KATV, Channel 7, in Little Rock will use an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, to record news video, the television station said Wednesday.
The drone will be used to gather video of breaking news, weather and local events in central Arkansas, a news release said.
It is not the first time the news station has used a drone for news coverage. KATV's photojournalist Brian Emfinger used a drone in April 2014 to record destruction left by a tornado.
Emfinger's drone use for the television station drew scrutiny from federal regulators because at the time, drones for commercial use -- including news purposes -- was prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration. Under current regulations, a commercial drone operator must obtain a certificate from the FAA.
"We are very proud to be the first to use this technology and hope to use it as often as possible," said general manager Mark Rose.
-- Jessica Seaman