AT 209 Lab 6 - MFE Believer Altitude Waiver

This week we were tasked with writing an altitude waiver for future flights with the MFE Believer. In this post, I'll summarize the details of this waiver.

1. We selected the Animal Sciences Research and Education Center (ASREC) as our flight area. (https://maps.app.goo.gl/EAvhy69dHWJqeQP97)

2. Our team consists of:

   1. Ben Giebel 

   2. Austen Mark 

   3. Cam Perry 

   4. Jack Keough

3. MFE Believer Specs:

   1. Size:  

Wingspan - 1960mm (77.16in) 

Fuselage Length - 1070mm (92.12in.)  

Fuselage Height - 180mm (7.1in)  

2. Approx. Weight: 

Maximum T/O Weight: 5.5kg (12.12lbs) 

Minimum T/O Weight: 4.2kg (9.25lbs) 

3. Flight Duration:  

Using the 16,000mah 6S configuration, our endurance is about 90km (56mi). Assuming an average current draw of 12.5 A, the estimated flight duration is around 1.26 hours or about 75 minutes. (https://www.racer.lt/item/ldpower-fa2814-510kv-motor-9643.html) 

4. Cruise Speed:  

The cruise speed for the MFE Believer is 20 meters/sec, or 44.7 miles/hour

4. Waiver vs Authorization and our choice

   1. Under an airspace authorization, sUA pilots must be compliant with the rules and regulations of Part 107 while operating in an approved airspace. This is typically done by applying for and receiving LAANC. For an operational waiver, the pilot specifies which Part 107 operating limit(s) they would like to exceed for the mission they plan to do and how they intend to prove it will be safely done. 

   2. We will be applying for an operational waiver.

5. Risk Assessment and Mitigation Steps Table:

Figure 1: Screenshot of risk assessment table.

5. These 3 events represent the hazards that come with an operation with our conditions. This table is based on AC 107-2A, Appendix A, Figure A-2.

Application:

Here are some screenshots from the application draft.

Figure 2: Images from Application Draft

Here is a picture our submission confirmation.

Figure 3: Submission Confirmation

As of 10/19/2024, we have not heard back from the FAA regarding this waiver.