Aug 17 th , 2015

U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t i on

Do c k e t Man a g e ment S y s tem

1200 N e w J e rs e y Av e

., S E W a shin g ton, DC 20590

R e : P e t i t i on of Bridger Aerospace , LLC.

– DBA BA UAS for a n E x e mp t ion P u rsu a nt t o S ec t i on

333 of the F AA Mod e rni z a t i on a nd Re f o r m A c t of 2012

To W hom i t M a y Con c e r n:

P u r suant to S ec t i on 333 of the F A A Mod e rni z a t i on a nd Re f o r m A c t of 20 1 2 ( " R e fo r m A c t " )

a nd 14 C. F

.R. P a rt 1 1, Bridger Aerospace , LLC. (" BA " ) h e r e b y a ppl i e s for a n e x e mp t ion f r om the

F e d e r a l A viation R e gulations ( " F

AR s " ) id e nt if

ied b e low t o a l l ow c om m e r c ial op e r a t i on of small

unmann e d ae r i a l vehi c les ( i.e., " small unm a nn e d a ir c r a f t " or " U A S " ) for the pu rpose o f conducting;

a erial search and rescue operations in South Western Montana ’ s Mountainous terrain in su pport of

state and county search and rescue efforts, law enforcement, firefighting support, police, fire and

rescue services, educatio n and capability demonstrations and aerial videography for Montana ’ s

prairie families and ranching real estate and inspection and agriculture survey

.

This peti t ion for e x e mp t i on is made b a s e d on inf o rm a t i on out l ined in th i s Pe t i t i on f o r

E x e mp t ion, as we ll a s t h e a c c ompa n y i n g documents.

1. PIC F l i g ht O p e r a t i ons Man ua l

2. Operations Manu a l

(c ol le c t i v e l y r e fe r

re d to as " BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls" )

3. Us e r G uide

4. Us e r M a nu a l

(c ol lec t i v e l y r e f

e r r e d to as " M a nuf

a c tu r e r ' s Man u a l " ) 1

BA submi t s these and all mat e ri a ls as c o n fid e nt i a l docum e nts pur s u a nt t o 14 C. F .R. §

11.35 ( b )

, a s the mat e ri a ls contain c onfid e nt i a l c o m m e r c ial a nd/or p r o p ri e t a r y info r mat i on that BA

h a s not a nd will not sh a re with o t h e rs. A ddi t ional l y , t h e se do c u m e nts contain op e r a t i ng c ondi t ions

and p r o ce du re s that a r e not g e n e r a l l y a v a i l a ble to the public a nd a re pro t ec ted f rom r e le a s e und e r

the F r ee d o m of I

n fo r mation A c t, 5 U.S. C

. § 552 e t seq.

1 The te r m " Man u f

ac tu r e r 's Man ua l" a lso includ e s a ll r e lev a nt manu f ac tu r e r p ubli ca tions

, in c ludin g

,

but not l i m i ted to: op e r a t i ons a n d f li g h t m a nu a ls

, us e r g ui d e s

, c ompon e n t m a int e n a n c e m a n u a ls

, pilo t

tr a in i ng man u a ls, s e rvi c e info r mation l e t t e rs a nd, s a f e t y /se r vi c e bul l e t i n s.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 2

F or y our c onv e nie n ce , t h is P e t i t i on is o r g a ni z e d a s follows:

I. D e s cr i p tion of P e ti t io n e r

II. D e s cr i p tion of P r o p os e d O p er a t io n s

A. Aerial Emergency, Real Estate V ideography and Inspection

, and Agriculture

Surveying Services

II. R e levant Sta t u to r y Au t h o r ity

IV. BA 's P r o p osed U A S O p er a t io n s Mee t t h e R e qu ir e m e n ts of S ec ti o n 333 of t h e

R e f o r m A c t

A. App r ov a l i s W a rra nted B a s e d on the U A S ' s S i z e

, W e i g ht, S p e e d, a nd

Op e r a t i on a l C a p a bi l i t y

B

. App r ov a l i s W a rra nted B a s e d on the O p e r a t i on a l R e strictions S e t F o r th i n the

Op e r a t i ons Man u a l s

V. R e g u latio n s F r o m W h i c h Ex e m p tion i s R e qu e s t e d

A. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 21, Subp a rt H

– Air w o r th i n e ss C e r t ific a tes a nd 14 C. F .R. §

91.203 (a ) ( 1 )

B

. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 27 A irwo r th i n e ss S tand a rds: No r mal C a te g o r y

Rotor c r a ft

C

. 14 C. F .R. §§ 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23(b) a nd 45.27 ( a ): Ai r c r a ft M a rki n g a nd

I d e nt i fi ca t i on Requir e m e nts

D. 14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ), 9 1.407 (a ) ( 1 ), 91

. 409(a) ( 1) a nd ( 2 ); 91.417 ( a ) a nd ( b ) :

Mainten a n c e I nspe c t i ons

E. 14 C. F .R. P a rt 61, 14 C. F .R. § 61.3, 14 C. F .R. § 61.113: P riv a te P i lot

P rivile g e s and L

i m i t a t i o n s

F

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.7 (a ): C i vil Air c r a f t Ai r wo r th i n e ss

G. 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2 ) : C iv i l Air c r a ft F l i g ht Man u a l i n the A ir c r a ft a nd 14

C. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd ( b ) : C a rr y i n g Civ i l Air c raft Ce r t i fi ca t i on a nd

R e g is t r a t i on

H. 14 C. F .R. § 91.103: P r e fli g ht A c t i on

I

. 14 C. F .R. § 9 1.109 (a ): F l i g ht I nstru c t i on

J

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.11 9 ( c ) : M in i mum S a fe Alt i tudes

K. 14 C. F .R. § 91.121: Al t i met e r Settin g s

L

. 14 C. F .R. § 91.151 (a ): Fuel R e quir e ments for F l i g ht i n V F R Condi t ions

VI. D r u g a n d Al c o h ol P r o g r a m

VII. P ub l i c I n t e re s t

VIII. P r iv a c y

IX. F e de r al R e gis t e r S u mm a r y

X. Concl u sio nU.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 3

I. D E SCRI P T I O N O F P ET I T I O NER

B a s e d in Belgrade

, MT

, Bridger Aerospace is a provider of Un manned Aircraft Systems (UAS ) that

is leveraging this rapidly im proving tech nology, design ing and significantly enhancing emergency

management solutions for the private and public sectors. BA ’s UAS emergency management, first

responder situational awareness solution and UAS t raining services are designed to improve

Emergency Manag ement O perations (EMO) for the public, ranch owners, prairie families, industry

and government to protect all people in natural disasters; weather, fires, snow avalanches, for

medical needs, search & rescue, and other lifesaving and protective operations. BA strives to protect

and save lives through broad base adoption of its UAS services in South Western Montana providing

first responders and location teams with BA UAS equipment and training. Additionally, BA will

provide its expanded services for video ph otography and photogrammetry for agriculture, real

estate, fire fuel management, surveying and other Infrared multi

- spectral imaging tasks for its

clients.

The c onta c t i n f

o rm a t i on f

o r Petitioner is as f

ol l o w s:

Tim Sheehy

P r e sident

Bridger Aerospace

351 Floss Flats Rd, Suite A

Belgrade, MT, 59714

P hon e : 651

- 592

- 5140

Email: timsheehy@bridgersolutionsgroup.com

II. D E SCRI P T I O N O F P R O P O S E D O P E RAT I O N

BA s e e ks an e x e mp t ion pursu a nt t o S ec t i on 333 of the Re f o r m A c t t o op e r a te the DJI

Phantom U A S ( " Phantom " ) f o r the p r opos e d op e r a t i ons discuss e d b e low. All U AS ope ra t i ons will

oc c ur und e r ti g ht l y c ontroll e d c ondi t ions on priv a te p r op e r t y wh e re BA h a s r e c e ived p e rmission t o

op e r a te f r om t he lando w n e r, c ontroll e r o r a uthori z e d r e p re s e ntativ e

. The pro p os ed U AS op e r a t i ons

will be c ondu c ted in a cc o r d a n c e with the c ondi t ions and lim i ta t ions of this P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion

and BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls. As d e tailed in BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls, all U A S op e r a t i ons will be

l i m i ted to d a y

t i me V F R c ondi t ion s , with i n v isu a l l i ne

- o f

- s i g ht ( " V L OS " ) o f the op e r a tor, in

uncont r ol l e d a irsp a c e

, a nd will o cc ur a t l ea st 5 nm a w a y f rom a n a irp o rt. Mo re ov e r, BA ' s

O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls inco r por a te r e dund a nt s a f e g u a rds to a ssu r e that the a ir c r a ft do e s not tr a v e l

ou t side the c ontroll e d are a o f U AS op e r a t i ons, in c lud i ng GPS "geo

- f e n c i ng" te c hnol o g ies.

A. Aerial Emergency, Real Estate V ideography and Inspection

, and Agriculture

Surveying ServicesU.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 4

BA s e e ks to use sm a ll U A S for the pu r pose of c ondu c t i n g a erial e mergency support

service s and provide r eal e state v ideography and i nspection

, and a griculture s urv ey ing

. BA h a s

t a i l o re d i t s op e r a t i ons to m ee t t he re qui r e ments e stablished b y t h e F A A in p r ior g ra nts of

e x e mp t i on a uthori z ing c om m e r c ial use includi n g ;

 Windtrap Digital Media, LLC ( Exemption No. 12544 )

 Mr. Greg Priest ( Exemption No. 12522 )

 HAZON Solutions, LLC ( Exemption No. 11487 )

 V isual Arts Group, LLC ( Exemption No. 11733 )

 Land Grant Surveyors LLC ( Exemption No. 12505 )

 RPA/UAS Consulting LLC ( Exemption No. 12515 )

 Legend Creative Group ( Exemption No. 11789 )

 D igitals by Ronnie ( Exemption No. 11787 )

All UAS EM training op e r a t i ons will oc c ur on p r i v a te p r op e r t y in a c ontrol l e d a re a

, a w a y

f r om sp ec tators a nd p e r s ons. I n a d di t ion, t he UAS training operations will be c ondu c ted du r i n g

d a y l i g h t, V F R c ondi t ions, a t alt i tudes b e low 40 0 ' A G L

. As s e t fo r th below, BA ' s op e r a t i ons pro v ide

a n e quival e nt l e v e l of sa fe t y that is sup e rior to p e r f o r m i n g the s a m e wo r k using c onv e nt i on a l f i x e d

wing a i r c raft or h e l icopt e rs.

BA s e e ks to use its sm a ll U A S for the pu rpose of c ondu c t i n g BA UAS emergency and additional

video photography services to improve emergency management UAS disaster operations and

training systems. BA will perform a veri ty of emergency and operational scenarios for law

enforcement, firefighting s upport, police, fire and rescue and disaster emergency operations

. Additionally, BA will provide aerial videography real estate and inspection and agriculture survey

for South Western Montana ’ s prairie families and ranc hers

. T r a di t ional methods of disaster

- search

and rescue training e x pose personnel to r isk s of h a rm or se r ious i nju r y

. Without the use of UAS for

real life emergency operations require a wide variety of dangerous demands on personnel

incl uding but not limited to cli m b ing mountains, travers ing ravines

, climb buildings, walls, roof

tops, tow e r s, etc, and p e r f o r m w o r k whi c h e x poses th e m t o the r isk of d a n g e rous or fatal f a l l s.

A ddi t ionally, p r o x i m i t y to e quip m e nt o f ten involves a r isk of e x posure to ha z a rdous situations that

can include c h e m i ca ls, o x y g e n

- d ef ici e nt atmosph e r e s, and oth e r natural h a z a rds a ssoci a t e d with

fires, collapsed buildings, bridges and facilities failures from weather and other natural disasters

.

The use o f s m a ll U A S m i t i g a tes th e se h a z a rds a nd is ul t i m a te l y a much s a f e r m e thod of p e r f

o rming

the s e t y p e s of EM operations

.

UAS use for real estate, i nspe c t i on and agriculture survey for Montana ’ s prairie families and

ranc hers is a lso s a f

e r t h a n tr a di t ional low flying a ir c r a ft p e r f o rming the s a me fun c t i on s in such

terrain

. Conv e nt i on a l ope ra t i ons us i ng roto rc r a ft a nd fi x e d

- wing a ir c r a ft i n low le v e l op e r a t i ons

pr e s e nt risks a ssoci a ted w i t h v e hicl e s w e i g hi n g thous a nds of po u nds a nd ca rr y i n g a c rew and la r ge

a moun t s of f

u e l.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 5

I t is i mport a nt t o note th a t t he use o f sm a ll U A S in t his a re a will not on l y be sa f e r a nd mo r e c ost

e f f e c t i v e , but t he qu a l i t y of the in f o r mation wi l l be f

a r sup e rio r

. S mall U A S inspe c t i on is more

r e l i a ble, a nd a l l ows f

o r th e c ol l ec t i on, diss e m i n a t i on, a nd sto r a g e o f visual a nd other senso r y d a ta

w i t h gr e a t e r p r ec is i o n a nd du ra t i on. S mall UASs will a lso be ca p a ble o f a c ce ss i n g a nd inspe c t ing

a re a s that wo u ld o t h e r w ise be in a cce ss i ble using personnel in mountainous canyon regions

.

III. R ELE V ANT ST ATUT O RY AUT H O RI T Y

This P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t i on is submi t ted pu r suant to S ec t i on 333 (a ) th r o u gh ( c ) of the F AA

Mod e rni z a t i on a nd R e fo r m A c t of 2012 ( " R e fo r m A c t " ). Co n g r e ss h a s dir e c ted the F AA " to sa f e l y

a c ce le r a te the i nte g r a t i on of c iv i l un m a n n e d a ir c r a ft s y stems i nto t he n a t i on a l airsp a c e s y stem

. "

P u r suant to S e c t i on 333 of the Re f o r m A c t, t he F AA Admin i str a tor is t o p e rmit unm a nn e d a ir c r a ft

s y st e ms t o op e r a te in the Na t i on a l Air Sp ac e (" N AS " ) wh e re it is s a f e to do so b a s e d on the f

ol l owi n g

c onsid e r a t i ons:

● The U A S ' s s iz e , w e i g ht, spe e d a nd op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y ;

● Op e r a t i on of the U A S in close pro x i m i t y to ai r p o rts a nd populat e d a r ea s; a n d

● Op e r a t i on of the U A S with i n the visu a l l ine of sight of the op e r a tor.

Addit i on a l l y , the FAA A dm i nis t r a tor h a s ge ne r a l autho r i t y to g r a nt e x e mp t ions f r om t he

a g e n c y 's s a f

e t y re g ulations a nd m i ni m um s t a nd a rds w h e n the A dm i nis t r a tor d ec ides a r e q u e sted

e x e mp t ion i s in the publ i c in t e r e st. S e e 49 U.S. C . § 106( f ) ( d e fini n g the a u t hori t y of the

Admin i str a tor ) ; 49 U

. S .C. § 44701 ( f) ( p e rmit t ing e x e mp t ions f r om §§ 447 0 1 (a ), ( b ) a nd

§§ 44702

– 44716, e t se q

. ). A p a r t y r e qu e st i n g a n e x e mp t ion m ust e x p l a in t he rea sons w h y the

e x e mp t ion: ( 1) would b e n e fit the publ i c a s a w ho l e

, a nd ( 2 ) would not adv e rs e l y a f f ec t s a f e t y ( o r

how it would provide a lev e l of s a f e t y a t l ea st e q u a l t o the e x is t ing r ules )

. S e e 14 C. F .R. § 11.81

(p e t i t i ons for e x e mp t ion).

IV. BA 'S P R O P O S E D U AS O P E RAT I O NS M EE T T H E R E Q UIR EME NTS O F SE CTI O N

333 O F T H E R E F O RM ACT

The small U A S op e r a t i ons p r opos e d b y BA i n th i s P e t i t i on for E x e mp t i on qu a l if y f o r

e x p e di t e d a ppro va l purs u a nt to S ec t i on 333 of the Re f o r m A c t a s e a c h of t h e st a tu t o r y c rite r i a a nd

r e lev a nt f ac tors a re s a t i sfi e d.

A. Ap p r oval i s Wa rr a n t e d Based on t h e U A S 's S i z e , W e ig h t, S p ee d

, a n d

O p er a t io n al Ca p a b i l ity

A G r a nt of E x e mp t ion i s ap p rop r iate for op e r a t i o n s co n du c ted usi n g the DJI Phantom U A S s due t o

their si z e w e i g ht, sp e e d, a nd op e r a t i on a l ca p a bi l i t y

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 6

 B oth t he DJI Phantom h a ve b ee n a ppro ve d for u s e in prior S ec t i on 333 G ra nts o f

E x e mp t ion f

r om t he F A A

. 2

 The DJI Phantom w ei g hs l e ss t h a n 5 5 pounds, in c lud i ng p a y load.

 The DJI Phantom will not be f lown a t a g r ound speed in e x ce ss of 50 knots.

 Alt i tude in f

o r mation wi l l be g e n e r a ted b y e quip m e nt onboa r d the U A a s s p ec ified using

GP S tria n g u l a t i on, di g i t a l l y e n c o d e d b a rom e tric a l t i m e te r

, ra dio a l t i m e te r , or a n y

c omb i n a t i on the re o f . This i n f o r mation wi l l be t ra nsm i t t e d to t he pi l ot v i a tel e metric d a ta

f e e d.

 The U A S s will h a ve s y stem r e dund a n c ies a nd in d e p e nd e nt fu n c t i on a l i t y to e nsu re the

ov e r a ll sa f

e t y a n d p re dict a bi l i t y of the s y stem. I f c onn e c t i on to t he re m ote c ontrol or

g round c ontrol station is l ost, f a i l s a fe s y stems wi l l pe r m i t t he U A S to r e turn to a

p r e d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on a nd s a f e l y l a nd without in

j u r y o r d a m a g e

.

 The ra dio f

r e qu e n c ies u s e d for op e r a t i ons a nd c o n trol of the U A S c omp l y with t he

Fe d e r a l C om m unic a t i ons C om m is s ion ( " F CC " ) a n d other a ppro p ri a te g ov e rnm e nt

ove r s i g ht a g e n c y re qu i r e ments. The op e r a t i n g f r e qu e n c y for t he DJI Phantom is 2.4

G H z f re qu e n c y b a nd

.

I f the s a me o p e r a t i ons w e re c ond u c ted usi n g a h e l i c opte r , the a i r c raf t ' s tak e

- o f

f w e i g ht

would l i k e l y e x cee d 6,0 0 0 pounds. The dif f e r e n c e in w e i g ht betw e e n the DJI Phantom a nd a

h e l i c opt e r si g n ific a nt l y r e du ce s t h e potential h a rm to the p a r t icip a t i ng a nd no n

- p a rticip a t i ng

ind i viduals or pro pe r t y in t he e v e nt o f a n a c c ident or incid e nt. I n a ddi t ion, t he r isk to t he onbo a rd

pilot a nd ca me r a op e r a tor is eli m inat e d.

2 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o S hotover C a me r a S y stems L

. P

. ( E x e mp t ion No. 11159 ) ; G ra nt of

E x e mp t ion t o V D OS G l ob a l, LL C ( E x e mp t ion No. 11112 ) ; Gr a nt of E x e mp t ion t o L owCount r y RC,

Corp. ( E x e mp t ion No. 11184 ) ; G ra nt of E x e mp t ion t o Al a n P u r win ( E x e mp t ion No. 11161 ) ; Gr a nt

o f E x e mp t ion t o H e l i n e t Aviation S e rvi ce s ( E x e mp t i on No. 11160 ) ; Gr a nt of E x e mp t ion t o Total

S a f e ty U.S., I n c

. ( E x e mp t ion No. 11156 ).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 7

B. Ap p r oval i s Wa rr a n t e d B a s e d on t h e O p er a t io n al R e st r ic t io n s S e t F o r th in

BA 's O p er a t io n s M a nu a l s

BA ' s O p e r a t i on s M a nu a l s a nd the M a nu f ac tu r e r ' s Manu a l f

o r the sel e c t e d U A S s will c ontain

a ll the p r o c e dures and l i m i tations n ece ss a r y to s a f e l y a nd s u cce s s f

ul l y p e r fo r m t h e op e r a t i ons

spe c if i e d in t his P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t io n

. To a s si s t t he F AA in m a king a sa f e t y a ssessm ent of BA ' s

p ropos e d op e r a t i ons, b e low is a summa r y of o p e r a t ional l i m i tations a nd c ondi t ions that BA will

a dh e re to, and w h i c h will e nsure a n e q u i v a le n t or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y to ope r a t i ons c on d u c ted

und e r c u rr e nt r e g u l a to r y g ui d e l i n e s:

1. The U A S w e i g hs l e ss t h a n 5 5 pounds, ful l y load e d

.

2. All ope ra t i ons shall be c o ndu c ted ov e r p riv a te or c ontroll e d

- a c ce ss prop e r t y with

p e rmission f

r om t he land o w n e r/ c ontroll e r o r a ut h o r i z e d r e p re s e ntative. P e rmission

f r om l a nd own e r/ c ontroll e r o r a uthori z e d r e p r e s e ntative w i l l be obtain e d for e ac h

fl i g ht o p e r a t i on.

3. All UASs op e r a ted und e r the G r a nt of E x e mp t ion wi l l be id e nt i fi e d b y s e ri a l numbe r

,

r e g is t e r e d in a cc o r d a n c e with 14 C F R p a r t 47, and h a ve identifi c a t i on ( N

- Numb e r)

ma r ki n g s in acc o r d a n c e with 14 C F R p a rt 45, Subp a rt C. M a r kin g s will be a s la r g e

a s pr a c t ic a ble.

4. Mini m um c re w f

or e ac h fli g ht op e r a t i on will c onsist of a pi l ot, who will be P i l o t

- in

C om m a nd ( " P I C " ) o f the U A S

, a nd one o r mo r e Visu a l Obs e rvers ( " Obs e rv e r " ) a s

ne c e s s a r y to sa f

e l y c o ndu c t t he m i ss i on.

5. P I Cs shall poss e ss at le a s t a Sport P i lo t ' s C e rtifi c a te a nd c u r re nt C lass I I I Medi ca l

C e rtifi ca t e and a valid state driver ’ s license

. The P I C will a lso m ee t t he f l i g ht r e vi e w

re qui r e ments spe c ified in 14 C

. F .R 61

. 56 in an a ir c r a ft in which the P I C is r a ted on

h is or h e r pi l ot c e rtifi ca te.

6. The UA shall be o p e r a t e d with i n V L OS of the P IC a nd Obs e rver a t all t i m e s. The

P I C must use h uman vision un a ided b y a n y d e v i c e other t h a n c o rr e c t i ve l e n s e s, as

spe c ified on the P I C ' s F AA

- is s u e d medi c a l c e rti f ic a te.

7. The P I

C a nd Obs e r v e r desi g n a t e d for a n y o p e r a t i o n will be a ble to c om m unic a te

v e rb a l l y a t all t i m e s.

8. Ele c tronic mess a g i n g or t e x t i ng will not be p e rmit t e d du r ing fli g ht o p e r a t i o ns.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 8

9. The a ddi t ional re qui r e m e nts i d e nt i fi e d in t he G ra n t o f E x e mp t ion shall be a dd e d to

t he BA ' s O p e r a t i o ns Man ua l s. The Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s will be maintain a nd made

a v a i l a ble to the Admin i str a tor upon re q u e st. I f a disc r e p a n c y e x is t s b e tw ee n the

c ondi t ions and lim i tations in the G r a nt of E x e mp t ion a nd BA ' s Op e r a t i ons

Man u a l s, the c ondi t ions and lim i tatio n s in t he G ra nt of E x e mp t ion shall t a ke

pre ce d e n c e a n d must be f ol l ow e d. Oth e r w ise, BA shall follow the p r o ce du r e s

outl i n e d in t h e ir Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls.

10. BA m a y u pd a te or r evis e it s O p e ra tio ns M a n u a ls

. R e vision s w il l b e t r a c k e d a n d a

r e vi s e d c o p y of the M a n u a l w il l be p r ovi d e d to th e A dminist r a to r upo n re q u e st

. BA

w il l a ls o p re s e n t a n u pd a t e d a n d r e vis e d O p e r a tion s M a n u a l s i f i t p e tition s f o r

e x t e nsio n o r a m e nd m e n t t o it s G r a n t of E x e mption

. I f a n up d a t e o r r e vis i on would

a f f ec t t he b a sis upon whi c h the F A A g ra nts t he e x e mp t ion, BA will se e k a n

a m e ndment to i ts Gr a nt of Ex e mp t ion. BA will c o nta c t the F A A ’s U AS I nt e g r a t i on

O f fi c e ( A F S

- 80) if q u e st i ons a rise r e g a rdi n g u pd a tes or re vis i ons to the op e r a t i ng

do c u m e nts.

11. BA O p e ra t i on s M a n u a l s a nd it s G r a n t o f E x e mptio n w il l be a v a i l a bl e to th e

P I C a t the g r o un d c on t r o l st a tio n a n y tim e t h e UA S is op e ra ti n g

.

12. The P I C is prohib i ted f r o m be g inn i n g a DJI Phantom f l i g ht un l e ss ( c onsid e r i ng wind

a nd f o re ca st w ea th e r c ondi t ions) the r e is en o u g h po w e r to f l y to t he f

i rst in t e nd e d

point of l a nding, and a ssu m ing n o rm a l c r uis i ng spe e d, to f l y a ft e r t h a t for a t l ea st 10

m i nute s

.

13. Ma x i m um to t a l fli g ht t i m e f or e ac h o p e r a t i on a l fl i g ht usi n g the DJI Phantom will be

l i m i ted to 40 m i nutes or the a mount of time the U A S ca n be flo w n a nd s t i ll maintain

a re s e rve b a t ter y po w e r of no less than 25 % , whi c h e v e r oc c u r s fi r s t

.

14. F l i g hts will be op e r a ted a t an a l t i t ude of no more t h a n 400 fee t A G L a nd w i ll n e v e r

e n t e r n a v i g a ble c o ntroll e d a irsp a c e without prior w r i t ten a uthori z a t i on a nd a ppro va l

f r om t he F A A. I n the e v e nt t he str u c ture b e ing insp e c ted e x cee ds 400 f e e t A G L

, t h e

U A S will not be oper a ted m o re th a n 100 fee t abo v e the h i g h e st point on the stru c tur e

,

a n d no more than 50 f

e e t h o r i z ontal l y f

r om t he s t ructur e

.

15. F l i g ht op e r a t i ons must be c ondu c ted a t le a st 500 fe e t f r om all nonpa r t i c ipat i ng

p e rsons. ( p e rsons oth e r t h a n the P I C, V O, op e r a t o r t ra ine e s o r e ssential p er sons),

v e ssels, v e hicl e s, and st r u c tur e s unl e ss:U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 9

a

. B a rri e rs or str u c tur e s a re p re s e nt t h a t suf f ic i e nt l y p rot ec t nonpa r t i c i p a t i ng

p e rsons f rom the U A a n d /or d e b r is i n the e v e nt of a n a c c ident. The op e r a tor

must e nsu r e that nonp a rti c ipating p e rsons re main und e r s u c h p r ote c t i on. I f a

si t u a t i on a ris e s w h e re nonp a rticip a t i ng p e rsons l e a ve such p r ote c t i on a nd a re

with i n 500 fee t of the U A

, f l i g h t ope ra t i ons must c ea se i m medi a te l y

.

b. The a ir c r a ft is op e r a ted n ea r v e s s e ls, vehi c les or s t ru c tur e s w h e re t h e

own e r/ c ontroll e r o f su c h v e ssels, v e hicl e s or str u c tur e s has g r a nted

p e rmission and the P I

C h a s made a s a f

e t y a s s e ss m e nt of the r isk of op e r a t i n g

c loser to t hose obje c ts and d e t e rmin e d that it do e s not pr e s e nt an undue

h a z a rd, a nd;

c

. Op e r a t i ons n e a rer to the P I C, V O , op e r a tor

, t r a in e e s or e ssential p e rso ns do

not pr e s e nt an undue h a z a rd to those p e rsons p e r § 91.119 (a ).

16. The UA S m a y not be o p e r a ted l e ss t h a n 500 f e e t b e low or less than 2,000 f e e t

hori z ontal l y f

r om a c loud or w h e n vis i bi l i t y is l e ss t h a n 3 st a tu t e m i les f rom the P I

C.

17. The UA S m a y not op e r a te with i n 5 nm of a n a irpo r t re fer e n c e point a s de n o t e d on a

c u r r e nt F A A

- publ i shed a e ron a ut i ca l c h a rt unless a letter of a g r ee ment with that

a irpo r t’s man a g e ment is obtain e d, a nd the op e r a t i o n is condu c ted in a c c o r d a n c e with

a N OT A M as r e qui r e d b y t h e BA COA. The letter of a g re e ment with the a irpo r t

m a n a g e ment will be made a v a i l a ble to the A dm i nis t r a tor upon r e qu e st.

18. P rior to e ac h fl i g ht t he P IC sh a ll inspe c t t he U A S to con f irm th a t i t i s in a c ondi t ion

sa f e f or fli g ht. The pr e

- fli g ht i nsp e c t i o n will acc ount for a ll disc re p a n c ies, e .g.

inop e r a ble c omponents, items, or e quip m e nt, not a lr e a d y c ov e r e d in t he r e le v a nt

s e c t i ons of the op e r a t i n g d o c uments. The P I C s h a ll not op e r a te the U A S if the

i n spe c t i on r e v e a ls a c ondi t i on that a f f e c ts t he sa f

e o p e r a t i on of the U AS un t il the

n ece ssa r y m a in t e n a n c e h a s b e e n p e r f o r med a nd the U A S is found to be in a c ondi t ion

for sa f e f l i g ht. The g r ound c ontrol s t a t i o n shall be includ e d in t he preflight

ins p ec t i on. All m a in t e n a n c e a nd a l t e r n a t i ons must be p r op e r l y do c umen t e d in t he

U A S r e c o r ds a s r e qui r e d b y BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s

.

19. BA will c a r r y out i ts m a in t e n a n ce , insp e c t i ons, a nd r e c o rd ke e ping r e quir e ments in

a cc o r d a n c e with t he Op e r a t i ons Ma n u a ls. M a in t e n a n ce , inspe c t i on, a nd a l t e r a t i ons

will be not e d in t he U A S rec o r ds, in c lud i n g to t a l t i m e in se r vic e , d e s c ription of wo r k

a c c omp l ished, a nd the si g n a tu r e of the a uthori z e d p e rson re turni n g the U A S to

se r vic e

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 10

20. A n y U A S that h a s un d e r g one m a in t e n a n c e or a l t e r a t i ons that a f f ec t t h e U A S

op e r a t i on or fl i g h t c h a r a c te r is t ics ( e .g

., r e p l ace m e n t of a fli g ht c ritic a l c om p on e nt)

must und e r g o a fun c t i o n a l test fli g ht in a cc o r d a n c e with BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s

.

The P I C who c ondu c ts the fun c t i on a l test fli g ht must make a n e nt r y i n th e U A S a ir c raft

r e c o rds of the fli g ht. The r e qui r e men t s a n d p r o ce du r e s f o r a f u n c tion a l test fli g ht a nd

U A S r e c o r d e nt r y shall be includ e d in the BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s

.

21. The U A S will be op e r a t e d a nd maintain e d a cc o r d i ng to t he Ma n u f a c tu r e r ' s

Man ua ls and a n y r e quir e d manu fac tu r e r Sa f e t y / Se rvi c e B ul l e t i ns.

22. P rior to t he op e r a t i on, a Miss i on P ac k e t wi l l be c r ea ted in a cc o r d a n c e with t he

r e quir e ments on BA 's Op e r a t i ons Manu a ls.

23. BA will obtain a n A i r T r a f fic O r gani z a t i on ("AT O ") issu e d Ce r t i fi c a te of W a iver or

A uthori z a t i on, othe r wise known a s a CO A , prior to condu c t i n g a n y op e r a t i ons und e r

this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. A N OT A M will be issued a s r e quir e d b y the CO A

. All

ope ra t i ons will be c ondu c ted in acc o r d a n c e with a irsp a c e r e quir e ments in the A T O

is s u e d COA in c lud i ng c l a ss of a irsp a ce

, a l t i t ude l e v e l a nd potential tr a nspond e r

re quir e ments.

24. All r e quir e d p e rmissions and p e rmits will be obtain e d f r om t e rritori a l, s t a t e

, c oun t y

or c i t y j u risdictions, including loc a l la w e n f o rce m e nt, fire or ot h e r a ppro p ri a te

g o v e rnm e nt a l ag e n c ies.

25. I f the U AS l oses c om m u nic a t i on with t he pi l ot, i t will h a ve the ca p a bi l i t y t o r e turn

to a p r e

- d e t e rmin e d loc a t i on with i n the op e r a t i on a l a r e a a nd land s a f e l y

.

26. Cont i n g e n c y plans w i l l b e in p l a c e to s a f e l y te r m i n a te f

l i g ht i f t h e re is a lo s s of

c om m unic a t i on b e tw ee n the P I C a nd the Obs e r v e r

.

27. The U A S will h a ve the c a p a bi l i t y to sa f e l y a bort f

l i g ht i n the ca se o f un p redict e d

obst ac les or e m e r g e n c ie s

.

28. P I Cs and Obs e rv e rs will h a ve a t le a st a c u r r e nt Class I I I Me d i ca l C e rtifi c a te or a

valid state driver ’ s license

.

29. P rior to condu c t i ng fl ight o p e rat i ons for the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d,

in a m a nn e r c on s is t e nt wi t h 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of 200 f l i g ht c y c les a nd

25 ho u rs total t i me a s a U AS rotor c r a ft pi l ot and a t l ea s t 10 hou r s log g e d a s a U AS

p i lot with a simi l a r U AS t y p e

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 11

30. P rior to condu c t i ng fl ight o p e rat i ons for the P I C will h a ve a c c umu l a ted a nd log g e d,

in a m a nn e r c on s is t e nt wi t h 14 C F R § 61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of 5 4 C F R §

61.51 ( b ) , a m i ni m um of hours a s U A S pi l ot ope r a t i ng the m a ke a nd model of U A S

to be uti l i z e d for op e r a t i ons und e r the e x e mp t ion and th re e tak e

- o f fs a nd thr e e

landi n g in t he p r ec e ding 90 d a y s.

31. Op e r a t i ons shall oc c u r d u r ing d a y t i me V F R Met e o r olo g i c a l C ondi t ions; f l i g hts und e r

sp ec i a l v i sual f

l i g h t rul e s ( " S V F R") sh a ll n o t be c ondu c ted.

32. The UA shall r e main c l e a r a nd y ield the ri g ht of w a y to all o t h e r m a nn e d op e r a t i ons

a nd a c t i vi t ies a t all t i m e s (in c lu d in g

, b ut not l i m i ted to, u l t r a l i ght v e hicl e s, pa r ac hute

ac t i vi t ies, p a r a s a i l i n g ac t i vi t ie s , h a ng g l i d e rs, e tc. )

.

33. U A S Op e r a t i ons und e r Instr u ment F l i g ht R ules, a t n i g ht, or b e y ond V L OS a re

p r ohib i ted.

34. The U A s will not be op e r a ted f rom a n e lev a ted pl a tfo r m or mov i ng d e v i ce / v e hicl e

.

35. B e f

o re c ond u c t i ng o p e r a t i ons, the ra dio f re q u e n c y spe c trum used f o r op e r a t i on

a nd c ontrol of the U A S w i ll c omp l y with t he F e d e r a l C om m unic a t i ons C o m m i ss i on

( F CC) or other a ppro p r i a te g o v e rnm e nt ov e rsi g ht a g e n c y r e quir e m e nts.

V. R E G ULATI O NS F R O M W H ICH E X EM P T I O N IS R E Q UES TE D

The Fe d e r a l Aviation A c t e x p re ss l y g r a nts t he F A A the a uthori t y to i ssue e x e mp t ions. This

statuto r y a uthori t y

, b y i t s te r ms, i n c ludes e x e mp t ing c iv i l air c r a ft, a s t he te r m i s de f ined und e r §

40101 of the A c t

, including U A S s, f r om i t s sa fe t y r e g u l a t i ons a nd m i ni m um s t a nd a rds wh e n the

A dm i n is t r a tor d ec ides a r e qu e sted e x e mp t ion i s in t he publ i c in t e r e st

. 3

BA s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om sev e r a l i nte rr e la t e d pr o vis i ons of T i t le 14 of the Code of

Fe d e r a l Re g ula t ions ( "14 C

. F .R " ) Pa r ts 21, 45, 61 a nd 91 f or purp o s e s o f c ondu c t i n g the r e qu e sted

o p e r a t i ons us i ng a U A S

. L is t e d b e low a r e : ( 1) the s p ec ific s ec t i o ns of 14 C. F .R f or whi c h e x e mp t ion

i s sou g ht, and ( 2) the op e r a t i n g p r o ce du r e s and s a fe g u a r d s that P e t i t i o n e r h a s e stablished whi c h will

e n sure a le v e l of s a f

e t y b e t t e r th a n or e qu a l t o the r u l e s f r om which e x e mp t ion i s sou g ht

. 4

3 49 U.S. C . § 44701 ( f) (a u thori z ing the g ra nt of e x e mp t ions f r om r e quir e me n ts of r e g ulations

p re s c rib e d p u rsu a nt t o Se c t i ons 44701( a ) a nd (b) a nd S ec t i ons 44702

- 44716 )

.

4 14 C. F .R § 11.81 (e ), w h ich re quir e s a p e t i t i o n f o r e x e mp t ion t o inclu d e: The r e a sons w h y gr a nt i n g

the e x e mp t ion would not a dv e rs e l y a f f e c t s a f e t y

, or how the e x e mp t ion would p r ovide a lev e l o f

s a f e t y a t l e a st e qu a l to that p r ovided b y t h e rule f rom w hich y ou s ee k e x e mp t ion

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 12

UN M ANNED AIRCR A F T S YS TE M

A. 14 C. F

. R. P a r t 21, Subp a r t H

– Ai r w o r thi n e ss C er ti f ica te s a n d 14 C

. F

. R. §

91.203 ( a ) (1)

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s ne e d e d f r om t his s ec t i on if a f

ind i ng is m a de und e r

the R e f o rm Ac t t h a t t he U A S sel ec ted p r ov i d e s an e quival e nt l e v e l of sa fe t y wh e n c ompa re d to

a i r c r a ft no r mal l y used f

o r the same a ppl i ca t i on. Th e se c rite r i a a re m e t, and the re fo r e no e x e mp t ion

i s ne e d e d

. 5 I f, ho we v e r, t h e F AA d e te r m i n e s that t h e re a re some c h a ra c te r is t ics of the c h o s e n U A S

that fa il to m ee t the re quir e m e nts of the R e fo r m A c t, an e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

BA ' s use o f the DJI Phantom i s s af e w h e n taki n g in t o acc ount their si z e , w e i g ht, sp ee d, a nd

op e r a t i on a l c a p a bi l i t y

. A s set f o r th i n the d e s c ript i on of pro p osed op e r a t i ons in S ec t i on I V ( A), the

DJI Phantom w e i g hs l e ss t h a n 5 5 pou n ds, in c lud i ng p a y load a n d will not be f lown a t a g r ound sp ee d

in e x ce ss of 50 knots. B oth UASs a re a lso e quipped w i t h s a f e t y fe a tur e s that will allow P e t i t i on e r

to op e r a te the U A S sa f

e l y a ft e r e x p e ri e n c e c e rt a in i n

- fli g ht conti n g e n c ies or f a i l u re s

. 6 7 Addit i on a l l y

,

the U ASs c a r

r y n e i t h e r pilots nor p a sseng e rs, c a rr y no e x plo s ive m a te r ials or fl a m m a ble liqu i d fu e ls,

a nd op e r a te e x c lus i v e l y w i t hin t he p a r a met e rs st a t e d in BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man u a ls.

5 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e r i a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g s. 1 3

- 14, 2 2 ).

6 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11184 to L o w Count r y RC, Corp. (F A A

- 2014

- 0803 a t p g . 3):

" The [ D J I S 1000] h a s the ca p a bi l i t y to op e r a te s a f e l y a f t e r e x p e ri e n c i n g ce r tain i n

- fli g ht

c ont i n g e n c ies o r f

a i l u re s a nd uses a n a ut o

- pi l ot s y stem to mainta i n U A S stabili t y a nd c ontrol.

The U A S is a lso a ble to r e spond to a loss of g lobal pos i t i oning s y stem ( G PS ) or a los t

- l i nk

e v e nt with a p r e

- c oo r dinat e d, p re dict a ble, a u t omat e d fli g ht man e u v e r, a nd m a nu a l fli g ht

c ontrol fun c t i on a l i t y a s a b a c kup. Th e s e s a f e t y f e a tu r e s p r ovide a n e q u ival e nt lev e l of s a f e t y

c ompa re d to a mann e d a ir c r a ft p e r f o r m i n g a si m i l a r oper a t i on."

7 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11184 to VD O S Glob a l, LL C. ( F A A

- 2 0 1 4

- 0382 a t p g s. 4

- 5 ) :

" The DJI Phantom ca n be o p e r a ted e nt i r e l y b y a touc h

- s c r ee n, ma p

- b a s e d i nte r fa ce

.

This me a ns the op e r a tor on l y n e e ds to c om m a nd the s y stem w h e re to g o, a nd the s y stem

do e s all the f

l y i n g for the op e r a t o r. T he DJI Phantom c a n b e op e r a ted in bo t h s e mi a nd ful l y

a utono m ous fli g ht mode s

, with the op e r a tor si m p l y c l i c ki n g on a map to c r e a t e a p r e

- plan n e d

fl i g ht p a th f

o r a fli g ht. I n a d di t ion, the op e r a tor c a n cr ea te no f l y z on e s or ma x i m um fli g ht

r a n g e s a nd a l t i t ud e s so the s y stem c a nnot e n t e r a r ea s

{foo t note c ont i nu e d

}U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 13

Op e r a t i ons c ond u c ted u n d e r this e x e m pt i on will b e c lose l y c ontroll e d a nd mon i tor e d b y the

op e r a tor a nd will be c ondu c ted in c omp l ian c e with l o ca l pub l ic s a f e t y r e quir e ments, to p r ovide

s ec u r i t y f o r the a r e a of o p e r a t i on. BA will a lso provide the F A A w i t h a dv a n c e not i c e of a ll

op e r a t i o n s via N O TAMs a s r e quir e d b y the a ppl i ca ble CO A

. In a ll ca s e s, op e r a t i on of the DJI

Phantom und e r the pro p osed c ondi t ions will be a t l ea st as s a f e a s, or s a f

e r th a n, c onv e nt i on a l

r otor c r a ft o p e r a t i n g with a n a irwo r th i n e ss c e rtifi ca t e

.

L a st l y , the U ASs do not ne e d a m e a ns to c om m unic a te w i t h other a i r c r a ft o r A TC, b eca use

tho s e ca p a bi l i t ies w i l l be poss e ssed b y t h e P I C a nd Obs e r v e r, w ho a re not onbo a rd the U A S

. 8 I n

a ddi t ion, no s e ns e

- a nd

- a vo id t ec hnol o g y is ne ce ssa r y for the U ASs b eca use t h e y will be op e r a t e d

a t all t i m e s in V F R c ondi t ions and w i th i n V L OS of the P I C a n d Op e r a tor

. 9

B

. 14 C. F

. R. P a r t 27 Ai r w o r thi n e ss S tan d a r d s: N o r m al Ca te g o r y

Ro t o r c r a f

t

Tit l e 14 C. F .R. P a rt 27 s e ts f o r th t he pro c e d u r a l r e quir e ments for a i r wo r th i n e ss ce rtifi c a t i on of

norm a l c a te g o r y roto r c r a ft. To the e x tent that BA ' s sm a ll U A S s would othe r wise r e q uire

c e rtifi c a t i on und e r Pa r t 27, P e t i t i on e r s ee ks an e x e mp t ion f r om P a rt 2 7 ' s a irwo r th i n e ss s t a nd a rds

f o r the s a me r ea sons i d e n t ified in t he re qu e st f o r e x e mp t ion f

r om 14 C. F .R. P a rt 21, Subp a rt H,

supra

.

__________________________ { c ont i nu e d from pre v ious pag e }

d ee med uns a fe or un n ec e ssa r y to f l y o v e r. The p e t i t i on e r stat e s fu r ther t h a t the U A S h a s bui lt

- in

in t e l l i g e nt f

a ult h a ndl i ng whi c h a l l ows the DJI Phantom to d e te c t a s y stem f a ult while in t h e a i r a n d

a uto m a t i ca l l y f

l y b ac k to i t s tak e o f

f lo c a t i on a nd land. Fa ul t s that ca n be d e t e c t e d includ e : lo s s of

c om m u nic a t i on; e x cee ding p re

- s e t wind thr e sholds; and low b a t ter y le v e ls.

All fli g ht op e r a t i ons a re g lobal posit i oning s y st e m ( G PS ) c ontroll e d, m a king the s y stem ea s y to

n a v i g a te. At a n y point if t h e op e r a t or is not e x pl i c i t l y c om m a nding the s y stem t o move, the s y stem

a uto m a t i ca l l y holds i t s G P S posi t ion. The fli g ht c ontrol s y s t e m e mp l o y s n ot on l y GPS posit i oning

but a v a ri e t y of s e nsors i n c lud i ng sona r

, b a rom e tr i c p re ssu r e

, temp e r a tu r e

, wind speed a nd othe r s to

e nsure stabi li ty s o long a s wind thr e s h olds a re not e x cee d e d. Also a fli g ht t e rmin a t i on l i nk

– to p re v e nt

a ' f l y a w a y ' or other po t e nt i a l l y d a n g e rous situ a t i on

– is av a i l a ble to the op e r a tor

. "

8 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e ri a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t p g . 13).

9 IdU.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 14

C. 14 C. F

. R. §§ 91.9 ( c ), 45

. 23(b) and 45.27 ( a ) : A ir c r a f t M a r k i n g a n d

I d e n ti f ica t ion R e q u ir eme n ts

BA s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f

r om t he a ir c r a ft m a r k ing a nd identifi c a t i on r e q uir e ments c ontain e d

in 14 C. F .R. § § 91.9 (c ), 45

. 23( b ) a nd 4 5.27 (a ).

● 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 (c ), Civ i l Air c r a ft F l i g ht M a nu a l, Ma r king a nd P la c a rd re q uir e ments,

p r ovides th a t:

No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - re g is t e r e d c iv i l aircr a ft unless that a ir c r a ft is identifi e d

in a cc o r d a n c e with Pa rt 45 of th i s ch a pte r

.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.23 ( b ) , M a rkin g s of t h e Aircr a ft, st a tes:

W h e n ma r ks include only the Roman c a pi t a l lett e r " N " a nd the re g is tr a t i on number

is d i spl a y e d on l i m i ted, re strict e d or li g h t

- sport ca t e g o r y a i r c raft or e x p e rime n tal or

p r ovis i o n a l l y c e rtifi ca ted a i r c raf t

, the op e r a tor must a lso disp la y o n that a ir c raft n ea r

e a c h e ntr a n c e to the ca bin, c o c kpi t

, or pi l ot station, in le tte r s not less than 2 inch e s

nor mo r e than 6 inch e s h i g h, the wo r ds " l i m i ted," " r e stric t e d," " l i g h t

- sp o rt,

" e x p e r i ment a l," or " p rovisional," a s ap p l i ca ble.

● 14 C. F .R. § 45.27 (a ), Ro t o rc raft, stat e s:

E ac h o p e r a tor of a rot o rcr a ft must disp l a y on that r otor c raft hori z ontal l y on both

sur f a ce s o f the c a bin, fus e l a g e

, boom, o r ta i l the ma r ks r e quir e d b y

§ 45.23.

I n a pr e v i ous G r a nt of E x e mp t ion, t he F AA d e t e r m i n e d that e x e mp t ion f r om t h e se

r e quir e ments w a s w a rra n ted p r ovided th a t t he a i r c r a ft " h a ve i d e nt i fi ca t i on ( N

- Numb e r ) m a rki n g s in

a cc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F .R P a rt 45, Subp a rt C i f the ma r kin g s a re a s la r ge a s pr ac t ic a ble

. " 10

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

All U A f lown b y BA will b ea r N

- numb e r m a r kin g s that a r e a s l a r g e a s p rac t i ca b l e in

acc o r d a n c e with 14 C

. F

. R. P a rt 45, Subp a rt C

. 11

1 0 F AA D o c k e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 03

1 1 S ee

, e .g., F AA D o c k e t N o. F AA

- 201 4

- 0352, a t 1 4

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 15

D. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.405 ( a )

, 9 1.407 ( a ) (1 ) , 91.40 9 (a ) (1) a n d ( 2 ) ; 91. 4 17(a) a n d ( b ):

M ai n t e n a n c e I n s p ec tions

BA s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om t he mainten a n c e inspe c t i on r e quir e ments c ontain e d in

14 C. F .R. § 91.405 (a ), 9 1.407 (a ) ( 1 ), 91

. 409(a) ( 2 ) ; 91.417( a ) a nd (b ) . Th e s e r e g ulations spe c i f y

mainten a n c e a nd insp ec t i on st a nd a rds in r e f e r e n c e to 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 4 3. S ee

, e .g., 14 C. F .R. §

91.405 (a ) ( stati n g that ea c h own e r o r op e r a tor of a n a ir c r a ft " [ s ] h a ll h a ve t h e a ir c r a ft insp e c ted a s

p re s c rib e d in sub p a rt E o f this pa r t and sh a ll b e t w ee n r e qu i r e d insp ec t i ons ...h a ve disc r e p a n c i e s

r e p a i r e d a s p r e s c rib e d in p a rt 43 of th i s ch a pt e r" )

. An e x e mp t ion f

r om t h e se r e g ulations is

n ee d e d b eca u s e P a rt 43 a nd these se c t i ons on l y a p p l y to ai r c r a ft with an a i r wo r th i n e ss c e rtifi c a te,

whi c h the U AS t o be op e r a ted und e r this g r a nt of e x e mp t ion wi l l not h a v e

.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hie v e d b ec a use m a in t e n a n c e a nd in s p ec t i ons will be

p e r f o rm e d in a c c o r d a n c e with t he Man u f ac tu r e r ' s Manu a l a nd a n y r e q u ir e d manu f a c tur e r S a f

e t y o r

Se r vi c e B ul l e t i ns. F u r the r

, a s r e qui r e d b y BA ' s O p e r a t i ons M an ua l s, the P I C will c ondu c t a p r e

fl i g ht i nspe c t i on of the U AS and a ll a ssoci a ted e quip m e nt t o acc ount f o r a ll disc re p a n c ies a nd/or

ino p e r a ble c omponents. Ma i nten a n c e will be p e r f o rm e d a nd v e r i fi e d to a ddr e ss a n y c ondi t ions

po t e nt i a l l y a f

f e c t i n g s a fe o p e r a t i on of the U AS and no fli g hts will o cc ur unless, a nd unt il

, a ll f l i g h t

c r i t ic a l compon e nts of t he U A S h a ve b ee n fo u nd to be a irwo r t h y a nd in a c ondi t ion sa f e f o r

o p e r a t i on. A f

u n c t i on a l t e st fl i g ht wi l l be c ondu c t e d f ol l owing the r e pla c e ment of a n y fli g h t

- c ritic a l

compon e nts. As r e quir e d b y BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Manu a l s, the P I C who c ond u c ts t he f u n c t i on a l t e st

fl i g ht wi l l m a ke a n e nt r y in t he U A S a ir c r a ft r e c o r ds of the fli g ht.

BA ' s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l also in c ludes re qu i r e ments to follow the m a n u fac tu r e r ’ s U A S

a ir c r a ft/compon e nt, mainten a n ce , o v e rh a ul, r e pla ce m e nt, i nspe c t i on, a nd l i fe l i m i t r e quir e ments f o r

the f ol l owing a ppl ic a ble c omp o n e nts: pow e rt ra in s y stem ( pow e rpl a nt), p r op e l l e rs, a vion i c s a nd

c ontrol sur fa c e s (in c lud i n g a i le rons/ e levons ) , str u c tur e s & a ir f r a me, ca me r a s y s t e m, el ec tr i ca l

s y stems (in c lud i n g b a t te ri e s), g round c on t rol station, ha z a rd ac c e ssori e s, and s p a re p a rts. F u r the r

,

BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Manu a l s a lso i n c ludes p r o c e dur e s to do c ument a nd maintain a rec o r d o f the U A S

main t e n a n c e , pr e v e ntati ve m a i nten a n ce

, a l t e r a t i ons, and status of re pla c e ment /o v e rh a ul compon e nt

p a rts, a nd the total t i me in s e rv i c e of the U ASs us e d und e r this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. As a whol e

,

the m a in t e n a n c e a nd insp ec t i o n pr oce du r e s r e qu i r e d in BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man ua l s e nsur e t h a t an

e quival e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hiev e d.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 16

P I L O T

- I N

- C O MM AND O F T H E UAS

E

. 14 C. F

. R. § 61.113: P r i vate P i l ot P r iv i leg e s a n d Li m ita t io n s

BA s e e ks e x e mp t ion f

r om 14 C F R § 61.113, w h ich re stricts priv a t e pi l ot c e rtifi ca te holde r s

f r om f l y i n g a i r c r a ft f

or c om p e nsation or h ir e

, a nd would a lso r e quire a s e c ond c lass medi ca l

c e rtifi ca te. T h e purp o se of P a rt 61 is t o e nsure that the skill and c ompet e n c y of a n y P I C mat c h e s

the a irs p ac e in whi c h the P I C will be o p e r a t i n g

, a s w e ll a s r e quir i ng c e rtifi c a t i ons if the p r ivate pi l ot

i s c a rr y i n g p a sse n g e rs o r c ar g o for hi re

. I n th i s c a s e

, while the U A S s will be op e r a ted a s pa r t of a

c o m me rc ial op e r a t i on, it ca r r i e s neither p a s s e n g e rs n o r ca r g o. I n t h e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o

Astr ae us A e ri a l 12 , the F AA d e t e r m ined th a t t he unique c h ar ac te r is t ics of U AS op e r a t i on outside of

c on t roll e d a irsp a c e did not w a rra nt t he a ddi t ion cost a nd r e strictions a t t e nd a nt wi t h r e q uiri n g a the

P I C to ha v e a Co m me rc ial P i l ot C e rtifi ca te a nd C l a ss II Me d i c a l C e rtifi ca te. T he ful f i l l m e nt of the

a ddi t ional re q u ir e ments for a p riv a te pi l ot t o b ec ome qu a l i fi e d a s a c om m e r c ial pi l ot would not le a d

to a n y a ddi t ional s a f

e t y b e n e fits wh e n U A S op e r a t i ons a r e invo l v e d.

Eq u ivale n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

The re strictions BA h a s pl ace d on i t s U A S o p e r a t i ons m ee t or e x cee d t he re strictions

si m i l a r l y i m posed on Astr ae us A e ri a l. BA w i ll op e r a te on p r iva t e pro p e r t y a w a y f r om p e rsons a nd

p r o p e r t y not invo l v e d in t he op e r a t i o n

. BA will a lso obta i n a n A T O issued COA prior to condu c t i n g

a n y o p e r a t i ons und e r this G ra nt of E x e mp t ion. All op e r a t i ons will be c ondu c ted in a cc o r d a n c e with

ai r spa c e r e qui r e me n ts i n the A TO issu e d COA in c lud i ng c l a ss of a irsp a c e

, a l t i t ude lev e l a n d

pote n t i a l t r a nspond e r r e quir e ments. A N O T A M will also be is s u e d a s r e quir e d b y the a ppl i ca b l e

CO A

.

I n a ddi t ion t o these f l i g ht re strictions, BA will f u r ther e ns u re s a fe o p e rat i on b y r e quiri n g

that a n y P I C be thorou g h l y v e rs e d not o n l y in ai r sp a c e a nd c o m mun i ca t i on is s u e s p e rt a in i ng to a ll

a ir c r a ft o p e r a tors but also in the u nique a spe c ts of U A S f l i g ht. As set f

o rth in the O p e r a t i ons

Man u a l s, pi l ots will h a ve e x p e ri e n c e not on l y in U AS ope r a t i ons g e n e r a l l y but h a ve l o g g e d fl i g ht

t i m e in t he spe c ific m a k e a nd model us e d for the op e r a t ions b e fo r e th e y a re p e rmit t e d to pa r t i c ipate

i n c om m e r c ial fl i g hts on b e h a lf of BA

. T h e p i l ot qualifi ca t i on, tr a in i n g

, a nd c u rr e n c y requir e ments

in the O p e r a t i ons Manu a ls ensu r e t h a t BA ' s pilo t s a r e c ompet e nt and p r o fi c ient in t he U A S th e y a re

o p e r a t i n g

. BA ' s tr a in i n g a nd qu a l i fi ca t i on r e quir e ments a re c onsistent with those c ontain e d in prior

F AA Se c t i on 333 G ra nts of E x e mp t io n

, a nd will pro v ide a h i g h e r lev e l of c ompet e n c y a nd

pro f ici e n c y for i t s pilo t s and w i ll e nsure a t le a st an e quival e nt l e v e l of sa fe t y

.

1 2 E x e mp t ion No. 11062 ( F AA D o c k e t No. F AA

- 2 014

- 0352 ).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 17

O P E RAT I NG P ARA METE RS O F T H E UAS

F

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.7 ( a ) : Civil Ai rcr a f t A ir w o r thi n e ss

I n a smuch a s th e re will be no a irwo r th i n e ss c e rtifi c a te issued f or the U A S s, BA s e e ks a n

e x e mp t ion f

r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.7 (a ), whi c h r e q uir e s that a c iv i l aircr a ft be in ai r wo r t h y c ondi t ion t o

be op e r a ted. The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t no e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d for 14 C. F .R. §

91.7 (a ) to the e x tent that the re quir e m e nts of P a rt 21 a re w a ived or f ound inapplic a ble

. 13

A cc o r di n g l y

, P e t i t i on e r r e qu e sts that the re qui r e m e nts for § 91.7 ( a ) be t r ea t e d in a cc o rd a n c e with

S ec t i on V ( A )

, supra.

G

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.9 ( b ) ( 2 ) : Civil Ai rcr a f t F l i g h t Ma nu al i n t h e Ai rcr a f t and 14

C. F

. R. § 91.203 ( a) a n d (b ): Ca rr yi n g Civil Ai r c r a f t Cer ti f ic a tion a n d

R e gist r a t ion

Tit l e 14 C. F .R. § 91.9 ( b ) (2) a nd § 91.203 ( a ) a nd ( b) re quire t h e op e r a tor to ca rr y

a irwo r th i n e ss docum e nts a nd other a i r c raft m a nu a l s onbo a rd the a i r c raft. Pursu a nt t o 14 C. F .R. §

91.9 ( b ) (2 ) :

(b) No p e rson m a y op e r a te a U.S

. - r e g is t e r e d c iv i l air c r a ft

–

... (2) F o r w hich a n Airpl a ne or Rotor c r a ft F l i g ht M a nu a l i s r e quir e d b y § 21

. 5 of th i s ch a pte r

,

unless the r e is av a i l a ble in the a ir c r a ft a c u r r e nt app r o v e d Ai rp l a ne or Ro tor c r a ft F l i g ht

M a n u a l, app r ov e d man u a l ma te r ial, ma r ki n g s, a nd pl a c a rds, or a n y c omb i n a t i on the re o f

.

P u r suant to 14 C

. F .R. § 91.203 (a ) a nd (b ) :

( a ) E x ce pt a s p r ovided in § 91.715, no p e rson m a y op e r a te a c iv i l a ir c r a ft u n less it h a s within

i t t he f ol l ow in g :

(1) An a p p rop r iate a nd c u rr e nt ai r w o rthin e ss c e rtifi c a te...

(b) No p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c iv i l a ir c r a ft unl e ss the a irwo r th i n e ss ce r t ific a te r e quir e d b y

p a rag ra ph (a ) of th i s s ec t i on or a sp e c ial fli g ht a uth o ri z a t i on i ssued und e r § 91.715 is

disp l a y e d a t t h e c a bin or c o c kpit e ntr a n c e so that it is l e g ib l e to p a sse n g e rs o r c r e w.

_________________

1 3 S e e id. a t 13

- 14, 22

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 18

Giv e n the small s iz e a nd c onfi g u r a t i on of the U ASs, it would be i m poss i ble to ke e p

a irwo r th i n e ss docum e nts a nd other a i r c raft m a nu a l s on bo a rd the U A S b e c a use th e re is s i m p l y no

room a nd the U AS has n o ca bin or c o c kpi t

.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of S a

f e ty

I n a n F AA O f

fi c e of Ch i e f Couns e l ' s Opinion d a ted A u g ust 8, 2014, a nd p r e p a r e d b y D ea n

E. G ri f fith, Atto r n e y

, A G C

- 220, it w a s a c k n owl e dg e d that the intent of 14 C. F .R. 91.9 ( b) a nd

91.203 (a ) a nd ( b ) is met if the pi l ot of the u nmann e d a ir c r a ft h a s ac c e ss t o the U AS fli g ht manu a l,

r e g is t r a t i on c e rtifi ca te, a nd ot h e r r e quir e d do c uments f r om t he g r o und c ontrol s t a t i on f r om which

he o r she is o p e r a t i n g the a i r c raft

. 1 4 As th i s F AA O f f i c e of Chief Couns e l Opin i on c la r ifies, the

in t e nt of the r ule is to e nsure the pilot h a s a c c e ss t o these k e y d o c uments during fli g ht. Th e r e fo r e

,

a n e q u ival e nt l e v e l of s a f

e t y will be ac hie v e d b y e nsuri n g that the pilot h a s ac c e ss t o th e do c uments

a t t he gro u nd c ontrol s t a t ion f r om which he or s h e is p i lo t ing the U AS.

H. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.103: P ref l i g h t Ac tion

BA s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.103, whi c h r e qui r e s a P I C to be c ome f a m i l i a r

w i t h sp ec ific in f

o r mation be f

o r e e a c h fl i ght, i n c lud i ng info r mation c ontain e d in t he F A A

- a ppro ve d

F l i g ht Manu a l on board the a ir c raft. W hi l e the P I C will be fa m i l i a r w i t h a ll info r mation ne ce s s a r y

to s a f e l y c ond u c t t he f

l i g ht, a n e x e mp t ion i s r e qu e sted to the e x tent that a n F A A

- a ppro ve d F l i g ht

Manu a l i s r e quir e d.

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

An e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y w i ll be pro v ided b y f ol l owing the BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls

a nd the Man u fa c tur e r ' s Man u a l . The P IC will p e r f o r m a s e r i e s of c h ec kl i sts d e s i g n e d to identi f y

a n y d e f ec ts or i n o p e r a

ble c omponents in acc o r d a n c e with t he BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, including

c h e c kl i sts c ov e ring P r e

- F l i g h t

, L a u n c h, L a ndi n g

, a nd P os t

- F l i g ht pr o ce du r e s. The P I C will a lso be

r e q uir e d to r e view w ea t h e r, fli g ht r e qui r e ments, b a t ter y c h a r g e , landi n g a nd tak e o f f distan c e , UA

p e r f o r man c e d a ta, a nd c ont i n g e n c y landi n g a r ea s

— b e f o r e i n i t iation of fli g ht. BA ' s Op e r a t i ons

Man ua ls a nd the M a nuf

a c tu r e r ' s Man u a l will be k e pt at the g round c ontrol s t a t i on a nd will be

a c ce ss i ble to the P I

C a t a ll t i mes w hi l e op e r a t i ng t he U AS.

I. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.109 ( a ) : F l i g h t Inst r u c tion

________________________

1 4 Memo ra ndum f

r om M ar k B u r y

, F AA Assistant C hief Couns e l for I nt e rn a t i on a l L a w, L e g is l a t i on

a nd R e g u l a t i o n, to J ohn Dun ca n, F A A F l i g ht S tand a rds Se r v i c e ( A u g . 8, 201 4 ); s e e also Do c k e t No.

F A A

- 2 0 1 4

- 0352 a t 16

- 18.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 19

BA s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.109 (a ), w hich p rovid e s in p e rtine n t pa r t that

" no p e rson m a y o p e r a te a c iv i l aircr a ft ( e x c e pt a m a nn e d f r e e b a l l oon) that is b e ing used for f l i g ht

i nstru c t i on unl e ss t h a t air c raft h a s ful l y f un c t i oning du a l cont r ols

. " U A S s and r e mo t e l y pi l oted

a ir c raft, b y t h e ir d e si g n, do not ha v e f un c t ional du a l cont r ols. I nst e a d, fli g ht con t rol is acc omp l ished

thro u g h t h e use o f a d e vice t h a t c o m m unic a tes w i t h the a ir c r a ft via r a dio c om m unic a t i ons.

A cc o r din g l y

, a n e x e mp t ion wi l l be r e quir e d for the f l i g h t i nstru c t i on r e quir e ments of 14 C

. F .R. §

91.109 (a ).

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

Giv e n the si z e a nd sp ee d of the U A S s that BA in t e nds to us e

, a n e quiv a lent lev e l of s a fe

tr a in i n g c a n sti l l be p e r f

o r med wi thout du a l c ontrols be ca u s e no pi l ot or p a sse n g e rs a r e a bo a rd the

U AS, and a s r e quir e d b y the BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man u a l s, a ll p e rsons w i l l be a s a fe dis t a n c e a w a y in

t he e v e nt t h a t t he U A S e x p e ri e n ce s a n y dif f i c ul t ies du r ing f

l i g ht i nstru c t i on. Mor e ov e r, a s r e qui r e d

b y the BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls, a ll f l i g ht tr a in i ng will be c ond u c ted in cont r ol l e d a nd st e rile

environme n t. As a whol e

, the s a f e t y pr o ce du r e s p r ovided f or in BA ' s O p e r a t i ons M a nu a l s e nsure

that the p r o posed U A S op e r a t i ons p r ovide a n e quival e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y th a n that p r ovided

b y t h e f l i g ht i nstru c t i on re g ulatio n s.

J. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.119(c): M i n i m u m S a f e Alti t ud e s

BA r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om t he m i ni m u m sa f

e a l t i t ude re qu i r e m e nts of 14 C. F .R.

§ 91.119( c )

. 1 5 S ec t i on 91.119 p re s c rib e s t h e m i ni m um sa f e a l t i t ud e s und e r whi c h a ir c r a ft m a y not

ope ra te, in c lud i n g 5 0 0 f

e e t abo v e the su r f

a c e a nd a w a y f

rom a n y p e rson, v e ssel, v e hicl e , or stru c ture

in non

- c o n g e st e d a r e a s. S e e 14 C

. F .R. § 91.119 (c ). S ec t i on 91.1 1 9 ( d) a l l ows f or a h e l i c opter to

op e r a te a t le ss t h a n those m i ni m um a l t i tudes w h e n it ca n be o p e r a ted " without h a z a rd to p e rsons or

pro p e r t y on t h e sur f

ace

, " p ro v ided th a t " e ac h p e rson o p e r a t i n g the h e l i c opt e r c omp l ies w i t h a n y

rout e s or a l t i t ud e s spe c ifi c a l l y p re s c rib e d for h e l i c op t e rs b y the F A A

. "

An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d b eca use t h e pro p osed U AS ope ra t i ons will norm a l l y n e e d to o cc ur

b e low 4 00 fe e t A G L

. I n c ir c ums t a n ce s wh e re the U AS i s used to insp ec t a stru c tu r e whose h e i g ht

e x c e e ds 400 f

e e t A G L , the U AS wi l l not be op e r a t e d more t h a n 100 fee t abo v e the h i g h e st point on

the stru c tur e

, a n d with i n 50 fee t hori z ontal l y of the str u c tur e

. A d di t ional l y , d u e the n a ture of the

p ropos e d o p e r a t i ons, the P i l ot and/or Obs e rvers ( s) m a y n ee d t o be less than 500 f e e t a w a y f

rom the

U AS.

____________________

1 5 R e l i e f f

rom § 91.119 ( a ) will not be n ece ssa r y b e c a use Petitioner will be a b le to p e r f o r m an

e me r g e n c y landi n g without undue h a z a rd to p e rs o ns or p r op e r t y on the g r o und in t he e v e nt of a

f a i l u re

. P e t i t i on e r ' s pro p osed U A S op e r a t i ons wi l l not o cc ur ov e r c o n g e st e d a r e a s, a nd the r e fo r e a n

e x e mp t ion f

r om § 91.119(b) will not be n e c e ssa r y

. S e e e .g ., G r a nt of Ex e mp t ion No. 11157 to

S lu g w e a r, I n c ., d b a L

i k e on a tr e e A e ri a l (FA A

- 2 014

- 0534 a t 15 ).U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 20

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

Compa re d to fli g ht op e rat i ons with roto rc r a ft w e i ghing f a r mo r e than t h e ma x i m um w e i g hts

propo s e d h e r e in, a nd g i v e n the l ac k o f f l a m m a ble f

u e l wi t h the U A S s, a n y r isk a ssoci a ted w i t h

these o p e r a t i ons is f

a r l e ss t h a n t h ose th a t pr e s e nt l y e x ist with conv e nt i on a l a ir c r a ft. A n e quiva l e nt

l e v e l of s a f

e t y will be ac h iev e d g iven the si z e , w e i g ht, and s p ee d of the U A S s, a s w e ll the c ontr o l l e d

loc a t i on wh e re t h e o p e r a t i ons will oc c u r

. I n o r d e r to a void a n y risk to m a nn e d a ir c r a ft, f l i g ht

op e r a t i ons will be re stri c ted to 400 fee t A G L o r b e lo w , or w h e n inspe c t i ng a str u c ture w h ose he i g ht

e x cee ds 400 f

ee t A G L , with i n 100 f

e e t a bove the h i g h e st point on that stru c ture a n d 50 fee t

hori z ontal l y of t he stru c tur e

.

As s e t fo r th i n the Op e r a t ions Man ua ls, the U ASs will be op e r a ted in a r e st r ict e d a re a

, a nd

a ll f l i g hts will be op e r a ted a t a l a te ra l d i sta n c e of a t l ea st 500 f e e t f r om a n y non p a rticip a t i n g p e rsons,

unl e ss t h a t pe r s o n is i n a posit i on wh e re he or she is s hield e d f rom the U AS and a n y poss i ble d e b r is

r e sul t ing f

r om UAS f

a i l u re

. As r e quir e d b y t h e Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, f l i g hts will be te r m i n a ted if a

nonp a r t i c ipating p e rson with i n 500 fee t of the U A S le a v e s a shi e lded position. F u r the r

, U A S

op e r a t i ons will oc c ur a t l ea st 500 fe e t a w a y f rom v e hicl e s o r stru c tur e s unl e ss t he p r op e r t y

own e r/ c ontroll e r h a s g r a nted p e rmission and the P I C h a s made a s a f

e t y a ssess m e nt of the r isk of

op e r a t i ng c loser to t hose obje c ts and, o p e r a t i ons n e a r the P I C o r Obs e rver w i l l not p re s e nt an und u e

h a z a rd p e r § 9 1 .119 ( a ). Adh e ren c e to these r e strictions in BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Man ua l s will e nsure

op er a t i ons ca n be c ond u c ted without c ompromising s a f e t y

. 16

K

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.121: Al t i m e ter S e t t i n gs

BA s e e ks an e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.121, whi c h r e qui r e s a pe r s on op e r a t i n g a n a ir c r a ft to

m a in t a in c r uis i ng a l t i t ude or f l i g ht le v e l b y r e f

e r e n c e to an a l t i m e ter that is set to the e lev a t i on of

the d e p a r ture a irpo r t or b a rom e tr i c pr e ssur e

. An e x e mp t ion i s r e quir e d to t he e x tent that the U ASs

do not have a b a rom e tr i c a l t i m e te r , but r a th e r a GPS a l t i t ude rea d out.

1 6 S e e e .g.

, G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11138 to Dougl a s Tr u d ea u ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0481 a t 19 ) :

" I f b a rr i e rs or stru c tur e s a re p re s e nt that ca n suf f i c ient l y p r ot e c t nonp a rtic i p a t i ng p e rsons f r om the

UA or d e b r is in the e v e nt o f a n a c c ident, then the UA m a y op e r a te c loser than 500 f e e t to p e rsons

a f fo r d e d s u c h p r o te c t i on. The op e r a tor m u st a lso e nsure t h a t nonp a rtici p a t i ng p e rsons r e main un d e r

such p rot ec t i on. I f a s i tuation a ris e s w h e re nonp a rtici p a t i ng p e rsons le a v e such p rot e c t i on a nd a r e

with i n 5 00 f

e e t of the U A

, fli g ht o p e r a t i on s must cea s e i m medi a te l y

. W h e n c onsid e ri n g how to

i m medi a te l y c e a se op e r a t i ons, the p rima r y c on ce rn is the s a f e t y o f those nonp a rticip a t i ng p e rson s

.

I n a ddi t ion, the F AA finds that op e r a t i ons m a y b e c ondu c ted c los e r than 500 f e e t to v e ssels, v e hicl e s

a nd s tru c tur e s w h e n the own e r/ c ontroll e r o f a n y s u c h v e ssels, v e hicl e s or stru c tur e s g r a nts p e rmi ssio n

f o r th e op e r a t i on a nd the P I C mak e s a s a f

e t y a ssessment of the risk of op e r a t i ng c loser to those

obj ec ts and d e t e rmin e s that it does not pr e s e nt an undue h a z a rd

. "U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 21

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

The F A A h a s s t a ted th a t a n e quival e nt l e v e l o f s a f e t y to t he r e quir e m e nts of 14 C. F .R. §

91.121 ca n be ac hie v e d in ci rc ums t a n c e s wh e r e : ( 1) the U ASs will be op e r a ted b e low 400 f ee t A G L

or b e lo w 17

, ( 2) with i n V L OS, (3) wh e r e GPS b a s e d a l t i t ude info r mati o n is r e l a y e d in r e a l t i me to

the op e r a tor a t a g roun d

- b a s e d o n

- s c r ee n disp la y a nd, (4) w h e re p r ior to eac h fl i g ht, a z e ro a l t i t ude

in i t i a t i on p o int is establish e d for the P I C to co n fi r m a cc u r a c y of the onbo a rd G PS

. 18

The U A S s that BA i ntends to use f or the p r o p osed op e r a t i ons will m e e t all t h e se op e r a t i on a l

c h a ra c te r is t i c s. Mor e ov e r, a s r e qui r e d b y BA ' s O p e r a t i ons Man ua ls, t he P I C will be re qui r e d to

c a l i b ra t e the a ir c r a f

t ' s GPS c ompa s s prior to e ac h fli g ht op e r a t i on. L ike p rior F A A S ec t i on 333

G ra nts of E x e mp t ion, t he U A S s BA in t e nds to us e

, a nd the sa fe t y m i t i g a t i on p r o ce du r e s co n tain e d

in t he Op e r a t i ons Manu a l s

, both ensu r e that a n e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y will be ac hiev e d, a nd a

G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o the re quir e ments o f § 191.1 2 1 is t h e r e fo r e a ppro p ri a te.

L

. 14 C. F

. R. § 91.151 ( a ) : F u e l R e qu ir e m e n ts f or F l i g h t in V F R Con d itio n s

BA r e qu e sts a n e x e mp t ion f r om 14 C

. F .R. § 91.151 (a ) ' s f u e l r e qui r e ments f

o r f l i g ht in V F R

c ondi t ions. S ec t i on 91.151 st a tes:

( a ) No p e rson m a y b e g i n a fl i g ht in a n a irpl a ne und e r V F R c ondi t ions unless ( c onsid e ri n g

wind a nd fo r eca st w ea t h e r c ondi t ions) the r e is e nou g h fu e l to fly to the fi r st po i nt of int e nd e d

la n ding a nd, a ssu m ing nor m a l c r uis i ng s p ee d

–

(1) Du r i n g the d a y , to fly a ft e r th a t f o r a t l ea st 30 m i nutes; or

(2) At ni g ht, t o f

l y a ft e r t h a t for a t le a st 45 m i nutes.

H e r e , the t ec hnol o g ic a l l i m i tations on U A S b a t t e ry po w e r m ea ns t h a t no m ea ni n g ful fli g ht

ope r a t i ons ca n be c ondu c ted w hi l e st i ll maintaining a 3 0

- m i nute b a t ter y r e s e rv e . An e x e mp t ion f r om

t he f u e l r e quir e ments of 14 C

. F .R. § 91.151 (a ) is the r e fo r e r e quir e d.

____________________

1 7 I f t h e h e i g ht o f the str u c t u r e b e i n g inspe c ted e x ce e ds 400 fe e t A G L

, the U A S will not be op e r a ted

more than 100 f

e e t a bove the hi g h e st po i nt on t he stru c tu r e

.

1 8 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11062 to Astr a e us A e ri a l ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0352 a t 2 1 )U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 22

Eq u ival e n t Le v e l of Sa

f e ty

I n the G ra nt o f E x e mp t i o n to VD O S ( E x e mp t ion No. 11112 ) , the FAA d e t e r m ined th a t an

e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f

e t y to t he f

u e l r e qui r e ments for f

l i g ht i n V F R c ondi t ions could be ac hie v e d

b y p r ohib i t i ng t h e P I

C f r om be g inn i n g a DJI Phantom f l i g ht un l e ss ( c onsid e r i ng wind a nd fo r e ca st

w ea ther c ondi t ions) the r e w a s en o u g h po w e r to f l y to t he f

irst i ntend e d point of l a nding a nd,

a ssu m ing norm a l c ruising sp e e d, to f l y a ft e r th a t f

or a t l ea st 10 m i nutes. I n reac hi n g th i s c on c lus i on,

the F A A c o n side re d that the U AS bat t e ri e s for t h e DJI Phantom p rovid e d pr o vide a ppro x i m a te l y

50 m i nutes of p ow e r e d fli g ht ( w i t h p a y l o a d) a nd p rovid e d b a t t e r y le v e l and b a t t e r y t i m e re maini n g

in m i nutes a nd s ec onds to the P I C

. 1 9 The F A A a lso c onsid e r e d the f ac t that the DJI Phantom

op e ra t i ng manu a l s t a tes: “ st a rt e v e r y f l i g ht wi t h a f

ul l y c h a r g e d b a t te r y in t he aer ial v e h i c le ”

, a nd

that in t he e v e nt t h a t t he U A S should run low on pow e r , the P I C will be a le r ted a nd ca n land t h e

DJI Phantom a s s oon a s p o ss i ble. L ike the V D O S G ra nt of E x e mp t ion, BA ' s use o f the DJI

Phantom

, c omb i n e d with t he re qui r e ments of Peti t ion e r ' s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, ensu r e t h a t a n

e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f

e t y c a n be ac hie v e d.

S i m i l a r l y , in t he G r a nt of E x e mp t ion t o Al a n P u r w in (E x e mp t ion No. 1116 1 ), the F A A

d e te r m i n e d that a n e quival e nt l e v e l of s a f e t y to t he f

u e l r e quir e ments f

o r f l i g ht i n V F R c ondi t ions

could be ac hi e v e d b y p rohibiting the P IC f r om b e g inn i ng a fli g ht with t he DJI Phantom unless

(c onsid e ri n g wind a nd f o re ca st w e a ther c o n di t ions), the r e w a s e no u gh pow e r to f l y a t norm a l

c r uis i ng s p ee d to the intend e d landi n g point a nd land the UA with 2 5% ba t t e r y po w e r r e mainin g

.

BA will a dh e re to t his l i m i t a t i on f o r DJI Phantom f

l i g hts.

The DJI Phantom includ e s a low b a t t e r y w a rni n g s y s tem a nd the a mount of b a t t e r y re s e rve

pow e r r e maining is t r a nsm i t t e d to t he P I C via t e l e metric d a ta f

ee d, w h i c h d ownlinks f

rom the U A S

to a g r ound

- b a s e d

- on

- s c re e n displ a y

. 2 0 As re quir e d b y BA ' s Op e r a t i ons Man ua ls, the P I C will

prompt l y f

l y the U A S b ac k to t he home l a un c h loc a t i on or p r e

- d e te r m i n e d a bort loc a t i on wh e re t h e

U A S m a y s a f

e l y land, w hi l e st i l l m ain t a in i ng a m i ni m um of 2 5 % re s e rve b a t t e r y pow e r. BA

s ubm i ts t h a t t he p ro c e dures r e quiri n g f l i g hts t o be s a f

e l y te r m i n a ted o n c e the b a t t e ri e s f a ll b e low

2 5 % ca p a c i t y

, c omb i n e d with t he re quir e ment that f l i g hts on l y b e c ondu c ted w i t hin a s e c u r e

,

iso la ted a r ea , usi n g a U A S w e i g ht i n g less than 5 5 pounds, a nd with i n V L OS of the P I C a nd

O b s e rv e r (s )

, e nsu r e that the p r opos e d op e r a t i on will pro v ide a n e quiva l e nt or hi g h e r l e v e l of s a f e t y

t o that p r ovided b y t h e r e g ulations f rom w hich e x e mp t ion i s sou g ht.

________________________

1 9 G ra nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11112 to VD O S Glob a l, L L C ( F A A

- 2014

- 0382 a t 1 0 )

.

2 0 The DJI Phantom g round c ontrol s t a t i on displ a y s, t he U A S s posit i on, n a vi g a t i on rout e , tail

numbe r

, a l t i t ud e , h ea di n g, no r th se e ki n g a r ro w

, ra n g e to tar g e ts, c a lcul a ted ta r g e t pos i t i on, d a te/t i me,

a nd s e nsor h ea ding a nd o ri e ntation r e la t ive to the U AS

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 23

VI. DRUG AND A L C O HO L P R OG R AM

BA will h a ve pol i c i e s in pla c e to ensu r e t h a t no pe r son m a y p a rticip a te in UAS fli g ht

op e r a t i ons if th e y a re un d e r the influ e n c e of a lcoh o l or a n y d r u g

.

VII. P UB L IC INT E REST

The publ i c in t e r e st will be se r v e d b y g ra n t i n g BA ' s P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion. Con g r e ss h a s

est a bl i shed a n a t i on a l po l i c y that fa v o r s e a r l y in te g r a t i on of U AS i nto t he N A S in c ontroll e d, sa f e

wo r ki n g e nvironme n ts s u c h a s th o se pro p osed in t his P e t i t i on. G ra nt i n g th i s P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion

h e l ps ful f i l l C on g r e s s ' g o a l i n p a ss i ng S ec t i on 333 ( a ) th r o u g h (c) of the R e fo r m A c t

— the F AA

A dm i nis t r a tor ' s ass e ss m e nt of w h e ther ce r t a in UAS m a y o p e r a te s a f e l y in the N AS be f

o r e

c omp l e t i on of the statutori l y r e qu i r e d rul e maki n g

.

The pro p osed U AS ope r a t io ns in th i s P e t i t i on f o r E x e mp t ion s i g nifi ca nt l y i mprove sa fe t y

a nd r e du c e r isk h a rm or s e rious in j u r y to personnel

. T r a di t ional methods of disaster

- search and

rescue e x pose personnel to r isks of h a rm or se r ious i nju r y

. Without the use of UAS most real life

emergen cy operations require personnel to work in a wide variety of dangers whi c h e x poses them

t o be subjected to r isk s of life threatening d a n g e rs

. P r o x i m i t y to e quip m e nt disasters such as oil

and gas rigs and other implement equipment o f ten involves e x posure to ha z a rdous c h e m i ca ls,

o x y g e n

- d ef

ici e nt atmosph e r e s, fires and other dangers associated with manmade disasters. The use

o f s m a ll U A S m i t i g a tes th e se h a z a rds a nd is ul t i m a te l y a much s a f e r m e thod of p e r f

o rming nearly

all t y p e s of EM operations

.

The use o f s m a ll U A S s a lso e n h a n ce s s a f e t y a nd r e du ce s risk b e ca u s e , unl i ke mann e d a ir c r a ft

w e i g hi n g thous a n ds of pounds, ca r r y i n g c r e w in a ddi t ion t o fl a m m a ble f u e l, the U ASs ca rr y no

p a sse n g e rs or cr e w

. F u rth e r, in the u n l i k e l y e v e nt of a n a c c ident, BA ' s s m a ll b a t t e r y pow e r e d U A S s

p r e s e nts s i g nifi c a nt l y l e ss dang e r to p e rsons on the g r ound wh e n c ompa re d to op e r a t i ons b y

c on v e nt i on a l m a nn e d a ir c r a ft

. 2 1 As Petit i on e r ' s U ASs a r e b a t t e r y pow e r e d, the publ i c will a lso

ben e fit f r om a re d u c t i on in ha r mful e m i ss i ons a ssoci a ted w i t h the F AA in prior S e c t i on 333 G ra nts

of E x e mp t ion to search and rescue and disaster recovery

, U ASs p r ovide a n a ddi t ional tool f or ae r i a l

search and rescue and disaster recovery

, a ddi n g a g rea t e r de g ree of f l e x i bi l i t y

, w hich supplem e nts

t he c u rr e nt ca p a bi l i t ies o f f e r e d b y m a nn e d a i r c r a ft

. 22

____________________ 2 1 S e e G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11158 to T ea m 5, L L C ( F A A

- 201 4

- 0783 a t 12):

" Man n e d h e l i c opte r s c o n du c t i ng a e ri a l reconnaissance c a n w e i g h 6,000 p ounds or more a n d a re

op e r a ted b y a n onb o a rd pi l ot, in a ddi t ion to other onbo a rd c r e wm e m b e rs, a s n ece ss a r y . The

p e t i t i on e r ’s U A s will w e i g h less t h a n 55 pounds with no o nbo a rd pi l ot or c r e w. The pi l ot a nd c r e w

will be r e mo te l y l o ca ted f r om the a i r c r a ft. T h e l i m i ted w e i g ht si g nifi c a nt l y r e du c e s the potential for

h a rm to p a rticip a t ing a nd nonp a rticip a t i ng ind i viduals or p r op e r t y in the e v e nt of a n incid e nt or

a c c ident. The risk to a n onbo a rd pi l ot a nd c rew duri n g a n incid e nt or a c c ident is e l i m i n a t e d with the

use o f a U A f

or the a e ri a l search and rescue reconnaissance o p e r a t i on

. "U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 24

VIII. P RI V ACY

All BA U A S op e r a t i ons will be c ondu c ted in acc o r d a n c e with applic a b le fe d e r a l, stat e , or

lo ca l l a ws re g ar ding priv a c y

. All ope r a t i ons shall be c ondu c ted o v e r p r ivate o r c ontroll e d

- a cce ss

pro p e r t y with p e rmission f r om t he land o w n e r

/ c ontroll e r or a uthori z e d r e p re s e ntative. Pe r m i ss i on

f r om l a nd own e r/ c ontroll e r or a uthori z e d r e p r e s e ntative w i l l be obtain e d for e ac h fl i g ht t o be

c ondu c ted.

IX. F E DERAL R E G I S TE R S U MM ARY

P u r suant to 14 C

. F .R. P a rt 11, the f ol l owing su m ma r y is p ro vid e d for pub l ic a t i on in t he

FE D E R A L R E G I S TE R

, sho u ld i t be d e te r m i n e d that p ubl i ca t i on is n ee d e d:

P e t i t i on e r s ee ks an e x e mp t ion f r om t he f ol l owing rul e s in T i t l e 14 of the Code of F e d e r a l

R e g ulations:

P a rt 21, Subp a rt H; P a rt 27; 45.23(b ) ; 45.27( a ); 6 1. 113; 91.7( a ); 91.9 ( b ) ( 2 ); 91.9 (c );

91.103; 91.109( a ); 91.1 1 9 ( c ) ; 91.121; 91.151 ( a ); 91.203 (a ) & ( b ) ; 91.40 5 ( a ); 91.407 (a ) (1 ) ;

91.409 (a ) ( 1 ) & (2 ) ; 91. 4 17 ( a ) & ( b )

.

The e x e m p t i on will e nh a n c e sa f e t y b y re d u c ing r i sk to the g e n e r a l pub l ic a nd p r op e r t y

own e rs f rom the substan t ial h a z a rds a ssoci a ted with pe r fo r m i n g e quiva l e nt film work a nd a e ri a l

search and rescue efforts, law enforcement, firefighting support, police, ranching and real estate

operations, agriculture a n d pr e c is i on a e ri a l surv e y s wi t h c onv e nt i on a l fi x e d

- wing a i r c r a ft,

roto rc raft, or other m e thods.

X. C O NCLUS I O N

BA ' s P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t ion satisfi e s the c rite r ia a rticul a ted in S ec t i o n 333 of the R e fo r m A c t of

2012 inc l uding w e i g ht, sp e e d, op e r a t i ng ca p a bi l i t ies, p r o x i m i t y to a irpo r ts an d populat e d a re a s,

op e r a t i on with i n V L OS and n a t i on a l se c u r i t y . The p ropos e d U A S op e r a t i ons will b e n e fit the publ i c

a s a whole b y i m p r oving s a f e t y a nd r e d u c ing risk b y a l l e viati n g human e x posure to dang e r. I n

c onsid e r a t i on of the f

o re goin g , th i s P e t i t i on f

o r E x e mp t ion provid e s the F AA with m o r e t h a n

a d e qu a te justific a t i on f

o r g ra nt i ng the re q u e sted e x e m pt i ons a l l owing BA to use sm a ll U AS s fo r :

conducting search operations in Mountainous terrain in support of state and county search and

rescue efforts, law enforcement, firefighting support, police, fire and rescue education and

capability demonstrations, commercial photography and videography in support of ranching and

real estate operations in Montana and agriculture survey operations.

2 2 S e e e .g

., G r a nt of E x e mp t ion No. 11178 to P icture F a c to r y

, I n c

. ( F A A

- 20 1 4

- 0794 a t 18 )

.U.S. D e p a rtme n t of T r a n sport a t io n

Aug 17 th , 2015

P a g e 25

We thank you for your prompt consideration of our requested exemptions.

Respectfully submitted,

Should you have any questions, or if you need any additional information to support the

requested exemptions, please contact the undersigned at:

Bridger Aerospace

P hon e : 651

- 592

- 5140

Email: timsheehy@bridgersolutionsgroup.com

( T he f ol l owi n g a t t ac h e d i tems c ontain p r opri e t a r y a nd c om m e r c i a l i n f o r ma t ion e x e mpt f

rom

disclosure und e r the F r e e dom of I n fo r mation A c t, 5 U.S. C . § 522 e t seq.

, a nd should be h e ld i n a

s e p a r a t e f i l e pursu a nt t o 14 C. F .R. § 11.35 ( b ) ).

A t ta c h me n ts:

1. General Ope rations Manual

2. PIC Operating Manual

3. Company Protocols

4. Location Protocols

5. Flight Communications Protocols

6. Departing Location Protocols

7. Transmitter Protocols

8. Preflight Checklist

9. Post Flight Checklist

10. Equipment Checklist

11. UAS Manufacturer’s Manuals

a. User Manua ls

b. UAS Maintenance Manuals