CNN to start testing drones for news reports, thanks to the FAA

ATLANTA, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- CNN has received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to test out using drones for news gathering and reporting.

The news organization will be teaming up with the Georgia Tech Research Institute to collect information on how using drones with cameras attached will work, and the FAA will look at that information and create rules for how news organizations can use drones.

"Our aim is to get beyond hobby-grade equipment and to establish what options are available and workable to produce high quality video journalism using various types of UAVs and camera setups," said CNN Senior Vice President David Vigilante. "Our hope is that these efforts contribute to the development of a vibrant ecosystem where operators of various types and sizes can safely operate in the US airspace."

The FAA has previously announced certain restrictions on how film and video makers can use drones, including limiting the drone's weight to 55 pounds and dictating that the drone needs to stay in the operator's line of sight.