November 5, 2015

Exemption No. 12785A

Regulatory Docket No. FAA–2015–1259

Mr. Joseph Agenbroad

Satstellar, LLC

109 Janwall Street

Annapolis, MD 21403

Dear Mr. Agenbroad:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your petition for an amendment. It explains 

the basis for our decision, describes its effect, and lists the revised conditions and limitations.

By letter dated April 17, 2015, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf Satstellar, LLC (hereinafter petitioner or operator) for an exemption. That exemption 

from §§ 61.23(a) and (c), 61.101(e)(4) and (5), 61.113(a), 61.315(a), 91.7(a), 91.119(c), 

91.121, 91.151(a)(1), 91.405(a), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) and (2), and 91.417(a) and (b) of 

Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) allows the petitioner to operate a UAS to 

perform aerial data collection. At the time, the FAA was unable to approve the Accurate 

Automation Corporation EyeFly, Aerial Technology AG550, AgEagle AG550, Aircover 

QR425, Aircover QRT825, ATI/AG RG550, ATI/AG AGBOT, ATI/AG AGHELI, DelairTech DT-26, EMT Fancopter, Height Tech HT-6, Height Tech HT-8 C180, Height Tech HT8/HT-8 C, Javad Triumph-F1, Phoenix Aerial Systems TerraHawk, Phoenix Aerial Systems 

AL3 S1000, Phoenix Aerial Systems Vapor 55, Sensefly eBee Ag, and Sensefly swingle 

CAM. The FAA is now prepared to act on that request.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested amendment to the exemption would not set a 

precedent, and any delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to the petitioner. The 

unmanned aircraft authorized in the original grant are comparable in type, size, weight, speed 

and operating capabilities to those in this petition.
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Airworthiness Certification

In accordance with the statutory criteria provided in Section 333 of Public Law 112−95 in 

reference to 49 U.S.C. § 44704, and in consideration of the size, weight, speed, and limited 

operating area associated with the aircraft and its operation, the Secretary of Transportation 

has determined that this aircraft meets the conditions of Section 333. Therefore, the FAA 

finds that relief from 14 CFR part 21, Certification procedures for products and parts, 

Subpart H—Airworthiness Certificates, and any associated noise certification and testing 

requirements of part 36, is not necessary.

Our Decision

The FAA has determined that the justification for the issuance of Exemption No. 12785 

remains valid and is in the public interest. Therefore, under the authority contained 

in 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 40113, and 44701, delegated to me by the Administrator, the operator is 

granted an amendment to add new aircraft to its UAS operations.

The operator shall add this amendment to its original exemption.

 

Conditions and Limitations

All conditions and limitations within Grant of Exemption No. 12785 remain in effect except 

as follows. Condition No. 1 has been updated to reflect the additional aircraft. 

Failure to comply with any of the conditions and limitations of this grant of exemption will be 

grounds for the immediate suspension or rescission of this exemption.

1. Operations authorized by this grant of exemption are limited to the 3D Robotics 

X8-M, 3DRobotics Aero-M, 3DRobotics Iris+, 3DRobotics X8+, Altavian Nova 6500, 

Altavian Nova 8400, Delair-Tech DT-18, DJI Inspire 1, DJI Phantom 1, DJI Phantom 

2 Vision, DJI Phantom 2 Vision +, DJI Phantom 3, DJI Phantom FC40, MicroDrones 

MD4-200, MicroDrones MD-1000, PrecisionHawk Lancaster, Riegl RiCopter, 

senseFly eBee, senseFly eXom, senseFly eBee RTK, Trimble UX5, and Trimble UX5 

HPAccurate Automation Corporation EyeFly, Aerial Technology AG550, AgEagle 

AG550, Aircover QR425, Aircover QRT825, ATI/AG RG550, ATI/AG AGBOT, 

ATI/AG AGHELI, Delair-Tech DT-26, EMT Fancopter, Height Tech HT-6, Height 

Tech HT-8 C180, Height Tech HT-8/HT-8 C, Javad Triumph-F1, Phoenix Aerial 

Systems TerraHawk, Phoenix Aerial Systems AL3 S1000, Phoenix Aerial Systems 

Vapor 55, Sensefly eBee Ag, and Sensefly swingle CAM when weighing less than 

55 pounds including payload. Proposed operations of any other aircraft will require a 

new petition or a petition to amend this exemption.
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This exemption terminates on September 30, 2017, unless sooner superseded or rescinded.

Sincerely,

/s/

John S. Duncan

Director, Flight Standards Service