Aerial filming can be challenging and expensive so it's important to plan perfectly, and that includes having all the necessary permissions as well as understanding how the filming is going to work.
Helicopter Filming
There are certain times when you need a helicopter. In fact there are certain times when you need a two-engine helicopter for your filming. For instance the
aerial filming for Qatar Airways filmed at Gatwick and Cardiff Airports required permits, flight plans and a direct line of communication with air traffic control.
The aerial filming for Bloomberg in the City of London was only possible with a helicopter due to it's proximity to multiple flightpaths and the fact that it was above both the City of London and the River Thames.
Typically we would use a director and cameraman in the cockpit with a gyro-stabilised camera mounted to the front of the aircraft. This allows us to use a range of high quality kit and film in 4k, 6k or 8k. An internally mounted monitor allows us to view the shots as we film.
Drone Filming
There are various permissions and considerations in order to operate a drone for aerial filming in London. Drones may also be referred to as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Small Unmanned Aircraft (SUA) or Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
In advance of filming you need to ensure that you have:
- Permission from the Civil Aviation Authority
- Permission from the owner or estate manager the land used for take-off and landing
- Control over the area you intend to use the drone within including people and vehicles. In addition the drone may not normally be flown within 150m of any congested area or normally within 50m of any person, vehicle or structure not under your control.
Feel free to call us or
email with any questions you might have. We'd be delighted to help.
Our drones are able to carry Red Epic and Alexa Mini so you don't need to compromise on quality. We also use state of the art monitors and communication devices to previews shots as they happen.