A Step Above Productions, Inc.

Attn:Walter Terry

8630 Ferris Ave. #406 Morton Grove, IL 60053

Phone: 773.655.8555

E

- Mail: wterry@astepaboveproductions.com

January 14, 2016

U. S. Department of Transportation Docket Management System 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE Washington, DC 20590

Re: Exemption Request Section 333 of the FAA Reform Act and Part 11 of the Federal Aviation Regulations from 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b);14 CFR Part 21; 91.7 (a);91.9 (b) (2);91.103(b);
91.109;91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a);91.203(a) & (b);91.405 (a); 91.407(a) (1); 91.409 (a) (2);91.417 (a) & (b).

Dear Sir or Madam: Pursuant to Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (the Reform Act) and 14 C.F.R. Part 11, A Step Above Productions, Inc. , a commercial video production company equipped to conduct aerial photography for corporate video and television, hereby applies for an exemption from the listed Federal Aviation Regulations (“FARs”) to al low commercial operation of its sUASs, so long as such operations are conducted within and under the conditions outlined herein or as may be established by the FAA as required by Section 333. 1

A s described more fully below, the requested exemption would permit the operation of small, unmanned and relatively inexpensive sUAS under controlled conditions in airspace that is 1) limited 2) predetermined 3) controlled as to access 4) during daylight h ours and 5) would provide safety enhancements to the already safe operations in the film and television industry presently using conventional aircraft. Approval of this exemption would thereby enhance safety and fulfill the Secretary of Transportation’s ( the FAA Administrator’s) responsibilities to “... establish requirements for the safe operation of such aircraft systems in the national airspace system.” Section 333(c) of the Reform Act.

The name, address , and aircraft of the applicant is:

A Step Above Productions, Inc. Attn:Walter Terry

8630 Ferris Ave. #406 Morton Grove, IL 60053

Phone: 773.655.8555

E

- Mail: wterry@astepaboveproductions.com

Aircraft: DJI Phantom 3 Standard

1 The conditions proposed by the applicant are drawn from Order 8900.1 CHG 0, Volume 3,
Chapter 8

- Issue a Certificate of Waiver for Motion Picture and Television Filming.Regulations from which the exemption is requested:

14 C FR Part 21 14 C.F.R. 45.23(b) 14 C.F.R. 91.7 (a) 14 CFR 91.9 (b) (2)

14 C.F.R. 91.103

14 C.F.R. 91.109

14 C.F. R. 91.119

14 C.F.R. 91.121 14 CFR 91.151 (a) 14 CFR 91.203 (a) & (b) 14 CFR 91.405 (a) 14 CFR 407 (a) (1) 14 CFR 409 (a) (2) 14 CFR 417 (a) & (b)

This exemption application is expressly submitted to fulfill Congress’ goal in passing Section 333(a) through (c) of the Reform Act. This law directs the Secretary of Transportation to consider whether certain unmanned aircraft syst ems may operate safely in the national airspace system (NAS) before completion of the rulemaking required under Section 332 of the Reform Act. In making this determination, the Secretary is required to determine which types of UASs

do not create a hazard to users of the NAS or the public or pose a threat to national security in light of the following:

• The UAS’s size, weight, speed, and operational capability;

• Operation of the UAS in close proximity to airports and populated areas; and

• Operation of the UAS within visual line of sight of the operator.

Reform Act § 333 (a). Lastly, if the Secretary determines that such vehicles “may operate safely in the national airspace system, the Secretary shall establish requirements for the safe operation

of such ai rcraft in the national airspace system.” Id. §333(c) (emphasis added) 2

.

The Federal Aviation Act expressly grants the FAA the authority to issue exemptions. This statutory authority by its terms includes exempting civil aircraft, as the term is defined

u nder §40101 of the Act, that includes sUASs, from the requirement that all civil aircraft must

have a current airworthiness certificate.

The Administrator may grant an exemption from a requirement of a regulation prescribed under subsection (a) or (b) of this section or any sections 44702

- 44716 of this title if the Administrator finds the exemption in the public interest. 49 U.S.C. §44701(f) See also 49 USC §44711(a); 49 USC §44704; 14 CFR §91.203 (a) (1). A Step Above Productions, Inc. ’s sUASs are roto rcraft, weighing 55 or fewer lbs. including payload. They operate, under normal conditions at a speed of no more than 50 knots and have the capability to hover, and move in the vertical and horizontal plane simultaneously. They will operate only in line o f sight and will operate only within the sterile area. Such

2 Applicant interprets this provision to place the duty on the Administrator to not o nly process applications for exemptions under section 333, but for the Administrator to craft conditions for the safe operation of the UAS , if it should be determined that the conditions set forth herein do not fulfill the statutory requirements for approv al.operations will insure that the sUAS will “not create a hazard to users of the national airspace

system or the public.” 3

Given the small size of the sUASs involved and the restricted sterile envi ronment within which they will operate, the applicant falls squarely within that zone of safety (an equivalent level of safety) in which Congress envisioned that the FAA must, by exemption, allow commercial operations of UASs to commence immediately. Also due to the size of the UASs and the restricted areas in which the relevant sUASs will operate, approval of the application presents no national security issue. Given the clear direction in Section 333 of the Reform Act, the authority contained in the Fed eral Aviation Act, as amended; the strong equivalent level of safety surrounding the proposed operations, and the significant public benefit, including enhanced safety, reduction in environmental impacts, including reduced emissions associated

with allowin g UASs for video operations, the grant of the requested exemptions is in the public interest. Accordingly, the applicant respectfully requests that the FAA grant the requested exemption without delay. AIRCRAFT AND EQUIVALENT LEVEL OF SAFETY The app licant proposes that the exemption requested herein apply to civil aircraft that have the characteristics and that operate with the limitations listed herein. These limitations provide for at least an equivalent or even higher level of safety to operation s under the current regulatory structure because the proposed operations represent a safety enhancement to the already safe movie and television filming operations conducted with conventional aircraft

.

These limitations and conditions to which A Step Abov e Productions, Inc. agrees to be bound when conducting commercial operations under an FAA issued exemption include:

1. The sUAS will weigh less than 55 lbs.

2. Flights will be operated within line of sight of a pilot and/or observer.

3. Maximum total flight time for each operational flight will be 10

- 12 minutes. Flights will be terminated at 30% battery power reserve should that occur prior to the 20

minute limit.

4. Flights will be operated at an altitude of no more than 400 feet AGL or, n ot more than 200 feet above an elevated platform from which filming is planned.

5. Minimum crew for each operation will consist of the sUAS Pilot, the Visual Observer, and the Camera Operator.

6. The UAS will only operate within a confined “Sterile Area” and req uires the establishment of a “Security Perimeter” for the flight operations area.

7. A briefing will be conducted in regard to the planned sUAS operations prior to each day’s production activities. It will be mandatory that all personnel who will be performi ng duties within the boundaries of the safety perimeter be present for this briefing.

8. The operator will file a FAA Form 7711

- 1, or its equivalent, as modified in light of the requested exemption, with the appropriate Flight Standards District Office.

9. The o perator will obtain the consent of all persons involved in the filming and ensure that only consenting persons will be allowed within 100 feet of the flight operation, and this radius may be reduced to 30 feet based upon an equivalent level of safety

deter mination, as required by Section K of the Manual.

10. At least three (3) days prior to any scheduled filming, A Step Above Productions, Inc. will submit a written plan of activities to the local FSDO having jurisdiction over that

area.

3 Reform Act Section 333 (b).11. Pilot and observer will have been tr ained in operation of UAS generally and received

up

- to

- date information on the particular UAS to be operated.

12. Observer and pilot will at all times be able to communicate by voice.

13. Written and/or oral permission from the relevant property holders will be ob tained.

14. All required permissions and permits will be obtained from territorial, state, county or city jurisdictions, including local law enforcement, fire, or other appropriate governmental agencies.

15. If the sUAS loses communications or loses its GPS signal , the UAS will have capability to return to a pre

- determined location within the Security Perimeter and

land.

16. The sUAS will have the capability to abort a flight in case of unpredicted obstacles or emergencies.

14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H: Airworthiness Certificates 14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) (1)

Subpart H, entitled Airworthiness Certificates, establishes the procedural requirements for the issuance of airworthiness certificates as required by FAR §91.203 (a) (1). Given the size and limited operating area associated with the aircraft to be utilized by the Applicant, an exemption from Part 21 Subpart H meets the requirements of an equivalent level of safety under Part 11 and Section 333 of the Reform Act. The Federal Aviation Act (49 U.S.C.§44701 (f)) and S ection 333 of the Reform Act both authorize the FAA to exempt aircraft from the requirement for an airworthiness certificate, upon consideration of the size, weight, speed, operational capability, and proximity to airports and populated areas of the partic ular UAS. In all cases, an analysis of these criteria demonstrates that the UAS operated without an airworthiness certificate, in the restricted environment and under the conditions proposed will be at least as safe, or safer, than a

conventional aircraft (fixed wing or rotorcraft) operating with an airworthiness certificate without the restrictions and conditions proposed.

The sUAS to be operated hereunder is less than 55 lbs. fully loaded, carries neither a pilot nor passenger, carries no explosive mate rials or flammable liquid fuels, and operates exclusively within a secured area. Unlike other civil aircraft, operations under this exemption will be tightly controlled and monitored by both the operator and in compliance with local public safety requirem ents, to provide security for the area of operation as is now done with conventional filming. The FAA will have advance notice of all operations. These safety enhancements, which already apply to civil aircraft operated in connection with motion picture and television production, provide a greater degree of safety to the public and property owners than conventional operations conducted with airworthiness certificates issued under 14 C.F.R. Part 21, Subpart H. Lastly, application of these same criteria de monstrates that there is no credible threat to national security posed by the UAS, due to its size, speed of operation, location of operation, lack of explosive materials or flammable liquid fuels, and inability to carry a substantial external load. 14

C.F .R. § 45.23 (b). Marking of the Aircraft

The regulation requires:

When marks include only the Roman capital letter "N" and the registration number is displayed on limited, restricted or light

- sport category aircraft orexperimental or provisionally certi ficated aircraft, the operator must also display on that aircraft near each entrance to the cabin, cockpit, or pilot station, in letters not less than 2 inches nor more than 6 inches high, the words "limited," "restricted," "light

- sport," "experimental," o r "provisional," as applicable. Even though the UAS will have no airworthiness certificate, an exemption may be needed as the UAS will have no entrance to the cabin, cockpit or pilot station on which the word “Experimental” can be placed. Given the size of the sUAV, two

- inch lettering will be impossible. The word “Experimental” will be placed on the fuselage in compliance with §45.29 (f).

The equivalent level of safety will be provided by having the sUAV marked on its fuselage as required by §45.29 (f) where the pilot, observer and others working with the sUAV will see the identification of the UAS as “Experimental.” The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation to Exemptions Nos. 10700, 8738, 10167 and 10167A.

14 C.F.R. §91.7(a): Civi l aircraft airworthiness.

The regulation requires that no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it is in airworthy condition. As there will be no airworthiness certificate issued for the aircraft, should this exemption be granted, no FAA regulatory standard will exist for determining airworthiness. Given the size of the aircraft and the requirements contained in the Manual for maintenance and use of safety check lists prior to each flight, as set forth in Sections J, L and Q, an equivalent level of

s afety will be provided.

14 C.F.R. § 91.9 (b) (2): Civil Aircraft Flight Manual in the Aircraft. Section 91.9 (b) (2) provides:

No person may operate a U.S.

- registered civil aircraft ...

(2) For which an Airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual is not required by §21.5 of this chapter, unless there is available in the aircraft a current approved airplane or Rotorcraft Flight Manual, approved manual material, markings, and placards, or any combination thereof.

The sUAS, given its size and configuration has no ability or place to carry such a flight manual on the aircraft, not only because there is no pilot on board, but because there is no room or capacity to carry such an item on the aircraft.The equivalent level of safety will be maintained by keepin g the flight manual at the

ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to it. The FAA has issued the following exemptions to this regulation: Exemption Nos. 8607, 8737, 8738, 9299, 9299A, 9565, 9565B, 10167, 10167A, 106 02, 32827, and 10700. 14 C.F.R. § 91.103: Preflight action

This regulation requires each pilot in command to take certain actions before flight to insure the safety of flight. As FAA approved rotorcraft flight manuals will not be provided for the aircra ft an exemption will be needed. The PIC will take all actions including reviewing weather, flight battery requirements, landing and takeoff distances and aircraft performance data before initiation of flight.

14 C.F.R. §91.109: Flight instruction :

Sect ion 91.103 provides that no person may operate a civil aircraft (except a manned free balloon) that is being used for flight instruction unless that aircraft has fully functioning dual

controls.

s UASs and remotely piloted aircraft, by their design do not have fully functional dual controls. Flight control is accomplished through the use of a control box that communicates with the aircraft via radio communications. The FAA has approved exemptions for flight training without fully functional dual controls for a number of aircraft and for flight instruction in experimental aircraft. See Exemption Nos.5778K & 9862A. The equivalent level of safety provided by the fact that neither a pilot nor passengers will be carried in the aircraft and by the size and spe ed of the aircraft.

14 C.F.R. §91.119: Minimum safe altitudes

Section 91.119 establishes safe altitudes for operation of civil aircraft. Section 91.119 (d) allows helicopters to be operated at less than the minimums prescribed, provided the person operating the helicopter complies with any route or altitudes prescribed for helicopters by the FAA. As this exemption is for a sUAS that is a helicopter and the exemption requests authority to operate at altitudes up to 400 AGL, or not more than 200 abov e an elevated platform from which filming is planned, an exemption may be needed to allow such operations. As set forth herein, t he UAS will never operate at higher than 400 AGL. It will however be operated in a restricted area with security perimeter, w here buildings and people will not be exposed to operations without their pre

- obtained consent. The equivalent level of safety will be achieved given the size, weight, speed of the UAS as well as the location where it is operated. No flight will be taken without the permission of the property owner or local officials. Because of the advance notice to the property owner and participants in the filming activity, all affected individuals will be aware of the planned flight operations. Compared to flight ope rations with aircraft or rotorcraft weighing far more than the maximum 55lbs. proposed herein and the lack of flammable fuel, any risk associated with these operations is far less than those presently presented with conventional aircraft operating at or

be low 500 AGL in the video production industry. In addition, the low

- altitude operations of the sUAS will ensure separation between these small

- UAS operations and the operations of conventional aircraft that must comply with Section 91.119.

14 C.F.R. §91 .121 Altimeter Settings

This regulation requires each person operating an aircraft to maintain cruising altitude by reference to an altimeter that is set “...to the elevation of the departure airport or an appropriate altimeter setting available before depa rture.” As the sUAS may not have a barometric altimeter,but instead a GPS altitude read out, an exemption may be needed. An equivalent level of safety

will be achieved by the operator and Safety Check list, confirming the altitude of the launch site

sho wn on the GPS altitude indicator before flight. 14 C.F.R. § 91.151(a): Fuel Requirements for Flight in VFR Conditions

Section 91.151 (a) prohibits an individual from beginning “a flight in an airplane under VFR conditions unless (considering wind and fo recast weather conditions) there is enough fuel to fly to the first point of intended landing, and, assuming normal cruising speed

– (1) During the day, to fly after that for at least 30 minutes; or (2) At night, to fly after that for at least 45

minutes.” The battery powering the sUAS provides approximately 20

- 25 minutes of powered flight. To meet the reserve requirement in 14 CFR §91.151, sUAS flights would be limited to approximately 10

- 12 minutes in length. Given the limitations on the UAS’s propos ed flight area and the location of its proposed operations within a predetermined area, a longer time frame for flight in daylight or night VFR conditions is reasonable. Applicant believes that an exemption from 14 CFR §91.151(a) falls within the scope of prior exemptions. See Exemption 10673 (allowing Lockheed Martin Corporation to operate without compliance with FAR 91.151 (a)). Operating the small UAS, in a tightly controlled area where only people and property owners or official representatives who h ave signed waivers will be allowed, with less than 30 minutes of reserve fuel, does not engender the type of risks that Section 91.151(a) was intended to alleviate given the size and speed of the small UAS. Additionally, limiting sUAS flights to 10

- 12 min utes would greatly reduce the utility for which the exemption will be granted. Applicant believes that an equivalent level of safety can be achieved by limiting flights to 15 minutes or 30% of battery power whichever happens first. This restriction would be more than adequate to return the sUAS to its planned landing zone from anywhere in its limited operating area.

Similar exemptions have been granted to other operations, including Exemptions 2689F, 5745, 10673, and 10808.

14 C.F.R. §91.203 (a) and (b): Carrying Civil Aircraft Certification and Registration

The regulation provides in pertinent part:

(a) Except as provided in § 91.715, no person may operate a civil aircraft unless it has within it the following: (1) An appropri ate and current airworthiness certificate. . . . (b) No person may operate a civil aircraft unless the airworthiness certificate required by paragraph (a) of this section or a special flight authorization issued under §91.715 is displayed at the cabin or cockp it entrance so that it is legible to

passengers or crew. The UAS fully loaded weighs no more than 55 lbs and is operated without an onboard pilot. As such, there is no ability or place to carry certification and registration documents or t o display them on the sUAS. An equivalent level of safety will be achieved by keeping these documents at the ground control point where the pilot flying the sUAS will have immediate access to them, to the extent they are applicable to the sUAS. The FAA has issued numerous exemptions to this regulation. A representative sample of other exceptions includes Exemption Nos. 9565, 9665, 9789, 9789A, 9797, 9797A, 9816A, and 10700.14 C.F.R. §91.405 (a); 407 (a) (1); 409 (a) (2); 417(a) & (b): Maintenance In spections

These regulations require that an aircraft operator or owner “shall have that aircraft inspected as prescribed in subpart E of this part and shall between required inspections, except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, have discrepanc ies repaired as prescribed in part 43 of this chapter...,” and others shall inspect or maintain the aircraft in compliance with Part 43. Given that these section and Part 43 apply only to aircraft with an airworthiness certificate, these sections will not apply to the applicant. Maintenance will be accomplished by the operator pursuant to the flight manual and operating handbook as referenced in the Manual.(See Sections L and Q) An equivalent level of safety will be achieved because these

small UASs are very limited in size and will carry a small payload and operate only in restricted areas for limited periods of time. If mechanical issues arise the UAS can land immediately and will be operating from no higher than 400 feet AGL. As provided in the Manua l, the operator will ensure that the UAS is in working order prior to initiating flight, perform required maintenance, and keep a log of any maintenance performed. Moreover, the operator is the person most familiar with the aircraft and best suited to mai ntain the aircraft in an airworthy condition to provide the equivalent level of safety.

*********

Pursuant to 14 C.F.R. Part 11, the following summary is provided for publication in the Federal Register, should it be determined that publication is need ed: Applicant seeks an exemption from the following rules: 14 C.F.R. §21, subpart H; 14 C.F.R 45.23(b);14 C.F.R. §§ 61.113( a) & (b);91.7
(a); 91.9 (b) (2);91.103(b);91.109; 91.119; 91.121; 91.151(a);91.203(a) and (b); 91.405 (a); 91.407 (a) (1); 91.40 9 (a) (2); 91.409 (a) (2) and 91.417 (a) & (b) to operate commercially a small unmanned vehicle (55lbs or less) in motion picture and television operations. Approval of exemptions allowing commercial operations of sUASs in the film industry

will enhance safety by reducing risk. Conventional film operations, using jet or piston power aircraft, operate at extremely low altitudes just feet from the subject being filmed and in extreme proximity to people and structures; and present the risks associated with vehicles that weigh in the neighborhood of 4,000lbs., carrying large amounts of jet A or other fuel (140 gallons for jet helicopters shown below). Such aircraft must fly to and from the film location. In contrast, a sUAS weighing fewer than 55 lbs. and p owered by batteries eliminates virtually all of that risk given the reduced mass and lack of combustible fuel carried on board. The sUAS is carried to the film set and not flown. The sUAS will carry no passengers or crew and, therefore, will not

expose t hem to the risks associated with manned aircraft flights.

The operation of small UASs, weigh ing less than 55 lbs., conducted in the strict conditions outlined above, will provide an equivalent level of safety supporting the grant of the exemptions request ed herein, including exempting the applicant from the requirements of Part 21 and allowing commercial operations. These lightweight aircraft operate at slow speeds, close to the ground, and in a sterile environment and, as a result, are far safer than con ventional operations conducted with turbine helicopters operating in close proximity to the ground and people. Privacy
All flights will occur over private or controlled access property with the property owner’s prior consent and knowledge. Filming will be of people who have al so consented to being filmed or

o therwise have agreed to be in the area where filming will take place.Satisfaction of the criteria provided in Section 333 of the Reform Act of 2012

-- size,

weight, speed, operating capabilitie s, proximity to airports and populated areas and operation within visual line of sight and national security

– provide more than adequate justification for the grant of the requested exemptions allowing commercial operation of applicant’s UAS in the

motion picture and television industry pursuant to the Manual appended hereto.

Sincerely,

Walter Terry

Co

- Founder A Step Above Productions, Inc.