Grand Rapids, MI Drone Videographer and Operator

Hotels, venues and campuses

Our crew has flown more than 15 Charleston-area hotel fly-throughs for Vive Media and an indoor micro-drone fly-through of the Tempo by Hilton hotel in Times Square; see New York drone videography. Downtown Grand Rapids hotels, convention spaces and college campuses suit the same one-take approach. 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. For festivals and events 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.

Michigan law and parks

Michigan law bars cities, counties and other local governments from regulating drone operation unless a state law allows it, though they can regulate their own drone use, and property owners still decide who launches from their land. In an unpublished 2022 decision, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed a ruling that Ottawa County's park drone rules were preempted by state law. Michigan DNR allows drones in most state parks and recreation areas under FAA rules, but bans flights over occupied beaches, campgrounds and similar areas, and commercial flights need the DNR's prior written permission.

Federal sites and events

Grand Rapids has no federal no-drone sites or FAA stadium-list venues of its own; the nearest military sites are Fort Custer and the Battle Creek Air National Guard Base to the south. Festivals and big downtown events can bring temporary flight restrictions, so we check NOTAMs the week of any shoot. We keep neighbors and people on private property out of frame unless they agree to be filmed.

Airspace

Gerald R. Ford International, about 6 miles southeast of downtown, has Class C airspace, so some Grand Rapids addresses need LAANC. We check every Grand Rapids location on the FAA sectional, B4UFLY and NOTAMs before quoting, and file LAANC or FAA authorization for any address that needs it.

Credits

Charleston hotel fly-throughs for Vive Media, an indoor micro-drone fly-through of the Tempo by Hilton hotel in Times Square and Science Channel's Impossible Engineering aerials of the Jenga building in Austin.

Related

Detroit, MI drone videographer | Chicago drone videography | Milwaukee, WI drone videographer | Indianapolis, IN drone videographer | Cleveland, OH drone videographer | Augusta drone videography (headquarters) | Lynchburg, VA drone videography (second location) | Live broadcast drones | Concert and festival drones | All locations

Nearby cities we fly

Lansing, MI drone videographer | Ann Arbor, MI drone videographer | Fort Wayne, IN drone videographer | Green Bay, WI drone videographer

FAQs

Can you film hotel interiors in Grand Rapids?

Yes, with the owner's approval. Fully enclosed indoor flights are generally outside FAA airspace rules, so we fly one-take fly-throughs of lobbies, rooms and event spaces.

Can Michigan cities ban drones?

Generally no. State law bars local governments from regulating drone operation unless a state law allows it, though property owners still decide who launches from their land.

Can you fly in Michigan state parks?

In most areas, under FAA rules, but not over occupied beaches, campgrounds and similar areas, and commercial flights need the DNR's prior written permission.

Do you need FAA approval to fly in Grand Rapids?

It depends on the address. Gerald R. Ford International has 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.