Washington, DC Live Event and Concert Drones

Live event drones in Washington, DC

This page is for event producers, promoters and venues planning a live event in Washington, DC. We fly concerts, festivals, parades, arena shows, races and brand activations, with drone feeds sent live to screens, the stream or a broadcast truck, plus fast edits for social. For homes, tourism and general aerials see our Washington, DC drone videographer page.

The FRZ comes first

Washington, DC is inside the Special Flight Rules Area, a 30-mile radius around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and its inner 15-mile ring, the Flight Restricted Zone. The FAA says flying a drone inside that ring is prohibited without specific FAA authorization, and an FAA NOTAM bars drone operations in the FRZ unless an airspace waiver is granted. The waiver goes through the FAA with TSA security review, and TSA guidance asks for applications at least 15 business days ahead, so outdoor event flights are planned weeks out and only happen with approval in hand.

Indoor shows and galas

Most event drone work in the District happens indoors, at Capital One Arena, home of the Wizards and Capitals, The Anthem at The Wharf, and hotel ballrooms and event halls, with the venue's approval. Indoor flights at an arena need the venue's approval and a flight plan agreed with production, security and the lighting crew, and we fly small, lightweight drones close to the action. Fully enclosed indoor flights are generally outside FAA airspace rules, so we fly one-take fly-throughs with the owner's approval; see indoor fly-through tours. See Live drone feeds for video boards and Concert and festival FPV drones across the US.

Fan events, the Mall and the ballparks

Our crew flew five days of live coverage, live to FOX, at the FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta, and brings that fan event experience here. The National Mall and Memorial Parks are National Park Service land, where launching or landing a drone is prohibited without the superintendent's written approval. Nationals Park is on the FAA stadium list, so the 3 nautical mile flight restriction applies from an hour before to an hour after covered events. Audi Field also sits inside the FRZ.

DC rules

We confirm local permits, venue rules and airspace authorizations before every job. In the District that starts with the FAA and TSA waiver for any outdoor flight.

Credits

FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta, Braves at Truist Park and an indoor micro-drone fly-through of the Tempo by Hilton hotel in Times Square.

Related

Washington, DC drone videographer | Alexandria, VA drone videographer | Arlington, VA drone videographer | New York, NY live event drones | Chicago, IL live event drones | FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta case study | Live drone feeds for video boards | Concert and festival FPV drones across the US | Augusta drone videography (headquarters) | Lynchburg, VA drone videography (second location) | Live broadcast drones | Concert and festival drones | All locations

Nearby cities we fly

Arlington, VA live event drones | Alexandria, VA live event drones | Annapolis, MD live event drones | Baltimore, MD live event drones

FAQs

Can you fly a drone at an outdoor event in Washington, DC?

Only with special authorization. The city is inside the Flight Restricted Zone, where drone flights are prohibited without a waiver approved through the FAA and TSA.

Can you fly at an event on the National Mall?

Only with the superintendent's written approval for National Park Service land and an FAA and TSA airspace waiver, so we start those requests early.

How far ahead should we book an outdoor DC event flight?

Several weeks. TSA guidance asks for waiver applications at least 15 business days ahead, and approval is not guaranteed, so indoor coverage is often faster.

Can you send a live drone feed to screens or a stream?

Yes. We send live drone video to LED screens, the livestream or a broadcast truck, and agree the format and cue points with your production team before show day.

What insurance do you carry?

Our standard policy is $10M liability, with optional coverage up to $25M when a venue, league or network requires it. Certificates naming your venue or production are issued before the shoot.

Request a Quote

Tell us the date, location and what you need filmed. Request a Quote or call 706-284-8364.