So, you've got a drone, you've got a license, you've booked a gig so what do you need to do now? In this blog, we look at the five most important drone safety considerations you need to have before you think about flying a drone for work. Everyone thinks production location planning is an easy task. You find somewhere perfect and you just send the drone up and go for it, right? Maybe in an ideal world - but this isn’t the case when it comes to flying drones commercially for production. It’s especially true when it comes to selecting a location where a drone can legally fly.

If you are planning to use a drone in your production to get some outstanding shots of the location, or just to add a unique perspective to your footage, here are some crucial things you need to consider before you take to the skies.

Safety first is a good phrase to live by when out on a production. Yes, getting an epic shot or piece of footage is crucial but not if it means sacrificing your drone safety! Let's be clear, drones in the wrong hands are dangerous - but, big BUT right there, drones can be safe and awesome when you have a smart drone operator.

It may seem like a bore or a touch pedantic but an expert drone operator will consider all these things before they set their drone soaring. If you have a drone safety savvy operator you will not only get amazing shots but you won't have to risk your neck for them either.

 

drone photography

Image by LA Media 

You Must Respect the Drone Danielson!

Take the wise words of Mr. Miyagi to heart! A typical misconception about drones is that they can go anywhere, right? True, to an extent, yes they can physically go most places, drones are very versatile and nimble but unless you want to find yourself in hot water with the law, here are key considerations for drone safety every production manager should consider before the day of the shoot. Just because you can fly it doesn't mean you should!

Cowboy drone operators will risk it, but if the CAA is notified you could find yourself under investigation for reckless flying or worse charged by the police for endangering the public. Drones are a serious piece of machinery, just because some can be bought cheaply as toys you shouldn't lower your guard when operating one as they can do damage.

Do you have production control over the required drone flying area?

The law is quite specific about this and covers people, property, and roads. If you have full control of these elements then you should be good to go flying. Make sure that you get a completed risk assessment form from the drone pilot in advance of your flying date. If you do not have full control then you will need a control method statement from the drone company. All drone flights should be operated within areas that are under the control of the production or which have been made safe using the practices suggested in the control methods statement.

 

drone photography of rail bridge: Drone safety tip, ensure you have correct permissions

Image by LA Media 

Buyer Beware: Is it legal and am I liable?

The drone company should advise you regarding the legal requirements of any flying you intend to undertake and investigate the nature of the airspace you are intending to fly. The drone company should make all relevant contact with CAA, NATS, and any air traffic control (military and civilian) that may be operating in the area you intend to fly and keep you informed regarding any issues.

IMPORTANT: One-man operations will often ask for production assistance when implementing control measures in a flying zone. Be aware that compliance with this request can create an insurance liability to the production.

Cleared for landing?

Does your location have safe landing and take-off areas for the drone operators to use? More importantly, is there an area that can be considered an emergency fly away zone should it be required? The drone company will advise you as to the suitability of any areas you might suggest for these purposes.

 

drone photography of Orkney

Image by LA Media 

Best laid plans

Where possible, and affordable, it is advised to take the drone operators out on a location recce with the production Director, DOP, production manager, and health and safety adviser.

Houston, we don’t have a problem!

It is critical when flying the drone that any pilot has ‘Line Of Sight’. They must see the drone clearly at all times when flying, no excuses! So, when considering locations it is important to anticipate any possible obstructions to the pilot's “Line Of Sight’. Obstructions can be as simple as trees, other buildings, a change in the ground levels when flying low and, most commonly, distance from the pilot.

This may seem obvious but it is worth saying, Drones become very small as they fly away from the pilot and even, therefore, become riskier when, and if, the drone disappears into the background they are flying against. Crossing in front of bright sunlight for example will be very challenging for most pilots.

 

drone photography of Edinburgh castle

Image by LA Media

 

Although this may seem a little scary, if you are working with a good and reputable drone operator they will help you through this experience and make it as straightforward as possible. If you keep these 5 key drone safety considerations in mind when picking your location you will avoid some of these easily made mistakes.

Check out the rest of our website to see some of the drone projects we've worked on and if you have any questions e-mail us at louise@lamedia.co.uk or just give us a call on 0131 622 0220.

If you enjoyed this blog don’t forget to follow us on: TwitterFacebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!

Wishing you happy and safe flying!

 

 

 

 

Buying a drone can be a daunting task, believe us we know. Depending on who and what you are buying it for it can be a significant investment. But more importantly, you want to get the right drone for what you want it to do!

Here is our handy 'drone-buying guide' to help you pick the right drone for 2017.

We’ve broken our drone picks down into the function. There is a drone out there to suit every from a professional operator to a budding photographer looking to add a new dimension to their portfolio! Or maybe you are just thinking of buying a drone for fun, we've found something for everyone.

Key Drone Terms to Know When Buying a Drone

RTF = Ready To Fly so no further outlay is required to get the drone in the air.

BNF = Bind 'N Fly which means the buyer will need various other equipment to fly the drone.  In the case of FPV racers, this would amount to a further £500+ outlay for the Vortex (Transmitter, goggles, batteries, charger).

For the Beginner/Indoor Drones (yes indoor)

indoor drone

Horizon/Blade Inductrix

If you are looking for something to start out flying drones with then look no further than the excellent Horizon/Blade Inductrix.  Unlike most other drones in this category, the Inductrix features both self-leveling and “Acro” modes which can be selected via the RC controller.  What this means is you can start self-leveling to get the basics of flying down and switch to Acro when you start getting more adventurous.

Acro mode is much more difficult to master as the quad will not self-level when you release the sticks – it just keeps going until the pilot gives a corrective input. Flying in Acro on this little guy is a blast and will keep even the most seasoned pilot entertained for hours on end and is robust enough to deal with the punishment of flying indoors.

Cost: £44.99 BNF or £57.99 RTF

small hubsan drone

Hubsan X107 C X4 *

This drone is something of an evergreen in the beginner/ 1st drone market is the Hubsan X4.  Whilst you are not going to produce a Hollywood blockbuster with it, it does feature a camera for taking pictures and video (though no live video feed).  The X4 features stabilisation and self-leveling which make it ideal for noobs and keeps coming back for more, crash after crash. Flips & rolls are possible although these are performed as an automated function – there is no Acro mode on this drone.

Cost: £49.99 RTF

For the Serious Hobbyist: SEMI-PRO CAMERA DRONES

phantom 4 drone

DJI Phantom 4 Professional

Whether it’s for you, or someone you love, then you won’t go wrong with either of these amazing drones. The newly released Phantom 4 Professional takes the already competent Phantom 4 and adds a camera! Already this is a quantum leap in terms of quality in the consumer/ semi pro-drone market. Whilst the Mavic Pro, Phantom 4 (not pro), and Inspire X3 cameras (among others) all share the same small 1 over 2 thirds inch image sensors (similar to those found in phone cameras), the Phantom 4 Pro uses a massive (by comparison) 1 inch Sony sensor as found in their high-end RX100 compact camera (the latest version of which retails for £1000!).

The lens is also greatly improved featuring variable aperture (f/2.8 – f/11) and variable focus. Thanks to these new improvements, filmmakers are offered far greater dynamic range, low light handling, and the ability to achieve more cinematic shots by shooting at wide apertures to give a shallower depth of field (which is also helped greatly by the large sensor). Its 360-degree obstacle avoidance system is a welcome addition for less experienced pilots or for those wishing to smell the trees without actually kissing them!

In summary, whilst not as portable as the Mavic (see below), the greatly improved camera will put it on the top of must-have drones for those who value the quality of output over outright convenience (we want one!).

Cost: £1589 RTF

DJI mavic drone

DJI Mavic Pro – the Unicorn of the drone world

The DJI Mavic Pro is a formidable package for getting great aerial footage and stills when you simply can't manage the bulk of a larger drone.  Even a DJI Phantom is a bulky proposition when faced with carrying it up a mountain (no seriously we’ve done that) or when your mode of transport is a bicycle.

The camera is decent enough to get good 4K footage. To put that into perspective, it shoots video and stills of equal quality to the Inspire 1 with the X3 camera – the combination which we used for professional work before we upgraded to the X5R camera!  How times are changing!

Buy it if you can get a hold of it, it’s a game-changer!

Cost: £1099 RTF

For the Casual Drone User / for fun!

So if you are new to drones or want to get one for someone who might like them then this is for you! Here we focus on the fun, the application, and the price.

Bebop FPV Drone

Parrot Bebop 2/ FPV - The Selfie Drone!

The Parrot Bebop 2 is a fun feature-rich “selfie drone” capable of 25-minute flights and full HD video.  Since it doesn't have a gimbal to stabilise the camera it relies only on digital processing to smooth the video. This drone is aimed not at filmmakers but at those who are looking for something that's easy to fly, relatively inexpensive, and fun. It features some clever flight modes including auto-tracking so the drone will follow you automatically tracking your movement making for some great selfie moments.

It also features a live video feed to your phone which also acts as the controller, and has the option to purchase an FPV headset, so you can really immerse yourself in the action.

Cost: £399.00 RTF or £499.99 with goggles

DJI Phantom 3 Drone

DJI Phantom 3 Standard

Priced similarly to the Bebop 2, we have the Phantom 3 Standard edition from DJ here at LA Media. While this drone lacks the smart flight modes of the Bebop 2 (such as auto-tracking), the Phantom 3 standard has the upper hand when it comes to image quality thanks to its 3 axis stabilised gimbal and 2.7k video capability.

For more experienced pilots who want reasonable quality video on a tight budget, the Phantom 3 Standard is the way to go.

Cost: £449.99 RTF

FPV RACERS - For Those with the Need, the Need for Speed

The FPV drone market is, without a doubt, the most complicated to make a solid recommendation on. This is due to the fact that most pilots build their own using a seemingly infinite combination of different components. So our recommendations are therefore based on those FPV Drones that are bought ready to fly – a wise suggestion for someone new to the FPV Drone racing scene.

Vortex FPV Drone

For the great outdoors - ImmersionRC Vortex Pro 250

For an out-of-the-box FPV drone, the Vortex 250 Pro is a definite winner.  Everything on this racer has been designed to work together which results in a flying experience without any of the hassle associated with building & tuning it yourself.  Every feature you need is there, including a very nice on-screen display (OSD in drone speak) and it has the option to choose pre-programmed flight characteristics to suit your style. Of course, you can still manually tweak things to your liking (PIDs, RC rates, etc ???) to get exactly the feel you're after.

The Vortex 250 Pro is one of the most robust drones you'll find and withstands punishment extremely well – we’ve seen a YouTuber who flew his drone at full speed (~70mph) into a tree and only broke the propellers!

Our resident drone pilot John Banks can vouch for its durability as he has personally smacked his into the ground a multitude of times with no damage. Believe us if John says it can survive a good thump then you can Bank on it (sorry a hideous attempt at humour….get it Banks…bank?).

Cost: £369.99 BNF

FPV DroneFor the indoor racer Horizon/ Blade Inductrix FPV

The Horizon/ Blade Inductrix FPV is basically an Inductrix (see above) with beefed-up motors and a factory-fitted FPV camera.  The birth of the Inductrix FPV came about through FPV pilots buying the standard Inductrix and mounting an aftermarket FPV camera... this was the birth of the “TINY WHOOP”.

Horizon obviously saw a gap in the market so started producing their own camera-equipped version... it was an instant success.  The “Tiny Whoop” indoor racing scene seems to be gaining at least as much momentum as the regular FPV scene and for good reason – it's ridiculously fun and addictive.

Cost: £85.99 BNF or £164.99 RTF

Conclusion

Of course, there are many, many more drones out there to choose from. It feels like new models are being released every other day. If we tried to keep up with the pace of new drones on the market, we would be writing this article indefinitely.

If we haven’t recommended anything you fancy, remember a little bit of research will greatly help narrow the choice depending on the needs and expectations of you, the consumer. However, we feel that we’ve given you a nice selection to start with.

If you feel strongly that we’ve missed something, please let us know in the comments, and please share your drone thoughts with us. Whether it's your first drone or fifth drone we really hope this guide helps you with buying a drone!

 

*The current Hubsan website is currently down which is why instead we've linked it to amazon where you can still purchase this drone.

 

We hope you’ve found this blog helpful! If you enjoyed this blog don’t forget to follow us on: TwitterFacebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

 

 

 

 

 

It’s happened, drones have officially gone mainstream. To say that drones have become popular in recent years is an understatement. Drones are considered to be one of the must-have gadgets for Christmas 2016. Because drones are becoming so popular we thought now would be a good time to review the newly updated Drone Safety Code so nobody inadvertently does anything illegal in the new year!

Drones aren’t just a toy for grown men or kids.  Not only are drones a sophisticated piece of equipment but earlier this year PriceWaterhouseCooper (PwC) put an estimate on the very near future value of the global commercial application of drones to be $127bn. Not too shabby eh?

The future of drones is exciting with some hailing FPV drone racing as the next Formula One. However, recently the CAA published its Consumer Drone User report, which highlighted a potentially large problem, Drone Safety.

The Drone Safety Code isn't Just for Commercial Pilots

Due to this increase in drone popularity the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently launched a revised and improved version of its drone safety code.

Commercial drone flying has always been strictly regulated but for hobbyists, there was little guidance. Obviously, they couldn’t fly over nuclear reactors or such things, but the non-professionals had greater freedom than the pros.

Any form of recompense, no matter how small, even a drink down the pub, and you would be considered a commercial operation. This meant that you'd have to go through the process of becoming CAA certified. However, this revised Drone Safety Code is intended for hobbyists and the parents of hobbyists. Just because you bought your drone in a toy store doesn't make it child's play.

The Revised Drone Safety Code

Recently the House of Lords EU Committee called for the compulsory registration of all commercial and civilian drones, amid growing concern over the use of drones by private individuals with little knowledge of aviation rules.

According to the CCA report, the two most common words associated with drones amongst people 35 – 54 / 55+ are “Unregulated” and “Dangerous.” According to the CCA report, the increased uptake of drone use has led to an increase in the reported instances of irresponsible flying.

Now the general drone using population is being encouraged to know the Drone Code and to practice safe drone flying. Ignorance is not an excuse and like the CAA we'd like to promote responsible drone operation for all!

Let's face it drones come in many shapes and forms, they regularly receive bad press e.g. military drones, personal drones crashing into planes at Heathrow, or maiming pop stars on stage... - poor Enrique Iglesias.

You get the idea, drones need a bit of a PR makeover. The CAA is currently working to reverse this public image via their shiny new Drone Code website.  If consumer perception of drones is allowed to remain dictated by coverage of irresponsible use, then the devices will always be seen with negative connotations and as a threat. We thought it might be good to now focus on the key principles of Drone Safety in this blog, for both hobbyists and commercial drone pilots.

Drone Photography / Filming: Drone Safety Code

Image by LA Media ' LA Media's Drone in Flight' 

 

The CAA’s revised Dronecode has a handy mnemonic, which is a useful tool for any drone lover, whether commercial or hobbyist. Luckily it spells out the object of our affections, DRONE. See below to find out what it stands for and be drone safe.

Don’t fly near airports or airfields

Remember to stay below 400ft (120m)

Observe your drone at all times – stay 150ft (50m) away from people and property

Never fly near aircraft

Enjoy responsibly

See, avoid, reduce conflict

“Legal responsibility lies with you, failure to fly responsibly could result in criminal prosecution” - Drone Safety Code by CAA

Never lose sight of your drone, not even for a few seconds! To be safe you must maintain a constant line of sight with the drone. You need to do this to ensure that the drone doesn’t go crashing into airplanes, power-lines, buildings, or anything else up in the sky. Many new drones have collision avoidance and fail-safes but that isn’t a reliable way to operate a drone.

Technology can and does fail all too frequently. If you are flying alone as a hobbyist, then you must keep your eye on the drone, which means no flying beyond the visual line of sight. “If your drone endangers the safety of an aircraft it is a criminal offense and you could go to prison for five years” - Drone Safety Code by CAA

If you are using a drone for production, then you must have a second person as a spotter. If you are flying trying to capture footage and even possibly looking at a monitor, you cannot keep your focus sufficiently on external dangers. If you, the pilot, are watching the monitor, then you need someone else to spot your drone.

Enjoy responsibly – don’t be that drone operator

Hobbyists and pros alike cannot fly directly over large crowds of people. If you have a CAA licence, the correct permissions, have a safety plan, and full control then goes ahead with caution. The rules state that you cannot: “fly directly overhead (at any height) or within 50 metres of persons, vehicles, vessels, and property, unless those persons are 'under the control of the person in charge of the SUA'.” For example: if filming at a large music festival it would not be sufficient for the audience to be informed of a drone filming via a public address system, or in advance by e-mail or text.

Yes, permission has occasionally been granted for drone flights at public events by special arrangement. However, these permissions have been extremely limited and usually involve a segregated take-off site with the drone operating only vertically within strict lateral limits. There is no allowance for direct over-flight of persons.

Know the ins & outs

The Air Navigation Order defines a congested area as being 'any area of a city, town or settlement which is substantially used for residential, industrial, commercial or recreational purposes. Permission must be obtained from the CAA to land or operate within a congested area, this is a PFCO (Permission for commercial operation). Permissions granted may be valid for one flight or for a period of up to 12 months. If you want to fly a drone in a congested area or near people, then you must first obtain permission from the CAA.

If you are a hobbyist don’t fly over groups of people e.g. at a busy beach. Be a considerate drone operator and remember not everyone wants a drone near them. Try and understand it from the publics' point of view. Never, ever just risk it. If you are in doubt about meeting any of the conditions above, don’t fly. It isn’t worth the hefty fines and possible jail time.

 

We hope you've found this blog helpful! If you enjoyed this blog don’t forget to follow us on: TwitterFacebook, and Instagram for your daily dose of media & drone chat!

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So our latest drone cinematography video is up online on Vimeo, which can be viewed here . This footage was filmed by our drone team at the World Orienteering Championships that were held in the magnificent setting of  Glen Affric, Scotland. To preserve the confidentiality of the route no maps of the route could be provided to the drone team - this meant a lot of people spotting and “on the hoof” creativity for the pilot and director! However we think that the end product was well worth it!!

drone cinematography

Visit our website lamedia.co.uk and if you have any questions, e-mail us at [email protected] or give us a call on 0131 622 0220