Robert S. Gittens 1 80 Waters Edge Drive L izella, Ga. 31052 4 78-390-9177 f lyrobert1@gmail.com

J anuary 14

, 201 6

U.S. Department of Transportation West Building Ground Floor Room w12-140 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE Washington, DC, 20590

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, Public Law 112-95 (P.L. 112-95), (2012), 126 Stat. 11 (“Section 333”) and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (“FAA”) general exemption au

thority under 49 U.S.C. § 44701(f), R obert S.Gittens Dba Portrait Shoppe

, (“Petitioner”) hereby petitions for exemptions listed below.

14 CFR Part 21 H Requirements to Secure Airworthiness Certificate 14 CFR. 45.23 b Size of display marks 14 CFR § 61.113 a & b Private Pilot Privileges and limitations; Pilot in Command 14 CFR. 91.7(a) Civil aircraft airworthiness 14 CFR. 91.9 Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placard requirements 14 CFR § 91.103 Preflight Action 14 CFR § 91.109 a Flight Instruction 14 CFR § 91.119 c Requirements for Minimum Safe Altitude for Civil Aircraft Operation 14 CFR § 91.121 Altimeter Settings 14 CFR § 91.151a1 Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions 14 CFR. § 91.203 a & b Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration 14 CFR § 91.405 a Maintenance Required 14 CFR § 91.407 a1 Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, or Alteration 14 CFR § 91.409 a1&2 Inspections 14 CFR § 91.417 a & b Maintenance Records

The proposed exemptions, if granted, would allow Robert S. Gittens to commercially operate a small-un

manned aircraft system (“sUAS”)

, to shoot video and still photography used for web-based videos, real estate advertising, property inspections and personal fine-art projects.

Along with this petition the following documents have been submitted:

• P ortrait Shoppe sUAS Standards Operation Manual.pdf

• 

### http://www.horizonhobby.com/pdf/BLH8620-Manual-EN.pdf

• 

### http://www.horizonhobby.com/pdf/BLH8622-Manual-EN.pdfBACKGROUND

R obert S. Gittens seeks an exemption to operate B lade Chroma small-unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) equipped with a three-axis gimbal and CG03 camera system, for compensation or hire within the National Airspace System.

R obert S. Gittens dba P ortrait Shoppe , has provided clients with photography, video, and multimediarelated services for over 1 8 years

. R obert S. Gittens hopes to offer aerial photography and cinematography services to provide a more affordable solution for areal imagery. R obert S. Gittens has been assembling and flying small RC A irplanes since 200 7 . He is a ctive member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) as well as a member of a local RC club Chartered by the (AMA) and for the last 2 years, has logged over 5 0 hours of flight time on a B lade Chroma Quadcopter, equipped with a three-axis gimbal and a C G0 3 camera, without incident.

The B lade Chroma is vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft (UA) with a maximum gross weight of approximately 2.8 lb. while having a diagonal dimension of 23.2”, a maximum speed of approximately 16.4’fps and a maximum flying height of 400'. B lade Chroma is equipped with four main rotors, driven by 4 Lithium Polymer battery powered electric motors.

How this request would benefit the public as a whole:

R obert S. Gittens use of a sUAS reduces the need to operate conventional aircraft lowering the overall cost to the consumer. sUAS can provide photos and video more quickly, accurately, economically, safely, and with reduced environmental impact.

NAME AND ADDRESS OF PETITIONER /Registration N578MG / UAS Certificate Number FA39MEMPHE

R obert S. Gittens Owner and sUAS Pilot/Operator P ortrait Shoppe 1 80 Waters Edge Drive Lizella, Ga. 31052 4 78-390-9177 f lyrobert1@gmail.comThe specific sections of 14 CFR from which Robert S. Gittens is seeking an exemption as well as the reasons for the exemptions:

14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H - Airworthiness Certificates R obert S. Gittens requests an exemption because of size, speed, weight, and limited operating area of the B lade Chroma to meet the level of safety necessary for exemption under (49 U.S. Code § 44701 – “General requirements” (f)). In addition, considering the small size of a B lade Chroma , if flown in accordance with the sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual developed by R obert S. Gittens and flight procedures rec

ommended by the B lade Chroma Manual, it provides at least an equivalent, and, most likely, superior level of safety to that of such operations being conducted with conventional aircraft.

14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); Size of display marks Robert S. Gittens requests an exemption from 45.23(b); "Marking of the aircraft" because the B lade Chroma sUAS does not have a cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which to mark certain words or phrases. Additionally, two-inch lettering is difficult to place on such a small aircraft with dimensions smaller than the minimal lettering requirement.

If required by the FAA, Robert S. Gittens will mark the sUAS with the largest possible lettering if assigned a number or name (based on a request or ruling by the FAA on its fuselage).

14 CFR § 61.113 (a) and (b) - Private Pilot Privileges and Limitations; Pilot in Command Under §61.113 (a) and (b) private pilots are limited to non-commercial operations, however Robert S. Gittens can achieve an equivalent level of safety as achieved by current regulations. Allowing operations of the sUAS exceeds the present level of safety achieved by 14 CFR 61.113 (a) and (b) since there will be no human beings on board the sUAS and the sUAS will be operated in an environment to minimize risk while in the air. In order to ensure a high level of safety Robert S. Gittens has developed a sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual that will help ensure safe flights.

14 C.F.R. 91.7(a); Civil aircraft airworthiness Robert S. Gittens is seeking relive of from section 91.7(a) because the B lade Chroma sUAS does not require an airworthiness certificate in accordance with 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H. Therefore, Robert S. Gittens will ensure that the B lade Chroma sUAS is in airworthy condition based upon its compliance with the operating documents (i.e., Maintenance Log, Standard Operating Manual, Checklists and B lade Chroma’ s Manual) prior to every flight.

14 C.F.R. 91.9 Civil aircraft flight manual, marking, and placard requirements Robert S. Gittens seeks an exemption from C.F.R. 91.9 because the size and configuration of the B lade Chroma has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board but because there is no room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft.

The equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping the sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual and Blade Chroma Manual at the ground control point where the PIC will have immediate access to them.

14 CFR § 91.103 - Preflight Action Robert S. Gittens will perform preflight inspections in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations and the P ortrait Shoppe sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual. Preflight inspections will also include weather and wind checks before flight and assessment of potential surrounding hazards such as power lines, trees, bushes, etc.

14 CFR § 91.109 (a) - Flight Instruction Robert S. Gittens seeks an exemption from 91.1 09(a), which provides that "no person may operate a civil air

craft (except a manned balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual controls." sUAS and remotely piloted aircraft do not have functional dual controls. sUAS flight control is accomplished through the use of a device that communicates with the aircraft via radio communication.

14 CFR § 91.119 (c) - Requirements for Minimum Safe Altitude for Civil Aircraft Operation Robert S. Gitten s sUAS will be operated below the 400 feet Above Ground Level (AGL). Given the size, weight (less than 3 pounds) and speed of the sUAS, equivalent levels of safety will be achieved.14 CFR § 91.121

- Altimeter Settings Robert S. Gittens requests an exception from 91.121 because the B lade Chroma uses a barometric altimeter that is automatically reset before each flight. The operator can achieve equivalent safety as the sUAS uses AGL height from its initialization or launch point. Moreover, the UAV will not require current reported altimeter setting of a station along the sUAS’s flight path because the sUAS will be flown within a horizontal range of 1000 feet or less to maintain VLOS. Lastly, if the altimeter displays a discrepancy in the AGL of more than +/- 3.5 meters the flight will be canceled.

14 CFR § 91.151 (a) (1) - Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions The sUAS flown by Robert S. Gittens has a short flight time, 18

- 22 minutes maximum per flight and will be operated well below the 400 foot AGL ceiling under controlled conditions as defined by the Portrait Shoppe sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual. The sUAS will be flown up to the maximum of 18 minutes or until 2 5 percent of battery life remains, whichever comes first. B lade Chroma Quadcopters have a built-in safety feature that is achieved through battery monitoring. The aircraft system is built to alert the PIC of low battery life and will automatically return the unit to its takeoff location before battery capacity is depleted. The FAA has previously issued exemptions for fuel requirements in VFR conditions. Previous exemption numbers include 10808, 5745, 2689F, & 10673. Given the small size and operational purposes of the sUAS, it does not bear the same risks associated with this section's requirements.

14 C.F.R. § 91.203 (a) & (b)

- Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration R obert S. Gittens seeks an exemption from 91.203 (a) & (b) because there is no ability or place to carry cer

tification and registration documents or to display them on the sUAS. In addition, there is no pilot on board the aircraft. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping any required certifications and or special flight authorization documentation with the PIC.

14 CFR § 91.405 (a)

- Maintenance Required This section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate; therefore, these sections will not apply. Maintenance, preventative maintenance, rebuilding and alteration will be accomplished pursuant to the manufacturer's recommendations and the, “sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual” developed by Robert S. G ittens . The sUAS shall be free of mechanical issues and discrepancies prior to flight. If mechanical issues arise, the flight will be terminated immediately. This standard exceeds that of a manned aircraft, which allows possible flight despite minor discrepancies that do not impair safety.

Robert S. G ittens , along with guidance from the manufacturer, shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety. The P ortrait Shoppe sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual outlines how to log flights and maintenance information. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because Robert S. G ittens operates its sUAS far below its maximum height of 400 feet AGL, in controlled areas. In addition, the UAV will not carry any signifi

cant payload besides a C G03 camera and if a mechanical issue occurs the sUAS can land immediately.

14 CFR § 91.407 (a) (1)

- Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance, Rebuilding, or Alteration This section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate; therefore, these sections will not apply. In the absence of regulatory provisions dealing with sUAS operations, maintenance, preventive main

tenance, rebuilding and alteration, Robert S. Gittens has developed operational standards to address this topic. Robert S. Gittens will perform maintenance pursuant to the manufacturer's recommendations and its own operational standards. Maintenance, preventive maintenance, rebuilding and alteration will be successfully accomplished Robert S. Gittens or by trained personnel. Robert S. Gittens sUAS will be discrepancy-free prior to initiating flight and will be grounded if mechanical issues are discovered while in flight. Robert S. Gittens will consult the manufacturer regarding any discrepancies or damages to the sUAS.

Robert S. Gittens shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety. Furthermore, Robert S. Gittens sUAS will fly below the 400 feet AGL, which will add an equivalent level of safety. Maintenance schedules and logs will be documented by Robert S. Gittens

. 14 CFR § 91.409 (a) (1) and (2)

- Inspections This section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate; therefore, these sections will not apply. In the absence of regulatory recommendations, Robert S. Gittens has developed operation standards to address this topic. Pre-flight and post-flight inspections will be accomplished by Robert S. Gittens pursuant to themanufacturer's recommendations and the P ortrait Shoppe sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual. Robert S. Gittens sUAS will be flown free of discrepancies and if mechanical issues arise during flight, the sUAS will be grounded immediately. Flights will be executed under 400 feet AGL and logged according to the P ortrait Shoppe s sUAS Standard Operating Procedures Manual.

14 CFR § 91.417 (a) and (b)

- Maintenance Records This section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate; therefore, these sections will not apply. In the absence of regulatory recommendations, Robert S. Gittens has developed operation standards to address this topic. The P ortrait Shoppes sUAS “Standard Operating Procedures Manual” will detail how to log scheduled maintenance or flights that are performed. Maintenance will be accomplished by Robert S. Gittens and/or by trained personnel pursuant to the manufacturer's recommendations and Portrait Shoppe’s operational standards. The sUAS will be free of discrepancies prior to initiating flight. If mechanical issues arise during flight of the sUAS, the PIC will land the unit safely. Robert S. Gittens shall be the most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to maintain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

CONCLUSION

As set forth herein, Robert S. Gittens seeks an exemption pursuant to 14 C.F.R. § 11.61 and Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA), which will permit safe operation of the B lade Chroma commercially, without an airworthiness certificate, for the limited purpose of conducting aerial video and photography over certain areas of the United States.

If there are any areas that have not been addressed, please contact me for supplemental information.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Gittens 1 80 Waters Edge Drive Lizella, Ga. 32052 f lyrobert1@gmail.com 4 78-390-9177sUAS Technical Specifications

B lade Chroma We ight (Battery & Propellers Included) 1000g Motor to Motor Distance: 15.7 in (400mm)

Rotor Type: Quadcopter

Prop Diameter: 10.0 in (253mm)

Approximate Flight Time: 30 minutes

Battery: 11.1V 3S 6300mAh Li-Po

Height: 9.50 in (242mm)

Weight: 45.9 oz (1.3 kg)

Motor Type: 4 × 780Kv Brushless Outrunner

Control Link: 2.4GHz, 2.4GHz

Video Link: 5.8GHz

Video Link Range: 1,970 ft (600m)

Satellite Navigation System: GPS, GLONASS

Completion Level: Ready-to-Fly

Length: 12.8 in (325mm)



### http://www.horizonhobby.com/pdf/BLH8620-Manual-EN.pdf

L ipo Battery Type 3S LiPo Capacity 6 0 00mAh, 11.1V Charging Environment Range 0 °C to 40 °C Discharging Environment Range -20cto 50 °C

2.4GHz Remote Control Operating Frequency 2.4GHz ISM Communication Distance (Open Area) 1000m Receiver Sensitivity (1%PER) -97dBm Working Current/Voltage 120 mA@3.7V Built-In LiPo Battery Working Current/Capacity 3.7V, 2 2 00mAh

C GO3 Camera Gimbal Operating Current Static current: 400mA (@12V) Dynamic current: 600mA (@12V) Gimbal Input Power 3S~6S (12V ~ 26V) Operating Temperature - 0 °C ~ 4 0 °C Gimbal Weight 200 g (camera excluded) Gimbal Dimensions (With Damping Unit) 97mm X 95mm X 73mm GCU Weight 22g GCU Dimensions 42 mm X 32 mm X 9.3 mm Regulatory Approvals FCC (USA): Yes; CE (EU): Yes; RoHS (EU): Yes

FCC Compliant 5.8GHz 7-Channel Cased A/V Transmitter Frequency: 5.8GHz RF band. Channels: Seven (5740, 5760, 5780, 5800, 5820, 5840, 5860 MHz). RF Field Strength: Approximately 90dBuV/m @ 3m (<1mW RF Power). Operating Distance: 100 meters in ideal line-of-sight environments. Video Input: Composite NTSC / PAL, 75 ohms. Audio Sub-carrier: 6.0 / 6.5 MHz. Audio Input: 1V Line Level, >10K ohms. Antenna: Circular Polarized Omni, not detachable. Antenna Connector: None. Operating Voltage: 6 - 17 VDC. 5VDC Accessory Power Output (250mA Maximum). Typical current: 8V@80mA / 12V@60mA (transmitter only). External Power Filter: 2S, 3S, and 4S LiPO battery compatible. Weight: 1 ounce (27 grams) with antenna, cables, and filter. Case Size: 1.5 x 1.0 x 0.6 inches (38 x 25 x 15 mm). Overall Length: 3.3 inches (includes antenna). FCC ID: 2ABYQFSV2461 Made in China by FatShark RC Vision Systems.

Black Pearl Diversity Monitor The technical specs are available on page 9 of the manual "FPV-Black-Pearl-Monitor.pdf”Terms and Abbreviations

AGL - Above Ground Level - An altitude measured with respect to the underlying ground surface.

Aircraft - Any contrivance invented, used, or designed to navigate, or fly in, the air (Title 49, United States Code (49 USC) § 40102).

AMA - Academy of Model Aeronautics - A US based, non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of model aviation as a recognized sport as well as a recreational activity. It is the largest organization of its kind with a current membership of more than 140,000 members.

Anemometer - An instrument to measure the velocity of the wind in the Area of Operations.

AO - Air Traffic Organization

AOI - Area of Interest

Area of Operations - Defined as the area where sUAS operations will be carried out for a specific flight or series of flights on a given mission.

ATC - Air Traffic Control

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations

Checklists - Procedural checklists used by the PIC to verify proper and safe procedures during all phases of sUAS operations.

COA - Certificate of Authorization - Exemption with a civil Certificate of Waiver or Authorization for civil aircraft to perform commercial operations in low-risk, controlled environments.

Designated Safety Zone - Defined and marked area of ground operations used for safe takeoffs and landings of the sUAS at a given Area of Operations.

FAA - Federal Aviation Administration

FAA - Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA)

FAR - Federal Aviation Regulation

Flight Control Systems - The combination of telemetry, PIC operated controls, and on board control mechanisms that are employed to control the flight of the sUAS.

Frequency Analyzer - A device used to scan the Area of Operations for possible interference from radio waves.

GCS - Ground Control Station

GPS - Global Positioning System

Handheld Radio - A radio transceiver capable of communication with other Pilots or FAA personnel in the Area of Operations.

Return To Home - A default recovery mode the DJI Phantom goes into when communications are lost from the PIC.

LOL - Loss of Link

Maintenance Recommendations - Periodic maintenance recommendations for each of the sUAS components that have a usable life.

Manual - This flight manual that combines the Operator specific procedures with the sUAS manufacturers'manual.

Manufacturers Recommendations - Written recommendations provided by the manufacturers of the various components of the sUAS.

NAS - National Airspace System - The common network of U.S. airspace; air navigation facilities, equipment and services, airports or landing areas; aeronautical charts, information and services; rules, regulations and procedures, technical information, and manpower and material

Non-Participants - Persons who have not agreed to participate in sUAS operations.

NOTAM or NoTAM - A Notice to Airmen - A notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight.

Operational Control - With respect to a flight, this means the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or terminating a flight (14 CFR § 1.1).

Operator - The entity submitting as the applicant on this waiver request to the FAA who will be responsible for all sUAS operations and procedures.

Participants - Persons who have agreed to participate in sUAS operations

PIC - Pilot In Command - Person who will fly the UA during sUAS operations and who is responsible for all safety related or operational decisions under the direction of the Operator in accordance with this Manual and FAA requirements.

SO - Safety Observer

SOP - Standard Operating Procedures

sUAS - Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems as contemplated under the FAA guidelines, not to exceed 55 pounds in weight or 100 miles per hour in speed.

Telemetry - Electronically transmitted data that provides control and information transmissions to and from the PIC and the sUAS.

The FAA's sUAS Integration Office (AFS-80) - The Agency's single point of contact for everything sUAS. It was established in 2013 with a vision for safe, timely, and efficient integration of sUAS into the National Airspace System (NAS). The sUAS Integration Office collaboratively develops operating concepts, policies, requirements, criteria, and procedures for new system evaluations, integration, and implementation of emerging sUAS technologies.

UA - Unmanned aircraft - Any aircraft that is operated without the possibility of direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft (P.L. 112-95, Section 331).

UAS - Unmanned Aircraft System - An unmanned aircraft and associated elements, including communication links and the components that control the unmanned aircraft, that are required for the pilot in command to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system (P.L. 112-95, Section 331).

VFR - Visual Flight Rules - A set of regulations under which a pilot operates an aircraft in weather conditions generally clear enough to allow the pilot to see where the aircraft is going.

VLOS - Visual Line of Sight - Unaided (corrective lenses and/or sunglasses excepted) visual contact between a pilot in command and an unmanned aircraft sufficient to maintain safe operational control of the aircraft, know its location, and be able to scan the airspace in which it is operating to see and avoid other air traffic or objects aloft or on the ground.

VMC - Visual Flight Rules Meteorological Conditions - Conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft.VMC - Visual Meteorological Conditions - An aviation flight category in which visual flight rules (VFR) flight is permitted—that is, conditions in which pilots have sufficient visibility to fly the aircraft maintaining visual separation from terrain and other aircraft.

VO - Visual Observer - An individual who is designated to observe flight operations and to maintain visual contact with the UA during flight operations while maintaining communications and coordination with the PIC.

VTOL - Vertical Takeoff and Landing