The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could pave the way for the commercial use of drones.
The agency will award permits to Hollywood companies for the use of drones in film production. The exemptions, which will be spread out between seven television and movie companies, will essentially loosen the organization's restrictions on the use of the technology for commercial purposes. The FAA earlier granted two similar permits. The companies that obtained the exemptions had operations in remote parts of Alaska, but the permits also had a number of restrictions.
In a Bloomberg report, lawyers and a company official who have knowledge of the matter said that the exemptions granted to the filmmakers come with limitations. The new guidelines reportedly required that the robots can only be used in closed sets. There are also policies in terms of manpower. The drone must be controlled by a three-person team that includes a trained drone operator.
Tony Carmean, founder of aerial cinematography company Aerial Mob, said that film companies are ideal pioneers for the commercial use of drones because they can provide the safety and privacy that the FAA requires.
"Most studio productions take place on closed sites with an established perimeter, ensuring that personnel on those sites are affiliated with the production and are aware of inbound aircraft," he told Forbes.
Movie studios already use drones, or Unmanned Aircraft Systems, for film production. However, the companies are only permitted to use the technology outside of the country. Such robots are commonly used for taking aerial shots. Drones cut costs for film studios because it is cheaper to operate than a helicopter. It is expected that the companies will have to comply with FAA airworthiness certification requirements such as pilot certificates and maintenance mandates.
According to the Forbes report, the companies that are expected to receive the exemption have a lot of experience flying manned and unmanned aircraft. This may mean that the FAA prefers to give the exemption to firms with extensive manned aircraft experience. Aside from the request for permits from filmmakers, the agency has also received applications from oil and gas companies, surveyors and pipeline inspectors.
