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Sinclair Becomes First Broadcast Media Company Approved by FAA to Pilot Drones Over People Without Waiver for Newsgathering

By: via Business Wire

In Partnership with Virginia Tech

Sinclair, one of the nation’s leading media companies, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone in drone journalism. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted Sinclair’s Declaration of Compliance for Operations Over People, making Sinclair the first broadcast company authorized to fly drones over individuals and moving vehicles without needing an FAA waiver for newsgathering under FAA rules.

The FAA’s authorization allows Sinclair to operate specially modified drones while adhering to strict safety protocols and procedures that meet federal requirements.

“This approval represents a significant step forward in our ability to deliver high-quality, innovative journalism,” said Scott Livingston, Senior Vice President of News for Sinclair. “By incorporating expanded drone footage, we enhance our coverage of breaking news, local events, weather, and community stories—offering our audiences more compelling and dynamic storytelling. Our ongoing partnership with Virginia Tech has been instrumental in ensuring the highest safety and training standards.”

Sinclair’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) program, launched in 2016, operates across 50 newsrooms nationwide and has completed over 40,000 logged flights to date. The program includes 148 FAA certified pilots and 540 trained visual observers.

Sinclair is committed to ensuring its drone operations are conducted safely and responsibly. All Sinclair drone pilots undergo rigorous training at Virginia Tech’s Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (MAAP), an FAA-designated UAS test site. This partnership ensures pilots are equipped with advanced skills and knowledge in drone operations and safety procedures.

“Our dedication to safety is paramount and this achievement is the result of more than a year of extensive preparation, testing, and collaboration with industry and government partners. We’ve also conducted community outreach meetings in each market where we operate drones, engaging with first responders, Homeland Security, education officials, local government agencies, and the FAA,” said Jeff Rose, Sinclair’s UAS Chief Pilot.

Commenting on the partnership, Tombo Jones, director for the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership said, “We have worked for years with Sinclair, helping to train their pilots, and I have always been impressed with their professionalism and commitment to safety. We were proud to build on that theme by using our FAA-approved test method to test a modified drone that allows Sinclair's pilots to meet the FAA's stringent safety requirements for operating over people or traffic.”

With this new FAA approval, Sinclair continues to lead the industry in integrating cutting-edge technology into broadcast journalism. This capability applies to Sinclair’s fleet of drones and trained pilots, ensuring compliance with the highest safety standards while expanding the scope of aerial news coverage.

About Sinclair:

Sinclair, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local news and sports. The Company owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets affiliated with all the major broadcast networks; owns Tennis Channel and multicast networks Comet, CHARGE!, TBD/ROAR and The Nest. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and the nation’s largest streaming aggregator of local news content, NewsON. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net

Category: General

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