February

### 4,2016

U.S. Department 

### ofTransportation Docket Management System 1200 

### New JerseyAve., SE Washington, 

### DC 20590 

# Re: Petition 

### ofAir I Photography 

### for an Exemption Pursuant 

### to Section 333 

### ofthe FAA Modernization and 

### ReformAct of 2012
Director: 

### Flight Standards Service:
Pursuant 

### to Section 333 of the 

### FAA Modernization and 

### Reform Act 

### of 2012 ("Reform 

### Actu) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11,

### Air 

### I Photography (Refened 

### to as

### "Air

# l') hereby applies 

### for an exemption 

### from the 

### FederalAviation Regulations 

### ("FARs") identified below to 

### allow commercial operation 

### of small unmanned aerial vehicles (f.e., "small unmanned 

### aircraft" or 

### '{JAS") for the purpose 

## of conducting aerial photography, videography, cinematography, inspection, mapping and imaging for the 

### motion picture, 

### television, real estatg construction and 

### web indusfies.
This 

### petition for exemption is made basedon 

### information outlined in this 

### Petitionfor Exemption, as

### well asthe accompanying

### Air 

### I documents; 

# 1. PIC 

### Flight Operations Manual and; 

# 2. Operations Manuals 

### (Collectively 

### 2 and 3 are referred to as Documents 

### & Manuals") 

# 3. User Guide and; 

# 4. Flight Manualr 

### (Collectively 3 and4 are referred to as "IVlanufacturer's 

### Manuals") 

### Air 1 submits these supporting materials as

### confidential documents pursuant 

### to 14 C.F.R. $ 11.35(b), asthe materials contain 

### confidential commercial and/or 

### proprietary information that 

### Air

## t has not and

### will not share

### with other requesting parties. 

### Additionally, these documents contain operating conditions and procedures that are not generally available to the 

### public and are protected 

### from release under the Freedom 

### of 

### InformationAct, 5 

### U.S.C. $ 552 et. seq. 

### NOTE: 

## ALLAITACHMENTS SET 

### FORTII IN SUPPORT OF 

### THIS 

### LETTER OF 

## PETITIONARE CONFIDENTIALAND SHALL NOT BE 

### RELEASED TO

## TIIE PTIBLICWITIIOT]"T

### WRITTEN AUTTIORIZATION FROM

## TIM PETITIOI{ER.

1.The term "Manufacturefs Manual" also includes all relevant manufacturer publications, including, but not

### limitd to: operations and flight manuals, user guides, component maintsnance manuals, pilot training manuals, service information letters an4 safety/service bulletins.U.S Department 

### ofTransportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 2
For

### your convenience, this 

### Petition isorganned as

### follows: 

# I. Description 

### of Petitioner 

# n. Description 

### of Proposed 

### Operations 

## A. Aerial Videography, Photography, Cinematography, Inspection, 

### Mapping and 

### Imaging 

# ilI. RelevantStatutoryAuthority 

# IV. Air lns Proposed 

### UAS Operations Meet the Requirements 

### of Section 333

### ofthe Reform 

### Act 

## A. Approval is Warranted Based on the 

### UAS's Size, Weight, Speed, and Operational 

### Capability 

## B. Approval is Warranted Based on the Operational Restrictions Set 

### Forth inthe Operations Manuals 

# Y. Regulations 

### Fmm Which Exemption is Requested 

## A. 14 C.F.R. 

### Pafi2l, Subpart 

### H 

### -Airworthiness Certificates and 14 C.F.R. $ e1.203(a)(1) 

## B. 14 C.F.R. 

### Partz7 Airworthiness Standards: 

### Normal CategoryRotorcraft 

## C. L4C.F.R. $$

### 91.9(c), 45.23(b) and45.27(a): 

### Aircraft Mmking and Identifi cation Requirements 

## D. 14C.F.R. $

### 9l.aOs(a),9t.407(a)(1),91.409(a)(1) and 

### (z);gt.an(a) and 

### (b): Maintenance Inspections 

## E. 14C.F.R. Part 

### 61, 14 C.F.R. $61.3, 14C.F.R. $ 61.113: Private 

### Pilot Privileges and 

### Limitations 

## F. 14C.F.R. $91.7(a): 

### CivilAircraftAirworthiness 

## G. 14C.F.R. $91.9(bX2): 

### Civil Aircraft Flight Manual 

### intheAircraft and 14 C.F.R. $ 91.203(a) and 

### (b): Carrying 

### Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration 

## H. 14C.F.R. $ 91.103: 

### PreflightAction 

# I. 14 C.F.R. $91.109(a): 

### Flight Instruction 

# J. 14 C.F.R. $91.119(c): 

### Minimum SafeAltitudes 

## K. 14 C.F.R. $ 91.121: 

### Altimeter Settings 

# L. 14 C.F.R. $ 9t. I 5 I(a): Fuel Requirements 

### for 

### Flight in

### VFR Conditions 

# VI. Drug and

### Alcohol Program 

# VII. Public Interest 

# V[I. Privacy 

# IX. FederalRegisterSummary 

# X. ConclusionU.S Department 

### ofTiansportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 3 

# I. DESCRIPTION OF 

### PETITIONER 

### Air 

## I is based 

### in San

### Antonio, 

### TX and provides aerial photography, videography, cinematography, inspection, mapping and imaging for the 

### motion picture, 

### television, real estate, construction and web 

### industies. The Company's 

### Principal and Chief 

### Pilot JoshuaW. Pardee has been

### flying 

### UAV Quadcopters as a hobby for more thanyear 

### without incident, logging hundreds 

### ofhours flying. Upon the grant of the 333 Exemption the Company's business

### will specialhe 

### tn aefial photography, videography, cinematography, inspection, mapping and 

### imaging forthe 

### motion picture, television, real estate, 

### consfiuction and web industries. 

### Air l's staffare well trained and experienced in 

### providing support asvisual observers 

### ('VO") for the 

### pilot in command 

### ("PIC") in addition to any other needed on site assistance. 

### All of the equipment owned 

### byAir 1 is of the highest qualrty gear and has been ableto 

### provide these services safely and 

### without any claims 

### or incident. 

### Air I's goal isto advise the perspective client that

### Air 1 is

### following all the applicable state and federal rulesto ensure the safety 

### ofthe 

### publicwhile providing the client 

### with a

### competitive and cost effective product. 

### Air 1 seeks an exemption 

### to allow for aerial photography, videography, cinematography, inspection, mapping and imaging and other related media products.
The contact 

### information for Petitioner is as

### follows:

Joshua W. Pardee 

### Air 

## l Photogaphy 7354Tamburo

### Trail SanAntonio, 

### TX78266 Phone: 501.772.2409 Email: josh.pardee@hotmail.com 

# II. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED 

### OPERATION 

### Air 

## I seeks an exemption pursuant 

### to Section 333 

### of the Reform 

### Act to operate the 

### DJI Phantom 3 Pro; and, 

### DJI Inspire Pro 

### (refered

### toAIP-UAS) (under 55lbs) 

### for the proposed operations discussed herein 

### below. 

### All UAS operations 

### will occur under 

### tightly controlled conditions on private 

### property or approved location where

### Air 

## I has received

### verifiable permission 

### to operate 

### fromthe landowner, 

### controller or authorized representative. The proposed 

### UAS operations 

### will be conducted in accordance 

### with the conditions and 

### limitations 

### ofthis Petition for 

### Exemption and

### Air I's Operations 

### Manuals. As detailed in

### Air 

### l's Operations Manuals, 

### all UAS operations 

### will be 

### limited to daytime 

### VFR conditions, 

### within visual 

### line-of-sight 

### ('VLOS') ofthe operator, in uncontrolled airspace, and

### will occur at least 5 

### nm away

### from an airport reference 

### point. Moreover, 

### Air I's Operations Manuals incorporate redundant safeguards

### to assure the 

### aircraft does not

### travel outside the 

### controlled area 

### ofUAS operations, 

### including GPS 

### "geo-fencing" technologies.U.S 

### Deparfnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page4

# A. AerialVideography,PhotognnphV,Cinematography,Inspection,Mapping

and 

### Imaging 

### Air 

## I seeks to usesmall 

### AIP-UAS for the purpose 

### of conducting aerial photography, videography, cinematography, inspection, mapping, imaging and 

### forthe motion picture, television, real estate, construction and web 

### indusfiies. 

### Air 

## I has purposefully ta{lored its operations 

### to meet the requiremenB established by the 

### FAA in 

### prior grants 

### of exomption authorizing commercial use of 

### UAS in the real estate industry, 

### including: 

# o AstaeusAerial (ExemptionNo. 11062) 

# o AerialMOB, LLC (ExemptionNo. 11066) 

# o Pictorvisiorq Inc. 

### (ExemptionNo. 11067) 

# o HeliVideo Productions, 

### LLC @xemptionNo. 11065) 

# o Snaproll Media" 

### LLC (ExemptionNo. 11063)



# . RC Pro Productions Consuhing, 

### LLC d/b/a 

### VortexAerial (Exemption 

### No. 11064) 

# r Flying-Cam, 

### LLC @xemptionNo. 11080) 

# o Aerocine, 

### LLC (ExemptionNo. 11150) 

# o Team 5, 

### LLC (Exemption 

### No.

## lll58) 

# e AlanD. Purwin 

### @xemptionNo. 11161) 

# e HelinetAviation Services, 

### LLC (ExemptionNo. 11160) 

# o Picture 

### Factory Inc. 

### @xemptionNo. 11178) 

# o Airshark 

### @xemptionNo. 11651) 

# r Trudeau, Realtor@ (Exemption 

### No. 11138) 

# r Alon Sicherman 

### (ExemptionNo. 11728) 

### All UAS photography, videography, cinematography, mapping, imaging and inspection operations 

### will occur on private 

### property or approved 

### location in a

### conffolled mea away 

### from spectators and persons not 

### involved in the recording process. 

### In addition, the operations 

### will be conducted between dawn and

### duskto ensure 

### maximum safety for the 

### public and those 

### involved in the manipulation and operation 

### of the 

### UAS; VFR conditions, at altitudes below 400' above ground level 

### ("AGL").
As set

### forth

### beloq

### Air I's operations provide an equivalent level 

### of safety 

### which is superior 

### to performing the same 

### work using conventional 

### fxed-wing aircraft or helicopters.
Small 

### UAS recording operations is also safer than 

### traditional manned aircraft 

### performing the same function. Videographer, photographers and inspectors also frequently need to 

### climb 

### roof tops, 

### tees, ladders or otherwise 

### perform elevated 

### worlq which exposes them to the 

### risk 

### of dangerous 

### falls, electrocution or other 

### work related 

### iqiwies. In addition, depending on the nafure 

### ofthe video needed and inspection, 

### proximrty to 

### equipmen! and other mechanical hazards associated

### with industrial sites and consffuction 

### facilities often involves a 

### risk

## of exposure 

### to hazardous conditions. The use

### ofAlP-UAS mitigates these hazmds and is 

### ultimately amuch safer and cost 

### efftcient method 

### of performing these and most other types

### of recording operations.U.S Departrnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 5 Moreover, conventional operations using 

### rotorcraft and 

### fixed-wing aircraft in low level operations present risks associated

### with vehicles

### weighing tens 

### ofthousands ofpounds (including payload) and carrying large amounts 

### of fuel 

### which inherently presents 

### significant

## fre hazards as

### well as exposure 

### to other chemical contaminates. 

### It is important 

### to note the use

## of small 

### UAS in this area

### will not 

### only be safer and more cost effective to the perspective user 

### or purchaser 

### ofthe service, but the qualrty and expanse 

### of acquired 

### information

### will be far more robust given the 

### low cost associated

### with its acquisition and other potential consumers an inexpensive product.


### UAS video 

### production is more reliable, and 

### allows for the 

### collectioq dissemination, and storage 

### ofvisual and other sensory data 

### with greater precision and duration 

### at avery low 

### cost. Small 

### UAS 

### will also be capable 

### of accessing and inspecting areasthat

### would otherwise be inaccessible or 

### highly dangerous using conventional 

### aircraft or other inspection methods. 

# NI. RELEVANTSTATUTOBYAUTHORITY
This 

### Petitionfor Exemption is submitted pursuant 

### to Section 333(a) through (c) 

### ofthe FAA Modernnation and Reform 

### Act of 2012 

### ('Reform 

### Act"). Congress has directedthe 

### FAA "to safely accelerate the integration 

### of

### civil unmanned

### aircraft systems into the national airspace system." Pursuant 

### to Section 333 

### of the Reform 

### Act, the 

### FAAAdministator isto 

### permit unmanned 

### aircraft systems

### to operate in the 

### NationalAirspace Systems 

### ('NAS') where 

### it is safe to do so based onthe

### following considerations:


## r The 

### UAS's size,

### weight, speed and operational 

### capability; 

## r Operation 

### ofthe UAS in close 

### proximity to airports and populated areas; and 

### o Operation 

### ofthe UAS 

### within the 

### visual line 

### of sight 

### ofthe operator. 

### Additionally, the 

### FAAAdminisfator has general 

### authorityto grant exemptions 

### from the agency's safety regulations and 

### minimum standards when the

### Administrator decides a requested exemption is inthe 

### public interest. See 49 

### U.S.C. $ 106(f) 

### (defining the

### authority 

### ofthe Administrator);49 U.S.C. $

### 44701(0 (permitting exemptions 

### from gg 44701(a), (b) and $$ 44702

# - 44716, et seq.). 

### A party requesting an exemption must explain the reasons

### why the exemption: (1)

### would benefit the 

### public as 

### awhole, and (2) 

### would not adversely affect safety 

### (or how it

### would provide a level 

### ofsafety at least equal tothe existing rules). See 14C.F.R. g

## ll.Sl (petitions 

### for exemption). 

### IV. 

### AIR 1'S 

### PROPOSEp 

### AIP-IJAS OPERATTONS 

### M4ET 

### TIIE REOUIREN4ENTS 

### OF SECTTON 333 

### OFTTTE 

### BEFORMACT
The small 

### AIP-UAS operations proposed by

### Air I as noted above in this 

### Petitionfor Exemption 

### qualiff for expedited approval pursuant 

### to Section 333

### ofthe ReformAct as each

### ofthe statutory criteria and relevant factors are satisfied. 

## A. Approval is

### Warranted Based on the 

### UAS's Sizer lVeighto Speed, 

### and 

### Operational 

### Capability AGrant of Exemption isappropriate 

### for operations conducted using the 

### UASs due to

### their size 

### weight, speed, and operational capability.U.S Department of TransPortation

February

### 4,2016 Page 6 

# o The

### AIP-UAS utilized by

### Air 

### I has been approved for use in

### prior Section 333

Grants 

### ofExemption fromthe FAA.2 

# o TheAIP-UAS weighs lessthan 55 pounds, 

### including payload 

# o The

### AIP-UAS 

### will not be

### flown at aground speed in excess 

### of 87 knots (100 mph). The exemption holder may use either groundspeed or calibrated airspeed 

### to determine compliance 

### with the 50 

### knot speed 

### restriction 

# o Altitude information

### will be generated 

### by equipment onboard the 

### UAS as specified using GPS

### fiangulation, digitally encoded barometric altimeter, 

### radio altimeter, or any combination thereof. 

### This information

### will be transmitted to the 

### pilot via telemetric data feed. 

# o The

### AIP-UAS 

### will have system redundancies and independent

### functionality 

### to
ensure the overall safety and 

### predictability 

### ofthe systern. 

### If connection to the remote 

### control or ground 

### confol station is lost, failsafe systems

### will permitthe UAS to return to apredetermined location and safely land 

### without injury or damage. 

# o The radio frequencies used

### for operations and

### confol of the

### AIP-UAS comply with the Federal Communications Commission 

### ("FCC') and other appropriate government oversight agency requirements. The operating frequency for the

### AIPUAS is

### 2.4 and 5.8 

### GlIz frequency bands. 

### Ifthe same operations were conducted using a helicopter, the aircraft's 

### take-offweight would 

### likely exceed 6,000 pounds depending on payload. The difference in

### weight between the

### AIPUAS and a helicopter 

### significantly reduces the potential harm to the 

### participating and 

### nonparticipating individuals and/or surrounding property in the event 

### of an unintended accident 

### or incident. 

### In addition, the risk tothe onboard 

### pilot and camera operator is

### eliminated' 

## B. Approval is

### lVarranted Based on

### the

### Operational Restrictions Set 

### Forth 

### in 

### Air L's

### Operations 

### Manuals Operations Manuals and the 

### Manufrcturer's Manualfor the selected

### AIP-UAS 

### will contain 

### all the procedures and 

### limitations necessary 

### to safely and successfully perform the operations 

### rpr"ifi"d in this 

### Petitionfor Exemption. To assist the 

### FAA in making asafety assessment 

## ofAir
1-'s proposed operations, 

### below is asummary 

### of operational 

### limitations and conditions 

### thatAir 1 

### willadhere to, and 

### which

### will ensure an equivalent or higher level 

### of safety 

### to operations conducted under current regulatory guidelines: 

## 1. The

### AIP-UAS weighs lessthan 55 pounds, 

### with payload.

2 See e.g., Grant of Exemption to Shotover Camera Systems L.P. (Exemption No. 11159); Grant of Exemption to VpOS bto6at, LLC (Exemption No. 11112); Grant of Exemption to LowCountryRC, Corp.(Exemption No. 11184); Grant of Exemption toAlan Purwin (Exemption No. 11161); Grant of Exemption to HelinetAviation Services (Exemption No. tttOO); Grant of Exemption to Total Safety U.S., Inc. (Exemption No. 11156)..[J.S Department 

### ofTransportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 7

## 2. All operations shall be conducted over private or controlled-access properly 

### with

verifiable permission from the land

### owner/controller or authorized representative. Permission 

### from land 

### owner/contoller or authorized representative 

### will be obtained 

### for each scheduled 

### flight prior to operation. 

## 3. All UAS operated under the Grant of Exemption 

### will be identified 

### by serial number, registered 

### in accordance

### with 14 CFR 

### part 47, and have 

### identification (N-Number) 

### -arkings in accordance 

### with 14

### CFR part45, Subpart C. 

### Markings

### will be as large as practicable. 

## 4. Minimum crew 

### for each 

### flight operation

### will consist 

### of a 

### pilot, who 

### will be 

### Pilot-in Command 

### ('PIC') oftheAIP-UAS, and one or moreVisual Observers ("Observer")

as necessary

### to safely conduct the mission. 

## 5. PICs shall possess either aprivate, recreational, or sport 

### pilot certificate. The PIC must also hold a current 

### FAA airman medical certificate or a

### valid U.S. 

### driver's license issued 

### by a state, the 

### District of Columbia" Puerto 

### Rico, a

### territory, a possessior; or the Federal government. The PIC

### will also meet the

### flight review iequirements specified 

### in 14 C.F.R 61.56 

### in an 

### aircraft in

### which the 

### PIC is rated on his or her

### pilot certificate. 

## 6. TheAlP-UAS shall be operated 

### withinWOS ofthe PIC and Observer at

### alltimes. The PIC must use human 

### vision unaided 

### by any device other than

### conective lenses,
as specified on the PIC's FAA-issued medical certificate. 

## 7. The PIC and Observer designated 

### for any operation

### will be able

### to communicate 

### verbally at 

### alltimes. 

## 8. Electronic messaging or

### texting

### will not be permitted 

### during

### flight operations. 

## g. The additional requirements 

### identified in the Grant 

### ofExemption shall be added

### to the

### Air 1's Operatlons Manuals. The Operations Manuals 

### will be maintained and made available to the 

### Administrator upon 

### request. 

### If adiscrepancy exists between the conditions and 

### limitations inthe Grant 

### ofExemption and

### Air I's Operations Manuals, the conditions and 

### limitations in the Grant 

### ofExemption shall take precedence and must be

### followed. Otherwise,

### Air 1shall 

### follow the procedures outlined in

### their Operations Manuals.

10.

### Air 

### I may update or revise its Operations Manuals. Revisions

### will be tracked and a revised copy 

### ofthe Manual 

### will be provided to the 

### Administrator upon 

### request.

### Air 

### I will also present an updated and revised Operations Manuals 

### if it 

### petitions

### for extension or amendmint 

### to its Grant of Exemption. 

### If an update or 

### revisionwould affect the basis upon 

### which the 

### FAA grants the exemption"

### Air Iwill seek an amendment 

### to itJGrant of Exemption. 

### Air Iwill contactthe 

### FAA's UAS Integration Office (AFS-SO) 

### if questions arise regarding updates or revisions tothe operating documents.U.S Departrnent 

### ofTransportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 8

11.

### Air 1Operations Manuals and its Grant 

### ofExemption 

### will be available to the PIC at

the ground 

### control station anytime the

### AIP-UAS is operating. 

### I2.T\ePIC is 

### prohibited from beginning 

### aAIP-UAS flightunless (consideringwind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough polver 

### to

### fly tothe

### first intended 

### point 

### of landing, and assuming normal cruising speed, 

### to

### fly afterthat 

### for at least 10 minutes.

13. 

### Maximum total 

### flight time for eachoperational 

### flight using the

### AIP-UAS will be 

### limited to 40 minutes or the amount 

### oftime the 

### UAS can be

### flown and

### still maintain a resefve battery 

### powef of no lesstlnn25Yo, whichever occurs 

### first.

14. Flights 

### will be operated at an altitude 

### of no more than400 feet 

### AGL and

### will never enter navigable controlled airspace 

### without timely prior written authorization and approval 

### from the 

### FAA. In the event the structure being inspected exceeds 400 feet 

### AGL, the 

### UAS 

### will not be operated morethan 100 feet above the highest 

### point onthe structure, and no more than 50 feet 

### horizontally from the structure.

15. 

### Flight operations must be conducted at least 500 feet 

### from all nonparticipating persons. (persons other than the PIC, 

### VO, operatortrainees or essential persons), vessels, vehicles, and structures unless:


## a. Barriers or structures are present that 

### sufiiciently protect 

### nonparticipating persons from the 

### UAand/or debris in the event

### of an accident.The operator must ensure that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. 

### If a situation arises where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and me 

### within 500 feet 

### ofthe UA, flight operations must cease immediately and/or; 

## b. The

### aircraft is operated nem vessels, vehicles or structures wherethe 

### owner/controller of suchvessels, vehicles or strucfures has granted permission and the 

### PIC has made asafety assessment 

### ofthe risk 

### of operating closer 

### to those objects and determined that 

### it does not present an undue hazard, and; 

# c. Operations nearer to the PIC, 

### VO, operator trainees or essential p€rsonsdo not present an undue 

### hazadto those persons per $91.119(a).

16.

### TheAIP-UAS may not be operated less than 500 feet 

### below or lessthan 2,000 feet 

### horizontally from acloud orwhen

### visibility is lessthan 3 statute 

### miles from the PIC.

17. The

### AIP-UAS may not operate

### within 5 

### nm

### ofan arport reference 

### point as denoted
on acurrent 

### FAA-published aeronautical chart unless a letter 

### of agreement 

### with that airport's management is obtained, and the operation is conducted 

### in accordance

### with

a

### NOTAM as required by the

### Air 1

### COA. The letter 

### of agreement 

### with the 

### alrport management 

### will be made available to the 

### Administrator upon request.

18. Prior 

### to each 

### fligtrt the 

### PIC shall inspect the

### AIP-UAS to 

### confirm that 

### it is in a 

### condition safe

### for flight. The 

### pre-flight inspectionwill account 

### for all discrepanoies, e.g. inoperable componentso items, or

### equipmen! 

### not aheady covered inthe rglgyant seotions 

### ofthe operating documents as

### well as equipment updates. The PIC shall notU.S Department 

### ofTransPortation

February

### 4,2016 Page 9 operate any

### AIP-UAS ifthe inspection reveals acondition that affects the safe

operation of 

### ttt" 

### AIP-UAS until the necessaf,y maintenance has been performed and the

### AIP-UAS isfound to be 

### in a

### condition for safe

### flight. The ground 

### confol station shall be included in the 

### preflight inspection.

### All maintenance and alternations must be properly documented in the 

### UAS's records as required 

### byAir I's Operations Manuals.

19.

## Aif 1

### will timely carry out its maintenance, inspections, and record keeping requirements inaccordance 

### with the Operations Manuals. Maintenance, inspection, and alterations

### will be

### fully noted inthe

### AIP-UAS records, 

### including total 

### time 

### in service, 

### descripion 

### ofwork accomplished, date completed and the signature

### ofthe authorized person returning the

### AIP-UAS to service.

20. 

### Any

### AIP-UAS that has undergone maintenance or alterations that affect the 

### UAS operation or 

### flight characteristics (e.g., replacement 

### of a

### flight critical component) must 

### timely undergo afunctional test 

### flight in accordance 

### with

### Air I's Operations Manuals. The PIC 

### who conducts the functional test

### flight must make an

### enfy in the 

### UAS aircraft records

### ofthe fligtrt. The requirements and procedures 

### for a

### functional test

### flight and

### AIP-UAS record entry shall be included in the

### Air I's Operations Manuals.
21. The

### AIP-UAS 

### will be operated and maintained according to the Manufacturer's Manuals and any required manufacturer Safety/Service 

### Bulletins and product updates. 

### 2}.Prior tothe

### operatioq a 

### Mission Packet

### will be created in accordance 

### with the requirements

### onAir 1's Operations Manuals.

23.

### Ay 

## l will obtain 

### anAir Traffic Organnation 

### ("AIO") issued 

### Certificate of Waiver 

### or Authorization, otherwise 

### known as a

### COA, prior to conducting any operations under this Grant 

### ofExemption. 

### ANOTAM 

### will be issued as required by the COA. 

## All operations 

### will be conducted in accordance 

### with airspace requirements in the

### AIO issued

### COA including class 

### of airspace, altitude level and potential 

### fansponder requirements.


### 24. Allrequired permissions and permits

### will be obtained

### fromterritorial, state,county 

### or city 

### jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, 

### fire or other appropriate governmental agencies.
25. 

### Ifthe AIP-UAS loses communication 

### with the 

### PIC, it

### will have the capability 

### to safely return

### to apre-determined location 

### within the operational area and land safely.

26. Contingency plans 

### will be in place 

### to safely terminate 

### flight 

### if there is a loss

## of communication between the PIC and the Observer. 

### 2l.TheAlP-UAS will havethe

### capabilityto safely abort 

### flight in the case 

### of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.U.S Departrnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 10
28. PICs and Observers 

### will have at least acurrent Class 

### III Medical Certificate or a

### valid and current state 

### driver's license issued 

### within the 

### United States
29. Prior 

### to conducting operations

### for filming, the PIC

### will have accumulated and logged, in amanner 

### consistentwith 14

### CFR $61.51(b), 

### aminimum of200 flight cycles and 25 hours total 

### time as a 

### UAS rotorcraft 

### pilot and at least 

### l0 hours logged as a 

### UAS pilot 

### with a

### similar 

### AIP-UAS type 

### platform. This requirement can be achieved 

### by flights conducted and logged as a hobbyist.

30. Prior 

### to conducting operations 

### for 

### filming, the PIC

### will have accumulated and logged, in amanner consistent 

### with 14 CFR $

### 61.510), a 

### minimum of hours pursuant 

### to 54 

### CFR $61.51(b) as 

### UAS 

### pilot operating the make and model 

### ofAlP-UAS to be 

### utilized for operations under the exemption and three take-offs and three landing 

### in the preceding 90 days.

3

### l. Operations shall occur 

### during daytime 

### VFR Meteorological Conditions; flights under special visual 

### flight rules 

### ('SVFR') shall not be conducted.

32. The

### AIP-UAS shall remain clear and

### yield the 

### right of way 

### to all other manned operations and 

### activities at 

### alltimes 

### (including, but 

### not limited to, 

### ultralight vehicles, parachute activities, parasailing activities, hang gliders, etc.).

33.

### AIP-UAS Operations under Instrument 

### Flight Rules, at 

### nigh! or beyond

### VLOS are prohibited.

34. The 

### UAS

### will not be operated 

### from an elevated 

### platform unless designed and engineered 

### specifically for such purposes and be 

### in compliance 

### with the general 

### reJtictions imposed by the applicable regulations.

### Additionally no PIC

### will provide any

### film-flight operations 

### while in 

### motionfrom atop any elevated 

### platform vehicle 

### or device.
35. Before conducting operations, the radio frequency spectrum used

### for operation and 

### control

### ofthe AIP-UAS 

### will comply 

### with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or other appropriate government oversight agency requirements. 

# v. REGULATIONS 

### rROM WHICIT pXEMPTTON IS 

### REOUpSTED

The Federal 

### Aviation

### Act expressly grants the 

### FAA the authority 

### to issue exemptions. 

### This statutory authorify, 

### by its terms, includes exempting 

### civil aircraft, asthe

### term isdefined under $ 40101

### oftheAct, including UASs, 

### from its safety regulations and 

### minimum standards when the 

### Administrator decides a requested exemption is in the 

### public interest.3 

### Air 

## I seeks an exemption 

### from several interrelated provisions 

### ofTitle 14

### ofthe Code 

### ofFederal Regulations 

### ('14 C.F.R") Parts

### 21,45,61 and 91

### for purposes 

### of conducting the requested

3 +g U.S.C. $ 44701(D (authorizing the gxant of exemptions from requirernents of regulations prescribed pursuant to Sections 44701(a) and (b) and Sections 44702 - 44716).U.S Deparhnent of Transportration

February

### 4,2416 Page 11 operations using 

### AIP-UAS platforms noted above. Listed below are: (1)the specific sections 

### of t+ 

### C.f.n for 

### wfiich exemption is sought, and (2) the operating procedures and safeguards that Petitioner has established 

### which

### will ensure a 

### level of safety better than or equal to the rules from 

### which exemption is sought.a 

### UNMANNED AIRCRAF'T SYSTEM 

## A. 14 C.F.R. 

### P^rtzl, Subpart 

### H

### -Airworthiness certificates and 14 

### c.F.R. $e1.203(aX1)
The 

### FAAhas stated that no exemption is needed from 

### this section 

### if a

### finding is made under the Reform 

### Act that the 

### UAS selected provides an equivalent 

### level of safety when compared 

### to aircraft normally used for the same application. These 

### criteria are met and in 

### point of fact exceeded, and 

### tierefore no exemption is needed.

# ' I[ howevero the 

### FAAdetermines thatthere
are sorne characteristics 

### of the chosen 

### UAS that

### fail to meet the requirements of the Reform 

### Act,
an exemption is requested. 

### Equivalcnt Level of Safety 

### Air l's useof the

### AIP-UAS is safe when

### taking into account 

### its size,

### weighg speed, and operational capability. 

### As set

### forth inthe description 

### ofproposed operations in, Section 

### IV(A), tlleAIP-UAS weighi lessthan 55 pounds, 

### including payload and

### will not be

### flown at aground speed in excess 

### of 87 knots (100 

### mph). The

### AIP-UAS is also equipped 

### with safety-features 

### which

### will allow Petitioner 

### to operatethe

### AIP-UAS safely after experiencrng certain 

### in-flight contingencies or failures as noted below.6 7

### Additionally, the

### AIP-UAS carries neither 

### pilots nor

4 14 C.F.R g 11.81(e), which requires apetition for exemption to include: The reasons why grantingthe exemption would not adversely affect safety, or how the exemption would provide a level of safety at least equaltothat provided by the rule from which you seek exemption.

5 See Grant of Exemption No. l 1062 to Astraeus Aerial (FAA-2014-03 52 at pgs. 13'14, 22)

-

6 See e.g., Grant of Exemption No. 11184 to Low Country RC, Corp. (FAA-2014-0803 at pg. 3): "The [DJI 31000] has the capability to operate safely after experiencing certain in-flight contingencies or failuresand_uses an autopilot system to maintain UAS stability and control. The UAS is also able to respond to a loss of global positioning 

### ryrt"- (GPS) or a lost-link eventwitir a pre-coordinated, predictable, automated flight maneuver, and manualflight clnUol iunctionality as a backup. These iafety features provide an equivalent level ofsafety compared to a manned aircraft performing asimilar operation."

7 See e.g, Grant of Exemption No. I1184 to VDOS Global, LLC. (FAA-2014'O382 at pgs. 4-5): "TheAIP-UAS can be operated entirely by a iouch-screen, map.based interface. This means the operator only needs to command the 

### ryrt". where to go,

### *a th" system does ail the flying for the operator. TheAIP-UAS can be operated in both serni 

### *A ruty autonorious flight modes, with the operatoisimply clicking on a map to create a pre-plannedflight path for aflight. In addition, the operator can caeate nofly zones or maximum flight ranges and altitudgl so the system cannot enter areas deemed unsafe or unnecessary tofly over. The petitioner states further that the UAS has built-in intelligent fault handlingwhich allows theAIP-UAS to detect a systernfaultwhile in the air and automatically fly back to itstakeofflocation and land. Faults that can be detected include: loss of communication; exceeding pre-set wind thresholds; and low battery levels. 

### All flight operations areglobal positioning systern (GPS) controlled, making the system ealy_lo ryyigate. At anf point iithe operator is notexpfAtty commanding the syst€mto move, the system automatically holds its GPS position. ffre nignt control system employs not only GPS positioning but avariety of sensors including sonar,U.S Departrnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 12
passengers, carries no explosive materials or flammable 

### liquid fuels, or other elements 

### identified by Homeland Security as being 

### prohibitive and operate 

### exclusively

### within the parameters stated 

### inAir I's Operations Manuals. Operations conducted under this exCInption 

### will be closely 

### confiolled and monitored by the PIC operator and

### will be conducted 

### in compliance 

### with local 

### public safety requirements,to 

### provide security for the area 

### of operation. 

### Air 

### Iwill also provide the 

### FAAwith advance notice 

### of

### all operations 

### viaNOTAMs as required by the applicable 

### COA. In all cases, operation

### oftheAlPUAS under the proposed conditions 

### will be at least as safe as, or safer tharL conventional 

### rotorcraft operating

### with an airworthiness 

### certificate. Lastly, the

### AIP-UAS do not need a means 

### to communicate 

### with other

### airraft orAfC, because those capabilities 

### will be solely possessed 

### by the PIC and Observer, 

### who are not onboard the

### AIP-UAS.8 In addition" no sense-and-avoid technology is necessary for the

### AIP-UAS because they

### will be operated at 

### all times in

### VFR conditions and 

### within VLOS of the 

### PIC and Operator.e 

## B. 14 

### C.FR. PartZ7 Airworthiness Standards: 

### Norural Category 

### Rotorcraft
Title 14 C.F.R. 

### Partz7 sets

### forth the procedural requirements 

### for airworthiness 

### certification 

### of normal category rotorcraft. To the extent that

### Air I's small 

### AIP-UAS would otherwise require 

### certification under 

### Partz7, Petitioner seeks an exemption 

### from Part 27's airworthiness standards for the same reasons 

### identified in the request 

### for exemption 

### from 14 C.F.R. R. Part 21, Subpart 

### H, supra. 

## C. 14

### CJ.R. SS

### 91.9(c),4523(b) 

### and45.tl(a):Aircraft Marking and 

### ldentification Requircments 

### Air 

## I seeks an exemption 

### from the 

### aircraft marking and 

### identification requirements contained 

### in 14 C.F.R. $$ 91.9(c), 

### 4s.23(b)and45.27(a).



# . 14C.F.R. $91.9(c), 

### CivilAircraft Flight Manual, 

### Marking and Placard requirements, provides that:


### No person may operate a U.S.-registered 

### civil aircraft unless that 

### aircraft is 

### identified in accordance 

### with Part 45 

### ofthis chapter. 

# o 14 C.F.R. $45.23(b), 

### Markings 

### oftheAircraft, states:

When marks include 

### only the Roman capital letter 

### "N" and the regisfration number is displayed on 

### limited, reshicted or 

### light-sport category 

### aircraft or experimental or 

### provisionally certificated 

### aircrafl the operator must

barometric pressure, temperature, wind speed and others to €nsure stability so long aswind thresholds are not exceded. Also aflight termination link

### - to prcv€nta'fly away' or other pote,ntially dangerous situation 

### - is available to the operator."

8 See Grant ofExemptionNo. 11062toAsfaeusAerial (FAA-2014{352 atpg. 13).

e. IdU.S Department of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 13
also display onthat 

### aircraft near each enffance tothe cabrn, 

### cockpit or



### pilot statio4 in letters not less

### than2 inches nor morethan 6 inches high, the

### words "limitedr 

### " "festricted, 

### " "light-sport, "experimental, 

### " or "provisional," as applicable.



# . 14 C.F.R. $ 45.27(a), Rotorcraft, states:

Each operator

### of a 

### rotorcraft must display onthat 

### rotorcraft horizontally on both surfaces 

### ofthe cabin, fuselage, boom, or

### tail the marks required 

### by $4s.23.


### In a previous Grant of Exemption, the 

### FAAdetermined that exemption 

### from these requirements was warranted provided that the

### aircraft 'have identification (N-Number) markings 

### in accordance 

### with 14 C.F.R 

### Part45, Subpart 

### C 

### ifthe markings are {N large as practicable."ro 

### Equivalcnt Level of Safety 

### All AIP-UAS flown by

### Air 1

### will bear N-number markings that are as large as practicable 

### in accordance 

### with 14 C.F.R. 

### Part45, Subpart 

### C.tt 

## D. 14 

### CJ'.R. $

### 91.405(a),91.407(a)(1),91.409(a)(1) and 

### Q);9L.afi(a) and 

### (b): Maintenance Inspections 

### Air 1 seeks an exemption 

### from the maintenance inspection requirements contained 

### in 14 C.F.R. $ 91.405(a), 91.a07@) 

### (1),

### 91.409(a)Q);9l.al7(a) and (b). These regulations 

### speriff maintenance and inspection standards in reference 

### to 14 C.F.R. Paxt43. See, e.g.o 14C.F.R. $91.a05(a) (statingthat each owner or operator

### of an 

### aircraft "[s]hall have

### the aircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E 

### ofthis part and shall between required inspections ...have discrepancies repaired as prescribed in part 43

### ofthis chapter'). An exemption.from these 

### reguhtiow is needed because 

### Part 43 and these secti.ons only 

### apply

### n aircraft with an

### airworthiness certificate, which the UAS 

### platforrns to be operated under this 

### grant of exemption

### will rnt lwve. (Emphasis added) 

### Equivalcnt Level of Safety 

### An equivalent level 

### of safety 

### will be achieved or exceeded because maintenance and inspections 

### will be

### timely performed in accordance 

### with the 

### Manufrcturer's Manual and any required manufacturer Safety or Service 

### Bulletins. Further, as required by

### Air I's Operations Manuals, the PIC

### will conduct a

### pre-flight inspection 

### ofthe

### AIP-UAS and

### all associated equipment to account 

### for all discrepancies and/or inoperable components. Maintenance

### will be performed and

### verified to address any conditions 

### potentially affecting safeoperation 

### of the

### AIP-UAS and no

### flights

### will occur unlesso and 

### until, 

### all flight critical components

### ofthe AIP-UAS have been found to be 

### airworthy and in a

### condition safe

### for operation.

### A functional test 

### flight

### will be conducted 

### following the replacement 

### of any

### flight-critical components. As required 

### byAir I's Operations

to. FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-0352.

11.See, e.9., FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-03 52, at 14.U.S Department 

### ofTransportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 14 Manuals, the PIC 

### who conducts the functional test

### flight 

### will make an enfry in the

### AIP-UAS aircraft records 

### ofthe flight. 

### Air 1's Operations 

### Manual also includes requirements

### to

### follow the manufacturer's 

### UAS aircraff/component maintenance, overhaul, replacement, inspection, and 

### life 

### limit requirements for the

### following applicable components: 

### powertrain system (powerplant), propellers, avionics and

### confrol surfaces 

### (including ailerons/elevons)o structures 

### & airframe, 

### qilnera system, 

### electical systems 

### (including batteries), ground 

### control station" hazard accessories, and spare parts. Further, 

### Air 1's Operations Manuals also include procedures to document and maintain a record 

### oftheA1P-UAS's maintenance, preventative maintenance, alterations, status

## of replacement /overhaul component parts, and the 

### totaltime in service

### ofthe AIP-UAS used under this Grant of Exemption. 

### As awhole, the maintenance and inspection procedures required in

### Air 1's Operations Manuals ensurethat an equivalent or higher level 

### of safety 

### will be achieved. 

### PILOT.IN.COMMAND OF

## TIM UAS 

## E. 14 

### C.FR. $ 61.113: 

### Private Pilot Privileges and 

### Limitations 

### Air 

## I seeks exemption 

### from 14

### CFR $ 61.113, 

### which restricts private 

### pilot certificate holders 

### from 

### flying aircraft for compensation or hire, and

### would also rcquire asecond class medical oertificate. The purpose 

### of Part 61 is

### to ensure thatthe 

### skill and competency of any 

### PIC matches the airspace in

### which the PIC

### will be operating, as

### well as 

### requiring certifications 

### if the 

### private 

### pilot iscarrying passengersor cargo 

### for hire. 

### Inthis case,

### while the

### AIP-UAS 

### will be operated as part

### ofa commercial operation, they carry neither passengers nor 

### cargo. In the Grant

## of Exemption to Astraeus 

### Aerial, the 

### FAA determined that the unique characteristics of 

### UAS operation outside 

### of controlled airspace 

### did notwarrant the

### additional cost and 

### resfiictions attendant 

### with requiring the PIC

### to have a Commercial 

### Pilot Certificate and Class 

### III Medical Certificate.t2 The

### fulfillment ofthe additional requirements 

### for a private 

### pilot to become 

### qualified as acommercial 

### pilotwould not leadto any additional safety benefits when 

### UAS operations are 

### involved. Equivalcnt Leve I

### of So.fety
The restrictions

### Air 

### I has placed on its

### AIP-UAS operations meet or exceed the restrictions 

### similarly imposed on Asfraeus 

### Aerial.

### Air 1

### will operate on private 

### property or approved 

### location away

### from persons and property not 

### involved in the

### operation.

### Air 

### Iwill also obtain

### anAIO issued

### COAprior to conducting any operations under this Grant 

### ofExemption. 

### All operations 

### will be conducted in accordance 

### with airspace requirements in the

### AIO issued 

### COA including class 

### of airspace, altitude level and potential transponder requirements.

### ANOTAM will also be issued as required bythe applicable 

### COA.
In addition to these

### flight restrictions, 

### Air I

### will further ensure safe operation by requiring 

### that any PIC be 

### thoroughly versed 

### notonly in airspace and communication issues pertaining 

### to 

### all aircraft operators but also in the unique aspects 

### ofAlP-UAS flight. As set

### forth in the Operations Manuals, 

### pilots

### will have experience not 

### only in

### AIP-UAS operations generally 

### but

t2 Exernption No. 11062 (FAA Docket No. FAA-2014-0352).U.S Deparknent 

### ofTransportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 

### l5
have logged

### flight time in the specific make and model used

### for the operations beforethey are permitted to participate in commercial 

### flights on behalf 

### ofAir 1.The 

### pilot qualification, 

### taining, and currency requirements inthe Operations Manuals ensure that

### Air 

### I pilots are competent and 

### proficient inthe

### AIP-UAS they are operating. 

### Air I's training and 

### qualification requirements are consistent 

### with those contained in 

### prior FAA Section 333 Grants of Exemption, and

### will provide
a higher level 

### of competency and 

### proficiency for its 

### pilots and

### will ensure at least an equivalent level 

### of safety to the 

### public. 

### OPERATING PARAMETERS OF

### TIIE UAS 

## F. 14

### CJ.R. $

### 91.7(a): 

### CivilAincraftAirworthiness
Inasmuch asthere

### will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the 

### UAS,

### Air 1 seeks an exemption 

### from 14 C.F.R. $ 91.7(a), 

### which requires that a

### civil areruftbe in 

### airworthy condition to be operated. The 

### FAA has stated that no exemption is required 

### for 14 C.F.R. $ 91.7(a) to the extent that the requirements 

### ofPart

## 2l arewaived or found inapplicable.l3 

### Accordingly, Petitioner requests that the requirements 

### for $ 91.7(a) be

### teated in accordance 

### with Section 

### V (A), supra. 

### G. 14

## CJR. S

### 91.9(bX2): 

### CivilAircraft Flight Manual in the

### Aircraft and 14 C"F.R. $ 

### 91203(a) and 

### (b): 

### Carrying

### CivilAircraft Certification and 

### Registration Title 14 C.F.R. $ 91.9(b) (2) and $91.203(a) and (b) requirethe operator to carry airworthiness documents and other 

### aircraft manuals onboard the aircraft. 

### Pursuantto 14 C.F.R. $91.9(b) 

### (2): 

### O) No person may operate a U.S.-registered 

### civil aircraft

# - (2) For

### which anAirplane or Rotorcraft 

### Flight Manual is required 

### by $21.5

### ofthis chapter, unless there is available in the aircraft acurrent approved 

### Airplane or 

### Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any 

### combination 

### thereof
Pursuantto 14 C.F.R. $91.203(a) and 

### (b): (a) Except as 

### provided in $ 91.715, no person may operate a

### civil aircraft unless 

### it has 

### within it the

### following: (1)

### An appropriate and current airworthiness 

### certificate... (b) 

### No person may operate a

### civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required 

### by paragraph (a)

### ofthis section or aspecial

### flight authoruation issued under $91.715 is displayed at the cabin or

### cockpit enfance sothat 

### it is legible to passengersor crew. Given the small size and 

### configuration 

### ofthe AIP-UAS, it

### would be impossible 

### to keep airworthiness documents and other aircraft manuals on board the

### AIP-UAS because there is

13 See Id. at !3-14,22.U.S Deparfrnent 

### ofTransportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 16 

### simply no room and the

### AIP-UAS has no cabin or

### cockpit. As away 

### to complywith the code 

### Air 

### Iwill maintain the documents 

### with the PIC and make them available 

### for inspection. Eqaiv

### ahnt Lev eI

### of S

### qfety
In an 

### FAA Offrce 

### of Chief Counsel's 

### Opinion dated Augu st8, 2014, and prepared by Dean E. 

### Griffittt, Attorney, AGC-220, 

### itwas acknowledgedthatthe intent 

### of 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b) and 91.203(a) and 

### (b) is met 

### ifthe pilot ofthe unmanned 

### aircraft has access to the 

### UAS 

### flight manual registration certificate, and other required documents

### from the ground 

### control station 

### fromwhich he or she is operating the 

### aircraft.la As this 

### FAA Office 

### ofChief Counsel 

### Opinion clarifies, the intent 

### ofthe rule is

### to ensure the 

### pilot has accessto these key documents 

### during flight. Thereforg an equivalent level 

### of safety

### will be achieved 

### by ensuring that the 

### pilot has accesstothe documents atthe ground 

### confiol station from 

### which he or she is 

### piloting the 

### UAS. 

# H. 14 

### C.FR. $ 91.103: 

### PreflightAction 

### Air 

## I seeks an exemption 

### fiom 14C.F.R. $91.103,

### which requires a PIC 

### to become 

### familiar 

### with specific 

### information before each

### flighg including information contained in the 

### FAA-approved Flight Manual on board the aircraft. 

### While the PIC

### will be

### familiar 

### with all information necessary

### to safely conductthe

### fligh! an exemption is requested tothe extent that an 

### FAAapproved 

### Flight Manual is required. 

### Equivalent Level of Safety 

### An equivalent level 

### of safety 

### will be provided 

### byfollowing the

### Air I's Operations Manuals and the Manufacturer's Manual. The PIC

### will perform aseries 

### of checklists designed 

### to 

### identifr any defects or inoperable components in accordance 

### with the

### Air I's Operations Manuals, 

### including checklists covering 

### Pre-Flight Launch, Landing, and Post-Flight procedures. The PIC

### will also be required to review weather,

### flight requirements, battery charge, landing and 

### takeoffdistance, UAperformance dat4 and contingency landing 

### areas-before initiation 

### offlight. 

### Air 

### I's Operations Manuals and the Manufacturer's Manual 

### will be kept atthe ground 

### conffol station and

### will be accessible to the PIC at 

### alltimes

### while operating the 

### UAS. 

# I. 14

### C.FR. $

### 91.1$(a): Flight 

### Instruction 

### Air 

## I seeks an exemption 

### from 14 C.F.R. $91.109(a),

### which provides in pertinent partthat 

### "[n]o person may operate a

### civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is being used

### for 

### flight instruction unless that 

### aircraft has

### fully functioning dual controls." UASs and remotely 

### piloted aircraft, by

### their desigrL do not have functional dual 

### contols. Instead, 

### flight control is accomplishedthrough the use 

### of adevice that communicates

### with the

### aircraftvia 

### radio communications. 

### Accordingly, an exemption 

### will be required for the

### flight instruction requirements 

### of 14 C.F.R. g91.109(a).

1aMemorandum from Mark Bury, FAAAssistant Chief Counsel for Intemational Law, Legislation and Regulation, to John Duncan, FAA Flight Standards Service (Aug. 8, 2014); see also Docket No. FAA-2014-0352 at 16-18.U.S Departrnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 PagelT Equivalcnt Level of Safety
Given the size and speed of the UASs that

### Air 

## I intends to use, an equiv4lent level 

### of safe 

### training can 

### still be performed 

### without dual controls because no 

### pilot or passengers are aboard the 

### UAS, and as required by the

### Air l's Operations Manuals, 

### all persons

### will be a safe distance away in the event that the 

### UAS experiences any 

### difficulties during

### flight insnuction. Moreover,
as required by the

### Air I's Operations Manuals, 

### all flight training

### will be conducted in 

### conffolled and sterile 

### environment. As awhole, the safety procedures provided 

### for 

### inAir l's Operations Manuals ensure that the proposed 

### UAS operations provide an equivalent or higher level 

### of safety than that provided by the

### flight instruction regulations. 

# J. 14 

### C.F.R. S91.119(c): 

### Minimum SafeAltitudes 

### Air 

### I requests an exemption 

### from the 

### minimum safe altitude requirements 

### of 14 C.F.R. $ 91.119(c).15 Section 91.119 prescribes the 

### minimum safe altitudes under 

### which aircraft may 

### not operate, 

### including 500 feet abovethe surface and away 

### from any person, vesset 

### vehicle, or structure in non-congested areas. See 14 C.F.R. $91.119(c). Section 91.119(d) 

### allows for a helicopter 

### to operate at less thanthose 

### minimum altifudes when 

### it can be operated 

### "without 

### lnzafito persons or property on the surfaceo" provided that "each person operating the helicopter complies 

### with any routes or ahitudes 

### specifically prescribed 

### for helicopters by the FAA.U


### An exemption is required because the proposed 

### AIP-UAS operation

### will normally need 

### to occur below 400 feet 

### AGL. In circumstances where the

### AIP-UAS is used 

### to inspect a

### stucture whose height exceeds 400 feet

### AGL, the

### AIP-UAS 

### will not be operated morethan 100 feet above the highest 

### point onthe structure, and 

### within 50 feet 

### horizontally 

### ofthe structure.

### Additionally, due the nature 

### ofthe proposed operations, the 

### Pilot and/or Observers(s) may need to be lessthan 500 feet away 

### from the 

### AIP-UAS. Equiv

### alcnt Lev eI

### of S

### afety Compared 

### to

### flight operations 

### with rotorcraft 

### weighing far more than the 

### marimum weights proposed herern" and given the lack 

### of flammable fuel 

### with the above noted UASs, any 

### risk associated

### with these operations isfar less than those 

### which presently exist

### with conventional aircraft. 

### An equivalent level 

### of safety 

### will be achieved given the size, 

### weighg and speed 

### ofthe AIP-UAS, as

### well asthe

### controlled location where the operations 

### will occur. 

### In order to 

### avoid any 

### risk to manned 

### aircraft,

### flight operations 

### will be restricted to 400 feet 

### AGL or 

### below, or when inspectrng a

### U.S. stucture whose height exceeds 400 feet

### AGL,

### within 100 feet above the highest 

### point on that structure and 50feet 

### horizontally 

### ofthe structure.


### As set

### forth in the Operations Manuals, the

### AIP-UASwill be operated in a restricted 

### are4 and 

### all flights

### will be operated 

### at alateral distance 

### of at least 500feet

### from any nonparticipating persons, unless that person is in a position where he or she is shielded

### from the

### AIP-UAS and

15 Relief from $ 9 I

.I I9(a)will not be necessary because Petitionerwill be ableto perform an €xnelg€,ncylanding without undue hazardto penons or property on the ground in the event of afailure. Petitioner's proposed UAS operations will not occur over congested areas, and therefore an exemption from $ 91.119(b) will not be necessary. See e.g., Grant of Exunption No. 11157 to Slugwear, Inc., dba Like on a tree Aerial (FAA-2014-0534 at 15).U.S Departrnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 18
any possible debris resulting 

### from itsfailure. As required 

### bythe Operations Manuals, 

### flights

### will beterminated 

### ifa nonparticipating person 

### within 500 feet 

### ofthe

### AIP-UAS leaves a shielded 

### position. Further, its operations 

### will occur at least 500 feet away 

### from vehicles or structures unless the 

### properly owner/controller 

### timely has granted permission and the PIC has made a safety assessment 

### ofthe risk ofoperating closerto those objects and, operations nearthe 

### PIC or Observer 

### will not present an undue 

### hazardper $91.119(a). Adherenceto these 

### reshictions in

### Air I's Operations Manuals

### will ensure operations can be conducted

### without compromising 

### public safety.16

# K. 14 

### C.FR. $ 91.121:

### AltimeterSeffings 

### Air 

## I seeks an exemption 

### from 14 C.F.R. $ 91.121,which requires a person operating an 

### aircraft to maintain cruising altitude or

### flight level by reference 

### to an altimeter that is set to the elevation 

### ofthe departure 

### arport or 

### baromefic pressure.

### An exemption is required tothe extent that the UASs do not have a barometric altimeter, but rather a GPS altitude read out. 

### Equivalcnt Level of Safety
The 

### FAA has stated that an equivalent level 

### of safety to the requirements 

### of 14 C.F.R. $91.121 can be achieved in circumstances where: (1) the UASs 

### will be operated below 400

### feetAGL or belowrT, (2)

### withinVLOS, (3) where GPS based 

### altitude information is relayed in real 

### time to the operator at a ground-based on-screen display and, (4) where 

### prior to each

### fligh! azero altitude 

### initiation point is established 

### for the PIC

### to confirm accuracy 

### ofthe onboard GPS.t8
The

### AIP-UAS that

### Air 

## I intends to usefor the proposed operations 

### will meet 

### all these operational characteristics. Moreover, as required 

### byAir I's Operations Manuals, the PIC

### will be required

### to calibrate the 

### aircraffs GPS compass 

### prior to each

### flight operation. 

### Like prior 

### FAA Section 333 Grants of Exemption, the

### AIP-UAS 

### Air 

## I intends to use, andthe safety 

### mitigation procedures contained inthe Operations Manuals, both ensure that an equivalent level 

### of safety 

### or greater level 

### will be achieved, and a Grant of Exemption to the requirements 

### of $ 191.121 is therefore appropriate.

16See e.g., Grant of Exemption No. I I 138 to Douglas Trudeau (FAA-2014-0481 at l9): "If barriers or structurcs are present that can sufficiently protect nonparticipating persons from the UA or debris in the event of an accide,nt, th€n the UA may operate closer than 500 feetto personsafforded such protection. The operator must also ensure that nonparticipating persons remain under such protection. 

### Ifa situation arises where nonparticipating persons leave such protection and arewithin 500 feet of the UA,flight operations must cease immediately. When considering how to immediately cease operations, the primary concern is the safety ofthose nonparticipating persons. In addition, the FAA finds that operations may be conducted closer t}ran 500 feetto vessels, vehicle and structures when the owner/confoller of any such vessels, vehicles or stnxctures grants permission for the operation and the PIC makes a safety assessment ofthe risk ofoperating closer to those objects and determines that it does not present an undue hazard."

t7 Ifthe height of the structure being inspected er<ceeds 400 feetAGL, the UAS will not be operated more than 100 fest above the highest point on the structure.

18See Grant of Exemption No. 11062to Astraeus Aerial (FAA-20144352 at2l).U. S Deparfinent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page 19 

# L. 14

### CJ'R. $91.151(a): 

### Fuel Requirements 

### for Flight in 

### VFR Conditions 

### Air 1 requests an exemption 

### from 14 C.F.R. $

### 91.15l(a)'s fuel requirements 

### for 

### flight in

### VFR conditions. Section 91.151 states: (a) 

### No person may begin a

### flight in an airplane under 

### VFR conditions unless (considering 

### wind and forecast weather conditions) there is enough fuel 

### to

### fly tothe

### flrst point

### of intended landing and, assuming normal 

### cruising speed

# - (1) 

### During the day,

### to

### fly after that 

### for at least 30 minutes; 

### or (2)

### At night, 

### to

### fly afterthat 

### for at least45 minutes. Here, thetechnological 

### limitations on 

### UAS banery power meansthat no meaningful 

### flight operations can be conducted 

### while still maintaining a 3O-minute battery reserve.

### An exemption 

### fromthe fuel requirements 

### of 14C.F.R. g 9 I

. 15 I(a) istherefore 

### required. Moreover, 

### it is not

### Air I's intention 

### to

### fly the

### AIP-UAS at night. 

### Equivalcnt Level of Safety
In the Grant of Exemption to

### VDOS @xemption 

### No. l l l 

### l2), the 

### FAA determined that an equivalent level 

### of safety tothe fuel requirements 

### for 

### flight in

### VFR conditions could be achieved by 

### prohibiting the 

### PICfrom beginning 

### aA1P-UAS flight unless (considering 

### wind and forecast weather conditions) there was enough power 

### to

### fly tothe

### 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 

### UAS batteriesfor the 

### AIP-UAS provide approximately 50 minutes of powered 

### flight (with payload) and provided battery level and battery 

### time remaining in minutes and seconds to the PIC.le The 

### FAA also considered the fact the

### AIP-UAS operating manual states: oostartevery 

### flightwith a

### fully charged battery inthe aerial

### vehicle", and that inthe event that the

### AIP-UAS should 

### run low on po\ryer,the PIC

### will be alerted and can safely land the-

### AIP-UAS as soon as possible. 

### Like the

### VDOS Grant 

### of Exemption, 

### Air 1's use 

### ofthe AIP-UAS, combined 

### with the requirements 

### of Petitioner's Operations Manuals, ensure that an equivalent level 

### ofsafety can be achieved and in fact exceeded. 

### Similarly, inthe Grant of Exemption to

### Alan Purwin @xemption 

### No. 11161),the 

### FAA determined that an equivalent level 

### of safety tothe fuel requirements

### forflight in

### VFR conditions could be achieved by 

### prohibiting the 

### PIC from beginning a

### flight with the 

### UAunless (considering 

### wind and forecast weather conditions), there was enough power 

### to safely

### fly at normal 

### cruising speed to the intended landing 

### point and land the 

### UAwith ZSo/obattery power 

### remaining. 

### Air 1

### will adhereto

### this 

### limitationfor its

### AIP-UAS flights.
The

### AIP-UAS includes a 

### low battery

### warning system and the amount

### of battery reserve polver remaining is continuously 

### fansmitted to the PIC via telemetric data feed,

### which downlinks from 

### theAlP-UAS to a ground-based-on-screen display.20 As required 

### byAir l's Operations Manuals,

le. Grant of Exemption No. I I 112 to VDOS Global, LLC (FAA-2014-0382 at l0).

20. TheAIP-UAS ground control station displays, the UASs position, navigation route, tail number, altitudg heading, north seeking arrow, range to targets, calculated target position, date/timg and sensor heading and orientation relative to the UASU.S Department 

### ofTransportation

February

### 4,2016 Page20
the PIC

### will promptly 

### fly the

### AIP-UAS back to the home launch location or pre-determined abort location where 

### it may safely land,

### while 

### still maintaining a 

### minimum of 25Yo reserve battery polver. 

### Air 1 submits that the procedures 

### requiring flights to be safely terminated oncethe batteries

### fall below 25o/o capacity, combined 

### with the requirement that 

### flights only be conducted 

### within asecure, isolated area" using a 

### UAS weighing lessthan 55 pounds, and

### withinVLOS 

## of the PIC and Observer(s), ensure that the proposed operation 

### will provide an equivalent or higher level 

### of safety 

### to the 

### public to that provided by the regulations 

### fromwhich exemption is sought. 

# vI. DRUGANDALCOHOTTPROGRAM 

### Air Iwill have 

### policies in place 

### to ensure that no person may participate in

### AIP-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

### Air 1's Petition 

### for Exemption. Congress has established a national 

### policy that favors early integration 

### of UAS into the 

### NAS in 

### conholled, safe 

### working environments such asthose proposed inthis Petition. Granting this 

### Petition 

### for Exemption helps 

### fulfill Congress'goal in passing Section 333(a) through (c) 

### ofthe Reform 

### Act-the FAAAdministrator's assessment 

### ofwhether certain 

### UAS may operate safely 

### in the 

### NAS before completion 

### ofthe statutorily required rulemaking.
The 

### proposedAIP-UAS operations in this 

### Petition for 

### Exemptionsignificantly improves the safety and reduces 

### risk of harm, physical 

### injury and property damage to the 

### public at large, the property owners

### from whom permission was granted for use by Petitioner and abutting properties, 

### staffof Petitioner, unsuspecting passersby, inspecting engineers 

### from relevant organizations and

### all those

### who may be in the local 

### vicinity. Traditional methods 

### of providing surveillance and mapping services location personnel to 

### climb towers, trees, venfure onto precarious roofs and other dangerous scenarios, 

### perform elevated 

### work for 

### which the 

### individual is neither

### frained nor equipped to perform, 

### which exposes themto unnecessary 

### risk of serious physical 

### injury from dangerous 

### falls or other physical mishaps. Moreover, inspectors/surveyors are often unnecessarily exposed

### to hazardous conditions, unsafe environments, 

### culturally tense situations and other hazards associated

### with identifuing specific locations 

### for potential recording sites to be used in the end 

### product. The use 

### of small 

### UAS caneliminate these hazards and 

### ultimately create a much safer method 

### of performing these types 

### of inspections creating a safer environment for the 

### public as

### well as

### Air 1employees.
The use

### of small 

### UAS also enhances safety and reduces 

### risk tothe surrounding 

### public because, unlike manned aircraft 

### weighing thousands 

### ofpounds, carrying crew in addition 

### to flammable fuel, the 

### UAS carry no passengers,crew or explosive fuel. Furthermore, inthe 

### unlikely event 

### of
an 

### accident

### Air I's small battery powered 

### AIP-UAS presents 

### significantly less danger

### to persons on the ground when compared 

### to operations by conventional manned aircraft.2l

### As Petitioner's

### AIP-UAS are battery poweredo the 

### public 

### will also 

### benefitfrom a reduction 

### in

21 See Cnant of Exemption No. 1l 158to Team 5, LLC (fAA-2014-0783 at l2):'Manned helicopters conducting aoial filming can weigh 6,000 pounds or more and me operated by an onboard pilot, in addition to other onboard crewmernbers, as necessary. The petitioner's UAs will weigh less than 55 poundswith no onboard pilot or crew. The pilot and crewwill be remotely located fiom theaircraft. The limited weight significanfly reduces the potential for harm to participating and nonparticipating individuals or property in the event ofan incident or accident. Risk toU.S 

### Departnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page

### 2l
harmful 

### petoleum based emissions associated

### with conventional aircraft 

### performing in the same functions proposed 

### herein. 

### Air quality

### will naturally be improved 

### with the reduction 

### of fuel powered vehicles. Lastly, as recognized by the 

### FAA in 

### prior Section 333 Grants 

### ofExemption to filmmakers, 

### UAS provide an 

### additional economic

### tool for the aerial 

### filming notwithstanding the 

### industy, adding a greater degree 

### of

### flexibility, which supplements the current capabilities offered by manned akcraft.22 The 

### quality 

### ofthe finished product is enhanced and provides a greater finished product demand 

### which

### will aid the current 

### UAS industry and provide additional 

### jobs asthe cost

## of providing the needed product is greatly reduced 

### while reducing the

### difficulty with which the finished product is created. The demand for the

### curent industrial product is increasing and

### will continue 

### to increase given the enhanced 

### flexibility of production; therefore, given the lower costo owner/operators and others inthe relevant industry 

### will be more inclined to 

### utilize the services 

## of commercial 

### UAS along

### with an appropriate licensed PIC's. 

# VilI. PRIVACY 

### AllAIP-UAS operations 

### will be conducted in accordance 

### with applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding privacy. 

### All operations shall be conducted over private or conffolled-access property 

### with permission from the land owner/controller or authorized representative. Permission 

### from land 

### owner/controller or authorized representative 

### will be obtained 

### for each

### flight to be conducted. 

# Ix. FEDERAL REGISTER 

### SPMMARY
Pursuant 

### to 14 C.F.R. Part 11,the

### following summary is 

### provided for 

### publication inthe 

### FEDERALREGISTE& should it be determined that 

### publication is needed: Petitioner seeks an exemption 

### fromthe

### following rules in

### Title 14

### ofthe Code 

### ofFederal Regulations: 

### Partzl, SubpartH; Part 

### 27;45.23@);45.27(a);61.113; 91.7(a);91.9(bX2);91.9(c); 

### 91.103;91.109(a);91.119(c);9t.t2t;91.151(a);91.203 (a)

### & (b);91.405(a);91.a07(a)(1); el.a0e(a)(1) 

### & (2);et.4t7 (a)

### & (b).
The exemption

### will enhance safety by reducing risk tothe

### aircraft crew, production crew, general public, 

### property owners and

### city structures 

### fromthe substantial hazards associated

### with performing equivalent 

### film work and aerial video production 

### with conventional 

### fixed-wing aircraft, 

### rotorcraff or other methods. 

# X. CONCLUSION 

### Air I's Petitionfor Exemption satisfies the criteria articulated 

### in Section 333 of the Reform 

### Act of 2012 

### which includes

### weight; speed; operating capabilities; 

### proximity to airports and populated

an onboard pilot and crew during an incident or accident is eliminatedwith the use of aUA for the aerialfilming operation." 2 See e.g., Grant ofExemption No. 11178to Picture Factory, Inc. (FAA-2014-0794 at l8).U.S Deparbnent of Transportation

February

### 4,2016 Page22

areas; operation

### within VLOS and national security. The proposed 

### AIP-UAS operations 

### will benefit the 

### public as

### awhole by improving safety and reducing 

### riskby alleviating human exposure to danger 

### while lowering the attendant related coststhereby increasing the demand 

### for thefinished product. 

### In consideration 

### oftheforegoing, this 

### Petition for Exemption provides the 

### FAAwith morethan adequate 

### justification for granting the requested exemptiolls 

### allowing 

### Air I to use

### smallAIP-UAS in the recorded production 

### of its product.

We thank

### youfor your prompt consideration 

### of our requested exemptions.



# LJ Joshua W. Pardee 

### Air 

### I Photography 

### 7354Tarrhuro 

### Trail San

### Antonio,TX78266 Phone: 501.772.2409 Email: josh.pardee@hotmail.com (The 

### following attached items contain 

### proprietary and commercial 

### information exempt 

### from disclosure under the Freedom

### of 

### InformationAct 5 U.S.C. S522 et seq., and should be held in a separate 

### file pursuant 

### to 14C.F.R. $ 

### 11.35(b).
Attachments:

1. General Operations 

### Manual 

### 2.PIC Operating 

### Manual 3. 

### CompanyProtocols 4. Location Protocols 5. 

### Flight Communications Protocols 6. Departing 

### Location 

### hotocols 7. Tiansmitter Protocols 8. 

### Preflight Checklist 9. Post 

### Flight Checklist I0. Equipment 

### Checklist 11. 

### UAS Manufacturer's Manuals a. User Manuals b. 

### UAS Maintenance Manuals 

### PETITIONER REQUESTS 

### THAT GOOD CAUSE 

### EXISTS TO EXEMPT ANY PART 

### OF 

### TIIIS PETITION TR.OM 

### BEING 

### PUBLISIIED IN THE

### TEDERAL REGISTER 

### PT'BLIC FORUM BECAUSE

## Tr# REQUESTED EXEMPTTON 

### WOULD NOT 

### SETA PRECEDENT, 

### AI\D ANY DELAY IN

### ACTING ON

### TIIIS PETITION WOTJLD 

### BE DETRIMEI{TAL TO

### THE PETITIONER. pectfully Submitted,