About

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Transport Canada certified and fully insured!

Your “First Take” Specialists for cinematic shots

Aerial Vista Productions has been involved in a multitude of aerial video and photographic projects.  Communication is always key, and we start by getting a clear sense of what our customers want to ensure you get the most from our aerial vantage. With this info we can add our creative suggestions to create the optimal shot for any lighting conditions.

FAQ’S

What drones do you have experience flying?

With 5 years of experience flying drones we have acquired experience on the Freefly Cinestar 8, Freefly Cinestar Heavy Lift, Freefly Alta 8, and DJI Matrice 600. With these heavy lift hexa and octocopters we have filmed with the Sony FS 700, GoPro Omni 360 VR camera, RED Weapon and the RED Helium 8K cameras.

What camera can you fly?

We have the Inspire 2  which takes everything that was good about the Inspire 1 and improves it. An all-new image processing system records at up to 5.2K in CinemaDNG RAW, Apple ProRes and more. It goes from 0 to 50mph (80kph) in just 5 seconds and hits a maximum speed of 58mph (94kph) and has a max descent speed of 9m/s for unheard of speed and agility in an aircraft this size. A dual battery system prolongs the flight time to a maximum of 27 minutes (with an X4S), while self-heating technology allows it to fly even in low temperatures.

Using a micro 4/3 camera allows lenses like the following to be used for wide angle to telephoto looks at 90mm equivalent lenses for extreme parallax:

All lenses below have a 2 times crop factor so 45mm is 90mm equivalent for Shotover or Cineflex helicopter gimbal.

Olympus M.Zuiko 12mm/2.0.
DJI MFT 15mm/1.7 ASPH.
Olympus M.Zuiko 17mm/1.8.
Olympus M.Zuiko 25mm/1.8.
Olympus M.Zuiko 45mm/1.8.

Where do you work out of?

We are a Victoria based company but we love to travel and our work often takes us up and down Vancouver Island, the Gulf Island and on to the Mainland. We are willing to travel anywhere in British Columbia including Comox, Nanaimo, Port Alberni, Tofino, Ucluelet, Comox, Courtenay, Campbell River, Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Nelson, Prince George, Williams Lake, Jasper and Revelstoke. We are also available for specialized work out of province and internationally.

How high can you fly?

Remote equipment can fly up to 400 ft by Transport Canada Regulations.

What about bad weather?

Weather is a factor, we don’t like to shoot photos or video during heavy or light precipitation. We can fly at elevation and in cold to -20C.

What is the maximum wind speed in which you can fly?

For the best video and performance, winds under 30km/h are ideal.

How many crew members are required for operation?

A crew of 2 is needed for all operations as required by Transport Canada; Pilot and Spotter.

What emissions or pollutants are emitted during flight?

Zero emissions and no pollution. Our copters are electric and environmentally friendly. We use rechargeable batteries with electric motors so there is a very minimal carbon footprint.

How close can you fly to buildings, vehicles, and people?

Transport Canada requires us to stay 30 meters away from any building, vehicle, or person(s) not associated with the approved Flight Certification. Those who are briefed on the operation and specifically involved with it can be within the 30 meter radius.

Do you have insurance?

Yes, to comply with the mandatory regulation set by Transport Canada and to protect all of our clients we do carry commercial liability insurance that covers our operations.

Can you fly at night?

Please inquire if your production requires night footage and we can submit a further inquiry to Transport Canada specific for your needs in the event an exception can be made.

Is it safe to fly on top of actors/crowd?

Safety comes first. We never fly on top of audience or crowd who are not well briefed and trained for emergency procedures.

Is it safe in general?

We have strict safety procedures and checklists to ensure maximum safety on set, but in wrong hands or environment large RC heli can be very dangerous. And there is always a small change for mechanical or electric failure. Thats why we fly only in a controlled situation. If we feel its unsafe to fly, then we don´t.

Can you fly inside?

Yes we can fly a large enough space such as Atrium, Gymnasium, Mansion, Hall, or Theatre.

What is the maximum speed?

About 90km/h.

What is the maximum operating distance for the drone?

Legally a pilot has to be able to see the orientation of the drone, so there has to be always uninterrupted line of sight between pilot and the drone. The maximum radius then being about 800m from the pilot.

Can you control the camera from the ground?

Yes, we can remote control tilt (150 of tilt), pan (360 degrees of unlimited movement) and roll.

Can you see what you are shooting?

Yes, there is a wireless video feed coming from the Drone so that my camera operator and DOP or director can watch.

Can the wireless video from the drone used for live broadcast?

Yes, we are able to stream HD video for live broadcasts.

What safety considerations are there?

Our team is adamant about safety and takes all concerns very seriously for every operation. If we feel it is unsafe to proceed with an operation it will be rescheduled or relocated. With a range of experience flying remote equipment, we can visualize the potential of  what can go wrong and so we always ensure to take extensive precautions. Prior to all operations, those involved will be briefed on topics including but not limited to:

Flight patterns
Take off and landing procedures
Maintaining safety zones
We require safety meetings with cast and crew prior to flight. Topics include but are not limited to:

Crowd safety (preventing those who are not associated with the project from interfering)
Stunt person/talent safety
Safety for alternate camera and support personnel