10.04.15 

Larry LaBonte 

Drone Arial Photography LLC 

1433 South Ridgewood Ave 

DeLand, FL 32720 

U.S. Department of Transportation 

Docket Operations 

West Building Ground Floor 

Room Wl2-140 

1200 New Jersey A venue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590-0001 

RE: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act of2012 and Part 11 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations 

Dear Sir or Madam; 

In accordance with the Public Guidance for Petitions for Exemption filed under Section 333, Drone 

Arial Photography, LLC requests exemption from the Federal Aviation Regulations to allow for commercial 

UAS operations of a DIT Phantom 3 Advanced, for the purpose of aerial photography, tower inspection, real 

estate marketing, surveying, agricultural mapping and other flight operations that could be performed safely 

and more cost effectively than a traditional manned aircraft. 

Applicant: 

Drone Arial Photography LLC 

Larry LaBonte, Owner 

1433 South Ridgewood Ave 

DeLand, Florida 32720 

larry@labonte.com 

386.748.6727 

Regulations from which the exemption is requested: 

14 CFR 21 , Subpart H 

14 CFR 45.23 (b) 

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b) & 14 CFR 61.133 (a) 

14 CFR 91.7 (a) 

14 CFR 91.9 (b)(2) 

14 CFR 91.103 (b)(2) 

14 CFR 91. l 09 
14 CFR 91.119 ( c) 

14 CFR 91.121 

14 CFR 91.151 (a) 

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b) 

14 CFR 91.405 (a) 

14 CFR 91.407 (a)(l) 

14 CFR 91.409 (a)(l) & (a)(2) 

14 CFR 91.417 (a) & (b) 

14 CFR 21, Subpart H - In consideration of the size, weight, speed, and limited operating area 

associated with this UAS and its operation, Drone Arial Photography requests relief from 14 CFR part 

21, Subpart H, and any associated noise certification and testing requirements of part 36. The UAS 

will carry neither pilot, passenger, explosive materials nor flammable liquids. 

14 CFR 45.23 (b)- Even though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be 

needed as the UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word 

"Experimental" can be placed. Given the size of the UAS, two-inch lettering will be impossible. The 

word "Experimental" will be placed on the fuselage in compliance with §45.29 (f). The equivalent 

level of safety will be provided by having the UAS marked on its fuselage as required by §45.29 (t) 

where the pilot, observer and others working with the UAS will see the identification of the UAS as 

"Experimental." 

14 CFR 61.113 (a) & (b) & 14 CFR 61.133 (a)- Since the UAS will not carry a pilot or passengers 

Drone Arial Photography requests a relief from these regulations. Any pilot in command or (PIC) 

operating the UAS will hold a Sport Pilot (or greater) certificate. A visual observer or (VO) will be 

utilized and required to communicate verbally at all times. The UAS will be limited to operations 

within visual distance of both the PIC and VO. All UAS operations will take place in a controlled area. 

The risks associated with the use of a UAS are far less than similar commercial aircraft operations. 

14 CFR 91.7 (a)-Since the UAS will not carry a pilot or passengers there will be no airworthiness 

certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard exists 

for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft, maintenance, and use of safety checklist 

prior to each flight, an equivalent level of safety will be provided. All flights will be in accordance 

with the safety and maintenance recommendations found in the DJI Phantom attachments. 

14 CFR 91.9 (b )(2)- Given the size and configuration, the UAS has no ability to carry a flight manual 

on the aircraft. There is no room, capacity, or pilot on board to adequately carry a flight manual. An 

equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping the flight manual at the ground station where the 

UAS pilot will have immediate access to it. 

14 CFR 91.103 (b)(2) -As no FAA approved flight manuals will be provided for the aircraft an 

exemption is needed. Alternate procedures including but not limited to reviewing weather conditions, 

checking flight battery requirements, checking takeoff and landing distances along with those found in 

the attached "DJI Pilot Training" will be implemented. These actions will provide an equivalent or 

higher level of safety. 

14 CFR 91.109- UAS and remotely piloted aircraft do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight 

control is achieved through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio 

communications. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved using the real time ground station data 
and given the UAS will carry neither a pilot or passengers. 

14 CFR 91.119 (c)-The UAS will never be operated at an altitude higher than 400 feet AGL. The 

UAS will operate in safe areas away from public and traffic and only with permission of the property 

and structure owners. The UAS will also be restricted by the flight controller to a maximum vertical 

height of 400 feet AGL, and line of sight horizontal. Given the size, weight, maneuverability and 

speed of the UAS, an equivalent or higher level of safety will be achieved. 

14 CFR 91.121-As the UAS may not have a barometric altimeter, but instead a GPS barometric 

sensor for altitude information an exemption may be required. An equivalent level of safety will be 

achieved using a ground station which links to a telemetry data link. This will provide the pilot with 

live flight data monitoring, confirming the altitude of the launch site shown on the GPS altitude 

indicator prior to flight. 

14 CFR 91.151 (a)-The UAS has a limited range and will be limited to operations in a controlled 

environment. The battery power the UAS provides approximately 23 minutes of flight time. The UAS 

is unable to meet the 30 minute reserve requirement and therefore requires an exemption. An 

equivalent level of safety will be achieved by monitoring the battery through the ground station and 

landing with a minimum of 30 percent battery power remaining. 

14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b)- Given the size and configuration, the UAS has no ability to carry a flight 

manual on the aircraft. There is no room, capacity, or pilot on board to adequately carry a flight 

manual. An equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keeping the flight manual at the ground 

station where the UAS pilot will have immediate access to it. 

Given the following sections only apply to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these sections do 

not apply to this applicant. As a safety precaution, the operator will perform preflight inspections and 

ensure UAS is in working condition before initiating each flight: 

14 CFR 91.405 (a) 

14 CFR 91.407 (a)(l) 

14 CFR 91.409 (a)(l) & (a)(2) 

14 CFR 91.417 (a) & (b) 

Equivalent Level of Safety 

In addition to the safety standards mentioned above the UAS will adhere to the following additional 

guidelines: 

1. The UAS will not be operated within 1 5 miles of an airport (as part of DJI software lockout) 

unless prior contact to Air Traffic Control has been established. 

2. Flights will not exceed the an airspeed of 36 mph (31.3 knots) 

3. Flights will be operated at or below an altitude never exceeding 400 feet AGL. 

4. The PIC and VO will communicate verbally at all times. 

5. UAS operations will not be conducted during night. 

6. All operations will be conducted under visual meteorological conditions. 

7. The UAS will land with a minimum 30 percent battery reserve remaining. 

8. The UAS will only be piloted within visual line of sight. 

9. The UAS will utilize an internal flight safety feature that will return to a preprogrammed 

position and land if communication with the remote control is lost. 
10. Preflight inspections and protocol will be followed prior to all operations. 

11. The UAS will abort flight in the event of unpredictable obstacles or emergencies. 

Public Interest 

We believe the use of a UAS in lieu of a manned aircraft would enhance safety and reduce the 

environmental impact compared to similar operations conducted with a manned aircraft carrying a crew and 

flammable fuel. 

The inspections of cellular communication towers or similar structures will eliminate the risks 

associated with persons attempting to climb these structures. The photographs and video collected will 

provide engineers with valuable information as to the safety of these structures. 

The inspections of construction sites by UAS instead of persons in and around associated equipment 

will provided a greater safety. Vertical photography of construction will eliminate the need for people to 

climb ladders or be lifted by mechanical means to inspect. 

The use of UAS in voluntary service to local community, law, disaster officials for assistance in 

search and rescue, disaster/catastrophic event assistance in photographic review or high resolution film as 

requested in the nature of a public service. 

The use of a UAS in the real estate industry provides a higher level of marketing and service. The 

UAS is able to provide a view which encompasses the entire property in a single photo or short video clip. 

When compared to similar operations, utilizing a UAS poses much less of a safety concern for the general 

public with less fuel, time, noise and other resources. 

Privacy 

All flights over private or controlled areas will be with the owner's knowledge and consent. Capturing people 

in images will rarely, if ever in occur private areas. If a person is captured in a collected image they will have 

consented prior to filming or otherwise have agreed to be in the area prior to the filming taking place. 

arry LaBonte 

Owner 

Drone Arial Photography, LLC