Hensrud Aerial

Attn: Thomas J. Hensrud

970 Parkway Drive

West Fargo, ND 58078

April 15, 2015

U.S. Department of Transportation

Docket Management System

1200 New Jersey Ave., SE

Washington DC 20590

Re: Exemption Request Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations from: 14 CFR 21 subpart H; 14 CFR 45.23(b); 14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b); 14 CFR 91.7(a); 14 CFR 

91.9(b)(2); 14 CFR 91.103; 14 CFR 91.109; 14 CFR 91.119(c); 14 CFR 91.121; 14 CFR 91.151(a); 14 CFR 91.203 

(a) and (b); 14 CFR 91.405 (a); 14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1) 14 CFR 91.409 (a)(1) and (2); 14 CFR 91.417(a) and (b)

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the “Reform Act”) and 14 CFR 

Part 11, Hensrud Aerial, operator of an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), hereby applies for an exemption 

from the listed 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. This request for exemption is similar, if not identical, to many previously 

submitted requests that have received exemption.

Commercial operation of an UAS, as described herein, which are equipped with camera(s) and sensors, would 

operate in the following manner:

1. Aerial photography and/or video for public and/or private use including real estate, architecture, 

land surveying, engineering and other related professional activities.

2. Aerial video and/or photography for public and/or private use including television, public events, 

cinematography and news gathering.

3. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial structures under contract with the owners 

or local government authority.

4. Aerial inspection/photography of residential/commercial utility infrastructure including but not 

limited to electrical power lines, wind turbines and cell towers.

5. 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.

6. The ability to offer training to persons individually or belonging to both private and/or public 

organizations that have interests in the use and application of a UAS for the purpose of the safe 
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April 15, 2015

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operation of a UAS to enhance the safety of the National Airspace System (NAS) as well as for the 

protection of the persons and property.

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. Approval 

of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation’s (the FAA 

Administrator’s) responsibilities to “....establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems 

in the national airspace system.”

The name and address of the applicant is:

Hensrud Aerial

Attn: Thomas J. Hensrud

Ph: 701-331-0960

Email: hensrudaerial@gmail.com

Address: 970 Parkway Drive, West Fargo, ND 58078

Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

14 CFR Part 21 subpart H

14 CFR 45.23 (b)

14 CFR 61.3

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b)

14 CFR 91.7 (a)

14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)

14 CFR 91.103

14 CFR 91.109

14 CFR 91.119 (c)

14 CFR 91.121

14 CFR 91.151 (a)

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b)

14 CFR 91.405 (a)

14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1)

14 CFR 91.409 (a) (2)

14 CFR 91.417 (a) & (b)

Hensrud Aerial will operate a variety of sUASs, including but not limited to the DJI Inspire 1, DJI Phantom 3, 

DJI Spreading Wings models, 3DRobotics Solo, 3DRobotics Aero, 3DRobotics IRIS+, and 3DRobotics X8. Each 

sUAS will be powered using lithium polymer batteries and controlled with a remote transmitter operating on 

2.4Ghz band. The applicant will operate the UAS in line of sight within a closed off and predetermined area 

owned and/operated by the property representative.
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Given the small size of the UAS and the controlled environment provided the proposed operations will adhere 

to the Reform Act’s safety requirements. The approval of this application presents no national security issues. 

Regarding the level of safety surrounding the proposed operations and the public benefit, reduction in 

environmental impacts, including but not limited to reduced emissions and noise, the grant of the requested 

exemption is in the public interest. Accordingly the applicant requests that the FAA grant the requested 

exemption with minimum delay.

AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY

The operation limitations proposed for an equivalent or higher level of safety because operations will further 

enhance the safety of the persons and/or property using conventional aircraft.

These limitations and conditions to which the applicant agrees to adhere to when conducting commercial 

operations under the FAA issued exemption as set forth in the Flight Operations Manual (FOM) include:

1. The UAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.

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

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

4. 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.

5. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) and not 

more than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned.

6. 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.

7. The UAS pilot will be a designated Pilot in Command (PIC) and hold a Commercial Pilot’s License 

along with a Second or higher Class Medical Certificate. If the PIC feels another operator to be 

qualified with the necessary skills to be PIC & possess a Commercial Pilot’s License along with a 

Second or higher Class Medical Certificate, that person may be designated PIC provided they have a 

minimum of 20 hours of flight time with the UAS.

8. A briefing will be performed regarding the planned UAS operations prior to each day’s flight 

consisting of all the days’ production activities.

9. All flights will occur under Visual Flight Rules Meteorological Conditions (VMC) only.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. The operator will file FAA Form 7711-1, or its equivalent, as modified in light of the requested 

exemption, with the appropriate local Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) no more than 72 hours 

but no less than 48 hours from planned operation.

13. The operator will obtain verbal/written consent of all persons involved with the planned operation 

and ensure that only consenting persons will be allowed within 100 feet of the flight operation, and 

the radius may be reduced to 30 feet based upon an equivalent level of safety determination, as 
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required under the FOM. With the advanced permission of the FSDO, operations at closer range may 

be approved.

14. 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.

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

16. Written and/or verbal permission and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, county or city 

jurisdictions, including law enforcement, fire or other appropriate governmental agencies.

17. 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.

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

emergencies.

14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)

Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requirements for the issuance of 

airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Given the size and limited operating area 

associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the 

requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal 

Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and Section 333 of the Reform Act both authorize the FAA to exempt 

aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, 

operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the particular UAS. In all cases, an 

analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the UAS operated without an airworthiness certificate, in the 

restricted environment and under the conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a 

conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the 

restrictions and conditions proposed. 

The UAS to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor passenger, 

carries no explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclusively within a secured and 

designated area. Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and 

monitored by both the operator and under the requirements and in compliance with local public safety 

requirements. The FAA will have advance notice of all operations. These safety enhancements provide a 

greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than conventional operations conducted with 

airworthiness certificates issued under 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H. Lastly, application of these same criteria 

demonstrates that there is no credible threat to national security posed by the UAS, due to its size, speed of 

operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry a 

substantial external load. 

14 C.F.R. § 45.23 (b). Marking of the Aircraft 

The regulation requires: 

When marks include only the Roman capital letter "N" and the registration number is displayed on limited, 

restricted or light-sport category aircraft or experimental or provisionally certificated aircraft, the operator 
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must also display on that aircraft near each entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot station, in letters not less 

than 2 inches nor more than 6 inches high, the words "limited," "restricted," "light-sport," "experimental," or 

"provisional," as applicable. 

Even though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be needed as the UAS will 

have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word “Experimental” can be placed. 

Given the size of the UAS, two-inch lettering will be impossible. The word “Experimental” will be placed on 

the fuselage in compliance with §45.29 (f). 

The equivalent level of safety will be provided by having the UAS marked on its fuselage as required by 

§45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer and others working with the UAS will see the identification of the UAS as 

“Experimental.” 

14 C.F.R. § 61.113 (a) and (b): Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations: Pilot in Command.

Pursuant to 14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b), no person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as a pilot in 

command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire. Hensrud Aerial may 

achieve an equivalent level of safety as achieved by current Regulations because the applicant’s UAS do not 

carry any pilots or passengers nor property. The risks attendant to the operation of UAS is far less than the 

risk levels inherent in the commercial activities outlined in 14 CFR 61. I feel the operation and limitations set 

forth in the FOM will equate to the safe operation of the UAS.

14 C.F.R. §91.7(a): Civil Aircraft Airworthiness.

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy condition. As there 

will be no airworthiness certificate issued 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 check lists prior to each flight an equivalent level of safety will be provided. 

14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft.

Section 91.9 (b) (2) provides: No person may operate a U.S.-registered civil aircraft ... (2) For which an 

Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this chapter, unless there is available in the 

aircraft a current approved airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and 

placards, or any combination thereof. The UAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to 

carry such a flight manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because there is no 

room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft. The equivalent level of safety will be maintained by 

keeping the flight manual at the ground control point where the pilot flying the UAS will have immediate 

access to it. 

14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight Action.

This regulation requires each pilot in command to take certain actions before flight to insure the safety of 

flight. As FAA approved rotorcraft flight manuals will not be provided for the aircraft an exemption will be 
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needed. The PIC will take all actions as stated in the FOM in Section 4 under Normal Procedures including but 

not limited to reviewing weather, flight battery requirements, landing and takeoff distances and aircraft 

performance data before initiation of flight. 

14 C.F.R. §91.109: Flight Instruction.

Section 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is 

being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls. UAS and remotely 

piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is accomplished 

through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio communications. The FAA has 

approved exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual controls for a number of aircraft and for 

flight instruction in experimental aircraft. The equivalent level of safety provided by the fact that neither a 

pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by the size and speed of the aircraft. 

14 C.F.R. §91.119: Minimum Safe Altitudes.

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d) allows helicopters 

to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person operating the helicopter complies 

with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption is for a UAS that is a 

helicopter and the exemption requests authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 AGL, or not more than 200 

above an elevated platform from which filming is planned, an exemption may be needed to allow such 

operations. As set forth herein, the UAS will never operate at higher than 400 AGL with the exception that in 

circumstances where the UAS is used to survey or photograph a structure whose height exceeds 400 feet AGL, 

the UAS will not be operated more than 200 feet above the highest point on the structure. It will however be 

operated in a restricted area with security perimeter, where buildings and people will not be exposed to 

operations without their pre-obtained consent. 

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the UAS as well as the location 

where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the permission of the property owner or local officials. 

Because of the advance notice to the property owner and participants in the filming activity, all affected 

individuals will be aware of the planned flight operations. Compared to flight operations with aircraft or 

rotorcraft weighting far more than the maximum 55lbs. proposed herein and the lack of flammable fuel, any 

risk associated with these operations is far less than those presently presented with conventional aircraft 

operating at or below 500 AGL. In addition, the low-altitude operations of the UAS will ensure separation 

between these UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 

91.119. 

14 C.F.R. §91.121 Altimeter Settings.

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by reference to an 

altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting available 

before departure.” As the UAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS altitude read out, an 

exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by the operator, pursuant to the 
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safety check list and live flight data monitoring, confirming the altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS 

altitude indicator before flight. 

14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions 

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless 

(considering wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended 

landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed – (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or 

(2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45 minutes.” 

The battery powering the UAS provides approximately 30 minutes of powered flight. To meet the 30 minute 

reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, UAS flights would be limited to approximately 10 minutes in length. 

Given the limitations on the UAS’s proposed flight area and the location of its proposed operations within a 

predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in daylight or twilight VFR conditions is reasonable. 

Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope of prior exemptions. 

Operating the UAS, in a tightly controlled area where only people and property owners or official 

representatives who have signed waivers will be allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does not 

engender the type of risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the 

small UAS. Additionally, limiting UAS flights to 10 minutes would greatly reduce the utility for which the 

exemption will be granted. Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting 

flights to 30 minutes or 25% of battery power— whichever happens first. This restriction would be more than 

adequate to return the UAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its limited operating area.

14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration 

The regulation provides in pertinent part: 

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following: 

(1) An appropriate and current airworthiness certificate. . . . 

(b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this 

section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockpit entrance so 

that it is legible to passengers or crew. 

The UAS fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs. and is operated without an onboard pilot. As such, there is 

no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or to display them on the UAS. 

An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the ground control point where 

the pilot flying the UAS will have immediate access to them, to the extent they are applicable to the UAS. 

14 C.F.R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 409 (a) (2); 417(a) & (b): Maintenance Inspections.
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These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner “shall have that aircraft inspected as prescribed 

in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this 

section, have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter...,” and others shall inspect or 

maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. 

Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these sections 

will not apply to the applicant. Maintenance will be accomplished by the operator pursuant to the flight 

manual and operating handbook. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because the UAS is very 

limited in size and will carry a small payload and operate only in restricted areas for a limited period of time. 

If mechanical issues arise the UAS can land immediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet 

AGL. The operator will ensure that the UAS is in working order prior to initiating flight, perform required 

maintenance, and keep a log of any maintenance performed. Moreover, the operator is the person most 

familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the 

equivalent level of 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.

Additional Information

The applicant, Thomas J. Hensrud, has been involved in the building and piloting of remote controlled aircraft 

for more than 20 years, and is a member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. Additional members of 

Hensrud Aerial are certified commercial or private pilots with medical certificates and will be the primary 

pilots used.

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.

Sincerely,

Thomas J. Hensrud