FAA: Hollywood Gets Drones Before Ag

The FAA will approve Hollywood’s request to use drones for filming, reports DroneLife.com via Forbes.com.

Government and industry sources familiar with the process tell Forbes that the announcement will be made this Thursday afternoon. The announcement will explain the procedures under which Hollywood will operate, and the aviation rules which they are exempted from.

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In May, seven aerial photo and video production companies asked for regulatory exemptions (known as a 333 exemption) that would allow the film and television industry to use drones with FAA approval. Those seven companies and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), were asked by the FAA to develop the guidelines and safety procedures under which they planned to operate. The FAA reviewed those procedures and is expected to approve the drone specific rules and standards that will enable Hollywood to be exempt from existing aviation regulations.

The process was an onerous one that began more than four years ago with aerial cinematography companies working to develop internal guidelines. After filing their request for an exemption, the industry professionals collaborated in a drafting process. Included in the drafting of rules and guidelines were pilots, lawyers, consultants, unmanned aviation experts, cinematographers, representatives from the studios, and experienced cinematography companies including Aerial Mob, Astraeus Aerial Cinema Systems, Flying-Cam Aerial Systems, Heli Video Productions, PictorVision, Snaproll Media, and Vortex Aerial.

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A representative from Vortex Aerial, one of the companies involved in the exemption process stated, “We are very proud to be a part of this monumentally historical event. Being the result of over 4 years of industry leader collaboration we can only hope that this most daunting and financially taxing of tasks will finally come to fruition and not be yet another false start for our industry. Our steadfast and diligent efforts will hopefully open for all, the long awaited implementation of this bristling new technology.

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Read the full story on DroneLife.com here.

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