WASHINGTON—Following a visit to a test site in Texas to review cutting edge demos of drone and counter-drone technologies, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan is highlighting the agency's efforts to implement President Trump’s proposals to achieve “American drone dominance” and has announced that the FCC is working closely with U.S. drone and UAV companies to carry out the administration’s policies.

As the next major step in the Commission’s work, the FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) and the Office of Engineering and Technology (OET) issued a public notice, seeking input on an array of reforms the Commission might take to achieve U.S. supremacy in drone technology, manufacturing, and operations.

“President Trump has been clear that the Administration will act to secure our airspace and unleash American drone dominance,” Carr said. “As the President’s national strategy outlines, the production, deployment, and export of American drones are core elements of U.S. national security, technological sovereignty, and global competitiveness.”

“At the FCC, we are doing our part to promote U.S. drone leadership by cutting red tape, modernizing obsolete regulations, and securing a domestic drone supply chain,” he added. “Today’s public notice is the next major step in that effort. We are seeking comment on a range of important actions, including modernizing experimental licensing, creating new drone innovation zones, and ensuring more spectrum for drone operators. I look forward to continue working alongside the all the relevant federal departments and agencies, in implementing President Trump’s strategy to secure American drone dominance.”

The Public Notice called “Unleashing American Drone Dominance” seeks input on “an array of reforms the Commission might take to unleash American drone dominance,” the agency reported.

As previously reported, it comes at a time when the U.S. has banned the sale new models of many popular drones made in China and other countries outside the U.S.

Late last year, following an Executive Branch national security determination, the FCC added foreign-produced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and UAS critical components to its Covered List of items that can’t be sold in America.

Subsequently, following another national security determination the FCC removed some of these devices from the Covered List. Even so, most foreign-produced UAS and UAS critical components are still prohibited from receiving authorization for the U.S. market and the FCC is expanding its efforts to support the deployment of drone technology in the U.S.

The FCC said it has been working to speed up the application process for UAS and Counter-UAS experimental licenses. Since January 2025, the Commission has granted 227 UAS experimental approvals, and, for the first time ever, 8 Counter-UAS experimental approvals.

These include experimental licenses for use by the Department of War as part of the implementation of President Trump’s Unleashing American Drone Dominance executive order. Compared to the previous four years, from 2021-2024, approvals granted by the FCC for UAS conventional experimental licenses have increased by 68%.

In the new public notice issued April 1, the FCC’s WTB and OET is seeking input on a variety of issues. The agency described those issues as follows:

• Alleviating unnecessary regulatory burdens that frustrate drone deployment, including Commission rules or policies—such as siting or device certification—that may create friction for the growth of a competitive, secure, and innovative domestic drone ecosystem.
• Ensuring that American drone manufacturers and users have access to sufficient spectrum for drone testing and operations, including services to the public.
• Facilitating and encouraging American firms’ investment in drone capabilities, developing infrastructure, and offering innovative and advanced capabilities.
• Ensuring that U.S.-based manufacturers and trusted suppliers have the regulatory clarity and technical access needed to scale production and secure investment.
• Coordinating more effectively with other federal agencies to align spectrum policies with national security imperatives and reduce the risk posed by untrusted foreign-origin UAS operating in U.S. airspace.
• Streamlining the FCC’s experimental licensing rules to facilitate more agile testing of UAS communications systems—including beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) links, command and control (C2) systems, detect-and-avoid (DAA) technologies, and secure navigation tools—across a broader range of spectrum bands.
• Establishing additional dedicated drone innovation zones or testbeds, in partnership with federal, state, academic, or private entities, and whether streamlining authorizations to help spur early-stage experimentation and commercialization.

The Public Notice and other information on the topic can be found here.

WASHINGTON–The Federal Communications Commission has revised a ban on the importation of new foreign-made uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) or drones by removing some models and components from the FCC Covered List of items that can’t be imported to the U.S.

In the wake of an executive order from President Donald Trump and a determination by an executive-branch Interagency body that foreign-made drones pose “unacceptable risks” to U.S. security, the FCC updated its “Covered List” of banned technologies and products in December 2025 to include all new foreign-made unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and all UAS critical components.

The move effectively banned the sale of new drones and components by the Chinese manufacturer DJI, which dominates the U.S. drone market, and other foreign makers.

The newest revision issued on Jan. 7 followed a National Security Determination from the War Department that certain “UAS and UAS critical components included on Defense Contract Management Agency’s (DCMA’s) Blue UAS list do not currently present unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or to the safety and security of U.S. persons. This determination includes UAS and UAS critical components included on the Blue UAS list now and until January 1, 2027. Additionally, until Jan. 1, 2027, the DoW has determined that UAS and UAS critical components that qualify as ‘domestic end products’ under the Buy American Standard do not pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States or to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

Reuters has reported that the list of imported drones that are now allowed for import until the end of 2026 includes models from Parrot, Teledyne FLIR, Neros Technologies, Wingtra, Auterion, ModalAI, Zepher Flight Labs and AeroVironment. It also reported that critical components for drones produced by “Nvidia, ModalAI, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung and ARK Electronics” can be imported.

The exemptions do not, however, include DJI, which provides many drones used in video production.

Users can however continue to use previously purchased drones from DJI and other manufacturers. In issuing the original ban and in the Jan. 7 announcement exempting some models and manufacturers, the FCC stressed that being on the Cleared List does not impact a consumer’s ability to continue using drones they previously purchased or acquired.

“Nor does today’s decision prevent retailers from continuing to sell, import, or market device models approved earlier this year or previously through the FCC’s equipment authorization process,” the agency said. “By operation of the FCC’s Covered List rules, the restrictions imposed by today’s decision apply to new device models.”

More information on the changes by the FCC are available here.

WASHINGTON–As the Federal Aviation Administration considers a notice of proposed rulemaking on regulations governing the use of unmanned aircraft vehicles (UAVs), the News Media Alliance has published an extensive analysis of the proposals and how they might affect news organizations.

On Aug. 7, the FAA released an NPRM called “Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations.”

The NPRM does not specifically address news operations, stating simply that newsgathering falls into a category called “aerial surveying" that also includes videography and photography.

“This action proposes performance-based regulations to enable the design and operation of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at low altitudes beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) and for third-party services, including UAS Traffic Management (UTM), that support these operations. The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 directs the development of this proposed rule,” the FAA reported.

“This proposed rule is necessary to support the integration of UAS into the national airspace system (NAS),” it added. “This proposed rule is intended to provide a predictable and clear pathway for safe, routine, and scalable UAS operations that include package delivery, agriculture, aerial surveying, civic interest, operations training, demonstration, recreation, and flight testing. TSA proposes to make complementary changes to its regulations to ensure it can continue to impose security measures on these operations under its current regulatory structure for civil aviation.”

Comments on the NPRM are due Oct. 6.

NMA, which is backed by over 2,200 publishers in the U.S., has provided a detailed breakdown of the proposals here.

Highlights of that analysis include the fact that newsrooms must continue to seek permission to operate drones beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS). Those permits would be valid for 24 months and have “less FAA surveillance,” than in the past, the NMA reported.

In addition newsrooms would not be permitted to have more than 25 active UAS in a fleet capable of BVLOS operations and the UAS could weight as much as 110 pounds, up from the current 55 pound limit.

More details about the impact and the proposals are available here.

OTTAWA—Recent changes to Federal Aviation Administration rules governing flight authorizations for drones (aka unmanned aerial systems/UAS or unmanned aerial vehicles/UAVs) now allow for expanded missions with less red tape. These changes, along with other recent positive advances, illustrate the advances that have taken place over the past decade as the use of UASs for TV coverage has blossomed.

More Trust from Regulators 
The responsible, disciplined approach to UAS pilot training and operations pursued by U.S. broadcasters has paid off. Impressed by their willingness to embrace the spirit of the law as well as the letter, the FAA has revised their rules to give the industry more flexibility. 

The new rules, “Remote ID and Operations Over People,” which the FAA published in December 2020, required UAS operators to be in compliance by September 2023 and signal a pathway to expanded flight operations, according to Jeff Rose, UAS Chief Pilot with Sinclair Broadcast Group. 

“With these new rules we now also have the ability to obtain LAANC authorizations [Low Altitude Authorization Notification Authorization Capability] for flying at night in restricted airspace,” Rose said. “This automated service allows near instantaneous authorizations for night flying in restricted airspace, which is a big benefit for newsgathering.”

Scott Wilder, senior vice president of field and production operations at Fox News, describes the FAA’s improved LAANC authorization application process as “the best advance that I can speak to on the regulatory front. What used to take 60 days now takes 60 seconds. It is a true game changer. The FAA is doing a phenomenal job with it.”

That’s not all: “The FAA has been working to make it easier to fly and easier to obtain permissions to fly in locations not previously available,” Wilder added. “The FAA is also proving to be 24/7. When we have waiver requests on a Sunday evening, we hear back in an efficient manner.”

Another area where the FAA is providing more leeway to responsible UAS operators is the “Operations Over People” rule applying to pilots who fly under Part 107 of the FAA regulations, according to Dr. Shaun Passley, founder of ZenaTech, developer of the ZenaDrone 1000 totally autonomous (self-flying) UAS. “This rule allows UAV pilots to operate at night under specific conditions and provided that they complete certain training or pass knowledge tests,” he said.

Remote ID Makes the Difference
The FAA’s more expansive attitude towards UAS operations is built upon its requirement for these aircraft to be equipped with Standard Remote ID (SRID) transmitters.

“SRID enables the transmission of the drone serial number, brand, GPS, geometric altitude, geometric location, velocity, time of the day, emergency status, and more,” said Claudio Lisman, president, CEO and founder of ProximaVision, a consulting firm specializing in drone and nanosatellite technologies. “UAVs must have their SRIDs operational from the moment of takeoff to shut down, broadcasting message elements at 1Hz [once per second], no later than one second after the measurement of position. In fact, the vehicle will not be able to take off unless it has transmitted all of the required message elements.”

Requiring UASs to carry and use SRIDs at all times makes it possible to integrate them into air traffic control systems alongside manned aircraft. As such, “making SRIDs mandatory in manufactured drones will enable much better traffic management, security, and new applications, such as flying over areas that have been restricted up to now,” Lisman added. “It will also allow flying UAVs over people, which in the case of news and production, is almost always required.”

The SRID requirement simply expands options, according to Wilder. “The SRID rule allows us more opportunities to have a drone in the air; most recently during Hurricane Ian, hours before the heart of the storm impacted the west coast of Florida,” he said.

“Remote ID also lays the foundation of the safety and security groundwork needed for more complex drone operations,” said Dr. Passley. “The rule provides crucial information to our national security and law enforcement partners and other agencies charged with ensuring public safety.” 

A New, Better View for TV News
Anyone who has been watching TV news the past two years knows how integral drone footage has become for covering stories effectively. Small wonder: Overhead drone footage can provide a framing context to a story unavailable to ground-based cameras. As well, the motion associated with drone footage makes any news story look better: it’s just more exciting to watch. 

These capabilities have allowed Fox News to cover stories in entirely new ways. Take for example, the influx of undocument immigrants at the Texas/Mexico border, where Fox News has been flying drones like the DJI Matrice with thermal imaging for over a year. This kind of high-tech capability “allows us to fly at night and show what looks like high-quality surveillance images of the migrant crisis,” said Wilder. “Every day we capture the surge of migrants happening that you can’t see from the same location on the ground. Our drone coverage on the border has changed the way that story is being told.”

That being said, what really makes UASs so useful to TV news departments is their ability to deploy extremely quickly and start capturing memorable footage fast. “A drone will almost always be able to arrive on the scene faster than a car or mobile unit,” Lisman said. “That is why drones are ideal for coverage of fires, demonstrations, war zones, and sports events applications in TV news and broadcast.”

These advantages explain why UASs are proving to be as significant an enhancement to TV news production as video cameras were with their instant access to recorded footage (compared to film), and satellite trucks for getting coverage out of anywhere fast. 

The result: “Local TV newscasts are using drone video daily for expanded storytelling as well as breaking news coverage,” said Rose. “Our viewers love drone video and have come to expect it regularly whether it is a compelling news story or just beautiful weather shots.” This is why Sinclair now employs 133 pilots across its station, many of whom carry a UAS with them as part of their kit. “This leads to fresh drone content daily,” he said.

BVLOS: The Next Frontier
As far as TV news UASs have come, there is still one frontier to be conquered: “Beyond Visual Line of Sight” (BVLOS) flight allows the ability to send UASs beyond the view of their operators, navigating their path by using video feeds from their cameras plus any onboard self-flying (autonomous) capabilities.

“Currently, the FAA provides waivers to professional pilots and certain organizations so they can fly BVLOS,” said Lisman; “however, those waivers are hard to obtain. The main limitation is the communication and range between the drone and pilot control. In addition, the latency needs to be very low when flying long distances. This is important, as the pilot needs real-time awareness of the topography and the terrain below.”

Historically, broadcasters such as Fox News have been “very conservative” in the kinds of UAS flight profiles they choose, an approach that has won them trust from the FAA and public alike.

“Safety is our number one priority,” Wilder explained. “I recently denied a request after thinking long and hard about it because I knew what was being requested would look amazing. But I also knew that a lower altitude safer version would be almost as amazing. We aren’t looking to impress anyone, we are looking to offer visual advantages that didn’t previously exist in the safest possible manner.”

The challenges of safe BVLOS flight are being addressed by UAS manufacturers and operators today. And when they are sufficiently resolved by SRID, onboard aircraft avoidance detection systems, and autonomous drones, expect TV news organizations to cross the BVLOS frontier in record numbers.

“In the future, when drones are flying everywhere for package delivery, there will likely be drones used for news gathering flown both with a pilot in the field as we do now and also piloted remotely from beyond visual line of site,” Rose predicted. “These BVLOS drone operations could potentially be piloted remotely from the TV station or pre-deployed as a ‘drone in a box’ at strategic locations. 

Rose said Sinclair will even use ATSC 3.0 technology as it becomes incorporated into drone flights, for greater precision and more accuracy. “The use of ATSC is 100 times more precise than GPS alone, allowing for more accurate navigation [from 3 meters with GPS down to 3 centimeters using ATSC datacasting],” he said. 

“Every day it gets better and better,” Scott Wilder concluded. “I think within several years every photographer will be a Part 107 pilot and have their own drone. That will be a big change to expect that every story assigned has a Part 107 photographer shooting the story with the ability to have aerial imagery.” 

MANASSAS, Va.—Thermal cameras and contactless spot thermometers are increasingly being used at the station level to safely check electrical wiring, power systems, HVAC equipment, and transmitters. Camera-equipped drones (aka unmanned aircraft systems or “UAS”), have been found to be incredibly useful in documenting tower-mounted equipment and providing a “first look” at suspected antenna, tower, or transmission line problems, saving tower crew cost and time.

At Cavell Mertz, we have found thermal cameras to be helpful in spotting transmission line problems (with bullet junctions and elbows being the usual suspects) since the line can be thermally scanned while it is being fed by the transmitter at full power (Fig. 1). A network analyzer may sometimes not “see” a problem until it significantly worsens since the network analyzer operates at very low power. A problem or failure that is happening while in operation or under load may not be apparent unless it’s being stressed at higher powers. 

Cost-Effective Solution
IR cameras are typically used at ground level for locations such as the inside of a transmitter building, along the transmission line trestle/ice bridge, at the tower base, and in the first few feet up the tower. Getting useful images further up the tower with ground-based cameras isn’t as feasible, as telephoto thermal lenses and camera equipment capable of providing usable, reliable information at longer distances (further up the tower) are extremely expensive to purchase or lease. Nevertheless, in the early days of doing IR scanning for clients, we leased nitrogen-cooled long lens systems in order to chase down problems on a tower that were evading diagnosis. 

As thermal cameras have become smaller, lighter, and (somewhat) more affordable, drone systems also became more reliable, precisely controllable, and able to lift heavier loads—all of which resulted in a “perfect marriage” of capabilities—airborne thermal cameras that can scan tower-mounted lines and equipment from more favorable vantage points.

Over the years, as we first built our own drones, then bought capable large commercial models to support our airborne antenna RF measurement work, we started experimenting with drone-mounted IR systems, finally settling on a camera system that provided dual IR/visual images while having lenses and sensors that permitted tower scanning from a reasonable distance from the tower. We ended up with three drones that can carry multi-use camera payloads. 

Plan Your Flight
Scanning a tower requires a bit of pre-planning and a careful preflight: guy wires, T-bars, and candelabra arms have to be avoided, and wind must be taken into account to prevent a collision (note: in a collision, the drone always loses, so inattention and distraction must be avoided during a mission). Some drones have a failsafe system, where it self-navigates to a safe place should it lose control telemetry.  Be sure that your ”fly-away” plan takes the drone out and away from the tower, and into a safe (guy wire-free) zone (Fig. 2).

Take a close look as to what is emitting RF energy on the tower, at what frequency, and at what power, especially in “tower farm” situations. Many drones don’t tolerate RF saturation or interference/overloading of their control and telemetry systems and some unlicensed microwave frequencies are close to the Wi-Fi telemetry frequencies used by drones. You could lose control and  have an un-commanded “fly away” event or crash.  

Since you want to see all systems being measured operate at full power for diagnostic purposes, plan to fly farther from the tower as the UAS flies through the elevations where high RF is expected. We typically fly close to the tower as we scan transmission lines, then back away to a calculated safe distance to transit a hot area (while still scanning the area of importance), then navigate back to the closer position once the UAV is out of the RF hot zone. Obviously, this is not a single operator event—you’ll want spotters to assist you. Understandably, this requires skill, planning, and satisfaction of certain FAA requirements.

Gathering and Analyzing Data
As for the practical side of gathering data, if your drone system doesn’t have the ability to record height as it ascends to correlate a height with a hotspot, look at the tower drawings and note vertical benchmarks, such as known guy wire and antenna heights. This way, if a thermal hot spot is noted, you can tell a tower climber to start checking for issues at a particular height range, saving some of their time.

Since the sun can thermally “load up” the tower, we prefer to do thermal scans at night, allowing time for the tower to cool down; otherwise, the solar loading can make temperature differences difficult to spot. Wind speeds and temperatures can differ, often significantly, as the height above ground changes. Having access to good weather information and on-board sensors can be helpful as you evaluate the resulting images and data.  

As for interpreting the information, training and experience are key. From a thermography standpoint, operating IR equipment from a drone is similar to operating IR equipment on the ground—the same data interpretation principles apply, even though the environment and considerations differ. Thermal camera suppliers such as FLIR have training programs and videos (including IR drone training) available. From experience, we know that small differences in temperature gradient generally are normal—it is the big differences that are telling. Reflected heat and light, paint color, and even material type and finish can give a false indication of high, or even normal, temperatures. 

Finally, if an anomaly is suspected from the imaging (Fig. 3), some people skills are needed to discuss what was observed and as a plan of further investigation is being developed. After all, thermal imaging is an interpretative art as much as it is a science. Approaching a possible problem in a non-confrontational manner with the suppliers and installers can go a long way toward gaining cooperation and a resolution. 

OTTAWA—U.S. TV broadcasters have been flying drones with FAA permission since August 2016. By the end of 2017, 45 percent of U.S. TV stations already owned drones, and another 9 percent were planning to buy them, according to RTNDA Executive Director Dan Shelley, citing his association’s most recent research data. “Only 17 percent said that they were not involved in drones and had no plans to become involved,” he said.

By February 2019, Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG) had logged its 10,000th TV newsgathering drone flight. The company currently has 108 FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots and 64 trained visual observers, and provides content for 45 Sinclair newsrooms nationwide.

The Fox News Flight Team is similarly impressive. A joint venture between Fox News and Fox Television Stations (local), the Fox News Flight Team has more than 80 FAA-certified pilots flying drones today. Working with visual observers who operate the drones’ onboard video cameras—and keep the pilots informed of potential hazards—these drones provide content to 13 Fox News bureaus and 16 owned-and-operated Fox TV stations.

Both SBG and Fox have been flying drones since the FAA approved their usage by broadcasters in 2016. ABC News has been flying them since 2015 (with FAA permission) and has about 60 drones serving the network and its station group across the U.S. with just over 100 FAA-certified pilots. ABC’s “Good Morning America” (GMA) has been a drone pioneer during this time period—flying drones over volcanoes (see “Drone Action Heats Up,” April 2015), into vast caves and up-close-and-personal with humpback whales out at sea.

With about three years’ experience under their belts, these broadcasters have learned many lessons about getting the most from drones. Here’s what they told us.

GREAT SHOTS REQUIRE TEAMWORK

GMA’s extensive use of drones—especially for live shots—has taught the network how vital teamwork is in shooting great images from these platforms.

“Even though camera drones are popular due to their technical abilities, we have seen firsthand that it’s the combination between the technician as the pilot and the creative, continuously evaluating camera operator that actually create these cutting-edge images; not the actual drone itself,” said Maria Stefanopoulos, GMA’s senior manager of operations. “So if there’s one thing we’ve learned and confirmed in the field, it is this: No matter how easy to use or autonomous these machines have become, one thing they can never be is as creative as the hands that are flying them; especially when they work together to get the best shots.”

MINIMIZE NON-SHOOTING FLIGHT TIME

Drones use batteries, and batteries have limited operating times before needing to be recharged. This is why GMA plans drone missions to minimize non-shooting flight times, so that it has maximum battery life available when shooting its video.

“You have to manage editorial requirements with battery life,” said Stefanopoulos. For instance, when GMA was shooting whales breeching out at sea, the network kept the ship that the drones were flying from as close as possible.

“Even then, we had to fly 1-3 kilometers to where the whales were breaching,” Stefanopoulos said. “A one-way flight consumed 10-15 percent of our battery time.”

SHARING INFORMATION

Communication between its many members is a top priority for the Fox News Flight Team. This is why these members talk with each other regularly via password-protected collaboration platform.

“One of the things we’ve seen over the last two years is the power of the collaboration between 100 pilots talking to each other, showing their work and sharing their experiences online with each other; plus anyone else involved in our drone program who offers feedback,” said Doug Evans, chief drone pilot (and reporter/meteorologist) for WAGA-TV, the Fox O&O in Atlanta. “Sharing ideas allows everyone to learn from each other, and raises our overall drone video quality level,” Evans said. “It’s a good approach to use.”

KEEP VISUALS INTERESTING AND EDITABLE

Drone shots are like any other form of video. Once the novelty wears off, one shot can start to look like another. In the same vein, editing together two sequences shot from the same height and position can look like a jump edit, rather than a proper transition.

This is why WAGA takes care to move its drones around. The goal is to keep live shots fresh and to enable the seamless editing of recorded material afterwards.

“One thing we learned early on was the importance of transitions from one shot to another,” said Neil Mazur, WAGA’s vice president of engineering and operations. “When we started out, we noticed that many of our shots looked identical to each other. Talking to each other on Slack, our team members discovered the importance of changing altitudes and positions, and using other techniques to make our drone shots more interesting and creative.”

ENGAGE EMERGENCY PERSONNEL BEFORE DEPLOYING

Jeff Rose has been Sinclair Broadcast Group’s chief pilot since the company started preparing to use drones a few years ago. Mindful that local first responders and government officials can be nervous about drones, he said SBG always hosts a “community outreach meeting” to explain the technology first before starting flights in that market.

“We invite everyone to the TV station that we might come in contact with,” Rose said. “We tell them about our safety program and how we’re going to operate in the field. Then we have an open discussion where we can communicate and share ideas with the audience. This goes a long way to winning their trust and cooperation afterwards.”

The Fox News Flight team has taken similar steps to establish good working relationships with local first responders and the general public. This pays off in the field: “We’ve had zero backlash from public safety and the public to our drones,” said WAGA’s Evans.

USE AIR TRAFFIC RADIOS TO COORDINATE WITH OTHER AIRCRAFT

Sinclair Broadcast Group also uses two-way radios to communicate on common air traffic radio frequencies with other aircraft and local airports. This allows SBG drone operators to keep everyone else informed of their positions and altitudes. It also lets the operators hear from helicopter crews and other aircraft who may be flying in the same vicinity.

“A TV helicopter and a medevac helicopter would use this common channel when they are operating in the same airspace,” said Rose, who is a licensed private pilot himself. “They use the common channel to coordinate with each other. When we’re flying drones near them, we just jump in too.”

NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Sharri Berg is senior vice president of News Operations at Fox News Channel, COO News & Ops for Fox TV Stations and a driving force behind the creation and growth of the Fox News Flight Team. The emergence of news drones have opened up all kinds of job opportunities, and Berg encourages broadcasters to include women and minorities in these positions.

“At Fox, one of our biggest differentiators is the growing diversity of staff in our drone program; especially females,” she said. “We have several female pilots and visual observers who are quite experienced, and who are leading the way for others in the company.” Berg added that this trend is also occurring at other broadcasters, and is worth supporting throughout the industry.

CARMEL, Ind. — BirdsiVideo has announced a program to offer on-demand UAV services to broadcasters in regional media markets.

Trained UAV pilots from around the country will help stations expand coverage as part of the TV Partners Drone Program. The program makes it possible for stations to reduce the expense of coverage by substituting drone-captured footage for that normally shot from news choppers.

[Read: UTA Launches Nationwide Tower Drone Inspection Service]

“Our experienced fleet operations team is skilled in sourcing, training and deploying pilots nationwide with verifiable background checks, insurance coverage and on-site scheduling using our proprietary operations platform,” said Josh Kneifel, company CEO and co-founder.

According to the company, BirdsiVideo has been hired by ABC News and Verizon to shoot aerial news footage.

Stations can book a drone pilot 24 hours in advance of required news coverage or buy service agreements to cover breaking news in quick-response scenarios, the company said.

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The Federal Communications Commission is proposing to come down hard on a manufacturer whose devices could potentially transmit without authorization in certain radio frequency bands.

The FCC proposed a $2.8 million penalty against HobbyKing, a provider of audio/video transmitters that are intended to relay video to unmanned aircraft systems and other devices. According to the commission, 65 of these devices have the alleged capacity to transmit in unauthorized radio frequency bands, including some models that could allegedly operate at what the FCC called “excessive transmission power levels.”

According to the commission, transmissions such as these could potentially interfere with key government and public safety services like aviation systems and weather radar systems.

The FCC did not detail any specific incidents in its announcement.

Through its website HobbyKing.com, the Hong Kong-based company markets devices that the commission said provides a video link between transmitters that are mounted on unmanned aircraft systems and users who are flying drones. According to the commission, HobbyKing represented that its transmitters operated in designated amateur radio bands; an investigation by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau found that 65 models could also apparently operate outside those bands.  

[Read: Court Strikes Down Drone Registration Rule]

FCC authority is required for users operating a radio frequency-emitting device that could potentially operate outside of the designated amateur-use radio frequency bands. The commission said that none of the devices in question marketed by HobbyKing were certified by the commission. In addition, the FCC said that all amateur equipment used to telecommand model crafts are limited to 1000mW of power. The commission said in its announcement that three HobbyKing transmitter models allegedly operate at 1500 mW and 2000 mW.

Following complaints to the FCC, the bureau opened an investigation in 2015 into the company’s marketing of radio frequency devices and issued a formal citation in 2017 to warn the company that it must comply with FCC requirements.

The steep proposed penalty is not only for marketing noncompliant radio frequency devices but also for failing to comply with commission orders. According to the commission, HobbyKing failed to respond to the enforcement bureau’s previously issued a citation notifying HobbyKing of its legal and regulatory obligations. The company also failed to stop marketing the alleged noncompliant equipment despite a cease and desist order from the FCC. Current law requires companies to respond to requests from the FCC after being warned of possible violations.

The FCC said that HobbyKing has an opportunity to respond to the proposed assessment, and reminded the public that the commission will consider submitted evidence and legal arguments before taking further action.

GIG HARBOR, MI.—The United Tower Alliance, LLC has announced a national UAV tower inspection service, provided by the UTA and 18 of its regionally based Performance Partners.

Coupled with a custom data delivery platform, the new service provides drone-powered tower surveys nationwide. A UTA Network Operations Center (NOC) has been operational since March and the Performance Partners have been training operators at the 2018 UTA Flight Academy, adding practical knowledge and real-life flight experience to the Part 107 license.

“Performance Partners are stable firms whose employees are technical experts around towers,” according to Ean Mercer of the UTA. “Anyone can fly a drone, but our commercial operators are also experienced tower professionals who have the access, familiarity and equipment to solve problems. They are also equipped with software tailored for your infrastructure needs.” The UTA added that it “does not sanction amateur, subcontractor or non-tower related flights or activity.”

[Read: What Broadcasters Need To Know About Using Drones]

The Alliance has custom software that delivers secure actionable data to the end client and is scalable for any national asset owner. The solution provides for the collection, management, analysis and comparison of data that is the highest quality imagery, according to the UTA..

“We came up with a method that uses our strengths to capitalize on the safest and most efficient people in the business” according to Jason Lerew Operations Manager of the UTA. “Our execution coupled with high end commercial UAVs and cloud based professional imagery leave everyone in the chain satisfied.”

All Performance Partner firms are NATE/STAR Participants whose employees have extensive local experience and have also undergone advanced flight training. These regional experts are available for scheduling UAV Tower Inspections at www.flyuta.com.

WASHINGTON—Last week’s court ruling vacating the federal drone registration requirement drew a mixed response from industry parties around the world. The world’s largest drone manufacturer instituted its own registration program, restricting access to full activation.

“If this activation process is not performed… Live camera streaming will be disabled, and flight will be limited to a 50-meter (164-foot) radius up to 30 meters (98 feet) high,” DJI announced over the weekend.

The drone-maker’s decision came two days after the ruling by U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit striking down the FAA’s registration requirement. DJI did not respond immediately to the ruling, but shared a statement from Drone Manufacturers Alliance Executive Director Kara Calvert:

"DMA is studying the implications of today’s registration-related court ruling, but believes the existing system has worked well to protect the interests of safe and responsible pilots as well as the interests of society at large.”

Model aircraft got swept up in the Federal Aviation Administration’s drone registration requirement process. The FAA made registration statutory in December, 2015, for all unmanned aircraft between 0.55 and 55 pounds, including model aircraft. It was a model aircraft enthusiast who challenged the statute and won.

The model aircraft lobby in Muncie, Ind., said its own registration program was working just fine.

“AMA is encouraged to see the court affirm the strength of the Special Rule for Model Aircraft, otherwise known as Section 336, under which our members operate,” said Rich Hanson, president of the Academy of Model Aeronautics. “For decades, AMA members have registered their aircraft with AMA and have followed our community-based safety programming. It is our belief that a community-based program works better than a federally mandated program to manage the recreational community.”
More than 626,000 hobby drones were registered with the FAA at the end of last year. The agency estimated that there were another 474,000 that were not registered. Based on registrations and available data, the FAA forecast that “the hobbyist fleet will likely—base scenario—more than triple in size over the next five years, from 1.1 million units in 2016 to over 3.5 million units by 2021,” or as many as 4.5 million on the high side.
Drones registered for commercial operations numbered 44,000—around 1,000 per week since registration for those opened in April of 2016. The commercial fleet is expected to reach 420,000 by 2021. ~ FAA UAS Forecast

Registration was through the FAA’s web portal. It requires name, home address, email address, and generates a certification of registration and proof of ownership with a unique identifying number that had to be marked on the drone—like a license plate on a car. Total cost, $5. More than 626,000 were registered by the end of last year (See sidebar.)

For DJI, the No. 1 supplier of civilian drones worldwide, the registry was a practical way to manage what is shaping up to be an explosion of drones in U.S. airspace. The FAA has estimated that there could be as many as 4.5 million drones in U.S. airspace by 2021. The Consumer Technology Association also predicts that this will be the year drone sales blow past $1 billion, up 62 percent over 2016.

DJI’s drones are not like radio-controlled model aircraft of yore, but sophisticated, camera-equipped computers capable of 3D flight patterns, for a few hundred bucks. They have been employed for use in movies, newsgathering, infrastructure inspection and more. There is momentum to use them for making deliveries, most notably driven by Amazon, though Americans remain skeptical.

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, a D.C. lobby focused on commercial and scientific drone applications, said it was “disappointed” by the court’s decision, and on Tuesday, the organization’s president and CEO testified before a House subcommittee on clearing the way for drone deliveries.

“We need a new national imperative in unmanned systems that, like the air traffic control system and interstate highway system before it, creates greater capacity, reduces road congestion, fulfills consumer demand and facilitates the future of commerce,” Wynne said. “Industry is bringing the technology; government needs to do more to support it and advance innovations such as delivery services.”

Many commercial drone operations have waivers to operate beyond the FAA’s daylight-only, line-of-sight 400-foot ceiling—rules known as “Park 7.” The UAVSI says 314 have been issued, a majority of them for DJI drones.

(Updated 3:15 p.m.ET to include FAA statement.) WASHINGTON—A federal court has struck down the Federal Aviation Administration’s drone registration rule. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today ruled in favor of John Taylor, a Washington, D.C. model aircraft enthusiast who challenged the FAA’s registration requirement in court.

“The 2012 FAA Modernization and Reform Act provides that the FAA ‘may not promulgate any rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft,’ yet the FAA’s 2015 Registration Rule is a ‘rule or regulation regarding a model aircraft.’ Statutory interpretation does not get much simpler. The registration rule is unlawful as applied to model aircraft,” the ruling stated.

The FAA first opened up the web-based registration for model unmanned aircraft owners on Dec. 21, 2015. More than 300,000 drones were registered within the first month. Registration required information on the manufacturer, model and serial number, in addition to the owner’s physical and email addresses. Each $5 registration covered a single aircraft for a period of three years.

The agency expanded the registry in March of 2016 to include commercial drone operators, who had previously been required to obtain special FAA authorization. It is not clear if the ruling covers commercial operations since it implicitly states that, “Unmanned aircraft operated for recreational purposes are known as ‘model aircraft,’ and we will use that term throughout this opinion.”

In a statement issued Friday afternoon, the FAA said it was digesting the ruling:
“We are carefully reviewing the U.S. Court of Appeals decision as it relates to drone registrations. The FAA put registration and operational regulations in place to ensure that drones are operated in a way that is safe and does not pose security and privacy threats. We are in the process of considering our options and response to the decision.”

The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, or AUVSI, issued the following statement regarding the court’s determination:

“AUVSI is disappointed with the decision today by the U.S. Court of Appeals to reject the FAA’s rule for registering recreational unmanned aircraft systems. A UAS registration system is important to promote accountability and responsibility by users of the national airspace, and helps create a culture of safety that deters careless and reckless behavior. We plan to work with Congress on a legislative solution that will ensure continued accountability across the entire aviation community, both manned and unmanned.”

The drone registry was conceived of by a task force set up by the FAA and the Department of Transportation, in an ongoing effort to safely integrate unmanned aerial vehicles into national airspace since the little quadcopter types started swarming the consumer market. According to a January 2017 forecast from the Consumer Technology Association, “Total drone sales are expected to reach new heights in 2017, topping 3.4 million units—a 40 percent increase—and $1 billion in revenue for the first time—a 46 percent increase.

“CTA’s forecast also delineates U.S. drone sales for units below and above 250 grams, the FAA’s division for mandatory drone registration: Drones below 250 grams are expected to reach 2 million units, and drones above 250 grams will sell 1.3 million units.”

The FAA adopted rules for unmanned aerial vehicles last June. The rules went into effect Aug. 29.

SHENZHEN, CHINA—DJI has launched a mini-drone. The drone-maker describes the Spark as “an easy-to-use, fun-to-fly mini camera drone that lifts off from the palm of your hand.”

Spark is DJI’s first drone that can be controlled by hand gestures. When Spark takes off, it automatically enters “Gesture Mode.” This features new advanced gesture controls like PalmControl, which lets operators control Spark with hand movements. DJI recommends using Spark’s separately available “propeller guards” for hand launching.

Spark weighs 10.6 ounces– less than a can of soda—and can be operated by a remote controller, a mobile device, or hand gestures alone. Spark will be available in five different colors: “Alpine White,” “Sky Blue,” “Meadow Green,” “Lava Red” and “Sunrise Yellow.”
Spark comes with new flight options, e.g., QuickShot Intelligent Flight Mode activates a preset flight path for recording a short video and tracking a subject along the way, DJI said.
DC Drone Film Festival 2017 Now Accepting Submissions
WASHINGTON—The DC Drone Film Festival is returning to the National Drone Show and Government Video Expo for its second year and is now accepting entries. We are calling on drone videographers to share their work with the pilots, producers, equipment manufacturers, drone enthusiasts and other broadcast and AV professionals who will attend the 2017 National Drone Show and GV Expo, which will take place Nov. 29-30.
Submissions are accepted in any or all of the six categories: Narrative, Nature, Sports, Architecture, Corporate/Industrial/Business, and Shorts. Submission must not exceed five minutes—one minute for the Shorts category—and must consist of at least 50 percent drone footage. The entries are judged on originality, technical expertise and cinematography/visuals.
Each winner in the six categories will receive a $250 cash prize and have their video screened throughout the 2017 National Drone Show and across NewBay Media’s broadcast and video network of sites.
To submit your film, please visit DC Drone Film Festival, produced by the National Drone Show and NewBay Media.
Four QuickShots are available: Rocket, sending Spark straight up into the air with the camera pointed down; Dronie, flying up and away from your subject; Circle, rotating around the subject; and Helix, spiraling away from a subject as it flies upward. For each QuickShot, Spark will automatically create a 10-second video from the flight that is ready to share on social media.

Previously introduced Intelligent Flight Modes such as TapFly and ActiveTrack can also be found on Spark. Based on DJI’s vision technology, a new TapFly sub mode called “Coordinate” allows Spark to fly to a location the operator taps on a mobile device screen. TapFly’s Direction Mode allows the operator to keep the drone flying in the direction tapped on the screen. Using ActiveTrack, Spark will automatically recognize and track an object, keeping it at the center of the frame. Spark’s 3D Sensing System will actively sense obstacles in front of the aircraft.

With the remote controller accessory, operators can switch to Sport Mode and reach speeds of up to 31 mph. Sport Mode sets the gimbal to first-person view by default, so the camera moves with operator. Spark will also be compatible with DJI Goggles for an immersive first-person view perspective.

Spark houses a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor camera that captures 12-megapixel photos and shoots stabilized HD 1080p videos with the assistance of a 2-axis mechanical gimbal and “UltraSmooth” technology.

Spark includes many previous DJI drone shooting modes with two new additions: Pano and ShallowFocus. In Pano Mode, the camera creates horizontal or vertical panoramas by automatically adjusting its gimbal and heading, taking a series of pictures and stitching them together.

ShallowFocus creates photographs with a shallow depth-of-field shots. An array of filters and automatic editing templates available in the DJI GO 4 app enables operaters to quickly edit videos and share them directly to Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

Spark’s FlightAutonomy system consists of the main camera, a downward-facing vision system, a forward-facing 3D Sensing System, dual-band GPS and GLONASS, a high-precision inertial measurement unit and 24 powerful computing cores. DJI says these features allow Spark to hover accurately with vision system assistance at up to 98 feet and sense obstacles from up to 16 feet away.

Like all recent DJI drones, Spark can return to its home point automatically with a sufficient GPS signal. While using the remote controller, if the battery gets too low, connection is lost, or the operator presses the return-to-home button, Spark flies back to the preset home point while sensing obstacles in its path. Spark also integrates DJI’s GEO System or NFZ geofencing to provide up-to-date guidance on areas where flight may be limited by regulations or raise safety or security concerns – helping you fly safely and responsibly.

Spark is powered by a high-energy density LiPo battery and has a maximum flight time of up to 16 minutes. When flying with the remote controller accessory, Spark allows for 720p real-time video transmission from up to 1.2 miles away.

The U.S. retail price of a DJI Spark, including aircraft, battery, USB charger and three pairs of propellers, is $499. The Spark Fly More Combo includes an aircraft, two batteries, four pairs of propellers, a remote controller, propeller guards, a charging hub, a shoulder bag and all necessary cables, with a U.S. retail price of $699. Pricing and availability of other accessories for Spark will be announced at a later date. Spark will be available for pre-order at DJI’s online store plus, four the DJI Flagship Stores as well as authorized dealers. Pre-orders will start shipping in mid-June.

Drone racing is becoming a burgeoning sport, but if this recent video of drone operator Tareq Alsaadi is any indication, we may have to start a whole new brand for UAV gymnastics. In the video, which was posted by YouTube user Sachin Nathoo, Alsaadi is flying a SAB Goblin Nitro. Check out the full video below.

LOS ANGELES—The Federal Aviation Administration has granted Intuitive Aerial, makers of the Aerigon pro cinema UAV, a Section 333 exemption to operate any aircraft on the administration’s List of Approved Unmanned Aerial Systems. This exemption will allow customers who do not have their own FAA 333 exemption to temporarily operate an Aerigon under the Intuitive Aerial exemption by using an Intuitive Aerial-certified pilot.

One company to benefit from this recent announcement is Phoenix Air Unmanned LLC., who purchased an Aerigon Mark II in 2015. The company received its own N-number from the FAA, which allows it to operate the UAV system on open- and closed-set productions.

Intuitive Aerial will display the Aerigon UAV at the 2016 NAB Show at booth C2055DP in the Drone Pavilion.

WASHINGTON—Lawmakers are weighing in on drone rules as they consider the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration. One is looking to keep drones away from airports. Another has introduced a bill to allow testing for commercial purposes and to create a deputy administrator of drones within the FAA.

The reauthorization bill itself—The Aviation Innovation Reform & Reauthorization Act—contains a section on unmanned aerial systems that reiterates its directive to the FAA to establish rules for the commercial testing and deployment of drones by Sept. 30, 2015. The FAA missed that deadline and continues to issue waivers for the commercial use of drones, including a blanket waiver for the operation of those weighing less than 55 pounds and operating below 200 feet. (See “FAA Eases Drone Rules, Opens Door for Newsgathering,” March 25, 2015.)

Lawmakers are pressuring the FAA to get on with it so that UAS research and development isn’t driven off shore. Earlier this month, Rep. Earl Blumenaeur (D-Ore.) introduced the “Commercial UA Modernization Act” to create an interim framework for drone development until the FAA finishes its rules.

“… Our laws and regulations are stifling innovation instead of encouraging it, forcing American companies to look overseas to test new technology,” Blumenauer said in a statement. “The ‘Commercial UAS Modernization Act’ provides a much-needed update to federal rules, making it clear that flying smartphones should not be regulated like Predator drones.”

The bill would create interim guidelines for the commercial drone use and testing, and it would create a deputy administrator responsible for integrating drones into National Air Space. The bill also directs the FAA to look into the type of drone delivery that Amazon has proposed.

Last Friday, Sen. Bill Nelsen (D-Fla.), said he would offer a measure in the current reauthorization bill to keep drones away from “sensitive areas, such as our nation’s airports.” Nelson is the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has oversight of the FAA.

“Right now, it seems no one in the federal government is willing to take the lead to bolster and install technologies that could protect airports from the threat posed by drones,” he said at a meeting with Florida airport directors in Orlando, one of the cities along with Miami that ranks highest for close calls between drones and manned aircraft.

The FAA draft reauthorization act currently wending its way through the House and Senate contains some language in addition to its original directive to establish drone rules. Namely, it directs that the FAA “expedites safe deployment of commercial UAS by creating a risk-based permitting process.”

This process is supposed to consider the “kinetic energy” of the drone, where and how it’s to be operated, any known hazards and their likelihood, known failure modes of the aircraft and its operational history.

The bill also encourages “greater utilization of UAS test ranges,” and the development of “sense-and-avoid” technologies. Other elements include the establishment of a streamlined process for permitting the operation of small drones for “certain uses,” and a pilot program to evaluate drone detection and mitigation technology. It further addresses the use of drones in firefighting, directs the Department of Transportation Inspector General to evaluate the FAA’s drone registration system—which went live last month—and conduct a study on the privacy implications of drone operations.

The FAA currently is funded on a six-month extension through the end of March.

Also see…
December 10, 2015
“Drone Flight Still Challenged by FAA”
The first thing to consider is that while anyone can purchase and operate a drone for hobby or recreational purposes, as soon as you start using the drone for production, newsgathering, or… tower inspections, it is no longer being operated in accordance with FAA rules for model aircraft operations. 

WASHINGTON —NewBay Media has releasedthe full program for the 2015 National Drone Show, a new conference and expo featuring video capture technology for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Scheduled for Dec. 2–3, 2015, in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center ,and co-located with NewBay Media’s Government Video Expo, the National Drone Show will bring together video professionals from a variety of sectors for two days of discussions and demos of the latest UAV and UAV-based video capture systems, management and delivery technologies and techniques. Stampede is the event’s charter Gold Sponsor.

The Drone Show will feature a Drone Flying Cage and a series of free sessions on the exhibit floor covering the latest drone technologies and regulatory topics. Educational sessions include “Command & Control for Drones,” “Drones for Large Sporting Event and Entertainment Event Coverage,” “Drones for Law Enforcement/Security/Public Safety,” “Drone-vertising—Using Drones to Deliver Marketing/Advertising Messages,” and “Rise of the Drones: A DMV’s Producer’s Panel for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.”

An after-hours event ib Dec. 2, hosted by the Television, Internet and Video Association of DC (TIVA-DC), will also focus on UAV/UAS production.

Instructors from Unmanned Vehicle University, the only university licensed to offer graduate degree programs in Unmanned Systems Engineering, will conduct drone-operating demonstrations in the show’s Flying Cage, allowing show attendees to experience firsthand the differing capabilities of various UAV manufacturers — such as DJI, AEE and XLY — and learn which is best suited for their enterprise’s needs and requirements.

The show is the only such event that will bring together video professionals from the Washington region’s government, military, law enforcement, enterprise, broadcast, cable, production, and post production communities. Invited exhibitors include drone manufacturers, drone accessory equipment companies, and drone software and service providers.

Registrants for the National Drone Show and Government Video Expo include tech leaders from DCTV, Discovery Communications, the U.S. Department of State, Department of Defense, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security, NASA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs & Border Patrol, the Department of Justice, Chesterfield Fire & EMS, The White House, the Transportation Security Administration, the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the Army, Navy and Air Force; and local and state officials from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, Baltimore, Alexandria, Fairfax, Bowie, and Prince Georges Country, among others.

Program details are available at www.gvexpo.com/the-drone-show/#.

Event registration is at nationaldroneshow.com.

WASHINGTON—The Federal Aviation Administration is warning drone owners away from companies offering registration services. The FAA said it would announce the registration protocol within the next couple of weeks.

“Owners should wait until additional details about the forthcoming drone registration system are announced later this month before paying anyone to do the work for them,” the agency said.

The task force assigned to provide FAA Administrator Michael Huerta with recommendations on the registration process is still days away from delivering this information, the FAA said. It also said that at least one company had launched a drone registration service.

Huerta was said to have told the task force two weeks ago to provide guidance on a streamlined unmanned aircraft registration process, including which types of drones would need to be registered and which would not. The FAA said the task force was working on recommendations for a system similar to registering any newly purchased product with its manufacturer, as well as a minimum weight for unmanned aircraft that must be registered.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. AND LAS VEGAS—TVU Networks, a provider of mobile IP newsgathering technology, is partnering with ArrowData, a Las Vegas-based aerial data services company to offer a UAV service will allow news broadcasters to transmit unique live aerial views from ArrowData’s drones in full HD with sub-second latency using TVU’s portable cellular transmitters.

ArrowData is the first private company to receive a special waiver from the FAA to operate drones for ENG or AeroJournalism. The new service, which will be available to broadcasters based on a package price, will allow broadcasters to offer vantage points not possible from traditional ground level camera views. Broadcasters will be able to incorporate the Aerojournalism service into their current acquisition workflow since the drone flying and live video transmission is handled together.

“This partnership gives us a tremendous advantage in this emerging industry,” said James Fleitz, Vice President of ArrowData in Las Vegas. “We provide the dynamic shots from drones, and TVU is the perfect answer for transmitting that video.”

An ArrowData drone was used recently for live reporting and weather shots for a large-market news broadcast. “This is a game changer for those in the news business. There are many questions in the industry right now about how best to use drones. This partnership allows us to answer those questions and begin implementing AeroJournalism in newsrooms right away,” said Ron Futrell, Sales and Marketing Director for ArrowData and veteran TV newscaster for more than 3 decades.

Since there are certain FAA restrictions to using drones, the service will not be available for breaking news, and will require advance notice.

“Using drones for newsgathering is a very new and unique approach to capturing news and is currently used for special feature and non-breaking news,” said Eric Chang, vice president of marketing for TVU in Mountain View, Calif. “While the FAA has granted ArrowData the first and only commercial exemption for AeroJournalism, certain restrictions related to drone flying still remain such as not being able to fly within five miles of an airport without first obtaining permission from the FAA. In addition, ArrowData provides its own experienced and professional crew for set up and piloting of the drone at the desired location. Therefore, there is some planning that is required when using drones for newsgathering.”

Broadcasters can sign up for the service by contacting either ArrowData or TVU, Chang added. “The service is offered based on a package price which includes full or half-day rates with expenses for an ArrowData crew and equipment and also rental rates for the TVUPack,” he said. “A common arrangement is for a station to plan several drone shoots in an area with a station's camera crew in a single day.”

The service is available nationwide, according to Chang, who added that “ArrowData would work out the logistics with the requesting broadcaster ahead of time.” ArrowData currently has five qualified pilots on staff, with others available on an as needed basis. “ArrowData’s long-term goal is to provide training and eventually licensing so that news outlets can use their own crews with continuous consulting and technical assistance from us,” Chang said.

“We’re delighted to partner with ArrowData to bring their drone piloting services together with TVU’s live uplink transmission capabilities,” said Paul Shen, CEO, TVU Networks. “It’s a true win/win for broadcasters. They can leave the capturing of aerial views in the capable hands of ArrowData personnel while receiving live, low-latency HD video from a TVU mobile cellular uplink transmitter.”