Thursday, September 25, 2014
FAA Gives Nod To Hollywood For Drone Use
Hollywood is helping to pave the way for commercial use of unmanned aerial vehicles, thanks to a FAA ruling Thursday letting the film and television industry use drones in their filming efforts. According to the FAA, it will allow six aerial photo and video production companies to use unmanned aircraft systems in the National Airspace System.
The announcement was made by U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, along with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Chris Dodd, chairman and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). According to the FAA, it has given exemptions to Astraeus Aerial, Aerial MOB, LLC, HeliVideo Productions, LLC, Pictorvision Inc, RC Pro Productions Consulting, LLC dba Vortex Aerial, and Snaproll Media, LLC.--all of whom were represented by the MPAA--to use drones in their movie and television filming operations. The FAA said the companies will not need a FAA-issued certificate of airworthiness, after finding they do not pose a threat to national airspace users or national security. The FAA said the approvals are the first in an effort to open up wider use of drones by the film and television industry.
Drone image courtesy Don McCullough, via Flickr..