FlyingTV

Helicopter and drone aerial filming

Helicopter Aerial Filming

Our aerial filming helicopters, combined with the very best pilots and camera operators, provide a high quality and reasonably priced service to the Film and Television industry. We are focused on straightforward pricing and a sensible, safe approach to aerial filming.

That ethos has stood the test of time for more than 20 years - we’ve had a perfect safety record since day one.

We are pre-vetted by all the major media H&S advisors and are an approved supplier to the BBC. We are regulated by, and operate under, CAA Part SPO regulations.

Safety and professionalism is our priority.

                                                          The Aircraft

Airbus AS355

The Airbus AS355 Twin Squirrel is a proven mainstay for aerial filming. With its two, powerful Rolls Royce Allison C250 engines producing over 400 SHP each and a spacious cabin with seating for up to six people, it’s the machine of choice for many tasks. It’s ideal for tasks when we need to have more than three people on board – perhaps a director and stills photographer in addition to the pilot and aerial camera operator.

The Twin Squirrel is often also the best option for tasks over congested areas and cities where the shooting brief needs us to fly lower than we can with a single engine helicopter. A great deal of central London can be filmed using our single engine Robinson R44 helicopters, specifically areas of central London close to the river Thames. Fortunately, most of London’s iconic buildings are close to the river and within reach of the R44, but the Twin Squirrel is the only option for working over certain areas away from the river Thames such as Regent’s Park, Hampstead and King’s Cross.

The redundancy that two engines gives us also makes the Twin Squirrel the most sensible option for work off-shore, especially when we have clients and independent photographers on board.

Robinson R44 Raven II

When we started Flying TV back in 2003, we wanted to break from the norm, move away from routinely using twin engine helicopters and make aerial filming more affordable for television production. The result is, we are the only UK based aerial filming company to offer aerial filming using a single engine helicopter, the Robinson R44. It can operate anywhere in the UK, including central London.

The Robinson R44 is the best selling civilian helicopter of all time, with nearly 8000 machines in service around the world. It has a Lycoming nine and a half litre flat six engine producing 240 HP, and has seating for three people – pilot, aerial camera operator and a client/aerial director (weight limits apply). With on-board VHF coms and COFDM 4K video transmitters for live work, it really is a flying TV studio.

These 21st century machines are just as safe and reliable as the Airbus AS355 but are far more fuel and cost efficient with a much lower carbon footprint than other types, making them very environmentally friendly. They are also much quieter, an increasingly relevant consideration in the modern world. Most importantly, their single engine design means lower operating costs so lower costs for our clients.

                                                         The Cameras

GSS Cinema Pro

We own and operate the GSS Cinema Pro gimbal from Gyro Stabilized Systems in California. Very similar in capability and operation to the Shotover F1, it is slightly more compact in shape and better suited to the Robinson R44 helicopter.Flexible payload configurations and rock solid images, with a virtual sixth axis for steerable pan and tilt in the vertical look down – great for plan view shots. We can perform lens changes in the field in minutes, so your shooting options are never compromised. Available with the following cameras and lenses:

Cameras

  • Arri Alexa 35 & Alexa Mini
  • Red Raptor & DSMC2
  • Canon C300 MKIII
  • Sony Burano & HDC-P50

Lenses

  • Angenieux Optimo 25-250
  • Canon CN-E 20-50
  • Canon CN-E 14.5-60
  • Canon CJ45EX9.7B IASE-V H

                                                        Filming Abroad

 

For productions in mainland Europe, it can sometimes be quite cost effective to ferry our own aircraft to location. We’ve done so for shoots in France, Germany and Italy.

For international productions, the best option is to take the GSS camera system and a helicopter mount with us and source a suitable filming aircraft local to where we are shooting. The gyro technology used in the GSS is not ITAR sensitive so it can also travel to countries that would otherwise be difficult for other systems.

Our GSS camera system is available with an aerial camera operator/technician for filming tasks worldwide. Unlike other systems from Shotover that have to travel as freight with the associated high costs, our complete system, including a suitable helicopter mounting pole, breaks down into six sub-32kg cases that can travel as excess baggage.

Aside from the lower transport costs and ability to go at short notice, having the equipment travel with the operator means a greatly reduced chance of shipping delays and the issues that causes.