Kevin A. Culbertson Swordfish Productions, LLC (d.b.a. Sandpiper Drones) .... 1691 EastJefferson Way, 312

May 1, 2015 U.S. Department ofTransportation Docket Operations Simi Valley, California 93065 (818) 244-4722

West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590 <" "': :. j

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Re: Exemption Request Under Section 333 ofthe FAAReform Act and Part 11 ofthe Federal Aviation Regulations
Dear Sir or Madam:
Pursuant to Section 333 ofthe FAA Modernization and Reform Act of2012 (the "Refonn Act") and 14 C.P.R. Pali 11, Swordfish Productions, LLC (d.b.a. Sandpiper Drones), is petitioning for an exemption from the FederalAviatim;**~eg)Jlations** ("PARs")describedbelo_v/to ·enab!e Sandpiper Drones to commerciailyoperatethe follO\ying U.rimarinedAircraft Systerns: DJI Phmit6in 1; DJI fnspire ·1 ;·DJI Spreading Wings S-900; DJ(Spreadihg**Wings·s~·IOoo.** · · ' ,. · •· · ·. · · ·**Furthermore,-~e r~quest**  a**~~mmary** grant aswe believe you will find the administration has already granted previous e;x.etnptions similayto our requestooth iri operation' arid with'regard to the UAS.
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• ' • • ·' ' •**~** • > ' • • •j ' This exemption requestwill permit Sandpiper Drones to operate UAS commercially for the purpose of capturirig still _l;liJd motion. digital irpages ofprop.erty, people, and events.

### Sandpipe~ Drones will provide

### a·s'e~icb'that**is·b~neftcial**to ah in'dustry that is already using- and apparently seeks to continue to use- UAS for these purposes. Through the grant ofthis exemption we will provide a legal option to users ofthese services while providing relevant operational experience and information to the FAA as well as the current and future community ofUAS operators and end product users. Sandpiper Drones believes this will benefit the public by demonstrating that an image capture service is viable to be operated lawfully. This includes the operation OfUAS by certificated pilots trained in the National Airspace System and**tho~gh** i:l demonstration ofthe ability forincreased integration ofUAS in the NAS. , . l • ·' All operations**by_Sangp~pfr .Qrpne~_wil,l~trictly**  adhere to safety, applicable PARs, Operators Handbook, Airwmihiness, Pirectiv¢sr**~rid ~Jl'.ofh~~** **£iHidyliJ;l~S**lr9ll)-.

### tpe EAA as applicable. Sandpiper Drones will conduct its operations in

### ,a mmjnel· as tQinairitainthe level ofsafety expected ofcurrentmanned aircraft operations. · · · '···-·".·• · ',_.

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### · ·:•' ::· ·, . SandpiperDroneswill

### operat~**e:x;6Jusi~;l)r'i~** ·conttolled COJ.?.ditions, withinvisualline ofsight, at low altitudes not to exceed 400_feetabove'ground level, ornohigherthan**~00** feet abovethe highest obstacle with prior Flight Safety District Office approval. An)! UAS 

### ·in operation by SandpiperDroi1es will not exceed 55 poundstot;;t-1 weight. · · · · . . - . .At all times Sandpiper Drones will have a ChiefPilot responsible to properly train, maintain safe operations, ensure currency requirements are met, and consistently assure an open line ofcommunication with the FAA. The ChiefPilot will, at a minimum, be a certificated commercial pilot and maintain a medical certificate appropriate for UAS operation as defined by the FAA.
As a business operated by a co-founder with the unique combination ofprofessional experience as a pilot instructor at a major airline; a camera operator and director with majortelevision networks; and founder ofseveral successful start-up business, Sandpiper Drones will demonstrate and maintain a high standard ofUAS operations with a thorough understanding ofthe impotiance ofsafety guidelines in the NAS, the desire to promote these standards in the user community, and the ability to demonstrate a commercially viable legal operation in the use and integration ofUAS in the NAS. The name and address ofthe applicant is: Kevin A. Culbertson Swordfish Productions, LLC (d.b.a. Sandpiper Drones) 1691 EastJefferson Way, 312 Simi Valley, California 93065 kculbertson@icloud.com (818) 244-4722
The regulations from which the exemption is requested are as follows: 14 C.F.R. Part 21; 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2); 14 C.F.R. 91.109(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.119; 14 C.F.R. 91.105; 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) & (b); 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). Appendix C lists select previous exemptions granted by the administration where discussion ofeach rule listed above is provided. TheApplicable Legal Standard Under Section 333 Sandpiper Drones submits that grant ofthis exemption application advances the Congressional mandate in Section 333 ofthe Reform Actto accelerate the introduction ofUAS into the NAS ifit can be accomplished safely. This law directs the Secretary ofTransportation to consider whether certain UAS may operate safely in the NAS before completion ofthe rule making required under Section 332 ofthe Reform Act. In making this determination, the Secretary is required to detennine which types ofUAS do not create a hazard to users ofthe NAS, the public, or pose a threat to national security in light ofthe following: the UAS's size, weight, speed, and operational capability; operation ofthe UAS in close proximity to airports and populated areas; and operation ofthe UAS within visual line ofsight ofthe operator.

The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAAthe authority to issue exemptions. This statutory authority, by its terms, includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined in the act, from the requirement that all civil aircraft musthave current airworthiness certificate and those regulations requiring commercial pilots to operate aircraft in commercial service. TheAdministrator may grant an exemption from a requirement ofa regulation prescribed iftheAdministrator finds the exemption is in the public interest.

The grant ofthe requested exemption is in the public interest based on Section 333 ofthe Reform Act; the additional authority 

### in the FederalAviationAct; the strong equivalent level ofsafety surrounding the proposed operations; and the significantpublic benefit, including enhanced safety and cost savingspennission from land owner/controller required before commencing any flight; operations to occur under Visual Flight Rules during Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC); aircraft to remain within Visual Line ofSight (VLOS); operations to be conducted in a controlled environment with only the necessary persons present, any person present, not employed by Sandpiper Drones, will sign a waiver acknowledging UAS operations, proper safety procedures, and a statement acknowledging risks; operations will be conducted with a visual observer (VO), in addition to the UAS pilot, who will remain in VLOS with the UAS pilot, the UAS, and the area ofoperations at all times. VO will assist in maintaining a controlled environment, spotting hazards to persons or property, monitoring and communicating on appropriateATC, CTAF, or other appropriate radio frequencies; operations will cease when battery capacity falls below 25% or a battery power reserve ofless than 10% flight time is indicated. Operator Requirements Sandpiper Drones understands and upholds the stance that necessary precautions are required to protect aircraft already operating in the NAS, and the safety and security ofthe flight crew members, passengers as well as the public and property. For this reason Sandpiper Drones will require all pilots ofthe UAS to minimally be appropriately certificated pilots with appropriate medical certification as determined by the FAA for UAS operation. Privacy
All flights will occur overprivate or controlled access property with the prior consent and knowledge of the property owner(s) or duly authorized representative.

In summary, applicant seeks an exemption from the FARs set forth above and in AppendixA to allow commercial operations ofUAS conducting aerial flights as described above. Respectfully, 

# 1- d. !.vt(C Kevin A. Culbertson Swordfish Productions, LLC (d.b.a. Sandpiper Drones)APPENDIXA SUMMARY OFSANDPIPERDRONES SECTION 333 EXEMPTION REQUEST Sandpiper Drones hereby provides pursuant to Part 11 a summary ofits exemption application to allow commercial operation ofits UAS in aerial photography/videography. An exemption is requested from the following regulations:
14 C.F.R. Part 21; 14 C.F.R. 91.7(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.9(b)(2); 14 C.F.R. 91.109(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.119; 14 C.F.R. 91.105; 14 C.F.R. 91.151(a); 14 C.F.R. 91.203(a) & (b); 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). APPENDIXB Operating manuals http:/ /www.dji.com/product/phantom/download http:/ /www.dji.com/product/inspire-1/download

APPENDIXC http://vlww.dji.com/product/spreacling-wingss900/downloadhttp://www.dji.com/product/spreading-wingss 1000/download

Forpurposes ofexpediting the exemption process, we are including reference to granted exemption and docket numbers for similar organizations utilizing the type ofUAS requested for our exemption and organizations which we believe propose a similarjustification (NOTE: this list is not meantto be allinclusive):

DJIPhantom Exemption No. 11418 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0184 Exemption No. 11442 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0218 Exemption No. 11416 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0182 Exemption No. 11434 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-0201 DJI Spreading Wings S-900 Exemption No. 11437 Exemption No. 11423 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-0221 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0152 Exemption No. 11420 Exemption No. 11400 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0178 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0155 Exemption No. 11378 DJI Spreading Wings S-1000 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0065 Exemption No. 11439 DJIInspire 1 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0225 Exemption No. 11423 Exemption No. 11442 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0152 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0218 Exemption No. 11428 Exemption No. 11416 Regulatory DocketNo. FAA-2015-0172 Regulatory DocketNo. F AA-2015-0182 Exemption No. 11426 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-0173