Lee C Tennison

Stark Aerial Photography 1406 Nickerson Ave Benton Harbor, MI 49022

In order to conduct business safely, we have broken our safety guidelines down to three parts: Operator S afety, Unmanned Aircraft System ( UAS ) Safety Features, and Public Awareness. First, Operator Safety will be achieved by following all FAA guidelines, as well as the use of a spotter with many years’ experience in UAS flight. We (Stark Aerial Photography), use short frequency radios for const ant communication so both parties can see the UAS from different angles. Further, Visual Line of sight (VLOS) will be maintained at all points of times, most of the time by the pilot and by the spotter as well. If VLOS cannot be kept, then the job will be deemed unsafe, and not completed. Next, t he UAS being used is the Q500 Typhoon, Made by Yuneec. This particular model has many built in features to ensure safe flight, (UAS information enclosed). The built in GPS will prevent startups when within 5 miles of most airports, and the UAS is preprogramed to never exceed 398 feet. If signal is lost between the transmitter and UAS, the built in GPS will automatically return the UAS to the transmitters last know n location. Its top speed is 15.5 miles per hour, but is adjustable. We plan to fly approximately 7 miles per hour for most shoots. On top of these many safety features, we have installed an aftermarket safety parachute and a small item that emits a loud chirp. Finally, the best way to prevent any harm to structures is a clear flight path, but the best way to prevent injury to people is Public Awareness. We plan on using signs, flashing lights, and even caution tape in certain scenarios. In a situation where we might need to cross into a neighbor’s property, consent will be gotten in advance from said neighbor. Additionally, t he UAS will undergo several checks before each flight. These include checking the propellers for nicks or damages, looking it over in general, as well as a preflight check on my property befo re leaving to operate at any other location . The UAS will also be maintained in between work days; this maintenance will include propeller balancing, connecting the UAS up to a co mputer to perform a full system check, and checking each motor for any problems or issues. Along with looking over the aircraft, as well as all the other tests listed above, the UAS will be flown and undergo an all direction test, as well as GPS stability and Wi

- Fi signal strength checks. This will be done in an area with z ero risk to property or persons. This test will be performed daily to ensure proper safety with the UAS. The UAS controller (ST

- 10) uses 10

-channel 2.4GHz with 5.8GHz video link . Both the UAS and controller use GNSS an GLONASS GPS to maintain additional l ocation information. We carefully reviewall no

-fly zones, and do not operate anywhere near known smaller airports. We have maps of every

known airport in the area. In addition, we will discuss any questionable issues with the local airport staff.

The Pilot in Command ( PIC ) has over 15 years of exp erience with various aerial remote control devices, and 4 years of experience with various UAS’s . Total UAS flight time is between 275

- 350 hours. The particular UAS that will be used for the company has been flown between 50 to 75 hours. 2

- 3 h ours a day, weather permitting. The PIC has no known medical issues that could affect flight performance. The PIC does wear corrective lenses. In regards to the business, t he UAS will be used to photograph properties, in cluding homes, family portraits, and general view pictures. None of these shots will require the UAS to be any closer than 50 feet from target location . Family portraits may require a low altitude for some shots, but most of the property shots will be take n above 100 feet, allowing plenty of time to deploy the safety parachute

. Most p roperty shoots will be in a rural location and not near crowded areas. If there is no safe place to fly or the PIC cannot find a safe flight path, the photos will not be taken

. With the many safety features, chance of serious harm is minimal. Most of our target audience will be realtors, meaning most home locations will be unoccupied. In addition most of our surrounding communities are farm ing land properties, allowing for muc h safer operations if an accident were to happen due to low populations and lack of obstacles. Power lines will always be a safety hazard but carefully surveying takeoff and landing areas, as well as staying well above any obstacles, will help ensure safe operations in all areas. In conclusion, Stark Aerial Photography’s safety guidelines, safety checks, and the nature of our business outlined in this petition allow our use of UAS to be as safe and responsible as possible. Stark Aerial Photography will continue to maintain current and effective safety measures and will continuously review and revise any and all safety guidelines and safety checks to remain in accordance to FAA regulations.