October 22, 2015

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) U.S. Department ofTransportation Docket Management System 1200 NewJersey Avenue, SE West Building, Ground Floor, Room W12-140 Washington, DC 20590 

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RE: EXEMPTION REQUEST SECTION 333 OF THE FAA REFORM ACT

Dear Sir or Madam:

Pursuant to Section 333 ofthe FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012 (the Reform Act), and 14 C.F.R. Part 

### 111, Beau Skinner, afull service independent real estate Broker, hereby applies for an exemption from the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) listed belowto allow operation ofa Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) commercially in airspace regulated by the FAA so long as such operations are conducted with and underthe conditions outlined herein oras may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333.

The requested exemption would permit Beau Skinner to pursue his commercial interests in providing aerial data capture to clients using a small advanced UAV in the following areas:

•',. Real Estate Marketing .Mapping Surveying Agriculture

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General Photography i !;

Regulations from which exemption is requested:


### 14CFR21; 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b); 14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b); 14 C.F.R. 91, et seq.; 14 CFR 407 (a) (1); 14 CFR 409 (a) (2); and, 14 CFR 417 (a) & (b).

I, Beau Skinner am a licensed Real Estate Broker in the State ofTexas ( License #593276). I have been flying UAV's forover

# ayear. My most recent experience is with a DJI Phantom 2 Vision+. I have been flying as a hobbyist and am now ready to bring my skills to a professional level. In doing so, I consider all safety precautions and regulations as foremost with each flight.My request to operate commercially is primarily to record digital video data and otheraerial photography data for privately owned fee simple real estate which will assist in the promotion and marketing oftheir real estate for ultimate disposition and sale. The area ofTexaswhere Iwork is not heavily populated and over95% ofthe owners Iworkforare selling Farm and Ranch land away from the general public. These properties cannot always be easily accessed by foot and providing an aerial viewof all boundaries and topography ofthe land would prove to be highly desired and essential when marketingthese propertiesto the general public as well as properly informingthe general publicofwhat they are seeking to purchase orsell. Aerial photography and videoing has been around fora long time in the real estate marketthrough manned fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. For small budget real estate brokers like myselfand average homeowners a manned fixed wing aircraft is cost prohibitive. Only large companies and high end Realtors or luxury homeowners can afford such expense, depriving non-luxury homeowners and lower budget Realtors from avaluable marketingtool. Also, using my UAV service avoids the high risks ofa helicopterand/orfixed wing aircraft with fuel and persons on board. The reduced noise and size creates a much smaller environmental impact which promotes public and environmental safety.

To make sure the operation will be safely conducted; my spotterand Iwill survey the flight area for any mobile phone base stations, radio transmission towers, power lines, orany otherelectromagnetic interference that could disruptflight. We will scan the area for any large buildings ortrees that may affectwith GPS accuracy orflight. We will verify the weather is safe forflight to avoid wind speed exceeding 10 m/s, snowfall, rainfall, and restricted environmental visibility. Additionally, we will go through the PREFILGHT CHECKLIST/maintenance and FLIGHT TEST PROCEEDURES in a secure area safe from persons and property.

The DJI Phantom 2VISION+ is equipped with a built-in stabilized HD camera and GPS safetyfeatures. These safety features include the abilityto restrict the maximum altitude they operate above ground level, to limitthe radial distance from the operatorand to exclude them from operations within designated Class B, Cand Dairspace including "no-fly zones". This model has afailsafe function that is automatically engaged inthe event communication is lost between the UAS and the main controller transmitter. At thattime, the UAS will return to its point oftakeoffand land safely. Ifthe connection is restored, the operatorcan regain control offlight and land manually.

These specifications meet orexceed the ModelAircraft Operating Standards as set below:

The petitionerwill only operate its UAS in line-of-sight ofthe operator and will operate at sites that are "sufficient distance" from populated areas withinthe sterile area described in the FOPM. Such operations will ensure the UAS will"not create a hazard to users ofthe national airspace system orthe public." When flying the UAS within three (3) miles ofan airport, airportoperators will be notified and the operatorwill give the right-of-wayto avoid flying in the proximity offull-scale aircraft. Maximum flight time foreach operation will be 30 minutes. Flights will be terminated when battery levels reach 25%, allowing sufficient reserve flight timeto safely land the UAS. The UAS will be pre-programmed so itwill not be operated atan altitude thatwill exceed 200 feet AGL, and not moretnan 100feet above an elevated platform from which videography is planned. The UAS operated by the Petitionerweighs less than 25 pounds, including all payload.The UAS will operate at speeds notto exceed 50 knots, can hover and can simultaneously

move vertically and horizontally.

I respectfully request exemption under Section 333 to enable Beau Skinner to operate efficient, limited, low-risk commercial UAS operations forthe activities stated respecting at all times the space and privacy ofcitizens and property while keeping airspace safe.

Respectfully,

Beau Skinner 6243 FM 244 Anderson, TX 77830 (979)574-857 Beau.skinner@yahoo.com