How much does it Cost to Hire a Drone Pilot?

posted in: 2018

Arkansas Cabin via Ozark Drones

How much does it cost to hire a drone pilot? Short answer: every project is different so the price varies depending on what is involved. However, if you are looking for a more thorough explanation to this question, let’s take a look at everything that must be considered for a drone shoot.

At Ozark Drones we frequently get requests asking “how much do you charge for drone videos and photos?” When it comes to our drone shoots, we don’t have a “one size fits all” price. Obviously, the size and scope of the requested shoot makes a huge difference.

The first thing we have to look at is if the requested drone flight area is in “Restricted Airspace”. Restricted airspace typically means any shoot location within a 5-mile radius of any Class D airport or larger. If you are requesting a drone shoot in a large town or city, odds are an airport is located somewhere moderately close. If the location you want filmed is within a 5-mile radius of an airport, Ozark Drones is required to file an airspace authorization with the FAA and it must be approved prior to the flight in order for the drone operation to be legal. Obtaining these airspace approvals from the FAA take time and resources when they are required. This is why it is crucial for clients to provide a physical shoot address when they request any pricing on our contact page.

The next factor we look at is how long the drone will need to be filming at the requested location. Some shoots where only a few aerial video clips or photos are required may only take 2 hours on location. Other times, if the drone footage needed as part of a larger commercial production, our crew may be at the shooting location all day, or multiple days.

Other contributing factors involved with a drone shoot are the round-trip travel costs, number of crew members needed on-site, the time of day the shoot will take place, and the overall amount of video production equipment needed for the shoot. As you can see, there are quite a few logistics that must be considered for every drone shoot we do. The more information a client can provide us with upfront about there shoot, the faster we will be able to provide them with an accurate quote.

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