Partnership with Virginia Tech Permits Safer, Extra Dynamic Aerial Newsgathering
Sinclair, a serious U.S. media firm, has reached a brand new milestone in drone journalism. On April 2, 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accepted Sinclair’s Declaration of Compliance for Operations Over Individuals. With this approval, Sinclair turns into the primary broadcast media firm approved to fly drones over folks and shifting autos for information protection—while not having a particular FAA waiver.
The approval permits Sinclair to make use of specifically modified drones that meet FAA security requirements. This implies the corporate can now increase its aerial protection of stories occasions whereas following strict procedures designed to maintain folks protected.
“This approval represents a big step ahead in our capability to ship high-quality, modern journalism,” mentioned Scott Livingston, Senior Vice President of Information for Sinclair. “By incorporating expanded drone footage, we improve our protection of breaking information, native occasions, climate, and group tales—providing our audiences extra compelling and dynamic storytelling. Our ongoing partnership with Virginia Tech has been instrumental in guaranteeing the best security and coaching requirements.”
A Nationwide Drone Program
Sinclair’s Unmanned Aerial Methods (UAS) program started in 2016. It now spans 50 newsrooms throughout the nation. The workforce has accomplished greater than 40,000 drone flights. This system consists of 148 FAA-certified drone pilots and 540 educated visible observers.
All drone operators obtain coaching by means of the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), one of many FAA’s designated take a look at websites. This partnership helps Sinclair meet strict federal security requirements whereas rising its use of drones in journalism.
“Our dedication to security is paramount and this achievement is the results of greater than a 12 months of intensive preparation, testing, and collaboration with trade and authorities companions,” mentioned Jeff Rose, Sinclair’s UAS Chief Pilot. “We’ve additionally performed group outreach conferences in every market the place we function drones, partaking with first responders, Homeland Safety, schooling officers, native authorities businesses, and the FAA.”
A Partnership Constructed on Security
Virginia Tech’s MAAP performed a key function in Sinclair’s success. The group helped take a look at a modified drone utilizing FAA-approved strategies, making it doable to satisfy the necessities for protected operations over folks.
“We’ve got labored for years with Sinclair, serving to to coach their pilots, and I’ve all the time been impressed with their professionalism and dedication to security,” mentioned Tombo Jones, Director for the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership. “We have been proud to construct on that theme through the use of our FAA-approved take a look at technique to check a modified drone that permits Sinclair’s pilots to satisfy the FAA’s stringent security necessities for working over folks or site visitors.”
This FAA approval strengthens Sinclair’s management in utilizing drones to reinforce broadcast information. The corporate’s educated pilots and upgraded drone fleet are actually absolutely outfitted to seize aerial footage in methods which can be each protected and compliant.
About Sinclair:
Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media firm and main supplier of native information and sports activities. The corporate owns or operates 185 tv stations in 86 markets, affiliated with all main broadcast networks. It additionally owns the Tennis Channel and different multicast networks, together with Comet, CHARGE!, TBD/ROAR, and The Nest. Sinclair’s content material is delivered through TV, streaming platforms, and NewsON, the nation’s largest native information streaming service. For extra data, go to www.sbgi.web.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone companies market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory atmosphere for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the industrial drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
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