Portland Radio: KXL News Coverage to Include Drones

Drones will soon be used for news gathering in the Pacific Northwest by Portland-based Alpha Media owned radio station KXL 101.1 FM, providing the technology complies with a Federal Aviation Administration ruling on commercial drones in airspace.

Alpha Media, which operates in 80 U.S. markets, signed into a partnership with drone company Aerial Technology International, a decision announced Monday.

Alpha Media Executive Vice President of Programming Scott Mahalick said the company expects to launch the drones, with Portland as a test market, as soon as they are in compliance with FAA guidelines.

Specifically, the technology would be used for breaking news and traffic coverage in the Pacific Northwest.

“Technology has moved so fast the law hasn’t kept up with it,” Mahalick said. However, drones in airspace remain a “gray area,” he said.

“It changes the landscape of how news will be covered,” Mahalick said. “We want to do it legally and safely.”