Chris H.

Chris Hilton-Wood Drone Films www.dronefilms.com 0417 747 150

ONE OF AUSTRALIA'S MOST EXPERIENCED DRONE COMPANIES PROVIDING SERVICE TO ALL BUDGET REQUIREMENTS with a Night Rating – having the legal ability to fly drones at night.

Highly experienced pilot and highly experienced film industry camera man and photographer

Flown Drones in the centre of the city, on top of skyscrapers, in the French Alps and the Australia Alps – in the suburbs and out in the country. Over 800 missions - now in the fourth year of operations.

DRONE FILMS FLEET OF AIRCRAFT:

HEAVY LIFT - Zero UAV Epic – 8 engine aircraft that has 100% redundancy

Dual autopilots and safety parachute – this carries the Red Epic range of cine cameras – you can fly your own camera or use ours (price upon application) - The Epic Weapon 6 k (price upon application) or the Sony A7S using canon glass feeding uncompressed raw video to an on board shogan 4K recorder – the promotional half day rate is $750 – this machine is used by Hollywood level feature films or the discerning film maker who wants the best images for his project – why settle for substandard phantom video or overrated “Inspire” footage when the rest of your project is shot with a good 4K camera?

MEDIUM LIFT – S800 – 6 engines carrying the Sony NEX-7 24 megapixel camera

with a 16mm 2.8 lens (32mm equiv 35mm terms) Rates: 1st hr $400 2nd hr $500 – half day $600 - Ideal for Real Estate Agencies who want better resolution than the Phantom or Inspire (NEX7 – 24megapixel versus Inspire and Phantom only 12 mega pixel each) many inspires have the same low quality as the phantom lensing.

LIGHT LIFT PHANTOM – 4 engines

– this is for the lower budget category. 12 megapixel stills - 4k video with a really tiny lens. Rate: 1st hr $300 2nd hr $400 - if you are stuck budget wise but still want the drone look – then this little guy works. If you can spend another $100 then the S800 is a way better option – most jobs are done in one hour.

CHECK OUT OUR SHOWREEL
https://vimeo.com/166626810 password: drone16
copy the vimeo link and paste into browser then use password: drone16
It is hot off the press - june 2016 worth the look - stunning footage

We have the lowest Aircrew Registered Number – out of all Australian drone companies ARN 173847 – they are now up to ARN 1,000,000 – yes a million!

OUR EXPERIENCE IN PILOTING AND CAMERAWORK / PHOTOGRAPHY

PILOTING
20 years with Pilot’s licence for passenger carrying aircraft, also flying Sailplane gliders – after an aerotow to 2 thousand feet – I thermalled up to 10,000 feet – just under controlled airspace. Hang glider pilot level 2 France – flying in the French alps. Flown six foot remote control manual helicopters for the past 25 years.
Why is this important: Drones operate around aviation airspace – it is an asset to know how regular aircraft operate within the neighbouring airspace. The hang gliding skills are great in gaining a knowledge in local turbulence -ie mechanical turbulence that is caused from the wind blowing across local obstacles.

FILMING AND PHOTOGRAPHY
25 years as a film industry cameraman and professional photographer.
Filming Feature films as the director of photography, filming tv commercials, documentaries and music videos. Studied film and tv courses – have the equivalent of a doctorate in film.
Currently an international films award’s judge – judging for Europe, South Africa, India, New Zealand and Asia.
Why is this important? : Having the skills and the knowledge to frame a good shot for stills or to be able to establish a good camera move for video. This is not something learned in five minutes. Being able to recognise and grade, what is good…

THE IDEAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A DRONE OPERATOR:
Exceptional Piloting skills
Exceptional filming and photography skills
Exceptional equipment to fly
Exceptional safety regime – with safety as being number one.
We at Drone Films provide this as standard service.

PREPARING FOR A DRONE FILMING DAY...
I track the weather and establish an ideal weather window – establish when and what time will maximise the available flying conditions. Using the B.O.M. website and other tools, I can determine the best day and hour to fly.

ADVICE FOR BOOKING

When a good weather window arrives – booking me beforehand will guarantee that I can fulfil your brief and surpass your expectations on the next available day. I enjoy listening to my clients express how they love what they see when they look at my live monitor during the drone mission. One of my regular clients keeps saying.. fantastic! excellent!, marvellous! – he is continually gob smacked from the high standard of work that I can supply him with.

Thanks for checking me out

Chris Hilton-Wood CEO / Founder Drone Films
Chief Pilot / Director of Photography
Email chwfilms@gmail.com or phone 0417 747 150

THE SUDDEN SURGE OF INEXPERIENCED DRONE PILOTS COMING ON TO THE SCENE MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU THE CLIENT TO DISCERN BETWEEN THE EXPERIENCED AND THE INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS - THERE ARE TELL TALE SIGNS...

HOW TO TELL BETWEEN HIGHLY EXPERIENCED PILOTS AND NEWBEE PILOTS

Usually Neebee pilots only own a phantom and or an Inspire – highly overrated limited capability equipment – the plastic fantastics.
Check the ARN number – anything above 500,000 - you would question and anything above 1,000,000 is a newbee.

Why use a Newbee when you can use an experienced pilot? Consider the risks…
Ask for amount of flight time - also ask them: how many missions they have flown?

Unfortunately, in the Drone Industry – everyone wants to be a drone pilot, hence the absolute barrage of these new inexperienced pilots – sure they have an OC but that is only the starting point – they have little flying skills and little filming skills. They will learn the job on your money.

Use experienced, capable pilots with exceptional filming skills with excellent equipment.

There was the story about the mechanic who suddenly decided in his 40’s to become a drone operator – after six months he set up shop and started charging for his flights. If I did a six month mechanic course – would you trust me servicing your car?
It used to be at the age 40 – you would retire and buy a Harley Davidson – now they all decide to become drone pilots… let’s all become mechanics! Lol!