Film crew hire/Brighton/Drone operator
Hire a drone operator in Brighton. A drone operator plans and flies the aerial shots on your shoot.
People book a drone operator in Brighton for offices at New England House, conferences at the Brighton Centre and shoots on the seafront. The operator plans the flight, checks the airspace and the landowner’s permission, and flies the aerial shots of the coast, the city and the Downs. Our drone operator day rate starts at £750, with their own drone.
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- £10m employers’ liability on every crew member we book
- 2,800+ freelance crew on our books, across the UK
Photos: Diana Măceşanu, Nicolas Luna, William Bayreuther, Goh Rhy Yan and Ekkanat Sartsoongnern
The role
What a drone operator does on your shoot
A drone operator plans and flies the aerial shots, such as the seafront from above or a reveal along the coast. In Brighton, most of the work comes before the day. The operator checks the airspace round Brighton City Airport at Shoreham, and gets the landowner’s permission for take-off and landing. We book a drone operator who lives in Brighton or Hove first. If nobody local is free, or the shoot needs more people, we bring crew down from London. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked.
Most of the planning depends on where you fly. Brighton City Airport at Shoreham has a flight restriction zone. It takes in the aerodrome traffic zone, 2 nautical miles round the airfield up to 2,000 feet, and runway extension zones 5 km by 1 km. Check the airport’s map for your take-off point. On council land, drone filming goes to the council’s outdoor events team. Seven Sisters Country Park doesn’t allow drones over the park without express permission. The operator checks which rules apply before quoting.
- The airspace is cleared. Inside the airport’s zone, the operator applies to its air traffic control at least 7 days ahead, and flies only once the written permit arrives.
- The drone is flown to the CAA’s rules. The operator holds the CAA registrations and any operational authorisation the flight needs.
- The site is assessed. The operator checks the take-off and landing points, people, roads and buildings, and plans a fallback.
- The shots cut in with the rest of the film. The operator matches the frame rate and colour profile to the ground cameras.
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton City Airport, Brighton and Hove City Council and Seven Sisters Country Park.
What’s included
What the day rate covers
In the day rate
- A day’s flying, with their own drone, batteries and spares
- Flight planning, the site assessment and the airspace check
- Their CAA registrations and any operational authorisation
- Their aviation insurance, checked before we book them
- The rushes at wrap, matched to the ground cameras
On top, each on its own line
- Our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, on the whole quote
- Brighton City Airport’s permit inside its flight restriction zone, where the flight needs one
- The landowner’s permission, from the council or a private owner, where the site needs it
- A second operator for the camera, on a bigger aerial shoot
- A spotter, where the site needs one
- Travel from London or outside Brighton, at cost
Read how our rates work and the two ways to book in crew rates in Brighton.
Two ways to book
Crew hire or full production
The price depends on who is the producer of record. That’s the company responsible for the shoot. You can book a drone operator for your own shoot, or ask us to run the whole production.
Crew hire
You run the shoot.
10% + 2% booking fee and insurance on everything we book for you, including crew, kit and travel.
We do
- Find, book and brief the crew, and pay them
- Book kit, travel and hotels too, if you want them
- Send the full price before anything is booked
- One person to call all day
- Employers’ liability for the crew we book, and insurance on kit we hire in
You do
- Run the shoot, or your producer does
- The plan, the schedule and the call sheet
- The location, its permission and its public liability
- You’re the producer of record, so the production is your responsibility
The 2% covers employers’ liability for every crew member we book and the kit we hire in for you. It doesn’t cover anything else on the shoot. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line.
Full production
We’re the producer of record.
15% + 5% production fee, plus insurance and contingency, on the whole production budget. We quote it as a production.
We do
- Our producer plans it with you and runs the day
- Locations, permits, kit, studio, travel and hotels, booked and paid in our name
- Insurance for the whole shoot, public liability included, plus the risk assessment and the call sheet
- One contract and one invoice, so overseas teams need no UK company
You do
- The creative calls
- Signing off the plan and the budget
The 5% pays for our production insurance across the whole shoot, including £10m public liability, and the contingency.
If your own producer or director will run the day, book crew hire. If you want us to run the production, ask for a full production quote.
On the day
An example day with a drone operator
Aerials of the seafront and the West Pier for a brand film, taking off from council land on the seafront. The times are an example. The call sheet sets the real ones.
- D–10 Airspace The operator checks the take-off point against the airport’s map of its flight restriction zone. If the site is inside it, they apply to the airport’s air traffic control at least 7 days ahead, with a £20 plus VAT fee. Nobody flies until the written permit comes back with its reference number.
- D–7 Permits The application goes to the council’s outdoor events team. It includes the operator’s CAA licence, their drone operator’s insurance, a risk assessment and a map of the take-off, landing and flight area.
- 07:00 Site walk The operator walks the take-off and landing points, and checks for early walkers, the road behind and anyone not involved in the shoot. They cordon off the area where needed.
- 07:30 Weather and airspace The operator checks the wind, the rain and any temporary airspace restriction on the morning.
- 08:00 First flights The drone flies low-sun reveals along the seafront and out to the West Pier, while the light is soft and the promenade is quiet.
- 15:00 Last flights and wrap The operator flies pick-ups in the afternoon light and writes up the flight log.
We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton City Airport and Brighton and Hove City Council.
Types
Types of drone we book
The shot, the camera and the site decide which drone you need.
Standard aerials DJI Mavic 3 Pro or Air 3 From £750 a day
A small drone is quick and quiet, with a good 4K or 5K camera. Its weight and class mark decide how close to people it can fly, and the operator plans each flight to the CAA’s rules.
Good for property, events, establishing shots and social content.
Cinema drone DJI Inspire 3, full-frame Quoted on the brief
A cinema drone carries a full-frame camera with interchangeable lenses and RAW recording, often with a second operator on the camera.
Good for brand films and adverts. It’s a bigger drone, so the site, the landowner and the airspace take more planning.
FPV Fast, close and through gaps Quoted on the brief
FPV drones are small and fast, and flown in first person. They fly through doorways, along a track, or close to a moving car or a person.
Good for sport, venues and action. FPV usually needs more permission and a closed set.
Near the airport Inside the flight restriction zone Plus at least 7 days’ notice
Inside Brighton City Airport’s flight restriction zone, the operator applies to the airport’s air traffic control at least 7 days before the flight. The application fee is £20 plus VAT and isn’t refunded. The airport replies with a written permit and a reference number. There’s more on drones in filming permits in Brighton.
The airport is at Shoreham, west of Brighton. Check the airport’s map for your take-off point. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton City Airport.
What it’s for
What people book a drone for in Brighton
Adverts and fashion on the seafront
Aerials of the beach, Hove Lawns and the piers open the film. The beach is council land, so drone filming there goes to the council’s outdoor events team, and the pier’s owner handles the pier.
The Downs and the coast
Drones film Devil’s Dyke, Ditchling Beacon and the coast from above. Inside Shoreham’s zone they need permission from its air traffic control, and Seven Sisters Country Park doesn’t allow drones over the park without express permission.
Conferences at the Brighton Centre
Establishing shots of the venue and the seafront open the event film, with the landowner’s permission for take-off and landing.
Founder and customer films
An aerial of the city round New England House and the station sets the scene. Many of the city’s tech and games companies work there.
University and research films
Aerials show the campuses of the University of Sussex at Falmer and the University of Brighton, with the university’s permission.
Recent work
Drones on our crews, and the Brighton rules we plan round
How we crew it · Brighton
Inside Shoreham’s flight restriction zone
Brighton City Airport at Shoreham has a flight restriction zone. It takes in the aerodrome traffic zone, 2 nautical miles round the airfield up to 2,000 feet, and runway extension zones 5 km by 1 km. Flying inside it needs the airport’s permission. The operator applies to airtraffic@flybrighton.com at least 7 days before the flight, and the £20 plus VAT fee isn’t refunded. The airport replies with a written permit and a reference number. Check the airport’s map for your take-off point. We book the operator once the dates allow for the permit. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton City Airport.
How we crew it · Brighton
Over council land and Seven Sisters
On council land, drone filming goes to the council’s outdoor events team. The application needs the operator’s CAA licence, drone operator’s insurance, a risk assessment and a map of the take-off, landing and flight area. Seven Sisters Country Park doesn’t allow drones over the park without express permission. The Royal Pavilion’s filming conditions don’t allow drones at all. When the shot needs a take-off point nobody will give, we look for another way to get it, such as a long lens from a roof, or a site whose owner says yes. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton and Hove City Council, Seven Sisters Country Park and Brighton and Hove Museums.
Before you book
Things to know
Permission in Brighton
- Inside Brighton City Airport’s flight restriction zone, the operator needs the airport’s written permit. They apply at least 7 days ahead, and the fee is £20 plus VAT.
- On council land, the application goes to the council’s outdoor events team, with the CAA licence, drone insurance, a risk assessment and a flight map.
- Seven Sisters Country Park doesn’t allow drones over the park without express permission. The Royal Pavilion doesn’t allow drone filming. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton City Airport, Brighton and Hove City Council, Seven Sisters Country Park and Brighton and Hove Museums.
The day
- Wind and rain can ground a drone, so we agree a weather day on the quote.
- A temporary airspace restriction can close the sky at short notice, so the operator checks on the morning.
Paying and changes
- You pay nothing until you confirm the operator.
- We take 50% by card when you book and 50% when you receive the final rushes.
- The quote shows every line, including the day rate, booking fee, kit and travel.
- Cancellation terms are on every quote.
What our insurance covers
- Our insurance covers employers’ liability for the operator we book, up to £10m.
- Kit we hire in for you is insured. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, as its own line on the quote.
- On a crew hire, it doesn’t cover anything else. Public liability, the location and your own kit stay with you, and your venue will want to see your certificate. When we’re the producer of record, our policy covers the shoot.
- The operator’s own aviation insurance covers the drone and its flights. We check it before we book them.
- The council asks for drone operator’s insurance with every drone application on council land. We checked this in November 2026. Fees and rules change, and this page isn’t the official source. For the latest, check with Brighton and Hove City Council.
From £750 a day
There’s no APA/Bectu card rate for drone operators. They price per day, with the drone.
| Operator and drone, a day | £750 |
| Booking fee, 10% | £75 |
| Insurance, 2% | £15 |
| One day, before permissions and travel | £840 + VAT |
The 2% covers employers’ liability for the operator we book and the kit we hire in. What it covers
You won’t pay anything until you confirm the operator.
- 50% by card at booking, 50% on the final rushes
- Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours
- Every line on the quote before anything is booked
Or call us on 07412 543822.
Reviews
What clients say about our crews
These reviews come from our Google Business Profile.
Book a drone operator in Brighton.
Tell us the date, the place and the shots. We’ll check the airspace before we quote. Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours. Or call us on 07412 543822.
Check availability
The whole crew
Every crew role we book in Brighton
Send one brief and we send one quote, with every role on its own line. These are our day rates in Brighton, and each crew member gets their full rate:
Production 06
- Director From £500
- Producer From £450
- Production manager £504–627
- 2nd AD £355–448
- Production assistant £400
- Runner £245
Camera 07
- DOP From £850
- Camera operator £529–656
- Focus puller £461–575
- Clapper loader £355–448
- Steadicam operator From £950
- Gimbal operator £529–656
- Drone operator This page From £750
Data and playback 02
- DIT £527
- Video playback £334–518
Sound 01
- Sound recordist £550
Hair, make-up and costume 02
- Hair and make-up £398
- Costume £519–694
Art department 02
- Art director £675–878
- Set builders £341–512
Post-production 01
- Editor From £350
See how our rates work in crew rates in Brighton, or start from one of our crew set-ups in Brighton.
Production support
Everything around the crew
Aerials in Brighton need the site checked against the airport’s zone at Shoreham, and a landowner who says yes. The airport’s fee and any landowner’s fee each go on the quote as their own line, or you can sort them yourself.
01
Kit rental
Where to hire camera, lighting and sound kit for a Brighton shoot, and when the crew bring their own.
02
Locations and permits
The Sussex Film Office, private places such as the pier, filming on the beach and the drone rules.
03
Studios and set builds
Studios in Brighton for interviews and product shots, and where to go for a bigger set build.
04
Props and wardrobe
Where props and costume come from, and the stylists and hair and make-up artists we book.
Questions
Questions about hiring a drone operator in Brighton
How much does a drone operator cost in Brighton?
Our drone operators start at £750 a day with their own drone. We add our 10% booking fee and 2% insurance, so one day comes to £840 + VAT, before airport, landowner and permit fees and any travel from London. Cinema drones and FPV are quoted on the brief. There’s no APA/Bectu card rate for drone work.
What does the insurance on a crew booking cover?
It covers two things. The first is employers’ liability for every crew member we book, up to £10m. The second is the kit we hire in for you. That’s what the 2% pays for. A large kit rental may need extra insurance, which goes on the quote as its own line. On a crew hire, you’re the producer of record, so public liability, the location, your own kit and anything you book yourself stay with you. If you want us to be the producer of record, we quote it as a full production, and our insurance covers the whole shoot.
Can you fly a drone near Brighton City Airport?
With the airport’s permission. Brighton City Airport at Shoreham has a flight restriction zone. It takes in the aerodrome traffic zone, 2 nautical miles round the airfield up to 2,000 feet, and runway extension zones 5 km by 1 km. To fly inside it, the operator applies to airtraffic@flybrighton.com at least 7 days ahead. The fee is £20 plus VAT and isn’t refunded, and the airport sends a written permit with a reference number. Before you plan the shot, look at the airport’s map for your take-off point. Check with Brighton City Airport for the latest.
Do I need a permit to fly a drone in Brighton?
On council land, yes. Drone filming goes to the council’s outdoor events team, with the operator’s CAA licence, drone operator’s insurance, a risk assessment and a map of the take-off, landing and flight area. Inside the airport’s zone, you need the airport’s permit as well. Private land needs the owner’s permission. There’s more in filming permits in Brighton. Check with Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
Can you fly a drone over Seven Sisters or the Royal Pavilion?
Seven Sisters Country Park doesn’t allow drones over the park without express permission, and filming requests there go through FAME Marketplace. The Royal Pavilion’s filming conditions don’t allow drone filming. Check with Seven Sisters Country Park and Brighton and Hove Museums for the latest.
What paperwork does a drone operator need?
We check every operator’s CAA registrations, any operational authorisation the flight needs and their drone insurance before we book them. On council land, the council asks to see the operator’s CAA licence and drone operator’s insurance with the application. Check with Brighton and Hove City Council for the latest.
Are your drone operators from Brighton?
We book drone operators who live in Brighton or Hove first. If the brief or the date needs someone else, we book an operator from London, about an hour away by train. We add the travel to the quote before anything is booked. Our own base is London, at 124 City Road, and we have bases in Manchester, Bristol and Cornwall.
How far ahead should I book a drone operator in Brighton?
Our team reads every brief within 2 working hours and replies with an operator and a price. Inside the airport’s zone, the application has to go in at least 7 days before the flight. Allow time for the landowner’s permission too. Check with Brighton City Airport for the latest.