Newsgathering by drone is gaining traction as an industry practice, but how the technology can actually be used to cover the news of the day is murky given its legal limitations.
The emerging technology has been used in wars, to deliver packages and, occasionally, for causing a ruckus, but the Federal Aviation Administration has also approved more than 200 commercial uses since September for movies, real estate and infrastructure.
Among those approvals, two companies identified newsgathering as their primary mission, according to the FAA website.
Las Vegas-based ArrowData wants to sell drones to newsrooms and train journalists to carry out an operation.
It doesn't have any contracts yet but says it is seeking out broadcast and newspaper outlets.
"It's a tool that television is looking at," said Ron Comings, who is news director of KLAS-TV in Las Vegas and has been in talks with ArrowData.
But the practicality of using drones to cover the news of the day is still murky.
The FAA has strict restrictions on drone operations, and a news organisation would need deep pockets to afford the equipment and manpower for what is now a limited purpose.
Cinestar drones can cost as much as $US50,000 ($A63,100), depending on the intended use, said Ron Futrell, an ArrowData spokesman.
The FAA also requires at least a three-person crew to use a drone for news, including a licensed pilot to fly it, a camera operator to direct the footage and a spotter to manage the scene, officials said.
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