Drone Pilot Los Angeles
FAA Part 107 aerial cinematography for film, television, and commercial production.
As Seen On
Drone Tech Aerial is a Los Angeles drone crew built for film, television, and commercial production. Every pilot on our roster holds an active FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate plus the night flight, airspace, and operations-over-people waivers that complex productions in Los Angeles airspace require. We are a Netflix-approved drone vendor, operating in Los Angeles since 2012, with credits across feature documentary, episodic television, and national commercial campaigns. When producers need a drone pilot in Los Angeles who can integrate with the rest of the camera department, handle FilmLA permitting and LAANC airspace authorizations in-house, and put a cinema camera in the air with the same shot discipline as your A-camera operator, that’s the gap we fill.
Hire a Part 107 Drone Pilot for Film, TV, and Commercial Production
Feature film and episodic television make up the majority of our work. We’ve operated as the aerial unit on Netflix originals including Inside Bill’s Brain (2019) and Living Undocumented, and we hold the insurance riders and compliance documentation that Netflix and major studio risk departments require before they’ll sign a COI.
National commercial production is the second leg of our practice. Agency producers and brand directors hire us for vehicle work, lifestyle b-roll, and architectural reveals where a Part 107 pilot and a cinema-grade drone outperform alternatives like cranes, jibs, or helicopters on both budget and access.
Music videos, live events, and corporate communications round out the work. The pattern is the same: a Part 107 pilot, a cinematographer’s eye, a camera that matches your package, and crew discipline that integrates with everyone else on set.
Credentials and Compliance
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, current
- FAA Night Flight Waiver
- FAA sUAS Operations Over People (Category 2/3 compliant)
- LAANC airspace authorization (Class B and C, including LAX, Bob Hope, Long Beach, Van Nuys)
- FilmLA permit experience on city, county, and state property
- Netflix Approved Vendor
- $5M general aviation liability with hull coverage
- COIs naming production company as additional insured on request, with standard endorsement language
Where We Operate
Our home base is Los Angeles. The primary service area covers the LA metro: West LA, Hollywood, Burbank, Studio City, Malibu, Long Beach, Pasadena, and Downtown. We’re regularly on location across Southern California in Orange County, Ventura County, the Inland Empire, and San Diego. For longer engagements we travel domestically and internationally with proper advance coordination on permits, customs, and frequency clearance. If your production is in Los Angeles or anywhere in California, we can be on the call sheet.
How a Shoot Day Works
Pre-production starts the moment we’re booked. We pull FilmLA permits, file LAANC airspace authorizations, scout location access, draft the JSA for the aerial unit, and confirm crew positions with the 1st AD. For sequences with talent in frame or complex action, we hold tech scouts with the DP and stunt coordinator.
On the shoot day, the aerial unit operates as a department: pilot, camera operator, and ground safety, with comms tied into the 1st AD and DP. We hot-swap batteries between takes, fly redundant rigs when the shoot day calls for it, and match the look of the principal camera package on color, frame rate, and shutter angle.
Delivery matches the rest of the camera department: SD cards or wireless transmit to the DIT, daily reports with metadata, color management aligned to the show LUT. Producers get clean handoff with no surprises in post.
Equipment
Our primary cinema platforms include the DJI Inspire 3 with the Zenmuse X9-8K full-frame camera, the Freefly Alta 8 with ARRI Alexa Mini LF, and custom FPV rigs for high-speed action and close-proximity work. The platform choice is driven by your camera package, your action, and your location, not by what we happen to own. For a deeper look at our gear, see our cinema drone gear list.
FAQs
What’s the difference between a Part 107 pilot and a hobbyist?
Part 107 is the FAA’s commercial UAS certification. Hobbyists fly recreationally under different rules and cannot legally accept compensation for footage. For any paid production work, the operator must hold an active Part 107 certificate. We hold Part 107 plus night, airspace, and operations-over-people waivers required for film production.
Can you fly in restricted Los Angeles airspace?
Yes. We hold LAANC authorization for Class B and Class C airspace, including LAX, Bob Hope (BUR), Long Beach (LGB), and Van Nuys (VNY). For temporary flight restrictions or unique waivers, we coordinate with FAA Flight Standards directly.
What does a film drone pilot typically cost per day?
Rates depend on the drone platform, the camera package, the location, and the day length. A standard 10-hour day with a DJI Inspire 3 plus Zenmuse X9 starts at our published IATSE-aligned aerial cinematography rate. Heavy-lift platforms like the Freefly Alta 8 with ARRI Mini LF and FPV configurations are priced differently. We provide line-item quotes with no surprise add-ons.
Do you carry production insurance?
Yes. $5M general aviation liability with hull coverage. We provide COIs naming production companies as additional insured on request, with standard endorsement language Netflix and major studio risk departments are familiar with.
Can you operate at night or over people?
Yes. We hold FAA Night Flight Waivers and meet sUAS Operations Over People (Category 2/3) requirements for productions that need either. These waivers are time-bound and we maintain them on a rolling renewal.
How do I get a quote?
Send your shot list, location, dates, and camera package to jaron@dronetechaerial.com or use the contact form. We respond within one business day. For urgent productions, call 310-748-9978.
Book a Drone Pilot in Los Angeles
Send your shot list, location, dates, and camera package. We respond within one business day.