You are not hiring a drone. You are hiring the person flying it, the person pulling focus off it, and the paperwork that lets it leave the ground.
Austin's crew base has deepened fast but it is still smaller than the coastal markets, which means an operator here is often the only aerial unit on the call sheet with no backup. That changes how you prepare: redundant aircraft, redundant batteries, and no assumption that a replacement is an hour away.
A CineDrones operator arrives as a unit, not a hobbyist with a case. FAA Part 107 certificated pilot, dedicated camera operator on the gimbal where the shot calls for it, visual observer, and the authorizations filed before the call sheet locks. We have worked on sets since 2013, which mostly means we know when not to fly — when the AD is behind, when the light is about to go, when the shot is better served by staying out of the way.
The Texas Film Commission coordinates statewide and the Austin Film Commission handles the city, with state and local incentive programs stacking on top of each other. Permitting is generally faster here than in the coastal markets, which is a genuine scheduling advantage.
Austin's crew base has deepened considerably but is still smaller than the coastal markets, which means booking further out and bringing your own redundancy. It also means the crews here tend to be generalists in the best sense.
We shoot downtown, the river, the Hill Country, and the Texas landscape — and we travel. CineDrones works nationwide, so if your production is basing in Austin and shooting somewhere else entirely, that is a normal week for us.
DRONE OPERATOR — OTHER MARKETS: Albuquerque Atlanta Chicago Las Vegas Los Angeles Miami New Orleans New York Salt Lake City
Get ready to elevate your production to new heights with CineDrones! Operating in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York, Albuquerque, Austin, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Salt Lake City, and New Orleans, we bring the power of cutting-edge drone technology to every project. Whether you're capturing breathtaking aerial footage, thrilling FPV shots, or immersive drone-based virtual reality, our expert teams of FAA-certified pilots, aerial camera pros, and drone techs have you covered. From inspections to mapping, even drone deliveries—CineDrones does it all. Fully compliant with Part 107 regulations and protected by a $5M aviation liability policy, we guarantee precision, safety, and creativity. Plus, with Local 600 union and non-union crews available, we’re ready to deliver jaw-dropping results wherever you need them!