St. Louis, MO Drone Videographer and Operator

Stadiums and events

Busch Stadium downtown is on the FAA stadium list, so the 3 nautical mile flight restriction applies from an hour before to an hour after covered events. Across the river, World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois is on the list too. Our crew flew live drone feeds for TV and the video board for the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, and we can bring that setup to a St. Louis venue with the team's approval. 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.

The Gateway Arch and federal sites

Gateway Arch National Park is a federal no-drone area around the clock, and it is also National Park Service land, where launching or landing a drone is prohibited without the superintendent's written approval. The park says it does not issue permits for drone use. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's sites in the city, Jefferson Barracks in south St. Louis County and Scott Air Force Base, about 20 miles east in Illinois, are federal no-drone areas too, and Fort Leonard Wood in the Ozarks has restricted airspace from the surface.

Missouri law and city parks

Missouri law bars flying a drone below 400 feet within the property line of an open-air sports, music or entertainment venue that holds 500 or more people, or within the boundary of a critical infrastructure facility, without written consent from the facility's chief executive. FAA-authorized commercial operators flying lawfully are exempt, but we still get the venue's or owner's written approval. The City of St. Louis regulates commercial drone use by ordinance, and flying in Forest Park needs a Board of Public Service permit with a certificate of liability insurance, according to Forest Park Forever. Missouri State Parks ask professional drone operators to apply through a special event or commercial production application at least a month ahead, with liability insurance, and Missouri Department of Conservation areas need a separate approval for drone photography.

Airspace

St. Louis Lambert International, about 10 miles northwest of downtown, has Class B airspace, and St. Louis Downtown Airport across the river and Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield have their own control towers, so many St. Louis addresses need LAANC. We check every St. Louis location on the FAA sectional, B4UFLY and NOTAMs before quoting, and file LAANC or FAA authorization for any address that needs it.

Credits

Braves at Truist Park, FIFA Fan Festival Atlanta and the Austin City Limits Hulu live broadcast.

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FAQs

Can you fly over the Gateway Arch?

No. Gateway Arch National Park is a federal no-drone area from the surface to 400 feet, and the park does not issue permits for drone use. We plan riverfront shots from outside the park.

Can you fly near Busch 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.

Can you fly in Forest Park?

Only with a City of St. Louis Board of Public Service permit and a certificate of insurance, according to Forest Park Forever. We apply ahead with our FAA certificate.

Do you need FAA approval to fly in St. Louis?

It depends on the address. Lambert International has Class B airspace, and St. Louis Downtown and Spirit of St. Louis airports have control towers. 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.