FAA Grants Sinclair Permission To Fly Newsgathering Drones Over People, Vehicles

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Sinclair becomes first broadcaster cleared by FAA to fly drones over people, cars

The FAA has granted local TV broadcaster Sinclair approval to fly drones over cars and people without a separate waiver.

thedesk.net

FAA Grants Sinclair Permission To Fly Newsgathering Drones Over People, Vehicles

The approval is believed to be the first time a broadcaster has been authorized to fly drones over people and vehicles for newsgathering without a waiver

www.tvtechnology.com

This affects Sinclair owned stations like WJLA, KATU, KOMO, KMPH, KRNV, WBFF to use drones for news gathering operations during major events. That opens other TV Station groups,Stringer Operations like On Scene video, wire services like AP, Reuters to consider getting the same permits for their operations. The first time I seen drones get used for News related purposes was a decade ago for the Napa Quake to survey damage to buildings during that event.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted Sinclair’s Declaration of Compliance for Operations Over People, making the company what is believed to be the first broadcaster authorized to fly drones over people and vehicles for newsgathering without a waiver from the government regulator.


“This approval represents a significant step forward in our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative journalism,” said Scott Livingston, senior vice president of news at Sinclair. “By incorporating expanded drone footage, we enhance our coverage of breaking news, local events, weather and community stories—offering our audiences more compelling and dynamic storytelling. Our ongoing partnership with Virginia Tech has been instrumental in ensuring the highest safety and training standards.”


All Sinclair drone pilots are trained at Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), an FAA-designated Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) test site. The training ensures pilots are equipped with advanced skills and knowledge in drone operations and safety procedures, Sinclair said.

 

[gr8oldies]

Sinclair becomes first broadcaster cleared by FAA to fly drones over people, cars

The FAA has granted local TV broadcaster Sinclair approval to fly drones over cars and people without a separate waiver.

thedesk.net

FAA Grants Sinclair Permission To Fly Newsgathering Drones Over People, Vehicles

The approval is believed to be the first time a broadcaster has been authorized to fly drones over people and vehicles for newsgathering without a waiver

www.tvtechnology.com

This affects Sinclair owned stations like WJLA, KATU, KOMO, KMPH, KRNV, WBFF to use drones for news gathering operations during major events. That opens other TV Station groups,Stringer Operations like On Scene video, wire services like AP, Reuters to consider getting the same permits for their operations. The first time I seen drones get used for News related purposes was a decade ago for the Napa Quake to survey damage to buildings during that event.

NewsDrone12!

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

Fire officials plead for people to not fly drones over wildfire-ravaged areas of Southern California

If a drone is in the air, then all firefighting aerial operations shut down. That's just one of the many warnings officials hope people take to heart.

abcnews.go.com

Keep in mind even though Sinclair and others media entities may have permits to use drones in some events they might have to consider certain events like rescue operations from Calfire and California Highway Patrol may not want drones in the area due to risk reasons like mid air collision fears during a disaster like wildfires as seen in the last wildfire California was in back in January.

 

[Bongwater]

Oh, don't even make us get our fly swatters......

 

[yeoldeschool]

They're ten years late.

 

[secondchoice]

I can see where in some physically small cities this could work. In a sprawled market like Atlanta one helicopter can barely cover the market. The accountants will do the math and figure how many crews and salaries and vans it will take for the same coverage. Cheapest way wins.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

‘If you fly, we can't,' Cal Fire says after drone strikes firefighting aircraft in LA

NBC 7’s Dave Summers takes a closer look at the consequences when drones invade restricted airspace above wildfires.

www.nbcsandiego.com

The use of drones during wildfires can disrupt response operations

A Canadair CL-415, known as a Super Scooper, collided with a drone during wildfire emergency response operations in Los Angeles, Calif. on Jan. 9.

theconversation.com

Here are examples of when drones should be used. In this case in the LA Times video they used a drone to cover parts of the Pacific Palisades area completely burned out after Calfire and Los Angeles City Fire left those specific area for fires in other parts of the city. In places like Los Angeles they are used to having communications and airspace between TV Helicopters and the helicopters of Emergency services like Police and fire for decades. How this translates to drones is yet to be seen here.

 

[JeeperOne]

If Kamala Harris were President, this WOULD NOT be allowed

Seriously - WHAT value does FLYING DRONES OVER PEOPLES HEADS provide to THE MEDIA if they not doing something STUPID like RUNNING FROM THE COPS??

This is the kind of thing that undoubtedly make now-former Tribune execs GLAD they merged with Nexstar rather than selling the company's soul to THE DEVIL that is YET AGAIN Sinclair

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

If Kamala Harris were President, this WOULD NOT be allowed

Seriously - WHAT value does FLYING DRONES OVER PEOPLES HEADS provide to THE MEDIA if they not doing something STUPID like RUNNING FROM THE COPS??

This is the kind of thing that undoubtedly make now-former Tribune execs GLAD they merged with Nexstar rather than selling the company's soul to THE DEVIL that is YET AGAIN Sinclair

Huh??? Its the business decision differences between using Helicopters vs Drones to cover major news events. Also safety concerns specifically with State Law enforcement and State fire protection services like it might collide with Law Enforcement Helicopter in mid air or collide with a Fire protection service while there's a rescue operation type concerns here. It's not just FAA approval that the media has to consider when using drones it's the rescue services it's also which TV markets are drones more suitable for.

Some residents want to shoot down reported drones. Here's why that would create more problems

Shooting at drones is dangerous and illegal - and may bring unintended consequences, according to federal officials and experts.

abc7chicago.com