Seven aerial photo and video production companies sought...

Seven aerial photo and video production companies sought regulatory exemptions that would let the film and TV industries use unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the first time, the Federal Aviation Administration said Monday. If the exemptions are granted, “there could be tangible economic benefits as the agency begins to address the demand for commercial UAS operations,” the FAA said in a news release (http://1.usa.gov/1l1hNlx). But all “associated safety issues” also must be “carefully considered,” the FAA said. It said companies from the precision agriculture, power line and pipeline inspection and oil and gas flare stack inspection industries have filed similar petitions. The petitions seek exemptions from regulations covering “general flight rules, pilot certificate requirements, manuals, maintenance and equipment mandates,” the agency said