Our shoots, in France and around the world
Thirty years of aerial filming experience in the most demanding conditions
Aerialcollection is not just a stock footage library — it is first and foremost a film crew. Since 1993, we have organised and carried out aerial shoots under conditions few production companies can offer : gyro-stabilised Cineflex/GSS helicopter systems for cinema-grade quality, drones for access to the most remote areas, and an intimate knowledge of authorisation procedures across dozens of countries.
This page presents our filming experience — not just our existing footage catalogue, but our ability to organise a new custom shoot, wherever your subject may be.
Equipment — Our helicopter shoots use gyro-stabilised Cineflex and GSS (Gyro-Stabilized Systems) mounted with Red cameras, Arri Alexa cinema cameras or Sony P50 for the best possible image quality. Our drone shoots rely on light units for 4K/6K footage in extreme conditions. Since 1993, our equipment has evolved from the SD format of a single Wescam camera to today's 4K and 8K systems — thirty years of technological change we have kept pace with.
Extreme filming conditions — Our experience covers environments few film crews are willing to face. In Bolivia, we flew over the volcanoes of the Puna at altitudes above 6,000 metres in an Airbus B3 helicopter, with oxygen supply for the crew. In Siberia, we obtained exceptional authorisations to film Norilsk, one of the most closed cities in the world. In Venezuela, we flew over the tepuis in a region where flights are now considered among the most hazardous in South America. In Pakistan, we secured the civilian and military authorisations needed to cover a country with tightly monitored airspace, from the plains of Sindh to the Karakoram at 5,000 metres altitude.
Record geographical coverage — The gyro-stabilised helicopter remains irreplaceable for large-scale shoots. In Ethiopia, we covered the Danakil, Lalibela, Tigray, Lake Tana and the Simien Mountains within just a few days — hundreds of kilometres and radically different landscapes in a single mission. This ability to cover vast territory in a short time is what sets a professional helicopter shoot apart from a series of isolated shots.
Paris — a challenge of its own — No city in Europe is as tightly restricted for aerial filming as Paris. No overflight without express authorisation from Civil Aviation and the Prefecture of Police, approval delays of several months, and frequent refusals. From the Seine, every shot requires coordination with Haropa Port de Paris. Over the years, we have built an ongoing relationship with these authorities, allowing us to offer aerial and river footage of the capital that few other companies can produce. See our dedicated article on Paris.
Drone or helicopter: expertise in both — The choice between drone and helicopter depends on the project. In Argentina, we embedded a DJI Inspire 2 drone with the field teams of Rewilding Argentina to film the Iberá reserve — a shoot impossible to achieve by helicopter in this protected area. In Antarctica, our drones operated in conditions of extreme cold, both on the ground and in the air. Our dedicated article details the advantages and limitations of each solution — and we advise our clients according to the real constraints of their project.
Shoots on demand, France and worldwide — In partnership with Papa Sierra, our long-standing partner based in the Paris region, we organise custom shoots including scouting, securing authorisations, piloting and rush delivery. The very latest generation of 8K cameras is now available for the most demanding productions. Whether your project requires a single overflight of a French monument or a multi-day mission in a remote region of the world, our team handles the entire logistics.
A long-standing collaboration with Yann Arthus-Bertrand — Our partnership with Yann Arthus-Bertrand spans over fifteen years of aerial filming : HUMAN, TERRA, Planet Ocean, The Thirst for Water, LEGACY, and the "from Above" series covering Algeria, Morocco, Egypt and Switzerland. See our dedicated page on this collaboration.
Contact us about your project — Whether you are looking for existing rushes in our catalogue or need a custom shoot, our team can assess the feasibility of your project, the required authorisations and realistic timelines. Contact us to discuss it.
