Press Release – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx Announces FAA Exemptions for Commercial UAS Movie and TV Production
For Immediate Release
September 25, 2014
Contact: Les Dorr, Jr. or Alison Duquette
Phone: (202) 267-3883
Six Companies Can Now Fly Small UAS Following FAA-approved Safety Procedures
WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has granted regulatory exemptions to six aerial photo and video production companies, the first step to allowing the film and television industry the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the National Airspace System. Secretary Foxx made the announcement on a conference call with FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Chris Dodd, chairman and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc.
You can view the FAA’s exemption grants at https://www.faa.gov/uas/legislative_programs/section_333/
For more information on the FAA and UAS, go to https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/uas/
View the story that aired on the Today Show – 09/26/2014…
Once again, those with the money and resources will be able to essentially do what they want while the FAA looks at how it can restrict model aviation to the point of extinction. Sure, a movie production company with tens of millions of dollars available has no problem going out and hiring licensed private pilots to fly their UAV\’s. Will this then become the de facto standard for UAV piloting? Will individuals have to be \”licensed\” to fly a foamy parkflyer? It may sound ridiculous, but in the realm of government regulation, nothing is too ridiculous. I live in California, where the government won\’t let you use a tanning booth if you\’re under 18, and the legislature is busy trying to \”save\” us from plastic bags.