**Pe ti**  **ti on for**  **Exemption**

**Name and Mailing Address of Petitioner** Will Gallagher Gallagher Studios 2900 Centennial Olympic Park Austin, Texas 78732 512/775
-4966 will@willgphoto.com **1. Request for Exemption**  Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the Reform Act), and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, Will Gallagher d/b/a/ Gallagher Studios (“Petitioner”) operating in the State of Texas , wishes to apply for an exemption from the Federal Aviati on Regulations (FAR) listed below to allow operation of a DJI Inspire 1 sUAS commercially in airspace regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) so long as such operations are conducted with and under the conditions outlined herein or as may b e established by the FAA as required by Section 333. **1.1 Additional Information.**  **Substantially Identical Granted Exemptions** The substance of this request is essentially identical as that recently granted to:

 R. Frank Photography
-- Regulatory Docket No. FAA–2015–4489 ;  Falcon Sky Cam
-- Regu latory Docket No. FAA
- 2014
- 0884. **2. Regulations from Petitioner request exemption:**  14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) and (b) 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a) 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b) (2) 14 C.F.R. 91.109 14 C.F.R. 91.119 14 C.F.R. 91.121 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a) 14 C.F.R. 91.205(b) 14 C.F.R. 91.215 14 C.F.R. (91.401
- 91.417)**2. Extent of Relief Requested and Reason for which Exemption is sought** 

Petitioner request this exemption to pursue its commercial interests in providing services to clients in the following areas:

 Aerial Photography  Aerial Video graphy (not closed set Cinematography )  Surveying and 3D aerial mapping  Agriculture crop assessment  Golf course management  Insurance claim assessment  Special event photography and videograp hy  Construction site and ecological impact assessment All of Petitioner’s sUAS flights that will occur over private or controlled access property will do so with the property owner’s consent and knowledge and that only people who have consented or otherwise have agreed to be in the area where flight activity is taking place. All of Petitioner’s s UAS flights will meet relevant FAA regulations and guidelines, including the use of an appropriately licensed pilot in command and at least one trained observer(s). **3. How this Request would benefit the Public**  If the exemption is granted, Petitioner wi ll engage in aerial photography and videography of land, buildings, and insurance claims, by using remote controlled sUAS to see the condition of fields, crops, ecological impact, and financial losses d ue to destruction by fire and other natural disasters, without the need to drive over or climb on the property being so assessed. RFP has a sUAS equipped with cameras for aerial photography including video and still pictures. This will benefit the public as a whole because s mall Unmanned Aircraft System s ( sUAS ) are often superior photographic platform s compared to helicopters because the y are smaller, less expensive, produce less noise, have much less environmental impact and are les s likely to cause injury to people and property. **4. No Adverse Safety**  **Impact/ Equivalent level of Safety** Petitioner will have the ability to produce high
- resolution photography of remote locations from vantage points that would be difficult or dangerous to access, erect, scale or reach on foot. Petitioner’s exemption would permit us to operate lightweight, unmanned (remotely controlled in line of sight) sUAS’s in tightly controlled and limited airspace. Predetermined, specifically marked areas of operation as well as Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) navigation maps which incorporate restricted, no fly zones and control zones of airports, will allow Petitioner to operate within current safety parameters as well as the new ones being implemented. Such activities are either safer than traditional methods (helicopters, cranes,scaffolding) or provide an equivalent level of safety as that pertaining to rotor wing aircraft.

**4.1 Additional Information.**  **DJI Inspire 1** Petitioner requests to operate a DJI Inspire 1. This aircraft has essentially similar safety features as the DJI Phantom III that was the subject of a grant of exemption in R. Frank Photography
-- Regulatory Docket No. FAA–2015– 4489 The DJI Inspire 1 is equipped with a proprietary 3 axis gimbal and camera system. This sUAS has a built in capacity to limit the height it flies above the ground, to limit the radius of the distance it flies from the operator and to exclude it for Class B, C, and D airspace including No Fly Restricted Zones. The Insp ire 1 also has the failsafe feature of an autopilot system that will return to the aircraft to its home starting point and land safely in the event that communication between the main controller and the transmitter is lost. The specifications and operati on of the DJI Inspire 1 meet with the Model Aircraft Operating Standards as set below:

 The petitioner will only operate its sUAS in line of sight of a pilot/observer and will operate at sites that are sufficient distance from populated areas within the st erile area described in the FOPM. Such operations will insure that the sUAS will not create a hazard to users of the national airspace or the public. When flying sUAS within 3 miles of an airport, airport operators will be notified and the operator will gi ve the right of way to avoid flying in the proximity of full scale aircraft.
 Maximum flight time for each operational flight will be 25 minutes.

 Flights will be terminated at 25% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 30 minute limit.

 The sUAS will be programmed so it will not be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL, and not more than 200 feet above a fixed platform from which operations are conducted.

 The minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS pilot and the Visual Observer.

 The sUAS will weigh less than 55 pounds including its payload of camera and gimbal.

 The sUAS will fly no more than 50 knots and can hover and move horizontally and vertically.**5. Summary for Publication** 

“Petitioner seeks exemption from the following rules: 14 C.F.R. 61.113(a) and (b) ; 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a) ; 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b) (2) ; 14 C.F.R. 91.109 ; 14 C.F.R. 91.119 ; 14 C.F.R. 91.121 ; 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a) ; 14 C.F.R. 91.205(b) ; 14 C.F.R. 91.215 ; 14 C.F.R. (91.401
- 91.417)
. Petitioner seeks exemption to operate a sUAS as a commercial entity for the purposes of aerial photography, videography and other applicable remote sensing operations.” **6 .**  **Conclusion** Given the small size of the sUAS, and the restricted airspace within which it will operate, I believe our sUAS operations will comply with both the spirit and the rules intended by the Reform Act safety requirements. As part of this request for exemption, Petitioner gives personal assu rance that all persons involved in aerial operations have completed sUAS education and training including all applicable regulations and guidance documents. I respectfully request exemption under Section 333 to enable Petitioner to operate efficient, lim ited, low
- risk commercial sUAS operations for the activities stated, respecting at all times, the space and privacy of citizens and property as we keep our skies safe. Sincerely yours,

Will Gallagher Gallagher Studios 2900 Centennial Olympic Park Austin, Texas 78732 512/775
-4966 will@willgphoto.com