Corpus Christi, TX Drone Videographer and Operator
Air Views Media is a drone videography company serving Corpus Christi, Padre Island and the Coastal Bend for hotels, beaches, events, energy companies, real estate and brand films. Our crew filmed aerials of The Independent, the Austin tower known as the Jenga building, for Science Channel's Impossible Engineering. FAA Part 107 certified pilots, $10M liability standard (optional up to $25M).
Corpus Christi
Bayfront, beaches and events
The bayfront, North Beach, Padre Island and the hotels along the shore suit aerials, filmed with the property's or organizer's approval. For hotels and venues an indoor one-take fly-through shows the space in a single shot; see indoor fly-through tours. For concerts and festivals we film recaps, and for larger shows we send live drone feeds to the stream or screens; see live broadcast drones and concert and festival drones.
Naval air stations
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi is a federal no-drone area around the clock, as is NAS Kingsville to the south, and the Navy's outlying fields add military controlled airspace. We plan every bayside shoot around them.
Port, refineries, parks and Texas law
The Port of Corpus Christi and the refineries along the ship channel fall under state law. Texas Government Code chapter 423 makes it an offense to fly at or below 400 feet over a fenced or posted critical infrastructure facility, such as a refinery, chemical plant, power plant or substation, water plant, LNG terminal, port or rail yard, unless an exception applies, such as the operator's prior written consent. A Penal Code section treats jails and prisons the same way. The same chapter bars using a drone to capture images of people or private property with intent to conduct surveillance, with exceptions that include the owner's consent and public property. The federal appeals court upheld these rules in 2024 and the Supreme Court declined to review them, so they are in force, and we get written consent or keep those sites out of the shot. Padre Island National Seashore is National Park Service land, where launching or landing a drone is prohibited without the superintendent's written approval. Texas state parks allow drones only in a designated area at Martin Dies, Jr. State Park or with a filming permit from the park, so we apply well ahead of any state park shoot. We keep neighbors and people on private property out of frame unless they agree to be filmed.
Airspace
Corpus Christi International, about 5 miles west of downtown, has a control tower and Class C airspace, and NAS Corpus Christi and the Navy's outlying fields add controlled airspace, so many addresses need LAANC. We check every Corpus Christi location on the FAA sectional, B4UFLY and NOTAMs before quoting, and file LAANC or FAA authorization for any address that needs it.
Credits
Science Channel's Impossible Engineering aerials of the Jenga building in Austin, Charleston hotel fly-throughs for Vive Media and EDC Las Vegas live on Hulu.
Related
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Nearby cities we fly
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FAQs
Can you fly near NAS Corpus Christi?
No. The naval air station is a federal no-drone area, and nearby addresses sit in military controlled airspace.
Can you fly over Padre Island National Seashore?
Not from National Park Service land without the superintendent's written approval. We film from beaches and private land outside the park where rules allow.
Can you film refineries, plants or ports in Texas?
Only from a legal position. Texas law makes flying at or below 400 feet over fenced or posted critical infrastructure an offense unless an exception applies, such as the operator's prior written consent, so we get that consent first.
Do you need FAA approval to fly in Corpus Christi?
It depends on the address. Corpus Christi International has a control tower and Class C airspace. We check every location on the FAA sectional and B4UFLY before quoting and file LAANC where it is needed.
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.