Sinclair Celebrates Its 10,000th Drone Flight

Sinclair Broadcast Group on Wednesday said that the company’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (drone) program recently flew its 10,000th logged flight.

Launched in August 2016, this program operates drones for 45 Sinclair newsrooms across the country, bringing the most exciting innovations in journalism to local audiences. The company has 108 FAA Part 107 certified drone pilots and 64 trained visual observers in newsrooms and creative services department.

The 10,000th flight occurred on Jan. 30, part of an assignment for a news report for WPMI Mobile, Ala. The drone was commanded by Robby Hughes from Sinclair’s WEAR Pensacola, Fla., with visual observer Jan Czernik stationed in Mobile.

Sinclair said drones have allowed it to further enhance its news teams. In 2018, for example, Sinclair stations deployed the technology to the Carolinas and Florida to give viewers across the country a compelling and comprehensive look at the devastation caused by Hurricanes Florence and Michael.

At WRGB Albany, N.Y., a drone was used to help first responders find a car that had been swallowed by flood waters.

Their use extends past breaking news as well, offering a bird’s eye view of many of the things that make communities unique, from fireworks and parades, to Christmas and holiday light displays.

“We continue to be an industry leader with our cutting-edge drone journalism. We’re proud of our drone journalists across the country who provide our viewers with a unique visual perspective on significant local stories,” said Scott Livingston, Sinclair’s SVP of news. “The possibilities of drone journalism are endless – whether it’s for local stories, special events, or footage for our new channel SOAR, available on our streaming service STIRR, we continue to find interesting ways to deploy this technology to bring viewers an enhanced experience.”

All Sinclair drone pilots attend a three-day, FAA-approved class to ensure all drones are flown responsibly and within regulations. Sinclair’s program also goes beyond FAA’s standards, with a two-person operation protocol implemented.

“By establishing best practices across our stations, we ensure that drones are flown by those who have received top-notch training under operational protocols that prioritize a safety-first environment,” said Jeff Rose, Sinclair’s chief pilot. “With stations frequently working together on these drone-centric stories, it’s critical that our 100-plus pilots are able to collaborate seamlessly. Our standards do more than enforce safety, they also help develop great teamwork.”

Sinclair said it expands its drone program regularly, with 10 stations getting their own drones last year.