ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Drones are flying commercially for the first time in Alaska under hobbyist-turned-businessman Ryan Marlow.
The Alaska Dispatch News reports (https://bit.ly/1AC6Yey) Marlow’s company, Alaska Aerial Media, is joining about 150 other business operations that gained Federal Aviation Administration approval in April.
Commercial drones were prohibited under federal law until reforms were passed in 2012. Now, operators who want to make money off their drones can apply for an exemption under the FAA.
Marlow says he became interested in drones as a hobby, and sought federal approval after deciding to expand to a business. Unmanned aerial vehicles can make an impact on education, public safety and recreation.
“There are so many uses for the UAV systems, especially during natural-disaster situations,” Marlow said. “That’s one of our main goals, to be able to assist in search and rescue and wildfire management.”
Anchorage Police Department spokeswoman Renee Oistad said in an email that drones could be useful, but come with issues like people’s right to privacy and search-and-seizure laws.
“If using drones does ever happen — it will be in the very distant future,” she said.
The University of Alaska Fairbanks has been operating non-commercial drones since 2006. Associate director Ro Bailey said the university’s Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems Integration operates under about four dozen authorizing waivers and certificates.
Bailey said the school has no intention of competing commercially with other Alaska companies.
Marlow says he hopes people start to see the devices as helpful rather than potential sources of trouble.
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Information from: Alaska Dispatch News, https://www.adn.com
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