Hollywood to get FAA green light for drones

The FAA will announce exemptions for the use of drones in the television and film industry on Thursday, CBS News has learned. In a precedent-setting decision, seven companies are expected to get the go-ahead to use drones under certain conditions, reports CBS News correspondent Jeff Pegues.

The movie industry has been using drones for some time, but only overseas. Now some of Hollywood's biggest studios will be able to use drones legally here in the U.S. The studios see Unmanned Aircraft Systems as a less expensive production option in addition to being safer than using a helicopter.

Neal Undgerleider, who covers science and technology for Fast Company magazine, told CBS News in June that when drones crash, "it causes much less damage than having a helicopter or a crane crash, and they are much more reliable."

Over the summer seven companies filed petitions with the FAA seeking the exemptions. The FAA has strict limits on commercial drone use and the agency has been scrambling to develop rules and regulations.

The agency has allowed exemptions in some cases for law enforcement, firefighters and in rescue operations.

The FAA had no comment on Wednesday.