HOW DRONE SOUTH WALES PLANS & DELIVERS A FLIGHT
Drone Work Procedure
Most of the job happens before the drone leaves the ground.
From the first location check to the final file delivery, every project is planned around the exact site, the aircraft being used, the people and activity nearby, current airspace, weather and what the client actually needs captured. Straightforward jobs stay straightforward; complex sites receive the additional planning they require.
GVC / A2 CofC
Qualified pilot
SITE CHECK
Before attendance
AIRSPACE
Checked each job
RAMS
Where required
FIRST: IS THE FLIGHT ACTUALLY PRACTICAL?
A postcode is the start of the planning, not the whole plan
The first useful thing a client can send is the exact address or map pin, preferred date and a short description of the photographs or footage required. From there we review the location and decide whether the requested views appear practical with the available aircraft and current operating rules.
Land access, airspace and flight safety are separate questions. Permission to use a field, car park, roof terrace or construction site as a take-off point does not override aviation restrictions. Equally, airspace that is legally available does not automatically give permission to use somebody else’s property. Both sides of the job are checked where relevant.
Some locations are simple. Others involve an aerodrome Flight Restriction Zone, temporary restriction, dense public activity, a live road, cranes, railways, a managed venue, a hospital helipad or a difficult take-off area. If the original request cannot be achieved safely or lawfully, we will say so and, where possible, suggest a different aircraft, operating position, time or shot that still answers the brief.
PIN + DATE + BRIEF
SITE + AIRSPACE
WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU
The more exact the brief, the more useful the flight plan
You do not need to write an aviation document. A few practical details are normally enough for us to determine what needs checking.
Exact location
Send the full address, postcode or map pin. For large sites, include the actual working area rather than only the site office. A marked screenshot is useful when the required subject is a particular building, field, roof, road section or plot.
What needs to be captured
Tell us what the images are for and what must be visible. A property listing, construction progress record, inspection reference, broadcast establishing shot and event brief all lead to different flight plans.
Preferred date and flexibility
Give the required date and whether it is fixed or flexible. A live event has very different weather options from a property or construction visit that can move by a day or two for safer conditions and better light.
Site or land contact
For commercial, construction, managed or private locations, send the person who controls access if known. They may need to confirm where we can operate, site induction requirements, working hours or areas that must remain clear.
Known site hazards or activity
Flag cranes, scaffolding, overhead cables, helicopter activity, busy roads, livestock, public events, blasting, rail access, security restrictions or anything unusual. We still carry out our own assessment, but early information can prevent wasted planning.
Required deliverables
Tell us whether you need high-resolution photographs, source footage, graded clips, a finished edit or direct transfer. Delivery requirements can affect capture settings, shot duration, file sizes and time on site.
BEFORE ATTENDANCE
Four checks happen before the aircraft is launched
The depth of planning depends on the site. A quiet rural property and an industrial site beside an aerodrome do not need identical paperwork.
01 — Airspace & current restrictions
Current airspace information is checked before the job and again when necessary close to the flight. Flight Restriction Zones around protected aerodromes require permission from the relevant aerodrome or air traffic unit. Temporary restrictions can also appear around events, emergencies or other activity, so an old screenshot is not treated as sufficient.
02 — Land access & permissions
We establish where the aircraft can be operated from and who controls that property. Construction sites, venues, National Trust or council-managed land, private estates and commercial premises may each have their own approval process. Land permission concerns use of the property; it is not a substitute for aviation permission where airspace is restricted.
03 — People, obstacles & site activity
The practical operating area is reviewed for uninvolved people, roads, buildings, trees, pylons, railways, cranes, vehicles and anything else that can affect the aircraft or public safety. The aircraft is selected around the site and required views rather than using the same drone for every job.
04 — Weather, light & contingency
Wind, rain, visibility and cloud conditions are monitored before attendance. For photography and marketing work, sun direction can also matter. Where dates are flexible, we can discuss a better window. Fixed-date events are assessed differently because a safe alternative opportunity may not exist on the same day.
ON-SITE OPERATING PROCEDURE
The plan is checked again against the real site
Desktop planning gets us to the right starting point. The final decision to launch is made against the conditions and activity actually present when we arrive.
Site walk & dynamic risk check
The intended operating area is checked on arrival for new obstacles, public activity, vehicles, cranes, temporary structures, animals and anything that differs from the pre-flight information.
Take-off & landing area
A practical launch area is selected with enough control over people and nearby activity for the aircraft being used. On managed sites this is agreed with the client or site representative where required.
Aircraft, batteries & navigation checks
Aircraft condition, batteries, controller, storage media, navigation status and return-to-home settings are checked before flight. The home point and practical emergency options are confirmed for the location.
Direct visual control of the aircraft
The remote pilot maintains the required direct view of the drone and surrounding airspace. A monitor is used for framing the shot, but it does not replace the pilot’s responsibility to watch the aircraft and avoid other traffic or hazards.
Site coordination & RAMS
For construction, industrial or controlled sites we can work within site inductions, PPE requirements, permit systems and agreed RAMS. Where the site changes during the visit, the planned flight may be paused or modified.
Stop if conditions become unsuitable
A flight can be delayed, shortened or stopped if weather, people, aircraft, site activity, technical warnings or another hazard makes continuation inappropriate. Completing the shot is never more important than maintaining a safe operation.
DURING THE FLIGHT
Capture the agreed priorities first, then use the remaining window intelligently
The flight is run from a shot list or clearly understood brief. Critical views are captured before optional creative extras, particularly where weather, light, battery time or site activity may limit the available window.
THE BRIEF STILL LEADS THE FLIGHT
Safe does not have to mean slow or overcomplicated
Once the operating area is established, a simple photography job can be very quick. A larger commercial shoot may need several batteries, different heights, repeat viewpoints or coordination with activity on the ground. The amount of procedure should match the actual risk and production requirement.
If the client or site representative is present, useful additional views can often be requested while the aircraft is operating, provided they remain within the assessed area and do not compromise the safe flight plan.
AFTER THE AIRCRAFT LANDS
Files are checked, organised and delivered according to the brief
Not every job needs an edit. The delivery stage can be kept simple for source material or expanded into finished photographs and films where required.
01
Confirm the required coverage is complete
Before leaving, we check that the key areas or planned viewpoints have been captured. Where the site representative is involved in the brief, any obvious missing view can be discussed while there is still an opportunity to address it.
02
Copy & organise the media
Media is transferred from the aircraft storage and organised by project or visit. For selected jobs, direct on-site transfer may be agreed; otherwise the files return for selection, backup and any required post-production.
03
Edit only what was commissioned
Photography can be colour-corrected and exported at high resolution. Footage can be supplied as organised source material, graded clips or incorporated into a finished edit. The quote determines how much post-production is included.
04
Digital delivery & project close
Finished files are normally supplied digitally by download link unless another delivery method has been agreed. For recurring projects, useful notes and repeat viewpoints can carry forward into the next visit.
WORK PROCEDURE FAQ
Common questions about permissions, weather and flight day
If you send the exact location before booking, most practical issues can be identified early rather than discovered at the site.
Do you handle the drone permissions?
We check the aviation side of the proposed operation and deal with applicable airspace permission processes where that forms part of the agreed job. The client may still need to obtain access or filming permission from the landowner, venue, site manager or property controller. Those are separate permissions and the exact responsibility is confirmed before the shoot.
Does landowner permission mean the drone is allowed to fly?
No. Land permission allows use of the property for take-off, landing or access where applicable; it does not override airspace restrictions or the rules governing the aircraft and operation. Current airspace and operating conditions are checked separately.
What happens near an airport or airfield?
Protected aerodromes can have Flight Restriction Zones. A drone cannot be flown within an applicable FRZ without permission from the relevant aerodrome or air traffic service. We check the exact site against current information because the answer depends on location, not simply the name of the nearest town.
What happens if the weather changes?
We monitor the forecast and make a final decision based on conditions relevant to the aircraft, location and shot. Wind, rain and poor visibility can delay or prevent a flight. Flexible projects can normally move to a better window; fixed-date events have fewer options and are discussed in advance.
Do you provide RAMS for construction sites?
Yes, where the client or principal contractor requires project-specific risk and method documentation. We can also work within site induction, PPE, permit and access procedures. The flight plan may still need to change on the day if cranes, plant, contractors or public activity differ from what was expected.
Can you fly if people are nearby?
That depends on the aircraft, operating category, distance, whether people are involved in the operation and the specific site. We do not use one blanket distance rule for every job. The people around the flight are considered during planning and again on arrival.
Can a planned flight be refused or stopped on the day?
Yes. A previously workable plan can become unsuitable because of weather, temporary airspace restrictions, emergency activity, crowds, cranes, aircraft, technical warnings or changed site conditions. If that happens, safety and legal compliance take priority over completing the requested shot.
How quickly are files delivered?
Delivery depends on what was commissioned. Straight source material can be quicker than a fully edited set, and some simple jobs can use direct transfer where agreed. The expected turnaround is confirmed with the quote so capture, editing and delivery requirements are clear before the flight.
Want us to check whether your drone job is practical?
Send the exact address or map pin, preferred date and what you need captured. We will review the location, identify any obvious permission or operating issues and quote for the level of planning and production the job actually requires.