## Kevin c B ecker

P O box 331 9464 mission rd Alanson mi 49706 P hon e : 231
- 203
- 1831 E m a il : Kbecker1999@yahoo.com

M arc h 10, 2015 U. S
. D e p artm e nt of T ra n spo rt ati on Do c k e t M an a g e m e nt S y s t e m 1200 N e w J er s e y Av e , S E W a sh i n gt on, DC 20590 R e : R e qu e st f

or e x e mp ti on und e r S ec ti on 333 fr o m 14 C F R P art 21, S ubp art H; 14 C F R 61.113 (a ) and ( b ) ; 14 C F R 91. 1 09; 14 C F R 91.119 (c) ; 1 4 C F R 91.121; 14 C F R 91.151; (a) ; 14 C F R 91.405 (a) ; 14 C F R 91. 4 07 (a)( 1 ) ; 14 C F R 91.409 (a)( 1 ) ; 14 C F R 91.409 ( a )( 2 ) ; 14 C F R 91.417 (a ) and ( b) D ear Si r or M a d am : In acc o r d an c e w ith S ec t i on 333 of the F A A M od e r n i z ati on and R ef

o r m A c t of 2012 and 14 C F R P art 11, I , Kevin c Becker (“ P e titi on er” ) h ere b y app li e s f or an e x e mp ti on fr om the li s t e d Fe d e ra l Av i ati on R e g

u l ati ons ( “ F A R s ” ) t o a ll ow c o mm e rc i a l use of Sm a l l Un m ann e d A i rc r af t S y s t e m s (“ S UA S ”) , so l o n g a s su c h op erati ons ar e c ondu c t e d w ith i n and und e r the c ond iti ons ou tli n e d h ere i n or a s m a y be e s t a

b li sh e d b y the F AA a s re q ui re d b y S ec ti on 333. An e x e mp ti on i s b e i ng r e qu e s t e d b e c a use ( 1 ) e x i s t i ng r e g

u l ati ons w il l bur d e n the P e titi on er , ( 2) P e titi on e r can p r ov i de a l e v e l of s a f e t y th at i s equ a l ( or g reat e r th an i n m an y ca s e s) t o those p r ov i d e d b y e x i s ti ng r

u l e s and ( 3) the r e qu e st i s in the pub li c i n t ere s t
. The F AA ’ s a u tho r i t y t o i ssue e x e mp ti ons fr om o p erati n g r u l e s, and th e S e cre t a r y ’ s a u tho r i t y gr an t e d b y S ec ti on of P
. L .112
- 95, S p ec i a l R

u l e s f or C ert a i n Un m an n e d A i rcr a f t S ys t e m s p r ov i de an oppo rtun i t y t o a u tho r i z e cert a i n S UAS op erati ons i n the N ati on a l A i r sp ac e S ys t e m ( “ N A S ” ) p r i or t o imp l e m e n t ati on of the S UAS r u l e . Th i s i n cre m e n t a l s t e p w il l a ll ow the P e titi on er’ s S UA S s t o s afe l y and l e g a l l y e n t e r i n t o the NA S
. As d e s cr i b e d i n d e t a i l b e l ow, the re qu e s t e d e x e mp t ion wou l d p er mi t the P e titi on e r t o op erat e S UA S s und e r c on tr o ll e d c ond iti ons i n a i r sp ac e th a t i s ( 1) limit e d, ( 2) p re d e t er mi n e d, ( 3) c on t r o ll e d a s t o a c ce ss, a nd ( 4) wou l d p r ov i de s af e t y e nh an c e m e n t s t o the a l rea d y s af e o p erati ons of those a i r c raf

t of s imil a r s i z e , w e i gh t , sp e e d, and op erati n g ca p a b ili t y th at h ave b e e n gran t e d e n tr y i n t o the N AS v i a the r u l e s i n the A c a d e m y o f M od e l A er o n a u ti c s ( A M A) N ati on a l A i r cr a f t S afe t y C o d e 1

. App r ov a l of th i s e x e mp ti on wou l d th ere b y gr ea t l y e n h an c e s afe t y and f u l f il l the S ecre t a r y of T r anspo rt at i on ’ s ( the S ec r e t ar y re sp o ns i b iliti e s t o “
... e s t a b li s h re qu i re m e n t s f

o r the s af e op e rati on of su c h a i r craf t s y s t e m s i n the n at i o n a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m ” ) p e r S ec ti on 333 (c ) of

1 Se e the a t t a ch e d “A M A Sa ft e y Co d e.p d f” d ocu m en t.Kevin c Becker 2 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n the R ef o r m A c t
.

P e t i t i o n e r i s r e qu e s t in g e x e m p t i on f r om th e f o ll o w i n g r e g u l a t i o n s : 14 C F R P art 21, S ubp art H 14 C F R 61.23 (a ) 14 C F R 61.113 (a ) and ( b ) 14 C F R 91.109 14 C F R 91.119 (c ) 14 C F R 91.121 14 C F R 91.151 (a ) 14 C F R 91.405 (a ) 14 C F R 91.407 (a ) ( 1 ) 14 C F R 91.409 (a ) ( 2 ) 14 C F R 91.417 (a ) and ( b ) Th i s e x e mp ti on a

pp li cat i on i s e x p re ss l y sub mitt e d to f u l f il l C on gre ss’ g o a l i n p a ss i ng S ec ti on 333 (a ) th r o u gh ( C ) o f th e R ef o r m A c t
. Th i s l a w di rec t s the S ec r e t ar y t o c ons i d e r wh e th e r cert a i n un m an n e d a i r c ra f

t s y s t e m s m a y op e r at e s a fe l y i n the NAS b ef o r e c o mp l e ti on of the r u l e m ak i ng re qu i r e d un d e r S ec ti on 332 of the R ef o r m A c t
. I n m ak i n g th i s d e t er

mi n ati on, the S ecre t a r y i s re qu i re d t o d e t er mi ne wh i c h t y

p e s o f U A S s do not creat e a h a z ar d t o us er s of th e NA S , t o the pub li c , or pose a th r e at t o n ati on a l s e c ur i t y . S ec ti on 333 of the ref

o rm A c t gr an t s the S ec r e t ar y a u tho r i t y t o d e t e r

mi ne ( 1) i f an un m ann e d a i rc r af t s ys t e m , a s re su l t of it s s i z e w e i gh t , sp ee d, op erati on a l c a p a b ili t y , p r o x i m i t y t o a i r

p o rt s and popu l at e d ar ea s, and op erati on w ith i n v i su a l l ine of s i ght ( V L O S ) do e s not creat e a h a z ar d t o us er s of the NAS or th e p ub li c or pose a th r e at t o n ati on a l s ec ur i t y , and ( 2 ) wh e th e r a c e r ti f i ca t e of w a i v er , certi f

i cat e of au tho r i z ati on, or a i r wo rth i n e ss certi f

i c ati on und e r 4 9 U S C 44704 i s re qu i re d f o r the op e rati o n of c i v i l ( non - g ov er n m e nt a l ) UA S s. Th er e f

o re , i f the S ec r e t ar y d e t er mi n e s th at su c h v e h i c l e s “ m a y op e ra t e s afe l y in the n ati on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m , the S e c re t a r y sh a l l e s t a b li sh re qu i re m e n t s f

or the s a f e op e r ati on of su c h a i r c raf t i n the n ati on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m . 2

2 T h e P e titi o n e r i n t e r p r e ts t h is p r o v i s ion to	p lac e t h e d u t y on t h e S e c r e t a r y t o n ot o n l y p r o c e s s a pp l i ca tio n s for e x e m pti o n s u n d e r s e c ti o n 333 of t h e R e fo r m Ac t, b u t for t h e S e c r e t a r y to c r a ft c o n ditio n s f o r sa feKevin c Becker 3 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n Op er a t i o n al O v e r

v i e w C urre n t l y , un m on it o re d a m at e ur hob b y i s t s w ith no s afe t y p l an or c on tr o l s i n p l ac e t o p re v e nt cat a s tr ophe l e g a l l y op e ra t e s imil ar li gh tw e i gh t , r em o t e c on tr o ll e d S UA S s. The P e titi on e r h a s p er son a l l y i ns till e d s afe t y p r o t o c o l s and c on tr o l s t o f urth e r avo i d and p re v e nt pub li c h a z ar d, a s w e l l a s m ann e d a i rc r af

t h a z ar ds and c at a s tr oph e . The P e titi on er’ s c urre nt a nd an ti c i p at e d S UA S s a r e qu a d c op t e r s, w e i gh i n g 5 or fe w e r pounds ( i n c l ud i ng p a y

l o a d )

. The S UA S s h ave the cap a b ili t y t o hov e r and m ove i n t he v erti ca l and ho r i z on t a l p l an e s s imu lt an e ous l y . T h e y w il l op er a te on l y i n v i su a l li ne of s i ght ( V L O S ) and w il l op erat e on l y i n ti gh t l y c o n tr o ll e d and limit e d a i rs p ace . T h e y ar e c a p a b l e of op erati n g at sp e e ds of up t o 30 kno t s, but w i l l be r ou ti n e l y o p erat e d at mu c h l ow e r sp e e ds. Th e y w il l be op e rat e d b e l ow 400 fee t a

bove gr o und l e v e l ( A G L ) , and n e v e r a bove 400 f

e e t A G L
. The P e titi on er’ s e x e mp ti on re qu e st wou l d p e r mi t c om m erc i a l op e rati on of the P e titi on er’ s S UAS f or c o mm e r c i a l a e r i a l p h o t o gra p h y and v i d e o gr a

ph y in ti gh t l y c on tr o ll e d a nd limit e d a i r sp ace . A er i a l pho t o gra

p h y and v i d e o gr a

p h y s e r v i ce s w i l l be o ffe r e d t o i nd i v i du a l s, bus i n e ss own er s, ho m e own er s, r ea lt o r s, h o m e bu il d er s, c on tr a c t o r s and / or ho m e i nsp ec t o r s f

or use i n, p r o m o ti on a l aer i a l pho t o gr a

p h y and v i d e o gr a

p h y , r ea l e s t at e m ar

k e ti n g and s a fe r i nsp ec ti ons of ho m e e x t er i o r s. A l l op erati ons w il l be c ondu c t e d on p r i v at e and / or c on t r o ll e d a cc e ss p r op ert y and w ith the w r itt e n and / or o r a l p e rmi ss i on of the p r op ert y own er( s ) / o p erat o r ( s )

. O p erati on w il l a l w a y s be c ondu c t e d i n ar ea s th at ar e c l e a r of a l l p e op l e , e x c e pt the p il ot i n c o mm and ( P I C ) , the P I C ’ s h e l p er( s) and i nd i v i du a l s th at ar e d i r ec t l y i nvo l v e d i n the pho t o g ra p h y/ v i d e o g r ap h y p r odu c ti on. S u c h op erati on w il l e ns u r e th at the S UAS w il l “ not creat e a h a z ar d t o us er s of the n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m or the p u b li c”
. 3 G ran ti ng th e P e titi on er’ s re qu e st c o mpo rt s w ith th e S ecre t ar y of T ranspo rt a ti on ’ s (F AA Admi n i s trat o r’ s) re spon s i b iliti e s and a u tho r i t y t o not on l y i n t e grat e S UA S 's i n t o the n ati on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m , but t o “
... e s t a b li sh re qu i re m e n t s f

or the s af e o p e r a ti on of su c h a i r c raf t s ys t e m s [ S UA S ' s] i n the n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m ” und e r S ec ti on 333 (c ) o f the R ef o r m A c t sp ec i f

i c t o the use of S UA S ' s f

or Ci n e m at o gr a

p h y /P ho t o pur

pos e s. F urth er , th e P e titi on e r w il l c ondu c t op era ti ons i n c o mp li an c e w ith the p r o t o c o l s d e s cr i b e d h ere i n o r a s o th e rw i se e s t a b li sh e d b y the F AA. F or the r ea sons s t at e d b e l ow the P e titi on e r re sp e c t f u l l y r e qu e st the gr ant of a n e x e mp ti on a ll ow i ng the P e titi on e r t o op erat e u ltr a li gh tw e i gh t , re m o t e c on tr o ll e d S U A S ’ s f or c o mmun i t y aw ar e n e ss t o b e n e f

it/ s ti m u l at e attrac ti on t o the Northern Michigan a re a and t o e n h an c e r ea l e s t at e li s ti ng v i d e os f

or ho m e o wn er s who c annot a f f o r d e x p e ns i ve m ann e d a i r c r a f t f or the s a m e pur pos e . B o th of wh i c h w il l p r o m o t e l o ca l ec on o mi c gr ow th th r o u gh i n cr e a s e d e mp l o y m e nt and i n crea s e d t a x b a s e . B o th w ith pub li c s afe t y i n mi nd b y k e e p i n g h eav i e r m a nn e d a i r c raf t c on t a i n i ng c o mbus ti b l e f

u e l th at pos e s po t e n ti a l p ub li c h a z ar d.

op e r a tio n s of S UA S, if i t sh o u l d b e d e t er m i n e d t ha t t h e c o n diti o n s s e t f o r th he r e in do n ot f ul fi l l t h e s t a t u t o r y r e q u i r e m e n ts f

o r a p p r o val
. 3 R e f o r m Ac t S e c tion 333 ( b )Kevin c Becker 4 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n

A i r c r a f t The P e titi on e r op erat e s the Phantom 3 Pro S UAS m anu f ac tur e d b y DJ I
. T h e Phantom 3 Pro’ s diagonal size i s 23.2 i n, i t h a s a g r oss f l y i n g w e i ght of 1280g. Pil o t s can c on tr ol the Phantom 3 Pro’ s m ov e m e n t s i n m a n y d i r ec ti ons
– i n c l ud i ng pi t c h ( f o r w ar d and b a c kw ar d ) , r o l l ( l ef t and r i gh t ) , e l e v at or ( up and d own ) , and ya w ( tur n l ef t or r i gh t )

. The bu ilt

- i n G P S s ys t e m a i ds i n s t a b ili z i ng the a i rcr a f

t a n d w il l a

u t o m ati ca l l y r e turn i t b ac k t o it s ho m e pos iti on i f c o mmun i cati on b e tw ee n the re m o t e c on tr ol and q u a d c op t e r ar e l os t
. The Phantom 3 Pro i s c on tr o ll e d w ith the i n c l ud e d trans mitt e r th at u tili z e s the s am e s p e c tr um 2.4GHz t ec hno l o g y p r e fe rre d b y R C e x p ert s the wo r l d ov e r . Th i s a dv an c e d s i g n a l p r o ce ss i n g t ec hno l og y p r ov i d e s sup er b ran ge and i nt erfe r e n c e p r o t e c ti on, e sp ec i a l l y i n ‘ no i s y ’ e nv i r on m e n t s wh e r e a l ot of 2.4GHz s y s t e m s a r e i n use at the s am e tim e . The Phantom 3 Pro is s p ec i a l l y p r o gr a mm e d f or cap tur i n g a e r i a l v i d e o and im a g e s. B o th f eatur e s e l f

- l e v e li ng and use G P S and a ltitude s e nso r s t o p rec i s e l y ho l d pos iti on i n a hov er . The R e tur n Ho m e f un c ti on w il l a

u t o m ati ca l l y l a n d at the ho m e pos iti on. Th i s featur e can b e ac ti v at e d at an y tim e w i t h the press of a button

. W h e n ac ti v at e d, the Phantom 3 Pro w il l a u t o m ati ca l l y f

l y it s e l f b ac k t o the p l a c e it s m o t o r s w er e f i r st s t art e d and l and w ithout an y h e l p fr om the p il o t
. As an a dd e d s afe t y f

eatur e , the Phantom 3 Pro op e rat e s w i th i n g e o - re f ere n ce d f l i ght bound ar i e s. Out of the bo x , it s bound ar i e s ar e s e t at 100 m e t er s fr om and 50 m e t er s a bo v e the po i nt wh er e the m o t o r s w er e s t a rt e d. The In erti a l M ea sur e m e n t Un i t ( “ IM U ” ) h a s a bu i l t - in i n erti a l s e nsor and a b ar o m e tr i c a ltim e t e r th at m ea sure s bo th attitude and a ltitud e . The i n e rti a l m ea sure m e nt t e ll s the Phantom 3 Pro how it ’ s tilt e d, and the g y

r os t e l l i t i f it ’ s r o t ati ng i n a n y p a rti c u l a r d i r e c ti on. The Phantom 3 Pro’ s c o mp a ss r e a ds g e o m a gn e ti c i n f o r m a ti on and a ss i s t s t he G P S t o acc ur at e l y ca l c u l a t e the pos iti on and h e i ght of the a i r c raf t
. The Phantom 3 Pro h a s L E D f l i ght i nd i cat o r s b e n eath ea c h of it s f our r o t or a r

m s a nd i n the rear . T h e L EDs ill u mi n a t e t o i nd i c at e the s t atus of the f l i gh t c on tr ol s y s t e m and a l ert the P I C of an y poss i b l e i ssu e s. S u c h h i gh l y a dv an ce d c a p a b iliti e s w il l e nsur e th at the S UA S s can be s a fe l y op erat e d and “ not

4 S e e a tt ac h e d Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en.pdf 5 h ttp: // http://www.dji.com/product/phantom
- 3Kevin c Becker 5 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n creat e a h a za r d t o us er s o f the n a ti on a l a i r sp a c e s y s t e m or the pub li c . ” 6
Equi va l e n t L e v e l o f S a fe ty In an e f f o rt t o j o i n the F AA i n it s mi ss i on t o p r o v i de the s afe s t , m ost e f f i c i e nt aer os p ac e s y s t e m i n the wo r l d and t o mi n imi z e the r i sk t o the NAS or t o p er sons and p r o p ert y on the g r ound, the P e titi on e r a g ree s t o be b o und b y the f o ll ow i ng lim i t ati ons and c ond iti ons wh e n c ondu c ti n g c o mm erc i a l op e rati ons u nd e r an F AA i ssu e d e x e mp ti on: 1. F or the pur

po s e s of e ns u r i ng S UA S s w il l be op erat e d w ith i n the s t and ar ds t h at the F AA h a s a ll ow e d i n the A M A N ati on a l M od e l A i rc r af t S afe t y C o d e : a . S UA S s w il l not be f

l own:

• In a c a re l e ss or r e c k l e ss m ann er .

• At a l o cati on wh e r e S U A S ac ti v iti e s ar e p r oh i b it e d. 2. S UAS p il o t s w il l :

a . Y i e l d the r i ght o f w a y t o a l l hum an - c a r r y i n g a i r cr a f

t
. b. S e e and avo i d a l l a i r c r af t and a spo tt e r must be u s e d wh e n a p p r op r i at e . 7

c . Not f l y h i g h e r th an 400 f

ee t a bove g r ound l e v e l or w ith i n th re e ( 3) mil e s of an a i r po rt w ithout no ti f

y i n g the a i r po rt op e r at o r . d. Not i n t erfe r e w ith op e r ati ons and traff i c p att erns at an y a i r

po rt , h e li po rt or s ea p l ane b a se e x ce pt w h er e th e r e i s a mi x e d

- use a g r ee m e n t
. e . Not e x cee d a t ak e o f

f w e i ght of 55 pounds ( i n c l ud i ng p a y l o a d )

. f

. Ensur e the a i r cr a f

t i s i d e n ti f

i a b l e b y aff i x i ng the o wn er’ s c on t ac t i n f o r m at i on t o the ou t s i de of the S UA S
. g . Not op erat e S UA S s wh i l e und e r the i n f l u e n c e o f a l c ohol or wh il e us i ng an y dr ug th at c ou l d a dv e r s e l y aff e c t the P I C ’ s a

b ili t y t o s afe l y c on tr ol the m od e l

. h. Not op erat e S UA S s c ar r yi ng p y r o t e c hn i c d e v i c e s t h at e x p l ode or bur n, or a n y d e v i c e wh i c h p r op e l s a p r o j ec til e or dr ops an y ob

j ec t th at c r eat e s a h a z ar d t o p er sons or p r o p ert y . 3. S UA S s w il l not be f

l own un l e ss:

6 R e f o r m Ac t S e c tion 333 ( b ) 7 AM A D o cu m en t # 5 40
- DKevin c Becker 6 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n
a . The a i r c raf

t , c on tr ol s y s t e m and p il ot sk ill s h ave su cce ss f u l l y d e m ons trat e d a l l m an e uv er s i n t e n d e d or a n ti c i p at e d p r i or t o the sp e c i f i c e v e n t
. b. An i n e x p er i e n ce d p il ot i s a ss i s t e d b y an e x p er i e n c e d p il o t
. 4. A l l p il o t s sh a l l avo i d f l y i ng d i r e c t l y o v e r unp r o t e c t e d p e op l e , v e ss e l s, v e h i c l e s or s tr u c ture s and s h a l l avo i d e nd an g er m e nt of li f

e an d p r op ert y of o th e r s. 5. A su cce ss f

ul ra d i o e qu i p m e nt gr oun d

- ran ge c h e c k i n acc o r d an c e w ith m anu fac tur er’ s rec o mm e nd ati ons w il l be c o mp l e t e d b ef o r e the f i r st f li ght of a n e w or r e p a i re d m od e l a i rc r af t
. 6. S UA S s must use the ra d i o - c on tr ol f r e qu e n c i e s c urre n t l y a ll ow e d b y the Fe d era l C o mmun i cati ons C o m m i ss i on (F CC )

. 7. S UA S s w il l not know i n g l y op e r at e w ith i n th r e e ( 3 ) mil e s of an y p r e - e x i s ti n g f l y i n g s it e w ithout a fre qu e n c y- m an a g e m e nt a gr ee m e n t
. 8 8. E x c l ud i ng t ak e o f

f and l a nd i n g , no S UA S s m a y be f l o w n ou t doo r s c l os e r th an 25 fee t t o an y i nd i v i du a l , e x ce pt f

o r the P I C and the P I C ' s h e l p er( s) l o cat e d at the t ak e o f f s it e . 9. Und e r no c i r c um s t an ce s m a y a p il ot or o th e r p er s on t ou c h a S UAS i n f li g h t wh il e i t i s s til l und e r pow er , e x ce pt t o d i v ert i t fr om s tr i k i ng an i nd i v i du a l

. 10. The P I C of th e S UAS sh a ll :
a . M a i n t a i n c on tr ol dur i ng t he e n ti r e f l i gh t , m a i n t a i n i ng v i su a l c on t a c t w ithout e nh an c e m e nt o th e r th an b y c o rr e c ti ve l e ns e s p r e s cr ib e d f or th e p il o t
. b. F l y us i n g the a ss i s t an c e o f a cam er a o r F i r s t - P e r s o n V i e w ( F P V) on l y i n acc o r d an c e w ith the p r o c e dure s ou tli n e d i n A M A Do c um e nt #550.
c . F l y us i n g the a ss i s t an c e o f a u t op il ot or s t a

b ili z at i o n s y s t e m on l y i n a c c o r d a n c e w ith the p r o ce dur e s ou tli n e d i n A M A Do c um e nt # 560. 11. The f l y i n g ar e a must be c l ear of a l l u tili t y w i r e s or po l e s and an S UAV w il l not be f l own c l os e r th an 50 f

ee t t o an y a

bov e - gr ound e l ec tr i c ut ili t y li n e s. 12. The f l y i n g ar e a must be c l ear b e f o r e the e n g i ne i s s t art e d, e x ce pt f or P I C an d the P I C ' s h e l p er( s )

. B
. I n a dd iti on t o the a

bove ru l e s ou tli n e d b y the A M A N ati on a l M od e l A i r c r a f t S afe t y C ode and i n an eff o rt t o e n h an c e the s afe t y o f fe r e d b y the a l rea d y s a f

e op e rati ons m e n ti on e d a bov e , the P e titi on e r a l so a g ree s t o be bound b y th e f o ll ow i ng limit ati ons and c ond iti ons:

8 AM A D o cu m en ts # 9 2 2 a n d # 923Kevin c Becker 7 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n 1

. F li gh t s w il l be op e rat e d w ith i n V L OS of the P I C
. 2

. M a x imum t o t a l f

li ght ti m e f

or e ac h o p erati on a l f

l i ght w il l be 25 mi nu t e s. Fli gh t s w il l be t er mi n at e d at 25% b att e r y po w e r r e s er v e shou l d th at o cc ur p r i or t o the 25 mi nu t e limit

. 3

. The S UAS w il l on l y op e r at e i n ti gh t l y c on tr o ll e d a nd limit e d a i r sp ace . 4. A b r i ef

i n g w il l be c ond

u c t e d i n r e g a r d t o the p l an n e d S UAS op erati ons p r i or t o eac h f li gh t
. It w il l be m and a t o r y th at a l l p er sonn e l who w il l be p erf o r mi n g du ti e s w ith i n the bound ar i e s of the s afe t y p er im e t e r b e p re s e nt f or t h i s b r i ef

i n g . 5. The P I C and the P I C ’ s h e l p er( s) w il l h ave b e e n tr a in e d i n op erati on of S U AS and rece i v e d up - t o - d at e i n f

o r m ati on on the p arti c u l ar SUAS t o be op erat e d. 6. The p il ot and the P I C ' s h e l p er( s) w il l at a l l tim e s be a b l e t o c o mmun i ca t e b y vo i c e . 7. I f the S UAS l os e s c o mmun i cati ons or l os e s it s G P S s i gn a l , the S UAS w il l h ave c a p a b ili t y t o re tur n t o a p r e - d e t e r

mi n e d l o cati on w ith i n the s ec ur i t y p er im e t e r and s a f e l y l and. 8. The S UAS w il l h ave the ca p a b ili t y t o abo rt a f

l i gh t i n ca se of unp r e d i c t e d o bs t ac l e s or e m e r g e n c i e s. 9. A l l f li gh t s w il l be c ondu c t e d on p r i v at e p r o p ert y and w ith the w r itt e n and / or o ra l p er mi ss i on of the p r op ert y ow n er( s )

. 10. F li gh t s w il l a l w a y s b e c o ndu c t e d i n ar e a s th at ar e c l ear o f a l l p e op l e , e x ce p t f or the P I C and the P I C ' s h e l p er( s )

. 11. A l l f li gh t s w il l be c ondu c t e d ou t doo r s i n v i su a l m e t e o r o l o g i c a l c ond iti ons ( V MC ) and n e v e r dur i n g s e v e r e w e a t h e r c ond iti ons. 12. F li gh t s w il l not o cc ur i n w eath e r c ond iti ons th at p re v e nt the P I C fr om op er ati ng w ith i n v i su a l li n e - o f

- s i ght ( V L O S ) at a l l tim e s or i n w eat h e r c ond iti ons th at dram a ti ca l l y a ff e c t the S UA S ’ s f

li ght (e

. g . h i gh w i nds )

. 13. I f an op e ra ti on o cc u r s i n an ar e a wh e r e p e op l e c o u ld i n a dv ert e n t l y e n t e r the area , an op erati on a l bo r d e r w il l be e s t a b li sh e d w ith tra f

f i c c on e s. I f it ’ s not f

ea s i b l e t o use traff

i c c on e s due t o i n t er f

e r e n c e w ith the pho t o g rap h y/v i d e og rap h y , the P I C ' s h e l p er( s) w il l be re spons i b l e f

or k ee p i n g a s af

e p e r im e t e r ar ound th e op erati on. T h e op e r ati on w il l cea se imm e d i at e l y and b e re s c h e du l e d i f it ’ s imposs i b l e to e s t a b li sh a s af

e p er im e t e r a r ound the op erati on. 14. The P I C w il l be r e spons i b l e f or l o g g i ng a l l f

li gh t s t o e nsur e the c o mp r e h e n s i ve p re v e n t ati ve m a i n t e n an c e p l an can b e f o ll ow e d, a s de s cr i b e d i n the “ P r e v e n t ati ve M a i n t e n an c e ” s e c ti on b e l ow.Kevin c Becker 8 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n 15. The S UAS w il l not be r ou ti n e l y op e r at e d i n the p r o x i m i t y of an y a i r p o rt s. I n an y ca s e s wh er e the S U AS must be op erat e d w ith i n th r e e ( 3) m i l e s of an a i r po rt , the a i r

po rt op erat or w il l be no ti f

i e d b ef o r e th e op e r ati on c o m m e n ce s. The op e r ati on of S UA S s, w e i gh i n g l e ss th an 3 l bs

. , c ondu c t e d i n the s tr i c t c ond iti ons a s ou tli n e d a bov e , w il l p r ov i de an e q u i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y s uppo rti ng the gr ant of e x e mp ti ons re qu e s t e d h ere i n, i n c l ud i n g e x e mp ti ng the P e titi on e r fr om t h e re qu i r e m e n t s of P art 21 and a ll ow i ng c o mm erc i a l op e rati ons. Th e se li gh tw e i ght a i r c ra f

t op erat e at s l ow sp e e ds, c l ose t o the g r ound, and i n a ti gh t l y c on tr o ll e d e nv i r on m e n t
. As a r e su lt , th e y o f fe r a mu c h s a fe r w a y t o ca p tur e a e r i a l ph o t o gra

p h y and v i d e o gr a p h y . F urth er

m o r e , the p r opos e d o p erati o n s re p re s e nt a s a f e t y e nh a n ce m e nt t o the a l rea d y s af e o p erati ons t h at h ave b e e n gran t e d b y the F AA f or the e s t a

b li sh m e nt of t he A M A N ati on a l M od e l A i rc r af

t S afe t y C o d e . P r e f li g h t P l a n The P I C w il l f

o ll ow a c o mp re h e ns i ve p r e - f l i ght c h ec k li st t o e nsur e th at the S UAS i s i n a c ond iti on f

or s af e f li g h t
. Th i s p l an w il l be imp r ov e d a s n ee d e d i n o r d e r t o e nsur e a l l known s afe t y p r e ca

u ti ons and

/ or s afe t y p r e ca

u ti ons s u g g e s t e d b y the m anu f a c ture r ar e b e i n g acc oun t e d f o r . A. P re - f

li ght Insp ec ti on 1. C h ec k th at the trans mitt e r , UAS and c am er a b a tt e r i e s ar e a l l f u l l y c h a r g e d. 2. V er i f y th at the U AS b att e r y i s not swo ll e n or d am a g e d i n an y w a y . 3. Tur n the m o t or sh af

t s w i t h your f

i ng er s and v er i f

y th at ar e s m oo th w ithout e x ce ss i ve p l a y o r b i nd i ng. 4. V er i f y th at the p r o p e ll er s ar e m oun t e d c o rr e c t l y an d fre e fr om s i gns of d am a g e . 5. R un f i n g e r a l o n g the e d ge of b l a de t o c h ec k f or an y r o u gh e d g e s. 6. F l e x bo th s i d e s of the p r op e ll er s’ b l a d e s t o c h ec k f or h a i r li ne c r ac ks w h er e t he b l a d e s c onn e c t i n the ce n t e r of the p r o p e ll er . 7. V er i f y th at the l and i n g g ear i s s ec u r e and f r e e f r o m d am a g e , b r ok e n o r l o o s e . 8. V er i f y th at the cam e r a i s s ec ur e and c l e an. Insp e c t the cam e r a c onn e c ti ons and g imb a l f

o r t e a r s and

/ or s i gns of w e a r . 9. V er i f y th at the d amp i ng a

bso r b er s ar e not b r o k e n and

/ or wo r n. 10. V er i f y th at the Mi c r o - S D car d h a s b ee n i ns e rt e d a nd f o r m att e d.Kevin c Becker 9 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n 11. V er i f y th at the s m a r t phon e’ s W i

- F i i s e n a b l e d. 12. S e t the s m art

phone t o do

- no t - d i s tur

b m ode t o p r e v e nt d i s trac ti ons wh il e f l y i n g . 13. S e t the s m art

phone t o f

o r g e t an y W i

- F i n e two r

ks i n ran g e i n o r d e r t o p re v e nt the W i

- F i c onn ec ti on fr o m c h an g i ng mi d

- f li gh t
. B
. P ow e r Up 1. P ow e r on the trans mitt e r w ith the f li ght m ode s e t t o the a

pp r op r i at e s e tti n g , the th r o ttl e s ti c k down an d the th r o ttl e tr i m at n e u tra l

. 2. I ns t a l l a c h ar g e d b att e r y i n the UA S , p l ug i t i n and c l ose the h at c h. 3. W a i t f

or the G P S s i g n a l t o be ac qu i r e d, wh i c h i s i nd i cat e d b y a so li d L ED. I t m a y t ak e fr om 30
- 90 s e c onds t o ac qu i r e a G P S s i g n a l. 4. M ove the a i r c raf

t t o t he d e s i re d ho m e l o c ati on and o r i e nt the a i r c raf t po i n t e d aw a y f r om the p il o t
. 5. St e p b ac k a

pp r o x im at e l y 15 fee t ( 5 m e t er s) f r om the ho m e l o ca ti on. C
. R ea d y t o F l y 1. P ow e r on cam er a and a c qu i r e W i

- F i s i gn a l on s m art phon e . 2. On c e s m art

pho n e h a s ac qu i re d W i

- F i s i gn a l s t a rt cam e r a a pp. 3. V er i f y th at the a i rc r af

t s til l h a s G P S l o c k. 4. St art the m o t o r s. 5. V er i f y th at the m o t o r s ar e f

un c ti on i ng n o r

m a l l y , a r e not m ak i ng a n y unus u a l no i s e s, and ar e a l l sp i nn i ng the s am e sp ee d. 6. V er i f y th at the ar e a i s s til l c l ear of obs tr u c ti ons, p e op l e , pow e r li n e s, e t c . 7. T ake o f

f and hov e r about 6
- 8 fee t a bove the t ak e o f

f po i nt t o v er i f

y th at the a i rc r af t s til l h a s a so li d G P S l o c k. I f a n y a bno r m a l iti e s ar e no ti ce d ( d r i f

ti n g , f l y i n g i n c i r c l e s, e t c . ) , l a nd imm e d i at e l y and re p e at the “ P re - f li ght Ins p ec t i on” and P ow e r Up ” s e qu e n c e s. 8. V er i f y th at the a i rc r af

t h o l ds a s t ea d y pos iti on wh il e ya w i n g 360 d e g ree s. 9. V er i f y th at the a i rc r af

t r e sponds a

pp r op r i at e l y t o a l l c on tr o l s
– yaw, p it c h, r o l l and th r o ttl e . D. A f t e r F li ghtKevin c Becker 10 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n 1. Tur n o f f the po w e r sw it c h on the a i rc r af t
. 2. Tur n o f f the po w e r t o y

o ur trans mitt er . 3. Unp l ug and re m ove t he b att e r y fr om the a i rc r af t
. P r e v e n t a t i v e M a i n t e n a n c e A c o mp re h e ns i v e p re v e n t ati ve m a i n t e n an c e p l an w il l be f o ll ow e d i n acc o r d a n c e w ith the m anu fac tur er’ s s p ec i f

i c ati ons t o e nsur e the S UA S ’ s so f tw ar e i s up - t o - d at e , t he b att er i e s ar e i n g ood h e a lth, and the a i r c r af t it s e l f i s a l w a ys r ea d y f

or s a f e f li gh t 9

. P il ot i n C o m m a n d ( P I C ) Q u a li f i c a t i o n s The P I C d o e s not c ur

r e n t l y ho l d an a i r

m an c e rti f

i c at e or m e d i c a l certi f

i cati on. Si n c e the S UAS i s s imil a r i n s i z e , w e i gh t , sp ee d, and o p erati n g c ap a b ili t y a s those c u rre n t l y a ll ow e d t o be f l own f or hob b y / re c r e ati on, ho l d i ng the P I C t o those s a m e s e t of s t and ar ds w il l a ll ow f or an e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f

e t y . I t c annot be a ssu m e d th at a c o mm erc i a l p il o t , a pp ro v e d t o op erat e a h e li c o p t e r or f i x e d w i ng a i rc r af t , h a s the sk il l or a b ili t y t o s a fe l y op e r ate an un m ann e d a e r i a l v e h i c l e , op erati n g at 400 f ee t A G L or l ow e r , w ith i n s tr i c t l y c on tr o ll e d p re - a pp r o v e d a i r sp a ce . Si n c e th e r e ar e no s t an d ar ds f or e ith e r p r i v at e o r c o mm e r c i a l S UAS p il ot certi f i cat e s, know l e d g e of a i r sp ac e r e g u l ati ons and d e x t er i t y i n the c on tr ol a nd op erati on of the S U A S ac qu i re d fr om ac tu a l o p erati on of the a i rc r af t w il l be the m ost impo r t a nt fac t o r s i n e s t a b li sh i ng an e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l o f s a f e t y . The P I C wou l d b e re qu i r e d t o su cce ss f u l l y c o mp l e t e an F AA a

p p r ov e d gr o und tra i n i ng c o u r se and be re qu i re d t o do the f o ll ow i ng p r i or t o the f

i r s t c o mm erc i a l f

l i gh t : A. P erf o r m 50 f l i gh t s or l og 20 hour s of f li ght tim e ( t he g reat e r of the t w o ) w i t h the S UAS th at w il l be p il o t e d. B
. S u cce ss f

u l l y l ear n and d e m ons trat e a l l f

li ght m an e uv er s i n the “ D J I P h an t o m Pil ot T ra i n i ng Gu i d e ” 1 0 C
. Stu d y and be famili ar w i t h a l l s ec ti ons of the Us e r ’ s M anu a l of the S UAS t h at w il l be p il o t e d. 1 1 W ith th at i n m i nd, the P e titi on e r p r opos e s th at it s P I C be e n titl e d t o a pp l y f o r , and r e ce i ve a t e mpo rar y li ce n s e c e rti f

i c at e , re n e w a

b l e un ti l the F AA c r eat e s an “ un m ann e d a i rc r af t c e rti f i cat e w ith S UAS rati n g ”
. P ubli c I n t e r e s t G ran ti ng th i s e x e mp ti on wou l d b e n ef i t the pub li c a s a who l e . S UA S s o f f e r a s tr ong e qu i v a l e nt

9 S e e “ Flight ” on p a ge 39 of t h e of t h e a tt a ch e d “ Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en .pdf ” 10 S e e t h e a tt ach e d “ Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en .pdf” 11 S e e t h e a tt ach e d “ Phantom_3_Professional_User_Manual_v1.2_en .pdf”Kevin c Becker 11 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n l e v e l of s a f

e t y , a r e du c ti o n i n e nv i r on m e n t a l imp a c t s, and ar e f r e e f r om the h ar

m f ul e mi ss i on a sso c i at e d w ith the m an n e d a i r c raf t th at a r e c u rre n t l y us e d f

o r a e r i a l pho t og ra

p h y and v i d e o gr a p h y . D u e t o the s i z e of the S UAS and the t i gh t l y c on tr o ll e d and l i mit e d a i r sp ac e i n wh i c h the S UAS w il l op erat e , a p p r ov a l of th i s a

p p l i cati on p re s e n t s no r i sk t o the pub li c . F urth er m o re , the pub li c w il l be a b l e t o l e g a l l y a c qu i r e a e r i a l pho t og ra p h y and v i d e o gra

p h y t o h e l p i n, but not lim i t e d t o, a dv erti s i ng ho m e s f or s a l e , a dv e rti s i ng un i nh a b i t e d ho m e s, l o t s, use of pho t os and v i d e o a s an a i d wh e n re s ear c h i n g ho m e s f or s a l e on th e m ar

k e t , or s afe l y a c c e ss i ng h i gh and / or awkw ar d a r e a s of ho m e e x t er i or t o a s s e ss d am a g e th at n e e ds t o be re p a i re d. P r i v a c y Si n c e the ar e a s b e i n g ph o t o gra p h e d or f ilm e d w il l be on p r i v at e p r o p ert y , a cce ss e d on l y af t e r g i v e n w r itt e n and

/ or o r a l c ons e nt b y the p r op e rt y o wn er( s ) , and c l e ar of a l l p e op l e , e x ce pt f or the P I C and the P I C ’ s h e l p e r ( s ) , a pp r o v a l of th i s a

pp l i cati on p re s e n t s no r i sk t o the pub li c p r i v a c y . Nat i o n al S ec u r i ty Due t o the s i z e of the S UAS and the ti gh t l y c on tr o l l e d and limit e d a i r sp ac e i n wh i c h the S UAS w il l op erat e , a

p p r ov a l of th i s a

pp li cati on p re s e n t s no r i sk t o n ati on a l s ec ur i t y . R e qu e s te d E x e mp t i o n s P e titi on e r re qu e s t s e x e mp ti on fr om the f o ll ow i ng r e g

u l ati ons s i n c e it ’ s not poss i b l e t o f u l l y c o mp l y w ith th e m , and s i n c e att e mp ti n g t o f o ll ow the m f

or the pur pos e s o f op erati n g a S UAS wou l d be a bur d e n: A i rw o rt h i n e ss C e rt i f

i c a t e s - 14 C F R Pa rt 21, S ubp a rt H S ubp art H e s t a

b li sh e s the p r o ce dur a l re qu i r e m e n t s f or the i ssu an c e of a i rw o r th i n e ss cer ti f i c a t e s a s re qu i re d b y F AR 91. 2 03 (a ) ( 1 )

. G i v e n the s i z e and limit e d op erati ng ar e a a sso c i at e d w ith the a i rc r af t t o be u tili z e d b y t he P e titi on er , an e x e mp ti on fr om P art 21 S ubp art H m ee t s the re qu i re m e n t s of an e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a fe t y und e r P art 11 and S ec ti on 333 of the R ef o r m A c t
. The Fe d e r a l Av i ati on A c t ( 49 U S C 44701 (f) ) and S ec ti on 333 of the R ef o r m A c t bo th a

u tho r i z e the F AA t o e x e mpt a i r c r a f t fr om the re qu i r e m e nt f

or an a i r w o rth i n e ss c e rti f

i cat e , upon c ons i d erati on of the s i z e , w e i gh t , s p ee d, op e rati o n a l ca p a b ili t y , and p r o x imi t y t o a i r po rt s and popu l at e d ar e a s of the p a rti c u l ar S UA S
. In a l l ca s e s, an an a l y s i s of th e s e c r it er i a d e m ons tra t e s th a t the S UAS op erat e d w ithout an a i r wo rth i n e ss certi f

i c at e , i n the re s tr i c t e d e nv i r on m e nt and und e r the c ond iti ons p r o pos e d, w il l be at l ea st a s s afe , or s af e r , th an a c o n v e n ti on a l a i rc r af t op erati n g w ith an a i r wo rt h i n e ss certi f i c at e w ithout the re s tr i c ti ons and c on d iti ons p r opos e d. M e di c al c e rt i f

i c a t e s - 14 CFR 61.23 ( a ) Th i s re g u l ati on re qu i re s p il o t s of m ann e d a i rc r af t t o ho l d a m e d i ca l c e rti f

i c a t e . Si n c e r i sks a sso c i at e d w ith the op e r a ti on of the p r opos e d S U AS ar e so d imi n i sh e d fr o m the l e v e l of r i sk a sso c i at e d w ith an y m an n e d a i r c raf t ; the S UAS i s of a s i z e , w e i gh t , sp ee d, a nd op erati on a l ca p a b iliti e s wh i c h m ak e s i t mu c h s afe r th an an y m an n e d a i r cr a f t ; s i n c e op e r ati ons w il l o cc ur i n ti gh t l y c on tr o ll e d and limit e d a i r sp a c e ; and c ons i d er i ng th at a l l op e r ati ons w il l be on p r i v at e / c on tr o ll e d a cce ss p r op ert y th at i s c l e a r of a l l p e op l e , ob t a i n i ng and m a i n t a i n i ng a m e d i c a lKevin c Becker 12 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n
certi f i c at e wou l d not imp r ove the s a f e t y of the o p e rati on. I

n the v e r y rar e ca se of a mi sh a p, the S UAS b e i ng f

l own w il l p ose s i gn i f

i c an t l y l e ss o f a th reat th an m ann e d h e li c op t er s and f i x e d w i ng a i r c r af

t b e c a use the S UA S s ar e a f

rac ti on of the s i z e , a frac ti on of th e w e i gh t , w il l be f l own at a f r ac ti on of the sp e e d, car

r y no f l amm a b l e f u e l, and carr y no c r e w or p a s s e ng er s. P r i v a t e pil ot p r i v il e g e s an d li m i t at i o n s: P il ot i n c o m m an d

- 14 C F R 61
. 113 ( a) an d ( b ) Th e se r e g u l ati ons limi t p r i v at e p il o t s t o non - c o mm e rc i a l op e rati ons. B ec ause the S UAS w il l not car r y a p il ot or p a ss e n g er s; due t o the S UA S ’ s s i z e , w e i gh t , s p ee d, and o p e r ati on a l ca p a b iliti e s; and s i n c e op e rati ons w il l o cc ur i n ti gh t l y c on t r o l l e d and limit e d a i r sp ace , th e p r opos e d op e rati ons can a c h i e ve the e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y o f c urr e nt op erati ons th at c ur r e n tl y re qu i r e a c o mm erc i a l p il o t ’ s li ce n s e . The F A A h a s d e t e r

mi n e d th at the a i r

m ansh i p e x p er i e n c e o f a c o mm e rc i a l l y certi f i c at e d p il ot wou l d not c o rre l at e t o the a i r m ansh i p sk ill s n ece s s ar y f or the p e titi on er’ s s p ec i f

i c p r opo s e d op erati ons of a S UA S
. A lthou gh the F AA do e s not poss e ss the a u tho r i t y t o e x e mpt the P e ti t i on e r fr om the s t atu t o r y re qu i re m e nt t o ho l d an a i r m an c e rti f

i cat e , a s p re s c r i b e d i n 49 U S C S ec ti on 44711, i t do e s poss e ss the a u tho r i t y un d e r 14 C F S R 61.17 (a ) t o grant a t e mpo rar y p il ot c e rti f i cat e or rati n g , and i n acc o r d an c e w ith 14 C F S R 61.13 ( 4) the Admi n i s t rat or must i ssue an a i r m a n certi f

i c at e “
... t o an a pp li cant who s ati s f

a c t o r i l y a c c o mp li sh e s the tra i n i ng and certi f i c ati on re q u i re m e n t s f

or the certi f i c at e , rati n g , or a

u tho r i z ati on sou gh t , i s en tit l e d t o re c e i ve th at a i r m an certi f

i c at e , rati n g , or a u tho r i z ati on.” W ith re g ar d t o the P e titi on er’ s P I C tra i n i n g p r o gr am , the P e titi on e r h a s p r opos e d th at p r i or t o the f i r st c o mm erc i a l o p erati o n the P I C be re qu i re d t o p erf o r m the g rat e r o f 50 f

li gh t s or 20 hour s of f li ght tim e i n the Phantom 3 Pro , a s w e l l a s su c ce ss f u l l y d e m ons trat e f

l i ght m an e uv er s sp ec i f

i e d i n the P h an t om Pil ot T ra i n i ng Gu i de and s tu d y and be f ami l i ar w ith the Phantom 3 Pro m anu a l s i d e n ti f i e d i n the p e titi on. In it s p r opos e d r e g

u l a ti o ns, the F AA s t at e s th at i t w il l creat e a n e w “ un m an n e d a i r c raf t op e rat or certi f i c at e w ith a s m a l l U AS rati n g . ” Th i s cer ti f ic a t e wou l d be re qu i r e d b e f o r e a p e r son c ou l d l e g a l l y o p erat e a c o mm e r c i a l UA S
. To ob t a i n th i s n e w c e rti f i cat e , an op e r at o r

— who wou l d n ee d t o be at l ea st 17 ye a r s o l d

— wou l d h ave t o p a ss an aer on a u ti c a l know l e d g e t e st at an F AA
a pp r ov e d t e s ti n g c e n t er . The a pp li cant wou l d a l so h ave t o p a ss a s ec ur i t y s cree n c ondu c t e d b y the T ranspo rt ati on S ec u r i t y Admi n i s trati on. G i v e n the a

bov e , t h e F A A must d e t er mi ne the a

p p r op r i at e l e v e l of p il ot c e rti f i cati on f or the P e titi on er’ s p r opos e d op e rati on: 1) Th e r e a r e c urr e n t l y no s t and ar ds f or e it h e r p r i v at e o r c o mm erc i a l UAS p il ot c e rti f i cat e s, 2) the F AA h a s f

ound th at i t cannot be a ssu m e d th at a c o mm erc i a l p il o t , a

pp r o v e d t o op erat e a m ann e d h e l i c op t e r or f i x e d w i n g a i rcr a f

t , h a s the sk il l or a b ili t y t o s afe l y o p erat e a n un m ann e d a e r i a l v e h i c l e , op erati n g at 400 fee t AG L o r l ow er , w ith i n s tr i c t l y c on tr o ll e d p re - a

p p r ov e d a i r sp a ce , 3 ) t o re q u i r e the P e titi on e r t o ob t a i n a certi f i c at e r ati ng e qu a l t o wh at ’ s r e qu i re d t o op erat e a m ann e d a i rc r af t c r eat e s a b u r d e n and p l ace s undue ec ono mi c h ar dsh i p on th e P e titi on er . Th er e f o re , t he P e titi on e r i s h ere b y s e e k i ng the S e cre t ar y ’ s a pp r ov a l t o a pp l y f o r , an d rece i v e a t e mpo r ar y li c e nse c e rti f i cat e , re n e w a

b l e un ti l the F AAKevin c Becker 13 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n
creat e s an “ un m ann e d a i r craf t certi f i c at e w ith S U AS rati ng ”
. Be c a use a t e mpo r a r y p il ot certi f i cat e i s sub

j e c t t o t he s am e s e c ur i t y s cr e e n i ng b y the D e p a rtm e nt of Ho m e l and S ec u r i t y th a t a l l certi f i e d a i r m e n un d e r g o, the p r opo s e d op e r ati ons can ac h i e ve the e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y of re c e n t l y a pp r ov e d S e cti on 333 e x e mp ti ons, op e rati ons th at do not s i gn i f i can t l y d i f

f e r f r om t h at of the P e titi on er , th at c urre n t l y r e qu i r e a p r i v at e p il ot certi f i cat e . F li g h t in s tr

u ct i on - 14 CFR 91.109 Th i s re g u l ati on p r ov i d e s t h at no p er son m a y op e ra t e a c i v i l a i rc r af t ( e x ce pt a m ann e d f

re e b a ll oon) th at i s b e i ng us e d f or f li ght i ns tr u c ti on un l e ss th at a i rc r af

t h a s f u l l y f un c ti on i ng du a l c on tr o l s. S UA S s and re m o t e l y p i l o t e d a i rc r af t , b y th e i r d e s i g n do not h ave f u l l y f un c ti on a l du a l c on tr o l s. F li ght c on tr ol i s a cc o mp l i sh e d th r ou gh the u s e of a c on tr ol box th at c o mmun i cat e s w ith the a i rc r af t v i a r a d i o c o mmun i cati ons. The F A A h a s app r ov e d e x e mp ti ons f or f li ght tra i n i ng w ithout f u l l y f un c ti on a l du a l c on t r o l s f

or a numb e r of a i r c r af

t and f or f li ght i ns tr u c t i on i n e x p er im e n t a l a i rc r af t
. The e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y p r ov i d e d b y t he f

ac t th at n e ith e r a p i l ot nor p a ss e n g er s w il l be carr i e d i n the a i r c raf t and b y the s i z e and s p ee d of the a i rc r af t
. M ini m u m S a f e A l t i tud e s
– 14 C F R 31.119 (c ) Th i s re g u l ati on p re s c r i b e s s af

e a ltitud e s f

or th e o p erati on of c i v i l a i r cr a f t a n d sp ec i f

i e s th at ov e r sp ar s e l y popu l a t e d a r e a s t he a i rc r af t c annot be op e rat e d c l os e r th an 500 f ee t t o an y p er son, v e ss e l , v e h i c l e , or s tr

u c tu re . It a ll ows h e li c op te r s t o be op erat e d at l ow e r a l t itud e s i n cert a i n c ond iti ons. The P e titi o n er’ s S UA S s w il l n e v e r o p erat e at an a ltitude gr e at e r th an 400 f e e t A G L
. Si n c e the t y

p i c a l mi ss i on of the P e titi on er’ s S UA S s wou l d be t o pho t o gr a p h /v i d e o s tr

u c ture s i t wou l d be n e c e ss ar y t o o p erat e c l os e r th an 500 fee t t o the it e m s li s t e d. F li g h t s w il l on l y be c ondu c t e d ov e r p r op e rt y wh er e p er mi ss i on h a s b e e n ob t a i n e d and at a d i s t a n c e gr e at e r th an 30 fee t of an y c ons e n ti n g i n d i v i du a l , and on l y a f t e r c aref ul p r e - p l ann i n g h a s b ee n p e r f o r m e d. F urth er , th e S UAS w il l op erat e at a v e r y s l ow a i r s p ee d, and a l ow m a ss, an d do not n ee d a s mu c h sp ac e t o op e rat e s a fe l y , a s ou tli n e d i n 91.119. Giv e n the P e titi on e r w il l on l y op e rat e h i s UA S s i n s af e a rea s aw a y fr om pu b li c and traff i c , th ere b y p r ov i d i ng a l e v e l of s a f e t y at l ea st e qu i v a l e nt t o those i n re l a ti on t o mi n i mum s af e a ltitud e s, and du e t o the s i z e , w e i gh t , m a n e uv e r a b ili t y a nd sp ee d of the P e titi on er’ s UA S , an e qu i v a l e nt or h i gh e r l e v e l of s afe t y w il l be ac h i e v e d. A l t i m e t e r s e t t in gs - 14 CFR 91.121 Th i s re g u l ati on re qu i re s eac h p er son op e r ati ng an a i rc r af t t o m a i n t a i n cr

u i s i ng a ltitude b y ref e re n c e t o an a ltim e t e r t h at i s s e t “
... t o the e l e v at i on of the d e p artur e a i r p o r t or an a

pp r o p r i at e a ltim e t e r s e tti ng av a il a

b l e b ef o r e d e p arture . ” As t he S UAS m a y not h a v e a b ar o m e tr i c a ltim e t er , but i ns t ea d a G P S a ltitu d e rea d ou t , an e x e mp ti on m a y b e n ee d e d. An e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a fe t y w il l be ac h i e v e d b y th e o p erat or b y c on f i r mi n g the a ltitude of the l a un c h s i t e shown on the G P S a ltitude i nd i cat or b ef

o r e f li gh t
. F u e l R e qui r e m e n t s f

or F li g h t i n VFR Co ndi t i o n s - 14 C F R 91.151 ( a ) Th i s re g u l ati on p r oh i b it s an i nd i v i du a l fr om b e g i n n i ng “ a f li ght i n an a i r

p l a ne und e r V F RKevin c Becker 14 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n
c ond iti ons un l e ss (c ons i d er i ng w i nd and f o re c a st w eath e r c ond iti ons) th er e i s e nou gh f u e l t o f l y t o the f i r st po i nt of i n t e nd e d l and i n g , and, a ssu m i ng no r m a l cr u i s i ng s p ee d

– ( 1) Dur i n g the d a y , t o f l y a f t e r th at f o r at l ea s t 30 mi nu t e s; or ( 2) A t n i gh t , t o f l y af t e r th at f or at l ea st 45 mi nu t e s . ” The b att e r y po w er i n g the p r opos e d S UAS p r ov i d e s a pp r o x im at e l y 15 mi nu t e s of pow e r e d f l i gh t
. Th at wou l d m ake i t imposs i b l e t o m ee t the 30 mi nu t e re s er v e r e qu i re m e n t
. G i v e n the limit ati ons on the S UA S ’ s p r opos e d f li ght ar e a and the l o cati o n of it s p r opos e d op e r ati ons w ith i n a p re d e t e r mi n e d ar ea , a l o n g e r tim e fram e f or f li ght i n d a y

l i ght or n i ght V F R c ond iti ons i s rea son a b l e . An e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s a fe t y can b e ac h i e v e d b y l i miti ng f li gh t s t o 10 mi nu t e s or 30 % of b att e r y pow e r ( wh i c h e v e r o c c ur s f i r s t )

. Th i s re s tr i c ti on w ou l d be m o r e th an a d e q u at e t o re tur n the S UAS t o it s p l ann e d l and i ng z one fr om an y w h er e i n it s l i mit e d op erati ng ar e a . Ma in te n a n c e I n s p ect i o n s - 14 C F R 91.405 ( a ) ; 14 CFR 91.407 ( a )( 1 ) ; 1 4 CFR 91.409 ( a )( 1 ) ; 14 CFR 91.409 ( a )( 2 ) ; 1 4 CFR 91.417 ( a) an d ( b ) Th e se r e g u l ati ons re qu i r e th at an a i r c raf t op e rat or or own e r “ sh a l l h ave th at a i rc r af t i nsp ec t e d a s p re s cr i b e d i n sub p art E o f th i s p art and sh a l l b e tw ee n re qu i re d i nsp ec ti ons, e x ce pt a s p r ov i d e d i n p ar a gr a ph ( c ) of th i s s ec t i on, h ave d i s c r e p an c i e s r e p a i re d a s p r e s cr i b e d i n p a rt 43 of th i s c h a p t er ... , ” and o th e r s sh a l l i nsp ec t or m a i n t a i n the a i r c raf t i n c o mp li an c e w ith P art 43. G i v e n th at th e se s e c ti ons and P art 43 a pp l y on l y t o a i rc r af

t w ith an a i rwo rth i n e ss certi f i c at e , th e se s ec ti ons w il l not a

pp l y . The o p erat o r , p u r su a nt t o the m anu fac tu r er’ s us e r m anu a l and g u i d e w il l acc o mp li sh m a i n t e n a n ce . An e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y w il l be a c h i e v e d b eca use th e se s m a l l S UA S s ar e v e r y limit e d i n s i z e , w il l car r y a s m a l l p a y

l o a d, and op e rat e on l y i n re s tr i c t e d a rea s f or limit e d p er i ods of tim e . I f m e c h an i c a l i ssu e s a r i s e , the S UAS can l and i mm e d i at e l y a nd w il l be op erati n g f

r om no h i gh e r th an 400 f

ee t A G L
. As ou tli n e d i n the af o re m e n ti on e d P re - f

l i ght Pl an, the op erat or w il l e n sur e th at the S UAS i s i n wo r k i ng o r d e r p r i or t o i n iti ati ng f li g ht and p erf o r m m a i n t e n an c e a s r e qu i re d. M o r e ov er , the o p erat or i s the p e r son m ost famili ar w ith the a i rc r af t and b e st su it e d t o m a i n t a i n the a i rc r af t in a n a i r wo rth y c ond iti on t o p r ov i de the e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y . In a cc o r d a n c e w i th 14 CFR P a rt 11, th e f o ll ow in g s u m m a ry i s p r ov id e d f or p ubli c a t i on i n th e F e d er al R e g i s t e r : The P e titi on e r s ee ks an e x e mp ti on fr om the f o ll o w i ng r

u l e s: 14 C F R P art 21, S ubp art H; 14 C F R 61.113 (a ) and ( b ) ; 14 CF R 91.109; 14 C F R 91.121; 14 C F R 91.151; (a) ; 14 C F R 91.405 (a) ; 14 C F R 91.407 (a)( 1 ) ; 14 C F R 91.409 (a ) ( 1 ) ; 14 CF R 91.409 (a)( 2 ) ; 14 C F R 91.417 (a ) and ( b) t o c o mm erc i a l l y op e rat e s m a l l un m ann e d a i r c raf t s y s t e ms ( 55 l bs. or l e ss) i n o r d e r t o s a f e l y and l e g a l l y ca p tur e aer i a l pho t o gra

p h y and v i d e o gr a

p h y f o r use b y ho m e ow n er s , rea lt o r s, ho m e bu il d er s, ho m e c on tr a c t o r s, and / or ho m e i nsp ec t o r s. The op e r ati on of S UA S s c ondu c t e d i n the s tr i c t c o nd iti ons ou tli n e d a bov e , w il l p r ov i de an e qu i v a l e nt and

/ or g r eat e r l e v e l of s a f

e t y supp o rti ng the gr ant of the e x e mp ti ons re qu e s t e d h e re i n, i n c l ud i ng e x e mp ti ng the a pp li cant fr om the r e qu i r e m e n t s of P art 21 and a l l ow i ng c o mm e rc i a l op erati ons. Th e se l i gh tw e i ght a i r c r af t op e r at e at s l ow sp ee ds, c l ose t o the g r ound, and i n a s t er il eKevin c Becker 15 S ec t i on 333 E x em

p t i on P e t i t i o n
e nv i r on m e n t , and a s a re s u lt , ar e f a r s a f e r th an e x i s ti ng op e r a ti ons c ondu c t e d w ith h e li c op t er s op erati n g i n c l ose p r o x imi t y t o the g r ound, p e op l e , or o th e r bu il d i n g s i n the v i c i n i t y . G i v e n t h e s m a l l s i z e of the S UA S s i nvo l v e d, the s l ow sp ee d a t wh i c h th e y must be o p erat e d i n o r d e r t o ca p tur e pho t os and v i d e o s, and the re s tr i c t e d e nv ir on m e nt w ith i n wh i c h th e y w il l op e r at e , the P e titi on e r d e m ons trat e s th at i t can be op e rat e d w i th i n an e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y i n wh i c h C on gre ss e nv i s i on e d th at the F AA mus t , b y e x e mp ti on, a ll ow c o mm erc i a l op erati ons of S UA S s t o c o mm e n c e imm e d i at e l y . A l so, due t o the s i z e of the S UA S s and the re s tr i c t e d ar ea s i n wh i c h the re l e v ant S UA S s w il l op erat e , a pp r ov a l of th i s a

pp li cati on p re s e n t s no t h reat t o n ati on a l s ec ur i t y . G i v e n the c l e a r d i r e c ti on i n S ec ti on 333 of the R e f o r m A c t , the a

u tho r i t y c o n t a i n e d i n the Fe d era l Av i ati on A c t , the s tr o n g e qu i v a l e nt l e v e l of s afe t y surr ound i ng th e p r opos e d op erati ons, the s i gn i f i cant pub li c b e n ef

i t

– i n c l ud i ng e n h an ce d s a f e t y , r e du c ti on i n e nv i r o n m e n t a l imp ac t s, no e mi ss i ons, a

b ili t y t o l e g a ll y ob t a i n a er i a l pho t o gr a p h y and v i d e o gra p h y s e r v i ce s
– the grant of the re qu e s t e d e x e mp ti ons i s i n the pub li c i n t ere s t
. A cc o r d i n g l y , the P e titi on e r re s p ec t f u l l y re qu e s t s th at the F AA gr a nt the re qu e s t e d e x e mp ti on w ithout d e l a y . S ati s fac ti on of the cr it e r i a p r ov i d e d i n S ec ti on 3 3 3 of the R ef o r m A c t

– s i ze , w e i gh t , sp ee d, op erati n g ca

p a b ili t y , p r ox i m i t y t o a i r

p o rt s and p o pu l at e d ar e a s, op e r ati on w ith i n the v i su a l li ne of s i gh t , pub li c s afe t y , and n ati on a l s ec ur i t y
– p r ov i de m o r e th an a d e qu a t e j u s ti f i cati on t o grant the P e titi on e r the re qu e s t e d e x e mp ti on, a ll ow i ng f or c o mm erc i a l op e r ati ons a s d e s cr i b e d h ere w ith. R e sp ec t f u l l y sub mitt e d, Kevin c B ecker , P e titi on e r