Top Four Questions to Ask about using Drones

With Drone Footage Seeming to Be Everywhere, Now's the Perfect Time to Get Aerial Shots for Your Video Production!

Drone footage seems to be everywhere right now. It appears on TV shows, in films all over YouTube and even corporate websites, and it's not hard to see why. Getting a literal birds-eye-view of your place or situation can be visually spectacular, and can really give a 'wow factor' that will enhance your video production!

Take One owns and operates its own drones, and our experienced, qualified drone pilot will help you get those impressive aerial shots for your video production. So, here's the top 4 questions we get asked about using drones:

1: "Do you need a license to operate a drone?"

No! This actually seems to surprise a lot of people, but there is currently no requirement to hold a license to operate remote aircraft in the UK.

2: "So does that mean you can fly anywhere and anytime completely freely?"

Also, no! You must have permission from whoever owns the land on which you are taking off and landing - this might be a private owner, or a local council or other organisational body. Depending on the weight class of a drone, there may also be restrictions in the type of airspace you are allowed to operate in. You also need the express consent of anyone you film, just the same as when using a normal video camera. On top of that, you also need express permission from the owner of any property you are flying within 50 meters of - this can be anything from a vehicle to a building or some other structure and even animals.

3: "Cool! So, can I buy a drone and start up a company to record aerial footage right now?"

Maybe that's a yes and no - there are a number of things you need to be aware of. For instance, a professional drone pilot needs to have a working knowledge of air law and the health and safety regulations that come with it. They should also know exactly how a drone works, and keep accurate up to date equipment service records and flight logs. They need to be aware of things such as operations intent, health & safety standards, along with a full list of emergency procedures, minimum safe distances and operational limits that must be maintained at all times during a flight. There are also special insurance requirements that must be met.

4: "That all sounds so complex and confusing... But I still really love the idea of having some aerial footage in my production. What can I do?"

Don't worry! If you aren't in a position to go through the training process or if you don't fancy the responsibility and requirements that come with operating a drone yourself, you can always hire a professional drone pilot like the team at Take One. We'll handle all the legalities, paperwork and safety requirements, and you can just focus on getting those amazing aerial shots for your video!

(The above information was correct at the time of writing.)