CNN Signs UAS Research Agreement With the FAA

Advertisement

Georgia Tech Research Institute has used quarter-scale Piper Cub aircraft for unmanned aerial systems research. Photo: Gary Meek

The Federal Aviation Administration has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with CNN to advance efforts to integrate unmanned aerial vehicles into the national airspace for newsgathering and reporting.



The first agreement of its kind will integrate CNN’s existing research efforts in partnership with Georgia Tech Research Institute. The FAA will use data collected by CNN and GTRI to create a framework for safe integration of UAV newsgathering operations.



“Our aim is to get beyond hobby-grade equipment and to establish what options are available and workable to produce high-quality video journalism using various types of UAVs and camera setups,” says CNN Senior Vice President David Vigilante. “Our hope is that these efforts contribute to the development of a vibrant ecosystem where operators of various types and sizes can safely operate in the U.S. airspace.”



A group of researchers from GTRI teamed up with senior members of CNN’s newsgathering team this past summer to evaluate the technology, personnel and safety needs for effective operation of UAVs by media outlets.



“UAVs have a number of applications that benefit society, such as search and rescue, disaster response, and agricultural mapping and crop assessment,” GTRI Principal Research Engineer Mike Heiges said last summer when the research initiative was first announced. “We’re excited to be engaging with CNN to study the newsgathering applications for UAVs and look forward to working with one of the most respected news operations in the world.”



Under the current regulatory framework, it is unlawful to operate unmanned aircraft in the national airspace for commercial purposes unless given a special exemption by the FAA. The FAA has already awarded several exemptions for companies in film and tv, oil and gas, real estate, and agriculture but none yet for the media sector. This agreement marks the first time a media outlet will be working with the FAA in developing a framework for future commercial operations.



“Unmanned aircraft offer news organizations significant opportunities,” says FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We hope this agreement with CNN and the work we are doing with other news organizations and associations will help safely integrate unmanned newsgathering technology and operating procedures into the National Airspace System.”

<< Back to the News