Stormhunter/Journalist Flew The Aircraft For Aerial Views Of The Damage

The FAA is looking into the use of a UAV by a stormhunter who also works as a journalist to get aerial photos and video of the damage caused by Sunday's tornado that tore through the area.

Forbes relays a report from The Arkansas Gazette indicating that FAA spokewoman Lynn Lunsford said the agency is "looking into" reports that television station KATV had used a UAV to get aerial video of the damage caused by the storm. Storm chaser Brian Emfinger had flown the UAV to get the video aired by the station. 

Forbes contributor Greg McNeal says that, lacking formal rules regulating the use of the aircraft, fining journalists and others for flying them raises "serious First Amendment" issues regarding freedom of the press. The station openly admits that it had hired Emfinger to get the video of the storm damage, and has employed the journalist and his aircraft in the past on other stories.

McNeal said that, if the FAA chooses to fine Emfinger or the station for use of the UAV ... a penalty that can go as high as $10,000 ... without clear rules governing their use, it will likely immediately raise First Amendment challenges from news agencies. McNeal said defending against such suits would be a "losing proposition" for the agency, as UAV fliers around the country, whether journalists or not, would band together in opposition to the agency's efforts to enforce rules that it has not actually written or enacted.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov