C‑DRONE
Cinema drone with stabilized camera gimbal flying at low altitude

🎬 AERIAL VIDEO · LYON (69) · €500–1,800 PER HALF-DAY

Drone aerial video in Lyon

Drone aerial video gives your films a cinematic dimension: smooth tracking shots over a site, vertical reveal moves, orbits around a building, dynamic chase shots. Our aircraft shoot in 4K or even 5.1K in 10-bit (D-Log), with precisely controlled moves thanks to three-axis stabilisation and programmed flight modes. The footage cuts seamlessly into corporate, advertising or documentary productions.

A typical assignment includes scouting, a flight plan written around your storyboard, half a day or a full day of filming, then colour grading and delivery of the rushes or a broadcast-ready short edit. We regularly work alongside ground film crews and provide the insurance certificates and permits that productions require.

Free quote — aerial video in Lyon

Rates

€500–1,800 per half-day — the range observed on the 2026 French market, including regulatory preparation, flight and delivery. The exact quote depends on the site, the deliverable and the airspace context in Lyon.

Common use cases

The local context in Lyon

Greater Lyon sits under the CTR of Lyon-Bron business airport, right next to the city, and is bordered to the east by the Lyon-Saint-Exupéry CTR: almost all urban flights happen at reduced height after coordination with air navigation services. The dense centre (Presqu'île, Croix-Rousse slopes) also requires the built-up-area scenario with prior notification to the prefecture.

Local demand is driven by a powerful economy: headquarters and laboratories of the chemical valley (Seveso sites, no overflight without agreement), Part-Dieu and Gerland construction projects, commercial real estate, nearby vineyards (Beaujolais, Côtes du Rhône) and a UNESCO-listed heritage — Vieux-Lyon, Fourvière — much in demand for tourism and film work.

Applicable regulations

Aerial filming follows the same rules as photography: open category A1/A2/A3 for most flights in clear areas, height capped at 120 m, operator registered on AlphaTango and systematic checking of the Géoportail drone map. In built-up areas or near uninvolved people, shoots move to the specific category (European standard scenario STS-01, the French national scenarios S-1/S-3 having ended on 31 December 2025) with prior declaration to the préfecture for flights over populated areas. Productions also require dedicated aerial liability insurance and, for certain listed sites or military zones, specific agreements. Flying over gatherings of people remains prohibited without exceptional authorisation.

Frequently asked questions

Do you deliver raw rushes or an edited film?

Both options are available: delivery of gradable 4K Log rushes for your editor, or a turnkey 60–90 second edit with royalty-free music. The quote specifies the chosen option.

Can you film indoors (factory, warehouse, venue)?

Yes: indoor flights are outside the scope of aviation regulations. We use light, protected drones (cages or ducted propellers) to fly safely inside buildings.

How long does it take to obtain filming permits?

In open areas, no lead time: the flight can happen within days. In built-up areas, allow at least 10 working days for the prefectural declaration, and up to 4 weeks for sensitive sites.

Can this service be flown anywhere in Lyon?

Almost: CTR de Lyon-Bron; CTR de Lyon-Saint-Exupéry à l'est; Sites Seveso de la vallée de la chimie au sud. Depending on the exact location, the pilot picks the right framework (open or specific category) and files the required declarations — included in the quote.

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