Frequently Asked Questions

Here's a few answers to the most common questions we get asked, if you can't find your answer here, please contact us....

IS SOUTH COAST AIR LICENSED & QUALIFIED TO OPERATE COMMERCIALLY?

Yes. South Coast Air has “permissions for aerial work” granted by the C.A.A. for both unmanned camera equipped multi-rotors (drones) and helicopters.

 

 

ARE YOU INSURED?

We are fully insured against accidents and injury and have public liability insurance (policy available for inspection upon request)

 

DO I NEED TO USE CAA REGISTERED DRONE OPERATORS?

Very definitely Yes! You are responsible for checking that the drone operator you hire has full permission from the CAA to operate drones commercially (PFCO) and has insurance which complies with (EC) 785/2004. Naturally, we will be happy to provide you with all of the required documentation prior to any operations.

 

CAN YOU FLY IN ALL WEATHERS?

Unfortunately, we are sometimes affected by  the weather. We cannot fly if rain is falling, heavy fog! or if the temperature is below -10C. Strong winds can also be a problem (especially if we are flying near to trees or other objects). We always do our best to fly but safety is paramount and if we feel it is unsafe to take off we will discuss the available options and if necessary arrange an alternative date to complete the flight.

 

HOW MUCH NOTICE DO YOU NORMALLY REQUIRE?

For a lot of jobs we don't need much more than 24 hours but ideally, longer the better and it's always best to discuss alternative dates should any complications arise. If we are applying for extended permissions the process can be quite drawn out with some national institutions requiring a minimum of 90 days notice.

 

WHERE AND WHEN CAN YOU FLY?

As long as we are not in a heavily congested area or near to an airport (or other restricted airspace) and not trespassing we can usually fly without issues. All 'missions' are subject to a site inspection during which we'll be able to highlight any potential problems. Most public parks in the UK are unsuitable for flying. Certain areas such as the National Trust and English Heritage require us to obtain prior permission. All our operations must be carried out during daylight hours (30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset)

 

 

CAN YOU FLY OVER OUTDOOR EVENTS LIKE CONCERTS OR SPORTS EVENTS?

Without acquiring extended permissions from the CAA we are unable to fly directly above open air gatherings where more than 1000 people are attending. However, we can  often arrange coverage of events from outside the perimeter or from specially segregated areas within the event. Contact us to discuss individual events

 

 

DO YOU OFFER A WEDDING SERVICE?

Yes, we can offer a full wedding photography/video package. Also we are happy to work with and be guided by your existing wedding photographer to provide additional images and video footage for them to include in your final wedding albums.

 

 

CAN YOU FLY INDOORS?

Yes we can though naturally we require a fairly spacious room with a decent high ceiling to fly in. Remember, drones can be quite noisy! As in other 'specialist' scenarios people's safety is vitally important to us.

 

 

HOW FAR, HIGH, FAST CAN YOU FLY?

Due to the conditions placed on unmanned aerial systems by the CAA, we are only permitted to fly up to 400ft high, however we can apply for extended heights on a job-by-job basis as required. We can also fly out to 500m giving us a 1km radius and can reach speeds up to approximately 50mph/80kph and need line of sight with the UAV at all times.

 

 

HOW LONG CAN YOU FLY FOR?

Dependent on weather conditions, we can fly for up to around 25 minutes on a fully charged single battery, however, we normally try to restrict flights to around 20 minutes to avoid the risk of over extending the battery life. We always bring plenty of batteries!

 

 

HOW MUCH DO YOU CHARGE?

Every job is different and we price each job on an individual basis. Our prices start from as little as £120. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

 

 

DO YOU SELL PRINTS OF YOUR AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY?

Yes, please visit our prints gallery to see this month's featured images

 

 

DO YOU HIRE OUT YOUR EQUIPMENT TO THIRD PARTIES?

No. Any job where our equipment is required is flown by us!