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LESSON 129

Drone filming rules

Aerial shots, and the law first.

IN THIS LESSON

  1. What drones changed
  2. Who sets the rules
  3. Examples from elsewhere
  4. Check your local law
  5. Practice: safe aerial shots

What drones changed

Aerial photography has been done from aircraft, helicopters, balloons, kites and even pigeons. Small unmanned aerial vehicles, usually called drones, made it cheap and quick, and many shots once done from cranes are now done from drones instead. Motorised gimbals keep the camera level and steady while the aircraft moves, which is why drone footage can look so smooth. The cost of entry is low, but the rules are not, and they differ from country to country. Learn them before buying a drone, not after.

Who sets the rules

Drone flying is generally regulated by each country's civil aviation authority. The International Civil Aviation Organization began studying drones in 2005 and published a report in 2011, after which national rules followed, with the United States FAA and the European EASA among the most influential. In the European Union, the open category covers most hobby and simple commercial flying: the drone must stay within the pilot's visual line of sight, below 120 metres above ground, and must not fly over gatherings of people. Drones of 250 grams or more need registration and an online test.

Examples from elsewhere

Other countries set their own limits. In the United Kingdom it is against the law to fly above 400 feet, about 120 metres, or within 1 kilometre of an airport boundary, and owners need an operator ID and, for drones of 250 grams or more, a flyer ID from an online test. Canada requires drones over 250 grams to be registered and their pilots licensed. Australia allows some commercial use of small drones under 2 kilograms. These examples are a snapshot from our source and rules change, so they are not legal advice.

Check your local law

Before any flight, check the current rules of the country and the exact place where you will fly, with the national aviation authority's own website. Look for no-fly zones around airports, prisons, military sites, national parks and city centres, and for any permit needed for commercial work, flying near people or flying at night. Privacy and data laws also apply to what you film. In many places, insurance is required for paid work. When in doubt, do not fly. Rules are updated often, so check again before each job.

Practice: safe aerial shots

This is working practice. Check weather and wind, battery level and propellers before each flight. Keep the drone in sight, and have a spotter watch the sky and the people around. Plan the shot on the ground first. Slow, steady moves look best: a slow rise, a straight track, a gentle orbit. Use an ND filter so the shutter stays near 180 degrees and motion looks natural. Land with battery to spare, and log every flight with date, place and conditions, which many permits and insurers ask for.

Try it today

  1. 01Look up the drone rules of your country on the aviation authority's site.
  2. 02Find whether your drone needs registration and a test.
  3. 03Check a map of no-fly zones around your planned location.
  4. 04Plan three slow moves on paper before flying.
  5. 05Fly only where it is legal, with a spotter.