CNN To Start Using Drones

 

CNN (DStv 401) has reached an agreement with the US's FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) which would allow them to start using unmanned drones with cameras on board.

The move follows the FAA's decision back in September to allow movies to use the technology but, at the time, not any news organsisation or any other media entities.

Drones have been mostly banned for commercial use since back in 2007 and it is only now that restrictions on their use are being eased, following heavy debate.

In South Africa, drones had been used to provide breathtaking visuals in news coverage, like Carte Blanche's coverage of the Oscar trial, documentaries, like the ones made by eNCA (which I must say were the best drone images I have ever seen, especially the ones floating over the scenic Eastern Cape), and movies, including a Leon Schuster prank.

But the drone trend came to a grinding halt when the South Africa by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) banned all use of the technology at the start of June last year.

That move was met by great outcry by many in the affected industries, especially highlighting how it would make South Africa a less atractive location for foreign film projects.

The reason for the ban was apparently due to a "lack of regulations."

It is unclear when drones will return to the skys of South Africa, but here is CNN's full press release on their new agreement to start using the technology in the US:

CNN has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with the Federal Aviation Administration to advance efforts to integrate Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) into newsgathering and reporting.
The cooperation arrangement will integrate efforts from CNN’s existing research partnership with the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Coordination between and among CNN, GTRI and the FAA has already begun. The FAA will use data collected from this initiative to formulate a framework for various types of UAVs to be safely integrated into 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,” said 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 US airspace.”

“Unmanned aircraft offer news organizations significant opportunities,” said 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.”