UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION WASHINGTON, DC 20591

In the matter of the petition of Robert Serino, for an exemption from part 21; 

### §§ 45.23(b); 61.113(a)&(b); 9l.407(a)(l ) ; 91.409(a)(2); 91.417(a)&(b ); 91.7(a); 91.9(b)(2); 91.103(b) ; 91.109; 91. 119 ; 9 1.1 21; 91.151(a); 91.203(a)&(b); 91.405(a) of Titl e 14 , Code of Federal Regulations. Exemption No. 11543A Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2015-0407

DENIAL OF EXEMPTION By letter dated July 6, 2016 , Mr. Robert M. Serino, 8953 Chapel Avenue , E llicott City, MD 2 1043, petitioned the Federal Av iation Administration (FAA) for a n exemption from part 21: 

### §§ 45.23(b); 61.113(a)&(b); 91.407(a)(l); 91.409(a)(2) ; 91.417(a)&(b) ; 91.7(a) ; 91.9(b)(2) ; 91.1 03(b) ; 91.1 09; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151 (a) ; 91.203(a)&(b ); 91.405(a) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations ( 14 CFR). The petitioner requested to renew Exemption No. 11543 , which expires May 31,2017, to operate UASs to conduct aerial photography. The petitioner supports its request with the following information: The original petition for exemption describing the proposed operation and the regulations from which the petitioner seeks exemption is posted to the docket. To view the petition, visit http ://www. reuu lations.gov, enter the regulatory docket number found on the first page of this document into the search box and c lick " Search," then click on the " Open Docket Folder" link next to a result associated w ith the docket number.

The FAA's analysis is as follows: The FAA has finalized the first operational rules for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems ( 14 CFR, part 1 07). The new rule is now in effect and offers safety regulations for unmanned aircraft drones weighing less than 55 pounds. The FAA has reviewed your request and detennined that your requested operation may be conducted entirely under part 107 , 

### Operation and Certification ofSma/1 Unmanned Aircraft Systems, without exemption or need for waiver under the provisions of 14 CFR 

### § 107.200

. Section 333 of Public Law 112-95 , 

### Special Rules for Certain Unmann ed Aircraft Systems (UAS), provided the FAA authority to authorize certain UAS operations. This incremental step provided a pathway for safe and legal civi l operation s in the Nationa l Airspace System2 

### (NAS) and was considered a bridge mechani sm until the implementation of part 107. Now that p art I 07 i s in effect, the vast majority o f operations autho ri zed under previously is s ued exemptions under Section 333, including the operations proposed in this petition for exemption , can be conducted under part 107

. T he se operations no longer necessitate an exemption. 

### T he FAA's decision: In con s ideration of the foregoing , I find that a grant of exemption is not in the public interest. There fo re, purs uant to the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 

### §§ 106(t), 40113, and 44701, delegated to me by the Administrator, the p etition of Robert Serino is hereby denied. The petitioner may begin operations in acco rd ance with 14 CFR, part 107: 

### Operation and Certifica tion of Small U nmann ed Aircraft System s at their discretion. Issued in Was hington , DC on 

# FEB 2 3 2017

John S. D un can Director, Flight St an dard s Service