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

🎬 AERIAL VIDEO · SAINT-NAZAIRE (44) · €500–1,800 PER HALF-DAY

Drone aerial video in Saint-Nazaire

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 Saint-Nazaire

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 Saint-Nazaire.

Common use cases

The local context in Saint-Nazaire

Saint-Nazaire is one of France's great maritime-industrial cities: Chantiers de l'Atlantique builds the world's largest cruise ships here, Airbus Atlantic assembles aircraft sections, and the Nantes-Saint-Nazaire seaport stretches to Montoir. Direct consequence for drone pilots: these industrial and port areas are no-fly zones, as is the WWII submarine base, and Saint-Nazaire-Montoir aerodrome (LFRZ) adds its own constraints to the north-east.

Outside sensitive zones, the city offers the Saint-Nazaire bridge (3,356 m over the estuary), the rebuilt seafront, beaches and the coastal path towards Pornichet. The local drone market is heavily industry-driven: monitoring of shipyard and offshore-wind projects (the Saint-Nazaire wind farm was France's first), structural inspections, thermal surveys of industrial roofs — missions that almost always require access protocols negotiated with site operators.

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 Saint-Nazaire?

Almost: Zones interdites des Chantiers de l'Atlantique et du port de Montoir; Aérodrome de Saint-Nazaire-Montoir (LFRZ); Base sous-marine et installations portuaires sensibles. 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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