June 29, 2015

Charles Roberts

2090 Brush Grove Road

Rochelle, IL 61068

Dear Mr. Roberts: 

This letter is to inform you that we are unable to process your request for an exemption from 

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). It explains why we can not process your 

request and what you should do in the next 30 days.

Why We Can Not Process Your Request

We entered your June 25, 2015, exemption request into the public docket (No. FAA-2015-

2178), but we are unable to process your request any further. The information you sent does

not comply with the requirements of § 11.81 (copy enclosed). For us to consider the request 

any further, you must send us all of the following:

 The specific section or sections of 14 CFR from which you seek relief, the extent of the 

relief you seek, and the reason you seek relief.

 The reasons why granting the request would be in the public interest; that is, how it would 

benefit the public as a whole.

 The reasons why the exemption would not adversely affect safety or how the exemption 

would provide a level of safety at least equal to that provided by the rule from which you 

seek an exemption.

 Any additional information, views, or arguments available to support your request.

What You Should Do

If you want us to process your request any further, you must send the information described 

earlier to reach us within 30 days. Please note that § 11.63(d) requires you to send your 

petition for exemption at least 120 days before the proposed effective date of the exemption.
2

If We Do Not Hear From You

If we do not hear from you within 30 days, we will close the docket without notifying you 

further. If you have any questions or require additional time, you may call (202) 267-9677.

Sincerely,

/s/

Brenda Robeson

Program Analyst, Airmen and 

 Airspace Rules Division

Enclosure
6/26/2015 Regulations.gov ­ Other Document

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA­2015­2178­0001 1/2

Charles Roberts - Petition for Exemption

This Other document was issued by the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA)

For related information, Open Docket Folder

Content

Petition for Exemption under Section 333

1. Petitioner will use a Phantom Quadcopter UAS with

propeller guard. Please see attachment­1.pdf for description of

the UAS. This is a commercially available UAS.

2. Petitioner will perform a pre­flight inspection of the UAS

prior to usage as described in Aattachment­1.pdf . Petitioner will

verify proper GPS calibration, onboard computer function and

proper battery voltage. The UAS will be programmed to return to

the take off point as a final default operation.

3. Petitioner will be using the control system provided by the

manufacturer as described in attachment­2.pdf. The unit

operates in the working frequency range of 2.406­2.476 GHZ.

The unit is FCC compliant. A GoPro Hero3 camera is carried by

the UAV and is FCC compliant as described in attachment­3.pdf

4. PIC(s) will demonstrate safe takeoff, translation, rotation,

hover and landing. All operations will be VLOS. PIC(s) will

demonstrate control inputs in manual mode aand automatic

mode. Training will include required reading of attachment­1.pdf,

observing flight operations by another PIC, observing calibration

procedure, observing battery charging procedure, and practicing

flight operation for at least one hour.

5. The PIC(s) shall be in good physical condition and

without any visual impairment.

6. The petitioner will be using the UAS for aerial

photography. The UAS will be used for assessing crop condition

in agricultural environments. The UA S will also be used for

aerial photography of buildings. The UAS will be operated

vertically up to a 200 foot altitude for building surveys and up to

400 feet for agricultural surveys. The UAS will be operated in

VLOS mode only. Propeller guards have been installed on the

UAV. Safety procedures described in attachment­1 will be

followed.

7. The UAS will not be operated in rain, snowy or windy

conditions. The maximum altitude will be set at 400 feet for

agricultural surveys and 200 feet for building surveys. The

maximum speed will be approximately 10mph. The UAS will not

be used in areas where several people are present. Safety

procedures described in attachment­1.pdf will be followed.

Comment Now!

ID: FAA­2015­2178­0001

Document Information

Date Posted:

Jun 25, 2015

Show More Details

Submitter Information

Submitter Name:

Charles Roberts

Mailing Address:

2090 Brush Grove Road

City:

Rochelle

Country:

United States

State or Province:

IL

ZIP/Postal Code:

61068

Comments

0

Docket Information

This document is contained in

FAA­2015­2178

Related Dockets:

None

Related RINs:

Comments Received*
6/26/2015 Regulations.gov ­ Other Document

http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FAA­2015­2178­0001 2/2

8. The petitioner intends to perform photographic surveys of

large unpopulated farm fields for crop assessment. Potential

hazards are power lines and crop dusters. The UAS will not be

operated near power lines. The UAS will not be flown while crop

dusters are in the area. The UAS will not be operated in windy

conditions. The UAS will not be operated in proximity to airports.

The petitioner intends to perform photographic surveys of

buildings at an altitude not to exceed 200 feet. Potential hazards

are power lines, buildings and people. The UAS will not be

operated in the vicinity of power lines and people.

9. The petitioner does not intend to operate the UAS in the

proximity of any airports.

10. The petitioner will operate the UAS in VLOS mode only.

The UAS used by the petitioner does not have a remote monitor

and can only operate in VLOS mode.

11. The petitioner will perform preflight safety checks as

prescribed in attavhment­1.pdf. In addition to that described in

attachment­1 the petitioner will perform a preflight check by

checking battery voltage, verify GPS acquisition, check

diagnostics, start rotors in idle mode, hover at 6 feet, perform

rotation flight, perform translation flight, and increase altitude to

12 feet.

12. The petitioner does not intend to conduct operations

which have existing requirements to notify FSDOs prior to

operation.

Attachments (3)

None

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View Attachment:

Charles Roberts - Attachment 1

View Attachment:

Charles Roberts - Attachment 2

View Attachment:

Charles Roberts - Attachment 3

*