Drone shoot checklist

This list is for factory, logistics, construction and industrial zone companies planning a drone shoot. It does not give legal detail; it shows which issue should be checked by whom and when. Flight rules can change, so check the current situation with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (SHGM) before every shoot.

1. Purpose of the shoot and where it will be used

What the drone footage will be used for decides the whole flight plan. For a general view of the plant, a few high, wide shots may be enough. To document construction progress, the shot has to be repeated from the same point and angle each time. At logistics and port sites, tracking shots are planned to show vehicle and cargo movement. Once the purpose is clear, the flight time, the time of day and the number of take-off points also become clear.

• Will the footage be part of a promotional film, or used on its own?
• Which building, area or route must be visible?
• Will the footage appear on the website, at a trade fair, on social media or in a report?

2. Location and surroundings

The surroundings of the shooting point affect whether a flight is possible and how it’s planned. On a map, and on site if possible, we look at:

• Proximity to an airport, military zone, public building or critical facility
• Obstacles such as high-voltage lines, chimneys, cranes and communication masts
• Busy roads, motorways and railways
• Neighbouring facilities, homes and places where people gather

These factors can restrict the flight, require an additional permit or make it necessary to change the take-off point.

3. Flight zone, SHGM rules and permits

Rules for unmanned aircraft flights are set by SHGM and updated from time to time. So don’t assume a condition that applied on a previous shoot still applies today. Before the shoot, these questions should be answered from a current source:

• Which airspace zone is the location in?
• Does flying in this area need a permit or a notification?
• Who will apply, and how far in advance should the process start?
• Are the pilot’s and aircraft’s registration, documents and insurance in line with current rules?

When commissioning a drone service, it is advisable to agree in writing at the quote stage who is responsible for the permit process. The SHGM’s official announcements should be taken as the basis for current rules and application methods.

4. Consent of the owner and the industrial zone management

A flight permit doesn’t replace the consent of the owner of the area being filmed. In organised industrial zones, the zone management may have its own rules and notification procedure. For facilities operated as a tenant, the building owner may need to be informed, and for shared areas, neighbouring companies too.

• The industrial zone management is given the shoot date, time window and crew details
• Written consent is obtained from the building owner or site management
• Whether neighbouring facilities will end up in frame is assessed

We recommend having a copy of the approval correspondence on site on the shoot day. When industrial zone security or gate staff ask about the flight, having the document ready saves time.

5. Weather and a backup day

Wind, rain, fog and low cloud directly affect flight safety and image quality. Even when the sky is clear, wind at altitude can differ from wind on the ground. So drone filming shouldn’t be tied to a single date.

• The forecast is checked again a few days before the shoot and on the morning of the shoot
• A backup day is set alongside the main date
• Early morning and late afternoon are considered for the light
• Who decides on a weather postponement, and by what time, is agreed in advance

6. Safety zone and briefing employees

During the flight, the area around the take-off and landing point is kept safe. Factories and construction sites have forklift, crane and vehicle traffic, so this area needs to be set in advance.

• The take-off and landing point is chosen away from people and vehicle traffic
• A company representative is assigned to control access to this area during the flight
• Employees are informed in advance of the flight date and time
• The facility’s health and safety officer is informed of the flight plan

7. Areas to keep out of frame, and confidentiality

Aerial shots have a wide frame; roofs, open storage areas, number plates and neighbouring plots can easily end up in shot. Anything that needs to stay confidential is marked in the shooting plan in advance:

• Customer products and prototypes in open areas
• Security points, cameras and access control systems
• Neighbouring facilities and homes
• Faces of employees and visitors, and vehicle number plates

Blurring can be done in the edit, but keeping a confidential area out of frame from the start gives a cleaner result.

8. Delivery format and use

How the drone footage will be delivered should be decided before the shoot. This decision also affects the framing and camera movements used during the flight.

• Will you receive an edited short clip, a section within the promotional film, or selected raw footage?
• Are horizontal (website, YouTube) and vertical (social media) versions needed?
• Do you also need aerial photos?
• How often will construction-tracking shoots be repeated, and how will they be archived?

Final check on the morning of the shoot

Even when preparation is complete, a short final check is done on the morning of the shoot. It confirms that conditions on site match the plan and can be wrapped up with a brief team meeting.

• The current weather and on-site wind are reassessed
• The take-off area is checked on site to be clear and safe
• The company representative and health and safety officer are given a final briefing on flight times
• Areas to keep out of frame are reviewed again with the team
• The planned shooting order is updated if needed to suit the daylight

If any condition isn’t right, the flight moves to the backup day or another time of day. Having this decision defined from the start avoids uncertainty on the shoot day.

Printable checklist

The table below summarises the pre-shoot tasks by owner and timing. You can print it and add it to your project file.

If you’re planning aerial footage of your facility or site, you’ll find the scope and quote steps on the drone filming page. If the drone footage will be part of a factory film, the factory film page will guide you too.