Moran Surveying Drone Exemption 1jz-8lid-llx0, review process

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

 

Regulatory Document No.1jz-8lid-llx0

 

IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR EXEMPTION OF:

MORAN SURVEYING INCORPORATED

FOR AN EXEMPTION SEEKING RELIEF FROM THE REQUIREMENTS OF

TITLE 14 OF THE CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS

SECTIONS 61.113 (a) & (b), 91.7 (a), 91.121, 91.151 (b), 91.405 (a), 91.407 (a) (1), 91.409 (a) (1) & (a) (2), and 91.417 (a) & (b)
CONCERNING COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF THE 3DR X8-M UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
PURSUANT TO SECTION 333 OF
THE FAA MODERNIZATION AND REFORM ACT OF 2012 (PUBLIC LAW 112–95)

 

Submitted on 5 October 2015
Stephen F. Moran, PLS, MBA
Moran Surveying Incorporated
14 William Ave
Pembroke, MA 02359
Tel: 781–293–5601
Fax: 781–293–1952
Professional Land Surveyors
www.moransurveying.com sfmoran@moransurveying.com
sfmoran62@gmail.com

SUMMARY

Moran Surveying Incorporated (MSI) seeks exemption from the requirements of 14 CFR section 61.113(a) & (b), 91.7(a), 91.121, 91.151(b), 91.407(a)(1), 91.409(a)(1) & (a)(2), and 91.417(a) & (b), to operate an unmanned aircraft system pursuant to section 333 of the FAA modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA). Obtaining this exemption will permit Moran Surveying Incorporated to operate an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) for the commercial purpose of conducting aerial acquisitions within the National Airspace System (NAS).

 

INTRODUCTION AND INTERESTS OF THE PETITIONER

Moran Surveying Incorporated (hereafter referred to as “MSI”) is a registered professional land surveying business located in Pembroke, Massachusetts. MSI is an MBE veteran owned and operated small business that serves the communities surrounding Pembroke, including Boston, southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands. It is owned and operated by Stephen F. Moran, a registered Professional Land Surveyor and veteran rotary and fixed wing pilot. Moran has been engaged in the practice of land surveying since the 1980s and has held a license (MA registration #41611) in this practice since 2000. In addition, Mr. Moran is a veteran rotary wing pilot with over 4100 hours of time in the national airspace and five other countries. In addition to Moran's surveying license, he also holds a commercial rotary wing license with a fixed wing rating. Moran is also a military qualified instructor pilot and instrument flight examiner. This makes Mr. Moran uniquely qualified for a UAS exemption for commercial applications in conjunction with professional land surveying.

BACKGROUND

Unmanned Aircraft System: 3DR X8-M (UAS)

MSI seeks exemption to operate the 3DR X8-M for compensation or hire within the NAS. The 3DR X8-M and is comprised of a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft (UA) and a transportable Ground Control Station (GCS). The 3DR X8-M has a maximum gross weight of approximately 7.3 pounds; measures approximately 20 inches in length, 13 inches in width, and 11.8 inches in height and has a recommended speed of approximately 11 mph. The 3DR X8-M is equipped with eight rotors arranged in 4 quadrants each quadrant having two motors and two rotor blades. Each motor is being driven by a lithium polymer battery powered electric motor.

Aerial Survey Done By Moran Surveying

The survey below was done utilizing tradition aerial methods. These types of surveys can now be done faster and more efficiently with a unmanned aerial system. A capability Moran Surveying is currently refining.









 

 

 

 





It's really 5.2 degrees of separation

I'm taking a data science class to break up the monotony and learned the process used to determine the social phenomena known as "six degrees of separation." It's from a study done by Jeffrey Travers of Harvard and Stanley Milgram of City College of NY. The results were published in December of 1969. The original study question was, given the size of the U.S. what is the probability that 2 randomly chosen individuals know each other. If they don't then what is the minimum number of intermediaries needed to link them. The professors sent letters to 269 random people and asked them to forward the letters to 269 randomly chosen individuals. For example I send you a letter and ask you to send it to John Smith in Atumwa, Iowa. If you know John Smith of Atumwa, Iowa then boom task complete, if you don't please forward the letter to somebody you do know in the area and ask them to push it forward. 269 letters were sent out and 69 made it to there appointed person. On average for those 69 letters that made it, it took 5.2 intermediaries to get the letter to the final destination. In 2008 a similar experiment was done using social media and a sample size around 30 million. The number of intermediaries grew to 8.0 but I think that experiment might have included individuals in other countries. Anyway, now you know. A bit of useless trivia to pass on at the water cooler or the coffee pot.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Business Trivia

"GE CF-34 engine, the best-selling engine in regional jet history, has surpassed over 5000 engines in over 170 operators"

"Every eight seconds a CF-34 powered regional jet aircraft takes off from somewhere in the world and CF-34 engines travel the equivalent of 210 times around the planet each day carrying 500,000 passengers to thier destinations"

Chandrakanth R. "Powering Regional Avaition" AIRBUZ June-July 2014: 14 V7:33

Expanded Survey Capabilities

I have expanded the capabilities of my survey company. Moran Surveying   purchased two Trimble 4700 GPS base stations and a rover unit. The 4700  will reduce the amount of time needed to perform field work.
  

For example, let's say you are trying to refinance your home.  Unbeknownst to you the  banker says they require an elevation  certificate because your home or  property is shown in a flood zone. An  elevation certificate requires a survey to establish an elevation congruent  with those shown on the local  FEMA Flood rate maps. This  elevation is  rarely close to your house.  That means it takes an inordinate amount of  field time which translate  into a higher costs. This is not the case  anymore.
  
With the Trimble GPS units,  I can set an elevation close to your home   thus reducing the time in the field and saving you money. 
 
If you have any survey questions call or email us.

Steve Moran PLS
sfmoran@moransurveying.com
www.moransurveying.com

781-293-5601

Super Bowl Jet Traffic

Due to the luxurious nature of private air charter and jet ownership, tracking trends in private air travel can be fascinating. For example, more spectators arrive at the Super Bowl in private jets than at any other regular event. And Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles has seen more than 250,000 private jet landings and takeoffs in each of the past several years, making it by far the busiest airport.(1) Speaking of the Super Bowl and private jets, Newburgh International (KSWF) is one of the destination airports for this years Super Bowl. This information was gleaned from one of my many stops there. When I travel to Harrisburg PA I usually stop for gas at KSWF. The employees at Atlantic Air the FBO (Fixed base operator) have been preparing for Super Bowl jet traffic since the 2013 season began. (2)

Reference:

1) Wings Air Helicopters

2) Interaction with FBO Persons

Politics and Game Theory

For the last two weeks the entire country has been focused on the political games being played in Washington. The burning question being, why can't all sides come to some sort of compromise. Justin Fox in an article written for the Harvard Review uses the concepts of Game Theory to offer some explanation. 

Fox suggests that  the current impasses is similar to game theory whereby it is an     "interaction among “agents” who “base their decisions on limited information about actions of other agents in the recent past, and they do not always optimize.” 

The recent past being the passing of the Affordable Care Act. It is obvious that this decision did not optimize for both parties. The liberals see it as a win for the uninsured and the president sees it as his signature piece of legislation. The conservatives see it as another Big Goverment program destined to destroy the fledgling economic recovery by draining the already overburdened taxpayer. The limited information being, nobody can predict the future, hence we really don't know how the new legislation will effect the economy. 

For all anybody knows Big business might realize great savings by dropping health care coverage, preferring the less costly penalty. United Parcel Service (UPS) has choosen this option. What if they were to utilize the saving to hire more people and buy more trucks. Then everybody wins. But, as I mentioned above nobody can predict the future.

So how does this impasse end?

The answer lies in the reason for the divided. Game Theory goes on to suggest that, "Excessively polarized behavior may be the unhappy result of dependence on tacit coordination and maneuver.” 

This is where we enter into the game. The electorate needs to verify any tacit  or unspoken belief. Call your representative and let him know how you feel. If the elected official is assured of his political future he may decide to further is career by being the one to step into the political devide. Alternatively he or she may decide to end their political career by doing the same. So keep up the pressure. 

References to game theory taken from an article written by Justin Fox. This article titled "understanding the game being played in Washington" was written for the Harvard Business Review, October 4, 2013.

Today Financial Headlines

Considering today's financial headlines this headstone seemed appropriate (according to CNBC)

"...Gold's decline is feeding on itself" ...now at a three year low

GDP growth down to 1.8%...

"Cramer: Wind Now 'Out Of The Sails' for Housing

1.2 million in U.S. Currency missing. A U.S. bank was repatriating cash from it's 

Swiss branch office when it discovered 12 packets of $100.00 dollar bills missing. Each packet contianed $100,000.00. Bummer

"Dish network withdraws offer to buy Clearwire." Now I have to unload my rsther large position I had in Clearwire. So much for insider information. Just kidding