Date: Aug 15 th

, 2015

U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t i on

Do c k e t Man a g e ment S y s tem

1200 N e w J e rs e y Av e

., S E W a shin g ton, DC 20590

R e : P e t i t i on of Geo Spec 3D

, LLC for a n E x e mp t ion P u rsu a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the F AA Mod e rni z a t i on a nd

Re f o r m A c t of 2012

To W hom i t M a y Con c e r n:

P u r suant to S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e rni z a t i on a nd Re f o r m A c t of 20 1 2 ( " R e fo r m A c t " ) a nd 14

C. F .R. P a rt 1 1, Geo Spec 3D, LLC. (" Geo Spec 3D " ) h e r e b y a ppl i e s for a n e x e mp t ion f r om the F e d e r a l

A viation R e gulations ( " F

AR s " ) id e nt if

ied b e low t o a l l ow c om m e r c ial op e r a t i on of small unmann e d ae r i a l

vehi c les ( i.e., " small unm a nn e d a ir c r a f t " or " UAS " ) for the pu rpose o f c ondu c t i n g controlled flights for aerial

s urface and structural inspection of public and private facilities such as wind turbines, cell towers, bridges

, etc. Additionally, provide aerial photograph y, mapping and data collection services for real estate, golf

courses and agriculture.

This peti t ion for e x e mp t i on is created b a s e d on inf o rm a t i on out l ined in th i s Pe t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion, as

we ll a s but not limited to t h e se accompanying GEOSpec 3D documents ;

1. F l i g ht O p e r a t i ons Man ua l and;

2. Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls"

(c ol le c t i v e l y r e fe r re d to as " GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls" )

3. Us e r G uide and;

4. Us e r M a nu a l

(c ol lec t i v e l y r e f

e r r e d to as " M a nuf

a c tu r e r ' s Man u a l " )

. 1

GEOSpec 3D submi t s these as well as other GEOSpec 3D s u pporting mat e ri a ls as c o n fid e nt i a l

docum e nts pur s u a nt t o 14 C. F .R. § 11.35 ( b )

, a s the mat e ri a ls contain c onfid e nt i a l c o m m e r c ial a nd/or

p r o p ri e t a r y info r mat i on that the GEOSpec 3D h a s not a nd will not sh a re with o t h e rs. A ddi t ional l y , t h e se

do c u m e nts contain op e r a t i ng c ondi t ions and p r o ce du re s that a r e not g e n e r a l l y a v a i l a ble to the public a nd

a re pro t ec ted f

rom r e le a s e und e r the F r ee d o m of I n fo r mation A c t, 5 U.S. C

. § 552 e t seq.

1 T he te r m " Man u f

ac tu r e r 's Man ua l" a lso includ e s a ll r e lev a nt manu f ac tu r e r p ubli ca tions

, in c ludin g , but not

l i m i ted to: op e r a t i ons a n d f li g h t m a nu a ls

, us e r g ui d e s

, c ompon e n t m a int e n a n c e m a n u a ls

, pilo t tr a in i ng

man u a ls, s e rvi c e info r mation l e t t e rs a nd, s a f e t y /se r vi c e bul l e t i ns).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 2

T h is P e t i t i on is o r g a ni z e d a s follows:

I. P e ti t io n e r

II. D e s cr i p tion of P r o p os e d O p er a t io n s

A. H igh level, Traditionally D angerous A erial Public and P rivate F acilities and Site Inspections

B. Real Estate Public and Private Aerial P hotography, M apping and Data C ollection S ervices

II. R e levant Sta t u to r y Au t h o r ity

IV. GEOSpec 3D P r o p osed GEO

- UAS O p er a t io n s Mee t t h e R e qu ir e m e n ts of S ec ti o n 333 of t h e

R e f o r m A c t

A. App r ov a l i s W a r ra nted B a s e d on the GEO

- UAS ' s S i z e

, W e i g ht, S p e e d, a nd Op e r a t i on a l

C a p a bi l i t y

B

. App r ov a l i s W a r ra nted B a s e d on the O p e r a t i on a l R e strictions S e t F o r th i n the Op e r a t i ons

Man u a l s

V. R e g u latio n s F r o m W h i c h Ex e m p tion i s Requested

A. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 21, Subp a rt H

– Air w o r th i n e ss C e r t ific a tes a nd 14 C. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) ( 1 )

B

. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 27 A irwo r th i n e ss S tand a rds: No r mal C a te g o r y Rotor c r a ft

C. 14 C. F .R. §§ 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23(b) a nd 45.27 ( a ): Ai r c r a ft M a rki n g a nd I d e nt i fi ca t i on Requir e m e nts

D. 14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ), 9 1.407 (a ) ( 1 ), 91

. 409(a) ( 1) a nd ( 2 ); 91.417 ( a ) a nd ( b ) : Mainten a n c e

I nspe c t i ons

E. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 61, 14 C. F .R. § 61.3, 14 C. F .R. § 61.113: P riv a te P i lot P rivile g e s and L i m i t a t i o n s

F

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.7 (a ): C i vil Air c r a ft Ai r wo r th i n e ss

G. 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2 ) : C iv i l Air c r a ft F l i g ht Man u a l i n the A ir c r a ft a nd 14 C. F .R. § 91.203 (a )

a nd ( b ) : C a

r r y i n g Civ i l Air c raft Ce r t i fi ca t i on a nd R e g is t r a t i on

H. 14 C. F .R. § 91.103: P r e fli g ht A c t i on

I

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.109 (a ): F l i g ht I nstru c t i on

J

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.11 9 ( c ) : M in i mum S a fe Alt i tudes

K. 14 C. F .R. § 91.121: Al t i met e r Settin g s

L

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.151 (a ): Fuel R e quir e ments for F l i g ht i n V F R Condi t ions

VI. D r u g a n d Al c o h ol P r o g r a m

VII. P ub l i c I n t e re s t

VIII. P r iv a c y

IX. F e de r al R e gis t e r S u mm a r y

X. Concl u sionU.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 3

I. D E SCRI P T I O N O F P ET I T I O NER

B a s e d in Henderson

, N evada

, GEOSpec 3D has goals to become a well

- known aerial inspection company

focusing on facilities inspection where a very high level of danger exists for companies where traditional

methods use for inspection such as; (1) the use of h elicopters with an inspector on a wire deployed from the

side door of the aircraft, (2) personnel climbing 100 foot plus all types of towers can and do take lives

. GEOSpec 3D will perform such inspection services for wind turbines, cell towers, water towers, antennas,

bridges, and other struct ures where human life would be in danger. The majority of these operations will be

conducted specifically in airspace previously reviewed and approved by the FAA for the construction of

towers, wind turbines, high level bridges and other facilities in a controlled area and will not create

addition al hazard in the NAS. Additionally the GEOSpec 3D will provide like

- minded inspection services

for contractor clients who need aerial photography of real estate construction sites , golf c ourse sites, local

city and county utilities, parks, sports construct ion sites , etc

. GEOSpec 3D plans e ventually in expanding to

mapping for precision agriculture and water conservation

. GEOSpec 3D ’s President Jason Orton is

extremely proficient at UAS PIC Operations with more than 2500 hours operating unmanned aircraft

overseas, and additionally holds a current FAA ATP pilot's license. GEOSpec 3D s ee ks an e x e mp t ion to

allow for the c om m e r c ial op e r a t i ons of sm a ll

, 5 5lbs GEO

- UAS to facilitate this high level, traditionally

dangerous to human life, above ground aerial facilities and construction site inspection

.

The c onta c t i n f

o rm a t i on f

o r Petitioner is as f

ol l o w s:

Jason Orton

President

Geo Spec 3D , LLC.

PO Box 530193

Henderson , NV 89053

512

- 535

- 8007

Jason.Orton777@Gmail.com

II. D E SCRI P T I O N O F P R O P O S E D O P E RAT I O N

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks an e x e mp t ion pursu a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the Re f o r m A c t t o op e r a te the UAS DJI

Inspire 1 and AscTech Falcon 8 also known as ( GEO

- UAS) f o r the p r opos e d op e r a t i ons discuss e d b e low.

All GEO

- UAS ope ra t i ons will oc c ur und e r ti g ht l y c ontroll e d c ondi t ions at locations wh e re GEO Spec 3D

h a s r e c e ived p e rmission t o op e r a te f r om t he lando w n e r, c ontroll e r o r a uthori z e d r e p re s e ntativ e s

. The

pro p osed GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons will be c ondu c ted in a cc o r d a n c e with the c ondi t ions and lim i ta t ions of this

P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion and GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls. As d e tailed in GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons

Man u a ls, all GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons will be l i m i ted to d a y t i me V F R c ondi t ion s , with i n visu a l l i ne

- o f

- s i g ht

( " V L OS " ) o f the op e r a tor and or (“VO”) visual observers

, in uncont r ol l e d a irsp a c e

, a nd will o cc ur a t l ea st 5

m i l e s a w a y f

rom a n a irp o rt. Mo re ov e r, GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls inco rpor a te r e dund a nt

s a f e g u a rds to a ssu r e that the a ir c r a ft do e s not tr a v e l ou t side the c ontroll e d are a o f GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons,

in c lud i ng GPS "geo

- f

e n c i ng" te c hnol o g ies.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 4

A. High level, Traditionally Dangerous Aerial Public and Private Facilities and Site Inspections

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks to use sm a ll GEO

- UAS s for the pu rpose of c ondu c t i n g high level, controlled

flights for aerial surface and structural inspection of public and private facilities such as wind turbines, cell

towers, bridges, etc. GEOSpec 3D h a s t a i l o re d i t s op e r a t i ons to m ee t t he re qui r e ments e stablished b y t h e

F A A in p r ior g ra nts of e x e mp t i on s a uthori z ing c om m e r c ial use o f GEO

- UAS i n high level, aerial facilities

and industrial site inspection includi n g :

 ATAC Global LLC ( E x e mp t ion No. 11794 )

 Legend Creative Group (E x e mp t ion No. 11789 )

 Precision Design & Drafting, Inc. ( E x e m pt i on No. 11783 )

 RS&H, Inc. ( E x e m pt i on No. 11772 )

 T r ud ea u, R e a l t or® ( E x e mp t ion No. 11138 )

 Eagle Eye Aeronautical Imaging LLC ( Exemption No. 12337 )

 A lon S i c h e r m a n ( E x e m p t i on N o. 1172 8 )

 S okol e r M e d l e y ( E x e mp ti on N o. 1134 1 )

 ASYMMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES, LLC ( Exemption No. 11171 )

All GEO

- UAS h igh level, aerial facilities and construction site inspection op e r a t i ons will be

conducted on GEOSpec 3D and other approved p r op e r t y in a c ontrol l e d a re a

, a w a y f

r om sp ec tators a nd

p e r s ons not invo l v e d. All GEO

- UAS high level, aerial facilities and construction site inspection will be

c ondu c ted du r i n g d a y l i g h t hours , V F R c ondi t ions, a t alt i tudes b e low 40 0 ' A G L

. As s e t fo r th below,

GEOSpec 3D op e r a t i ons pro v ide a sup e rior l e v e l of sa fe t y and quality compared to p e r f o r m i n g the s a m e

ae ri a l photogra phy and inspection wo r k using c onv e nt i on a l fi x e d

- wing a i r c raft or h e l icopt e rs.

B. Real Estate Public and Private Aerial Photography, Mapping and Data Collection Services

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks to use sm a ll GEO

- UAS for the pu r pose of c ondu c t i n g h igh level, aerial

inspection s of facilities and industrial site s, and for conducting real estate and agriculture aerial

photography, mapping and data collection services

. T r a di t ional methods of h igh level, aerial facilities and

industrial site inspection are extremely costly and present uncalled for r isk, physical h a rm, se r ious i nju r y

and death to manned aircraft participants and dangers for participants, employees and pedestrians on the

ground

. Further, the use of traditional aircraft e x poses extreme d a n g e rs from low level aircraft engine failure

making recovery or emergency landings next to impossible

. The use o f s m a ll GEO

- UAS m i t i g a tes th e se

h a z a rds a nd is ul t i m a te l y a much s a f e r m e thod of p e r f

o rming the s e and most other t y p e s of h igh level,

aerial facilities and industrial site inspection and real estate and agriculture aerial photography, mapping

and data collection services

.

Conv e nt i on a l ope ra t i ons us i ng roto rc r a ft a nd fi x e d

- wing a ir c r a ft i n low le v e l op e r a t i ons pr e s e nt risks

a ssoci a ted w i t h v e hicl e s w e i g hi n g thous a nds of po u nds a nd ca r r y i n g la r ge a moun t s of f u e l. I t is i mport a nt

t o note th a t t he use o f sm a ll GEO

- UAS in t his a re a are sa f e r a nd mo r e c ost e f

f e c t i v e , and deliver higher

qu a l i t y of data and in f

o r mation f

a r sup e rio r to that of any other system

. S mall GEO

- UAS are more r e l i a ble,

a nd a l l ow f

o r the c ol l ec t i on, diss e m i n a t i on, a nd sto r a g e o f visual a nd other senso r y d a ta w i t h gr e a t e r

p r ec is i o n a nd du ra t i on. S mall GEO

- UAS s are a lso ca p a ble o f a c ce ss i n g a nd inspe c t ing a re a s that wo u ld

o t h e r w ise be in a cce ss i ble to humans and cannot be completed with c onv e nt i on a l aircr a ft.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 5

III. R ELE V ANT ST ATUT O RY AUT H O RI T Y

This P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t i on is submi t ted pu r suant to S ec t i on 333 (a ) th r o u gh ( c ) of the F AA

Mod e rni z a t i on a nd R e fo r m A c t of 2012 ( " R e fo r m A c t " ). Co n g r e ss h a s dir e c ted the F AA " to sa f e l y

a c ce le r a te the i nte g r a t i on of c iv i l un m a n n e d a ir c r a ft s y stems i nto t he n a t i on a l airsp a c e s y stem

. " P u r suant to

S e c t i on 333 of the Re f

o r m A c t, t he F AA Admin i str a tor is t o p e rmit unm a nn e d a ir c r a ft s y st e ms t o op e r a te in

the Na t i on a l Airs p ac e System (" N AS " ) wh e re it is s a f e to do so b a s e d on the f

ol l owi n g c onsid e r a t i ons:

● GEO

- UAS ' s s iz e , w e i g ht, spe e d a nd op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y ;

● Op e r a t i on of the GEO

- UAS in close pro x i m i t y to ai rp o rts a nd populat e d a r ea s; a n d

● Op e r a t i on of the GEO

- UAS with i n the visu a l l ine of sight of the op e r a tor.

Addit i on a l l y , the FAA A dm i nis t r a tor h a s ge ne r a l autho r i t y to g r a nt e x e mp t ions f r om t he a g e n c y 's

s a f e t y re g ulations a nd m i ni m um s t a nd a rds w h e n the A dm i nis t r a tor d ec ides a r e q u e sted e x e mp t ion i s in the

publ i c in t e r e st. S e e 49 U.S. C . § 106( f ) ( d e fini n g the a u t hori t y of the Admin i str a tor ) ; 49 U. S .C. § 44701 ( f)

( p e rmit t ing e x e mp t ions f

r om §§ 447 0 1 (a ), ( b ) a nd ; §§ 44702

– 44716, e t se q

. ). A p a r t y r e qu e st i n g a n

e x e mp t ion m ust e x p l a in t he rea sons w h y the e x e mp t ion: ( 1) would b e n e fit the publ i c a s a w ho l e

, a nd ( 2 )

would not adv e rs e l y a f

f ec t s a f e t y ( or how it would provide a lev e l of s a f e t y a t l ea st e q u a l t o the e x is t ing

r ules )

. S e e 14 C. F .R. § 11.81 (p e t i t i ons for e x e mp t ion).

IV. GEOSpec 3D’s P R O P O S E D GEO

- UAS O P E RAT I O NS M EE T T H E R E Q UIR EME NTS O F

SE CTI O N 333 O F T H E R E F O RM ACT

The small GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons p r opos e d b y GEOSpec 3D i n th i s P e t i t i on for E x e m p t i on qu a l if y f o r

e x p e di t e d a ppro va l purs u a nt to S ec t i on 333 of the Re f o r m A c t a s e a c h of t h e st a tu t o r y c rite r i a a nd r e lev a nt

f ac tors a re s a t i sfi e d.

A. Ap p r oval i s Wa rr a n t e d Based on t h e GEO

- UAS 's S i z e , W e ig h t, S p ee d , a n d O p er a t io n al

Ca p a b i l ity

A G r a nt of E x e mp t ion i s ap p rop r iate for op e r a t i o n s co n du c ted usi n g GEO

- UAS due t o its si z e w e i g ht, sp e e d,

a nd op e r a t i on a l ca p a bi l i t y

.

 GEO

- UAS h ave b ee n a ppro ve d for u s e in prior S ec t i on 333 G ra nts of E x e mp t ion f r om t he F A A

. 2

 GEO

- UAS w ei g h l e ss t h a n 5 5 pounds, in c lud i ng p a y load.

2 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o Legend Creative Group (E x e mp t ion No. 11789 ) Precision Design &

Drafting, Inc. ( E x e m pt i on No. 11783 )

, RS&H, Inc. ( E x e m pt i on No. 11772 )

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 6

 GEO

- UAS will not be f lown a t a g r ound speed in e x ce ss of 50 knots.

 Alt i tude in f

o r mation wi l l be g e n e r a ted b y e quip m e nt onboa r d the U A a s s p ec ified using GPS

tria n g u l a t i on, di g i t a l l y e n c o d e d b a rom e tric a l t i m e te r

, ra dio a l t i m e te r , or a n y c omb i n a t i on the re o f

.

This i n f o r mation wi l l be t ra nsm i t t e d to t he pi l ot v i a tel e metric d a ta f e e d.

 The GEO

- UAS s will h a ve s y stem r e dund a n c ies a nd in d e p e nd e nt fu n c t i on a l i t y to e nsure the ov e r a ll

sa f e t y a n d p re dict a bi l i t y of the s y stem. I f c onn e c t i on to t he re m ote c ontrol or g round c ontrol station

is l ost, f a i l s a fe s y stems wi l l pe r m i t t he GEO

- UAS to r e turn to a p r e d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on a nd s a f e l y

l a nd without in

j u r y o r d a m a g e

.

 The ra dio f

r e qu e n c ies u s e d for op e r a t i ons a nd c o n trol of the GEO

- UAS c omp l y with t he Fe d e r a l

C om m unic a t i ons C om m is s ion ( " F CC " ) a n d other a ppro p ri a te g ov e rnm e nt ove r s i g ht a g e n c y

re qu i r e ments. The op e r a t i n g f r e qu e n c y for t he GEO

- UAS is 2.4 G H z

.

I f the s a me o p e r a t i ons w e re c ond u c ted usi n g a h e l i c opte r , the a i r c raf t ' s tak e

- o f f w e i g ht would l i k e l y

e x cee d 6,0 0 0 pounds carrying a pilot, camera operator and VO

- visual observer

- navigator . The dif f e r e n c e

in w e i g ht betw e e n the GEO

- UAS a nd a h e l i c opt e r si g n ific a nt l y r e du ce s t h e potential h a rm to the

p a r t icip a t i ng a nd no n

- p a rticip a t i ng ind i viduals or pro pe r t y in t he e v e nt o f a n a c c ident or incid e nt. I n

a ddi t ion, t he r isk to t he onbo a rd pilot a nd ca me r a op e r a tor is eli m inat e d.

B. Ap p r oval i s Wa rr a n t e d B a s e d on t h e O p er a t io n al R e st r ic t io n s S e t F o r th in GEOSpec 3D

O p er a t io n s M a nu a l s

GEOSpec 3D’s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l s a nd the M a nu f ac tu r e r ' s Manu a l f

o r the sel e c t e d GEO

- UAS s will

c ontain a ll the p r o c e dures and l i m i tations n ece ss a r y to s a f e l y a nd s u cce s s f

ul l y p e r fo r m t h e op e r a t i ons

spe c if i e d in t his P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t io n . To a s si s t t he F AA in m a king a sa f e t y a ssessment of GEOSpec

3D’s p ropos e d op e r a t i ons, b e low is a summa r y of o p e r a t ional l i m i tations a nd c ondi t ions that GEOSpec 3D

will a dh e re to, and w h i c h will e nsure a n e q u i v a le n t or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y to ope r a t i ons c on d u c ted und e r

c u rr e nt r e g u l a to r y g ui d e l i n e s:

1. The GEO

- UAS w e i g hs l e ss t h a n 5 5 pounds, ful l y load e d

.

2. All ope ra t i ons shall be c o ndu c ted ov e r p riv a te or c ontroll e d

- a c ce ss prop e r t y with p e rmission f r om t he

land o w n e r/ c ontroll e r o r a ut h o r i z e d r e p re s e ntative. P e rmission f r om l a nd own e r/ c ontroll e r o r a uthori z e d

r e p r e s e ntative w i l l be obtain e d for e ac h fl i g ht o p e r a t i on.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 7

3. All GEO

- UAS s op e r a ted und e r the G r a nt of E x e mp t ion wi l l be id e nt i fi e d b y s e ri a l numbe r

, r e g is t e r e d

in a cc o r d a n c e with 14 C F R p a r t 47, and h a ve identifi c a t i on ( N

- Numb e r) ma r ki n g s in acc o r d a n c e with

14 C F R p a rt 45, Subp a rt C. M a r kin g s will be a s la r g e a s pr a c t ic a ble.

4. Mini m um c re w f

or e ac h fli g ht op e r a t i on will c onsist of a pi l ot, who will be P i l o t

- in C om m a nd

( " P I C " ) o f the GEO

- UAS

, a nd one o r mo r e Visu a l Obs e rvers ( " Obs e rv e r " ) a s ne c e s s a r y to sa f e l y

c o ndu c t t he m i ss i on.

5. P I Cs shall poss e ss at le a s t a Sport or Priv a te P i lo t ' s C e rtifi c a te a nd c u r re nt C lass I I Medi ca l C e rtifi ca t e

and/or a valid state driver’s license

. The P I C will a lso m ee t t he f l i g ht r e vi e w re qui r e ments spe c ified

in 14 C

. F .R 61

. 56 in an a ir c r a ft in which the P I C is r a ted on his or h e r pi l ot c e rtifi ca te.

6. The UA shall be o p e r a t e d with i n V L OS of the P IC a nd Obs e rver a t all t i m e s. The P I C must use

h uman vision un a ided b y a n y d e v i c e other t h a n c o r r e c t i ve l e n s e s, as spe c ified on the P I C ' s F AA

is s u e d medi c a l c e rti f

ic a te.

7. The P I C a nd Obs e r v e r desi g n a t e d for a n y o p e r a t i o n will be a ble to c om m unic a te v e rb a l l y a t all t i m e s.

8. Ele c tronic mess a g i n g or t e x t i ng will not be p e rmit t e d du r ing fli g ht o p e r a t i o ns.

9. The a ddi t ional re qui r e m e nts i d e nt i fi e d in t he G ra n t of E x e mp t ion shall be a dd e d to t he GEOSpec 3D

O p e r a t i o ns Man ua l s. The Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s will be maintain e d a nd made a v a i l a ble to the Admin i str a tor

upon re q u e st. I f a disc r e p a n c y e x is t s b e tw ee n the c ondi t ions and lim i tations in the G r a nt of E x e mp t ion a nd

GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons Man u a l s, the c ondi t ions and lim i tatio n s in t he G ra nt of E x e mp t ion shall t a ke

pre ce d e n c e a n d must be f ol l ow e d. Oth e r w ise, GEOSpec 3D shall follow the p r o ce du r e s outl i n e d in t h e ir

Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls.

10. GEOSp ec 3D m a y u pd a te or r evis e it s O p e ra tio ns M a n u a ls

. R e vision s w il l b e t r a c k e d a n d a r e vi s e d

c o p y of t he M a n u a l w il l be p r ovi d e d to th e A dminist r a to r upo n re q u e st

. GEOSpec 3D w il l a ls o p re s e n t a n

u pd a t e d a n d r e vis e d O p e r a tion s M a n u a l s i f i t p e tition s f o r e x t e nsio n o r a m e nd m e n t t o it s G r a n t of E x e mption

.

I f a n up d a t e or r e vis i on would a f f ec t t he b a sis upon whi c h the F A A g ra nts t he e x e mp t ion, GEOSpec 3D will

se e k a n a m e ndment to i ts Gr a nt of Ex e mp t ion. GEOSpec 3D will c o nta c t the F A A ’s GEO

- UAS I nt e g r a t i on

O f fi c e ( A F S

- 80) if q u e st i ons a rise r e g a rdi n g u pd a tes or re vis i ons to the op e r a t i ng do c u m e nts.

11. GEOSpec 3D O p e ra t i on s M a n u a l s a nd it s G r a n t o f E x e mptio n w il l be a v a i l a bl e to th e

P I C a t t he g r o un d c on t r o l st a tio n a n y tim e t h e GEO

- UAS is op e ra ti n g

.

12. The P I C is prohib i ted f r o m be g inn i n g a GEO

- UAS f l i g ht un l e ss ( c onsid e r i ng wind a nd f o re ca st

w ea th e r c ondi t ions) the r e is en o u g h po w e r to f l y to t he f i rst in t e nd e d point of l a nding, and a ssu m ing n o rm a l

c r uis i ng spe e d, to f

l y a ft e r t h a t for a t l ea st 10 m i nute s

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 8

13. Ma x i m um to t a l fli g ht t i m e f or e ac h o p e r a t i on a l fl i g ht usi n g the GEO

- UAS will be l i m i ted to 40

m i nutes or the a mount of time the GEO

- UAS ca n be flo w n a nd s t i ll maintain a re s e rve b a t ter y po w e r of no

less than 25 % , whi c h e v e r oc c u r s fi r s t

.

14. F l i g hts will be op e r a ted a t an a l t i t ude of no more t h a n 400 fee t A G L a nd w i ll n e v e r e n t e r n a v i g a ble

c o ntroll e d a irsp a c e without prior w r i t ten a uthori z a t i on a nd a ppro va l f r om t he F A A. I n the e v e nt t he str u c ture

b e ing insp e c ted e x cee ds 400 f e e t A G L

, t h e GEO

- UAS will not be oper a ted m o re th a n 100 fee t abo v e the

h i g h e st point on the stru c tur e

, a n d no more than 2 0 f e e t h o r i z ontal l y f

r om t he s t ructur e

.

15. F l i g ht op e r a t i ons must be c ondu c ted a t le a st 500 fe e t f r om all nonpa r t i c ipat i ng p e rsons. ( p e rsons

oth e r t h a n the P I C, V O, op e r a t o r t ra ine e s o r e ssential p er sonnel ), v e ssels, v e hicl e s, and st r u c tur e s unl e ss:

a

. B a r ri e rs or str u c tur e s a re p re s e nt t h a t suf f ic i e nt l y p rot ec t nonpa r t i c i p a t i ng p e rsons f rom the U A a n d /or

d e b r is i n the e v e nt of a n a c c ident. The op e r a tor must e nsu r e that nonp a rti c ipating p e rsons re main und e r

s u c h p r ote c t i on. I f a si t u a t i on a ris e s wh e re nonp a rticip a t i ng p e rsons l e a ve such p r ote c t i on a nd a re

with i n 500 fee t of the U A

, f l i g h t ope ra t i ons must c ea se i m medi a te l y a nd/or;

b. The a ir c r a ft is op e r a ted n ea r v e s s e ls, vehi c les or s t ru c tur e s w h e re t h e own e r/ c ontroll e r o f su c h v e ssels,

v e hicl e s or str u c tur e s has g r a nted p e rmission and the P I C h a s made a s a f e t y a s s e ss m e nt of the r isk of

op e r a t i n g c loser to t hose obje c ts and d e t e rmin e d that it do e s not pr e s e nt an undue h a z a rd, a nd;

c

. Op e r a t i ons n e a rer to the P I C, V O , op e r a tor t r a in e e s or e ssential p e rsons do not pr e s e nt an undue

h a z a rd to those p e rsons p e r § 91.119 (a ).

16. The UA m a y not be o p e r a ted l e ss t h a n 500 f e e t b e low or less than 2,000 f e e t hori z ontal l y f

r om a

c loud or w h e n vis i bi l i t y is l e ss t h a n 3 st a tu t e m i les f rom the P I C.

17. The UA m a y not op e r a te with i n 5 m iles of a n a irpo r t re fer e n c e point a s de n o t e d on a c u rr e nt F A A

publ i shed a e ron a ut i ca l c h a rt unless a letter of a g r ee ment with that a irpo r t’s man a g e ment is obtain e d, a nd the

op e r a t i o n is condu c ted in a c c o r d a n c e with a N OT A M as r e qui r e d b y t h e GEOSpec 3D COA. The letter of

a g re e ment with the a irpo r t m a n a g e ment will be made a v a i l a ble to the A dm i nis t r a tor upon r e qu e st.

18. P rior to e ac h fl i g ht t he P IC sh a ll inspe c t t he GEO

- UAS to con f irm th a t i t i s in a c ondi t ion sa f e f or

fli g ht. The pr e

- fli g ht i nsp e c t i on will acc ount for a ll disc re p a n c ies, e .g. inop e r a ble c omponents, items, or

e quip m e nt, not a lr e a d y c ov e r e d in t he r e le v a nt s e c t i ons of the op e r a t i n g d o c uments. The P I C s h a ll not

op e r a te the GEO

- UAS if the i n spe c t i on r e v e a ls a c ondi t i on that a f f e c ts t he sa f

e op e r a t i on of the GEO

- UAS

un t il the n ece ssa r y m a in t e n a n c e h a s b e e n p e r f o r med a nd the GEO

- UAS is found to be in a c ondi t ion for sa f e

f l i g ht. The g r ound c ontrol s t a t i o n shall be includ e d in t he preflight ins p ec t i on. All m a in t e n a n c e a nd

a l t e r n a t i ons must be p r op e r l y do c umen t e d in t he GEO

- UAS r e c o r ds a s r e qui r e d b y GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons

Man ua l s

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 9

19. GEOSpec 3D will c a rr y out i ts m a in t e n a n ce , insp e c t i ons, a nd r e c o rd ke e ping r e quir e ments in

a cc o r d a n c e with t he Op e r a t i ons Ma n u a ls. M a in t e n a n ce , inspe c t i on, a nd a l t e r a t i ons will be not e d in t he GEO

UAS rec o r ds, in c lud i n g to t a l t i m e in se r vic e , d e s c ription of wo r k a c c omp l ished, a nd the si g n a tu r e of the

a uthori z e d p e rson re turni n g the GEO

- UAS to se r vic e

.

20. A n y GEO

- UAS that h a s un d e r g one m a in t e n a n c e or a l t e r a t i ons that a f f ec t t h e GEO

- UAS

op e r a t i on or fl i g ht c h a r a c te r is t ics ( e .g

., r e p l ace m e n t of a fli g ht c ritic a l c omp on e nt) must und e r g o a fun c t i o n a l

test fli g ht in a cc o r d a n c e with GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s

. The P I C who c ondu c ts the fun c t i on a l test

fli g ht must make a n e nt

r y i n th e GEO

- UAS a ir c raft r e c o rds of the fli g ht. The r e qui r e men t s a n d p r o ce du r e s f o r a

f u n c tion a l test fli g ht a nd GEO

- UAS r e c o r d e nt r y shall be includ e d in the GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons

Man ua l s

.

21. The GEO

- UAS will be op e r a t e d a nd maintain e d a cc o r d i ng to t he Ma n u f a c tu r e r ' s

Man ua ls and a n y r e quir e d manu fac tu r e r Sa f e t y / Se rvi c e B ul l e t i ns.

22. P rior to t he op e r a t i on, a Miss i on P ac k e t wi l l be c r ea ted in a cc o r d a n c e with t he r e quir e ments on

GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls.

23. GEOSpec 3D will obtain a n A i r T r a f fic O r gani z a t i on ("AT O ") issu e d Ce r t i fi c a te of W a iver or

A uthori z a t i on, othe r wise known a s a CO A , prior to condu c t i n g a n y op e r a t i ons und e r this G ra nt of

E x e mp t ion. A N OT A M will be issued a s r e quir e d b y the CO A

. All ope ra t i ons will be c ondu c ted in

acc o r d a n c e with a irsp a c e r e quir e ments in the A T O is s u e d COA in c lud i ng c l a ss of a irsp a ce

, a l t i t ude l e v e l a nd

potential tr a nspond e r re quir e ments if any

.

24. All r e quir e d p e rmissions and p e rmits will be obtain e d f r om t e r ritori a l, s t a t e

, c oun t y or c i t y

j u risdictions, including loc a l la w e n f o rce m e nt, fire or ot h e r a

ppro p ri a te g o v e rnm e nt a l ag e n c ies.

25. I f the GEO

- UAS l oses c om m u nic a t i on with t he pi l ot, i t will h a ve the ca p a bi l i t y t o r e turn to a p r e

d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on with i n the op e r a t i on a l a r e a a nd land s a f e l y

.

26. Cont i n g e n c y plans w i l l b e in p l a c e to s a f e l y te r m i n a te f

l i g ht i f t h e re is a lo s s of c om m unic a t i on

b e tw ee n the P I C a nd the Obs e r v e r

.

27. The GEO

- UAS will h a ve the c a p a bi l i t y to sa f e l y a bort f

l i g ht i n the ca se o f un p redict e d obst ac les or

e m e r g e n c ie s

.

28. P I Cs and Obs e rv e rs will h a ve a t le a st a c u r r e nt Class I I Me d i ca l C e rtifi c a te and/or a valid state

driver’s license

.

29. P rior to condu c t i ng commercial UAS flight o p e rat i ons , the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d,

in a m a nn e r c on s is t e nt wi t h 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of 200 f l i g ht c y c les a nd 25 ho u rs total t i me a s a

U A rotor c r a ft pi l ot and a t l ea s t 10 hou r s log g e d a s a GEO

- UAS p i lot with a simi l a r GEO

- UAS t y p e

. This

requirement can be completed as an “enthusiast PIC” in order to meet such “commercial PIC requirements”.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 10

30. P rior to condu c t i ng commercial UAS flight o p e rat i ons , the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d,

in a m a nn e r c on s is t e nt wi t h 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of 5 4 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um o f 10 logged

hours a s GEO

- UAS pi l ot ope r a t i ng the m a ke a nd model of GEO

- UAS to be uti l i z e d for op e r a t i ons und e r the

e x e mp t ion and th irty tak e

- o f fs a nd thirty landi n g in t he p r ec e ding 90 d a y s. This requirement can be

completed as an “enthusiast PIC” in order to meet such “commercial PIC requirements”.

31. Op e r a t i ons shall oc c u r d u r ing d a y t i me V F R Met e o r olo g i c a l C ondi t ions; f l i g hts und e r S p ec i a l

V i sual F l i g h t R ul e s ( " S V F R") sh a ll n o t be c ondu c ted.

32. The UA shall r e main c l e a r a nd y ield the ri g ht of w a y to all o t h e r m a nn e d op e r a t i ons a nd a c t i vi t ies

a t all t i m e s (in c lu d in g

, b ut not l i m i ted to, u l t r a l i ght v e hicl e s, pa r ac hute ac t i vi t ies, p a r a s a i l i n g ac t i vi t ie s , h a ng

g l i d e rs, e tc. )

.

33. GEO

- UAS Op e r a t i ons und e r Instr u ment F l i g ht R ules, a t n i g ht, or b e y ond V L OS a re p r ohib i ted.

34. The GEO

- U A U s will not be op e r a ted f rom a n e lev a ted pl a tfo r m or mov i ng d e v i ce or v e hicl e

.

35. B e f

o re c ond u c t i ng o p e r a t i ons, the ra dio f re q u e n c y spe c trum used f o r op e r a t i on a nd c ontrol of the

GEO

- UAS w i ll c omp l y with t he F e d e r a l C om m unic a t i ons C o m m i ss i on ( F CC) or other a ppro p r i a te

g o v e rnm e nt ov e rsi g ht a g e n c y r e quir e m e nts.

V. R E G ULATI O NS F R O M W H ICH E X EM P T I O N IS R E Q UES TE D

The Fe d e r a l Aviation A c t e x p re ss l y g r a nts t he F A A the a uthori t y to i ssue e x e mp t ions. This statuto r y

a uthori t y

, b y i t s te r ms, i n c ludes e x e mp t ing c iv i l air c r a ft, a s t he te r m i s de f ined und e r § 40101 of the A c t

, including GEO

- UAS s, f

r om i t s sa fe t y r e g u l a t i ons a nd m i ni m um s t a nd a rds wh e n the A dm i nis t r a tor d ec ides a

r e qu e sted e x e mp t ion i s in t he publ i c in t e r e st

. 3 GEOSpec 3D s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om sev e r a l i nte r

r e la t e d

pr o vis i ons of T i t le 14 of the Code of Fe d e r a l Re g ula t ions ( "14 C

. F .R " ) Pa r ts 21, 45, 61 a nd 91 f or pur p o s e s

o f c ondu c t i n g the r e qu e sted o p e r a t i ons us i ng a GEO

- UAS

. L is t e d b e low a r e : ( 1) the s p ec ific s ec t i o ns of 14

C. F .R f or whi c h e x e mp t ion i s sou g ht, and ( 2) the op e r a t i n g p r o ce du r e s and s a fe g u a r d s that P e t i t i o n e r h a s

e stablished whi c h will e n sure a le v e l of s a f e t y b e t t e r th a n or e qu a l t o the r u l e s f r om which e x e mp t ion i s

sou g ht

. 4

3 49 U.S. C . § 44701 ( f) (a u thori z ing the g ra nt of e x e mp t ions f r om r e quir e me n ts of r e g ulations p re s c rib e d

p u rsu a nt t o Se c t i ons 44701( a ) a nd (b) a nd S ec t i ons 44702

- 44716 )

.

4 14 C. F .R § 11.81 (e ), w h ich re quir e s a p e t i t i on f o r e x e mp t ion t o inclu d e:

The r e a sons w h y gr a nt i n g the e x e mp t ion would not a dv e rs e l y a f f e c t s a f e t y

, or how the e x e mp t ion would

p r ovide a lev e l o f s a f

e t y a t l e a st e qu a l to that p r ovided b y t h e rule f rom w hich y ou s ee k e x e mp t ion.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 11

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM

A. 14 C. F

. R. P a r t 21, Subp a r t H

– Ai r w o r thi n e ss C er ti f ica te s a n d 14 C

. F

. R. § 91.203 ( a ) (1)

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s ne e d e d f r om t his s ec t i on if a f

ind i ng is m a de und e r the

R e f o rm Ac t t h a t t he GEO

- UAS sel ec ted p r ov i d e s an e quival e nt l e v e l of sa fe t y wh e n c ompa re d to a i r c r a ft

no r mal l y used f

o r the same a ppl i ca t i on. Th e se c rite r i a a re m e t, and the re fo r e no e x e mp t ion i s ne e d e d

. 5 I f,

ho we v e r, t h e F AA d e te r m i n e s that t h e re a re some c h a ra c te r is t ics of the c h o s e n GEO

- UAS that fa il to m ee t

the re quir e m e nts of the R e fo r m A c t, an e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

GEOSpec 3D use o f GEO

- UAS i s s af e w h e n taki n g in t o acc ount their si z e , w e i g ht, sp ee d, a nd

op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y

. A s set f o r th i n the d e s c ript i on of pro p osed op e r a t i ons in S ec t i on I V ( A), the

GEO

- UAS w e i g hs l e ss t h a n 5 5 pou n ds, in c lud i ng p a y load a n d will not be f lown a t a g r ound sp ee d in

e x ce ss of 50 knots. GEO

- UAS i s a lso e quipped w i t h s a f e t y fe a tur e s that will allow P e t i t i on e r to

op e r a te the GEO

- UAS sa f e l y a ft e r e x p e ri e n c e c e rt a in i n

- fli g ht conti n g e n c ies or f a i l u re s

. 6 7

Additionally , the GEO

- UAS c a r r y n e i t h e r pilots nor p a sseng e rs, c a rr y no e x plo s ive m a te r ials or

fl a m m a ble liqu i d fu e ls, a nd op e r a te e x c lus i v e l y w i t hin t he p a r a met e rs st a t e d in GEOSpec 3D

Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls.

5 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e r i a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g s. 1 3

- 14, 2 2 ).

6 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11184 to L o w Count r y RC, Corp. (F A A

- 2014

- 0803 a t p g . 3):

" The [ GEO

- UAS ] h a s the ca p a bi l i t y to op e r a te s a f e l y a f t e r e x p e ri e n c i n g ce r tain i n

- fli g ht

c ont i n g e n c ies o r f

a i l u re s a nd uses a n a ut o

- pi l ot s y stem to mainta i n GEO

- UAS stabili t y a nd c ontrol.

The GEO

- UAS is a lso a ble to r e spond to a loss of g lobal pos i t i oning s y stem ( G PS ) or a los t

- l i nk

e v e nt with a p r e

- c oo r dinat e d, p re dict a ble, a u t omat e d fli g ht man e u v e r, a nd m a nu a l fli g ht c ontrol

fun c t i on a l i t y a s a b a c kup. Th e s e s a f e t y f e a tu r e s p r ovide a n e q u ival e nt lev e l of s a f e t y c ompa re d to a

mann e d a ir c r a ft p e r f

o r m i n g a si m i l a r oper a t i on."

7 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11184 to VD O S Glob a l, LL C. ( F A A

- 2 0 1 4

- 0382 a t p g s. 4

- 5 ) :

" The GEO

- UAS ca n be o p e r a ted e nt i r e l y b y a touc h

- s c r ee n, ma p

- b a s e d i nte r fa ce

. This me a ns the

op e r a tor on l y n e e ds to c om m a nd the s y stem w h e re to g o, a nd the s y stem do e s all the f l y i n g for the

op e r a t o r. T he GEO

- UAS c a n b e op e r a ted in bo t h s e mi a nd ful l y a utono m ous fli g ht mode s

. I n a d di t ion,

the GEO

- UAS comes with pre

- programmed no f l y z on e s the GEO

- UAS c a nnot e n t e r a r ea s d ee med

uns a fe or un n ec e ssa r y to f l y o v e r. The p e t i t i on e r stat e s fu r ther t h a t the GEO

- UAS h a s bui lt

- in

in t e l l i g e nt f

a ult h a ndl i ng whi c h a l l ows the GEO

- UAS to d e te c t a s y stem f a ult while in t h e a i r a n d

a uto m a t i ca l l y f

l y b ac k to i t s tak e o f

f lo c a t i on a nd land. Fa ul t s that ca n be d e t e c t e d includ e : lo s s of

c om m u nic a t i on; e x cee ding p re

- s e t wind thr e sholds; and low b a t ter y le v e ls.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 12

Op e r a t i ons c ond u c ted u n d e r this e x e m pt i on will b e c lose l y c ontroll e d a nd mon i tor e d b y the op e r a tor

a nd will be c ondu c ted in c omp l ian c e with l o ca l pub l ic s a f e t y r e quir e ments, to p r ovide s ec u r i t y f o r the a r e a of

o p e r a t i on. GEOSpec 3D will a lso provide the F A A w i t h a dv a n c e not i c e of a ll op e r a t i o n s via N O TAMs a s

r e quir e d b y the a ppl i ca ble CO A

. In a ll ca s e s, op e r a t i on of the GEO

- UAS und e r the pro p osed c ondi t ions will

be a t l ea st as s a f

e a s, or s a f

e r th a n, c onv e nt i on a l r otor c r a ft o p e r a t i n g with a n a irwo r th i n e ss c e rtifi ca t e

.

L a st l y , the GEO

- UAS s do not ne e d a m e a ns to c om m unic a te w i t h other a i r c r a ft o r A TC, b eca use

tho s e ca p a bi l i t ies w i l l be poss e ssed b y t h e P I C a nd Obs e r v e r, w ho a re not onbo a rd the GEO

- UAS

. 8 I n

a ddi t ion, no s e ns e

- a nd

- a void t ec hnol o g y is ne ce ssa r y for the GEO

- UAS s b eca use t h e y will be op e r a t e d a t all

t i m e s in V F R c ondi t ions and w i th i n V L OS of the P I C a n d Op e r a tor

. 9

B

. 14 C. F

. R. P a r t 27 Ai r w o r thi n e ss S tan d a r d s: N o r m al Ca te g o r y Ro t o r c r a f t

Tit l e 14 C. F .R. P a rt 27 s e ts fo r th t he pro c e d u r a l r e quir e ments for a i r wo r th i n e ss ce rtifi c a t i on of

norm a l c a te g o r y roto r c r a ft. To the e x tent that GEOSpec 3D ' s sm a ll GEO

- UAS s would othe r wise

r e q uire c e rtifi c a t i on und e r Pa r t 27, P e t i t i on e r s ee ks an e x e mp t ion f r om P a rt 2 7 ' s airworthiness

standards for the same reasons identified in the request for exemption from 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart

H, supra

.

{ c ont i nu e d from pre v ious pag e }

7 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11184 to VD O S Glob a l, LL C. ( F A A

- 2 0 1 4

- 0382 a t p g s. 4

- 5 ) :

All fli g ht op e r a t i ons a

re g lobal posit i oning s y st e m ( G PS ) c ontroll e d, m a king the s y stem ea s y to

n a v i g a te. At a n y point if t h e op e r a t or is not e x pl i c i t l y c om m a nding the s y stem t o move, the s y stem

a uto m a t i ca l l y holds i t s G P S posi t ion. The fli g ht c ontrol s y s t e m e mp l o y s n ot on l y GPS posit i oning but

a v a ri e t y of s e nsors i n c lud i ng sona r

, b a rom e tr i c p re ssu r e

, temp e r a tu r e

, wind speed a nd othe r s to e nsure

stabi li ty s o long a s wind thr e s h olds a re not e x cee d e d. Also a fli g ht t e rmin a t i on l i nk

– to p re v e nt a ' f l y

a w a y ' or other po t e nt i a l l y d a n g e rous situ a t i on

– is av a i l a ble to the op e r a tor

. "

8 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e ri a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g . 13).

9 Id.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 13

C. 14 C. F

. R. §§ 91.9 ( c ), 45

. 23(b) and 45.27 ( a ) : A ir c r a f t M a r k i n g a n d I d e n ti f

ica t ion R e q u ir eme n ts

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om t he a ir c r a ft m a r k ing a nd identifi c a t i on r e q uir e ments c ontain e d

in 14 C. F .R. § § 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23( b ) a nd 4 5.27 (a ).

● 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 (c ), Civ i l Air c r a ft F l i g ht M a nu a l, Ma r king a nd P la c a rd re q uir e ments, p r ovides th a t:

No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - re g is t e r e d c iv i l aircr a ft unless that a ir c r a ft is identifi e d in

a cc o r d a n c e with Pa rt 45 of th i s ch a pte r

.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.23 ( b ) , M a rkin g s of t h e Aircr a ft, st a tes:

W h e n ma r ks include only the Roman c a pi t a l lett e r " N " a nd the re g is tr a t i on number is

d i spl a y e d on l i m i ted, re strict e d or li g h t

- sport ca t e g o r y a i r c raft or e x p e rime n tal or

p r ovis i o n a l l y c e rtifi ca ted a i r c raf t

, the op e r a tor must a lso disp la y o n that a ir c raft n ea r e a c h

e ntr a n c e to the ca bin, c o c kpi t

, or pi l ot station, in lette r s not less than 2 inch e s nor mo r e

than 6 inch e s h i g h, the wo r ds " l i m i ted," " r e stric t e d," " l i g h t

- sp o rt, " e x p e r i ment a l," or

" p rovisional," a s ap p l i ca

ble.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.27 (a ), Ro t o rc raft, stat e s:

E ac h o p e r a tor of a rot o rcr a ft must disp l a y on that r otor c raft hori z ontal l y on both sur f a ce s o f

the c a bin, fus e l a g e

, boom, o r ta i l the ma r ks r e quir e d b y § 45.23.

I n a pr e v i ous G r a nt of E x e mp t ion, t he F AA d e t e r m i n e d that e x e mp t ion f r om t h e se r e quir e ments w a s

w a r ra n ted p r ovided th a t t he a i r c r a ft " h a ve i d e nt i fi ca t i on ( N

- Numb e r ) m a rki n g s in a cc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F .R

P a rt 45, Subp a rt C i f the ma r kin g s a re a s la r ge a s pr ac t ic a ble

. " 10

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

All GEO

- UA S f

lown b y GEOSpec 3D will b ea r N

- numb e r m a r kin g s that a r e a s l a r g e a s p rac t i ca b l e in

acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R. P a rt 45, Subp a rt C

. 11

1 0 F AA D o c k e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 0352.

1 1 S ee

, e .g., F AA D o c k e t N o. F AA

- 201 4

- 0352, a t 1 4

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 14

D. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.405 ( a )

, 9 1.407 ( a ) (1 ) , 91.40 9 (a ) (1) a n d ( 2 ) ; 91. 4 17(a) a n d ( b ): M ai n t e n a n c e

I n s p ec tions

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om t he mainten a n c e inspe c t i on r e quir e ments c ontain e d in

14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ), 9 1.407 (a ) ( 1 ), 91

. 409(a) ( 2 ) ; 91.417( a ) a nd (b ) . Th e s e r e g ulations spe c i f y mainten a n c e

a nd insp ec t i on st a nd a rds in r e f e r e n c e to 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 43. S ee

, e .g., 14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ) ( stati n g that ea c h

own e r o r op e r a tor of a n a ir c r a ft " sh a ll h a ve t h e a ir c r a ft insp e c ted a s p re s c rib e d in sub p a rt E o f this pa r t and

sh a ll b e t w ee n r e qu i r e d insp ec t i ons ...h a ve disc r e p a n c i e s r e p a i r e d a s p r e s c rib e d in p a rt 43 of th i s ch a pt e r" )

.

An e x e mp t ion f

r om t h e se r e g ulations is n ee d e d b eca u s e P a rt 43 a nd these se c t i ons on l y a p p l y to ai r c r a ft with

an a i r wo r th i n e ss c e rtifi c a te, whi c h the GEO

- UAS t o be op e r a ted und e r this g r a nt of e x e mp t ion wi l l not h a v e

.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hie v e d b ec a use m a in t e n a n c e a nd in s p ec t i ons will be p e r f o rm e d

in a c c o r d a n c e with t he Man u f ac tu r e r ' s Manu a l a nd a n y r e q u ir e d manu f a c tur e r S a f

e t y o r Se r vi c e B ul l e t i ns.

F u r the r

, a s r e qui r e d b y GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s, the P I C will c ondu c t a p r e

- fl i g ht i nspe c t i on of the

GEO

- UAS and a ll a ssoci a ted e quip m e nt t o acc ount f o r a ll disc re p a n c ies a nd/or ino p e r a ble c omponents.

Ma i nten a n c e will be p e r f o rm e d a nd v e r i fi e d to a ddr e ss a n y c ondi t ions po t e nt i a l l y a f f e c t i n g s a fe o p e r a t i on of

the GEO

- UAS and no fli g hts will o cc ur unless, a nd unt il

, a ll f l i g h t c r i t ic a l compon e nts of t he GEO

- UAS

h a ve b ee n fo u nd to be a irwo r t h y a nd in a c ondi t ion sa f e f o r o p e r a t i on. A f

u n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht wi l l be

c ondu c t e d f

ol l owing the r e pla c e ment of a n y fli g h t

- c ritic a l compon e nts. As r e quir e d b y GEOSpec 3 D

O p e r a t i ons Manu a l s, the P I C who c ond u c ts t he f u n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht wi l l m a ke a n e nt r y in t he GEO

- UAS

a ir c r a ft r e c o r ds of the fli g ht.

GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l also in c ludes re qu i r e ments to follow the m a n u fac tu r e r ’ s GEO

- UAS

a ir c r a ft/compon e nt, mainten a n ce , o v e rh a ul, r e pla ce m e nt, i nspe c t i on, a nd l i fe l i m i t r e quir e ments f o r the

f ol l owing a ppl ic a ble c omp o n e nts: pow e rt ra in s y stem ( pow e rpl a nt), p r op e l l e rs, a vion i c s a nd c ontrol sur fa c e s

(in c lud i n g a i le rons/ e levons ) , str u c tur e s & a ir f r a me, ca me r a s y s t e m, el ec tr i ca l s y stems (in c lud i n g b a t te ri e s),

g round c on t rol station, ha z a rd ac c e ssori e s, and s p a re p a rts. F u r the r

, GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons Manu a l s a lso

i n c ludes p r o c e dur e s to do c ument a nd maintain a rec o r d o f the GEO

- UAS main t e n a n c e , pr e v e ntative

m a i nten a n ce

, a l t e r a t i ons, status of re pla c e ment /o v e rh a ul compon e nt p a rts, a nd the total t i me in s e rv i c e of the

GEO

- UAS s us e d und e r this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. As a whol e , the m a in t e n a n c e a nd insp ec t i o n pr oce du r e s

r e qu i r e d in GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s e nsure t h a t an e quival e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y will be

ac hiev e d.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 15

P I L O T

- I N

- C O MM AND O F T H E GEO

- UAS

E

. 14 C. F

. R. § 61.113: P r i vate P i l ot P r iv i leg e s a n d Li m ita t io n s

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C F R § 61.113, w h ich re stricts priv a t e pi l ot c e rtifi ca te holde r s

f r om f l y i n g a i r c r a ft f

or c omp e nsation or h ir e

, a nd would a lso r e quire a s e c ond c lass medi ca l c e rtifi ca te. T h e

purp o se of P a rt 61 is t o e nsure that the skill and c ompet e n c y of a n y P I C mat c h e s the a irs p ac e in whi c h the

P I C will be o p e r a t i n g

, a s w e ll a s r e quir i ng c e rtifi c a t i ons if the p r ivate pi l ot i s c a rr y i n g p a sse n g e rs o r c ar g o for

hi re

. I n th i s c a s e

, while the GEO

- UAS s will be op e r a ted a s pa r t of a c o m me rc ial op e r a t i on, it ca r r i e s neither

p a s s e n g e rs n o r ca

r g o. I n t h e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o Astr ae us A e ri a l 12 , the F AA d e t e r m ined th a t t he unique

c h ar ac te r is t ics of GEO

- UAS op e r a t i on outside of c on t roll e d a irsp a c e did not w a r ra nt t he a ddi t ion cost a nd

r e strictions a t t e nd a nt wi t h r e quiri n g a the P I C to ha v e a Co m me rc ial P i l ot C e rtifi ca te a nd C l a ss II Me d i c a l

C e rtifi ca te. T he ful f

i l l m e nt of the a ddi t ional re q u ir e ments for a p riv a te pi l ot t o b ec ome qu a l i fi e d a s a

c om m e r c ial pi l ot would not le a d to a n y a ddi t ional s a f e t y b e n e fits wh e n GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons a r e invo l v e d.

Eq u ivale n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

The re strictions GEOSpec 3D h a s pl ace d on i t s GEO

- UAS o p e r a t i ons m ee t or e x cee d t he re strictions

si m i l a r l y i m posed on Astr ae us A e ri a l. GEOSpec 3D w i ll op e r a te on p r iva t e pro p e r t y a w a y f r om p e rsons a nd

p r o p e r t y not invo l v e d in t he op e r a t i o n

. GEOSpec 3D will a lso obta i n a n A T O issued COA prior to

condu c t i n g a n y o p e r a t i ons und e r this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. All op e r a t i ons will be c ondu c ted in a cc o r d a n c e

with ai r spa c e r e qui r e me n ts i n the A TO issu e d COA in c lud i ng c l a ss of a irsp a c e

, a l t i t ude lev e l a n d pote n t i a l

t r a nspond e r r e quir e ments. A N O T A M will also be is s u e d a s r e quir e d b y the a ppl i ca b l e CO A

.

I n a ddi t ion t o these f

l i g ht re strictions, GEOSpec 3D will f u r ther e ns u re s a fe o p e rat i on b y r e quiri n g

that a n y P I C be thorou g h l y v e rs e d not o n l y in ai r sp a c e a nd c o m mun i ca t i on is s u e s p e rt a in i ng to a ll a ir c r a ft

o p e r a tors but also in the u nique a spe c ts of GEO

- UAS f l i g ht. As set f

o rth in the O p e r a t i ons Man u a l s, pi l ots

will h a ve e x p e ri e n c e not on l y in GEO

- UAS ope r a t i ons g e n e r a l l y but h a ve l o g g e d fl i g ht t i m e in t he spe c ific

m a k e a nd model us e d for the op e r a t ions b e fo r e th e y a re p e rmit t e d to pa r t i c ipate i n c om m e r c ial fl i g hts on

b e h a lf of GEOSpec 3D

. T h e p i l ot qualifi ca t i on, tr a in i n g

, a nd c u r r e n c y requir e ments in the O p e r a t i ons

Manu a ls ensu r e t h a t GEOSpec 3D pilo t s a r e c ompet e nt and p r o fi c ient in t he GEO

- UAS th e y a re o p e r a t i n g

. GEOSpec 3D tr a in i n g a nd qu a l i fi ca t i on r e quir e ments a re c onsistent with those c ontain e d in prior F AA

Se c t i on 333 G ra nts of E x e mp t io n

, a nd will pro v ide a h i g h e r lev e l of c ompet e n c y a nd pro f ici e n c y for i t s pilo t s

and w i ll e nsure a t le a st an e quival e nt l e v e l of sa fe t y

.

1 2 E x e mp t ion No. 11062 ( F AA D o c k e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 0352 )

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 16

O P E RAT I NG P ARA METE RS O F T H E GEO

- UAS

F

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.7 ( a ) : Civil Ai rcr a f t A ir w o r thi n e ss

Although t

h e re will be no a irwo r th i n e ss c e rtifi c a te issued f or the GEO

- UAS s, GEOSpec 3D s e e ks

a n e x e mp t ion f

r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.7 (a ), whi c h r e q uir e s that a c iv i l aircr a ft be in ai r wo r t h y c ondi t ion t o be

op e r a ted. The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d for 14 C. F .R. § 91.7 (a ) to the e x tent that the

re quir e m e nts of P a rt 21 a re w a ived or f ound inapplic a ble

. 13 A cc o r di n g l y

, P e t i t i on e r r e qu e sts that the

re qui r e m e nts for § 91.7 ( a ) be t r ea t e d in a cc o rd a n c e with S ec t i on V ( A )

, supra.

G

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.9 ( b ) ( 2 ) : Civil Ai rcr a f t F l i g h t Ma nu al i n t h e Ai rcr a f t and 14

C. F

. R. § 91.203 ( a) a n d (b ): Ca rr yi n g Civil Ai r c r a f t Cer ti f ic a tion a n d R e gist r a t ion

Tit l e 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2) a nd § 91.203 ( a ) a nd ( b) re quire t h e op e r a tor to ca r r y a irwo r th i n e ss

docum e nts a nd other a i r c raft m a nu a l s onbo a rd the a i r c raft. Pursu a nt t o 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2 ) :

(b) No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - r e g is t e r e d c iv i l air c r a ft

–

(2) F o r w hich a n Airpl a ne or Rotor c r a ft F l i g ht M a nu a l i s r e quir e d b y § 21

. 5 of th i s ch a pte r , unless

the r e is av a i l a ble in the a ir c r a ft a c u r r e nt app r o v e d Ai r p l a ne or Rotor c r a ft F l i g ht M a n u a l, app r ov e d

man u a l ma te r ial, ma r ki n g s, a nd pl a c a rds, or a n y c omb i n a t i on the re o f

.

P u r suant to 14 C

. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd (b ) :

( a ) E x ce pt a s p r ovided in § 91.715, no p e rson m a y op e r a te a c iv i l a ir c r a ft u n less it h a s within i t t he

f ol l owin g :

(1) An a p p rop r iate a nd c u r r e nt ai r w o rthin e ss c e rtifi c a te...

(b) No p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c iv i l a ir c r a ft unl e ss the a irwo r th i n e ss ce r t ific a te r e quir e d b y p a rag ra ph

(a ) of th i s s ec t i on or a sp e c ial fli g ht a uth o ri z a t i on i ssued und e r § 91.715 is disp l a y e d a t t h e c a bin or

c o c kpit e ntr a n c e so that it is l e g ib l e to p a sse n g e rs o r c r e w.

1 3 S e e id. a t 13

- 14, 22U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 17

Giv e n the small s iz e a nd c onfi g u r a t i on of the GEO

- UAS s, it would be i m poss i ble to ke e p

a irwo r th i n e ss docum e nts a nd other a i r c raft m a nu a l s on bo a rd the GEO

- UAS b e c a use th e re is s i m p l y no

room a nd the GEO

- UAS has n o ca bin or c o c kpi t

.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of S a

f e ty

I n a n F AA O f

fi c e of Ch i e f Couns e l ' s Opinion d a ted A u g ust 8, 2014, a nd p r e p a r e d b y D ea n E.

G ri f fith, Atto r n e y

, A G C

- 220, it w a s a c k n owl e dg e d that the intent of 14 C. F .R. 91.9 ( b) a nd 91.203 (a ) a nd

( b ) is met if the pi l ot of the u nmann e d a ir c r a ft h a s ac c e ss t o the GEO

- UAS fli g ht manu a l, r e g is t r a t i on

c e rtifi ca te, a nd ot h e r r e quir e d do c uments f r om t he g r o und c ontrol s t a t i on f r om which he o r she is o p e r a t i n g

the a i r c raft

. 1 4 As th i s F AA O f f i c e of Chief Couns e l Opin i on c la r ifies, the in t e nt of the r ule is to e nsure the

pilot h a s a c c e ss t o these k e y d o c uments during fli g ht. Th e r e fo r e

, a n e q u ival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be

ac hie v e d b y e nsuri n g that the pilot h a s ac c e ss t o the do c uments a t t he gro u nd c ontrol s t a t ion f r om which he

or s h e is p i lo t ing the GEO

- UAS

.

H. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.103: P ref l i g h t Ac tion

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.103, whi c h r e qui r e s a P I C to be c ome

f a m i l i a r w i t h sp ec ific in f

o r mation be f

o r e e a c h fl i ght, i n c lud i ng info r mation c ontain e d in t he F A A

- a ppro ve d

F l i g ht Manu a l on board the a ir c raft. W hi l e the P I C will be fa m i l i a r w i t h a ll info r mation ne ce s s a r y to s a f e l y

c ond u c t t he f

l i g ht, a n e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted to the e x tent that a n F A A

- a ppro ve d F l i g ht Manu a l i s r e quir e d.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y w i ll be pro v ided b y f

ol l owing the GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls

a nd the Man u fa c tur e r ' s Man u a l . The P IC will p e r f o r m a s e r i e s of c h ec kl i sts d e s i g n e d to identi f y a n y

d e f ec ts or i n op e r a

ble c omponents in acc o r d a n c e with t he GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, including

c h e c kl i sts c ov e ring P r e

- F l i g h t

, L a u n c h, L a ndi n g

, a nd P os t

- F l i g ht pr o ce du r e s. The P I C will a lso be r e q uir e d

to r e view w ea t h e r, fli g ht r e qui r e ments, b a t ter y c h a r g e , landi n g a nd tak e o f f distan c e

, GEO

- UA S

p e r f o r man c e d a ta, a nd c ont i n g e n c y landi n g a r ea s

— b e f o r e i n i t iation of fli g ht. GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons

Man ua ls a nd the M a nuf

a c tu r e r ' s Man u a l will be k e pt at the g round c ontrol s t a t i on a nd will be a c ce ss i ble to

the P I C a t a ll t i mes w hi l e op e r a t i ng the GEO

- UAS

.

I. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.109 ( a ) : F l i g h t Inst r u c tion

1 4 Memo ra ndum f

r om M ar k B u r y

, F AA Assistant C hief Couns e l for I nt e rn a t i on a l L a w, L e g is l a t i on a nd

R e g u l a t i o n, to J ohn Dun ca n, F A A F l i g ht S tand a rds Se r v i c e ( A u g . 8, 201 4 ); s e e also Do c k e t No. F A A

2 0 1 4

- 0352 a t 16

- 18.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 18

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.109 (a ), w hich p rovid e s in p e rtine n t pa r t that

" [ n ] o p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c iv i l aircr a ft ( e x c e pt a m a nn e d f r e e b a l l oon) that is b e ing used for f l i g ht

i nstru c t i on unl e ss t h a t air c raft h a s ful l y f un c t i oning du a l cont r ols

. " GEO

- UAS s and r e mo t e l y pi l oted

a ir c raft, b y t h e ir d e si g n, do not ha v e f un c t ional du a l cont r ols. I nst e a d, fli g ht con t rol is acc omp l ished

thro u g h t h e use o f a d e vice t h a t c o m m unic a tes w i t h the a ir c r a ft via r a dio c om m unic a t i ons. A cc o r din g l y

, a n

e x e mp t ion wi l l be r e quir e d for the f l i g h t i nstru c t i on r e quir e ments of 14 C

. F .R. § 91.109 (a ).

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

Giv e n the si z e a nd sp ee d of the GEO

- UAS s that GEOSpec 3D in t e nds to us e

, a n e quiv a lent lev e l of

s a fe tr a in i n g c a n sti l l be p e r f o r med without du a l c ontrols be ca u s e no pi l ot or p a sse n g e rs a r e a bo a rd the GEO

UAS , and a s r e quir e d b y the GEOSpec 3D Op e r a t i ons Man u a l s, a ll p e rsons w i l l be a s a fe dis t a n c e a w a y in

t he e v e nt t h a t t he GEO

- UAS e x p e ri e n ce s a n y dif f i c ul t ies du r ing f

l i g ht i nstru c t i on. Mor e ov e r, a s r e qui r e d b y

the GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls, a ll f l i g ht tr a in i ng will be c ond u c ted in cont r ol l e d a nd st e rile

environme n t. As a whol e

, the s a f e t y pr o ce du r e s p r ovided f or in GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l s e nsure

that the p r o posed GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons p r ovide a n e quival e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y th a n that p r ovided b y

t h e f l i g ht i nstru c t i on re g ulatio n s.

J. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.119(c): M i n i m u m S a f e Alti t ud e s

G EOSpec 3D r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om t he m i ni m u m sa f

e a l t i t ude re qu i r e m e nts of 14 C. F .R. §

91.119( c )

. 1 5 S ec t i on 91.119 p re s c rib e s t h e m i ni m um sa f e a l t i t ud e s und e r whi c h a ir c r a ft m a y not ope ra te,

in c lud i n g 5 0 0 f

e e t abo v e the su r f

a c e a nd a w a y f

rom a n y p e rson, v e ssel, v e hicl e , or stru c ture in non

- c o n g e st e d

a r e a s. S e e 14 C

. F .R. § 91.119 (c ). S ec t i on 91.1 1 9 ( d) a l l ows f or a h e l i c opter to op e r a te a t le ss t h a n those

m i ni m um a l t i tudes w h e n it ca n be o p e r a ted " without h a z a rd to p e rsons or pro p e r t y on t h e sur f ace

, " p ro v ided

th a t " e ac h p e rson o p e r a t i n g the h e l i c opt e r c omp l ies w i t h a n y rout e s or a l t i t ud e s spe c ifi c a l l y p re s c rib e d for

h e l i c op t e rs b y the F A A

. "

An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d b eca use t h e pro p osed GEO

- UAS ope ra t i ons will norm a l l y n e e d to o cc ur

b e low 4 00 fe e t A G L

. I n c ir c ums t a n ce s wh e re the GEO

- UAS i s used to insp ec t a stru c tu r e whose h e i g ht

e x c e e ds 400 f

e e t A G L , the GEO

- UAS wi l l not be op e r a t e d more t h a n 100 fee t abo v e the h i g h e st point on the

stru c tur e

, a n d with i n 50 fee t hori z ontal l y of the str u c tur e

. A d di t ional l y , d u e the n a ture of the p ropos e d

o p e r a t i ons, the P i l ot and/or Obs e rvers ( s) m a y n ee d t o be less than 500 f e e t a w a y f

rom the GEO

- UAS

.

1 5 R e l i e f f rom § 91.119 ( a ) will not be n ece ssa r y b e c a use Petitioner will be a b le to p e r f o r m an e me r g e n c y

landi n g without undue h a z a rd to p e rs o ns or p r op e r t y on the g r o und in t he e v e nt of a f a i l u re

. P e t i t i on e r ' s

pro p osed GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons wi l l not o cc ur ov e r c o n g e st e d a r e a s, a nd the r e fo r e a n e x e mp t ion f r om §

91.119(b) will not be n e c e ssa r y

. S e e e .g ., G r a nt of Ex e mp t ion No. 11157 to S lu g w e a r, I n c ., d b a L i k e on a

tr e e A e ri a l (FA A

- 2 014

- 0534 a t 15)U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 19

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

Compa re d to fli g ht op e rat i ons with roto rc r a ft w e i ghing f a r mo r e than t h e ma x i m um w e i g hts propo s e d

h e r e in, a nd g i v e n the l ac k o f f l a m m a ble f

u e l wi t h the GEO

- UAS s, a n y r isk a ssoci a ted w i t h these o p e r a t i ons is

f a r l e ss t h a n t h ose th a t pr e s e nt l y e x ist with conv e nt i on a l a ir c r a ft. A n e quiva l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be

ac h iev e d g iven the si z e , w e i g ht, and s p ee d of the GEO

- UAS s, a s w e ll the c ontr o l l e d loc a t i on wh e re t h e

o p e r a t i ons will oc c u r

. I n o r d e r to a void a n y risk to m a nn e d a ir c r a ft, f l i g ht op e r a t i ons will be re stri c ted to 400

fee t A G L o r b e lo w , or w h e n inspe c t i ng a str u c ture w h ose he i g ht e x cee ds 400 f ee t A G L , with i n 100 f

e e t

a bove the h i g h e st point on that stru c ture a n d 50 fee t hori z ontal l y of t he stru c tur e

.

As s e t fo r th i n the Op e r a t ions Man ua ls, the GEO

- UAS s will be op e r a ted in a r e st r ict e d a re a

, a nd a ll

f l i g hts will be op e r a ted a t a l a te ra l d i sta n c e of a t l ea st 500 f e e t f r om a n y non p a rticip a t i n g p e rsons, unl e ss t h a t

pe r s o n is i n a posit i on wh e re he or she is s hield e d f rom the GEO

- UAS and a n y poss i ble d e b r is r e sul t ing f r om

GEO

- UAS f

a i l u re

. As r e quir e d b y t h e Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, f l i g hts will be te r m i n a ted if a nonp a r t i c ipating

p e rson with i n 500 fee t of the GEO

- UAS le a v e s a shi e lded position. F u r the r

, GEO

- UAS op e r a t i ons will oc c ur

a t l ea st 500 fe e t a w a y f

rom v e hicl e s o r stru c tur e s unl e ss t he p r op e r t y own e r/ c ontroll e r h a s g r a nted p e rmission

and the P I C h a s made a s a f e t y a ssess m e nt of the r isk of op e r a t i ng c loser to t hose obje c ts and, o p e r a t i ons n e a r

the P I C o r Obs e rver w i l l not p re s e nt an und u e h a z a rd p e r § 9 1 .119 ( a ). Adh e ren c e to these r e strictions in the

e lev a t i on of the d e p a

r ture a irpo r t or b a rom e tr i c pr e ssur e

. An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d to t he e x tent that the

GEO

- UAS s do not have a b a rom e tr i c a l t i m e te r , but r a th e r a GPS a l t i t ude rea d out. GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons

Man ua ls will e nsure op er a t i ons ca n be c ond u c ted without c ompromising s a f e t y

. 16

K

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.121: Al t i m e ter S e t t i n gs

GEOSpec 3D s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.121, whi c h r e qui r e s a pe r s on op e r a t i n g a n

a ir c r a ft to m a in t a in c r uis i ng a l t i t ude or f l i g ht le v e l b y r e f

e r e n c e to an a l t i m e ter that is set to the e lev a t i on of

the d e p a r ture a irpo r t or b a rom e tr i c pr e ssur e An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d to t he e x tent that the GEO

- UAS s do

not have a b a rom e tr i c a l t i m e te r , but r a th e r a GPS a l t i t ude rea d out.

1 6 S e e e .g.

, G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11138 to Dougl a s Tr u d ea u ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0481 a t 19 ) :

" I f b a r r i e rs or stru c tur e s a re p re s e nt that ca n suf f i c ient l y p r ot e c t nonp a rtic i p a t i ng p e rsons f r om the

UA or d e b r is in the e v e nt o f a n a c c ident, then the UA m a y op e r a te c loser than 500 f e e t to p e rsons

a f fo r d e d s u c h p r o te c t i on. The op e r a tor m u st a lso e nsure t h a t nonp a rtici p a t i ng p e rsons r e main un d e r

such p rot ec t i on. I f a s i tuation a ris e s w h e re nonp a

rtici p a t i ng p e rsons le a v e such p rot e c t i on a nd a r e

with i n 5 00 f

e e t of the U A

, fli g ht o p e r a t i ons must cea s e i m medi a te l y

. W h e n c onsid e ri n g how to

i m medi a te l y c e a se op e r a t i ons, the p rima r y c on ce rn is the s a f e t y o f those nonp a rticip a t i ng p e rson s

. I n

a ddi t ion, the F AA finds that op e r a t i ons m a y b e c ondu c ted c los e r than 500 f e e t to v e ssels, v e hicl e s

a nd stru c tur e s w h e n the own e r/ c ontroll e r o f a n y s u c h v e ssels, v e hicl e s or stru c tur e s g r a nts p e rmi ssio n

f o r th e op e r a t i on a nd the P I C mak e s a s a f e t y a ssessment of the risk of op e r a t i ng c loser to those

obj ec ts and d e t e rmin e s that it does not pr e s e nt an undue h a z a rd .”U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 20

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t a n e quival e nt l e v e l o f s a f e t y to t he r e quir e m e nts of 14 C. F .R. §

91.121 ca n be ac hie v e d in ci rc ums t a n c e s wh e r e : ( 1) the GEO

- UAS s will be op e r a ted b e low 400 f ee t A G L

or

b e lo w 17

, ( 2) with i n V L OS, (3) wh e re GPS b a s e d a l t i t ude info r mati o n is r e l a y e d in r e a l t i me to the op e r a tor

a t a g roun d

- b a s e d o n

- s c r ee n disp la y a nd, (4) w h e re p r ior to eac h fl i g ht, a z e ro a l t i t ude in i t i a t i on p o int is

establish e d for the P I C to co n fi r m a cc u r a c y of the onbo a rd G PS

. 18

The GEO

- UAS s that GEOSpec 3D i ntends to use f or the p r o p osed op e r a t i ons will m e e t all t h e se

op e r a t i on a l c h a ra c te r is t i c s. Mor e ov e r, a s r e qui r e d b y GEOSpec 3D O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls, t he P I C will be

re qui r e d to c a l i b ra t e the a ir c r a f t ' s GPS c ompa s s prior to e ac h fli g ht op e r a t i on. L ike p rior F A A S ec t i on 333

G ra nts of E x e mp t ion, t he GEO

- UAS s GEOSpec 3D in t e nds to us e

, a nd the sa fe t y m i t i g a t i on p r o ce du r e s

co n tain e d in t he Op e r a t i ons Manu a l s

, both ensu r e that a n e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hiev e d, a nd a

G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o the re quir e ments of § 191.1 2 1 is t h e r e fo r e a ppro p ri a te.

L

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.151 ( a ) : F u e l R e qu ir e m e n ts f or F l i g h t in V F R Con d itio n s

GEOSpec 3D r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.151 (a ) ' s f u e l r e qui r e ments f

o r f l i g ht in V F R

c ondi t ions. S ec t i on 91.151 st a tes:

(a) No p e rson m a y b e g i n a fl i g ht in a n a irpl a ne und e r V F R c ondi t ions unless ( c onsid e ri n g wind a nd

fo r eca st w ea t h e r c ondi t ions) the r e is e nou g h fu e l to fly to the fi r st po i nt of int e nd e d la n ding a nd,

a ssu m ing nor m a l c r uis i ng s p ee d

–

(1) Du r i n g the d a y , to fly a ft e r th a t f o r a t l ea st 30 m i nutes;

or

(2) At ni g ht, t o f

l y a ft e r t h a t for a t le a st 45 m i nutes.

H e r e , the t ec hnol o g ic a l l i m i tations on GEO

- UAS b a t t e ry po w e r m ea ns t h a t no m ea ni n g ful fli g ht

ope r a t i ons ca n be c ondu c ted w hi l e st i ll maintaining a 3 0

- m i nute b a t ter y r e s e rv e . An e x e mp t ion f r om t he

f u e l r e quir e ments of 14 C

. F .R. § 91.151 (a ) is the r e fo r e r e quir e d.

1 7 I f t h e h e i g ht o f the str u c t u r e b e i n g inspe c ted e x ce e ds 400 fe e t A G L

, the GEO

- UAS will not be op e r a ted

more than 100 f

e e t a bove the hi g h e st po i nt on t he stru c tur e

.

1 8 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e ri a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t 2 1 )

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 21

Equivalent Level of Safety

In the Grant of Exemption to VDOS (Exemption No. 11112), the FAA determined that an

equivalent level of safety to the fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions could be achieved by

prohibiting the PIC from beginni ng a GEO

- UAS flight unless (considering wind and forecast weather

conditions) there was enough power to fly to the first intended point of landing and, assuming normal

cruising speed, to fly after that for at least 10 minutes.

In reaching this conclusion , the FAA considered that the GEO

- UAS batteries for the GEO

- UAS

provided provide approximately 2 0 minutes of powered flight (with payload) and provided battery level

and battery time remaining in minutes and seconds to the PIC. 19 The FAA also considered the fact that the

GEO

- UAS operating manual states: “start every flight with a fully charged battery in the aerial vehicle”,

and that in the event that the GEO

- UAS should run low on power, the PIC will be alerted and can land the

GEO

- UAS as soon as possible. Like the VDOS Grant of Exemption, GEOSpec 3D use of the DJI Phantom

II & S900 , combined with the requirements of Petitioner's Operations Manuals, ensure that an equivalent

level of safety can be achieved.

Similarly, in the Grant of Exemption to Alan Purwin (Exemption No. 11161), the FAA determined

that an equivalent level of safety to the fuel requirements for flight in VFR conditions could be achieved by

prohibiting the PIC from beginning a flight with the GEO

- UAS unless (considerin g wind and forecast

weather conditions), there was enough power to fly at normal cruising speed to the intended landing point

and land the UA with 25% battery power remaining. GEOSpec 3D will adhere to this limitation for GEO

UAS flights.

The GEO

- UAS includes a low battery warning system and the amount of battery reserve power

remaining is transmitted to the PIC via telemetric data feed, which downlinks from the GEO

- UAS to a

ground

- based

- on

- screen display. 20 As required by GEOSpec 3D Operations Manuals , the PIC will

promptly fly the GEO

- UAS back to the home launch location or pre

- determined abort location where the

GEO

- UAS may safely land, while still maintaining a minimum of 25 % reserve battery power. GEOSpec

3D submits that the procedures requiring fl ights to be safely terminated once the batteries fall below 25%

capacity, combined with the requirement that flights only be conducted within a secure, isolated area, using

a GEO

- UAS weighting less than 25 pounds, and within VLOS of the PIC and Observer(s) , ensure that the

proposed operation will provide an equivalent or higher level of safety to that provided by the regulations

from which exemption is sought.

19 Grant of Exemption No. 11112 to VDOS Global, LLC (FAA

- 2014

- 0382 at 10).

20 The GEO

- UAS ground control station displays, the GEO

- UAS s position, navigation route, tail number,

altitude, heading, north seeking arrow, range to targets, calculated target position, date/time, and sensor

heading and orientation relative to the GEO

- UAS

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 22

VI. DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROGRAM

GEOSpec 3D will have policies in place to ensure that no person may participate in GEO

- UAS

flight operations if they are under the influence of alcohol or any drug.

VII. PUBLIC INTEREST

The public interest will be served by granting GEOSpec 3D Petition for Exemption. Congress has

established a national policy that favors early integration of GEO

- UAS into the NAS in controlled, safe

working environments such as those proposed in this Petition. Granting this Petition for Exemption helps

fulfill Co ngress' goal in passing Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act

— the FAA Administrator's

assessment of whether certain GEO

- UAS may operate safely in the NAS before completion of the

statutorily required rulemaking.

The proposed GEO

- UAS operations in t his Petition for Exemption significantly improve safety and

reduce risk harm or serious injury or death to inspecting engineers. Traditional methods of inspecting

and/or monitoring industrial and utility power

- generation facilities and infrastructure requi res inspectors to

climb towers or otherwise perform elevated work, which exposes them to the risk of dangerous falls.

Inspectors are often exposed to hazardous chemicals or oxygen

- deficient atmospheres, burns from steam

electrical or from hot equipment, an d other mechanical hazards associated with industrial and utility sites

facilities. The use of small GEO

- UAS can eliminate these hazards and is ultimately a much safer method of

performing these types of inspections services

.

The use of small GEO

- UAS s al so enhances safety and reduces risk because, unlike manned aircraft

weighing thousands of pounds, carrying crew in addition to flammable fuel, the GEO

- UAS s carry no

passengers or crew. Further, in the unlikely event of an accident, GEOSpec 3D small battery powered

GEO

- UAS presents significantly less danger to persons on the ground when compared to operations by

conventional manned aircraft. 21 As Petitioner's GEO

- UAS s are battery powered, the public will also

benefit from the reduction of public utility dow n time because of the lack of staff that can perform such

dangerous inspections and the a reduction in harmful emissions associated with conventional aircraft

performing in the same functions proposed herein. Lastly, as recognized by the FAA in prior Secti on 333

Grants of Exemption to filmmakers, GEO

- UAS s provide an additional tool for the aerial filming industry,

adding a greater degree of flexibility, which supplements the current capabilities offered by manned

aircraft. 22

21 See Grant of Exemption No. 11158 to Team 5, LLC (FAA

- 2014

- 0783 at 12):

"Manned helicopters conducting aerial inspection can weigh 6,000 pounds or more and are operated by an

onboard pilot, in addition to other onboard crewmembers, as necessary. The petitione r’s UAs will weigh

less than 55 pounds with no onboard pilot or crew. The pilot and crew will be remotely located from the

aircraft. The limited weight significantly reduces the potentia l for harm to participating and

nonparticipating individuals or proper ty in the event of an incident or accident. The risk to an onboard pilot

and crew during an accident is elimina ted with the use of a UA for aerial inspection operation s ."U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 23

VIII. PRIVACY

All GEOSpec 3D GEO

- UAS operations will be conducted in accordance with applicable federal,

state, or local laws regarding privacy. All operations shall be conducted over private or controlled

- access

property with permission from the land owner/controller or authorized represent ative. Permission from land

owner/controller or authorized representative will be obtained for each flight to be conducted.

IX. FEDERAL REGISTER SUMMARY

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided for publication in the FEDERAL

REG ISTER, should it be determined that publication is needed:

Petitioner seeks an exemption from the following rules in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

Part 21, Subpart H; Part 27; 45.23(b); 45.27(a); 61.113; 91.7(a); 91.9(b)(2); 91.9(c); 91.103; 91.109(a);

91.119(c); 91.121; 91.151(a); 91.203 (a) & (b); 91.405(a); 91.407(a)(1); 91.409(a)(1) & (2); 91.417 (a) &

(b).

The exemption will enhance safety by reducing risk to the general public and property owners from

the substantial hazards ass ociated with performing equivalent work and aerial inspection of public and

private facilities, construction sites with conventional fixed

- wing aircraft, rotorcraft, or other methods.

X. CONCLUSION

GEOSpec 3D Petition for Exemption satisfies the criteri a articulated in Section 333 of the Reform

Act of 2012 including weight, speed, operating capabilities, proximity to airports and populated areas,

operation within VLOS and national security. The proposed GEO

- UAS operations will benefit the public as

a who le by improving safety and reducing risk by alleviating human exposure to danger. In consideration

of the foregoing, this Petition for Exemption provides the FAA with more than adequate justification for

granting the requested exemptions allowing GEOSpec 3 D to use small GEO

- UAS for controlled flights for

h igh level aerial facilities and construction site inspection

.

22 See e.g ., Grant of Exemption No. 11178 to Picture Factory, Inc. (FAA

- 2014

- 0794 at 18).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 15 th , 2015

P a g e 24

We thank you for your prompt consideration of our requested exemptions.

Should you have any questions, or if you need any additional information to support the requested

exemptions, please contact the undersigned at:

GEOSpec 3D , LLC.

Phone: 512

- 535

- 8007

Email: Jason.Orton777@Gmail.com

(The following attached items contain proprietary and commercial information exempt from disclosure

under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 522 et seq. , and should be held in a separate file pursuant

to 14 C.F.R. § 11.35(b)).

Attachments:

1. General Operations Manual

2. PIC Operating Manual

3. Company Protocols

4. Location Protocols

5. Flight Communications Protocols

6. Departing Location Protocols

7. Transmitter Protocols

8. Preflight Checklist

9. Post Flight Checklist

10. Equipment Checklist

11. UAS Manufacturer’s Manuals

a. User Manuals

b. UAS Maintenance Manuals