# 2 4 5 18 7 2 v .1

WV Ariel Photograph y , LL C John A. Rogers , Managing Partner 7 Rock Branch Road Poca, WV 25159 John.rogerswv@gmail.com October 5 , 2 015
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t i o n o f WV Ariel Photography, LLC f o r E x e m p t i o n pur s u a n

t to Se ct i o n 333 o f t h e F A A R e f o r m A c t
. De a r S i r o r Ma d am , Pur suan t to Se ct i o n 333 o f t h e F AA M o d ern i z at i o n and R e f o r m Act o f 2012 ( t h e “R e f o r m A c t ”), and 14 C FR P art 11, WV Ariel Photography, LLC a nd John A. Rogers ( c o ll ec t iv e l y, t h e “ A p p l i c a n t ” ) , p r iv at e p i lo t and o p erat o r o f S ma l l U nm a nned A ir cr a f t S y s t e m s ( “ s U A S ”) equ ipped t o c o nduct a e r i a l p h o t o g r aph y and v i de o gr a p h y, h er e by ap p l i e s f

o r an e x e m

p t i o n f r o m c e rt a in F e der a l Av i at i o n R egu l at i o n s ( “F AR s ”) to a l lo w c o mm e r c i a l o pe r at i o n o f i t s s U A S s , s o lo ng as s u c h o pe r a t i o ns ar e c o nduc t ed w i

t h in a nd u nder c o nd i

t i o n s o u t lined h e r e in o r as ma y b e e s t ab l i s hed by t h e F A A a s r equ i r ed by Sec t i o n 333
. 1 As de s c r ibed mo r e f

u lly b e lo w, t h e r e q

u e s t ed e x e m

p t i o n w o u ld pe r mi

t t h e o per a

t i o n o f s m a l l , unm a nn ed a nd r e l at iv e ly in e xp e n s ive s U A Ss und er c o n tro ll ed a i r s pace t h at i s ( 1) l i m i

t e d ; ( 2) p r ede t e r mine d ; and ( 3) c o n tro ll ed as t o a c c e s s . A

p p r o v a l o f t h i s p r o p o s ed e x e m p t i o n w o u ld t h e r eb y e nh a n ce s a f

e t y a nd f u l f ill t h e S e cre t ary o f Tr an s p o r t a t i o n ’ s ( t h e “ F A A A d m in i s t r at o r ’ s ” ) r e s p o n s ib i l i

t i e s to “ e s t ab l i s h r equ ir e m e n t s f o r t h e s a f e o pe r a t i o ns o f s u c h a i

r c r a f t s ys t e m s in t h e n at i o n a l a i

r s p a c e s ys t e m . ” Sec t i o n 333 ( c) o f t h e Re f o r m A c t
. **S U**  **M M**  **ARY** T h e A p p l i c a n t i s a me d i a/t e c hn o log y c o m p a ny o w n ed a nd run by John A. Rogers , and p l a n s t o o pe r a t e a s UA S to p ro v i de c o mm er c i a l s e r v i c e s i n c lu d ing ae r i a l s ur v e ying, e v e n t p h o t o gr a p hy and v i de o gr aph y, r e a l e s t at e p h ot o gr a phy a n d v i de o gr a

phy a nd s i

t e in s p ec t i o ns . T h e A p p l i c a n t s eeks a n e x e m

p t i o n t o o pe r a

t e t h e D J I P h a n

to m 3 P ro f

e ss i o n a l s ys t e m ( t h e “P h a n t o m 3”) f o r c o m p e n s at i o n o r h i

r e w i t h in t h e Nat i o n a l A i

r s pace ( “N A S” )
. T h e P h an to m 3 i s a v ert i ca l t ake o f

f a nd l a nd ing s U A S w i

t h a G r o un d C o n

tro l S t at i o n ut iliz ing e l e c t r o n i c t a b l et o r- 2
-

# 2 4 5 18 7 2 v .1 s m art p h o n e s y

s t e m s. T h e P h an

to m 3 h a s a ma xi m

u m gr o s s w e i g h

t o f app r o x im at e l y 2
. 8 p o und s , w i

t h a d i ag o n a l d i m e n s i o n o f 23
. 2 in c h e s , and a ma xi m u m s peed o f 16
. 4 f

eet per s ec o n d. T h e P h a nto m 3 i s equ ipped w i t h f o ur ma in r o to r s a

nd dr i v e n by L i

t h i u m P o l y m er b att e r y p o we r ed e l ec tr i c mo t o r s . Unm a nn ed A i

r cr a f t S ys t e ms ar e o f

t e n t im es s ee n as s upe r i o r to h e li c o p t e r s due to t h e s ma l l er dev i c e s , c h ea

p er equ i p m e n t and pe r s o nn e l c o s t s , r educed n o i se, a n d m u c h s m a l l er env ir o n m e n

t a l i m pact wh i c h p r o mot es pub li c s a f e t y. T h e A

p p li c an t i s pe t i t i o n ing f o r an e x e m

p t i o n t o e nab l e WV Ariel Photography , L LC t o o per a t e t h e P h a n

to m 3 equ i

pped w i t h a t h r ee - ax i s c am era g im

b a l a nd a 4K c am e r a. T h i s s U A S has a bu i l t in c a pabil i t y t o l im i t t h e h e i g ht i

t f l i e s a b o ve t h e gr o und, and to l im i

t t h e r a d i us o f t h e d i s t an ce i

t f lies f r o m t h e o pe r a

t o r . T h e P h a n

to m 3 a l s o h as t h e f

a il s a f e f u n c t i o n o f t h e auto p i lo t s ys t e m w h i c h m e a n s i f t h e c o mm u n i c at i o n b e t we e n t h e m a in c o n t ro ll er and t h e t ran s mi

t t er i s d i s c o nn ec t ed, t h e o u tp u t s o f a l l c o mm and s t i cks f r o m t h e c o n t ro ll er w i ll go t o t h e c e n

t er p o s i t i o n , and t h e s y s t em w ill auto mat i c a lly t r igger R e t urn to H o me a nd w i ll l a nd s a f

e l y. A c op y o f t h e P h a n

to m 3 U s er M an

u a l a nd S a f

e t y Gu i d e l in e s ( c o ll ec t iv e l y, t h e “ U s e r M a n u a l ”) ar e att ac h ed to t h i s A

p p l i cat i o n and s h ou ld b e r e f e r r ed to f o r a l l pe r f

o r ma n c e l im i

t at i o ns a nd f li g h t o per a t i o n s . A p r e - f l i g h t in s p e c t i o n w ill b e pe r f

o r med by t h e P i lot - in - C h arge ( t h e “P I C ”) in ac c o r danc e w i t h t h e U s er M an

u a l
. Pr o pe ll e r s w ill b e in s p e c t ed p r e - f li g h t an d a ny p r o p e ll e r w i

t h a n i ck o r crack w i ll b e r e p l ac e d w i

t h a ma n u f ac tur e r s a u t h o r ized p r o pe l l e r . T h e s U A S w i ll be ma in t a ined in ac c o rd an ce w i

t h t h e U s er M a n

u a l a nd o n l y m a n

u f a c tur e r ’ s a

u t h o r ized r e p l ac e m e n

t par t s w i ll be u s ed. T h e s U A S w i ll o pe r at e o n l y in l ine o f s i g h t and w i ll o perat e in acc o r dan ce w i t h t h e U s er M a n

u a l
. All f l i g h t s w il l o ccur o v er p r iv at e o r c o n t ro ll e d a c c e s s p r o pe r

t y w i t h t h e p r o pe r

t y o w n er ’ s o r t h e i r d u l y a p p o i n t ed r e p r e s e n

t a t iv e ’ s p r i o r c o n s e n

t and k n o w l e dge. T h e s U A S w i ll be o pe r a t ed b y M r . John A. Rogers M r Rogers h a s s i g n i f i c ant t r a in in g a nd e xpe r i e n ce o perat i

ng t h e P h a n

to m 3, in c lu d ing app r o x im at e l y 40 h o ur s o f s upe rv i s ed o per a

t i o ns as t h e p i lo t in c harge o f t h e P h a n to m 3. M r . Rogers e xp e r i e n c e w i ll en s ur e t h at t h e s U A S i s s a f

e ly o perat ed a

t a l l t im e s . S t a t u to ry A ut h o r i t y Sec t i o n 333, t i

t l ed “ Spe c i a l R

u l e s f o r C e r t a in U nm a nn ed A ir cr a f

t S y s t e m s , ” p r o v i des a mec h a n i s m f

o r s e e k in g e xpe d i

t ed FAA aut h o r izat i o n o f s a f e c ivil U A S o per a

t i o n s in Nat i o n a l A i

r s pace ( “ N A S” )
. Se ct i o n 333 ( a) s t a t es t h at t h e FAA “ s h a ll de t er mine if cert a in unm a nn ed a i

r c r a f t s y s t e m s ma y o pe r at e s a f

e ly in t h e n at i o n a l a ir s p a ce s ys t e m b e f o r e c o m p l e t i o n o f t h e ( c o m

p r e h e n s ive) p l a n a nd ru l e m ak in g r e q u ir ed by Sec t i o n 3 32 ( b )( 1) o f t h i s A ct o r t h e gu i d a n ce r e qu ir ed by se c t i o n 334 o f t h e A c t
. ” I n S e c t i o n 332 ( b )( 1 ) , C o ngr e s s made i t c l ear t h at Sec t i o n p r o v i d e s a me c h an i s m f o r “ e xpe d i

t ed o perat i o n aut h o r izat i o n” i f s e v e r a l f ac t o r s ar e me t
. T h e A p p l i c a n t mee t s a l l r equ ir e m e n

t s to per mi t F AA a pp r o v a l o f c o mm e r c i a l U A S o per a t i o n s and s u c h a n e x e m

p t i o n s hou ld b e gr an

t ed.- 3
-

# 2 4 5 18 7 2 v .1 I n acc or dan ce w i

t h 14 C FR § 11
. 81, t h e A p p l i c an t pr o v i des t h e f

o l lo w ing i n f

o r mat i o n in supp o rt o f i t s p e t i t i o n f o r e x e m p t i o n . **I .**  **Con t**  **act I**  **n f** 

**o r**  **m a**  **t io**  **n** WV Ariel Photograph y, LLC John A. Rogers , M a n a g ing M e m ber 7 Rock Branch Road Poca, WV 25159 John.rogerswv@gmail.com **II .**  **T he Speci**  **f**

**ic Section**  **s of**  **T i**  **t l**  **e 14 of**  **t he**  **Code of**  **F ed**  **e r**  **a l**  **Re g**  **u l**  **a t**  **ions F**  **r o**  **m Whi**  **c h**  **WV Ariel Photography, LLC Re**  **q u**  **e s**  **t s**  **E xe**  **m p**  **t ion**  **a r**  **e :**  14 C F R P art 2 1 S ubpart H 14 C F R P art 2 7, A i

rw o rt h in e s s S t andard s : N o rma l C at ego r y R o t o r cr a f t 14 C F R § 45
. 23 ( b ) 14 C F R § 61
. 113 ( a) & ( b ) 14 C F R § 91
. 7 ( a) 14 C F R § 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 C F R § 91
. 151 ( a) 14 C F R § 91
. 203 ( a) & ( b ) 14 C F R § 91
. 205 ( b ) 14 C F R § 91
. 215 14 C F R § 91
. 405 ( a) 14 C F R § 407 ( a) ( 1) 14 C F R § 409 ( a) ( 2) 14 C F R § 417 ( a) & ( b ) 14 C F R § 91
. 401
- 91
. 417 **III .**  **T he e**  **x t**  **ent of r**  **e l** **i e**  **f y**  **ou s**  **e e**  **k ,**  **t he**  **r ea**  **s on**  **you s**  **e e**  **k t**  **he r**  **e l** **ie f**  **, and**  **t he**  **r ea**  **s ons**  **why t**  **he e x**  **e m**  **p t**  **ion will**  **n ot adve**  **r s**  **e l** **y a**  **f f**  **ect s**  **a f**  **e t**  **y.** 14 C F R P art 2 1, S ubpart H: A i rw o r t h in e s s C ert i f

i c at es & 14 C F R § 91
. 203 ( a ) ( 1) Subp art H, e n

t i t l ed A i rw o rt h in e s s C e rt i f

i c a t e s , e s t a bl i s h e s t h e p r o c e dur al r equ i r e m e n t s f o r t h e i s s u a n ce o f a i

r w o r t h in e s s c ert i f

i c at es as r equ i

r ed by 14 C F R § 9 1
. 203 ( a) ( 1 )
. G iv e n t h e s i ze a n d li m i t ed o per a t ing ar ea a s s o c i at ed w i

t h P h a nto m 3, an e x e m

p t i o n f r o m Part 2 1 , S ubpar

t H me e t s t h e r equ i r e m e n t s o f an equ iv a l e n

t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y under Part 11 and Sec t i o n 333 o f t h e R e f o r m A c t
.- 4
-

# 2 4 5 18 7 2 v .1 T h e F eder a l Av i at i o n A ct ( 49 USC § 44701 ( f ) ) and S e c t i o n 333 o f t h e R e f o r m A c t b o t h aut h o r ize t h e F A A to e x e m pt a i r c r a f t s f r o m t h e r e q

u i re m e n t f o r an a i rw o r t h in e ss c e rt i f

i c a t e , u p o n c o n s i de r at i o n o f t h e s i z e , w e i g h t , s pee d , o pe r a

t i o n a l c a p a bi l i t y, a nd p r o x im i

t y t o a i r p o r t s and p o pu l at ed ar e a s o f t h e par t i c u l ar U A S. I n a l l ca s es an an a l ys i s o f t h e s e c r i t e r i a d e mo n s t r a

t e s t h at a s UA S o pe r at ed w i

t h o ut an a irw o r t hiness c e rt i f i ca t e, i n t h e r e s t r i c t e d e nv ir o nm e n t and und er t h e c o nd i t i o n s p r o p o s ed w il l b e at l e a s t as s a f e, or s a f e r , t h an a c o nv e n

t i o n a l a i r cr a f t ( f i x e d
- w in g o r r oto r c r a f t ) o pe r a t in g w i t h a n a i rw o rt hine s s c e rt i f

i c at e w i t h o ut t h e r e s tr i c t i o ns and c o nd i t i o n s p r o p o s e d. Here an e q

u iv a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y w i l l b e r e a c h ed b e c au s e t h e s U A S to b e o pe r a t ed h e r e u nder i s l e s s t h a n 55 lb s . f

u l ly l o a d ed, car

r i es n e i t h er a p i lo t n o r pa s s e n ge r , and c a rr i e s n o e xp lo s ive m at e r i a l s o r f

l a m m ab l e l i qu i d f

u e l s . B a s ed o n t h e s U A S ’ s li g h t we ig h t and c a rb o n f iber and p l a s t i c c o n s t r

u ct i o n , t h e s UA S w i l l b e at l e a s t as s a f e, i f n o t s a f

er t h an a c o nv e nt i o n a lly cert i f i c at ed a i r c r a f t pe r f o rming t h e s a m e mi ss i o n . T h e s e s a f e t y e nh a n c e m e n

t s , wh i c h a l

r e a d y ap p ly t o c iv i l a ir c r a f t o p er at ed in c o nn e c t i o n w i t h ex i s t ing in s p e c t i o n o pe r at i o n s , p r o v i de a gr e a t er d e g r ee o f s a f

e t y to t h e pub li c a nd p r o pe r t y o wn e r s t h an c o nv e n

t i o n a l o pe r at i o n s c o nduc t e d w i t h a i r w o rt h in ess c e rt i f

i c a t es i s s ued un d er 14 C F R P art 21, S ubpart H. L a s t l y, ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e s e s a m e c r i t e r i a d e mo n s t r at es t h at t h e r e i s n o c r e d ib l e t h

r eat to n at i o n a l s e cur i

t y p o s e d by t h e s U A S due to i t s s i z e , s p e e d o f o per a

t i o n , lo c a t i o n o f o pe r a t i o n , l a c k o f e xp lo s ive m at e r i a l s o r f l a m m a b l e l i qu i d f

u e l s , an d in abil i

t y t o c a rr y a s ub s t an t i a l e xt e rn a l lo ad. 14 C F R P art 2 7: A i

rw o r t h in e ss S t andard: N o rm a l C at e g or y R o t o r cr a f t
. 14 C F R P art 2 7 s e t s f

o rt h t h e p ro cedur al r equ i r e m e n t s f o r a i rw o r t h in e s s ce rt i f

i c a t i o n o f n o rm a l cat e g o r y r ot o r cra f

t
. T o t h e e xt e n

t t h e A p p l i c a n t ’ s s U A S w o u ld o t h e rw i s e r e qu i r e ce rt i f i cat i o n under Part 27, as a roto r c r a f t , t h e A p p l i ca n t r eque s t s an e x e m

p t i o n f r o m Part 27 ’ s a i

rw o rt h in e s s s t andar d f o r t h e s a me r e a s o n s i d e n

t i f i ed in t h e e x e m

p t i o n r e q ue s t f r o m 14 C FR P art 21, S ubpart H. 14 C F R 4 5
. 23 ( b ) , 45
. 2 7 ( a) and 91
. 9 ( c )

– M ark in g and I d e n t i f i cat i o n R equ i r e m e n

t s T h e A p p l i cat i o n s e eks a n ex e m

p t i o n f r o m t h e a i

r c ra f t mar k ing a nd i d e n

t i f i c at i o n r equ i

r e m e n t s in 14 C F R 4 5
. 23 ( b ) , 45
. 2 7 ( a ) , and 91
. 9 ( c )
. T h e s e r e g u l at i o n s r equ i

r e t h at w h e n marks in c lude o n l y t h e R o ma n ca

p i t a l l e t t er “

N” a nd t h e r e g i s t r a

t i o n nu m b er i s d i s p l a ye d o n lim it e d , r e s t r i c t e d or l i g ht s po r t c a t e go r y a i r cr a f t o r e x pe r im e n t a l o r p rov i s i o n a l l y c e r t i f i c a t e d a i r c r a f t , t h e o per a

tor m u s t a l so d i s p l a y ce rt a in t e rms n ear ea c h e n t r anc e to t h e ca

bi n, c o ckp i

t , o r p i lo t s t a

t i o n , in l e t t e r s n o t l e s s t h a n t w o i n c h e s o r mo r e t h a n s i x in c h e s hi g h
. Here, t h e s U A S w i ll n o t b e i ss ued an a i rw o r t h in e s s c e rt i f

i c at e and t h e r e w i ll be n o cab i n o r c o ckp i t u p o n wh i c h ce rt a in w o r ds ma y b e d i s p l a ye d. A

n equ iv a l e n

t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y f o r t h e s e e x e m

p t i o n s w ill b e re a c h ed by hav ing t h e s U A S marked o n i

t s f u s e l age w h ere t h e p i lot , o b s e rv e r , and o t h e r s w o rk ing w i t h t h e s U A S w i ll s ee t h e i d e n

t i f i c at i o n o f t h e s UA S as “E xp e r im e n t a l ”. T h e A

p p l i c a n t w i ll a l s o c o m

p ly w i t h a ny f urt h er r eque s t s f

o r s UA S m ark in g s by t h e F AA
. 14 C F R 6 1
. 113 P r iv at e p i lo t p r ivi l eg e s a nd l i m i t at i o n s .- 5
-

# 2 4 5 18 7 2 v .1 T h e r egu l a t i o n p r o v i d e s t h at n o pe r s o n t h at h o ld s a P r iv at e P i lo t ce r t i f i c a t e ma y a c t as a P i l o t in C o m m a nd ( “P I C ” ) o f an a i

r cr a f t f o r c o m p e n s at i o n o r h i

r e. S ubpargr aph ( b ) a l lo w s a p r iv at e p i l o t to act as a P I C o f a n a ir cr a f t in c o n nec t i o n w i

t h a ny bu s iness o r e m

p l o y m e n t i f t h e f l i g h t i s in c i d e n t a l to t h at bu s ine s s o r e m p lo y m e n t , and t h e a i

r cr a f t d o es n ot carr y pass e ngers o r p r o pe r t y f o r c o m p e n s at i o n o r h i

r e. B e c a u s e t h e s U A S w i ll not carr y a p i lo t o r pa ss e ngers a nd i s in h er e n t l y s t ab l e w i t h a s o ph i s t i cat ed c o m

put er and GPS c o n

tr o l s , t h e p ro p o s e d o per a t i o ns me e t t h e equ iv a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y as t h e r e gu l a t i o n by r equ ir ing t h e P I C o p er a t i ng t h e s UA S to h av e s ig ni f i c an t and e xt e n s ive e xp e r i e n c e o pe r a t in g t h e s U A S in a n o n - c o mm er c i a l e n v ir o nm e n t
. Furt h e r mo r e, t h e ar ea o f o per a t i o n i s c o n

t ro ll ed a nd r e s tr i c t e d , and a l l f l i g h t s ar e p l a nned an d co o r d in at ed in a dv a n c e acc or d in g t o t h e U s er M anu a l , and t h e f l i g h t s ar e o f l im i

t ed dur at i o n a nd a l t i t ude. 14 C F R 9 1
. 7 C iv i l A ir c r a f t A i rw o rt h in e s s . No s uch a i

r w o r t h in e s s ce rt i f

i cat e w i ll b e i s s ued f

o r t h e s U A S and t h e r e f

o r e t h i s r eg u l at i o n i s inap p l i c ab l e t o t h e A

p p l i c a n t ’ s s U A S. T h e A

p p l i c an t w il l e n s ur e t h at t h e s U A S i s in a irw o r t hy c o nd i t i o n s b a s ed up o n c o m

p li a nce w i

t h t h e o per a

t ing d o c u me n

t s p r i o r to e ve r y f

l i g ht , and de t er mine t h at t h e s UA S ar e in s a f e o p er a t i o n a l c o nd i

t i o n . G iv e n t h e s i ze o f t h e s U A S and t he r equ i r e m e n t s c o n t a in ed i n t h e U s er M a n

u a l f o r ma i n t e n a n c e and u s e o f s a f

e t y c h e c k li s t s p r i o r to ea c h f l i g h t , an equ iv a l e nt l e v e l o f s a f e t y w i ll b e p r o v i ded. 14 C F R 9 1
. 9 C iv i l A ir c r a f t f l i g h t m a n u a l , m ark in g and p l a c ard r equ i r e m e n t s . T h i s r egu l at i o n p r o v i d e s t h at n o per s o n ma y o per a te an a i r c r a f t un l e s s a cur

r e n t , a pp r o v ed f l i g h t m a n u a l i s in t h e a i

r c r a f t
. T h e a p p li c an t b e li e ves t h e in

t e n t o f t h i s r egu l at i o n i s t o e n s ur e t h at f li g h t ma n u a l in f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l ab l e t o t h e a i r crew wh il e o pe r at in g t h e a ir c r a f t
. T h e A

p p l i c an t r eque s t s an e x e m

p t i o n b e c a

u s e t h e a ir c r a f

t to too s m a ll t o car

r y t h e d o c u me n

t at i o n , and t h e d o cume n t at i o n w ou ld n o t b e av a il ab l e t o t h e crew dur in g f li g h t o pe r a t i o n s . T o o bt a in an equ iv a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y a nd meet t h e int e n

t o f Sec t i o n 91
. 9, t h e A

p p li ca nt p ro p o s es t h at a U s er M a n u a l b e m a de a v a i l ab l e to t h e crew a t t h e gro u nd s t a

t i o n an y t i m e t h e a i

r c r a f t i s in o r p r e p ar in g f o r f l i g h t
. 14 C F R 9 1
. 103 P r e f

l i g h t A c t i o n T h e A p p l i cat i o n s e eks a n ex e m p t i o n f r o m 91
. 103, wh i c h r equ i

r e s a P I C to b e c o me f

a m il i ar w i

t h s pe c i f i c in f o r m at i o n b e f

o r e ea c h f

l i g h t , in c lu d ing in f

o r mat i o n c o n

t a in ed in t h e FAA app r o v ed Fl i g h t M an u a l o n b o ar d t h e a ir cr a f

t
. A n FAA app r o v ed F li g h

t M an u a l w ill n o t b e p r o v i ded f o r t h e s UA S, and t h e r e f

o r e an e x e m

p t i o n i s r equ i

r ed. An e q

u iv a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y w i ll b e p r o v i ded by f o l l o w ing t h e s U A S M a n

u a l ’ s c o m p r e h e n s ive p r e f

l i g h t c h ec k l is t
. T h e P I C w i ll t ake a l l ac t io n s , in c lu d ing r e v i e w ing weath e r , f l i g h t b att ery r equ i

r e m e n t s, l a nd ing a nd t ake o f

f d i s t an c e s , and a i r c r a f t pe r f o rm a n ce dat a, b e f

o r e in i t i at i o n o f f

l i g ht
. 14 C F R 9 1
. 119 M ini m

u m S a f e A l t i t ud e s . T h e r egu l at i o n e s t abl i s hes s a f e a l t i t udes o f c ivil a i r c r a f

t and s t a t es t h at t h e min i m

u m s a f e a l t i t ude r equ i r e m e n t s under wh i c h a n a i

r cr a f t ma y n o t o pe r at e, in c lude 500 f eet a b o v e t h e s ur f

a c e and aw a y f r o m a ny p e r s o n , v e s s e l , v e h i c l e o r st ru ct u r e in n o n - c o n g e s t ed area s . S e c t i o n 91
. 119 ( d ) ( 1) a l lo w s f o r a h e li c o p t er to o pe r a

t e a t l e s s t h a n t h o s e a l

t i t udes wh e n i

t can b e o pe r at e d w i

t h o u t- 6
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# 2 4 5 18 7 2 v .1 h a z ard to p er s o n s o r p ro pe r t y o n t h e s ur f

a ce, p ro v i ded t h at ea c h per s o n o pe r a t in g t h e h e l i c o p t er c o m p l i es w i t h a n y r o ut es or a l

t i t udes s pe c i f

i c a lly p r e s c r ib ed f

o r h e li c o p t er by t h e FA A
. T o p r o v i de t h e in

t e nded p h o t o gr aph y a nd in s pec t i o n s t h e sU A S w i ll n o rm a l ly n eed t o b e o pe r a t ed w i t h in a r a nge o f b e tw e e n 50 and 200 f e e t f r o m t h e p ro pe r

t y b e ing f i lm e d o r p h ot o gr ap h ed, and t h e r e f o r e an e x e m

p t i o n i s r equ i

r ed. T h e A

p p l i c a n t s ubm i t s t h at an equ iv a l e n

t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y ma y b e a c h i e v ed b e c a

u s e o pe r a t i o ns w i ll o n l y b e f

l o w n o v er p ro pe r

t y o r pe r s o n s wh e r e pe r mi ss i o n h a s b e e n o b t a in ed a nd c ar e f u l p r e - p l a nn ed f

l i g h t pat h h as b e e n pe r f

o r me d
. T h e a i

r cr a f t w i ll b e o pe r a t ed a t a lo w a l t i t ude a l lo w i ng, i f t h e p o wer f a i l s , f o r an e merg e n c y l a n d ing w i t h o ut undue h a z ard to p er s o n s o r p ro pe r t y o n t h e s ur f

a ce. B a s ed o n t h e s ma ll s i z e o f t h e U A S , t h e h a z a r d to pe r s o n s , v e h i c l e s and s t ruc tu r e s i s l im i t e d w h e n co m

pared to ma nn e d a i

r cr a f t , w h i c h s h ou ld be c o n s i de r ed in gr an

t in g t h e e x c ep t i o n . 14 C F R 9 1
. 121 A l

t im e t er s ett ing s . T h i s r egu l at i o n r equ ir e s t h at a i r cr a f t s h a ll m a in

t a i n cru i s ing a l

t i t u des by r e f

er e n ce t o an a l

t im e t er s ett ing a v a i l ab l e w i

t h in 100 NM o f t h e a i

r c r a f t
. Th e s U A S w i l l a lw a ys f ly b e l o w 4 00 f

e e t a b o v e gr o und l e v e l ( “ AGL”) an d w i ll n o t n e e d to ma in t a in cr u i s ing a lt i t udes in o r der t o p r e v e n

t c o n f l i ct w i t h o t h er a i

r c r a f t
. A n equ iv a l e n

t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y w i ll b e a c h i e ved by f

o l lo w ing t h e p r o cedur es s et f o r in t h e U s er M an

u a l , a nd t h e P I C w i ll u s e t h e G P S a l t i t u de ind i c at o r to c o n s t an

t l y mo n i t o r t h e s UA S h e i g h

t , t h us e n s ur in g o perat i o n at s a f e a l t i t ude s . 14 C F R 9 1
. 151 Fu e l R equ ir e m e n t s f o r f li g h t in V FR C o nd i

t i o n s . T h e r egu l at i o n p r o v i d e s t h at n o pe r s o n ma y b e g i n a f l i g h t in a n a i r p l a ne under VFR c o nd i

t i o n s un l e s s t h e r e i s e n o ugh f

u e l t o f ly t o t h e f

i r s t p o in t of i n t e nded l a nd ing and t o f

ly a f t er t h at f o r a t l e a s t 30 min

ut e s , o r i f i n a r ot or cra f t f o r a t l ea s t 30 m inut e s . T h e A p p l i c a n t b e l i e v es t h at t h e in t e n t i o n o f t h i s par agr a

p h i s to p ro v i de a n e n e r g y r e s e rv e as a s a f e t y bu ff er f o r de l a ys t o l a nd ing. T h e b att ery p o we r in g t h e s U A S p r o v i d e s f o r app roxi m at e l y 23 m i nut es o f p o wered f l i g h t
. A n equ iv a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y c a n b e a c h i e ved by l i m i t i ng f l i g ht s to 20 min

ut es o r 2 5 % o f r e ma in in g b att ery p o w er, wh i c h e v er h app e ns f i r s t
. T h i s r e s t r i c t i o n w o u ld b e mo r e t h an adequat e to r et urn t h e s U A S to i

t s p l a nn ed l a nd ing z o n e f r o m a n y w h e r e w i t h in i t s l im i t ed o pe r a t in g ar e a . O per a

t i o n o f t h e s U A S w i

t h l e s s t h a n 30 minut es o f r e s e r v e f u e l d o es n o t e n ge nd e r t h e t y pe o f r i s k s t h at. M o r e o v er, o pe r a

t i o n w i ll b e l im i

t ed to c o n t ro ll ed ar e a s w h ere o n l y pe op l e a n d p r o pe r t y o wn ers o r o ff i c i a l r ep r e s e n

t at iv e w h o s i g n ed w a ivers w i ll b e a l l o we d
. Ba s ed o n t h e s e c o n s i d erat i o ns an equ iv a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y w i ll b e e n s ur e d. 14 C F R 9 1
. 203 ( a) & ( b ) C ivil A i r c r a f t : C e rt i f i cat i o n s R equ ir ed. T h e r egu l at i o n p r o v i d e s t h at an a i rw o rt hine s s c e rt i f

i c a t e , w i t h t h e r e g i s t r at i o n n

u m ber a s s i g n ed t o t h e a i r c r a f t and a r eg i s t r at i o n cert i f i c at e m u s t b e ab o ar d t h e a i

r c r a f t
. A d d i t i o n a l l y , s u bpar a gr a

p h ( b ) p ro v i d es t h at t h e a i

rw o r t h in e s s c e rt i f

i c a t e b e “ d is p l a ye d at t h e c a

b in o r c o ckp i

t e n t r an ce s o t h at i t i s l e g ib l e t o pa ss e n ge r s o r c r e w . ” H er e t h e s UA S i s too s ma ll to c a rr y d o c u me n t at i o n , d o es n ot h av e a n e n

t r an c e , a nd i s n o t capa

b l e o f c a r

r y i ng pa s s e n ge r s o r c r ew. T o o bt a in a n equ iv a l e n t l e v e l o f s a f

e t y a nd meet t h e int e n

t o f Sec t i o n 91
. 203, t h e A p p li ca n t p ro p o s es t h at d o cume n t s de e m ed ap pr o p r i at e f

o r t h e s UA S be w it h t h e c r ew at t h e gro und c o n t ro l s t a t i o n a nd av a i l ab l e f

o r in s pec t i o n up o n r eque s t
. I n o r der to i de n t i f y t h e a i r c r a f t , we p ro p o s e t h at t h e in f o r mat i o n f

o und o n a i

rw o rt hine s s a nd r e g i s t r a

t i o n ce rt i f i cat es b e pe r m a n e n

t l y a ff i xed to t h e- 7
-

# 2 4 5 18 7 2 v .1 a i r c r a f t v i ew p l a c ar d c o nt a in ing t h e f o l lo w ing in f

o r mat i o n p l

us t h e w o r d e x

pe r im e n ta l to s at i s f

y t h e r equ i r e m e n t o f 14 CF R 45
. 23. 14 C F R S ubpart E , S e ct i o n s 91
. 401
- 91 .4 17

– M a in t e nan c e, P r e v e n t iv e M a in t e n a n ce, and A l t erat i o ns T h e r egu l at i o n p r o v i d e s t h at t h e o pe r a t o r i s p r im ar ily r e s p o n s ib l e f o r ma in t a in ing t h e a i

r cr a f t in an a i r w o r t hy c o nd i t i o n , i n c lu d ing c o m

p l i a n ce w i

t h par t 39 and 43. Par a gr a

p h s 9 1
. 407 and 91
. 409 r equ i

r e t h at t h e a i

r c r a f t b e “ app r o v ed f

o r r et urn to s erv i ce by a pe r s o n aut h o r ized u nder 43
. 7” a f t e r ma in t e n a nce a nd in s p ec t i o n . It i s t h e Ap p li c an t ’ s in t e n t i o n t h at t h e P I C pe r f

o rm m a in te n a n c e and in s p e c t i o n o f t h e a ir cr a f t and “ b e a

ut h o r ized to a

p p ro v e t h e a i

r c r a f t f o r r et urn to s e rv i c e . ” T h e P I C w i ll e n s ur e t h at t h e a i r cr a f t i s in an a i

rw o rt hy c o nd i

t i o n p r i o r to e ve r y f

l i g h t and in ad d i

t i o n c o nduct d et a i l e d in s p e c t i o ns a f t er e v e r y t wo h o u

r s o f f l i g h t
. M a in t e n a n c e pe r f o r med by t h e P I C i s l i mi t ed to r epa i

r ing s m a ll c r a c k s , r e pl a c ing a p ro p e ll e r , c h e c k ing e l ec tr i c a l c o nn ec t i o n s a n d updat ing s o f t war e and f

i r m w are f o r t h e o n - b o ar d c o m

put e r . A l l ot h er m a in te n a n c e w i ll be pe r f

o rmed by t h e m a n

u f ac tur er o r t h e ir des i g n at ed r ep a i r f a c i l i t y . T h e P I C w i ll d o c u m e n

t wo rk pe r f

o rmed in a cc o r dan ce w i

t h 91
. 41 7
. Due to t h e s ize, c o n s t ru ct i o n a nd s im p l i c i t y o f t h e a i

r c r a f t , t h e P I C c a

n e ns ur e an e qu iv a l e n

t l e v e l o f s a f

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**i t**  **s o**  **f t**  **he UAS**  **t o**  **t he**  **P ub**  **l ic**  **a s**  **a who l**  **e** T h e A p p l i c a n t w i l l u s e t h e s UA S in a v ar i e t y o f ap p li cat i o n s t h at ge n e r a l ly r e q u i r e e xp e n s ive and f u ll
- s i z e ma n ned a i

r c r a f t to c o m p l e t e. S ma l l , li g h

t , unm a nn ed a e r i a l v e h i c l e s o ff er n u m e r o us b e n e f i t s o v er t h e u s e o f f

u l l
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t f o r r e a l pr o pe r

t y in s p ec t i o n s , and e v e n

t f ilm an d s t i ll p h o t o gr aph y. T h e s a f e o per a t i o n o f s U A S w i ll a l lo w a w i der r an ge o f ind iv i du a l s t o o b t a in t h e b e n e f

i t s o f a e r i a l p h o t o gr ap h , a t a ma n a gea

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l a m m ab l e m at e r i a l s w i

t h s m a ll U A S car

r y i ng n o p a s s e ng ers o r c r ew p r o v i d e s in c r e a s ed s a f e t y f o r p i lot s and c r e w . B y g r an t ing t h e A

p p l i c a n t ’ s r eque s t e d e x e m

p t i o n s , t h e FAA w i ll as s is t w i t h t h e de v e lo p me n

t and s a f e t y o f c o mm e r c i a l s U A S o pe r a t i o n s . T h e r e f

o r e, t h e F A A h as g o o d c a u s e to gr an

t t h i s a p p l i cat i o n . **V. A Sum**  **m a**  **r**

**y f**  **o r**  **P ub**  **l i**  **s hi**  **n g**  **in t**  **h e**  **F e**  **d e**  **r a**  **l Re**  **g i**  **s t**  **er** WV Ariel Photograph y, LLC s e e k s a n e x e m pt i o n f r o m t h e f o l lo w ing ru l e s : 14 C F R P art 2 1; 14 C F R Part 27; 14 C F R 45
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. 113 ( a) & ( b ) ; 14 C F R 91
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. WV Ariel Photography, LLC se e k s t h i s e x e mp t i o n f o r t h e pur

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rw o r t h in e s s c e rt i f

i c at e, f o r t h e l im i t ed pur p o s e o f c o nduc t ing ae r i a l v i d eo and p h o t o gr a p hy o v er ce r

t a i n areas o f t h e Un i

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t ing t h i s Pe t i

t i o n , t h e FAA A d m in i s t r a t o r w i ll be f

u l f ill in g t h e C o ngr e s s i o n a l m a ndat e o f t h e F AA M o de rn iz at i o n a nd R e f o r m Act o f 2012 w h il e a l s o a d v a n c ing t h e in

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t i o n o f t h e D J I P h a n

to m 3 U A S c o mm e r c i a lly w i

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