1

David West

513 East Park Ave.

Fairmont, WV 26554

U. S. Depa r t me n t o f Tra n s p o rtat i o n

D o c ket M a n a g e m ent S yst e m February 16, 2016

1 2 00 N ew J ers e y A v e S

. E

. Wash ing t o n

, DC 2 0 5 9 0

Re: Petition For Ex e m p t i o n R eq u est S e c ti o n 3 3 3 o f t h e F A A Re f o r m Act o f 2 0 12

To wh o m i t may c o n c ern,

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 and 14 CFR Part 11, David

West is submitting this petition of exemption to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket

Operations. This petition is to re quest permis sion to operate a small unmanned aerial vehicles (i.e.,

"small unmanned aircraft system" or "sUAS") within airspace regulated by the Federal Aviation

Administration, so long as operations are conducted with and under the conditions outlined herein or

estab lished by the FAA (as required by Section 333).

In accordance with section 333, David West proposes to operate the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K, which is

specified under the section “sUAS specifications.” Approval of exemptions would allow David West to

provid e beneficial services to consumers interested in aerial data capture by operating a small advanced

sUAS equipped with camera(s) and sensors to provide professional services in the following areas:

Des c ri p t i o n o f Pr opo s e d O pe r a t i on s

Aerial photography and videography

Real Estate

Aerial advertising

Aerial digital media

Agricultura l inspection & surveying

Property inspection & surveying

Structural inspection & surveying

Industrial inspection & surveying

Name and address of the petitioner is:

David West

513 East Park Ave.

Fairmont, WV 265542

Summary of Reg u l a t i on s from w h i c h e x e mption s are r eque ste d :

14 C. F

. R

. Pa r t 2 1 S ubp a rt H

- A i r w o rth in ess Certif i cat e s

14 C. F

. R

. 45

. 2 3

- Dis p lay o f mark s ; ge n eral

14 C. F

. R

. 61

. 1 13 ( a ) & ( b )

- Priv a te pi l o t p r i vi l eges and l i mitat i o n s: P i l o t in c om m a n d

14 C. F

. R

. 91 .7 ( a )

– C i vil Ai r craft Ai r w o rth in e ss

14 CFR § 9 1

. 9 ( b ) ( 2): C i vil A i rcraft F l i gh t Ma nu al in t h e A i rcraft

14 C. F

. R

. 91 .9 ( c )

– M a rki n g o f A i rcra f t

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 1 03

– Prefl igh t Acti o n s

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 1 09

– F l i gh t i n struction

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 1 19

– Mi n im u m sa f e alt i tu d es: Ge n eral

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 1 21

– A l t i m e t e r setti n g s

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 1 51

– Fu el r e q u ire m e n ts f o r fl igh ts in Vi s u al F l i gh t Ru l es (VF R ) c o nd itio n s

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 2 03 ( a ) ( 1)

– C i vil aircra f t: certif i c ation re q u ired

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 4 05

– Mai n te n a n ce req u ired

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 4 07

– O p erat i o n af t er ma i n te n a n c e, p r e v entati v e mai n te n a n c e, r eb u i ld i n g , and

alteration

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 4 09

– I n spe c t i o n s

14 C. F

. R

. 91

. 4 17

– Mai n te n a n ce re c o r d s

14 CFR P a rt 2 1

, S ubp a rt H: A i r w o rt h i ne ss C e r t if i c a tes an d 14 C F R § 9 1

. 2 0 3( a ) ( 1)

Secti o n 9 1. 2 03( a ) ( 1) req u i r es all c i vi l airc r aft t o h a ve a certific a te o f ai r w o rth in es s . Part 2 1, S u bp art H,

e n titled Ai r w o r t h i n ess Certif i cat e s, e s tab l i s h es the p r o c ed u ral re qu ir e ments f o r t h e i ssu an ce o f

ai r w o rth i n ess c ertific a t e s as req u ired by F A R § 91

. 2 03( a )( 1 ). Gi v en the si z e o f t h e ai r c raft ( t y p ica l ly less

than 10 l b s., a n d alw ay s less than 5 5 lbs

. ) a n d the l i mited o p er a ti n g area as s o ciated with its u til iz atio n , it

is unn ec e ssa r y t o g o t h r o ug h t h e c ertifi c ate o f ai r w o r th in ess p r o ce s s u n d er Pa r t 21 S ubp art H to a ch i e v e

o r exc e ed cur r ent s af e ty le v els.

S u ch an ex e m p t i o n me e ts t h e req u ir e ments o f an eq u i vale n t l e v el o f sa f ety u n d er P art 1 1 and Secti o n 3 33

o f the R ef o r m Act. The F ederal A viat i o n A ct a n d Se c ti o n 3 3 3 o f t h e R ef o r m A c t b o th a u thori z e t h e F A A t o

ex em p t ai r craft f r o m the re qu ir e m ent f o r an ai r w o rth in e s s certif i c a te, u p o n c o n si d erat i o n o f t h e si z e,

w ei gh t, speed, o p erat i o n al c a p a b i l ity, and pr o x i mity t o ai rp o rts a n d p o pu lated areas o f t h e UAS in v o l ved.

14 CFR § 4 5

. 2 3 & 9 1

. 9 ( c ): M a rking o f t h e Ai rc r a ft

Reg u lation 45

. 23 p r o vi d e s :

(a) E ach o p er a t o r o f an ai r c raft m u s t d is p lay o n that a i rcraf t

, marks c o n sisti n g o f t h e R o man ca p ital letter

“ N ” ( d e n o ti n g Un i t ed States re g istr a ti o n ) f o l l o w ed by t h e reg i s trat i o n n u m b er o f the ai r craft. E ach su f fix

let t er u s ed in t h e m a rks dis p l a y ed m u s t al s o be a R o man c a p ital l e tter.

(b) W h en ma r ks i n cl ud e o n ly the Roman ca p ital l e tter “ N ” and the r eg i strat i o n n u m b er is dis p layed o n

l i mited, restr i ct e d o r li g h t

- s p o rt c a te g o ry ai r craft o r e x p eri m e n tal o r p r o vis i o n al l y certific a ted ai r craft, the

o p era t o r m u st a l so d is p lay o n that ai r craft n e ar e ach e n tra n c e t o t h e ca b i n

, c o ckp i t, o r p i l o t st a ti o n , in

lette r s n o t le s s t h an 2 i n ches nor m o r e than 6 inc he s hi g h , t h e w o r d s “ l i mited

, ” “ re s tric t ed,” “ l igh t

- sport

, ”

“ ex p eri m ental

, ” o r “ p r o vis i o n a l ,” as a p p l i ca b l e

.

Reg u lation 91

. 9(c) pr o vi d e s : N o per s o n may o p e r ate a U. S

. - reg i stered civil ai r craft u n less that aircra f t is

i d en t if i ed in ac c o r d a n ce with p art 4 5 o f t h is ch ap ter.3

The sU A S h as no entra n ce t o t h e ca b i n

, c o c kp i t, o r p i l o t stat i o n o n w h ich the marki ng s can be p la c ed.

Given the si z e o f t h e s U A S, tw o

- i n ch l et t eri n g wi l l b e i m p o s si b le. Offici a l m arki n g sys te ms f o r sU A S h a ve

n o t yet been esta b l i shed f o r o p er a ti o n s ins i d e the N A S. To achieve an equivalent level of safety, David

West proposes displaying each aircr aft’s registration information as large as the sUAS safely permits.

Registration information and logbooks will also be kept at the ground station.

The F A A h as iss u ed the f o l l o wing e x e m p t i o n s t o t h is r eg u latio n ; s e e E x emption N os. 8 73 8, 10 1 6 7, 1 0 1 6 7A

,

1 0 7 0 0 , 11256, and 11251

.

14 CFR § 6 1

. 1 1 3(a ) & ( b ); P ri v a te P i l o t Pr i v i l e g e s a n d Li m it a t i on s;

This re gu l a t i o n re s tricts pr i vate pi l o t ce r tifica t e h o l de r s fr o m f l yi n g aircra f t f o r co m p ensat i o n o r h i re, and

w o u ld al s o r eq u ire a s e c o n d class med i cal certif i cate. The pu r p o s e o f P art 61 i s t o e n su r e that t h e skill a n d

c o m p e t ency o f a n y PIC m a t ches the airs p a c e in w h ich t h e PIC will b e o p erat i ng , as well as r eq u ir in g

certif i c a ti o n s if t h e p r i va t e p i l o t is carryi n g pas s en g ers o r c ar g o f o r h i r e. In t h is c a se, whi l e th e sUAS will b e

o p e r ated a s part o f a com mercial o p er a ti o n

, it c a rr i es n eit h er p assen ge rs nor c ar g o . In the Gra n t o f

Ex e m p ti o n to Astr a eus Aer i al, the FAA d ete r mi n ed th a t the u n i q u e ch a rac t eristics o f s U A S o p erat i o n

o u tside o f c o n t r o l l ed ai r sp a ce d id n o t wa r r a n t t h e a dd i ti on a l c o st and re s trict i o n s with req u ir in g the P IC

to h a ve a C o m m e rcial Pi l o t Certific a t e a n d Cla s s II Me d ical Certif i cate. The f u lf i l l m ent o f t h e ad d itio n al

req u ire m ents f o r a pr i va t e p i l o t t o b e c o me qu al i fied a s a c o mm ercial p i l o t w o u ld n o t lead t o any

a dd itio n al saf e ty benefits when sU A S o p er a ti o n s a re i n v o l ved

.

14 CFR § 9 1

. 7 ( a ): C i v i l ai rc r a ft a irw o r t h i ne s s

.

This re gu lat i o n re qu ires t h at n o p ers o n m a y o p er a te a ci v il ai r craft u n l e ss it is in ai r w o r thy c o nd it i o n

.

S h o u ld t h e e x e m p t i o n be g ra n ted all o wing c o mm erci a l o p er a ti o n o f s U A S wit h o u t an ai r w o rth in e s s

certif i c a te, n o s tan d ard wi l l exist f o r air w o rth in ess o f t h e sU A S. G i ven t h e si z e o f t h e sU A S a n d t h e

p re v io u s COAs issued f o r s i mi l ar sU A S, an eq u i v ale n t l e v el o f safe t y will b e a ch i ev ed by ens u ri n g

c o m p l i a n ce with t h e g i v en sU A S ma nu als a n d use o f s afety c h e c klists p r i o r t o ea c h fli gh t.

14 CFR § 9 1

. 9 ( b ) ( 2): Ci v i l A i r c r a ft F l i g h t M a nu a l i n t h e A i r c r a ft.

The reg u lat i o n p r o vi d e s :

N o per s o n may o p e r ate a U. S

. - reg i stered civil ai r craft

... (2) F o r which an A i r p la n e o r R o t o rc r aft Fl igh t Ma nu al i s not req u ired by § 21.5 o f t h is cha p ter,

un less the r e is a vai l a b le in the aircra f t a cur r ent ap p r o ved air p la n e o r Roto r craft F l i gh t Ma nu al,

a pp roved m a nu al m a teri a l, m arki ng s, and p laca rd s, o r a n y c o m b i n at i o n t h er e o f.

Given the si z e o f sU A S, t h e y ha v e n o ab i l i t y o r pl a ce t o car r y such a fli g h t ma nu a l o n t h e ai r cra f t, n o t o n ly

b e ca u se there is n o pi l o t o n b o ar d , b u t b e ca u se t h ere is n o r o o m o r ca p aci t y to carry such an i t e m o n t h e

aircra f t.

The eq u i v ale n t l e v el o f saf e ty will b e a ch i e v ed by k e ep in g t h e fl igh t ma n u al at the g ro un d c o n t r o l p o i n t

where the PIC f l yi n g t h e sU AS wi l l h a v e i m m ed i ate ac c ess t o it. T h e F A A h a s iss u e d to o t h ers the fol l o wing

e x e m p ti o n s to t h i s re gu latio n : E xem p tion N o s. 8 6 0 7, 8 7

37

, 8 7 3 8, 9 2 99, 9 2 99A, 9 5 6 5, 9 5 65B, 1 0 1 6 7,

1 0 1 6 7A, 1 0 6 0 2, 3 28 2 7

, 1 0 7 0 0 , 11251, and 11256

.4

14 CFR § 9 1

. 1 03: Pr e fl i g h t a c t i o n

This re gu lat i o n re qu ires e a ch PIC to ta k e c e rtain a c ti o n s bef o r e fl igh t t o ins u re t h e saf e ty o f fli g h t. As F A A

a p p ro v ed r o t o r craft fl i gh t ma nu als will n o t b e p r o vi d ed f o r t h e aircra f t an ex e m p t i o n wi l l be n ee d ed.

Following a comprehensive preflight checklist will provide an equivalent level of safety . The PIC wi l l take

all a c ti o n s inc lud i n g revi e wing w e at h er, fl igh t b a t tery re qu ir e m e n ts, la n d i n g and tak e o ff d i stan c es a n d

ai r c r aft per f o r m a n ce d a t a b e f o r e i n itiat i o n o f fli gh t.

14 CFR § 9 1

. 1 0 9: Fl i g h t I n str u c t i o n

Section 91.109 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is

being used for f light 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 ground station 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 is 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.

T h e F A A h as ap p r o v ed e x e m p ti o n s f o r fl igh t trai n i n g wit h o u t f u l l y fu n cti o n al du al c o n t r o ls f o r a n u m b er o f

aircr a f t a n d f o r f l i gh t i n s truction in ex p er i m ental ai r craft. S ee E xem p tion N os. 5 7 7

8 K & 9 8 6 2A.

14 CFR § 9 1

. 1 19: M i n imum S a fe A l t it ude s

The regulation states that over sparsely populated areas the aircraft cannot be operated closer than 500

feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure. Since the typical mission of the sUAS would be

photography or survey of persons, vessels, vehicles or structures it would be necessary to operate closer

than 500 feet to the items listed. Operations will only be flown over property or persons where

permission has been obtained and careful pre

- planning has been conducted. The aircraft will be operated

at a low altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or

property on the surface. Therefore, we maintain that due to the small size of the UAS, the hazard to

persons, vehicles and structures is minimal compared to manned aircraft, which should be considered in

granting the exemption.

14 CFR § 9 1

. 1 21: A l t imeter Se tt i n g s

This regulation requires ea ch 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 altim eter, 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 safety check list and live flight data monitoring, confirming the altitude of the launch site

shown on th e GPS altitude indicator before flight.5

1 4 CFR § 9 1 .1 5 1 ( a ): F ue l R equ i r e me n ts f o r Fl i g h t in V F R C ond it i o n s

This re gu lat i o n pro h i b its an i nd ivid u al fr o m beg inn i n g “ a fli g h t in an ai rp la n e und er V F R c o nd itio n s un less

( c o n si d eri n g wi n d a n d f o rec a st weat h er c o nd i t io n s) t h ere is e n o ug h fuel t o fly t o t h e first p o i n t o f

i n te nd ed la n d i n g an d , ass u mi n g no r mal cr u is in g spe e d

– ( 1 ) D u ri n g t h e d a y, t o f l y af t er that f o r at l east 30

mi n u t e s; o r ( 2) At n i g h t, to fly a f ter that f o r a t lea s t 4 5 m i n u t es.”

The d if f er e n t sU A S b a tter i e s pr o vi d e a var i e ty o f p o we red f l i gh t t i mes. An e x e m p t ion fr o m § 14 CFR

9 1.1 5 1 is t h e r ef o r e re q u ire d

.

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

Operating the UAS, in a tightly c ontrolled 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 20 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 20 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.

The F A A h as gr an t ed s i mi l a r ex e m p t i o n s t o o t h ers, i n c l ud i n g E xemptio n s 2 68 9F, 5 7

4 5, 1 0 6 7 3, 1 0 80 8 , and

11251

.

1 4 CFR § 9 1 .2 03 ( a ) & ( b ): C ar r y i n g C i v i l A i r c r a ft C e r t i f i c a t i o n a n d R e gi s tr a t i o n

This section states no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it carries a current airworthiness

certificate. In additio n, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate is

displayed at the cockpit entrance and is legible to passengers and crew. Because the sUAS weighs less

than 55lbs and is operated without an onboard pilot, however, David West believes the sUAS has no

ability to carry certification and registration documents. In order to achieve an equivalent level of safety,

David West proposes to keep these documents at the ground control point where the operator flying and

will have immediat e access to them.

1 4 CFR § 9 1 .4 0 5 ( a ); 4 0 7 ( a ) ( 1); 4 0 9( a ) ( 1 ) a n d ( 2); 4 1 7( a ) a n d ( b ) : M a i n te na n c e I n s p e c t i on s

Secti o n 9 1. 4 05( a ) req u ires that an ai r cra f t o p era t o r o r o w n er “ sh a ll ha v e th a t ai r c raft i n spec t e d as

p rescri b ed in su b p art E o f t h is p a rt a n d sha l l b e tw e en req u ired ins p ec t i o n s, ex c e p t as p r o vi d ed in

p ara g ra p h (c) o f t h is s ec t i o n , have di s crepa n ci e s re p a i red as pre s cri b ed in part 4 3 o f th i s c h a p ter

.. . ”

Secti o n 9 1. 4 07 s i mi l ar l y m a kes r eferen c e t o r e q u ir e m e n ts in P a r t 4 3; Se c ti o n 91

. 4 09( a )( 2 ) req u ire s an

a nnu al i n specti o n f o r the i s su an ce o f an air w o r th in ess certif i c a te. S ec t i o n 9 1. 4 1 7 ( a) re qu ires the o w n er

o r o p era t o r to k e ep re c o r d s sh o wing certain mai n te n a n ce w o rk that has been a c c o m p l i s h ed by

cer t if i c a ted mecha n i c s, u n d er Pa r t 4 3, o r l i c ensed p i l o ts a n d re c o r d s o f ap p r o val o f t h e aircra f t f o r r e turn

to s er v i ce.

The sU A S a r e n ear l y mai nt ena n ce fr e e, they per f o rm a u t o matic p r e

- fl igh t ch e cks and t h e fa i l u re o f any

check will p r e vent ta k e

- o ff. Checks which c a nn o t b e d o n e b y t h e s y s t e m will b e p erf o r m ed b y a qu al i fied

p ers o n pr i o r t o each fli g h t a n d at pre d efi n ed i n te r vals as p art o f a mai n te n a n ce s che du le.6

Pre

- fl igh t c h eckl i s t i n cl ud e s :

V i su a l i n spe c ti o n o f the ai r frame

V i su a l i n spe c ti o n s o f r o t o r i n te g r i ty

C h e c k ch a r g e o f all b a t te ries (a e ri a l v eh i c le, c om m a n d statio n

, rad i o repe a ter s tatio n )

An e qu ivalent le v el o f sa f e t y wi l l b e ac h i e ved because the sU A S is s mall in si z e, w i ll car r y n o ex t ern a l

p ayl o a d

, will o p era t e o n ly i n restri c ted p red e te r mi n ed areas a n d is not a c o m p lex m e cha n ical d e vise. The

o p era t o r o f t h e sU A S will ens u re t h at i t is in w o r ki n g o r d er p r i o r to i n itiati n g fli gh t, p erf o r m req u ired

mai n te n a n c e, a n d k eep a l o g o f any mai nt ena n ce th a t is p er f o r med. M o r e o ve r

, t h e o p e r a t o r is t h e p ers o n

m o st f a mi l iar with t h e ai r craft and is b e s t su i te d to mai n tain the ai r craft i n an ai r w o rthy c o nd ition and t o

e n su r e an eq u ivalent l e v el o f sa f ety.

If m e ch an ical issues aris e

, t h e sU A S can la n d i m med i a t ely d u e to t h e p r e

- d e t er m i n ed area o f o p erat i o n

.

M o r e o ve r , t h e sU A S ' s s mall size, car r yi n g ca p ac i ty, a n d t h e fa c t that fli gh t o p erat i o n s wi l l o n ly ta k e p la c e

in restric t ed ar e as f o r l i mi t ed per i o d s o f t i me, crea t e l ess risk t h an t h e s a me fac t o rs as s o ci a ted with

c o n v entio n al fixe d

- wing ai r craft a n d r o t o rcraft per f o r mi n g t h e sa m e o p erat i o n

.

AIRCRAFT AND EQ UIVALENT 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 whic h 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:

 The UAS will weigh less than 55lbs.

 The UAS will have a maximum operating speed of no mo re than 50mph.

 Flights will be operated within line of sight of the Pilot in Command (PIC) and Visual Observer

(VO).

 Maximum flight time for each operational flight will be 20 minutes. Flights will be terminated at

25% battery power reserve or 20 minutes of flight time whichever occurs first.

 Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) and not

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

 Minimum crew for each operation will c onsist of the UAS Pilot, the Visual Observer (VO) and may

include but not limited to a Camera Operator.

 The UAS pilot will be the designated Pilot in Command (PIC) and hold an FAA Pilot’s License with a

Third or higher Class Medical Certificate or valid state drivers’ license. If the PIC feels another

operator to be qualified with the necessary skills to be PIC, and holds an FAA Pilot’s License along

with a Third or higher Class Medical Certificate or valid state drivers’ license, that person may be

desig nated PIC provided they have a minimum of 20 hours of flight time with the UAS.

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

consisting of all the days’ production activities.7

 Prior to each flight, t he PIC will conduct a pre

- flight inspection and determine the UAS is in a

condition for safe flight. If the inspection reveals a condition that affects the safe operation of the

UAS, the UAS will not be operated until the necessary maintenance has been per formed and the

UAS is found to be in a condition for safe flight.

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

 The flights will occur no closer than a 5 mile radius of the geographic center/Airport Reference

Poi nt (ARP) of a tower controlled or uncontrolled airport.

 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

t hem of the estimated flight time, flight duration, elevation of flight and other pertinent

information.

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

and ensure that only consenting persons will be all owed 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 required under the FOM. With the advanced permission of the FSDO, operations at closer range

may be approved.

 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.

 The PIC and VO will be able to communicate by voice at all times.

 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.

 If the UAS loses communications with the remote controller or loses GPS signal, the UAS will have

the capability t o return to a pre

- determined location within a designated location and land

autonomously.

 The UAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obst acles, weather, or

emergencies with an automated “Return Home and Land” function.

 UA S operations may not be conducted during night, as defined in 14 C.F.R. § 1.1.

 All flight operations will be entered into a log book, with all records available for viewing by

governing agencies.8

Pu b l i c I n te r e s t

A sUAS produces no air pollution when compared with larger aircraft, which helps create a cleaner

environment. In addition, unlike manned aircraft, which must take off from an airport and travel to the

location being filmed or surveyed, sUASs depart and land at the same site where data collection is going

t o occur. This not only helps reduce NAS congestion, but creates safer conditions for both operator and

the public. In the past, a standard aircraft might have to cruise at a low altitude and at a very slow speed

in order to accurately collect data, in turn producing potentially hazardous conditions for the operator

and public on the ground. Unlike standard manned aircrafts, however, sUASs do not benefit from altitude

or forward speed, resulting in a higher level of safety during data collection and other op erations. In

general, the takeoff weight of a standard aircraft is between 1,300 and 6,000 pounds, while the takeoff

weight of a standard sUAS is less than 55 pounds. This difference means that in the event of a mishap,

sUASs again pose significantly less risk to people and property on the ground, which is in the public

interest.

Small unmanned aircrafts also benefit the commercial and consumer public. Unlike traditional aircraft

which are powered by fuel, sUASs run on small batteries and are significantly more maneuverable. In

addition, because sUAS fly less than 30 minutes and at an altitude of less than 400 feet, little risk is posed

to national security and air safety. Past companies might have to operate a traditional aircraft to produce

similar results . The standard sUAS, however, comes equipped with the ability to capture data on behalf

of any number of private and public interests, all while reducing cost, increasing safety, and saving time.

To summarize the public inte rests that result from David West operations:

 Cleaner environ ment

 Reduced congestion

 Safer NAS

 Reduced consumer cost

 More effective data cap ture for science and research

 Safer public grounds

Con c l u s i o n

David West resp e ctful l y re qu e s ts th a t the F A A g r a n t the r eq u es t ed e x e m p ti o n and are p rep a r ed t o

m o d i f y o r a mend a n y part o f t h is req u est t o sat i sfy the need f o r an e qu iva l ent l e vel o f sa f e t y. W e l o o k

forward to w o rki n g with yo u r o ff i ce. If ad d itio n al in f o r mat i o n o r clar i fic a ti o n i s n e eded, p lea s e f e el fr e e to

c o n t a ct u s

.

Respe c tfu l ly S u b m i tted,

David West

513 East Park Ave.

Fairmont, WV 26554