The aerial video industry has actively diversified in the recent years. With the advent and refinement of commercial drones and their cameras, there are more options than ever to capture breathtaking aerial video.
Producing quality aerial images to highlight your business or heighten the visual style of your projects has become more and more accessible, with the advent of drones in the public space. However, despite the democratization of the prices of these ingenious little devices, it takes not only a lot of experience and flight hours to get smooth and fluid movements, but also very specialized certifications, authorizations and registrations to guarantee flight operations that are extremely safe. Since June 1, 2019, all these prerequisites are mandatory in Canada.
At Virtuo Airviews, we have all the necessary accreditations to capture quality aerial videos, safely and legally.
Shooting quality aerial footage is no small task. It requires a demanding blend of logistics, planning, skills, precision and intuition, which can only be acquired after several years of experience. At Virtuo Airviews, our certified pilots all have the experience and talent required to produce unique aerial videos for your company.
Our pilots all have an advanced operations certification and several years of experience, not only in terms of flight hours in sometimes difficult conditions, but also in terms of knowledge of the legal prerequisites, safety protocols and logistic requirements of a drone flight. This is all the more important now that it is prohibited to fly a drone without a license in Canada. By choosing Virtuo Airviews, you are making sure that your flight will be operated in full compliance with all the current regulations.
Due to the fact that the first aerial recordings were made by helicopter, the images taken from the air always had a more exclusive look, given the amount of money that it was necessary to spend to gain access to this kind of imagery. Today, with the advent of drones, many aerial images can now be shot at lower cost, but subconsciously, the perception of prestige that accompanies aerial imagery still remains in the minds of the public. It is therefore an investment that can become extremely profitable to establish a brand image focused on high quality and exclusivity.
To showcase a space, building or land lot as a whole, there is no comparable vantage point to the bird’s eye view. It is the only way to fully encompass a large physical area. Aerial video also brings a little something more if it is properly captured with fluid movements and carefully framed shots: a sense of story. A good aerial video tells a tale that contextualizes a business in its environment. This gives the audience a chance to better grasp the spirit of your location and the unique essence of your company.
Aerial videos always had a cinematic quality to them. A well-edited professional aerial video gives you that little something more that wows the viewer. It is a prestigious and meaningful way to position yourself as a leader in your industry, but also as a provider of high-end products and services.
The Mavic Pro is one of the lightest, smallest and sturdiest drones on the market. In terms of image quality and maximum flight time, it is similar to the Phantom, but does not allow such complex or varied flight programs. For video capture, it's one of the best choices out there, but for more sophisticated applications like geomatics we will prefer the Phantom 4 Pro or the Phantom 4 RTK.
The Inspire’s little brother is a lighter drone, with better autonomy that still retains a very high image quality. For all your needs of aerial imagery, the quality of the content produced by this drone is suitable for almost any commercial project.
The most advanced UAV in our fleet. It offers the best picture quality and unparalleled flexibility in terms of lenses you can use and the field of view they can provide. If you're looking for the sharpest images, the richest colors, the biggest flexibility in your composition and framing, and a decisively cinematic look, the Inspire Pro DJI will marvel you with the quality and accuracy of the images it produces.
Is it possible to shoot during the night?
A certified drone pilot with an advanced operations certificate is perfectly capable of performing a night flight as long as he follows two fundamental rules:
1- The drone must be equipped with position lights
2- The drone must be visible from the ground by anyone, without night vision equipment.
Then, for optimal image quality, it is preferable to use a drone that is equipped with a photosensor of at least 1 inch, for a clear and noise-free capture.
I would like to have aerial images of a location close to an airport, is it possible?
Yes, however, only a pilot holding an advanced certification can request the necessary documents to fly in a controlled airspace. At Virtuo Airviews, all our pilots have their advanced operations certificate, and can therefore apply with NAV Canada and Transport Canada for the proper flight permit.
Can an aerial video capture be taken in 360 degrees?
Yes. In the same way that it is possible to take panoramic aerial photographs, it is also true for video. This content can then be used in a virtual reality headset, allowing the user to look around him as if he were flying. A good quality drone is always equipped with a “gimbal”, which allows complete image stabilization despite wind and turbulence, resulting in soft and stable video which will not cause discomfort when viewed in an immersive format.
What is the maximum resolution of drone videos?
All drones, even micro drones weighing less than 250 grams, can capture HD video in 1080p and 2.7k, at a frame rate ranging from 24 to 30 frames per second, and even more for smooth slow-motion purposes. More advanced models allow resolutions of up to 5.2K in 24,30,60 or even 120 frames per second.
But resolution isn’t everything. The quality of an HD or 4K capture will vary depending on the size of the imaging sensor. The larger the sensor, the sharper the image and the richer the colors.
I am planning an event and I would like a drone to film above the public, is this achievable?
Yes it is possible, but on two conditions:
1- The pilot must hold an advanced operations certificate
2- His drone must be certified "Fly over people", meaning that it must be equipped with parachutes and an altimeter to deploy them in the event of sudden loss of altitude.
Unless the flight needs to happen within controlled airspace, no special requests need to be made to NAV Canada or Transport Canada.
How can my business benefit from drone video?
Drone video brings character to your promotional and advertising content, establishing your company as a high end brand to then attract a fitting clientele.
Drone video is also a precious tool for the construction industry, for everything related to site inspection like following the long-term evolution of a project or quickly detect any structural or infiltration issues. It is also used as a monitoring tool by the police for crowd control.
Finally, drone video gives you access to a global and unique vantage point of large-scale installations, whether permanent or temporary, like structures built for large-scale events, for example.
Is there such a thing as 360 degrees aerial video?
Yes. As it is possible to take panoramic aerial photographs, it is also true for video. This content can then be used in a virtual reality headset, allowing the user to look around him as if he were flying. A good quality drone is always equipped with a “gimbal”, which allows complete image stabilization despite wind and turbulence, for stable video that won’t cause discomfort when viewed in an immersive format.