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ARTICLE · 31 DECEMBER 2020

FAA's New Drone Rules Lift Aerial Journalism

Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballard Spahr LLP
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The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) released two long-awaited rules expanding the operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones.

United StatesTransport
Charles D. Tobin
Charles D. Tobin
Emmy Parsons
Emmy Parsons
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Summary

The Federal Aviation Association (FAA) released two long-awaited rules expanding the operations of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) or drones.

The Upshot

  • These rules will finally permit for journalists, under certain circumstances, to fly drones over people and at night. 
  • Since the FAA began permitting drone flights in the United States in 2016, journalists have hoped for expanded authority to gather aerial news at night and over crowds. 
  • The rules will become effective in the early part of 2021. 

The Bottom Line

While journalists did not get everything they asked for in the rules, the loosened regulations, along with newsrooms' adherence to the FAA's safety requirements, will provide many enhanced opportunities for aerial news gathering.

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