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4K Aerial Imaging Petition for Section 333 Exemption 

4K Aerial Imaging would like to obtain an exemption to fly two small Unmanned 

Aerial Systems (UAS) commercially for powerline inspection and general mapping for 

utility companies. The founders, Gavin Shouppe and Jeffrey Basford have read and 

understood the FAA regulations thoroughly and will adhere to them. In order to minimize 

risk to other aircraft, persons, property on the ground, and overall NAS, we will operate 

our two UAS under 200 feet at speeds no greater than 30 knots. We have gone through 

and passed a small UAS safety training course. A formal training program will be 

established, preflight checks will be conducted before every flight, maintenance logs will 

be recorded, and flight logs recorded as well. The aircraft will not be flown beyond line 

of sight or within five miles of an airport. 

Additionally, both of our UAS have a return-to-home feature in the event that the 

data link connection with the transmitter is lost. Our first UAS is a 3D Robotics Iris+ that 

has a flight time of 15 minutes when carrying its payload, a GoPro camera. It is a plastic 

shell quadcopter that requires an adequate number of satellites for a GPS lock before it 

can be operated. The second UAS is a TurboAce Matrix-G quadcopter. This aluminum 

and carbon fiber quadcopter has a flight time of approximately 20 minutes with the given 

battery we have. It has numerous GPS and flight safety features built in that are similar to 

the features on the Iris+. It also carries a GoPro camera as its payload for obtain pictures 

and videos. The maximum operating range of the Iris+ is 1,500 feet while the maximum 

operating range for the TurboAce Matrix is 1.2 miles (it will still be kept within line of 

sight). Protocols have been established to abort flights in the event of a potential hazard 

or safety breach. 
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Where necessary, permission will always be obtained before flight operations are 

initiated over questionable areas. Both UAS’ transmitters have battery indicators to alert 

us of our remaining flight time. A visual observer will always be used to aid the pilot in 

command. The UAS will not be operated when visibility is poor or weather is inclimate. 

Both UAS have First Person View (FPV) capabilities, which streams a live video feed 

from the GoPro camera to a monitor on the ground. Both transmitters that are responsible 

for controlling the two UAS operate on the 2.4 Ghz spectrum. This 2.4 Ghz frequency

used for operations as well as the GoPro cameras are in compliance with the Federal 

Communication Commission (FCC). While both UAS will be operated within Line of 

Sight and a visual observer used, the FPV capability will only be used to provide 

additional situational awareness to the operator. All maintenance will be conducted by 

the pertinent manufacturers, 3D Robotics and TurboAce. 

The first pilot in command is Gavin Shouppe who graduated from Embry-Riddle 

Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautics with minors in 

UAS, aviation safety, airport management, and management. He is currently employed at 

the Family Dollar Distribution Center. He has over 7 years experience working with and 

operating remotely piloted aircraft and over 3 years with UAS. He has over 30 hours 

experience with the Iris+ and is currently training for operations with the Matrix-G. The 

second pilot in command is Jeffrey Basford. He graduated from the Baptist College of 

Florida with a Bachelors Degree in Business Leadership. He is currently employed at the 

Tri-County Airport in Bonifay, Florida and also a youth pastor at Eastside Baptist Church 

in Marianna, Florida. He has 2 years of experience working with UAS and over 12 hours 

of experience with the Iris+. He is currently training for operations with the Matrix-G as 
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well.For visual observers, each person will act as the observer when the other person is 

acting as pilot in command. For example, if Jeffrey is acting as pilot in command of the 

UAS, then Gavin will act as the visual observer. 

The safety of persons, property, other aircraft, and the overall NAS will not be 

adversely affected by the operations carried out by 4K Aerial Imaging. In order to 

efficiently inspect powerline poles and map areas as required by utility and electrical 

companies, 4K Aerial Imaging can operate both of its UAS under 200 feet and speeds 

well under 30 knots. At these low altitudes and speeds, hazards can be mitigated. The 

maximum speed both UAS will be operated at will be 20 knots. The primary results 4K 

Aerial Imaging seeks to obtain when inspecting powerlines and mapping is pictures and 

videos. Since the UAS will be operated at altitudes less than 200 feet, the distance from 

the ground to the average base of the lowest cloud layer (approximately 2,000 feet) will 

be large. Minimum flight visibility will be evaluated beforehand based on current and 

forecasted weather conditions. If flight visibility is less than 500 feet horizontally and less 

than 200 feet vertically (the maximum altitude of operation), then operations will be 

postponed. Potential hazards at these low operating altitudes include powerlines and 

powerline poles that will be inspected, trees, and birds. Characteristics of the areas that 

will be largely inspected include forests where transmission lines are, country roads, and 

fields. We have no intention of operating our UAS within a radius of 10 miles or closer to 

an airport. 

A preflight safety risk assessment will be conducted through the use of battery

voltage checkups, telemetry tests, propeller, motor, overall UAS inspection, and 

examination of the transmitter and verifying its connection with the UAS. Potential 
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persons or bodies affected by our UAS operations will be notified beforehand to mitigate 

risk and promote safety for them as well as our operations. We have liability insurance 

coverage of up to $2,000,000 in the event something goes wrong. In closing, our goal at 

4K Aerial Imaging is to adhere to FAA regulations as the FAA continues to work to 

facilitate the integration of UAS into the NAS without adversely affecting persons, 

property, and other aircraft. 4K Aerial Imaging possesses the experience and 

trustworthiness to build a safer NAS for both manned and unmanned aircraft, now and in 

the future. Thank you for taking the time to read our petition for a Section 333 exemption 

to conduct commercial powerline and mapping operations for utility companies. We hope 

you consider this petition and grant us the exemption.