10 More News Media Companies to Test UAS
A small UAV owned by Virginia Tech conducts a mock inspection of a traffic accident, a scenario similar to what news outlets may test. Photo: AUVSI.
A coalition of 10 news media companies announced a partnership with Virginia Tech, leader of the Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership Federal Aviation Administration-approved unmanned aerial systems test site, to test small UAS for newsgathering.
MAAP is one of six congressionally sanctioned test sites set up to aid the FAA in collecting data to formulate UAS regulations.
As part of the collaboration, the partners will conduct controlled safety testing of real-life news scenarios where unmanned aircraft can be used for reporting. The group has been working since mid-2014 through the law firm Holland & Knight to develop testing protocols with Virginia Tech.
According to a press release from Holland & Knight, the coalition includes the following media companies: Advance Publications Inc., A.H. Belo Corp., The Associated Press, Gannet Co. Inc., Getty Images (U.S.) Inc., NBC Universal, The New York Times Co., The E.W. Scripps Co., Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. and The Washington Post.
“The AP is excited to join with these other leading media companies in exploring the safe and responsible use of drone technology for newsgathering purposes that further our understanding of current events,” says Associated Press Director of Photography Santiago Lyon.
“Virginia Tech sees this collaboration as a key to groundbreaking research to use UAS for the news and broadcasting industry on a routine basis,” says Rose Mooney, executive director of MAAP. “UAS can provide this industry a safe, efficient, timely, and affordable way to gather and disseminate information to keep journalists our of harm’s way.”
