## David Varhol

184 Paley Farm Road

Portland, CT 06480

d avid. varhol@gmail.com

November 3

, 2015

U. S

. D e p ar tm e nt of T ra n spo r t a ti on

Do c k e t M a n a g e m e nt S y s t e m

1200 N e w J er s e y Av e

, S E

W a sh i n g t on, DC 20590

R e : R e qu e st f or e x e m p ti on und e r S ec ti on 333 fr o m 14 C F R P ar t 21, S ubp ar t H; 14 C F R 61.113

(a ) a nd ( b ) ; 14 C F R 91. 1 09; 14 C F R 91.119 (c) ; 1 4 C F R 91.121; 14 C F R 91.151; (a) ; 14 C F R

91.405 (a) ; 14 C F R 91. 4 07 (a)( 1 ) ; 14 C F R 91.409 (a)( 1 ) ; 14 C F R 91.409 ( a )( 2 ) ; 14 C F R 91.417

(a ) a nd ( b)

D ea r Si r or M a d a m :

I n acc o r d a n c e w it h S ec t i on 333 of t he F A A M od e r n i z a ti on a nd R ef o r

m A c t of 2012 a nd 14 C F R

P ar t 11, I

, David Varhol (“ P e titi on er” ) h ere b y a pp li e s f or a n e x e m p ti on fr om t he li s t e d Fe d e ra l

Av i a ti on R e g u l a ti ons ( “ F A R s ” ) t o a ll ow c o mm e rc i a l use of Sm a l l Un m a nn e d A i rc r af t S y s t e m s (“ S UA S ”)

, so l o n g a s su c h op era ti ons a r e c ondu c t e d w it h i n a nd und e r t he c ond iti ons ou tli n e d

h ere i n or a s m a y be e s t a b li sh e d b y t he F AA a s re q ui re d b y S ec ti on 333.

An e x e m p ti on i s b e i ng r e qu e s t e d b e c a use ( 1 ) e x i s t i ng r e g u l a ti ons w il l bu r d e n t he P e titi on er

, ( 2)

P e titi on e r ca n p r ov i de a l e v e l of s a f e t y t h a t i s eq u a l ( or g rea t e r t h a n i n m a n y ca s e s) t o t hose

p r ov i d e d b y e x i s ti ng r u l e s a nd ( 3) t he r e qu e st i s in t he pub li c i n t ere s t

. The F AA ’ s a u t ho r i t y t o

i ssue e x e m p ti ons fr om o p era ti n g r u l e s, a nd t h e S e cre t a r y ’ s a u t ho r i t y g r a n t e d b y S ec ti on of

P

. L .112

- 95, S p ec i a l R u l e s f or C er t a i n Un m a n n e d A i rcr a f t S y s t e m s p r ov i de a n oppo r t un i t y t o

a

u t ho r i z e cer t a i n S UAS op era ti ons i n t he N a ti on a l A i r sp ac e S y s t e m ( “ N A S ” ) p r i or t o

im p l e m e n t a ti on of t he S UAS r u l e

. Th i s i n cre m e n t a l s t e p w il l a ll ow t he P e titi on er’ s S UA S s t o

s afe l y a nd l e g a l l y e n t e r i n t o t he NA S

.

As d e s cr i b e d i n d e t a i l b e l ow, t he re qu e s t e d e x e m p t ion wou l d p er mi t t he P e titi on e r t o op era t e

S UA S s und e r c on t r o ll e d c ond iti ons i n a i r sp ac e t h a t i s ( 1) limit e d, ( 2) p re d e t er mi n e d, ( 3)

c on t r o ll e d a s t o a c ce ss, a nd ( 4) wou l d p r ov i de s af e t y e nh a n c e m e n t s t o t he a l rea d y s af e o p era ti ons

of t hose a i r c raf t of s imil a r s i z e

, w e i g h t

, sp e e d, a nd op era ti n g ca p a b ili t y t h a t h a ve b e e n g ra n t e d

e n t r y i n t o t he N AS v i a t he r u l e s i n t he A c a d e m y o f M od e l A er o n a u ti c s ( A M A) N a ti on a l A i r cr a f t

S afe t y C o d e 1

. App r ov a l of t h i s e x e m p ti on wou l d t h ere b y g r ea t l y e n h a n c e s afe t y a nd f u l f il l t he

S ecre t a r y of T r a nspo r t a t i on ’ s ( t he S ec r e t a r y re sp o ns i b iliti e s t o “

... e s t a b li s h re qu i re m e n t s f o r t he

s af e op e ra ti on of su c h a i r craf t s y s t e m s i n t he n a t i o n a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m ” ) p e r S ec ti on 333 (c ) of

1 Se e the a t t a ch e d “ A M A Sa ft e y Co d e.p d f” d ocu m en t.t he R ef o r

m A c t

.

P e t i t i o n e r i s r e qu e s t in g e x e m p t i on f r om t h e f o ll o w i n g r e g u l a t i o n s :

14 C F R P ar t 21, S ubp ar t H

14 C F R 61.23 (a )

14 C F R 61.113 (a ) a nd ( b )

14 C F R 91.109

14 C F R 91.119 (c )

14 C F R 91.121

14 C F R 91.151 (a )

14 C F R 91.405 (a )

14 C F R 91.407 (a ) ( 1 )

14 C F R 91.409 (a ) ( 2 )

14 C F R 91.417 (a ) a nd ( b )

Th i s e x e m p ti on a pp li ca t i on i s e x p re ss l y sub mitt e d to f u l f il l C on g re ss’ g o a l i n p a ss i ng S ec ti on

333 (a ) t h r o u g h ( C ) o f t h e R ef o r

m A c t

. Th i s l a w di rec t s t he S ec r e t a r y t o c ons i d e r wh e t h e r

cer t a i n un m a n n e d a i r c ra f t s y s t e m s m a y op e r a t e s a fe l y i n t he NAS b ef o r e c o m p l e ti on of t he

r u l e m a k i ng re qu i r e d un d e r S ec ti on 332 of t he R ef o r

m A c t

. I n m a k i n g t h i s d e t er mi n a ti on, t he

S ecre t a r y i s re qu i re d t o d e t er mi ne wh i c h t y p e s o f U A S s do not crea t e a h a z ar d t o us er s of t h e

NA S

, t o t he pub li c

, or pose a t h r e a t t o n a ti on a l s e c u r i t y

.

S ec ti on 333 of t he ref o r m A c t g r a n t s t he S ec r e t a r y a u t ho r i t y t o d e t e r mi ne ( 1) i f a n un m a nn e d

a i rc r af t s y s t e m

, a s re su l t of it s s i z e w e i g h t

, sp ee d, op era ti on a l c a p a b ili t y

, p r o x i m i t y t o a i r p o r t s

a nd popu l a t e d a r ea s, a nd op era ti on w it h i n v i su a l l ine of s i g ht ( V L O S ) do e s not crea t e a h a z ar d t o

us er s of t he NAS or t h e p ub li c or pose a t h r e a t t o n a ti on a l s ec u r i t y

, a nd ( 2 ) wh e t h e r a c e r ti f i ca t e of

w a i v er

, cer ti f i ca t e of a u t ho r i z a ti on, or a i r wo r th i n e ss cer ti f i c a ti on und e r 4 9 U S C 44704 i s re qu i re d

f o r t he op e ra ti o n of c i v i l ( non

- g ov er n m e nt a l ) UA S s. Th er e f o re

, i f t he S ec r e t a r y d e t er mi n e s t h a t

su c h v e h i c l e s “ m a y op e ra t e s afe l y in t he n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m

, t he S e c re t a r y sh a l l e s t a b li sh

re qu i re m e n t s f or t he s a f e op e r a ti on of su c h a i r c raf t i n t he n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m

. 2

2 T h e P e titi o n e r i n t e r p r e ts t h is p r o v i s ion to	p lac e t h e d u t y on t h e S e c r e t a r y t o n ot o n l y p r o c e s s a pp l i ca tio n s

for e x e m pti o n s u n d e r s e c ti o n 333 of t h e R e f o r m Ac t, b u t for t h e S e c r e t a r y to c r a ft c o n ditio n s f o r sa feOp er a t i o n al O v e r v i e w

C u rre n t l y

, un m on it o re d a m a t e ur hob b y i s t s w it h no s afe t y p l a n or c on t r o l s i n p l ac e t o p re v e nt

ca t a s t r ophe l e g a l l y op e ra t e s imil a r li g h t w e i g h t

, r em o t e c on t r o ll e d S UA S s. The P e titi on e r h a s

p er son a l l y i ns till e d s afe t y p r o t o c o l s a nd c on t r o l s t o f u r t h e r a vo i d a nd p re v e nt pub li c h a z ar d, a s

w e l l a s m a nn e d a i rc r af t h a z ar ds a nd c a t a s t r oph e

.

The P e titi on er’ s c u r re nt a nd a n ti c i p a t e d S UA S s a r e qu a d c op t e r s, w e i g h i n g 5 or fe w e r pounds

( i n c l ud i ng p a y l o a d )

. The S UA S s h a ve t he ca p a b ili t y t o hov e r a nd m ove i n t he v er ti ca l a nd

ho r i z on t a l p l a n e s s im u lt a n e ous l y

. T h e y w il l op er a te on l y i n v i su a l li ne of s i g ht ( V L O S ) a nd w il l

op era t e on l y i n ti g h t l y c o n t r o ll e d a nd limit e d a i rs p ace

. T h e y a r e c a p a b l e of op era ti n g a t sp e e ds

of up t o 30 kno t s, but w i l l be r ou ti n e l y o p era t e d a t m u c h l ow e r sp e e ds. Th e y w il l be op e ra t e d

b e l ow 400 fee t a bove g r o und l e v e l ( A G L )

, a nd n e v e r a bove 400 f e e t A G L

.

The P e titi on er’ s e x e m p ti on re qu e st wou l d p e r mi t c om m erc i a l op e ra ti on of t he P e titi on er’ s S UAS

f or c o mm e r c i a l a e r i a l p h o t o g ra p h y a nd v i d e o g r a ph y in ti g h t l y c on t r o ll e d a nd limit e d a i r sp ace

. A er i a l pho t o g ra p h y a nd v i d e o g r a p h y s e r v i ce s w i l l be o ffe r e d t o i nd i v i du a l s, bus i n e ss own er s,

ho m e own er s, r ea lt o r s, h o m e bu il d er s, c on t r a c t o r s a nd / or ho m e i nsp ec t o r s f or use i n, p r o m o ti on a l

aer i a l pho t o g r a p h y a nd v i d e o g r a p h y

, r ea l e s t a t e m ar k e ti n g a nd s a fe r i nsp ec ti ons of ho m e e x t er i o r s.

A l l op era ti ons w il l be c ondu c t e d on p r i v a t e a nd / or c on t r o ll e d a cc e ss p r op er t y a nd w it h t he w r itt e n

a nd / or o r a l p e r mi ss i on of t he p r op er t y own er( s ) / o p era t o r ( s )

. O p era ti on w il l a l w a y s be c ondu c t e d

i n a r ea s t h a t a r e c l e a r of a l l p e op l e

, e x c e pt t he p il ot i n c o mm a nd ( P I C )

, t he P I C ’ s h e l p er( s) a nd

i nd i v i du a l s t h a t ar e d i r ec t l y i nvo l v e d i n t he pho t o g ra p h y / v i d e o g r a p h y p r odu c ti on. S u c h op era ti on

w il l e ns u r e t h a t t he S UAS w il l “ not crea t e a h a z ar d t o us er s of t he n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m or t he

p u b li c”

. 3

G ra n ti ng t h e P e titi on er’ s re qu e st c o m po r t s w it h t h e S ecre t a r y of T ra nspo r t a ti on ’ s (F AA

Ad mi n i s t ra t o r’ s) re spon s i b iliti e s a nd a u t ho r i t y t o not on l y i n t e g ra t e S UA S 's i n t o t he n a ti on a l

a i r sp a c e s y s t e m

, but t o “

... e s t a b li sh re qu i re m e n t s f or t he s af e o p e r a ti on of su c h a i r c raf t s y s t e m s

[ S UA S ' s] i n t he n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m ” und e r S ec ti on 333 (c ) o f t he R ef o r

m A c t sp ec i f i c t o t he

use of S UA S ' s f or Ci n e m a t o g r a p h y /P ho t o pu r pos e s. F u r t h er

, t h e P e titi on e r w il l c ondu c t

op era ti ons i n c o m p li a n c e w it h t he p r o t o c o l s d e s cr i b e d h ere i n o r a s o t h e r w i se e s t a b li sh e d b y t he

F AA.

F or t he r ea sons s t a t e d b e l ow t he P e titi on e r re sp e c t f u l l y r e qu e st t he g r a nt of a n e x e m p ti on

a ll ow i ng t he P e titi on e r t o op era t e u lt r a li g h t w e i g h t

, re m o t e c on t r o ll e d S U A S ’ s f or c o mm un i t y

a w a r e n e ss t o b e n e f it/ s ti m u l a t e a tt rac ti on t o t he Connecticut a re a a nd t o e n h a n c e r ea l e s t a t e li s ti ng

v i d e os f or ho m e o wn er s who c a nnot a f f o r d e x p e ns i ve m a nn e d a i r c r a f t f or t he s a m e pu r pos e

. B o t h

of wh i c h w il l p r o m o t e l o ca l ec on o mi c g r ow t h t h r o u g h i n cr e a s e d e m p l o y m e nt a nd i n crea s e d t a x

b a s e

. B o t h w it h pub li c s afe t y i n mi nd b y k e e p i n g h ea v i e r m a nn e d a i r c raf t c on t a i n i ng c o m bus ti b l e

f u e l t h a t pos e s po t e n ti a l p u b li c h a z ar d.

op e r a tio n s of S UA S, if i t sh o u l d b e d e t er m i n e d t ha t t h e c o n diti o n s s e t f o r th he r e in do n ot f ul fi l l t h e s t a t u t o r y

r e q u i r e m e n ts f o r a p p r o val

.

3 R e f o r m Ac t S e c tion 333 ( b )A i r c r a f t

The P e titi on e r op era t e s t he Phantom 3 Pro S UAS m a nu f ac t u r e d b y DJI

. T h e Phantom 3 Pro’ s diagonal size i s 23.2 i n, i t h a s a g r oss f l y i n g w e i g ht of 1280g. Pil o t s ca n c on t r ol t he Phantom 3

Pro’ s m ov e m e n t s i n m a n y d i r ec ti ons

– i n c l ud i ng pi t c h ( f o r

w ar d a nd b a c kw ar d )

, r o l l ( l ef t a nd

r i g h t )

, e l e v a t or ( up a nd d own )

, a nd y a w ( t u r n l ef t or r i g h t )

. The bu ilt

- i n G P S s y s t e m a i ds i n

s t a b ili z i ng t he a i rcr a f t a n d w il l a u t o m a ti ca l l y r e tu r n i t b ac k t o it s ho m e pos iti on i f c o mm un i ca ti on

b e t w ee n t he re m o t e c on t r ol a nd q u a d c op t e r ar e l os t

.

The Phantom 3 Pro i s c on t r o ll e d w it h t he i n c l ud e d t ra ns mitt e r t h a t u tili z e s t he s a m e s p e c t r um

2.4GHz t ec hno l o g y p r e fe r re d b y R C e x p er t s t he wo r l d ov e r

. Th i s a dv a n c e d s i g n a l p r o ce ss i n g

t ec hno l og y p r ov i d e s sup er b ra n ge a nd i nt erfe r e n c e p r o t e c ti on, e sp ec i a l l y i n ‘ no i s y ’

e nv i r on m e n t s wh e r e a l ot of 2.4GHz s y s t e m s a r e i n use a t t he s a m e tim e

.

The Phantom 3 Pro is s p ec i a l l y p r o g r a mm e d f or ca p t u r i n g a e r i a l v i d e o a nd im a g e s. B o t h f ea t u r e

s e l f

- l e v e li ng a nd use G P S a nd a ltit ude s e nso r s t o p rec i s e l y ho l d pos iti on i n a hov er

.

The R e t u r n Ho m e f u n c ti on w il l a u t o m a ti ca l l y l a n d a t t he ho m e pos iti on. Th i s fea t u r e ca n b e

ac ti v a t e d a t a n y tim e w i t h t he press of a button

. W h e n ac ti v a t e d, t he Phantom 3 Pro w il l

a

u t o m a ti ca l l y f l y it s e l f b ac k t o t he p l a c e it s m o t o r s w er e f i r st s t ar t e d a nd l a nd w it hout a n y h e l p

fr om t he p il o t

.

As a n a dd e d s afe t y f ea t u r e

, t he Phantom 3 Pro op e ra t e s w i t h i n g e o

- re f ere n ce d f l i g ht bound ar i e s.

Out of t he bo x

, it s bound ar i e s ar e s e t a t 100 m e t er s fr om a nd 50 m e t er s a bo v e t he po i nt wh er e t he

m o t o r s w er e s t a r t e d.

The I n er ti a l M ea su r e m e n t Un i t ( “ I M U ” ) h a s a bu i l t

- in i n er ti a l s e nsor a nd a b ar o m e t r i c a ltim e t e r

t h a t m ea su re s bo t h a ttit ude a nd a ltit ud e

. The i n e rti a l m ea su re m e nt t e ll s t he Phantom 3 Pro how

it ’ s tilt e d, a nd t he g y r os t e l l i t i f it ’ s r o t a ti ng i n a n y p a r ti c u l a r d i r e c ti on.

The Phantom 3 Pro’ s c o m p a ss r e a ds g e o m a g n e ti c i n f o r

m a ti on a nd a ss i s t s t he G P S t o

acc u r a t e l y ca l c u l a t e t he pos iti on a nd h e i g ht of t he a i r c raf t

.

The Phantom 3 Pro h a s L E D f l i ght i nd i ca t o r s b e n ea t h ea c h of it s f our r o t or a r m s a nd i n t he

rear

. T h e L EDs ill u mi n a t e t o i nd i c a t e t he s t a t us of t he f l i g h t c on t r ol s y s t e m a nd a l er t t he P I C

of a n y poss i b l e i ssu e s.

S u c h h i g h l y a dv a n ce d c a p a b iliti e s w il l e nsu r e t h a t t he S UA S s ca n be s a fe l y op era t e d a nd “ not

4 S e e a tt ac h e d Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en.pdf

5 h ttp: // http://www.dji.com/product/phantom

- 3crea t e a h a za r d t o us er s o f t he n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m or t he pub li c

. ” 6

Equi va l e n t L e v e l o f S a fe t y

I n a n e f f o r

t t o j o i n t he F AA i n it s mi ss i on t o p r o v i de t he s afe s t

, m ost e f f i c i e nt aer os p ac e s y s t e m

i n t he wo r l d a nd t o mi n imi z e t he r i sk t o t he NAS or t o p er sons a nd p r o p er t y on t he g r ound, t he

P e titi on e r a g ree s t o be b o und b y t he f o ll ow i ng lim i t a ti ons a nd c ond iti ons wh e n c ondu c ti n g

c o mm erc i a l op e ra ti ons u nd e r a n F AA i ssu e d e x e m p ti on:

1. F or t he pu r po s e s of e ns u r i ng S UA S s w il l be op era t e d w it h i n t he s t a nd ar ds t h a t t he F AA

h a s a ll ow e d i n t he A M A N a ti on a l M od e l A i rc r af t S afe t y C o d e :

a

. S UA S s w il l not be f l own:

• I n a c a re l e ss or r e c k l e ss m a nn er

.

• At a l o ca ti on wh e r e S U A S ac ti v iti e s ar e p r oh i b it e d.

2. S UAS p il o t s w il l :

a

. Y i e l d t he r i g ht o f w a y t o a l l hu m a n

- c a r r y i n g a i r cr a f t

.

b. S e e a nd a vo i d a l l a i r c r af t a nd a spo tt e r m ust be u s e d wh e n a p p r op r i a t e

. 7

c

. Not f l y h i g h e r t h a n 400 f ee t a bove g r ound l e v e l or w it h i n t h re e ( 3) mil e s of a n

a i r po r t w it hout no ti f y i n g t he a i r po r t op e r a t o r

.

d. Not i n t erfe r e w it h op e r a ti ons a nd t raff i c p a tt er ns a t a n y a i r po r t

, h e li po r t or

s ea p l a ne b a se e x ce pt w h er e t h e r e i s a mi x e d

- use a g r ee m e n t

.

e

. Not e x cee d a t a k e o f f w e i g ht of 55 pounds ( i n c l ud i ng p a y l o a d )

.

f

. Ensu r e t he a i r cr a f t i s i d e n ti f i a

b l e b y aff i x i ng t he o wn er’ s c on t ac t i n f o r

m a t i on

t o t he ou t s i de of t he S UA S

.

g . Not op era t e S UA S s wh i l e und e r t he i n f l u e n c e o f a l c ohol or wh il e us i ng a n y

d r

ug t h a t c ou l d a dv e r s e l y aff e c t t he P I C ’ s a b ili t y t o s afe l y c on t r ol t he m od e l

.

h. Not op era t e S UA S s c ar r y i ng p y r o t e c hn i c d e v i c e s t h a t e x p l ode or bu r n, or a n y

d e v i c e wh i c h p r op e l s a p r o j ec til e or d r ops a n y ob j ec t t h a t c r ea t e s a h a z ar d t o

p er sons or p r o p er t y

.

3. S UA S s w il l not be f l own un l e ss:

6 R e f o r m Ac t S e c tion 333 ( b )

7 AM A D o cu m en t # 5 40

- Da

. The a i r c raf t

, c on t r ol s y s t e m a nd p il ot sk ill s h a ve su cce ss f u l l y d e m ons t ra t e d a l l

m a n e uv er s i n t e n d e d or a n ti c i p a t e d p r i or t o t he sp e c i f i c e v e n t

.

b. An i n e x p er i e n ce d p il ot i s a ss i s t e d b y a n e x p er i e n c e d p il o t

.

4. A l l p il o t s sh a l l a vo i d f l y i ng d i r e c t l y o v e r unp r o t e c t e d p e op l e

, v e ss e l s, v e h i c l e s or

s t r u c t u re s a nd s h a l l a vo i d e nd a n g er m e nt of li f e a n d p r op er t y of o t h e r s.

5. A su cce ss f ul ra d i o e qu i p m e nt g r oun d

- ra n ge c h e c k i n acc o r d a n c e w it h m a nu fac t u r er’ s

rec o mm e nd a ti ons w il l be c o m p l e t e d b ef o r e t he f i r st f li g ht of a n e w or r e p a i re d m od e l

a i rc r af t

.

6. S UA S s m ust use t he ra d i o

- c on t r ol f r e qu e n c i e s c u r re n t l y a ll ow e d b y t he Fe d era l

C o mm un i ca ti ons C o m m i ss i on (F CC )

.

7. S UA S s w il l not know i n g l y op e r a t e w it h i n t h r e e ( 3 ) mil e s of a n y p r e

- e x i s ti n g f l y i n g s it e

w it hout a fre qu e n c y

- m a n a g e m e nt a g r ee m e n t

. 8

8. E x c l ud i ng t a k e o f f a nd l a nd i n g

, no S UA S s m a y be f l o w n ou t doo r s c l os e r t h a n 25 fee t t o

a n y i nd i v i du a l

, e x ce pt f o r t he P I C a nd t he P I C ' s h e l p er( s) l o ca t e d a t t he t a k e o f f s it e

.

9. Und e r no c i r c u m s t a n ce s m a y a p il ot or o t h e r p er s on t ou c h a S UAS i n f li g h t wh il e i t i s

s til l und e r pow er

, e x ce pt t o d i v er t i t fr om s t r i k i ng a n i nd i v i du a l

.

10. The P I C of t h e S UAS sh a ll :

a

. M a i n t a i n c on t r ol du r i ng t he e n ti r e f l i g h t

, m a i n t a i n i ng v i su a l c on t a c t w it hout

e nh a n c e m e nt o t h e r t h a n b y c o rr e c ti ve l e ns e s p r e s cr ib e d f or t h e p il o t

.

b. F l y us i n g t he a ss i s t a n c e o f a ca m er a o r F i r s t

- P e r s o n V i e w ( F P V) on l y i n

acc o r d a n c e w it h t he p r o c e du re s ou tli n e d i n A M A Do c u m e nt #550.

c

. F l y us i n g t he a ss i s t a n c e o f a u t op il ot or s t a b ili z a t i o n s y s t e m on l y i n a c c o r d a n c e

w it h t he p r o ce du r e s ou tli n e d i n A M A Do c u m e nt # 560.

11. The f l y i n g ar e a m ust be c l ea r of a l l u tili t y w i r e s or po l e s a nd a n S UAV w il l not be f l own

c l os e r t h a n 50 f ee t t o a n y a bov e

- g r ound e l ec t r i c ut ili t y li n e s.

12. The f l y i n g ar e a m ust be c l ea r b e f o r e t he e n g i ne i s s t ar t e d, e x ce pt f or P I C a n d t he P I C ' s

h e l p er( s )

.

B

. I n a dd iti on t o t he a bove r u l e s ou tli n e d b y t he A M A N a ti on a l M od e l A i r c r a f t S afe t y C ode a nd

i n a n eff o r

t t o e n h a n c e t he s afe t y o f fe r e d b y t he a l rea d y s a f e op e ra ti ons m e n ti on e d a bov e

, t he

P e titi on e r a l so a g ree s t o be bound b y t h e f o ll ow i ng limit a ti ons a nd c ond iti ons:

8 AM A D o cu m en ts # 9 2 2 a n d # 9231

. F li g h t s w il l be op e ra t e d w it h i n V L OS of t he P I C

.

2

. M a x im um t o t a l f li g ht ti m e f or e ac h o p era ti on a l f l i g ht w il l be 25 mi nu t e s. Fli g h t s w il l be

t er mi n a t e d a t 25% b a tt e r y po w e r r e s er v e shou l d t h a t o cc ur p r i or t o t he 25 mi nu t e limit

.

3

. The S UAS w il l on l y op e r a t e i n ti g h t l y c on t r o ll e d a nd limit e d a i r sp ace

.

4. A b r i ef i n g w il l be c ond u c t e d i n r e g a r d t o t he p l a n n e d S UAS op era ti ons p r i or t o eac h

f li g h t

. I t w il l be m a nd a t o r y t h a t a l l p er sonn e l who w il l be p erf o r

mi n g du ti e s w it h i n t he

bound ar i e s of t he s afe t y p er im e t e r b e p re s e nt f or t h i s b r i ef i n g

.

5. The P I C a nd t he P I C ’ s h e l p er( s) w il l h a ve b e e n t r a in e d i n op era ti on of S U AS a nd

rece i v e d up

- t o

- d a t e i n f o r m a ti on on t he p ar ti c u l a r SUAS t o be op era t e d.

6. The p il ot a nd t he P I C ' s h e l p er( s) w il l a t a l l tim e s be a b l e t o c o mm un i ca t e b y vo i c e

.

7. I f t he S UAS l os e s c o mm un i ca ti ons or l os e s it s G P S s i g n a l

, t he S UAS w il l h a ve c a p a b ili t y

t o re t u r n t o a p r e

- d e t e r mi n e d l o ca ti on w it h i n t he s ec u r i t y p er im e t e r a nd s a f e l y l a nd.

8. The S UAS w il l h a ve t he ca p a b ili t y t o a bo r t a f l i g h t i n ca se of unp r e d i c t e d o bs t ac l e s or

e m e r g e n c i e s.

9. A l l f li g h t s w il l be c ondu c t e d on p r i v a t e p r o p er t y a nd w it h t he w r itt e n a nd / or o ra l

p er mi ss i on of t he p r op er t y ow n er( s )

.

10. F li g h t s w il l a l w a y s b e c o ndu c t e d i n ar e a s t h a t a r e c l ea r o f a l l p e op l e

, e x ce p t f or t he P I C

a nd t he P I C ' s h e l p er( s )

.

11. A l l f li g h t s w il l be c ondu c t e d ou t doo r s i n v i su a l m e t e o r o l o g i c a l c ond iti ons ( V MC ) a nd

n e v e r du r i n g s e v e r e w e a t h e r c ond iti ons.

12. F li g h t s w il l not o cc ur i n w ea t h e r c ond iti ons t h a t p re v e nt t he P I C fr om op er a ti ng w it h i n

v i su a l li n e

- o f

- s i g ht ( V L O S ) a t a l l tim e s or i n w ea t h e r c ond iti ons t h a t d ra m a ti ca l l y a ff e c t

t he S UA S ’ s f li g ht (e

. g

. h i g h w i nds )

.

13. I f a n op e ra ti on o cc u r s i n a n ar e a wh e r e p e op l e c o u ld i n a dv er t e n t l y e n t e r t he area

, a n

op era ti on a l bo r d e r w il l be e s t a b li sh e d w it h t ra f f i c c on e s. I f it ’ s not f ea s i b l e t o use t raff i c

c on e s due t o i n t er f e r e n c e w it h t he pho t o g ra p h y / v i d e og ra p h y

, t he P I C ' s h e l p er( s) w il l be

re spons i b l e f or k ee p i n g a s af e p e r im e t e r ar ound t h e op era ti on. T h e op e r a ti on w il l cea se

imm e d i a t e l y a nd b e re s c h e du l e d i f it ’ s im poss i b l e to e s t a b li sh a s af e p er im e t e r a r ound t he

op era ti on.

14. The P I C w il l be r e spons i b l e f or l o g g i ng a l l f li g h t s t o e nsu r e t he c o m p r e h e n s i ve

p re v e n t a ti ve m a i n t e n a n c e p l a n ca n b e f o ll ow e d, a s de s cr i b e d i n t he “ P r e v e n t a ti ve

M a i n t e n a n c e ” s e c ti on b e l ow.15. The S UAS w il l not be r ou ti n e l y op e r a t e d i n t he p r o x i m i t y of a n y a i r p o r t s. I n a n y ca s e s

wh er e t he S U AS m ust be op era t e d w it h i n t h r e e ( 3) m i l e s of a n a i r po r t

, t he a i r po r t

op era t or w il l be no ti f i e d b ef o r e t h e op e r a ti on c o m m e n ce s.

The op e r a ti on of S UA S s, w e i g h i n g l e ss t h a n 3 l bs

. , c ondu c t e d i n t he s t r i c t c ond iti ons a s ou tli n e d

a

bov e

, w il l p r ov i de a n e q u i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y s uppo r ti ng t he g r a nt of e x e m p ti ons re qu e s t e d

h ere i n, i n c l ud i n g e x e m p ti ng t he P e titi on e r fr om t h e re qu i r e m e n t s of P ar t 21 a nd a ll ow i ng

c o mm erc i a l op e ra ti ons.

Th e se li g h t w e i g ht a i r c ra f t op era t e a t s l ow sp e e ds, c l ose t o t he g r ound, a nd i n a ti g h t l y c on t r o ll e d

e nv i r on m e n t

. As a r e su lt

, t h e y o f fe r a m u c h s a fe r w a y t o ca p t u r e a e r i a l ph o t o g ra p h y a nd

v i d e o g r a p h y

. F u r t h er m o r e

, t he p r opos e d o p era ti o n s re p re s e nt a s a f e t y e nh a n ce m e nt t o t he a l rea d y

s af e o p era ti ons t h a t h a ve b e e n g ra n t e d b y the F AA f or t he e s t a b li sh m e nt of t he A M A N a ti on a l

M od e l A i rc r af t S afe t y C o d e

.

P r e f li g h t P l a n

The P I C w il l f o ll ow a c o m p re h e ns i ve p r e

- f l i g ht c h ec k li st t o e nsu r e t h a t t he S UAS i s i n a

c ond iti on f or s af e f li g h t

. Th i s p l a n w il l be im p r ov e d a s n ee d e d i n o r d e r t o e nsu r e a l l known

s afe t y p r e ca u ti ons a nd / or s afe t y p r e ca u ti ons s u g g e s t e d b y t he m a n u f a c t u re r ar e b e i n g acc oun t e d

f o r

.

A. P re

- f li g ht I nsp ec ti on

1. C h ec k t h a t t he t ra ns mitt e r

, UAS a nd c a m er a b a tt e r i e s ar e a l l f u l l y c h a r g e d.

2. V er i f y t h a t t he U AS b a tt e r y i s not swo ll e n or d a m a g e d i n a n y w a y

.

3. Tu r n t he m o t or sh af t s w i t h y our f i ng er s a nd v er i f y t h a t ar e s m oo t h w it hout

e x ce ss i ve p l a y o r b i nd i ng.

4. V er i f y t h a t t he p r o p e ll er s ar e m oun t e d c o rr e c t l y a n d fre e fr om s i g ns of

d a m a g e

.

5. R un f i n g e r a l o n g t he e d ge of b l a de t o c h ec k f or a n y r o u g h e d g e s.

6. F l e x bo t h s i d e s of t he p r op e ll er s’ b l a d e s t o c h ec k f or h a i r li ne c r ac ks w h er e t he

b l a d e s c onn e c t i n t he ce n t e r of t he p r o p e ll er

.

7. V er i f y t h a t t he l a nd i n g g ea r i s s ec u r e a nd f r e e f r o m d a m a g e

, b r ok e n o r l o o s e

.

8. V er i f y t h a t t he ca m e r a i s s ec u r e a nd c l e a n. I nsp e c t t he ca m e r a c onn e c ti ons

a nd g im b a l f o r t e a r s a nd / or s i g ns of w e a r

.

9. V er i f y t h a t t he d a m p i ng a bso r b er s ar e not b r o k e n a nd / or wo r n.

10. V er i f y t h a t t he Mi c r o

- S D car d h a s b ee n i ns e r t e d a nd f o r

m a tt e d.11. V er i f y t h a t t he s m a r t phon e’ s W i

- F i i s e n a b l e d.

12. S e t t he s m ar t phone t o do

- no t

- d i s t u r b m ode t o p r e v e nt d i s t rac ti ons wh il e

f l y i n g

.

13. S e t t he s m ar t phone t o f o r g e t a n y W i

- F i n e t wo r ks i n ra n g e i n o r d e r t o p re v e nt

t he W i

- F i c onn ec ti on fr o m c h a n g i ng mi d

- f li g h t

.

B

. P ow e r Up

1. P ow e r on t he t ra ns mitt e r w it h t he f li g ht m ode s e t t o t he a pp r op r i a t e s e tti n g

,

t he t h r o ttl e s ti c k down a n d t he t h r o ttl e t r i m a t n e u t ra l

.

2. I ns t a l l a c h a r g e d b a tt e r y i n t he UA S

, p l ug i t i n a nd c l ose t he h a t c h.

3. W a i t f or t he G P S s i g n a l t o be ac qu i r e d, wh i c h i s i nd i ca t e d b y a so li d L ED. I t

m a y t a k e fr om 30

- 90 s e c onds t o ac qu i r e a G P S s i g n a l.

4. M ove t he a i r c raf t t o t he d e s i re d ho m e l o c a ti on a nd o r i e nt t he a i r c raf t po i n t e d

a w a y f r om t he p il o t

.

5. St e p b ac k a pp r o x im a t e l y 15 fee t ( 5 m e t er s) f r om t he ho m e l o ca ti on.

C

. R ea d y t o F l y

1. P ow e r on ca m er a a nd a c qu i r e W i

- F i s i g n a l on s m ar t phon e

.

2. On c e s m ar t pho n e h a s ac qu i re d W i

- F i s i g n a l s t a r t ca m e r a a pp.

3. V er i f y t h a t t he a i rc r af t s til l h a s G P S l o c k.

4. St ar t t he m o t o r s.

5. V er i f y t h a t t he m o t o r s ar e f un c ti on i ng n o r m a l l y

, a r e not m a k i ng a n y unus u a l

no i s e s, a nd a r e a l l sp i nn i ng t he s a m e sp ee d.

6. V er i f y t h a t t he ar e a i s s til l c l ea r of obs t r u c ti ons, p e op l e

, pow e r li n e s, e t c

.

7. T a ke o f f a nd hov e r a bout 6

- 8 fee t a bove t he t a k e o f f po i nt t o v er i f y t h a t t he

a i rc r af t s til l h a s a so li d G P S l o c k. I f a n y a bno r m a l iti e s ar e no ti ce d ( d r i f ti n g

, f l y i n g i n c i r c l e s, e t c

. )

, l a nd imm e d i a t e l y a nd re p e a t t he “ P re

- f li g ht I ns p ec t i on”

a nd P ow e r U p ” s e qu e n c e s.

8. V er i f y t h a t t he a i rc r af t h o l ds a s t ea d y pos iti on wh il e y a w i n g 360 d e g ree s.

9. V er i f y t h a t t he a i rc r af t r e sponds a pp r op r i a t e l y t o a l l c on t r o l s

– y a w, p it c h, r o l l

a nd t h r o ttl e

.

D. A f t e r F li g ht1. Tu r n o f f t he po w e r sw it c h on t he a i rc r af t

.

2. Tu r n o f f t he po w e r t o y o ur t ra ns mitt er

.

3. Unp l ug a nd re m ove t he b a tt e r y fr om t he a i rc r af t

.

P r e v e n t a t i v e M a i n t e n a n c e

A c o m p re h e ns i v e p re v e n t a ti ve m a i n t e n a n c e p l a n w il l be f o ll ow e d i n acc o r d a n c e w it h t he

m a nu fac t u r er’ s s p ec i f i c a ti ons t o e nsu r e t he S UA S ’ s so f t w ar e i s up

- t o

- d a t e

, t he b a tt er i e s ar e i n

g ood h e a lt h, a nd t he a i r c r af t it s e l f i s a l w a y s r ea d y f or s a f e f li g h t 9

.

P il ot i n C o m m a n d ( P I C ) Q u a li f i c a t i o n s

The P I C d o e s not c u r r e n t l y ho l d a n a i r m a n c e r ti f i c a t e or m e d i c a l cer ti f i ca ti on. Si n c e t he S UAS

i s s imil a r i n s i z e

, w e i g h t

, sp ee d, a nd o p era ti n g c a p a b ili t y a s t hose c u rre n t l y a ll ow e d t o be f l own

f or hob b y / re c r e a ti on, ho l d i ng t he P I C t o t hose s a m e s e t of s t a nd ar ds w il l a ll ow f or a n e qu i v a l e nt

l e v e l of s a f e t y

.

I t c a nnot be a ssu m e d t h a t a c o mm erc i a l p il o t

, a pp ro v e d t o op era t e a h e li c o p t e r or f i x e d w i ng

a i rc r af t

, h a s t he sk il l or a b ili t y t o s a fe l y op e r a te a n un m a nn e d a e r i a l v e h i c l e

, op era ti n g a t 400 f ee t

A G L or l ow e r

, w it h i n s t r i c t l y c on t r o ll e d p re

- a pp r o v e d a i r sp a ce

. Si n c e t h e r e ar e no s t a n d ar ds f or

e it h e r p r i v a t e o r c o mm e r c i a l S UAS p il ot cer ti f i ca t e s, know l e d g e of a i r sp ac e r e g u l a ti ons a nd

d e x t er i t y i n t he c on t r ol a nd op era ti on of t he S U A S ac qu i re d fr om ac t u a l o p era ti on of t he a i rc r af t

w il l be t he m ost im po r t a nt fac t o r s i n e s t a b li sh i ng a n e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l o f s a f e t y

.

The P I C wou l d b e re qu i r e d t o su cce ss f u l l y c o m p l e t e a n F AA a p p r ov e d g r o und t ra i n i ng c o u r se

a nd be re qu i re d t o do t he f o ll ow i ng p r i or t o t he f i r s t c o mm erc i a l f l i g h t :

A. P erf o r

m 50 f l i g h t s or l og 20 hou r s of f li g ht tim e ( t he g rea t e r of t he t w o ) w i t h t he

S UAS t h a t w il l be p il o t e d.

B

. S u cce ss f u l l y l ear n a nd d e m ons t ra t e a l l f li g ht m a n e u v er s i n t he “ D J I P h a n t o m Pil ot

T ra i n i ng Gu i d e ” 1 0

C

. St u d y a nd be fa mili a r w i t h a l l s ec ti ons of t he Us e r ’ s M a nu a l of t he S UAS t h a t

w il l be p il o t e d. 1 1

W it h t h a t i n m i nd, t he P e titi on e r p r opos e s t h a t it s P I C be e n titl e d t o a pp l y f o r

, a nd r e ce i ve a

t e m po ra r y li ce n s e c e r ti f i c a t e

, re n e w a b l e un ti l t he F AA c r ea t e s a n “ un m a nn e d a i rc r af t c e r ti f i ca t e

w it h S UAS ra ti n g ”

.

P ubli c I n t e r e s t

G ra n ti ng t h i s e x e m p ti on wou l d b e n ef i t t he pub li c a s a who l e

. S UA S s o f f

e r a s t r ong e qu i v a l e nt

9 S e e “ Flight ” on p a ge 39 of t h e of t h e a tt a ch e d “ Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en .pdf ”

10 S e e t h e a tt ach e d “ Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en .pdf”

11 S e e t h e a tt ach e d “ Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en .pdf”l e v e l of s a f e t y

, a r e du c ti o n i n e nv i r on m e n t a l im p a c t s, a nd a r e f r e e f r om t he h ar m f ul e mi ss i on

a sso c i a t e d w it h t he m a n n e d a i r c raf t t h a t a r e c u rre n t l y us e d f o r a e r i a l pho t og ra p h y a nd

v i d e o g r a p h y

. D u e t o t he s i z e of t he S UAS a nd t he t i g h t l y c on t r o ll e d a nd l i mit e d a i r sp ac e i n

wh i c h t he S UAS w il l op era t e

, a p p r ov a l of t h i s a p p l i ca ti on p re s e n t s no r i sk t o t he pub li c

. F u r t h er m o re

, t he pub li c w il l be a b l e t o l e g a l l y a c q u i r e a e r i a l pho t og ra p h y a nd v i d e o g ra p h y t o h e l p

i n, but not lim i t e d t o, a dv er ti s i ng ho m e s f or s a l e

, a dv e r ti s i ng un i nh a b i t e d ho m e s, l o t s, use of

pho t os a nd v i d e o a s a n a i d wh e n re s ea r c h i n g ho m e s f or s a l e on t h e m ar k e t

, or s afe l y a c c e ss i ng

h i g h a nd / or a wk w ar d a r e a s of ho m e e x t er i or t o a s s e ss d a m a g e t h a t n e e ds t o be re p a i re d.

P r i v a c y

Si n c e t he ar e a s b e i n g ph o t o g ra p h e d or f ilm e d w il l be on p r i v a t e p r o p er t y

, a cce ss e d on l y af t e r

g i v e n w r itt e n a nd / or o r a l c ons e nt b y t he p r op e r t y o wn er( s )

, a nd c l e a r of a l l p e op l e

, e x ce pt f or t he

P I C a nd t he P I C ’ s h e l p e r ( s )

, a pp r o v a l of t h i s a pp l i ca ti on p re s e n t s no r i sk t o t he pub li c p r i v a c y

.

Na t i o n al S ec u r i t y

Due t o t he s i z e of t he S UAS a nd t he ti g h t l y c on t r o l l e d a nd limit e d a i r sp ac e i n wh i c h t he S UAS

w il l op era t e

, a p p r ov a l of t h i s a pp li ca ti on p re s e n t s no r i sk t o n a ti on a l s ec u r i t y

.

R e qu e s te d E x e m p t i o n s

P e titi on e r re qu e s t s e x e m p ti on fr om t he f o ll ow i ng r e g u l a ti ons s i n c e it ’ s not poss i b l e t o f u l l y

c o m p l y w it h t h e m

, a nd s i n c e a tt e m p ti n g t o f o ll ow t he m f or t he pu r pos e s o f op era ti n g a S UAS

wou l d be a bu r d e n:

A i r w o r t h i n e ss C e r t i f i c a t e s

- 14 C F R Pa r t 21, S ubp a r t H

S ubp ar t H e s t a b li sh e s t he p r o ce du r a l re qu i r e m e n t s f or t he i ssu a n c e of a i r w o r t h i n e ss cer ti f i c a t e s a s

re qu i re d b y F AR 91. 2 03 (a ) ( 1 )

. G i v e n t he s i z e a nd limit e d op era ti ng a r e a a sso c i a t e d w it h t he

a i rc r af t t o be u tili z e d b y t he P e titi on er

, a n e x e m p ti on fr om P ar t 21 S ubp ar t H m ee t s t he

re qu i re m e n t s of a n e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a fe t y und e r P ar t 11 a nd S ec ti on 333 of t he R ef o r

m A c t

. The Fe d e r a l Av i a ti on A c t ( 49 U S C 44701 (f) ) a nd S ec ti on 333 of t he R ef o r m A c t bo t h a u t ho r i z e

t he F AA t o e x e m pt a i r c r a f t fr om t he re qu i r e m e nt f or a n a i r w o r t h i n e ss c e r ti f i ca t e

, upon

c ons i d era ti on of t he s i z e

, w e i g h t

, s p ee d, op e ra ti o n a l ca p a b ili t y

, a nd p r o x imi t y t o a i r po r t s a nd

popu l a t e d ar e a s of t he p a r ti c u l a r S UA S

. I n a l l ca s e s, a n a n a l y s i s of t h e s e c r it er i a d e m ons t ra t e s

t h a t t he S UAS op era t e d w it hout a n a i r wo r t h i n e ss cer ti f i c a t e

, i n t he re s t r i c t e d e nv i r on m e nt a nd

und e r t he c ond iti ons p r o pos e d, w il l be a t l ea st a s s afe

, or s af e r

, t h a n a c o n v e n ti on a l a i rc r af t

op era ti n g w it h a n a i r wo r t h i n e ss cer ti f i c a t e w it hout t he re s t r i c ti ons a nd c on d iti ons p r opos e d.

M e di c al c e r t i f i c a t e s

- 14 CFR 61.23 ( a )

Th i s re g u l a ti on re qu i re s p il o t s of m a nn e d a i rc r af t t o ho l d a m e d i ca l c e r ti f i c a t e

. Si n c e r i sks

a sso c i a t e d w it h t he op e r a ti on of t he p r opos e d S U AS ar e so d imi n i sh e d fr o m t he l e v e l of r i sk

a sso c i a t e d w it h a n y m a n n e d a i r c raf t ; t he S UAS i s of a s i z e

, w e i g h t

, sp ee d, a nd op era ti on a l

ca p a b iliti e s wh i c h m a k e s i t m u c h s afe r t h a n a n y m an n e d a i r cr a f t ; s i n c e op e r a ti ons w il l o cc ur i n

ti g h t l y c on t r o ll e d a nd limit e d a i r sp a c e ; a nd c ons i d er i ng t h a t a l l op e r a ti ons w il l be on

p r i v a t e / c on t r o ll e d a cce ss p r op er t y t h a t i s c l e a r of a l l p e op l e

, ob t a i n i ng a nd m a i n t a i n i ng a m e d i c a lcer ti f i c a t e wou l d not im p r ove t he s a f e t y of t he o p e ra ti on. I n t he v e r y ra r e ca se of a mi sh a p, t he

S UAS b e i ng f l own w il l p ose s i g n i f i c a n t l y l e ss o f a t h rea t t h a n m a nn e d h e li c op t er s a nd f i x e d

w i ng a i r c r af t b e c a use t he S UA S s ar e a f rac ti on of the s i z e

, a frac ti on of t h e w e i g h t

, w il l be f l own

a t a f r ac ti on of t he sp e e d, car r y no f l a mm a b l e f u e l, a nd ca r r y no c r e w or p a s s e ng er s.

P r i v a t e pil ot p r i v il e g e s a n d li m i t a t i o n s: P il ot i n c o m m a n d

- 14 C F R 61

. 113 ( a) a n d ( b )

Th e se r e g u l a ti ons limi t p r i v a t e p il o t s t o non

- c o mm e rc i a l op e ra ti ons. B ec a use t he S UAS w il l not

car r y a p il ot or p a ss e n g er s; due t o t he S UA S ’ s s i z e

, w e i g h t

, s p ee d, a nd o p e r a ti on a l ca p a b iliti e s;

a nd s i n c e op e ra ti ons w il l o cc ur i n ti g h t l y c on t r o l l e d a nd limit e d a i r sp ace

, t h e p r opos e d op e ra ti ons

ca n a c h i e ve t he e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y o f c u r r e nt op era ti ons t h a t c u r r e n tl y re qu i r e a c o mm erc i a l

p il o t ’ s li ce n s e

.

The F A A h a s d e t e r mi n e d t h a t t he a i r m a nsh i p e x p er i e n c e o f a c o mm e rc i a l l y cer ti f i c a t e d p il ot

wou l d not c o rre l a t e t o t he a i r m a nsh i p sk ill s n ece s s a r y f or t he p e titi on er’ s s p ec i f i c p r opo s e d

op era ti ons of a S UA S

.

A lt hou g h t he F AA do e s not poss e ss t he a u t ho r i t y t o e x e m pt t he P e ti t i on e r fr om t he s t a t u t o r y

re qu i re m e nt t o ho l d a n a i r m a n c e r ti f i ca t e

, a s p re s c r i b e d i n 49 U S C S ec ti on 44711, i t do e s poss e ss

t he a u t ho r i t y un d e r 14 C F S R 61.17 (a ) t o g ra nt a t e m po ra r y p il ot c e r ti f i ca t e or ra ti n g

, a nd i n

acc o r d a n c e w it h 14 C F S R 61.13 ( 4) t he Ad mi n i s t ra t or m ust i ssue a n a i r m a n cer ti f i c a t e “

... t o a n

a

pp li ca nt who s a ti s f a c t o r i l y a c c o m p li sh e s t he t ra i n i ng a nd cer ti f i c a ti on re q u i re m e n t s f or t he

cer ti f i c a t e

, ra ti n g

, or a u t ho r i z a ti on sou g h t

, i s en tit l e d t o re c e i ve t h a t a i r m a n cer ti f i c a t e

, ra ti n g

, or

a

u t ho r i z a ti on.”

W it h re g ar d t o t he P e titi on er’ s P I C t ra i n i n g p r o g r am

, t he P e titi on e r h a s p r opos e d t h a t p r i or t o t he

f i r st c o mm erc i a l o p era ti o n t he P I C be re qu i re d t o p erf o r

m t he g ra t e r o f 50 f li g h t s or 20 hou r s of

f li g ht tim e i n t he Phantom 3 Pro

, a s w e l l a s su c ce ss f u l l y d e m ons t ra t e f l i g ht m a n e u v er s sp ec i f i e d

i n t he P h a n t om Pil ot T ra i n i ng Gu i de a nd s t u d y a nd be f a mi l i a r w it h t he Phantom 3 Pro m a nu a l s

i d e n ti f i e d i n t he p e titi on.

I n it s p r opos e d r e g u l a ti o ns, t he F AA s t a t e s t h a t i t w il l crea t e a n e w “ un m a n n e d a i r c raf t op e ra t or

cer ti f i c a t e w it h a s m a l l U AS ra ti n g

. ” Th i s cer ti f ic a t e wou l d be re qu i r e d b e f o r e a p e r son c ou l d

l e g a l l y o p era t e a c o mm e r c i a l UA S

. To ob t a i n t h i s n e w c e r ti f i ca t e

, a n op e r a t o r

— who wou l d n ee d

t o be a t l ea st 17 y e a r s o l d

— wou l d h a ve t o p a ss a n aer on a u ti c a l know l e d g e t e st a t a n F AA

a

pp r ov e d t e s ti n g c e n t er

. The a pp li ca nt wou l d a l so h a ve t o p a ss a s ec u r i t y s cree n c ondu c t e d b y

t he T ra nspo r t a ti on S ec u r i t y Ad mi n i s t ra ti on.

G i v e n t he a bov e

, t h e F A A m ust d e t er mi ne t he a p p r op r i a t e l e v e l of p il ot c e r ti f i ca ti on f or t he

P e titi on er’ s p r opos e d op e ra ti on: 1) Th e r e a r e c u r r e n t l y no s t a nd ar ds f or e it h e r p r i v a t e o r

c o mm erc i a l UAS p il ot c e r ti f i ca t e s, 2) t he F AA h a s f ound t h a t i t ca nnot be a ssu m e d t h a t a

c o mm erc i a l p il o t

, a pp r o v e d t o op era t e a m a nn e d h e l i c op t e r or f i x e d w i n g a i rcr a f t

, h a s t he sk il l or

a

b ili t y t o s afe l y o p era t e a n un m a nn e d a e r i a l v e h i c l e

, op era ti n g a t 400 fee t AG L o r l ow er

, w it h i n

s t r i c t l y c on t r o ll e d p re

- a p p r ov e d a i r sp a ce

, 3 ) t o re q u i r e t he P e titi on e r t o ob t a i n a cer ti f i c a t e r a ti ng

e qu a l t o wh a t ’ s r e qu i re d t o op era t e a m a nn e d a i rc r af t c r ea t e s a b u r d e n a nd p l ace s undue ec ono mi c

h ar dsh i p on t h e P e titi on er

. Th er e f o re

, t he P e titi on e r i s h ere b y s e e k i ng t he S e cre t a r y ’ s a pp r ov a l t o

a

pp l y f o r

, a n d rece i v e a t e m po r a r y li c e nse c e r ti f i ca t e

, re n e w a b l e un ti l t he F AAcrea t e s a n “ un m a nn e d a i r craf t cer ti f i c a t e w it h S U AS ra ti ng ”

.

Be c a use a t e m po r a r y p il ot cer ti f i ca t e i s sub j e c t t o t he s a m e s e c u r i t y s cr e e n i ng b y t he D e p a r tm e nt

of Ho m e l a nd S ec u r i t y t h a t a l l cer ti f i e d a i r m e n u n d e r g o, t he p r opo s e d op e r a ti ons ca n ac h i e ve t he

e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y of re c e n t l y a pp r ov e d S e cti on 333 e x e m p ti ons, op e ra ti ons t h a t do not

s i g n i f i ca n t l y d i f f

e r f r om t h a t of t he P e titi on er

, th a t c u rre n t l y r e qu i r e a p r i v a t e p il ot cer ti f i ca t e

.

F li g h t in s tr u ct i on

- 14 CFR 91.109

Th i s re g u l a ti on p r ov i d e s t h a t no p er son m a y op e ra t e a c i v i l a i rc r af t ( e x ce pt a m a nn e d f re e

b a ll oon) t h a t i s b e i ng us e d f or f li ght i ns t r u c ti on un l e ss t h a t a i rc r af t h a s f u l l y f un c ti on i ng du a l

c on t r o l s.

S UA S s a nd re m o t e l y p i l o t e d a i rc r af t

, b y t h e i r d e s i g n do not h a ve f u l l y f u n c ti on a l du a l c on t r o l s.

F li g ht c on t r ol i s a cc o m p l i sh e d t h r ou g h t he u s e of a c on t r ol box t h a t c o mm un i ca t e s w it h t he

a i rc r af t v i a r a d i o c o mm un i ca ti ons. The F A A h a s a pp r ov e d e x e m p ti ons f or f li g ht t ra i n i ng w it hout

f u l l y f u n c ti on a l du a l c on t r o l s f or a nu m b e r of a i r c r af t a nd f or f li g ht i ns t r u c t i on i n e x p er im e n t a l

a i rc r af t

. The e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y p r ov i d e d b y t he f ac t t h a t n e it h e r a p i l ot nor p a ss e n g er s

w il l be carr i e d i n t he a i r c raf t a nd b y t he s i z e a nd s p ee d of t he a i rc r af t

.

M ini m u m S a f e A l t i t ud e s

– 14 C F R 31.119 (c )

Th i s re g u l a ti on p re s c r i b e s s af e a ltit ud e s f or t h e o p era ti on of c i v i l a i r cr a f t a n d sp ec i f i e s t h a t ov e r

sp ar s e l y popu l a t e d a r e a s t he a i rc r af t c a nnot be op e ra t e d c l os e r t h a n 500 f ee t t o a n y p er son,

v e ss e l

, v e h i c l e

, or s t r u c t u re

. I t a ll ows h e li c op te r s t o be op era t e d a t l ow e r a l t it ud e s i n cer t a i n

c ond iti ons. The P e titi o n er’ s S UA S s w il l n e v e r o p era t e a t a n a ltit ude g r e a t e r t h a n 400 f e e t A G L

. Si n c e t he t y p i c a l mi ss i on of t he P e titi on er’ s S UA S s wou l d be t o pho t o g r a p h / v i d e o s t r u c t u re s i t

wou l d be n e c e ss a r y t o o p era t e c l os e r t h a n 500 fee t t o t he it e m s li s t e d. F li g h t s w il l on l y be

c ondu c t e d ov e r p r op e r t y wh er e p er mi ss i on h a s b e e n ob t a i n e d a nd a t a d i s t a n c e g r e a t e r t h a n 30

fee t of a n y c ons e n ti n g i n d i v i du a l

, a nd on l y a f t e r c aref ul p r e

- p l a nn i n g h a s b ee n p e r f o r

m e d.

F u r t h er

, t h e S UAS w il l op era t e a t a v e r y s l ow a i r s p ee d, a nd a l ow m a ss, a n d do not n ee d a s m u c h

sp ac e t o op e ra t e s a fe l y

, a s ou tli n e d i n 91.119. Giv e n t he P e titi on e r w il l on l y op e ra t e h i s UA S s i n

s af e a rea s a w a y fr om pub li c a nd t raff i c

, t h ere b y p r ov i d i ng a l e v e l of s a f e t y a t l ea st e qu i v a l e nt t o

t hose i n re l a ti on t o mi n i m um s af e a ltit ud e s, a nd d u e t o t he s i z e

, w e i g h t

, m a n e uv e r a b ili t y a nd sp ee d

of t he P e titi on er’ s UA S

, a n e qu i v a l e nt or h i g h e r l e v e l of s afe t y w il l be ac h i e v e d.

A l t i m e t e r s e t t in gs

- 14 CFR 91.121

Th i s re g u l a ti on re qu i re s eac h p er son op e r a ti ng a n a i rc r af t t o m a i n t a i n cr u i s i ng a ltit ude b y

ref e re n c e t o a n a ltim e t e r t h a t i s s e t “

... t o t he e l e v a t i on of t he d e p ar t u r e a i r p o r t or a n a pp r o p r i a t e

a ltim e t e r s e tti ng a v a il a b l e b ef o r e d e p ar t u re

. ” As t he S UAS m a y not h a v e a b ar o m e t r i c a ltim e t er

, but i ns t ea d a G P S a ltit u d e rea d ou t

, a n e x e m p ti on m a y b e n ee d e d. An e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a fe t y

w il l be ac h i e v e d b y t h e o p era t or b y c on f i r

mi n g t he a ltit ude of t he l a un c h s i t e shown on t he G P S

a ltit ude i nd i ca t or b ef o r e f li g h t

.

F u e l R e qui r e m e n t s f or F li g h t i n VFR Co ndi t i o n s

- 14 C F R 91.151 ( a )

Th i s re g u l a ti on p r oh i b it s a n i nd i v i du a l fr om b e g i n n i ng “ a f li g ht i n a n a i r p l a ne und e r V F Rc ond iti ons un l e ss (c ons i d er i ng w i nd a nd f o re c a st w ea t h e r c ond iti ons) t h er e i s e nou g h f u e l t o f l y

t o t he f i r st po i nt of i n t e nd e d l a nd i n g

, a nd, a ssu m i ng no r m a l cr u i s i ng s p ee d

– ( 1) Du r i n g t he d a y

,

t o f l y a f t e r t h a t f o r a t l ea s t 30 mi nu t e s; or ( 2) A t n i g h t

, t o f l y af t e r t h a t f or a t l ea st 45 mi nu t e s

. ”

The b a tt e r y po w er i n g t he p r opos e d S UAS p r ov i d e s a pp r o x im a t e l y 15 mi nu t e s of pow e r e d f l i g h t

. Th a t wou l d m a ke i t im poss i b l e t o m ee t t he 30 mi nu t e re s er v e r e qu i re m e n t

. G i v e n t he limit a ti ons

on t he S UA S ’ s p r opos e d f li g ht a r e a a nd t he l o ca ti o n of it s p r opos e d op e r a ti ons w it h i n a

p re d e t e r mi n e d a r ea

, a l o n g e r tim e fra m e f or f li g ht i n d a y l i g ht or n i g ht V F R c ond iti ons i s

rea son a b l e

.

An e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a fe t y ca n b e ac h i e v e d b y l i miti ng f li g h t s t o 10 mi nu t e s or 30 % of b a tt e r y

pow e r ( wh i c h e v e r o c c u r s f i r s t )

. Th i s re s t r i c ti on w ou l d be m o r e t h a n a d e q u a t e t o re t u r n t he S UAS

t o it s p l a nn e d l a nd i ng z one fr om a n y w h er e i n it s l i mit e d op era ti ng ar e a

.

Ma in te n a n c e I n s p ect i o n s

- 14 C F R 91.405 ( a ) ; 14 CFR 91.407 ( a )( 1 ) ; 1 4 CFR 91.409 ( a )( 1 ) ;

14 CFR 91.409 ( a )( 2 ) ; 1 4 CFR 91.417 ( a) a n d ( b )

Th e se r e g u l a ti ons re qu i r e t h a t a n a i r c raf t op e ra t or or own e r “ sh a l l h a ve t h a t a i rc r af t i nsp ec t e d a s

p re s cr i b e d i n sub p ar t E o f t h i s p ar t a nd sh a l l b e t w ee n re qu i re d i nsp ec ti ons, e x ce pt a s p r ov i d e d i n

p ar a g r a ph ( c ) of t h i s s ec t i on, h a ve d i s c r e p a n c i e s r e p a i re d a s p r e s cr i b e d i n p a r t 43 of t h i s

c h a p t er

... , ” a nd o t h e r s sh a l l i nsp ec t or m a i n t a i n the a i r c raf t i n c o m p li a n c e w it h P ar t 43.

G i v e n t h a t t h e se s e c ti ons a nd P ar t 43 a pp l y on l y t o a i rc r af t w it h a n a i r wo r t h i n e ss cer ti f i c a t e

,

t h e se s ec ti ons w il l not a pp l y

. The o p era t o r

, p u r su a nt t o t he m a nu fac t u r er’ s us e r m a nu a l a nd g u i d e

w il l acc o m p li sh m a i n t e n a n ce

. An e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y w il l be a c h i e v e d b eca use t h e se s m a l l

S UA S s ar e v e r y limit e d i n s i z e

, w il l car r y a s m a l l p a y l o a d, a nd op e ra t e on l y i n re s t r i c t e d a rea s

f or limit e d p er i ods of tim e

. I f m e c h a n i c a l i ssu e s a r i s e

, t he S UAS ca n l a nd i mm e d i a t e l y a nd w il l

be op era ti n g f r om no h i gh e r t h a n 400 f ee t A G L

. As ou tli n e d i n t he af o re m e n ti on e d P re

- f l i g ht

Pl a n, t he op era t or w il l e n su r e t h a t t he S UAS i s i n wo r k i ng o r d e r p r i or t o i n iti a ti ng f li g ht a nd

p erf o r

m m a i n t e n a n c e a s r e qu i re d. M o r e ov er

, t he o p era t or i s t he p e r son m ost fa mili a r w it h t he

a i rc r af t a nd b e st su it e d t o m a i n t a i n t he a i rc r af t in a n a i r wo r t h y c ond iti on t o p r ov i de t he

e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y

.

In a cc o r d a n c e w i t h 14 CFR P a r t 11, t h e f o ll ow in g s u m m a r y i s p r ov id e d f or p u bli c a t i on i n

t h e F e d er al R e g i s t e r :

The P e titi on e r s ee ks a n e x e m p ti on fr om t he f o ll o w i ng r u l e s: 14 C F R P ar t 21, S ubp ar t H; 14 C F R

61.113 (a ) a nd ( b ) ; 14 CF R 91.109; 14 C F R 91.121; 14 C F R 91.151; (a) ; 14 C F R 91.405 (a) ; 14

C F R 91.407 (a)( 1 ) ; 14 C F R 91.409 (a ) ( 1 ) ; 14 CF R 91.409 (a)( 2 ) ; 14 C F R 91.417 (a ) a nd ( b) t o

c o mm erc i a l l y op e ra t e s m a l l un m a nn e d a i r c raf t s y s t e ms ( 55 l bs. or l e ss) i n o r d e r t o s a f e l y a nd

l e g a l l y ca p t u r e aer i a l pho t o g ra p h y a nd v i d e o g r a p h y f o r use b y ho m e ow n er s

, rea lt o r s, ho m e

bu il d er s, ho m e c on t r a c t o r s, a nd / or ho m e i nsp ec t o r s.

The op e r a ti on of S UA S s c ondu c t e d i n t he s t r i c t c o nd iti ons ou tli n e d a bov e

, w il l p r ov i de a n

e qu i v a l e nt a nd / or g r ea t e r l e v e l of s a f e t y supp o r ti ng t he g r a nt of t he e x e m p ti ons re qu e s t e d h e re i n,

i n c l ud i ng e x e m p ti ng t he a pp li ca nt fr om t he r e qu i r e m e n t s of P ar t 21 a nd a l l ow i ng c o mm e rc i a l

op era ti ons. Th e se l i g h t w e i g ht a i r c r af t op e r a t e a t s l ow sp ee ds, c l ose t o t he g r ound, a nd i n a s t er il ee nv i r on m e n t

, a nd a s a re s u lt

, ar e f a r s a f e r t h a n e x i s ti ng op e r a ti ons c ondu c t e d w it h h e li c op t er s

op era ti n g i n c l ose p r o x imi t y t o t he g r ound, p e op l e

, or o t h e r bu il d i n g s i n t he v i c i n i t y

. G i v e n t h e

s m a l l s i z e of t he S UA S s i nvo l v e d, t he s l ow sp ee d a t wh i c h t h e y m ust be o p era t e d i n o r d e r t o

ca p t u r e pho t os a nd v i d e o s, a nd t he re s t r i c t e d e nv ir on m e nt w it h i n wh i c h t h e y w il l op e r a t e

, t he

P e titi on e r d e m ons t ra t e s t h a t i t ca n be op e ra t e d w i t h i n a n e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y i n wh i c h

C on g re ss e nv i s i on e d t h a t t he F AA m us t

, b y e x e m p ti on, a ll ow c o mm erc i a l op era ti ons of S UA S s

t o c o mm e n c e imm e d i a t e l y

. A l so, due t o t he s i z e of the S UA S s a nd t he re s t r i c t e d a r ea s i n wh i c h

t he re l e v a nt S UA S s w il l op era t e

, a pp r ov a l of t h i s a pp li ca ti on p re s e n t s no t h rea t t o n a ti on a l

s ec u r i t y

.

G i v e n t he c l e a r d i r e c ti on i n S ec ti on 333 of t he R e f o r

m A c t

, t he a u t ho r i t y c o n t a i n e d i n t he Fe d era l

Av i a ti on A c t

, t he s t r o n g e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y su rr ound i ng t h e p r opos e d op era ti ons, t he

s i g n i f i ca nt pub li c b e n ef i t

– i n c l ud i ng e n h a n ce d s a f e t y

, r e du c ti on i n e nv i r o n m e n t a l im p ac t s, no

e mi ss i ons, a b ili t y t o l e g a ll y ob t a i n a er i a l pho t o g r a p h y a nd v i d e o g ra p h y s e r v i ce s

– t he g ra nt of

t he re qu e s t e d e x e m p ti ons i s i n t he pub li c i n t ere s t

. A cc o r d i n g l y

, t he P e titi on e r re s p ec t f u l l y

re qu e s t s t h a t t he F AA g r a nt t he re qu e s t e d e x e m p ti on w it hout d e l a y

.

S a ti s fac ti on of t he cr it e r i a p r ov i d e d i n S ec ti on 3 3 3 of t he R ef o r

m A c t

– s i ze

, w e i g h t

, sp ee d,

op era ti n g ca p a b ili t y

, p r ox i m i t y t o a i r p o r t s a nd p o pu l a t e d ar e a s, op e r a ti on w it h i n t he v i su a l li ne of

s i g h t

, pub li c s afe t y

, a nd n a ti on a l s ec u r i t y

– p r ov i de m o r e t h a n a d e qu a t e j u s ti f i ca ti on t o g ra nt t he

P e titi on e r t he re qu e s t e d e x e m p ti on, a ll ow i ng f or c o mm erc i a l op e r a ti ons a s d e s cr i b e d h ere w it h.

R e sp ec t f u l l y sub mitt e d,

David Varhol

, P e titi on e r