August&15,&2015

U.&S.&Department&of&Transportation&

Docket&Management&System&

1200&New&Jersey&Ave.,&SE,&

West&Building&Ground&Floor,&Room&W12J140,&

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,&multiJdiscipline&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&aerial&data&collection1 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&sensing&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& gathering& of& data& by& instruments&

aboard&the&UA
eliminating&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. The&operation&of&small&UA,&

weighing&less&than&55&lbs.,&conducted&in&the&strict&conditions&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&

under&the&restrictions&proposed&herein&will&provide&an&equivalent&level&of&safety&as&the&Federal&Aviation&

Regulations we&are&seeking&relief&from.

A& pre&and& postJflight& 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

Pursuant& 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& of& 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&nonJcommercial&activities.&&As&the&UA&cannot&carry&

passengers,& allowing& a& nonJcommercial& 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&certification&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&safety.

! 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&operated&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& 5Jminutes& of&

reserve&power&or&that&recommended&by&the&manufacturer,&whichever&is&greater.

! 91.405(a),&91.407(a)(1),&91.409(a)(1)&and&(2),&and&91.417(a)&and&(b),&

o Maintenance&inspection&requirements&outlined&by&the&rules&above&apply&to&aircraft&with&

airworthiness&certificates.&&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& Airspace&

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&weigh less&than&55£s&including&payload.&

2. The& UA& will be& operated& at& speeds& 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&maximum&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&FAAJissued&

airman&medical&certificate&or&U.S.&driver’s&license.&

5. All&operations&will utilize&a&visual&observer&(VO).&The&UA&will be&operated&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×&electronic&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. Operating& 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& documents,& 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&conducted&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& maintaining& 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& preJflight& inspection& and& determine& the& UA is& in& a&

condition& for& safe& flight.& The& preJflight& inspection& will account& for& all& potential& discrepancies,&

e.g.,& inoperable& components,& items,& or& equipment.& If& the& inspection& reveals& a& condition& that&

affects& 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&for&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. The 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&possession,&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&demonstrates&the&ability&to&safely&

operate&the&UA in&a&manner&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.& PIC& 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& experienceJbuilding)& and& determining& the&

PIC’s&ability&to&safely&operate&the&UAS&in&a&manner&consistent&with&how&the&UA will&be&operated&

under&this&exemption&will&be&conducted under&the&terms&of&this&exemption.&Training&operations&

will only& be& conducted& during& dedicated& training& sessions.& During& training,& proficiency,& and&

experienceJbuilding& 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&

center&of&the&airport&symbol&as&denoted&on&the¤t&FAAJpublished&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&statute&miles.&

17. If&the&UA&loses&communications&or&loses&its&GPS&signal,&the&UA&will&be&configured&to return&to&a&

preJdetermined&location&within&the&private&or&controlledJaccess&property.&

18. The&PIC&will abort&the&flight&in&the&event&of&unpredicted&obstacles&or&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& accordance& 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&Ground&

Control& Station& of& the& UA any& time& the& aircraft& is& operating.& These& documents& will be& made&

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&immediately&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&closer&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& controlledJaccess& property& with& 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&transgresses&the&lateral&or&vertical&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& contained& on& the& NTSB& Web& site:&

www.ntsb.gov.&

If&this&exemption&permits&operations&for&the&purpose&of&closedJset&motion&picture&and&television&filming&

and&production,&the&following&additional&conditions&and&limitations&apply.&

28. The& operator& must& have& a& motion& picture& 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& District& Office& (FSDO)& with&

jurisdiction&over&the&area&of&proposed&filming.&The&3Jday&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. Name&and& phone& number& 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&onJscene&operation&of& the&

UAS;&

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

e. Name&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& production& 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&production,&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&
equivalent&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) 940J1952 or&at&

my&email&rufepf@gmail.com.

Respectfully,

Preston&F.&Rufe

Owner

Alpine&Edge&Professionals,&LLC.

Attachments:

A&– Pre&and&PostJFlight&Checklist

B&– Link&to&DJI&Phantom&2&Manual:&&

http://download.djiJ

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.djiJ

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

D&– Link&to&DJI&Inspire&1&Manual:

http://download.djiJinnovations.com/downloads/inspire_1/en/Inspire_1_User_Manual_v1.4_en.pdf
UA_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