August&15 ,&2015

U.&S.&Department&of&Transportation& Docket&Management&System& 1200&New&Jersey&Ave.,&SE,& West&Building&Ground&Floor,&Room&W12

J 140,& Washington,&DC&20590&

Re:& Request&for&Exemption&under&Section&333&of&the&FAA&Modernization&and&Reform&Act and&Part&11& of&the&Federal&Aviation&Regulations&from&14&C.F.R.&61.23(a)&and&(c);&61.101(e)(4)&and&(5);&61.113(a);& 61.315(a);&91.119(c);&91.121;&91.151(a)(1);&91.405(a);&91.407(a)(1);&91.409(a)(1)&and&(2);&91.417(a)& &&(b).&

Dear&Sir&or&Madam:&

Pursuant& to Section& 333& of& the& FAA&Modernization& and& Reform& Act& of& 2012& (the& Reform& Act)& and& 14& C.F.R.& Part& 11,& Alpine' Edge' Professionals,' LLC ,& an& operator& of& Small& Unmanned& Aircraft& (UA)& hereby& applies& for& an& exemption& from& the& listed& Federal& Aviation& Regulations& (" FARs")& to& allow& commercial& operation&of&its&UA.&



## Background
Alpine&Edge&Professionals,&LLC is& a&small,&multi

J discipline&company&providing&intelligent&engineering&and& aviation& solutions& for& design,& construction,&mining,&environmental,&and&agricultural& needs .&&The& use& of& UA&will&augment&and&enhance&the&services& Alpine&Edge&Professionals,&LLC offers&its&clients.



## Purpose'and'Need
This&exemption&will&allow&commercial&operations&of&UA’s& for&a erial&data&collection 1 which&will&enhance& safety&by&reducing&risk.&

The& alternative& to& using& a& UA& is& to& use& a& turbine or& piston& power& aircraft& carrying& large& amounts& of&
combustible fuel.& Not& only& is& the& operation& dangerous& at& the& location,& the& aircraft& must& fly& to& the& location&and&back&to&the&home&airport.& The&UA is& powered&by batteries&which&eliminates&most&of&the&risk& because& no& highly& flammable& fuel& will& be& involved.& The& UA& will& carry& no& passengers& or& crew;& thus,&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 1 Aerial&Data&Collection& includes&any&remote&sen sing&and&measuring&by&an&instrument(s)&aboard&the&UA.&Examples& include& imagery& (photography,& video,& infrared,& etc.),& electronic& measurement& (precision& surveying,& RF& analysis,& etc.),& chemical& measurement& (particulate& measurement,& etc.),& or& any& other& gatheri ng& of& data& by& instruments& aboard&the&UAeliminating&most&of&the&risk&to&the&pilot&and&personnel.& UA&operate&at&slow&speeds,&close&to&the&ground,&
and&in&a sterile&environment&and,&as&a&result,&are&far&safer&than&conventional&operations&conducted&with& turbine&helicopters&operating&in&close&proximity&to&the&ground&and&people. T he&operation&of&small&UA,& weighing&less&than&55&lbs.,&conducted&in&the&strict&cond itions&outlined&herein,&will&provide&an&equivalent& level& of& safety& supporting& the& grant& of& the& exemptions& requested,& including& exempting& the& applicant& from&the&requirements&of&Part&21&and&allowing&commercial&operations.& The&operations&of&the&UA&listed&
unde r&the&restrictions&proposed&herein&will&provide&an&equivalent&level&of&safety&as&the&Federal&Aviation& Regulations we&are&seeking&relief&from.

A& pre&and& post

J flight& checklist&is&included&in&Appendix&A.& &Also,&links& to& the& respective&manufacturer’s& operating manuals&are&provided&as&Appendices&B,&C,&and&D.



## Petitioner’s'Contact'Information :' Alpine&Edge&Professionals,&LLC
Attn:& Preston&Rufe
Email:& rufepf@gmail.com
Address:& 5591&W.&Durning&Dr,&Eagle,&ID&&83616



## Aircraft'Types:

! DJI&Phantom&2 ! DJI& Phantom&3& ! DJI& Inspire&1 ! SenseFly&eBee



## Exemptions Requested

P ursuant& to& the&authority& contained& in& 49&U.S.C.& 106(f),& 40113,&and& 44701,& Alpine&Edge& Professionals,&
LLC requests exemption&from&the&following,&to&the&extent&necessary&to&allow&the&petitioner&to&operate&a&
UA&to perform&aerial&data&collection:

! 14&CFR&§§&61.23(a)&and&(c),

o Other&exemptions&determined&that&a&driver’s&license&could&be&used&in&lieu&of&a&medical& certificate,&providing&an&equivalent&level&of&safety. ! 61.101(e)(4)&and&(5),&

o There&is&an&equivalent&level& o f& safety& provided& by& requiring& the& PIC& to& “hold&either&an& airline&transport&pilot,&commercial,&private,&recreational,&or&sport&pilot&certificate.” ! 61.113(a),& and&61.315(a),&

o Private&pilot&privileges&are&limited&to&non

J commercial&activities.&&As&the&UA&cann ot&carry& passengers,& allowing& a& non

J commercial& or& airline& transport& pilot& certificated& PIC& (i.e.,& private,&sport,&or&recreational&certificated)&provides&an&equivalent&level&of&safety. ! 91.7(a),&o FAA&authority&allows&exemption&from&requiring&airworthiness&ce rtification&for&UA.&&There& is& an& equivalent& level& of& safety& ensured& by& granting& an& exemption& as& no& people& are& carried&on&board&a&UA.&&Moreover,&operations&will&be&conducted&in&accordance&with&the& following&requirements,&ensuring&an&equivalent&level&of&safe ty. ! 91.119(c),&

o This& rule& establishes& minimum& safe& altitudes& and& specifically& addresses& rotorcraft,& including& helicopters.& & This& rule& allows& for& operations& at& altitudes& that& do& not& present& hazard& to&personnel&or&property&on& the&ground.&&The&UA&will&be&oper ated&at&or&below& 400& ft& above& ground& level& (AGL)& and& only& in& controlled& areas,& pursuant& to& the& requirements&listed&below. ! 91.121,

o The&listed&UA&do¬&use&barometric&altimeters.&&Altitude&reference&is&maintained&using& GPS,&only.&&Indicated&altitude&will&be confirmed&with&the&altitude&of&the&launch&site,&prior& to&flight. ! 91.151(a)(1),&

o This&rule&establishes&minimum& fuel&requirements& for&VFR& flight.&&An&equivalent&level&of& safety& can& be& provided& by& restricting& operations& require& a& minimum& of& 5

J minutes& of&

res erve&power&or&that&recommended&by&the&manufacturer,&whichever&is&greater. ! 91.405(a),&91.407(a)(1),& 9 1.409(a)(1)&and&(2),&and&91.417(a)&and&(b),&

o Maintenance&inspection&requirements&outlined&by&the&rules&above&apply&to&aircraft&with&
airworthiness&certificat es.&&An&equivalent&level&of&safety&can&be&provided&by&performing& inspections&in&accordance&with&the&UA&manufacturer’s&operation&manual.&&



## Operating'Conditions
In& order& to& ensure& that& UAS& operations& will& be& conducted& to& minimize& risk& in& the& National& Airspac e& System&( NAS ) and&that&the&operations&are&conducted&at&an&equivalent&or&higher&level&of&safety&than&the& current& regulations and& those& we& are& requesting& exemption& from,& above ,& the& following& operating& procedures&will&be&followed

.&&

1. The&UA&operated&will&weig h less&than&55£s&including&payload.&
2. The& UA& will be& operated& at& speed s& below 87& knots& (100& miles& per& hour ),& using either& groundspeed& or& calibrated& airspeed& to& determine& compliance.& In& no& case& will& the& UA& be& operated&at&airspeeds&greater&than&the&maxim um&UA&operating&airspeed&recommended&by&the&
aircraft&manufacturer.&
3. The& UA& will be& operated& at& an& altitude& of& no& more& than& 400& feet& above& ground& level& (AGL).& Altitude&must&be&reported&in&feet&AGL.&
4. The&UA& will be& operated&within&visual&line& of& sight& (VLOS) of& the& pilot&in& command& ( PIC ) at&all&
times
,& unaided&by&any&device&other&than&corrective&lenses,&as&specified&on&the&PIC’s&FAA

J issued&
airman&medical&certificate&or&U.S.&driver’s&license.&
5. All&operations& will utilize&a&visual&observer&(VO).&The&UA& will be&o perated&within&the&visual&line&of& sight&(VLOS)&of&the&PIC&and&VO&at&all×.&The&VO&may&be&used&to&satisfy&the&VLOS&requirement&as& long& as& the& PIC& always& maintains& VLOS& capability.& The& VO& and& PIC& must& be& able& to& communicate&verbally&at&all×&electro nic&messaging&or&texting&is¬&permitted&during&flight& operations.& The& PIC& will be& designated& before& the& flight& and& will& not transfer& his& or& her& designation&for&the&duration&of&the&flight.&The&PIC& will ensure&that&the&VO&can&perform&the&duties& required&of the&VO.&
6. O perating& documents& will be& accessible& during& UA& operations& and& made& available& to& the& Administrator& upon& request.& If& a& discrepancy& exists& between& the& conditions& and& limitations& in& this& exemption& and& the& procedures& outlined& in& the& operating& docume nts,& the& conditions& and& limitations& herein& take& precedence&and&must& be& followed.&Otherwise,& the& operator& will follow& the& procedures& as& outlined& in& its& operating& documents.& The& operator& will update& or& revise& its& operating&documents ,&as&needed

.& 7. Any&UA& that& has& undergone&maintenance& or alterations& that& affect& the&UA operation& or& flight& characteristics,& e.g.,& replacement& of& a& flight& critical& component,& will undergo& a& functional& test& flight&prior&to&conducting&further.&Functional&test&flights&may&only&be&conduc ted&by&a&PIC&with&a& VO& and& must& remain& at& least& 500& feet& from& other& people.& The& functional& test& flight& must& be& conducted&in&such&a&manner&so&as&to¬&pose&an&undue&hazard&to&persons&and&property.&
8. The& operator& is& responsible& for& ma intaining& and& inspecting the& UA to& ensure& that& it& is& in& a& condition&for&safe&operation.&
9. Prior& to& each& flight,& the& PIC& will conduct& a& pre

J flight& inspection& and& determine& the& UA is& in& a& condition& for& safe& flight.& The& pre

J flight& inspection& will account& for& all& potential& discrepanci es,& e.g.,& inoperable& components,& items,& or& equipment.& If& the& inspection& reveals& a& condition& that&
affec ts& the& safe& operation& of& the& UA ,& the& aircraft& will& not& be& operated until& the& necessary&
maintenance& is performed&and&the&UA is&found&to&be&in&a&condition&f or&safe&flight.&
10. The& operator& will follow& the& UA manufacturer’s& maintenance,& overhaul,& replacement,& inspection,&and&life&limit&requirements&for&the&aircraft&and&aircraft&components.&
11. Each&UAS&operated& will comply&with&all&manufacturer&safety&bulletins.&
12. Th e PIC& will hold&either&an&airline&transport,&commercial ,&or&private&certificate .&The&PIC& will& also& hold&a¤t&FAA&airman&medical&certificate&or&a&valid&U.S.&driver’s&license&issued&by&a&state,&the& District&of&Columbia,&Puerto&Rico,&a&territory,&a&posse ssion,&or&the&Federal&government.&The&PIC&
will& also&meet&the&flight&review&requirements&specified&in&14&CFR&§&61.56&in&an&aircraft&in&which& the&PIC&is&rated&on&his&or&her&pilot&certificate.&
13. The&operator& will not&permit&any&PIC&to&operate&unless&the&PIC&de monstrates&the&a bility&to&safely& operate&the&UA in&a&ma nner&consistent&with&how&the&UA will&be&operated&under&this&exemption,& including& evasive& and& emergency& maneuvers& and& maintaining& appropriate& distances& from& persons,& vessels,& vehicles& and& structures.& PI C& qualification& flight& hours& and& currency& will be& logged&in&a&manner&consistent&with&14&CFR&§&61.51(b).&Flights& for& the&purposes&of& training& the& operator’s& PICs& and& VOs& (training,& proficiency,& and& experience

J building)& and& determining& the& PIC’s&ability&to&s afely&operate&the&UAS&in&a&ma nner&consistent&with&how&the&UA will&be&operated& under&this&exemption& will&be&conducted under&the&terms&of&this&exemption.& T raining&operations&
will only& be& conducted& during& dedicated& training& sessions.& During& training,& proficie ncy,& and& experience

J building& flights,& all& persons& not& essential& for& flight& operations& are& considered&nonparticipants,& and& the& PIC& must& operate& the& UA& with& appropriate& distance& from& nonparticipants&in&accordance&with&14&CFR&§&91.119.&
14. All&operations&must&be conducted&under& day,& visual&meteorological&conditions&(VMC).&
15. The&UA& will not&operate&within&5&nautical&miles&of&an&airport&reference&point&(ARP)&as&denoted&in& the& current& FAA& Airport/Facility& Directory& (AFD)& or& for& airports& not& denoted& with& an& ARP,& the&

c enter&of&the&airport&symbol&as&denoted&on&the¤t&FAA

J published&aeronautical&chart,&unless& a&letter&of&agreement&with&that&airport’s&management&is&obtained&or&otherwise&permitted&by&a& COA&issued&to&the&exemption&holder.&The&letter&of&agreement&with&the airport&management& will be&made&available&to&the&Administrator&or&any&law&enforcement&official&upon&request.&
16. The&UA& will not&be&operated&less&than&500&feet&below&or&less&than&2,000&feet&horizontally&from&a&
cloud&or&when& ground& visibility&is&less&than&3&s tatute&miles.&
17. If&the&UA&loses&communications&or&loses&its&GPS&signal,&the&UA& will&be&configured&to return&to&a&
pre

J determined&location&within&the&private&or&controlled

J access&property.&
18. The&PIC& will abort&the&flight&in&the&event&of&unpredicted&obstacles&o r&emergencies.&
19. The& PIC& is& prohibited& from& beginning& a& flight& unless& (considering& wind& and& forecast& weather& conditions)&there&is&enough&available&power&for&the&UA&to&conduct&the&intended&operation&and& to&operate&after& that& for&at&least& five& (5)& minutes&or& with& the& reserve&power& recommended&by& the&manufacturer&if&greater.&
20. The&exemption&holder& will apply&for&a&new&or&amended&COA&if&it&intends&to&conduct&operations&
that&cannot&be&conducted&under&the&terms&of&the& granted& COA.&
21. All& aircraft& operated& in& accordan ce& with& this& exemption& will be& identified& by& serial& number,& registered&in&accordance&with&14&CFR&part&47,&and&have&identification& (N−Number)&markings&in& accordance&with&14&CFR&part&45,&Subpart&C.&Markings&must&be&as&large&as&practicable.&
22. Documents& used& by the& operator& to& ensure& the& safe& operation& and& flight& of& the&UAS& and& any& documents&required&under&14&CFR&§§&91.9&and&91.203& will be&available&to&the&PIC&at&the&G round&
Control& Station& of& the& UA any& time& the& aircraft& is& operating.& These& documents& will be& mad e& available&to&the&Administrator&or&any&law&enforcement&official&upon&request.&
23. The& UA& will remain& clear& and& give& way& to& all& manned& aviation& operations& and& activities& at& all&
times.&
24. The&UA will not&be&operated&by&the&PIC&from&any&moving&device&or&vehicle.&
25. All& Flight& operations& will be& conducted& at& least& 500& feet& from& all& nonparticipating& persons,& vessels,&vehicles,&and&structures&unless:&

a. Barriers&or&structures&are&present&that&sufficiently&protect&nonparticipating&persons&from& the& UA& and/or& debris& in& the& event& of& an& accident.& The& operator& must& ensure& that& nonparticipating& persons& remain& under& such& protection.& If& a& situation& arises& where& nonparticipating&persons&leave&such&protection&and&are&within&500&feet&of&the&UA,&flight& operations& will cease&immediatel y&in&a&manner&ensuring& the& safety&of&nonparticipating& persons;&and&
b. The& owner/controller& of&any&vessels,&vehicles& or& structures& has&granted& permission& for& operating&closer&to&those&objects&and&the&PIC&has&made&a&safety&assessment&of&the&risk& of&operating&c loser&to&those&objects&and&determined&that&it&does¬&present&an&undue&hazard.& The& PIC,& VO,& operator& trainees& or& essential& persons& are& not& considered& nonparticipating&persons.&
26. All& operations& will be& conducted& over& private& or& controlled

J access& property& wi th& permission& from& the& property& owner/controller& or& authorized& representative.& Permission& from& property& owner/controller&or&authorized&representative&will&be&obtained&for&each&flight&to&be&conducted.&
27. Any&incident,&accident,&or&flight&operation&that&transg resses&the&lateral&or&ver tical&boundaries&of& the& operational& area& as& defined& by& the& applicable& COA& must& be& reported& to& the& FAA's& UAS& Integration& Office& (AFS−80)& within& 24& hours.& Accidents& must& be& reported& to& the& National& Transportation& Safety& Board& (NTSB)& per& instructions& containe d& on& the& NTSB& Web& site:& www.ntsb.gov.&

If&this&exemption&permits&operations&for&the&purpose&of&closed

J set&motion&picture&and&television&filming& and&production,&the&following&additional&conditions&and&limitations&apply.&

28. The& operator& must& have& a& motion& pict ure& and& television& operations& manual& (MPTOM)& as& documented&in&this&grant&of&exemption.&
29. At& least& 3& days& before&aerial& filming,& the& operator& of& the&UA affected& by& this&exemption&must& submit& a& written& Plan& of& Activities& to& the& local& Flight& Standards& Distric t& Office& (FSDO)& with& jurisdiction&over&the&area&of&proposed&filming.&The&3

J day&7¬ification&may&be&waived&with&the& concurrence&of&the&FSDO.&The&plan&of&activities&must&include&at&least&the&following:&

a. Dates&and×&for&all&flights;&
b. N ame&and& phone& numb er& of& the& operator& for& the&UAS&aerial& filming& conducted& under& this&grant&of&exemption;&

c. Name&and&phone&number&of& the&person& responsible& for& the&on

J scene&operation&of& the& UAS;& d. Make,&model,&and&serial&or&N−Number&of&UAS&to&be&used;&

e. N ame&and&certificate&number&of&UAS&PICs&involved&in&the&aerial&filming;&
f. A& statement& that& the& operator& has& obtained& permission& from& property& owners&and/or& local& officials& to& conduct& the& filming& produc tion& event;& the& list& of& those& who& gave& permission&must&be&made&available&to&the&inspector&upon&request;&

g. Signature&of&exemption&holder&or&representative;&and&
h. A&description&of& the& flight&activity,&including&maps&or&diagrams&of&any&area,&city,& town,& county, and/or&state&over&which&filming&will&be&conducted&and&the&altitudes&essential&to& accomplish&the&operation.&
30. Flight&operations&may&be&conducted&closer&than&500&feet&from&participating&persons&consenting& to&be&involved&and&necessary&for&the&filming&producti on,&as&specified&in&the&exemption&holder’s&
MPTOM.



## Conclusion
The&operation&of& Alpine&Edge&Professionals,&LLC using&a&small&UA,&weighing&less&than&55&lbs.,&conducted& under& the& proposed& restrictions& outlined& above& as& well& as& the& attached& documents ,& will& provide& an&equi valent&level&of& safety& supporting& the&grant&of& the&exemptions& requested& herein.&If&I&can& be&of&any& assistance&to&further&expedite&this&petition,&please&do¬&hesitate&to&contact&me&at&( 208 ) 940

J 1952 or&at& my&email& rufepf@gmail.com

.

Respectfully,

Preston&F.&Rufe
Owner
A lpine&Edge&Professionals,&LLC.

Attachments :

A&

– Pre&and&Post

J Flight&Checklist

B&

– Link&to&DJI&Phantom&2&Manual:&& http://download.dji

J innovations.com/downloads/phantom_2_vision_plus/en/Phantom_2_Vision_Plus_User_Manual_v1.8_e n.pdf

C&

– Link&to&DJI&Phantom&3&Manual:&& http://download.dji

J innovations.com/downloads/phantom_3/en/Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en.pdf

D&

– Link&to&DJI&Inspire&1&Man ual: http://download.dji

J innovations.com/downloads/inspire_1/en/Inspire_1_User_Manual_v1.4_en.pdfUA_Flight*Checklist.xlsx Flight*Plan: Pilot:

Time:

Batteries*full Proper*PPE SD*memory*installed
Inspect*wing,*rotors,*motor Inspect*airframe Inspect*&*clean*FPV*lens

Hazards'/'Site'Selection Wind Electronics

Check*for*obstructions Wind*speed*<*10*mph Camera*ON*/*timelapse Locate*ground*control*points Max.*altitute*<=*400*feet UAV*battery*ON Define*landing*pad Equipment GPS*/*compass*calibration Define*"No*Fly*Zone" Battery*full FPV*&*ground*station*ON

Radio*calls*&*notifications Transmitter*throttle*to*zero Arm*flight*controller

Weather' Check*landing*gear Action*/*Start*filming Line*of*sight*/*visibility Assemble*UAV Timer*on

Cloud*Clearance

Announce*out*loud*"CLEAR" Turn*propellers*ON*/*Take*Off

Propellers*OFF FPV*&*ground*station*OFF Disarm*UAV UAV*battery*OFF Timer*OFF SD*Card*out Filming*&*Camera*OFF Radio*calls*&*notifications Secure*aircraft

Transmitter*OFF Visual*aircraft*inspection Clear*landing*path PRE:FLIGHT'CHECKLIST

POST:FLIGHT'CHECKLIST UA'OPERATION'CHECKLIST

EQUIPMENT'/'PERSONNEL'INSPECTION PLAN'OF'DAY

Define*SOW:

2 3

4

5 1