Cumulus Aviation LLC

FAA 333 Exemption Petition November 12, 2015 U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Docket Management System 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE Washington, DC 20590 Cumulus Aviation LLC Petition for FAA Section 333 E xemption: Pursuant to the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Cumulus Aviation LLC hereby submits a Section 333 exemption petition, in accordance with Section 333 of the Reform Act. Cumulus Aviation LLC is requesting to commercially operate it's sma ll unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) which are currently regulated by the Federal Aviation Adminis tration. Purposed Operations: Cumulus Aviation LLC desires to utilize unmanned ai rcraft systems (UAS) to accomplish aerial data collection, aerial photography, and closed-set film ing. Operations will include aerial surveying and mapping, remote sensing, agricultural support, real estate photography, aerial film making and photography, photography for marketing and advertis ing, special events photography, building inspections, construction site documentation and in spections, wildlife monitoring , forestry monitoring, and educational and research operations

. Operator's contact Information: Rob Jahnke Cumulus Aviation LLC 3554 Riviera Rd Sartell, MN 56377 List of specific applicable sections of 14 CFR for which exemption is sought: 14 CFR 21, Subpart H -Airworthiness Certificates 14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b), Certification: Pilots, Fl ight Instructors, and Ground Instructors 14 CFR 91.7 (a), Airworthiness required for operati on 14 CFR 91.103 (b) (2), Preflight action 14 CFR 91.105, Flight crew members at stations 14 CFR 91.109, Flight instruction 14 CFR 91.119 (c), Minimum safe altitudes 14 CFR 91.121, Altimeter settings 14 CFR 91.151, Fuel requirements for flights in VFRconditions 14 CFR 91.405 (a), Maintenance required

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14 CFR 91.409 (a) (2), Inspections 14 CFR 91.417 (a) and (b), Maintenance records UAS craft used for operations under this petition m ay include: Yuneec Q500 4K, Yuneec Q500+, Yuneec H920, Blade Ch roma, DJI Phantom 2, DJI Phantom 3 Pro, DJI Inspire, DJI Spreading Wings S900, DJI Spreading Wi ngs S1000, Flamewheel F550 (CA), Turnigy QuadCopter Kit (CA), RcExplorer Tricopter V2.5 (CA), C umulus Multirotor CM-1 (CA), Cumulus Fixed Wing CM-2 (CA), Cumulus VTOL CM-3 (CA), Skywalker X8 (C A), Skywalker X7 (CA), FT Versa Wing (CA), FT Blunt Nose Versa Wing (CA), FT Explorer – Fixed wi ng (CA), FT Explorer – VTOL (CA), Radian – Electric Sailplane (CA), Radian Pro – Electric Sailplane (CA ), Durafly SkyMule (CA), Ritewing Zepher (CA). * (CA) indicates the craft has been built and/or mo dified by Cumulus Aviation. All of these UAS craft weigh less than 55 lbs inclu ding payload, and have operating speeds less than 8 7 knots (100 mph). Typical operating parameters for these craft are weights less than 5 lb including payload and speeds less than 35 knots (40 mph). Safety: The equivalent level of safety will be maintained b y following FAA operating guidelines for UAS. Specifically, flights will be conducted below an al titude of 400 feet with craft that weigh less than 55 lbs with payload and at speeds below 87 knots (100 mph). All flights will be visual line of sight (V LOS) and utilize a visual observer (VO). All craft will remain clear and give way to all manned aviation operations and activities at all times. All craft that have undergone maintenance or alterations will be flight tested in a safe environment before being re turned to service. Each craft will be maintained an d inspected to ensure that it is in a condition for s afe operation. A pre-flight inspection will be conducted before each operation. All pilots in comm and (PIC) of the craft will hold at least a sport p ilot certificate or above with an appropriate medical ce rtificate or drivers license and a current flight review for the certificate held. Public Interest: UAS are superior to manned helicopters or airplanes for the proposed operations due to the smaller size and weight, lower speeds, lower equipment and personnel cost, reduced noise and much smaller environmental impact, all of which promote public s afety. The UAS are smaller, lighter and more maneuverable than larger aircraft, they operate at lower altitudes with no people on board and will thereby reduce risk levels and enhance safety, dimi nishing the likelihood of death or serious bodily injury to crew and people on the ground as well as limiting risk of damage to property on the ground. Replacing significantly larger manned aircraft carrying crew and flammable fuel with small UAS carryin g no passengers or crew or flammable fuel, creates a much greater margin of safety for the public. The enhanced safety achieved using an unmanned aircraft(UA) with the UAS described by the petitioner is good cause to find that the UAS operation enabled b y this exemption is in the public interest.

2 of 3Summary:

Cumulus Aviation LLC seeks an FAA Section 333 exemp tion from the requirements of 14 CFR 21, Subpart H, 14 CFR 61.113(a) and (b), 14 CFR 91.7 (a ), 14 CFR 91.103 (b) (2), 14 CFR 91.105, 14 CFR 91.109,14 CFR 91 .119 (c), 14 CFR 91.121, 14 CFR 91 .151, 14 CFR 91.405 (a), 14 CFR 91.407 (a) (1), 14 CFR 91.409 (a) (2), and 14 CFR 91.417 (a) and (b). The exemption will allow Cumulus Aviation LLC to c ommercially operate Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to accomplish aerial data collection, aerial photography, and closed-set filming.

Sincerely,

Rob Jahnke Owner/Operator Cumulus Aviation LLC

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