Helicopters & Aerial Filming
2011 –2012 Important Notes
Helicopters
Night Flying
Mounts And Equipment
Insurance
Costs And Minimum Times
Fuel Bowsers
Selecting Pilots And Helicopter Companies
Location Permissions
Filming In The London Area
Flying Over Central London
Landings
Helicopters Positioning
Minimum Heights
A Pre-Production Helicopter Check List
This guide has been compiled to assist production companies when using helicopters for filming. It is written assuming the helicopter is being used primarily as a camera platform.
2011 –2012 Important Notes
The introduction of HDTV coupled with sensational long lens and stabilization performance has revolutionised what can be achieved shooting from a helicopter.
However Production should be aware there is a downside. Considerably easier shooting techniques means that many more companies and individuals are claiming to be “specialists”. No problem, but shooting News or Sport is entirely different to shooting a complex commercial or drama, not better or worse, just different.
More than ever your Production must carefully check and cross check all of whom they are hiring have appropriate skills and experience for your project.
The same applies to Pilots. Currently and just coincidentally in the UK many of our most experienced flyers are having to compulsorily retire aged 60 leaving a worrying experience void.
You may very surprised to know that none of the following flying skills are learned for the civilian Commercial Helicopter Pilot or Helicopter Instructor courses:
Formation flying Mountain and Cliff work Desert, Sand or Dust Snow and Ice High Altitude ( 4000-10000 ft ) Divided Attention f i.e. flying whilst closely following an action vehicle (insert comma ) High Stationary Hovering (insert comma ) Landing on buildings or elevated platforms Any marine flying onto or around boats and ships at low level
Most of these skills are extremely expensive to train for, most are never formally learnt.
This is a serious Risk Assessment consideration. Again check carefully, especially the number of hours the Pilot has flown on charter work and on the type of helicopter you will be using. This area is complex, consider independent advice.
Helicopters
… Single or twin engined?
Camera platforms on single engined helicopters are very manoeuvrable and are available at a reasonable cost, but on charter flights they may not:
• work at night,
• in cloud,
• extensively over water, or over built-up areas such as Greater London (except directly over the Thames).
For these areas and conditions a twin engined machine is required. Both single and twin engined helicopters come in different sizes, some have more power, or more speed, or fly sideways better, or accept different types of camera mounts, or more room inside to carry the director and assistant camera person. Of course, they also cost different amounts to hire.
Remember: The cheapest hire cost on paper will not always result in the most cost effective shoot.
Night Flying
… What do you need?
The UK legislation covering Public Transport night flying was dramatically tightened up Apart from the Pilot having a current night rating in a twin engined helicopter, the helicopter now has to have auto-pilot (very few have) and the weather must be no worse than a 1500 ft cloud base with 6 km visibility. This all translates into the fact that very few companies and Pilots now maintain a night flying capability.
Remember: If your shoot requires flight before dawn or after sunset, be careful not to assume that the helicopter can fly at night.
Mounts And Equipment
…What to use,and when!
There are various mounts available which fall into 3 categories:
1. Simple mounts, Tyler MiniGyro, fixed and tilting nose mounts, ie Portamount.
2. Balanced mounts, ie Tyler, Continental.
3. Top quality high tech gyro stabilised camera spheres, ie Cineflex Wescam, Gyron or Ultramedia.
Which you use depends on the shot, and how much time and money you have, some operators even prefer to hand hold the camera. The hire cost of the better camera mounts is often offset by the efficiency they bring to a shoot, reducing helicopter flying.
When fitted the mount becomes part of the helicopter, it must be ‘signed off’ by a helicopter engineer. Ideally it is best to consider the aerial team as a separate unit and not to plan to share camera equipment, as often with weather problems all units end up shooting at the same time. This also applies to the camera assistant.
Insurance
… Ensure you’re covered!
All helicopters are required by law to carry Third Party Liability Insurance. The production company can be named as additionally assured under this policy, but you must ask. You can always obtain life/personal accident insurance for any of your employees or crew who may fly the helicopter. Some insurance companies will not cover ‘high value’ American passengers ie: directors even with an additional premium.
Remember: Helicopter work is considered a hazardous risk, and hired camera equipment must be specially covered. Talk to the hire company.
Costs And Minimum Times
… What’s it going to cost you?
As a broad guide, single engined helicopters are £460-£750 per flying hour, twins £1,050-£1,550, and very large helicopters £2,000-£4,500 per flying hour. Specialist film pilots often charge a separate daily rate. Helicopter costs are calculated by the hour and by part hour.
Remember: Helicopter operators normally require 2-3 hours usage per day minimum, eg for 6 hours in 4 days you pay for 8 hours. Abroad it can be more like 3 to 4 hours a day. But check they will average the time.
Fuel Bowsers
Fuel Bowsers… Taking a fuel bowser obviously depends on the length of flight time envisaged. Helicopters, like cars, perform best at light weights, ideally taking on fuel little but often.
Remember: The idea of sending the helicopter to the nearest airfield to re-fuel often doesn’t make economic sense, eg 15 minutes each way, and a landing fee could cost £350 each time, plus you lose the helicopter for an hour.
Selecting Pilots And Helicopter Companies
… Who to choose?
It seems that every helicopter company ‘specialises’ in filming! Remember, to a helicopter operator filming often represents lots of hours, and to pilots who normally fly businessmen, filming represents a lot of fun!
Remember: Too keen a pilot is a licence to kill. Too straight a pilot leads to dull, unimaginative flying, miles too high.
A pilot assigned a task on a duty roster may or may not take an interest in the film-maker’s problems. Quite often the more experienced pilots also have management responsibilities and you find the pilot you thought you were going to get has changed at the last minute. There are several pilots who’ve made a career out of flying for films and who do nothing else.
Teamwork between pilot and cameraman is crucial to the success of aerial filming. There are a number of cameramen who specialise in aerial work, and using them teamed with a pilot they know and trust will save time and money and produce better results. However, everyone has to start somewhere and as long as the cameraman is comfortable in the air and can concentrate on what’s happening through the lens, and has a pilot who can smoothly put the helicopter in the right place at the right time, the shoot will be successful. For the pilot is in effect a highly skilled aerial grip! ie a member of the camera crew.
Location Permissions
… Get permission!
Remember: Get the location manager to talk to the pilot or helicopter company before he goes recce’ing.
For instance, a large area around London requires CAA clearance for a non-standard flight, this can take up to 7 working days, and you may not have that long.
Filming In The London Area
… Flying in the Zone!
Film flying in the London area can be awkward. To protect the airline traffic at Heathrow, the authorities have created a large airspace area called the London Zone. Any helicopter company, despite having all relevant approvals, is at the discretion of the Heathrow duty controller of the day to approve the flight.
… Whether the weather be fine!..
Oddly, superb weather may bring many different delayed flights over London, too many and they limit the number in the zone. The Zone will be closed due to weather if the cloud base is less than 600ft and/or visibility is less than 1km. No money/cajoling or influence changes this. If you can select locations outside the zone, we recommend you do so.
If at Heathrow, due to the wind direction, Jet traffic are taking off heading East (less usual than West) then Heli route H3 is closed that means no Southern locations in a single engined helicopter.
No non-standard flights are normally permitted within 3 km of Heathrow.
Flying Over Central London
New security rules came into force in October 2004 to protect the areas of Hyde Park/Parliament, plus the City of London and the Isle of Dogs. Permission to fly below 1,400ft in these areas can take up to 28 days.
•The lowest legal flight that can be made over London is 1500ft. The CAA will issue a dispensation down to 750ft but never lower.
•Over the Thames (it varies East of Tower Bridge), typical lowest is 500ft. From Tower Bridge to the House of Commons, the lowest is 700ft. Flight below 700ft is occasionally possible, but the problem then shifts to avoiding complaints from residents, many of whom are extremely wealthy and influential along this stretch of river. Any CAA permissions only remain valid providing there are no serious complaints.
•No flight is permitted within 1km of any Royal Palace.
… Where to land!
Landing within the congested area of cities requires special permission from the CAA, however helicopters can land on any suitable site in the UK subject to airspace and safety considerations and provided that you have written permission of the owners of the land before arriving.
There are other production considerations:
•Inform the local police and relevant local residents, also
•Check on local livestock. Sheep and cows are obvious but don’t forget racehorses in stables and battery hens (who panic and don’t lay eggs for a couple of days!).
Helicopters Positioning
… What to remember.
Helicopters are not that fast (120-180mph) and are speed restricted, with doors off, as low as 70mph. On average they have a 300-400 mile range so allow plenty of time for long positioning trips.
Minimum Heights
Minimum heights vary.
•As standard you may notfly closer than 500’ to people, vehicles and buildings (some companies have a special dispensation to 200’ distance for film purposes).
•However you may not fly over a built-up area lower than 1000' or over large crowds lower than 1000'
A Pre-Production Helicopter Check List
1. Check: With the Director or camera operator if they:
(a) Have a preferred helicopter company or pilot.
(b) Have a preferred camera mount.
2. Get as much detail as possible about probable location areas, how much use of the helicopter is envisaged, and if there are any special requirements, eg other camera rigs, night flying or over water flights etc.
3. Check: With the helicopter company
(a) Which type of helicopter is most suitable for the filming?
(b) Pilot and aircraft availability including weather cover days.
(c) The availability of the preferred camera mount and that the mount has a base plate or brackets to fit the individual helicopter.
(d) If there are any probable restrictions, eg Airspace, CAA police, or location.
(e) What insurance cover will be in effect whilst filming?
(f) Once confirmed, what are the cancellation penalties?
(g) Is the helicopter operated on a Public Transport Air Operators Certificate?
4. Check: The following details:
(a) If a fuel bowser and/or an engineer is required?
(b) When, where and who is fitting the mount? Also, which side of the helicopter is the mount to be rigged? What is the screen direction, right to left or left to right?
(c) Home telephone numbers of all involved.
(d) Who provides air/ground communications?
(e) Is video playback required?
(f) Have all the relevant local residents/farmers/police been told?
(g) Are all the camera equipment and lenses compatible with the mount?
(h) Is there any requirement for early or late airfield opening?
5. Practically every helicopter company in the UK claims to be "specialised film flyers", and indeed there are some very good local operators. However in your assessment, only the genuine specialist companies will be able to provide a list of credits, references and/or a company showreel for recently completed work.
6. Do not call the CAA directly, let your helicopter company or co-ordinator liaise with them for you.
Many thanks to:
TIM DESBOIS www.flightlogistics.tv
for his assistance in compiling this section.
