Lake Tahoe, CA Drone Videographer and Operator
Air Views Media is a drone videography company serving South Lake Tahoe, Truckee and the Lake Tahoe basin for resorts, weddings, real estate and events. Our crew has flown one-take interior fly-throughs of more than 15 Charleston-area hotels for Vive Media. FAA Part 107 certified pilots, $10M liability standard (optional up to $25M).
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe drone videography
We fly lakefront real estate, weddings, resorts, lodges and events around South Lake Tahoe, Truckee and the basin. For events at the lake 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.
Forest Service land and wilderness
Much of the basin is national forest. Commercial drone filming on Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit land needs a Forest Service special use authorization. Desolation Wilderness and the other wilderness areas around the lake are designated wilderness, where the Forest Service does not allow drones to take off or land. Basin land is a patchwork of federal, state, local and private parcels, so we confirm the land manager for every launch point. Wildfire temporary flight restrictions can close large areas in summer and fall, and flying into one is illegal.
State parks on both shores
California State Parks allow drones unless a park has posted an order banning them, and commercial filming in a state park needs a State Parks permit through the California Film Commission, with drone paperwork filed ahead of the shoot. On the California side that covers Emerald Bay and D.L. Bliss. Nevada State Parks do not allow drones unless the park supervisor has designated an area or issued a special use permit. On the Nevada side that covers Sand Harbor, which needs the park supervisor's approval. Nevada law bars flying within 500 feet sideways or 250 feet above a critical facility, such as a power substation, water plant or prison, without the owner's written consent, and within 5 miles of an airport without the airport's consent or FAA authorization.
Ski resorts and airports
Heavenly and Palisades Tahoe do not allow drones over their property without the resort's written permission, so resort shoots are arranged with the resort. Lake Tahoe Airport in South Lake Tahoe has FAA drone altitude limits around it, and Truckee Tahoe Airport has its own control tower. We check every Lake Tahoe 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, the Outside Lands aerial livestream in Golden Gate Park and a micro-drone fly-through of Camp EDC.
Related
San Francisco drone videography | California drone videography | Reno, NV drone videographer | Sacramento, CA drone videographer | Park City, UT 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
San Jose, CA drone videographer | Fresno, CA drone videographer | Monterey, CA drone videographer | Santa Barbara, CA drone videographer | Los Angeles, CA drone videographer | Palm Springs, CA drone videographer
FAQs
Do you need FAA approval to fly in Lake Tahoe?
It depends on the address. Lake Tahoe Airport and Truckee Tahoe Airport have controlled airspace, and the land under you sets its own drone rules. We check every location on the FAA sectional and B4UFLY before quoting and file LAANC where it is needed.
Can you fly in Desolation Wilderness?
No. Drones may not take off or land in designated wilderness, so we film from approved launch points outside it.
Can you fly at Heavenly or Palisades Tahoe?
Only with the resort's written permission. Both resorts ban drones over their property without it, so we arrange resort shoots with the resort.
Do you need a permit to film at the lake?
Often. Forest Service land needs a special use authorization for commercial filming, and state parks on both shores have their own permit rules.
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.