Calls The Move An 'Important Milestone' In The Regulatory Process

It did not take long for reaction to start rolling in to the FAA's decision to allow six movie and television production companies to fly small UAVs under certain conditions.

In a statement released soon after the announcement, Michael Toscano, president and CEO of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), called the move an "important milestone in unlocking the commercial potential of UAS technology.

"The film and television industry has safely used UAS technology abroad for years in the productions of movies such as ‘Skyfall’ and ‘The Hunger Games.’ With this decision, Hollywood will now be able to capture the unique perspectives of UAS closer to home," Toscano said.

“Still, the FAA can and must do more. Several other companies and industries have requested exemptions to fly for various low-risk, commercial purposes such as precision agriculture and mining surveys. The FAA should grant these exemptions to not only help businesses harness the tremendous potential of UAS, but also help unlock the economic impact and job creation potential of the technology.”

FMI: www.auvsi.org