Part 107 Rules Will Open The Doors To Use Of UAVs In Newsgathering

The FAA's Part 107 rules for UAVs could mean newsrooms will start using the small aircraft for news gathering, and doing so legally.

The Drone Journalism Lab of the University of Nebraska has published a treatise on how the new rules might affect newsgathering.

According to the posted analysis, news organizations should be able to cover nearly any story that is not "breaking news" using a UAV "without a ton of effort" provided the newsgathering organization already has a licensed operator.

It will require more effort to cover a "breaking news story". Part 107 will require newsrooms to coordinate with air traffic controllers in advance. It will be possible to get a "blanket agreement" with ATC if details are worked out in advance, and letters of agreement between the FAA and newsrooms are possible, according to the analysis. It may require the newsgathering organization to stay in radio contact with ATC while the aircraft is in flight, though the author finds that to be unlikely because of the amount of existing radio traffic with manned aircraft.

How permission to fly in controlled airspace will happen is still an open question, according to the author.

Overall, though, the Drone Journalism Lab is encouraged by the rule, and the soon-to-be-realized ability of newsrooms to gather news using unmanned aircraft.

(Image from file)

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