The FAA announced yesterday that it is giving certain exemptions and special status to six video production companies that would use these exemptions specifically for the purpose of aerial filmmaking with drones. While information about the process of earning an exemption is scarce, these production companies were approved after consideration of a special request that they sent to the FAA -- 40 more of which have been sent in by numerous additional production companies and are supposedly still up for consideration.
Whether or not smaller companies or individuals have the ability to request an exemption is also unclear, but it would have to be assumed that this is possible, as the law has to treat all citizens equally. That said, the companies with both approved and pending requests were required to submit documents that would prove the safety of their endeavors. This doesn't seem to be on a shoot-by-shoot basis, however -- it seems the question of safety must merely be addressed in a broad and general sense, and is likely proven with various aerial drone certifications and a promise to take certain precautions in these areas. The FAA keeps the requirements quite vague, stating that those eligible must show their drone use won't "adversely affect safety."
The exemption is interesting in the sense that it will not require permits for use on specific shoots once the exemption is granted. Depending on the state, film productions are often required to have permits to shoot, which in turn notify local law enforcement and fire department officials that will more often than not stop by the set to ensure all safety precautions are taken and up to code (hence why it's important to have a fire extinguisher on set, aside from the obvious safety benefits). For now, it seems safety checks such as these will not be implemented or required for drone use with these exempted production companies.
The controversy over the legality of flying drones in public spaces (or anywhere, for that matter) is no secret to anyone that's been following photography- or filming-related news over the past few years. Technically, piloting drones for commercial use is currently illegal in the U.S. While Congress promised to fast-track legislation to deal with growing concerns over drones that may interfere with air traffic or pose a safety threat to the public on the ground, no clear decisions have been reached. The action to ban such drone flights in the U.S. for commercial use has put pressure on studios as well as smaller individual and indie filmmakers who wish to use the cost-effective method to obtain complex aerial shots that would otherwise require expensive permits and larger vehicles such as helicopters, airplanes, or mobile crane systems.
Meanwhile, companies such as Amazon, DHL, and Google are arguably these filmmaker's best chance at quickly forming a legal path to certification whereby drones can be used more freely: these companies are each pursuing their own development of commercial drone use to deliver small packages to rural homes, small city-based apartments, and other areas easily reached by the small aircraft. The oil and agriculture industries also have a vested interest in getting approval for commercial drone usage to aid in the inspection of oil platforms and to spray fields with pesticides.
[via LA Times]
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