Filming at airports
 

I would like to make some short films about my local airport EMA, in this sort of style ZRH - zero nine on Vimeo Does anyone know if it is even possible to get permission to film airside at UK airports and if so who would I write to?

Andy S

My experience in Australia is that it is expensive if your not working for the national carrier (as a film crew).

Not sure about the UK.

I would contact the owners of the airport, there is usually a department that handles those requests.

Hope that helps.

Contact their Public Relations Dept. for further information. If they agree, a hefty fee may be applicable depending on what your intentions are with the film.

Thanks for the info.

When you say hefty fee what sort of price are we talking?

At the moment I would be doing it as purely a hobby production. It would be a good way to gain some technical experience as I am a photographer really but I can't seem to find a commercial opening for photography and think video might have more commercial potential with enthusiast type DVDs and work for airlines/airports etc. It would also get experience of dealing with people at airports etc and also have a film to show other interested people as no one is going to buy anything without an example of my work. I doubt the current enthusiast DVD producers take on people really so I will almost certainly have to go it alone.

So the likes of these guys justplanes.com would have to pay the airports a large fee then? How about the airlines? I imagine attracting an airline to allow you to film then would be quite hard as new production company? I would love to work of someone like JustPlanes but I doubt they ever really take people on. It is my long-term dream to have a production company that produces these type of DVDs (as well as other things).

Hefty enough for BBC and other news organisations to often shoot outside the airfield boundry at LHR

Wouldn't the fee for enthusiasts producing smallish runs of DVDs be a lot less than the BBC though?

Justplanes is a commercial business and as such will probably pay commercial rates. You might get lucky if you guarantee that you won't sell or pass on your production to a commercial entity. What it comes down to is that if you want to make money from filming on their property than they want their cut. But please don't ask more detailed questions here. Call EMA Public Relations and they will give you the facts.

I had a look at the ZRH film, and even for an aviation enthusiast, it was quite boring after a while. I think there are two possible routes you could follow at EMA: Either you could persuade the airport to commission you to make a film for them (unlikely in the current economic climate); or you could go 'undercover' and film something interesting or with a twist. Your only real hope of going airside is as a passenger. Using a small handheld digital video camera you can still get good results. If it's a hobby pursuit, then YouTube is as good an outlet as any. Make it wacky and stay anonymous, so even if it goes viral, EMA management won't come after you. Good luck.

@ConstantFlyer - I see what you are saying but I really want to do things above board with the hope of making films in the future that I can sell.

I assume flying purely for pleasure while using viewing places/public access stops is totally fine? ie like when photographing for airliners.net Are you allowed to sell films made from public property?

The other options I thought of are:

1) Film at an airport in another country if their rules/prices are easier. I quite like the idea of making a film about all the small airfields in spectacular places in Norway.

2) Making a film at some aircraft maintenance facility. A kind of behind the scenes film that would hopefully appeal to aircraft enthusiasts. Justplanes and other have airport DVDs but there doesn't seem to be anything about maintenance side of things.

3) Try and convince a small "bush" type flying company to let me film then. ie some of the Canadian bush or floatplane type operators. I could then try and get them to let me sell the DVD as well as allowing them to use them for publicity of their airline.

Basically I am trying to get a foot in the door and something I can build on in the future. :ok:

I think your asking the wrong people, just call the airport PR/Media tell them what you want to do and they will quote a price. Unless there is someone here from the airport you wont get a fully informed answer.

That way you will find out if it is doable or not.

I know in the past we have wanted to take photos of freight going on to an aircraft and found the airpots concerned quite helpful, cant to be honest remember if there was any cost involved or not, but appreciate this is a different thing.

For leeds (available on the main website under airport company/filming and photography) this may help as a rough guide..but theres a lot of T+C's to go with it which i wont post

Landside Areas - Any area in and around the terminal prior to security and passport control:
Still photography & sound recording £100.00 per hour
Filming £200.00 per hour


Still photography & sound recording £200.00 per hour
Filming £300.00 per hour

A further charge of £100 per escort will be made for every 4 hours (or part thereof).Any work (Landside or Airside) undertaken outside the hours of 0900-1700 Monday-Friday or during Bank Holidays will incur a 50% surcharge

So...just a tad on the pricey side!