SCENE 01 / AERIAL DRONE SERVICES
Aerial Drone Services
Licensed drone operators delivering cinematic aerial footage across New York.
Aerial drone services deliver cinematic overhead and sweeping perspectives across New York's legendary skyline—from the skyscrapers of Midtown Manhattan to the bridges spanning the East River. Drones provide cost-effective aerial coverage for establishing shots, architectural reveals, and any production requiring elevated viewpoints over iconic New York scenery.
We coordinate fully FAA Part 107-licensed aerial drone services that navigate New York's complex Class B airspace. Our team manages FAA waivers, LAANC airspace authorizations, and coordination with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) to ensure your production captures stunning aerial footage safely and legally.
Capabilities
Complete Aerial Services
From sweeping establishing shots to dynamic FPV sequences, our certified drone teams deliver the aerial perspectives your production needs.
01
Cinematic Aerial
- Sweeping establishing shots
- Tracking & reveal shots
- Orbit and point-of-interest
- Low-altitude proximity flying
- High-altitude panoramas
Stunning Perspectives
02
FPV Drone Services
- Dynamic chase sequences
- Indoor FPV flying
- Action sports capture
- Through-the-gap shots
- High-speed proximity
Immersive Action
03
Regulatory Compliance
- FAA certification
- Airspace authorization
- Flight plan submission
- Insurance documentation
- Safety assessments
Fully Licensed
04
Specialized Operations
- Night aerial filming
- Heavy-lift payloads
- Long-range operations
- Multi-drone coordination
- Live broadcast feeds
Advanced Capabilities
On Location
FAA Part 107 drone operators across NYC's Class B airspace
Here is how the work lines up. Aerial drone services in New York operate inside one of the most constrained airspace settings in the world, with LaGuardia, JFK and Newark Liberty all running Class B controlled airspace that blankets most of the five boroughs, Teterboro Class D wrapping the western New Jersey approach, and standing Temporary Flight Restrictions over Times Square, the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade route, the UN General Assembly during session, the Statue of Liberty and the final approach corridors for the three major airports.
Our pilots hold FAA Part 107 commercial certifications, file the LAANC airspace authorisations and pursue the Section 333 legacy waivers and over-people Category 2/3 waivers where the storyboard calls for crowd flights. Op partners include Pearl Aerial in Brooklyn, 1080 Filmworks in Manhattan, Sandcrane Aerials and the Helinet aerial unit's New York rotations, with cinema-grade kit running from DJI Inspire 3 and Mavic 3 Pro Cine bodies up to Freefly Alta X heavy-lift platforms carrying ARRI Alexa Mini LF and RED V-Raptor packages. FPV pilots trained on the NY motocross and parkour circuits handle the tight proximity work for brand films, music videos and the Marvel/DC New York unit pickups.
NYC permit workflow starts with the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Made in NY drone permit, runs through the NYPD Movie & TV Unit for any street-level closure and lines up with the FDNY film safety officer for stunts and pyro-adjacent flights. We file LAANC authorisations through Skyward and Aloft, prepare the B4UFLY assessments and submit the FAA waivers for night operations, over-people flights and beyond-visual-line-of-sight work when the brief demands it.
Coordination with the Hudson River Park Trust, NYC Parks, MTA Bridges & Tunnels and the National Park Service for Liberty Island and Governors Island flights happens at the scout stage, and our coordinators pre-clear sensitive corridors around One World Trade, the UN, Trump Tower and the standing diplomatic protection zones. The New York State Film Tax Credit at 30% — with the additional 10% NYC uplift for qualifying outer-borough work — applies to aerial-unit spend on qualifying productions. Our paperwork tracks the spend through the Empire State Development application alongside the IATSE Local 600 crew documentation for unionised aerial cinematographers.
FAQ
Aerial Cinematography Expertise
What drone certifications do your pilots have?
All our pilots hold New York FAA certifications required for commercial drone operations. Many also hold certifications from other aviation authorities. We maintain full documentation including flight logs, insurance, and operational manuals.
Can you fly drones in cities like Manhattan?
Urban drone flying in New York requires special authorizations. Manhattan has significant restricted airspace, but we can obtain permits for specific locations with advance notice. We handle all regulatory submissions and coordinate with authorities.
What cameras can you mount on drones?
We operate everything from integrated camera systems like DJI Inspire and Mavic lines to heavy-lift platforms carrying RED, ARRI Mini, and other cinema cameras. We match the platform to your image quality requirements and shot complexity.
Do you provide FPV drone services?
Yes, we have experienced FPV pilots for dynamic shots including chase sequences, indoor flying, and high-speed proximity work. Our FPV team uses purpose-built drones with cinema-quality cameras for broadcast-ready footage.
What about night aerial filming?
We're authorized for night drone operations with proper lighting systems, enhanced safety protocols, and appropriate certifications. Night flying requires additional planning and authorization, so please discuss requirements early.
How far in advance should we book?
Standard aerial shoots can often be arranged with 1-2 weeks notice. Complex operations requiring special authorizations, restricted airspace access, or multi-drone setups may need 3-4 weeks for proper planning and approval.
Related Services
Productions in New York that need this often pair it with Helicopter Filming, High Speed Filming, and Cable Cam Systems for full coverage. Most projects also draw on Camera & Cinematography and Drone Videography.
On Set
Need Aerial Filming?
Tell us about your aerial shots and we'll provide licensed drone services.