Hollywood wins right to use drones in film, TV work

The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday approved the request of six aerial cinematography companies for regulatory exemptions allowing them to use unmanned airborne vehicles in the process of filming, according to MarketWatch. A seventh request is still under review.

MarketWatch reports this is the first exemption of this kind.

According to the Washington Post, the FAA has long enforced a de facto ban on the use of drones for commercial purposes. But under a 2012 law passed by Congress, the agency is developing rules that couldeventually legalize the practice and allow drones of all sizes to operate in the national airspace, according to the report.

The FAA has said it will issue proposed standards and rules to legalize the widespread use of small commercial drones by the end of the year, according to the Washington Post.

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