June 23, 2015

 Exemption No. 11253A

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2014-0817

Mr. Simon Nielsen

CEO

Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management, Inc.

606 Venice Boulevard, Suite E

Venice, CA 90291

Dear Mr. Nielsen:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition for an amendment. It explains 

the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists any changes to the original conditions 

and limitations.

By letters dated April 23 and June 4, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA) on behalf of Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management, Inc. (hereinafter 

petitioner or operator) for an amendment to your current exemption. That exemption from 

§§ 61.23(a) and (c), 61.101(e)(4) and (5), 61.113(a), 61.315(a), 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 91.121, 

91.151(a)(1), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b) of Title 14, 

Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows the petitioner to operate a UAS to perform 

aerial data collection. You requested an amendment to conduct closed-set motion picture and 

filming and add the Freefly Cinestar 8, DJI Phantom 3, DJI Inspire, AeroVironment Puma 

AE, PrecisionhAwk Lancaster, AirRobot AR180 and AirRobot AR200, and 3D Robotics 

Spektre Industrial Multi-Rotor Aerial Vehicle.

In your petition, you indicate that there has been no change in the conditions and reasons 

relative to public interest and safety that were the basis for granting the original exemption.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested amendment to the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the petitioner. The 

unmanned aircraft(s) authorized in the original grant are comparable in type, size, weight, 

speed and operating capabilities to those in this petition.
2

Airworthiness Certification

In accordance with the statutory criteria provided in Section 333 of Public Law 112−95 in 

reference to 49 U.S.C. § 44704, and in consideration of the size, weight, speed, and limited 

operating area associated with the aircraft and its operation, the Secretary of Transportation 

has determined that this aircraft meets the conditions of Section 333. Therefore, the FAA 

finds that relief from 14 CFR part 21, Certification procedures for products and parts, 

Subpart H—Airworthiness Certificates, and any associated noise certification and testing 

requirements of part 36, is not necessary.

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 11253 

remains valid and is in the public interest. Therefore, under the authority contained 

in 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, and 44701, delegated to me by the Administrator, the operator is 

granted an amendment to add new aircraft and closed-set motion picture and filming to its 

UAS operations.

The operator shall add this amendment to its original exemption.

 

Conditions and Limitations

All conditions and limitations within Grant of Exemption No. 11253 remain in effect except 

as follows. Condition No. 1 has been updated to reflect the additional aircraft. Condition No. 

2 has been updated to permit closed-set motion picture and television filming. 

Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be 

grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption. 

1. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption are limited to the DJI S1000, DJI 

Phantom 2, Drone-Fleet Carbon Fiber V5, Freefly Cinestar 8, DJI Phantom 3, DJI 

Inspire, AeroVironment Puma AE, PrecisionhAwk Lancaster, AirRobot AR180 and 

AirRobot AR200, and 3D Robotics Spektre Industrial Multi-Rotor Aerial Vehicle 

when weighing less than 55 pounds including payload. Proposed operations of any 

other aircraft will require a new petition or a petition to amend this exemption.

2. Operations for the purpose of closed-set motion picture and television filming are

permitted.
3

This exemption terminates on April 30, 2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service
April 23, 2015

Manager, Flight Standards Service

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office

FAA Headquarters, Building 10A

800 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20591

Re: Petition to Amend Exemption No. 11253 to Regulatory Docket No FAA-2014-0817

for Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management (DFAM) for additional aircraft.

Attention: FAA UAS Integration Office

DFAM respectfully requests the addition of the following aircraft to our Exemption No. 

11253 and COA FAA-2014-0817-333E:

Additional Aircraft Requested:

• DJI Inspire o (Note Maybe Eligible for Summary Grant/Amendment by previous FAA Analysis of 

Exemption No. 11336)

• AeroVironment Puma AE o (Note Maybe Eligible for Summary Grant/Amendment by previous FAA Analysis of 

Exemption No. 11261)

• PrecisionHawk Lancaster

o (Note Maybe Eligible for Summary Grant/Amendment by previous FAA Analysis of

Exemption No. 11309)

• AirRobot AR180 & AirRobot AR200 o (Note Maybe Eligible for Summary Grant/Amendment by previous FAA Analysis of

Exemption No. 11206)

• 3D Robotics Spektre Industrial Multi-Rotor Aerial Vehicle o (Note Maybe Eligible for Summary Grant/Amendment by previous FAA Analysis of

Exemption No. 11206)

DFAM’s existing safety standards and procedures as outlined in our Flight Operation & 

Procedures Manual (FOPM) will continue for the additional Aircraft. We will follow the 

recommended Maintenance and Operations Parameters set forth by each of these 

respective UAV Manufactures.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at the phone number or via the e-mail address

provided above should you have any questions or concerns.

Respectfully submitted,

Simon Nielsen

CEO, Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management, Inc.

Simon Nielsen

CEO

Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management, Inc.

606 Venice Blvd, Suite E

Venice, CA 90291

(213) 379-0629

Simon.Nielsen@drone-fleet.com

www.drone-fleet.com
June 4, 2015

Manager, Flight Standards Service

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration Office

FAA Headquarters, Building 10A

800 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20591

Re: Petition to Amend Exemption No. 11253 to Regulatory Docket No FAA-2014-0817

for Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management (DFAM) for additional aircraft.

Attention: FAA UAS Integration Office

DFAM respectfully requests the addition of the following aircraft to our Exemption No. 

11253 and COA FAA-2014-0817-333E:

Additional Aircraft Requested:

• FreeFly CineStar 8

Note Maybe Eligible for Summary Grant/Amendment by previous FAA Analysis of 

Exemption No. 11488 (Docket No. FAA–2014–0990)

11408 (Docket No. FAA–2015–0131)

11284 (Docket No. FAA−2014−1004)

DFAM’s existing safety standards and procedures as outlined in our Flight Operation & 

Procedures Manual (FOPM) will continue for the additional Aircraft. We will follow the 

recommended Maintenance and Operations Parameters set forth by each of these 

respective UAV Manufactures.

Please do not hesitate to contact me at the phone number or via the e-mail address

provided above should you have any questions or concerns.

Respectfully submitted,

Simon Nielsen

CEO, Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management, Inc.

Simon Nielsen

CEO

Drone Fleet & Aerospace Management, Inc.

606 Venice Blvd, Suite E

Venice, CA 90291

(213) 379-0629

Simon.Nielsen@drone-fleet.com

www.drone-fleet.com