'safety'precautions'to'be'use'

for'every'flight.'

Additionally:#

1)'I'will'not'operate'within'5'miles'of'an'airport'unless'prior'contact'to'Air'Traffic'

Control'or'the airport'manager'has'been made.

2)'I'will'land'my'UAS'prior'to'manufacturer'recommended'minimum'level'of'battery'

power.'

3)'I'will'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'lands'if'communication'with'the'remote'

control'pilot'is'lost.

5)'I'actively'analyze'flight'data'and'other'sources'of'information'to'constantly'

update'and'enhance'safety'protocols.'

6)'I'conduct'extensive'preeflight'inspections'and'protocol,'during'which'safety'

carries'primary'importance.

7)'I'always'obtain'all'necessary'permissions'prior'to'operation.

8)'I'have'procedures'in'place'to'abort'flights'in'the'event'of'safety'breaches'or'

potential'danger.'

Additional#Information:#
The'applicant,'Matthew'Thomas'Knighton has'an'understanding'of'the'capabilities'

and'safety'concerns'involved'in'using'this'technology'as'an'asset'to'the'community.'

Satisfaction'of'criteria'provided'in'Section'333'of'the'Reform'Act'of'2012'provide'

more'than'adequate'justification'for'the grant'of'the'requested'exemptions'allowing'

the'commercial'operation'of'the'applicant’s'UAS.'

In'addition'it'benefits'the'general'public'because'it'is'much'more'efficient'than'

traditional'ways'of'using'a'plane'or'helicopter'to'achieve'Aerial'Photography'and'

Aerial'Videography.'We'can'now'provide'this'level'of'service'while'being'

conservative'with'fuel,'time,'emissions,'noise,'and'other'resources.'Considering'size,'

weight,'speed,'and'absence'of'combustible'fuels,'my'UAS'will'poses'much'less'of'a'

safety'concern'for'the'general'public'when'compared'to'manned'aircraft.'

Thank'you'for'your'consideration,'

Matthew'Thomas'Knighton