Our Services
Our Services
Aerial Filming
Helicopter Aerial Filming & Aerial Photography
PDG Helicopters have been providing aerial filming services to the film and television industries for over 40 years, our extensive list of credits illustrate our expertise in delivering the highest standards in aerial filming. We provide all aspects of aerial filming from a basic hand held camera shoot to a full on Hollywood movie production anywhere in the UK and Ireland.
Licensed & Approved CAA Air Operator
PDG Helicopters are licensed and approved by the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) as an air operator and hold permanent CAA flight exemptions for aerial filming and aerial photography. All aerial filming flights are thoroughly planned and prepared for and carried out in accordance with the CAA.
Approved Aerial Filming Supplier
PDG Helicopters are an approved supplier of helicopters and aerial filming to the BBC, ITV, STV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky and RTE. We regularly work with production companies, broadcasters and movie production companies from all over the world. We frequently supply helicopters for aerial photography to major news organisations, freelance photographers and advertising agencies.
Aerial Filming Help & Advice
Our aerial filming department includes coordinators, camera operators, pilots and operational staff who together have an incomparable knowledge aerial filming from helicopters and can provide specialist advice on everything from filming locations, flight regulations and techniques, basically everything that's needed for planning a successful aerial shoot. We believe in working closely with our clients from the early stages of planning right through to the end when we hand you the footage.
Aerial Filming UK & Ireland
PDG helicopters provide aerial filming and aerial photography throughout the UK and Ireland from our conveniently located bases. Our latest facilities in Wolverhampton provide a central location to serve the Midlands, The Northwest and Wales.
Aerial Filming Helicopters
We own and operate the largest inshore fleet of helicopters in the UK, all of which are regularly maintained to the highest standards (EASA Part 145) by our own helicopter engineering department. For aerial filming we use the Eurocopter AS350 B1/B2 Squirrel or the twin engine variant the Eurocopter AS355 F1/F2. Both aircraft type are a long established workhorse of the aerial filming industry thanks to their safety, performance and reliability. All of our fleet are gas turbine engine type and as such offer many advantages over small piston engined helicopters. Not only do we supply helicopters as aerial filming & photography platforms, we can also supply helicopters to transport crew and equipment to film locations, under slung lifting of equipment, support aircraft for safety/first aid use or even as props to be used within the production itself.
Eurocopter AS350 B1/B2 'Squirrel' Helicopter For Aerial Filming
The Squirrel helicopter is agile, powerful and versatile aircraft making it perfect for aerial filming and photography. Our squirrel helicopter fleet all feature high ground clearance 'skid' type under carriage which provides greater flexibility for landing on uneven/rough terrain but also allows for low slung, nose mounted camera systems. Used for aerial filming throughout the world the Squirrel helicopter can accept a broad range of camera mounts and camera systems including side mounts and nose mounts. We can equip the aircraft with a wide range of film support items including: equipment/luggage cage, cameraman safety harness, wind deflectors, aircraft power supplies, ground to air radios and subject to flight rules and requirements we will also equip the helicopter with additional safety equipment such as aircraft floats, life jackets and emersion suits.
Eurocopter AS355 F1/F2 'Twin Squirrel' Helicopter For Aerial Filming
The Twin Squirrel helicopter is equally well suited to aerial filming and used throughout the world as a solid and dependable aerial camera platform. Equipped with 2 engines it is legally able to operate lower over towns and cities and longer over water than any single engine helicopter can. Like its sister aircraft (the Squirrel), it features high ground clearance 'skid' type under carriage. This aircraft can also accept a wide range of camera mounts and camera systems including side mounts and nose mounts. Our Twin Squirrel helicopters can be supplied with a range of film support items (as above), together with the safety equipment such as aircraft floats, life jackets emersion suits where required.
Eurocopter AS365 C 'Dauphin' Helicopter
The Dauphin 'C' helicopter is equipped with twin engines and a spacious 8 seat cabin so it's not normally used as an aerial camera platform due to its size, it's better suited to transporting talent, production crews and equipment to film locations. Thanks to its 'skid' type under carriage it can cope with rugged and uneven ground, which makes it a great support aircraft for first aid etc. The Dauphin 'C' has also been used as a 'prop' in several movies.
Eurocopter AS365 N 'Dauphin' Helicopter
Our Dauphin 'N' helicopters are also a 8 seat twin engine helicopter but the 'N' type features retractable under carriage and so offers an impressive 175mph cruise speed, perfect to transport talent and crew or the ideal 'prop' helicopter.
PDG Helicopters own and operate a range of gyro stabilised camera systems including the Flir Ultra Media II standard definition camera system and the Cineflex V14 HD camera system. These gyro stabilised camera systems offer a massive upgrade over handheld cameras or side mounts (continental/Tyler). The hire cost of a gyro stabilised system is higher than the side mounts but the restricted views and inability to use a long lens due to vibration could result in taking you much longer to capture a good shot. Compare this to a nose mounted, gyro stabilised camera system with long lens, this will get you the shot in a fraction of the time and so deliver far more material and ultimately offer far better value! We also work with several companies that supply dedicated film cameras including 35mm and 16mm systems for movies, adverts and general production, systems include: Wescam, Gyron and Pictorvision systems. We also offer a range of camera mounts including side mounts that provide a level of stabilisation for conventional hand held/shoulder mounted cameras.
Aerial Camera Operators/Technicians
PDG's camera systems are operated and supported by our in-house, full time camera operator/technicians, they have thousands of hours aerial filming experience all backed up with an extensive technical knowledge and a genuine passion for aerial filming.
Helicopter Pilots
All of our pilots are highly trained, fully qualified professional pilots with thousands of hours flying experience, this includes aerial filming, aerial photography and flying a wide range of camera systems and mounts for film and television.
Helicopter Aerial filming Support Facilities
We offer a range of ground support facilities available on location anywhere in the UK and Ireland, these include; helicopter ground support crews, fuel bowsers, support vehicles and helicopter engineering.
Whatever your aerial filming requirements PDG helicopters are here to help, speak to our friendly and knowledgeable aerial filming team on: +44(0)1667 462740 or click here to Contact Us
