The FAA is expected to announce later Thursday that it is granting permits to seven movie and TV-production companies to fly drones, the AP reports. The permits are likely to come with limitations, including that the unmanned aircraft be used only on closed sets and be operated by a three-person team that includes a trained drone operator. The agency’s move is seen as an important step toward greater use of the technology by commercial operators. Until now, the only FAA permit for commercial drone operations has been granted to the Conoco Phillips oil company, which has flown drones in unpopulated parts of Alaska and over the Arctic Ocean.
