Lawyer And Pilot Peter Sachs Receives Exemption To Fly A Paper Airplane Commercially

Make of this what you will. The FAA last week granted a Section 333 exemption to noted UAV advocate, lawyer, and commercial helicopter pilot Peter Sachs for his PowerUp 3.0 smartphone-controlled powered paper airplane.

Apparently, the FAA determined that Sachs use of the paper airplane to “conduct aerial photography and videography” is in the public interest.

Forbes reports that the FAA said Sachs "submitted a valid petition for exemption, and we granted the requested relief."

Taylor Toys says that its device can transform a normal paper airplanes into "smartphone-controlled flying machines" with a range of 180 feet and 10 minutes of endurance.

Sachs told Forbes that even with the exemption, he could not fly the paper airplane commercially because his commercial helicopter certificate is not current.

Sachs also took a jab at the FAA, saying that granting the exemption shows the FAA has "abandoned all logic and sensibility" in declaring a 0.6 ounce paper airplane is an "aircraft."

(Image from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/how_to_file_a_petition/