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NPR Press Request

Posted by Carrie Kahn on January 31, 2011 at 9:36am

Hi,

I'm a reporter with NPR and I'm looking for a someone who is currently building a drone and wouldn't mind showing it off to me. I am in Culver City and would like to talk with someone in the LA area.

I'm doing a story about how personal drones are being used for many different activities beyond military uses.

If you are interested in talking with me, please call me at 310 815-4280 or e-mail me at ckahn@npr.org.

Thanks!

Carrie Kahn
Correspondent

NPR

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Comments

  • avi eight February 3, 2011 at 11:34am

    Give Juan Williams a call, he likes drones.

  • T3
    Rory Paul January 31, 2011 at 2:39pm
    I am up the road in Thousand Oaks if you are interested in Agriculture and Environmental applications. You could also take a look at flight if you are willing to come out to the field.
  • John Hestness January 31, 2011 at 2:10pm
    Carrie, the situation for autopilot equipped model aircraft hobbyists is currently kind of vague in the USA.  We are operating under the assumption that we are covered by the AMA (academy of model aeronautics) guidelines for "First Person Video" http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/550.PDF  which involves flying while looking through a wireless camera mounted on the aircraft. All the other AMA guidelines would apply as well. In some areas (urban areas or near airports) these guidelines probably make sense, in other areas, not so much. The main legal issues seem to be common sense public safety and insurance.  And then there are the usual issues with any new technology, can it be used for terror, diminishing privacy, etc.  Gary is right that the situation is really bad for any commercial activity in the US right now.  But I am sure somebody will be willing to show off their hobby for you. I would but I am in MN.  Thanks for your interest.
  • bGatti January 31, 2011 at 12:04pm

    In other words your story should be that basically no one in the US can profit from innovation legally, instead innovation is likely to come from abroad.

     

     

     

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer January 31, 2011 at 10:15am

    We have lots of different stories here Carrie, http://www.suasnews.com you are probably aware that until the NRPM has occured and SFAR 107 is published commercial UAS flight is illegal in the USA. You might want to ask for operators from Australia and Europe to comment as they might be more forthcoming with answers.

     

    It seems very likely that only law enforcement agencies will be allowed to operate commercially at first in the USA.

  • Carrie Kahn January 31, 2011 at 9:52am

    Hi Johann,

    What has been the negative press?

    I am curious about what applications people are building drones for. There is a lot of interesting new applications, and some do raise interesting questions.

     

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