Petitioning	for	Exemption	under	Section	333:	Requesting	FAA	authorization	to	

operate	a	UAS	for	civil	(non-governmental)	purposes	other	than	for	recreation	

or	hobby.

UAS	Operator:

James	Sheppard	PhD,	on	behalf	of	San	Diego	Zoo	Global

Role	of the	Unmanned	Aircraft	System	

San	Diego	Zoo	Global	will	use	the	UAS	solely	for	the	purpose	of	acquiring	highresolution	data	(remote	sensing	imagery)	on	the	landscapes	that	comprise	critical	

habitat	for	the	endangered	species	that	we	are	working	to	conserve	and	restore.	 We	

seek	to	deploy	our	UAS	on	a	wide	range	of	landscapes	to	collect	information	on	

habitat	variables,	such	as	vegetation,	rocks	and	water.	Our	UAS	will	mostly	be	

deployed	in	remote	locations,	far	from	human	habitation.	The	data	our UAS	will

collect	will	significantly	enhance	our	conservation	research	and	will	directly	

conservation	management	strategies	for	endangered	species	and	their	habitats.

UAS	Platform

Type: PrecisionHawk	Lancaster

Aircraft	serial	number:	14HE03057

The	PrecisionHawk	Lancaster UAS is	a	small,	robotic	plane	that	can	collect	

extremely	high-resolution,	remote	sensing	data	with	minimal	effort

(http://www.precisionhawk.com).	The	aircraft	itself	is	lightweight	(1.3	kilograms)	

and	measures	less	than	1	meter	from	nose	to	tail,	with	a	1.5-meter wingspan.	The	

UAS	is silent	(runs	on	brushless	electric	motors)	and	is	designed	to	be	extremely	

easy	to	use.	The	UAS automatically	computes	flight	paths,	survey	parameters,	

takeoff and	landing	paths,	as	well	as	other	vital	information using	a	suite	of	onboard	

sensors	(including	humidity,	temperature,	pressure,	and	incident	Light).	Users	are	

never	required	to	manually	generate	plot	mission	paths	or	build	flight	plans	based	

off	of	weather	conditions.	Instead,	the	aircraft	will	automatically	adapt	to	its	current	

environment.	

The	artificial	intelligence	that	operates	all	elements	of	the	UAV	and	makes	aerial	and	

data	decisions	throughout	the	PrecisionHawk	system via	a	720	MHz	dual-core	Linux	

CPU,	eliminates	the	need	for	a	technical	operator.	The UAS automatically	detects	

weather	conditions	while	flying and	creates	its	own	optimal	flight	path.	In	addition,	

the	aircraft	is	equipped	with	advanced	diagnostic	capabilities,	enabling	it	to	

autonomously	monitor	all	facets	of	the	mission	from	power	consumption	to	

airframe	fatigue	to	survey	quality.	The	UAS	continually	monitors	itself	while	in	

flight:	checking	battery	life,	operational	weather/wind	limitations,	structure	cracks	

and	other	internal	performance	checks. The	UAS	operates	at	altitudes	below	that	of	

manned	aviation,	and	in	order	to	acquire	remote	sensing	data	of	sufficient	

resolution	for	our	conservation	research	we	will	always	operate	it	<	200	ft.	
Fight	checks	for	all	UAS	survey	operations	will	be	conducted	using	the	following	

checklist	sequences:

Pre	Flight	Checks	

1. A	site	survey	will	be	initially	conducted	to	ensure	that	the	flight	mission	area	

is	free	of	obstacles	and	obstructions	and	an	appropriate	distance	away	from	

buildings	and	roads.

2. Meteorological	conditions	will	be	surveyed	to	check	that	wind	speeds	are	

below	25	m/s	and	temperatures	are	above	-30°C.	The	UAS	is	capable	of	

operating	successfully	in	rain	and	snow.

3. A	spectrum	analysis	will	be	conducted	on	the	ground	station	link	to	the	UAS	

10	minutes	prior	to	launch	to	confirm	that	no	spikes	over	-75db	occur	on	

control	frequency	900	MHz span.

4. The	UAS	platform	will	be	checked	prior	to	each	launch	for	visible	signs	of	

damage,	such	as	cracks	on	the	body	or	propeller	or	moisture	and	debris.

5. The	UAS	battery	health	and	electrical	connections	will	be	inspected	for	any	

damage.

6. The	Mission	Planner software,	laptop	to	Ground	Station connection, and	

Ground	Station	wireless	link	to	UAS	will	be	tested	prior	to	launch	via	a	suite	

of	diagnostic	checks.	LED indicators	on	the	UAS will	signify	if	telemetry	

packets	are	being	sent	and	received,	and	will	show power	status.

7. LED	indicators	on	the	UAS	will	show	whether	sufficient	GPS	fixes	have	been	

made. If the	GPS connection	<	5 satellites,	takeoff cannot	be	performed.

8. The	Mission	Planner	software	will	provide	a	map	on	the	operator’s	laptop	

that	will	display	the real-time	updated	location	of	the	UAS	overlaid	on	a	georeferenced	map at	GPS	level	accuracy.

9. A	final	pre-launch	check	will	be	made	of	the	UAS	battery	voltage to	ensure	

that	it	registers	12.6V.

10. A	final	weather	check	will	be	made,	and	then	the	surrounding	area	and	

airspace	will	be	confirmed	ready	for	launch.	All	persons	will	be	made	to

remain	a	minimum	of	7m	from	the	takeoff site	(30m	if	not	under	our	control).

11. If	the	survey	area	is	under	ATC	control,	take	off	clearance	will	be	requested.

12. The	UAS	landing	approach will	be	confirmed,	including	a	minimum	landing	

approach	of	200m,	and	a	maximum	crosswind of 10m/s.

13. Autonomous	take	off	mode	will	be	selected,	the	operator	will	call	“clear”,	

then	the	UAS	propellers	will	engage	5	seconds	after	an	OK	button	is	pressed	

on	the	airframe.	The	portside	of	the	fuselage	will	flash	all	of	its	LED	lights	

indicating	imminent	motor	spool-up.

14. Following	the	hand	launch,	the	UAS	will	automatically	climb	at	an	angle	of	15	

degrees	with	an	unobstructed	takeoff	length	of	40m.
15. Take	off	time	will	be	recorded	in	the	UAS	maintenance	documents.

Post	Take-Off	Checks

1. The	UAS is	stable	immediately	following	launch.	It	will	climb	to	indicated	

altitude,	gather	weather	conditions,	and	then	apply	survey	path,	landing	

when	finished.	Altitude	is	+/- 10m	in	flight

2. The	Mission	Planner	software	and	ground	station	remote	link	to	the	UAS	will	

enable	airspeed	and	altitude	to	be	continually	checked	by	the	operator via	a	

laptop	feed	to	ensure	that	the	aircraft	has	a	positive	airspeed	>	10m/s	and	its

altitude	is	sufficient.

Pre-Landing	Checks

1. The	landing	area	will	be	checked	to	ensure	that	it	is	clear.	All	persons	must	

remain	a	minimum	of	7m	from	takeoff site	(30m	if	not	under	our	control).

2. The	programmed	landing	area	will	be	updated	if	necessary.	The	operator	will	

call	“clear”. The	UAS will	be	emitting	an	audible	tone	alerting	those	in	the	

area	of	its	position.	

3. The	descent	angle	flown	by	the	UAS	will	depend	on	the	approach	length.	

Prior	to	contact	with	the	ground	(~	1-3m	above	ground	level) the	propellers	

on	the	UAS	will	stop spinning.

4. Landing	time	will	be	recorded	in	the	UAS	maintenance	documents.

Post-Flight	Checks

1. The	UAS	will	be	turned	off	and	the	battery	pack	will	be	removed,	checked	for	

any	damage/swelling,	and	placed	on	a	charger.	UAS	battery	usage	will	be	

recorded	in	a battery	maintenance	log.	

2. The	UAS	will	be	checked	for	damage,	including	cracks	and	chips	in	the	body,	

wings,	or	propeller.	Any	damage/repairs	carried	out	will	be	recorded	in	the	

UAS	maintenance	log.

Radio	Frequency	(RF)	spectrum	used	for	control	of	the	UAS

The	control	data	link	used	to	connect	the	UAS	to	the	Mission	Planner	software	and	

the	manual controller	uses	the	900MHz	spectrum.

Qualifications	of	UAS	PIC

The	PIC	(James	Sheppard	PhD)	has	completed	a	two-day	intensive	training	course	

on	the	safe	and	effective	operation	of	the	PrecisionHawk	Lancaster	UAS	platform	

and	he	possesses	a	Certificate	of Training	after	completing	the	PrecisionHawk	

online	education	program. The	PIC	(operator) of	the	UAS	possesses	a	valid	and	

current	Medical	Certificate	Second	Class (GX-1824955).
Operation	of	the	Unmanned	Aircraft	

We	will	conduct	extensive	pre-flight	planning	and	checks	using	geographic	

information	software	and	the	UAS	proprietary	Mission	Planner	software	to	identify	

and	avoid	potential	flight	risks,	such	as	roads,	airports,	and	power	lines.	We	will	not	

operate the	UAS	in	areas	where	potential	flight	risks	are	high, and	we	will	fly	at	

sufficient	distances	from	populated areas.	Our	UAS	will	be	used	exclusively	to	

acquire	geospatial	data	of	habitats	and	landscapes	that	are	mostly	remote	and	

unoccupied.

Before	each	takeoff,	we	will	conduct	an	extensive	preflight	check	to	examine	all	

aspects	of	the	aircraft	and	surrounding	area,	and	check	for	any	structural	

deficiencies	or	flight	risks.	

 Maximum	operating	speed of	the	UAS:		25	m/s	

 Operating	altitude of	the	UAS:		<200	ft

 Maximum	flight	time of	the	UAS:		Up	to	45	min.

 Maximum	surface	wind	for	takeoff:		12m/s	(23.3	Kts)

 Maximum	operating	temperature:		+60°C

 Minimum	operating	temperature:		-30°C

 The	UAS	will	continually	transmit	data	on	its	location,	height,	flight	trajectory,	

and	wind	speed	to	the	operator	via	the	ground	station	link.	

 The	UAS	will	be	deployed	exclusively	to	collect	geospatial	data	and	imagery	

of	habitats	and	landscapes	that	are	remote	and	located	away	from	populated	

areas.	

 The	UAS	will	not	be	deployed	in	the	proximity	of	any	airports.

During	flight,	the	UAS	will	be	continually	monitored	by	the	aircraft	operator	and	an	

observer	and	will	never	fly	beyond	sightline.	The	UAS	will	also	continually	transmit	

data	on	its	location,	height,	flight	trajectory,	and	wind	speed	to	the	operator	via	the	

ground	station	link.	As	soon	as	it	becomes	available,	we	will	outfit	our	UAS	with	the	

forthcoming	LATAS	system	that	will	broadcast	the	location	of	the	aircraft	while	it	is	

in	operation:	http://flylatas.com