FAA: Journalist Cannot Use Drone To Capture Video

UAV was 30 feet off the ground

Jesse Tinsley was the journalist who used a camera mounted on a small UAV to get the shots he wanted. He had said it was "not illegal, but currently in a gray area," according to a report appearing on a blog from the Poynter Institute.

But FAA spokesperson Les Dorr said "There is no gray area." Hobbyists flying RC aircraft are OK, within certain guidelines. But anything that has a hint of commercial activity, including journalism, is verboten, according to the FAA.

(H/T Mark Sletten)