Minneapolis, MN Drone Videographer and Operator

Stadiums and events

U.S. Bank Stadium, Target Field and Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus are on the FAA stadium list, so the 3 nautical mile flight restriction applies from an hour before to an hour after covered events. Our crew flies EDC Las Vegas as a three-pilot drone team with over-the-crowd drones fed into the Hulu live stream, and flew live drone feeds for TV and the video board for the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park. For concerts, festivals and games 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.

Minnesota registration and licensing

Minnesota requires drones used commercially to be registered with MnDOT, with proof of insurance, and drone businesses to hold a MnDOT commercial operations license, on top of FAA rules, so we confirm the registration and license requirements before a job. Minnesota DNR prohibits landing aircraft, including drones, in state parks, recreation areas and waysides except by permit in special circumstances, and commercial filming needs a permit through the park supervisor, which can take up to 30 days.

Federal sites and city parks

The Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station at MSP and the Marine Corps reserve center at Fort Snelling are federal no-drone areas around the clock, and the Prairie Island nuclear plant to the southeast is one too. Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board land needs a drone use permit, applied for at least 10 days ahead, with a flight plan, FAA documents and liability insurance naming the Park Board. We keep neighbors and people on private property out of frame unless they agree to be filmed.

Airspace

Minneapolis-St. Paul International, about 6 miles south of downtown Minneapolis, has Class B airspace, and St. Paul Downtown Airport has its own control tower, so most Twin Cities addresses need LAANC. We check every Twin Cities location on the FAA sectional, B4UFLY and NOTAMs before quoting, and file LAANC or FAA authorization for any address that needs it.

Credits

EDC Las Vegas live on Hulu, Braves at Truist Park and the Austin City Limits Hulu live broadcast.

Related

Milwaukee, WI drone videographer | Chicago drone videography | Detroit, MI drone videographer | Omaha, NE drone videographer | Grand Rapids, MI 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

Sioux Falls, SD drone videographer | Fargo, ND drone videographer | Madison, WI drone videographer | Des Moines, IA drone videographer

FAQs

Can you fly near U.S. Bank Stadium on game days?

Not inside the FAA stadium flight restriction, which covers 3 nautical miles from an hour before to an hour after covered events. We schedule nearby shoots outside that window.

Do you need a Minnesota license to fly drones commercially?

Minnesota requires commercial drones to be registered with MnDOT with proof of insurance, and drone businesses to hold a MnDOT commercial operations license. We confirm the registration and license requirements before a job.

Can you fly in Minneapolis parks?

Only with a Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board drone use permit, applied for at least 10 days ahead with a flight plan, FAA documents and insurance naming the Park Board.

Do you need FAA approval to fly in Minneapolis?

It depends on the address. MSP has Class B airspace, and St. Paul Downtown Airport has a control tower. 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.