To whom it concerns,

The proposed UAS operation will be safely conducted to minimize risk to the NAS in many ways. 

Operators will be well versed in drone laws, aircraft maintenance and safety prior to flight. Mandatory 

pre-flight maintenance will include visually inspecting the drone for defects, checking the propellers’ 

balance/tightness, and ensuring aircraft/remote batteries are adequately charged. Propeller guards will 

be used during flight, to further ensure safety.

In addition to the safety precautions we’ll take on the ground, and maintaining a visual line of sight 

(VLOS) on the aircraft at all times, we’ll also take advantage of the safety features built in to the drone.

We currently own a Phantom 3 Professional, which provides built-in safety features. Such as the “Return 

to Home” feature, which causes the drone to return to its point of origin, should it ever lose signal with 

the operator’s remote.

The Phantom 3 Professional is a quadcopter drone, weighing 1280g (with battery and propellers), and 

travels at speeds up to 30mph. It operates at a frequency of 2.400 GHz-2.483 GHz, which complies with 

FCC requirements.

The PIC, in addition to being required to perform the general aircraft maintenance and safety 

precautions outlined in the first paragraph, will be required to meet all FAA requirements. These 

requirements mean a PIC hired by our company must hold an airline transport, commercial, private, or 

recreational, or sport pilot license. They must also hold a current FAA airman medical certificate, or a 

valid U.S. driver’s license. Finally, the PIC must meet the flight review requirements specified in 14 CFR § 

61.56 in an aircraft, where the PIC is rated on his or her pilot certificate. The PIC will also be required to 

have a minimum of 2 hours flight time with the UAS before flying it commercially.

My company’s intended UAS operations include aerial videography and photography for commercial 

purposes. Specifically, Agriculture, real estate, and wedding videography. All agricultural work would 

take place in open fields where people typically aren’t present. Combined with our safety precautions, 

risk of injury or damage to personal property will be minimal. The drone would also be used for 

obtaining aerial footage for wedding videos. In this instance, filming would take place in open areas, 

such as local parks, and fields, away from people and private property.

The drone will be flown at a speed of less than 30mph and at an altitude under 400ft, and will not fly 

above the FAA’s altitude limit for commercial drones. The altitude limit is set within the Phantom 3’s 

software, to ensure we will not exceed 400ft. Some adverse conditions we may encounter are fog, high 

wind, and rain. In the event that we experience any of these weather conditions, the drone will not be 

operated. The drone will not be flown in situations where visibility is less than 3 miles. Power lines are 

another potential hazard that the PIC and operators will remain diligently aware of.

We intend to stay at least 5 nautical miles (NM) away from any airport operating a control tower. 3 NM 

away from any airport with a published instrument flight procedure. 2 NM away from any airport that 

does not have a published flight procedure, and 2 NM away from any heliport with a published flight 

procedure.

The PIC and Visual Observer (VO) will maintain VLOS on the UAS at all times. The PIC will make certain 

that the aircraft stays close enough in proximity so that it can be seen with the naked eye. Working with 
a VO will ensure a constant VLOS is kept on the drone. Flights will only take place during daylight hours, 

and reckless or careless operations will not be permitted.

Pre-flight safety risk assessments will be made prior to every take-off. The PIC will ensure that the drone 

meets the proper mechanical, electrical, and structural requirements for safe flight. Should an 

unairworthy condition occur during flight, the PIC will discontinue the flight. In addition to staying clear 

from as many dangers, property, and people as possible, close attention will be paid to the weather and 

the planned flight pattern. Before each take-off, the pattern of flight will be planned out ahead of time. 

This will allow the operators to survey the landscape and plan around any potential safety risks.

If we ever need to conduct operations that required us to notify Flight Standards District Offices, we 

would submit a detailed written plan of activities to the local FSDO at least 3 days prior to the planned 

flight.

Adding a drone with video capabilities to our equipment list would greatly improve the production value 

of our work, and if we’re granted an exemption, drone safety will be of the utmost importance for all 

operators.