Petition for Exemption from 14 CFR § 11.81

1. Your name and mailing address. You may include other contact information such as a fax 

number, telephone number, or email address;

Name: Ryan Newell

Address: 19 David St., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Phone: 850-259-8743

Email: ryannewell@lordandson.com

2. The specific section or sections of 14 CFR from which you seek an exemption;

Petition for Exemption under Section 333

3. The extent of relief you seek and the reason you seek the relief;

Section 333 prohibits the use of a UAS for commercial purposes. I am performing duties for local 

government buildings such as schools and administration buildings where having the use of a 

UAS greatly helps reduce cost of tax payer funded projects. It helps me reduce costs by being 

able to keep out of town project managers and engineers in the loop with construction activities 

taking place. I can also get problems solved quicker through aerial photography with the UAS 

than any other method possible due to the unique camera angles achieved through UAS 

photography.

4. How your request would benefit the public as a whole;

The public as a whole will be benefited in multiple ways, most importantly is the cost savings the 

public sees, keeping key construction managers and engineers in the loop constantly with the 

unique UAS picture angles helps greatly reduce the cost of the overall construction by being able 

to see what certain parameters are turning out like ie roof eaves can be checked for a much 

reduced cost. Also, local news agencies are already requesting media of our project to inform 

the public of the construction progress. Lastly, regulating authorities want to stay updated with 

clearing happening around wetlands, we would be able to keep them up to date with unique to 

UAS photography for a much less cost to tax payers.

5. Reasons why the exemption would not adversely affect safety, or how the exemption would 

provide a level of safety at least equal to the existing rule;

I am a good candidate because I have expressed competence through completion of a bachelors 

in civil engineering, I have been flying drones for a couple years now without incident and do 

not fly in areas that put anyone’s safety at risk. Also the UAS I use, DJI Phantom 2+, has built in 

flight control systems such as GPS navigation, Failsafe Function (Auto Come Home feature) and a 

Flight Limits Function that further the safety of its use. I do not fly near large gatherings or areas 

where helicopters are more likely such as sporting events or airports and air force base
operations. This UAS is used for commercial construction help on the job and for marketing 

purposes only flown in sight at a maximum altitude of 200 ft.

6. A summary we can publish in the Federal Register –

I, Ryan Newell am seeking an exemption of the FAA’s section 333 rules that does not allow the 

use of an unmanned aircraft to be used for commercial purposes in regards to National Airspace 

Safety. I am simply petitioning for an exemption to provide a commercial service to construction 

projects in order to provide unique aerial photography to expedite construction making it more 

efficient as well as to provide for marketing purposes. Being trained in civil engineering with a 

bachelor’s degree, years of experience flying and working on unmanned aircraft systems as well 

as understanding the safety requirements from the FAA makes me a good candidate for 

exemption of section 333. Also the UAS I use, DJI Phantom 2+, has built in flight control systems 

such as GPS navigation, Failsafe Function (Auto Come Home feature) and a Flight Limits Function

that further the safety of its use. I do not fly near large gatherings, sporting events or airports 

and air force base operations. This UAS is only flown in sight at a maximum altitude of 200 ft.

7. Any additional information, views, or arguments available to support your request;

I have flown unmanned aircraft systems for years without incident because I have always paid

attention to the surroundings before flying; also the UAS I fly have intelligent controls that help 

keep the flight system safe. I always fly within sight limits and the UAS itself has controls that 

ensure you fly in a set range. I am applying as the only operator of a DJI Phantom 2+ for Lord 

and Son Construction, Inc.

8. If you want to exercise the privileges of your exemption outside the United States, you must 

state the reason.

I do not wish to operate outside of the United States